Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: A Very Small Sacrifice - 5
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People, when flustered, always fall back on their habits.
Even if you've firmly decided in your mind, "Normally I'd do it this way, but this time I need to handle it differently," in a chaotic situation, your body just moves on ingrained memory.
"Haa..."
I bit my lip hard.
"At least I caught it before it was too late."
I'd forgotten. Baek Se-ra was my sex slave.
And because of my ability, every sexual demand I made to my sex slave had to be fulfilled.
"Aigoo..."
Because of that very issue, I'd naturally started watching my words around Lee Ha-seon. She'd do whatever it took to grant my wishes.
Extremely speaking, if I said something unrealistic like, "I think I'd get turned on seeing your corpse," Lee Ha-seon would choose death herself. Lighter slip-ups were even easier to make.
If I glanced at a TV actress and muttered, "I wanna sleep with that woman," Lee Ha-seon might kidnap her. If I texted her mid-battle with a villain, "I want to have sex with you right now," she'd abandon the fight to come to me.
To avoid those scenarios, I had to use euphemisms. Let her judge and act on her own.
But knowing that full well, why had I blurted out something idiotic like "Send more!" to Baek Se-ra? Because I panicked, plain and simple. Habitual behavior. What I always did.
"Hoo..."
I checked the lewd photos Baek Se-ra had sent.
Before awakening my ability, my gallery was filled with ordinary pics. Funny internet memes, cute animal photos, the occasional lewd illustration I collected.
After awakening, it filled up with naughty photos.
From Lee Ha-seon.
"Damn, these are good."
Just browsing made my dick twitch.
Scribbling "Seong-ha Master's Exclusive" on her costumed womb area, thrusting out her firm, beautiful ass and shaking her hips, spewing words so obscene they were unbelievable from a hero's mouth.
When she was with me, even in her hero costume, she felt like "my lover Lee Ha-seon." But seeing the valiant hero who'd just crushed villains filming lewd videos or pics just for me? That brought a whole new thrill.
We barely had time to meet in person, so we bonded like that, venting our lust.
There were other reasons too, though.
"Baek Se-ra probably has the same thing... that 'Voluntary Weakness Exposure' one."
Awakener talents fall into four main categories.
First: innate talent.
You can buy stronger power, sharp combat sense, brilliant mind with points.
But those naturally strong, skilled in battle, or smart don't need to invest there. With similar points, they'd outperform others even more.
Second: point capacity.
Everyone has different base points and training gains.
More points mean more abilities. Stronger.
Third: skill selection range.
Rare, but even with many points, limited skills prevent growth. Or lifelong fatal flaws.
Fourth: penalty selection range.
Not everyone can pick every penalty. If they could, the world would be far lewder, more extreme.
Even a curse drawing rapists forever— if a monster's charging to kill you, you'd pick battle skills first to survive.
Being able to gain points from penalties is a talent itself.
Lee Ha-seon was humanity's strongest, literally. She had all four talents, unmatched.
Baek Se-ra's "Voluntary Weakness Exposure" penalty? Lee Ha-seon had picked it ages ago. Trading lewd pics was my daily routine.
When Baek Se-ra first sent one, I panicked. That cold, calculating woman suddenly sending a topless pic without warning.
So I reflexively did "what I always did." Like with Lee Ha-seon.
With her, pics never ended at one.
I'd always smile, praise her body, demand more.
She'd send a few more in different poses, then ask if she could focus back on work, since she was busy.
I'd smile, permit it, cheer her on as she returned to hero duties.
That was my routine. So Baek Se-ra's sudden pics threw me.
"Wonder how this'll play out..."
Staring at Baek Se-ra's photos, I pondered briefly.
If just to fulfill my ability's condition, deleting them was moral. No reason to keep them.
"But she didn't say to delete."
Honestly, it'd be a shame.
Snow-white skin like winter frost. Perfectly proportioned beautiful breasts. Ideal figure.
A statue-like body that promised silky smoothness to the touch. Lust from her nude form mixed with awe at a work of art.
"Hmm..."
After agonizing, I made a "Baek Se-ra" folder and tucked the pics inside.
Too good to trash.
The Blizzard Guild arrived in Japan.
Standing before the gate, Baek Se-ra faced a shrine maiden in unusual attire.
"An honor to meet you, Himiko Shrine Maiden."
Young and beautiful, with massive swaying breasts, thick jiggling thighs and ass.
Barely clothed, covered only by dozens of talismans plastered on.
To the unaware, she might seem a mere slut. But she was a hunter and hero who'd guarded Japan for decades.
"You've come. My deepest thanks. And... apologies."
"No need. Didn't you once come to Korea to seal a gate? Just repaying the favor."
"That was ages ago... Anyway, sorry for wasting your time."
"Pardon?"
Baek Se-ra tilted her head.
"Didn't you need help?"
"We decided to handle it ourselves. The living sacrifice is ready. Sad, but please head back."
"What are you talking about?"
Living sacrifice.
Shrine maidens or shamans could offer humans for temporary immense power.
Of course, illegal. Only villains stooped to it.
"You'd rather sacrifice lives than accept our aid?"
"Of course not. Grateful for your heart, Baek Se-ra. Just not enough."
"What does that..."
"Hours ago, all nearby gates closed. Except the Parade of One Hundred Ghosts Gate."
"That's—!"
Scholars saw gates as "ant holes on the surface."
Underground, ants swarm, fight, devour, compete.
Victors grow stronger.
"Normal methods won't cut it. Need to overexert and crush them for sure."
Gates don't close without hunter intervention. One exception:
One ant colony dominates so utterly it exterminates neighbors, devouring their flesh for power. Far more, far stronger monsters emerge.
"Living sacrifice, huh."
"Yes. I might lose an arm or two myself this time."
Humanity's Shield surely knew. Yet Lee Ha-seon wasn't deployed.
Obvious why. If this gate burst, it'd be horrific, but "just" hundreds of thousands dead. If hunters stopped it, maybe dozens or hundreds.
Coldly, not world-ending. But to contain it, living sacrifices were needed. And if sacrificing anyway, no need for Blizzard Guild or Baek Se-ra.
'...'
Again, just withdraw. Himiko had decided. Baek Se-ra bore no responsibility.
"Can't know exactly how strong the monsters will be."
"That's why we want it safe."
"Let me go in and fight as best I can. If it's not enough, then sacrifice."
"Pardon?"
Now Himiko panicked.
Guilds couldn't lightly enter dungeons. Massive costs just to go in.
Safety accidents could kill hunters. Blizzard needed ample cold resistance potions and scrolls.
If success, worth the risk. But Himiko would likely sacrifice anyway.
Then Blizzard Guild and Baek Se-ra's efforts? Wasted. Sacrifice alone could've beaten the Parade monsters.
"I know how strong you are, Hunter Baek Se-ra. Still, too much."
"I'll get stronger."
Baek Se-ra could grow stronger if she wanted.
"Haa..."
Himiko sighed deeply.
"Baek Se-ra. I sense yin energy from you. What did you sacrifice? Planning more?"
Top-tier shrine maiden. She couldn't know Baek Se-ra was enslaved with lewd penalties, but sensed the aura shift.
"It's fine. More bearable than expected."
"Show restraint. Trust others. Don't end up like this."
Himiko shrugged. Talismans over her nipples and pussy fluttered in the breeze.
"I refuse."
Baek Se-ra replied without hesitation.
"Pardon?"
"In my eyes, you're still worthy of respect, Himiko Shrine Maiden."
Vulgar body, lewd flesh. Constraint "can't wear clothes," earning points by talisman coverage.
Yet to Baek Se-ra, Himiko didn't look ugly.
Beautiful.