Conquering Baek Ayoung
"Hoyeon-ah… Hoyeon-ah…!"
Baek Ayoung clung to Lee Ho-yeon's chest, tears streaming down her face. Thankfully, his heart was still beating. He must have collapsed from mana exhaustion compounded by the aftereffects of his buff skill. His firepower had doubled in an instant, after all.
Without sparing her mana, Baek Ayoung poured out waves of healing light. The wound on his back knit closed first, followed by treatment deep inside his body.
'His mana circuits are a mess.'
Whatever skill he'd used, it would require a long period of recovery before he could wield mana again.
"Why… why go this far?"
Baek Ayoung couldn't understand it. Would he really do this much for a mere sex partner? Sure, he might, but Lee Ho-yeon wasn't some naive pushover. He was the type who always secured his own gains.
'…Does he really like me?'
Maybe he did. His final words had carried that nuance. But… truthfully, Lee Ho-yeon's feelings didn't matter anymore. Baek Ayoung had decided not to hold back. Whether he liked her or not was irrelevant. She could no longer contain the swelling emotions inside her.
Lee Ho-yeon had become an indispensable part of her life—an unbreakable bond that no obstacle could sever. How could she even describe this feeling? "Love" felt too shallow. Beloved? Object of longing? Dear one? Revered one? Pillar of support? No words truly captured it, but they wouldn't change her actions anyway. She wouldn't hold back anymore. She would never give up.
Smoothly, Baek Ayoung caressed his cheek as she continued the healing. Not his usual relaxed expression, but a grimace of pain. Even so, it looked more at ease than before, and it was utterly lovable. His masculine eyes, sharp jawline, prominent nose, vibrant lips. Unconsciously, her fingers drifted to those lips. The soft, slightly moist texture was enough to steal her soul away.
As if entranced, Baek Ayoung lowered her face. Just before their lips met—
Clack-clack.
The sharp sound of heels echoed.
"…!"
Baek Ayoung jerked her head up, scanning the surroundings. She spotted a red-haired beauty approaching, a faint smile on her lips. Racking her brain for faces from the VIPs and guests at the party venue, she drew a blank. That meant… enemy.
Gulp.
Baek Ayoung shielded Lee Ho-yeon's body behind her, facing off against the red-haired beauty. She couldn't stop the healing, so one hand remained pressed to him. The pressure emanating from the woman surpassed even the skull-masked assailant from before. Tense, Baek Ayoung forced her voice steady.
"Who are you?"
"……."
The red-haired beauty licked her lips once, then flashed a bright smile at Lee Ho-yeon hidden behind Baek Ayoung.
"Found you."
"…Eut!"
Suddenly, Baek Ayoung's breathing slowed. She tried to block the woman who had closed in on Lee Ho-yeon's side in an instant, but her movements felt like they were at half speed. She couldn't stop Rebecca's hand from touching his face.
"Wha… t… is… th… is…."
"Ah… you're in the middle of treatment. Hmm. This won't do."
Rebecca dispelled the Rune Barrier surrounding Baek Ayoung. Her body returned to normal, and the pent-up need for air hit her all at once. She doubled over, retching.
"Kuhk…! *Cough cough*, *gag*!"
"Sorry. If I'd known you were a healer, I'd have left you alone."
"Wh-who… are you…."
Baek Ayoung's trembling body shielded him as best she could. If she could buy even a second, reinforcements might come. She draped herself over Lee Ho-yeon's body to block Rebecca's line of sight.
"Lovers, huh… Don't worry, I won't harm him."
Rebecca stroked his face once, then looked at Baek Ayoung. Her quivering form reminded her of a cute little beast.
"When he wakes up, make sure to tell him: 'Someone from his ancient clan came by. He'll come find me once he's recovered.' Got it?"
"…Yes."
Rebecca vanished after those words. Baek Ayoung kept staring at her retreating figure long after she was gone before finally relaxing.
She pondered. Ancient clan? What kind of past was Lee Ho-yeon hiding?
"…Darling."
Whatever it was, she was ready to embrace it all.
Bzzz—
"Over here! The Saintess is here! Cadet Lee Ho-yeon too!"
At that moment, hunters swarmed in, having reverse-traced the Rune Barrier. They bore minor wounds and were drenched in sweat—the chaos outside must have been intense.
"Ayoung-ah! You okay?!"
Relief flooded Baek Ayoung as Min Ye-ji rushed to the front. Seeing a familiar face eased her tension, tears welling up instantly.
"Yeji-ya… *sob*. Hnngh…."
"Yeah, yeah… It's okay. You're safe now."
Baek Ayoung burst into the tears she'd held back, collapsing into Min Ye-ji's arms.
*
Dark. Where am I?
Slash— Slash—
The sound of something being sliced with a knife.
…Is this hell?
I bolted upright, eyes snapping open. An unfamiliar ceiling greeted me—pure white. I wore a strange outfit blending white and green, emblazoned with "Iron Blood Hospital."
"Ah…."
Good. Not hell, just a hospital room.
Drip—
Something fell. Turning, I saw Baek Ayoung staring wide-mouthed, paring knife in hand. Half-peeled apple skin lay on the floor.
"Ayoung-ssi…."
"…You're finally awake."
Baek Ayoung blinked at me.
"Did I… sleep long?"
Not a month comatose or anything, right?
"No, just about a day."
"Ah… Relieved."
"I need to notify them you're up, so wait a sec."
As Baek Ayoung made a call, I checked the Heroine Status Window.
Thank goodness affection held steady at 100. Nailing that flag before collapsing was the right call.
'Affection 100….'
It had maxed out amid the chaos of events. A heroine hitting the cap for the first time had me a bit on edge.
"There was total pandemonium after you collapsed. I heard you checked several hunters before reaching me? Everyone was talking about you. Lots were worried."
"Ah…."
No time to think, smashing through every barrier—makes sense.
"Almost every hunter at the party sees you as a genius mage now. Profitable, right?"
Baek Ayoung chuckled softly, resuming her apple peeling.
…Is this right?
Her ease was welcome over hysterics, but affection at 100 felt oddly mundane.
'Ah….'
Only then did I notice her peeling hand trembling faintly.
"Body okay? External wounds are all healed. Mana circuits are wrecked, so recovery'll take time."
Testing my limbs, everything felt fine. No awkwardness in my back—healing was top-notch.
"As expected of Ayoung-ssi. True Saintess."
Satisfied, I caught her fidgeting as she eyed my back. She hesitated, then spoke slowly.
"…Why'd you do it?"
"Hm?"
"Why take the blade for me? You knew I'd survive it. But why…?"
"…."
Baek Ayoung paused her peeling, eyes quivering as if awaiting my words.
"…Ayoung-ssi."
"Why… if you do that, I can't hold back either… leaving me like this alone…."
Her pent-up words poured out. Guilt washed over me—I'd made her this way. Time to end it.
"Ayoung-ssi. I like you."
Words I'd longed to say.
"…Huh?"
"I like you. You."
"D-don't lie. Y-you're just playing some weird game again…."
Whoosh—I wrapped my arm around her neck, pulling her into me. Blushing in my embrace, she avoided my gaze before peeking up.
"Ayoung-ssi. You know I'm a total bastard, right? I know, yet I pounce on you, torment you, fool around with other women. I'll keep doing it. But what can I do? I like you anyway."
Her eyes reddened with every word. Trash talk, sure… but at affection 100, blunt honesty worked. And my feelings were real.
"Even a guy like me… you'll accept, right?"
Tears gushing, she pounded my chest with her fists.
"…*Sob*. Why fall for trash like you. *Sob*."
Thud— Thud—
"Bastard… rapist… playboy…."
Her words stabbed deeper than the feeble punches. As her strength faded, I caught her hand, meeting her eyes.
"Darling, I love you. You'll always be my number one."
"…I love you. I love you, darling… *sob*. I've waited so long."
We embraced. Normally I'd crush her tight, but strengthless, I leaned into her. Recovery would take ages at this rate.
Crying in my arms, she pushed back, wiping tears.
"Darling's a crybaby."
Teasing her as tears mixed with a rising smile—adorable.
"…Quiet, darling."
Baek Ayoung tapped her smartwatch, calling someone.
"This is Baek Ayoung. Cadet Lee Ho-yeon is awake, but his condition's still poor. We need intensive treatment and monitoring. Prohibit visitors and nurses from now on."
"…Darling?"
What the—? I'm fine.
"Yes. No support needed. I'll give it my all. Until… treatment ends. I'll update then."
Hanging up, she began undressing. As her blouse came off, realization hit—I stammered.
"…Darling, no, Ayoung-ssi. I have… no strength right now… not now…."
"It's fine, darling. I'll handle everything."
"…."
Her sultry gaze, like a predator eyeing prey… I accepted my fate as the trapped mouse and started undressing.