Chapter 897
Chapter 897
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 897
Chapter Title: God's Atlantis
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I closed my eyes and opened them again, and night had turned into morning.
I rose from my spot with a refreshed body.
It had been unbearably hot from evening through dawn, but now that the sun was up, it felt a bit cooler—at least relatively speaking. Of course, I knew that was all it was: relative.
"Nothing happened during the night?"
"Nothing at all. It was dead quiet, not even a single monster. You did a good job erasing our tracks, but I don't think there are any nocturnal beasts in this hellhole anyway."
"The nights here are scorching hot, so that makes sense."
Monsters are living creatures too, after all, so they're affected by the environment. The desert nights here were hellishly hot—hot enough to deserve the name.
"My body feels grimy from the night. The occasional wind kicks up dust, and it's really unpleasant. Could you prepare some cold water for a shower?"
"I was feeling sticky from all the sweat myself. I figured I'd be thirsty... but surprisingly, I'm not as parched as I thought."
I gulped down 100ml of water. That was about half a paper cup's worth. It wasn't satisfying, but there was no helping it. In this hell, I could only drink 100ml per hour.
"I fed you water while you slept. Dehydration is dangerous. I don't know if it was instinct or what, but you drank it just fine even in your sleep."
"You did?"
"You really didn't feel a thing? Doesn't cold water in your mouth wake you up even while asleep?"
"Not at all. To be precise, it wasn't normal sleep anyway. It was forced deep sleep from illusion magic."
I had no complaints.
On the contrary, I was satisfied. Thanks to sleeping so deeply, the sweltering night had passed in an instant.
"Hmm. I see. Good to hear."
Before I could even summon the bathtub, Elena was already stripping off her clothes. Stunned by her actions, I stared blankly for a moment before hurriedly averting my gaze.
"I haven't even brought out the tub yet—why are you undressing already?"
"The water heats up fast like yesterday, so I'm getting ready in advance. As I said before, you can look at my body if you want."
I shook my head firmly. Did she think I'd fall for something like that?
I closed my eyes and summoned the bathtub. By the time Elena was fully undressed, I filled it with cold water. Splash. I heard her enter the tub.
"This is nice. With you here, even hell doesn't seem so bad."
"It's not real hell."
The Hell Zone was just an area themed after hell. The bullshit difficulty made the name fit perfectly, though.
After a morning shower and breakfast, we set off. Just like yesterday, Elena clung to my back, wrapping her arms tightly around my neck. Feeling her breasts and scent was nice, but it was a bit hot.
"Not too hot?"
"The Hecate Cape keeps it from being hot. The problem is you sweating so much."
"Can't help that."
Even sitting still made sweat pour down; moving wouldn't change much.
Elena chatted with me for a bit before casting a spell. A blue butterfly formed in her hand and fluttered up into the sky.
"Magic? Is it okay to use?"
"The lifespan issue is still there, but I've recovered enough for this. It's a simple spell to scout the surroundings."
"Glad to see you're more motivated than yesterday."
"I still think I can't escape death. But I have some pride. You haven't given up on me, so I can't just lie here like a half-corpse."
"So, did you find any clues?"
"...No. Just red sand everywhere. A few monsters lurking nearby. Better to go around to the right. But are we set on a direction? Yesterday south, today west."
"Nah, just wandering randomly. Something's bound to turn up eventually."
"......"
Elena sighed. She recommended sticking to one direction—it'd be easier to backtrack if we got lost. I decided to follow her advice.
Snore, snore.
Elena fell asleep on my back. I walked on silently. Occasionally, we'd run into monsters. I'd gently set her down and fight. Unlike me, she was sensitive and woke up each time, only to climb back on and fall asleep after the battle.
As I walked, I imagined the worst case: wandering this zone with Elena for years. Just thinking about it was nightmare fuel.
Night fell. We still hadn't escaped the desert.
???
Elena lay on the mat, peering at the sleeping Sung Yu-jin's face. He'd fallen into illusion-induced sleep again today. She quietly reached out, fiddling with his face. It felt more familiar than yesterday.
Her fingers brushed his lips, which parted naturally. She slipped her finger into his mouth, toying with his tongue. The slick texture of the tongue and the saliva clinging to her finger. It felt like kissing him with her finger.
'My body's getting hot for some reason. The inside feels ticklish... Is this lust? Sheesh, lust right as death approaches... Is that old wives' tale about heightened breeding urges near death true?'
After toying with his tongue for a few minutes, Elena's eyes drifted elsewhere. To his crotch. Like yesterday, he'd gone to sleep in just his underwear due to the heat.
The center of his crotch was noticeably bulging.
"......"
Elena felt the urge to touch it.
I shouldn't. But she'd already crossed the line last night—would holding back today change anything?
'I'm Elena Valdert, Duchess of the Yustria Empire and head of the esteemed Valdert family. This vulgar act tarnishes my dignity. I should stop... What's the point now?'
Elena's hand moved. He wouldn't wake until morning. Her hand slipped into his underwear. She felt his member. Unlike yesterday, it was firm yet slightly soft.
'The underwear's in the way. Should I take it off? I can put it back before he wakes.'
She removed the underwear. As she reached for his cock again, her hand paused. His loose scrotum came into view. His groin was on the larger side. After a moment's hesitation, Elena touched his balls.
They were soft. Something firm inside. Testicles.
"Feels nice just fiddling mindlessly."
Kneading them like toys, his cock soon stood erect like yesterday. Elena gripped it and stroked slowly. The member ejaculated vigorously, just like before. Semen splattered onto the red sand. Intending to observe the male organ up close today, she leaned in closer.
'...A smell I've never encountered before.'
Strange.
It wasn't pleasant by any stretch. But it wasn't repulsive either—strangely, she wanted to keep smelling it.
Stroke. Stroke.
As she stroked his cock with her hand, Elena felt her body heating up more. The Hecate Cape meant it wasn't external influence.
'My body's aroused. It was similar yesterday. This much is nothing.'
She continued stroking until he came again. Watching his cock throb and shoot semen oddly filled her with pride.
To handle his cock more comfortably, Elena shifted positions, eventually crouching like a cat. Personally, this was the most comfortable.
"Eek?!"
A foreign sensation on her butt. Startled, Elena let out an unladylike moan and turned to check. It was Sung Yu-jin's hand.
"A-Are you awake?"
She asked in a trembling voice. She couldn't bring herself to scold him—after all, she was the one kneading his cock.
"......"
No response. Sung Yu-jin still had his eyes closed, breathing steadily. But the hand on her butt kept moving: gripping firmly, stroking, kneading gently.
"......Unconscious reflex?"
Elena let out a hollow laugh. Getting angry would be the pot calling the kettle black, and ignoring it felt weird. After a moment's thought, she decided to accept it.
As she'd told him before, she wouldn't resist if he took her. She was dying soon anyway. If he wanted this body, she could give it. She felt sorry yet grateful toward him.
Elena let him fondle her butt while resuming her touch on his cock.
After making Sung Yu-jin ejaculate four times, Elena sat up.
"Hoo."
She sighed. Her body felt strangely hot and stuffy. The sleeping Sung Yu-jin was still unconsciously groping her butt. Elena pulled away, escaping his hand. It groped the air a few times as if searching, then dropped limply and went still.
"...Stuffy."
Elena pondered briefly before stripping off her clothes. She knew it wouldn't make much difference, but it was too stuffy to bear. Of course, she kept the Hecate Cape on—removing that would be disastrous.
"Much better."
In just her white underwear, she wriggled around. Definitely less stuffy without the clothes. Sitting on the mat, she looked down at her panties. The center was stained, unmistakably wet.
Her cheeks flushed.
'Good thing he's asleep.'
Elena gazed at Sung Yu-jin, then grabbed his left arm, spreading it and resting her head on it. Lying down felt good. She had no intention of sleeping—monsters might come. But her eyes lingered on his face.
"......!!"
Sung Yu-jin's hand moved. As if used to this, it fondled her ample breasts.
"...Whatever. Grope away. I'll do the same."
Elena's hand headed toward his crotch.
Passing the boring time with secret lewd play, Elena soon felt the sun rising and sat up. Time for cleanup: wipe the semen, redress his underwear, restore her wet panties with magic.
"......"
After finishing, Elena looked down at the still-sleeping Sung Yu-jin. She glanced around needlessly, then leaned down, lightly pressing her lips to his before pulling away.
Shiver.
A chilling thrill ran through her.
???
I woke refreshed and met Elena's eyes. Her face was slightly flushed. Her body wasn't in normal condition, so I asked worriedly.
"You okay?"
"...Fine. No issues."
Before showering, I returned to reality. The cold water and ice for showers came from there, so prep was needed.
'Bond Level 8 already? It hit 7 when we fell into hell... Up to 8 so fast. This special situation must be accelerating it.'
I grinned happily. Instinct told me Elena's fall was imminent.
???
We wandered the red desert for ten days.
And luckily, we found a building. Made of stone, it resembled a temple.
The problem: the entrance was blocked, impossible to enter. Force it open? No dice. The system had sealed it.
"Finally found one after a week, and it won't open... What a letdown."
Elena sighed deeply.
"Can't force it with magic or illusion?"
"...Possible. If I use up all my remaining lifespan, maybe. Want me to open it?"
"No way. Just asking. Your illusions really are omnipotent."
"They cost lifespan, so they better be. What now? Hunt for that Desert Treasure?"
"Desert Treasure? How do you find something when you don't even know what it means?"
"No treasure, no opening."
"I've got ways."
I smiled.
Hell's Shelter.
Finding this place was pure luck. I was starting to wear down mentally, and Elena probably was too. ...Though oddly, she seemed more vibrant each morning.