18. Adaptation
18. Adaptation
Ever since my full-fledged hero debut, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say my daily life had been turned completely upside down.
If there was one thing among those changes I couldn't get used to, it was definitely this... undeserved attention.
Dealing with the reporters waiting on the way back to the Association after wrapping up a simple patrol mission wasn't even my first time anymore.
"Hayes-ssi! Please look over here too!"
"Just a quick pose, please!"
"Could you give us a quick word if there are any notable villain movements lately?!"
Striking a stiff smile in front of the cameras turned out to be harder than I thought.
Besides, poses? Wh-What kind of poses do heroes usually strike? I was never taught anything like this...!
"L-Like this?"
The moment I struck a clumsy pose and forced an awkward smile, flashes went off in rapid succession.
Now that everyone seems to have taken a few photos, I should slowly... make my escape, right?
"Uh... I, I have something urgent to attend to, so I'll be going now! Sorry, everyone!"
"Hayes! Is it true that your relationship with Mirage, a fellow hero from the same branch, is developing into something good?"
"We have tips that you were spotted dating a civilian boyfriend downtown!"
Dust-eonni told me not to answer ridiculous questions like that.
I haven't even been able to go on a date with Oppa since awakening, geeez....
L-Let's just pretend I didn't hear that and leave!
I quickly sprinted toward the Association building and leaped forcefully into the air.
It had only been about a week since I took on patrol duties, but I had gotten fairly used to the basic movements.
It was all thanks to Dust-eonni, Mirage-ssi... and Matthew-ssi, who all kindly helped me.
In particular, Dust-eonni was incredibly nice to me, contrary to her blunt first impression.
Just like right now, knowing I always return to the rooftop whenever I come back from patrol, she even came out to greet me.
"Phew... Arrived!"
"You're a bit late, Hayes."
"Eonni... You know why! The reporters were waiting right at the final section of my patrol route!"
"Get used to it. As an S-Class, you should learn to enjoy that kind of attention."
"R-Really now, eonni...!"
"First, take this."
Dust-eonni pulled out a paper envelope from the bag she was holding and handed it to me.
It seemed to contain several sets of bundled documents inside....
"What's this?"
"Commercial contracts."
"Commercials... Commercials, you say? What kind of commercial?"
"Lingerie."
"...I'm not doing it!"
"There are other sponsorships besides that, and various business offers. Read through them later."
By the way, the Branch Manager has barely been visible these days.
Even messages like these are mostly relayed through Dust-eonni.
The last time I saw him was... a week ago, when I got that massage at Oppa's request.
Could... could I have made some kind of mistake back then...?
"How is Seungyoon-ssi? How has he been lately?"
"Oppa? U-Um...."
Oppa's condition is... I don't really know.
For a few days now, Oppa hasn't said a single word about his delusions.
From watching him by his side, I definitely get the feeling that Oppa is seeing something.
He dazes out often, and when I talk to him, his responses are a bit delayed....
"It seems like he's suffering from delusions again lately, but he won't tell me anything."
"It's obvious. He's probably trying to endure it. Though that doesn't help at all."
"......"
Then as expected, the thing appearing in the delusions tormenting Oppa is... s-sex?
He feels too guilty to ask me, so he can't even bring it up and is just groaning in agony alone, right?
"Eonni."
"What is it?"
"I... I think I really have to go all the way... with the Branch Manager."
"Is that so?"
Eonni isn't even that surprised.
She just nods calmly, as if she had already expected it.
"It can't be helped. Catching Mastermind right away is impossible, and delaying Seungyoon-ssi's symptoms from worsening is the best we can do."
"So about that... what eonni mentioned last time... please tell me why the Branch Manager retired, and why you told me not to go all the way with him."
"Ah. I haven't told you yet."
"Wh-What is it? Was it a super serious issue?"
"Don't make a fuss and follow me."
Ever since the day I got the massage, I tried looking up Matthew-ssi's retirement....
But I couldn't find a single piece of helpful information. Nothing at all.
"Where are we going?"
"The Archives."
"...Haa."
To be honest, there were many times I resented why such a thing had to happen to me of all people.
Because even if I just quietly closed my eyes, my unreleased desires would shape themselves into delusions and surge into my mind.
"......"
At the kinds of delusions that were far too embarrassing to ever speak aloud, I would get excited. Extravagantly so.
Before, I could at least open up honestly to Eunji and get help, but the recent situation was a bit troublesome.
Every single time, it was a continuation of pathetic, disgusting delusions that I was too ashamed to tell even Eunji.
Besides... this time, it wasn't just the scenario of the delusion itself that was the problem.
Eunji inside the delusion directly torments me herself.
'Mm-hmm... You want me to do it with my hand like last time? I still don't qu-quite know how to tease you, but... okay for now....'
"......"
At first, she isn't much different from the Eunji I know.
If there's one slight difference, it's that she is wearing unfamiliar black lingerie.
The thought flashes through my mind that those unfamiliar undergarments might be Matthew-ssi's taste, but only for a brief moment.
Not long after the delusion begins, the look in Eunji's eyes changes slightly.
Even with her hand, instead of wrapping around my dick and stroking it, her fingertips delicately brush past as if gently caressing the surface.
'Does Oppa... l-like being teased? Like this...? Mm, mmm... I see....'
"Haa... Ah, ah...."
Then at some point, Eunji's fingers pull away from my dick, and her head approaches right in front of my erect, twitching dick—
'Phooow...♡ H-How is it...? I th-thought Oppa would like it... You like it? M-Mm-hmm.... I'll do it more for you...♡'
Eunji parts her lips slightly right in front of my glans and gently blows warm breath over it.
It is an infinitely soft stimulation, but there is almost no feeling of gentleness to it.
In the gaze watching me while repeatedly blowing air onto my dick, a subtle sneer is mixed in.
'You know... If it were Ma-Matthew-ssi's dick, it would have a-already touched my lips by now, Oppa...♡'
"Ah, ah...."
'But Oppa's dick... still has a long way to go... You see it too, right, Oppa...?'
Eunji's words, whispered softly from just a finger-joint's distance away from my dick, are cruel.
Meanwhile, against the shaft of my twitching dick, her finger... no, not even a finger.
She places the tip of her fingernail and touches it, slowly scratching galjak-galjak...♡
'It s-seems to feel good, Oppa...? Phooow-♡ H-Hoo...♡ I didn't even touch your dick, yet you like it th-that much...?'
"I... I-like it...."
'Oppa's expression looks like you really want to cum, so it's a bit... cute, maybe...♡'
Eunji flashes an erotic eye-smile while holding my dick ever so lightly, just barely touching it with the very tips of her fingers.
And slowly... very slowly, she moves upward—
"Hah, gh...."
Then down again, blowing warm breath over it.
I can't take my eyes off Eunji as she teases me like that.
'You want to cum like this, right, Oppa...?'
"Haa, ah, ah...."
'Th... Then, you know, Oppa... Can I go have sex with Matthew-ssi...?'
"......"
'If Oppa g-gives permission... I'll let Oppa cum like this too...♡'
"B-But...."
'After I come back, I'll tell you...♡ everything about how different it is from having sex with Oppa, okay...?'
The conclusion of the delusion is always this.
She demands permission because she wants to have relations with Matthew-ssi.
And right up until the brink of ejaculation, she presses her fingernails to the back of my heated dick shaft, tapping to urge me on.
Then... I, I....
"G... Go have... sex...."
___byurureureut- byurureut-_
__
Along with that pathetic permission, I face ejaculation without her even touching my dick.
An unpleasant stickiness is felt, but until the very end, I can't turn my eyes away from the delusion.
'Mm...♡ Thanks, Oppa.... I'll be back then, okay...?'
Obtaining permission, Eunji lightly waves her hand and turns around to walk away.
Just looking at her expression, swelled up with anticipation and heart fluttering, Eunji heads toward Matthew-ssi.
"......"
Just like that, the delusion ended.
Ever since Eunji returned after getting a massage from Matthew-ssi, I seem to have this kind of delusion almost once a day.
Being tormented by Eunji, caught taking pleasure in it, and semi-forcibly giving permission for her sex with Matthew-ssi.
What am I anticipating in this delusion... Is it being tormented by Eunji, or is it sex between Eunji and Matthew-ssi?
___tiring-_
__
A text message arrived.
Picking up my phone to check, it's Eunji.
Completely different from the Eunji I faced in the delusion just moments ago, my affectionate lover. Eunji.
'Oppa! You're home, right? I'm heading back now. I have something to talk about today, so I'll be there soon!'
"...Something to talk about?"
Lately I hadn't particularly asked Eunji for anything or brought up any special words....
I nervously tense up for no reason.
'Yeah. I'm at home. Take your time coming over.'
"Haaaa...."
Now, before Eunji arrives, I have to clean up after the pathetic ejaculation I just committed.
Naturally, I know it's definitely not good to rot inside without opening up about this delusion.
But... I feel like if I tell Eunji about this, the image of Eunji inside the delusion might actually become reality.
Even as I fear that, somewhere deep in my heart, I am expecting it.