The Gauntlet
“Time really flies. My daughter starts her new job in just three days, doesn't she?”
“Yeah, I’m planning to head down there tomorrow. I need to move the rest of my smaller things, too.”
“Sis, aren’t they going to work you to the bone there? You should go around using Yoon Suhyun’s name—you know he has connections there.”
“...”
It’s a morning no different from any other.
If there is one small change, it’s that Yuna and Nahyun have started sharing their schedules with each other.
I heard it clearly. And I accepted it. The fact that I have become a stud...
A while ago, I overheard the two of them talking in the living room while I was in my room.
I doubted my own ears, but in the end, I had no choice but to accept it.
“What about tomorrow, Mom?”
“Tomorrow is my day off.”
“Then Mom and Suhyun will be out together tomorrow? In that case... I’ll take tonight.”
‘Take?’
At first, I didn’t understand what she meant.
But when night fell, I realized the meaning behind the conversation the two women had shared.
That night, it wasn’t Yuna, but Nahyun who came to my room.
It’s good. Honestly, it’s fucking great.
Sex during the day, and at night, one of two beauties comes to meticulously suck my cock. Who would hate that?
However, something feels off.
It’s clear that I hold the initiative when we have sex, but once it’s over, I get the feeling that might not be the case at all.
It’s as if someone is saying to me:
“This idiot thinks he’s the one doing the fucking. LOL.”
And right now, in this moment where we are peacefully eating breakfast, someone under the table is rubbing my cock with their foot.
Soft feet are stroking over my pants. My cock is already rock hard. The culprit is Nahyun, sitting directly across from me.
I look at Nahyun in a panic, and she just smiles brightly.
“Thanks for the meal.”
I hurriedly finished my bowl and retreated to my room.
Whether it’s a blessing or not, there hasn’t been a three-way session since that day. Nahyun had too many things to prepare before starting her job, and as Yuna’s work days increased, our schedules rarely overlapped.
At first, I felt a bit disappointed, but last night, I heard the two of them talking.
They spoke in hushed tones, so I couldn't catch the exact details, but... it was talk about finding a day for the three of us to go somewhere... or perhaps doing it at home while Jihyun was at her academy.
I have no one to vent to. Even if I could reveal my current situation, the answer I’d get back is obvious.
“You deceitful bastard, you’re just bragging.”
“I’m off to the academy~.”
“Yeah, study hard today, sweetie~.”
After Yoon Jihyun leaves the house, I hear the sounds of cleanup from the kitchen.
I was just thinking about what to do today—maybe run a Gate—when I heard the two women talking. I leaned in to eavesdrop.
“Mom, let’s do it now.”
“Now?”
“Yeah, there’s no one next door at this hour anyway. I’ve done it plenty of times, I know.”
“Hmm... should we wear the one we bought last time?”
“Good, let’s wear that.”
What are they planning to do? What are they planning to wear?
Part of me already guessed what the conversation was about, but I pretended not to notice.
In three days, Nahyun will leave home to start her job at the Central Headquarters. Today is Yuna’s day off, too.
In other words, today is a day when both women are home.
My body, as if intuiting the fate to come, is already taking deep breaths.
I hear the door to the living room close and the sound of two pairs of footsteps approaching.
“Suhyun, we’re coming in.”
“...”
I didn’t answer, but the door opened.
I let out one final deep breath and sat up.
“W-what’s going on?”
“Yeah~ this is the pajama set Mom and I bought together. How is it? Does it suit us?”
“Yeah, it’s pretty.”
Yuna touches her cheeks, looking shy.
It’s a design clearly meant to appeal to cuteness, but on women with such violent figures, it amplifies the arousal rather than the cuteness.
‘The hanger really does matter, huh.’
“So... did you come here just to ask if the pajamas were pretty?”
Yuna and Nahyun slowly approached and climbed onto my bed.
“W-wait.”
Nahyun whispered into my left ear.
“No? You really think we came just to ask that? Why do you think we’re here?”
“Uh... um...”
Yuna whispered into my right ear.
“I’m so happy you complimented me, honey... but we didn’t come here to get compliments on our clothes.”
Then Nahyun softly licked the shell of my ear with her tongue and said:
“Why? Is two people too much for you to handle?”
‘Fine. Let’s accept it.’
Only then did I decide to accept my role.
Ultimately, after the trip, there was no need to worry about being caught, and one way or another, wasn’t I the one enjoying it?
I closed my eyes, swallowed hard, and said:
“Take it all off.”
The two women rose from the bed and looked at me with trembling eyes.
“Yes, honey.”
“Yes, Master.”
The two women stripped and stood naked before me.
“Kneel.”
“Haa... yes.”
The two women politely knelt and looked up at me.
I soon took off my pants, brought my cock between their faces, and said:
“Start.”
*Slurp, suck, shhh-shhh*
“Huu.”
I exhaled and tilted my head back to look at the ceiling.
‘Yeah, at least in this moment, I’m the one on top...’
Comforting myself with that thought, I welcomed an anything-but-ordinary morning.
A week has passed since Nahyun left for the staff quarters.
It feels empty without my older sister, who always filled the house with her bright energy.
Of course, I received a call from Nahyun today telling me she’d booked a motel in front of the headquarters and that I should be there by 6:00 PM tomorrow.
Whether it was because she was buried in heavy work, stressed out, or perhaps... jealous that Yuna and I had spent time alone together, her tone over the phone was even more uninhibited and aggressive than before.
“Look forward to tomorrow. I’m not letting you sleep, so keep that in mind.”
When I realized that wasn't just a bluff, a bead of sweat trickled down my back.
“Kids, come eat~.”
Even though it’s the same meal as always, I’m still not used to seeing only three sets of utensils.
“The house is quiet without our eldest daughter, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, I miss Sis. She’s coming this weekend, right?”
“Yes, Suhyun said he has business at the headquarters tomorrow, so he’s going there and then coming back down with her the day after...”
Yuna looked at me with a soft smile.
‘So they really are coordinating and sharing my schedule.’
Just then, Yuna’s phone started to vibrate.
“Yes, what is it, sweetie?”
It seems Nahyun is calling.
‘At this hour?’
I heard a loud voice from the other end of the receiver, and Yuna’s expression darkened.
Yuna handed me the phone and said:
“Suhyun... Nahyun is asking why you aren’t picking up...”
“Huh? I left my phone in my room.”
I took the phone from Yuna and answered.
“Hello?”
“Suhyun... I think you need to come to the headquarters right now.”
“Huh? Is something wrong?”
“That is...”
Nahyun couldn’t continue and stammered.
I didn’t like the feeling. A sense of unease gripped my entire body.
‘No way.’
I went into my room and checked my phone.
There were 3 missed calls from Nahyun, 6 missed calls from the Association’s Central Headquarters... and 1 text message from the headquarters.
[Hunter Association Emergency Operations Command]
An S-rank Gate has appeared in ○○-gu, Seoul.
All combat-capable Hunters, please assemble immediately.
Assembly Point: Association Central Headquarters / Time: Within 12 hours of receipt
※ Failure to comply will result in license suspension and legal action.
“Yeah... I just checked the text... I’ll leave right away.”
I hung up and sat on the edge of the bed.
Once a mobilization order is issued, you must report unless you have unavoidable circumstances, such as being overseas or currently inside a Gate.
“Haa... fuck...”
It’s rare for an S-rank Gate appearance to trigger a mobilization order for all Hunters.
There have already been four S-rank Gates that appeared in South Korea alone.
There is only one reason why an S-rank Gate appears and a mobilization order is issued to all Hunters.
The first investigation team failed their reconnaissance.
As soon as an S-rank Gate is discovered, the Association begins a top-secret investigation. The S-rank Gate was likely discovered at least a month ago.
Sending out a mobilization order is essentially announcing the appearance of an S-rank Gate to the entire nation, and it’s no different from publicly admitting that the first attempt to explore the S-rank Gate has failed.
“Haa... we’re really fucked.”
When I came out to the living room, Yuna and Yoon Jihyun were looking at me with grave expressions.
“It’s not... something serious, is it?”
“Mom... the news is reporting that an S-rank Gate has appeared...”
As always, peace disappears in an instant.
“It’s fine... they’re probably just calling us up as reserves. I’ve been called up before.”
“Right? It’s okay, right?”
“Do you really have to go?”
“Yeah...”
I reassured them with plausible words. It wasn’t a lie.
I had been mobilized when an S-rank Gate appeared before, but the Hunters who had completed the reconnaissance came out of the Gate just before we were set to enter, so we didn’t have to go in.
As I hurriedly packed my clothes and prepared to leave the house, Yuna grabbed both of my hands tightly.
“Take care of yourself... you have to come back safely, okay?”
Yoon Jihyun also wore an expression of deep concern.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon.”
On the train to the Central Headquarters, I tried calling my sister, but she didn’t pick up.
‘The Association must be in chaos right now...’
I decided to assume the worst-case scenario.
First, the case where the advance team has lost contact.
It could be the worst, or it might not be. If it’s an S-rank Gate, it wouldn’t be strange at all if the signal beacons weren’t working. They could be fighting hard inside, or they could all be dead.
Second, the case where a request for support was sent.
That’s slightly less than the worst. At least they saw a possibility of winning, so they didn’t give up and asked for support.
Third, the case where a distress signal was sent.
That’s the worst. It’s a signal sent when the Hunters inside the Gate have decided to retreat, but even that is proving difficult.
My hands started to tremble.
‘No... everything will be fine.’
To try and calm my mind, I turned on my phone and accessed the Hunter Gallery.
“Heh.”
A dry laugh escaped me.
Writing posts to get to the top of the board at a time like this—seeing these guys with absolutely no tension made me feel a little lighter.
Just as I was scrolling down, one post caught my eye.
‘Artifact.’ The official term used by the Association is ‘Special Grade Armament,’ but Hunters call them Artifacts regardless.
Among all the mysterious and rare materials found inside Gates, they are uniquely rare.
There are 11 officially discovered instances worldwide, and in Korea, one was found in an S-rank Gate.
Most take the form of various weapons or armor that can be used immediately, and their performance is beyond imagination.
When the existence of Artifacts was first officially acknowledged, no one believed it.
People just thought they were strong weapons made from materials found inside the Gate, but as they started to be recognized all over the world, people began to believe.
Because so few have been discovered, information is scarce, but an S-rank Hunter in the US who possessed an Artifact once made an ambiguous statement, saying it felt as if the weapon had been waiting for him in the exact situation where he needed it most.
‘This guy is a funny one too. Imagining finding an Artifact in this situation? He’s a big shot.’
I pushed away the anxiety, put on a fake smile, and headed toward the Association.