The Weight of Touch
The massage room, which Siwoo had spent his credits to install, was filled with the sweet scent of aromatic oils.
Lying on the bed under the dim, soft lighting was Owen, the man invited as their VIP.
To satisfy him, I had no choice but to step forward myself.
No matter how I looked at it, Owen's satisfaction only rose when I performed sexual acts.
If I didn't step up, Sodam might be subjected to something filthy. And I might be separated from Siwoo forever.
The system clearly stated that if the mission failed, Siwoo would die.
I'm sure it won't happen, but... if by some absolute miracle Siwoo were to disappear from this world...
I can't even begin to imagine what I would do.
A world without Siwoo is a world where I might as well not exist.
Siwoo is the one who gave me a reason to live again, the most precious person in my life.
So...
No matter what price I have to pay, I must succeed.
With that resolve, I brought Owen into the massage room, but...
Honestly, I have no idea what to do. I've never given a massage in my life.
At most, I've only massaged Siwoo's shoulders a few times...
And so, even after bringing Owen here, I just stood there, hesitating...
Perhaps he noticed my hesitation.
He finally spoke.
"Miss Seolbin. You've never given a massage before, have you?"
"N-No... but! I can do it!"
"To go as far as offering a clumsy massage... I'm truly flattered to receive such hospitable treatment."
"W-Well..."
My lips felt bone dry.
I had somehow managed to drag this man to the massage room, but... he still seemed to suspect Siwoo and me.
No matter how hard I tried to smile, the corners of my mouth kept freezing up. But somehow, I had to...
"Miss Seolbin, let me ask you point-blank. What is it you want from me?"
"G-Guild Leader... I just wanted to resolve the bad blood that built up between us..."
"That story again? Ha—very well. Since you're so eager to clear the air, I'll gladly accept."
*Slide—*
"Ah..."
The sound slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it. Without any warning, Owen stripped off his shirt and pants.
Having never seen any man's body other than Siwoo's, I couldn't help but gasp.
More than anything, Owen felt completely different from Siwoo...
Siwoo's shoulders were just broad enough to look perfect, and his muscles were lean and defined, making him a pleasure to look at...
But this man was massive. So massive it was terrifying.
?
No, the massage hasn't even started yet. There's no need to be scared.
I puffed out my chest and tried to reassure myself.
A brute of this size used to be nothing to me. I was feared as the Ice Empress, and I had slaughtered countless massive monsters.
This was truly nothing.
But... why couldn't I calm myself down like I wanted to?
My heart was pounding wildly in shock.
"Miss Seolbin, I'll lie down now. I don't expect much, so if you don't feel up to it, you don't have to do anything."
Leaving me standing there, Owen lay face down on the bed and closed his eyes, as if he truly expected nothing from me...
Watching him lie there so peacefully made a spark of anger flare up inside me.
Who was the reason I was going through all this, and why Siwoo was worrying himself sick?
And even if he was a man I had no feelings for... how could he be so indifferent about receiving a massage from me?
My trembling heart settled, replaced by a stubborn pride.
Even when I was hailed as the Ice Empress, I had never cared about any of the rumors whispered about me...
But this was a first.
I'll show him!
I channeled strength into my fingertips and pressed hard against Owen's back.
Just like I did when I massaged Siwoo's shoulders. Just like how I used to apply pressure when I wanted to playfully complain to him.
Back then, Siwoo would always make a fuss, whining about how much it hurt.
Since even Siwoo acknowledged my strong grip, if I pressed down like this...!
*Squeeze—!*
"Ah..."
Another gasp escaped my lips. The flesh beneath my fingertips was incredibly firm...
While Siwoo's shoulders were firm yet yielding, Owen was as hard as a boulder.
The unexpected contrast in texture made me cry out involuntarily.
The difference between his back and the familiar touch of Siwoo's shoulders was simply too vast.
But...
This man, Owen.
He didn't react to my touch at all.
He must have felt my hands, yet he didn't show the slightest response.
It felt as though he was deliberately staying still.
At this point, it felt like he was using this opportunity to vent the grudges he held against Siwoo and me from our days in the Baeksang Guild.
The thought of it...
...irritated me all over again.
If he hadn't been invited as a VIP, Owen would have had no connection to Siwoo and me anymore.
But of all people, the Cruise had to invite him...
The thought made me squeeze even harder.
Since his back was so solid, I felt like I could put my full weight into it without holding back.
Surely, he would let out at least a groan at this level.
*Pressssss—!!*
"Hmm... Miss Seolbin. Are you finally getting the hang of it?"
"Pardon?"
"Keep pressing down with that kind of strength. That actually felt quite refreshing."
It worked!
Owen had reacted positively to my massage.
Though it didn't feel great, I had to ride this momentum to earn points.
If I apply pressure like this...
*Presssss—!*
My arms throbbed from the continuous exertion.
Yet, contrary to my efforts, there was absolutely no change in the VIP satisfaction level.
My shoulders began to tremble slightly.
Not from muscle fatigue, but from sheer anxiety...
If I couldn't produce results here, the time left until tomorrow was extremely scarce.
If Owen fell asleep and woke up tomorrow morning, his cruise itinerary would end.
And the mission would end in failure.
This was a disaster.
I had to do something...
Just then, Owen, who had been lying face down, sat up.
If I let him leave now, it was over. I had to keep him here somehow...
"Miss Seolbin, I enjoyed the massage today. My body feels quite relaxed, so I think I'll head back to my room now."
"Ah... G-Guild Leader!"
"Didn't I say I was sufficiently satisfied? Why do you have that look on your face?"
"I-I..."
"Hmm... Do you want to massage me more?"
"Y-Yes! Yes, Guild Leader! There's still more I haven't shown you..."
"My, you are dedicated, Miss Seolbin. Very well, then. This time, I'll trouble you with my front."
"Yes..."
I barely managed to hold back the man who was about to leave the massage room. Fortunately, he lay back down on the bed, this time facing upward.
But then...
Something I never wanted to see caught my eye.
Seeing it...
...my hands began to shake.
I was so flustered that my mind went completely blank.
Because his underwear was bulging prominently...
I tried to snap out of my daze, but...
...knowing all too well the reason why a man's lower front would swell like that,
...goosebumps erupted all over the back of my neck.
Because he had reacted so indifferently to my massage, I had let my guard down.
I had temporarily forgotten the lustful desires that a man like Owen harbored.
What on earth is Seolbin doing right now? No, she is definitely doing her absolute best.
But...
Why hasn't any message popped up regarding Owen's VIP satisfaction?
Is Seolbin's massage skill that terrible?
Honestly, I can't even imagine that.
No matter how bad her massage skills might be, receiving a massage from her would inevitably feel amazing.
Seolbin is a beauty so breathtaking that just looking at her triggers a rush of dopamine.
If a woman like her is kneading your body, even if her touch is awkward, it's bound to feel incredible.
But why is nothing showing up on my status window yet?
Anxiety creeps up the back of my neck. A damp, ominous foreboding weighs heavily on my mind.
Even so, my mind repeatedly replays the image of Seolbin massaging that bastard Owen.
Regardless of my will, my brain forces the scene to play out, leaving me with no choice but to imagine it.
When Seolbin's slender hands touch Owen's back, what is that bastard thinking?
Her hands are so delicate and soft. They are delicate enough to craft an intricate, complex wristwatch out of pure ice.
If those hands, which once crafted an ice watch just for me, are now massaging that bastard Owen's back...
...what is Seolbin thinking?
That bastard Owen's body is bound to be rock hard.
As a hunter, he's weaker than me, but his muscles are undoubtedly much denser.
Seolbin massaging a back like that.
And Owen, savoring her touch.
How could Owen possibly not get hard?
I don't even want to think about it, but...
...it's impossible for him not to.
What if...
What if he rolls over and demands that Seolbin massage his front too?
What if Seolbin sees his erect, bulging crotch?
It's driving me insane.
A dull ache begins to spread through my lower half.
?
Ridiculously, I've gotten an erection. Getting aroused in a situation like this makes me want to vomit.
The endless waiting must have driven me half-mad.
I need to stop these twisted thoughts.
Taking a deep breath, I try to clear my head, but at that exact moment—
VIP Owen is pleased with Han Seolbin's actions!
VIP Satisfaction has increased to 4 points!
The message appeared.
Thank goodness. Seolbin had managed to satisfy him.
But...
...the status window didn't specify exactly what action had satisfied him.
That lack of clear information...
...shattered my brief moment of relief, allowing anxiety to creep back in.
It rises again.
The image of Owen standing erect before Seolbin. In my imagination, he wears a greasy, mocking smirk.
"Fuck."
A curse slips past my lips.
Yet...
...mixed with that rage is an inexplicable arousal.
My erection hardens further.
My cock throbs, urging me to stroke it and ejaculate right this instant.
This is a complete contradiction.
Denying and suppressing that shameful desire, I desperately wait for Seolbin to secure the final point.
But at the end of that agonizing wait, the message I see is...
VIP Owen is pleased with Han Seolbin's actions!
VIP Satisfaction has reached 5 points!
VIP Owen is highly satisfied with Han Seolbin!
VIP Satisfaction has exceeded the maximum of 5 points, earning 1 bonus point!
VIP Satisfaction has reached 6 points!
Something has gone terribly wrong.