On the Return Journey

The carriage carrying Kang Ji-hyuk slowly pulled away from the city of Milanko. A hollow ache settled in one corner of the hero's chest. It weighed heavy, gnawing at him, then gradually... ever so gradually... faded into the distance. It was the sensation of loss he'd almost forgotten.

Ji-hyuk let out a deep, heavy sigh toward the jostling scenery. The tenderness and regret rode away on the wind, vanishing far off into the horizon. By the time he reached the capital, he'd exhaled those burdensome emotions bit by bit, soothing his heart. He'd lived enough lifetimes already. It wasn't wise to let a single feeling hold him back from what needed doing.

Now, the ones relying on him weren't just Eizel—there were countless comrades trailing in his wake.

The moment he arrived in the capital, Ji-hyuk headed straight for the witch Jeanne's house. Handing over the Mystic Stone came first. He went around to the back yard and knocked firmly on the rear door. No sense drawing prying eyes.

"Who's there?"

"It's me."

The door creaked open. The witch with her ruddy red hair, much like Ludvine's, greeted him with a beaming smile. ...She looked impossibly young for a mother with a grown daughter.

"Your Excellency...!"

"Mind if I come in?"

"Yes, please, come in."

The hero stepped briskly into the witch's home. A sweet, herbal scent brushed his nose.

"You just arrived?"

"Had to, with something this important."

The witch's smile faded slightly as she swallowed hard. She knew exactly what it was.

Ji-hyuk pulled a small vial from his pocket. She cupped her hands reverently and took it with utmost care. The substance inside, ruddy like her hair, was thick and viscous as mud. Jeanne was instantly captivated.

The Mystic Stone—!

She wanted to ask how he'd obtained it, but the hero watching her with lips sealed tight gave no sign of volunteering anything. She let the curiosity go. ...It didn't matter how he'd gotten it. What counted was that it was in her hands now.

"How many vials do you think we can get out of it?"

"I'm not sure. I don't know the yield, and... this is my first time working with it."

"Two, maybe?"

"I'll aim for that."

"...How long?"

"At least a week. It demands focus. This is no small thing—we'll need to handle it with care."

"Got it. Send word to the mansion when it's done. I'll come myself."

"Understood."

Their conversation paused there.

"Saw your daughter's face already?"

"Yes, she stayed a few days then went back to the academy dorms. She's obsessed with magic studies these days—buried in books even at home."

"...Is that so?"

Good for her.

"Anyway, thanks for your work. ...Anything you want? Money, whatever—name it."

"Once this is done, I'll think about it. I want to focus on this for now."

"Fair enough."

The hero gave her a small smile. She offered tea, but he waved it off lightly.

"Nah, I'm good."

He headed back to the rear door. She saw ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠him off to the threshold.

"Take care."

"I'll do my best, Your Excellency."

"Good."

With that, the hero was gone. Jeanne let out a long breath and shut the door with a click. The witch's house fell silent once more.

After a trip to the Hall of Fame, Ji-hyuk returned to the mansion in the late afternoon. With the master home, the commotion was inevitable.

"His Excellency's back—!"

The comrades swarmed him. Mahushu's team had finished their mission ahead of him and welcomed the hero warmly. Yael and Ludvine were holed up at the academy for magic studies, nowhere in sight. The thug triplets were, predictably, absent at this hour.

Little sister Lorelia, her stamina much recovered, walked out herself to celebrate his safe return. She wasn't fully healed, but being mobile was progress.

"Your Excellency, I can use buffs properly now—!"

Lorelia looked itching to brag. Ji-hyuk smiled proudly and gently stroked her glossy hair.

"Really? That's impressive."

He exchanged warm greetings with every teammate glad to see him safe. Mahushu, forgetting decorum, threw herself into his arms and threw a full tantrum.

"The second I saw you, my nipples went rock hard—!"

Grace recoiled in horror. She ground her teeth, pinning the blame on the usual culprit. That damn bald bastard Gid's doing... Fucking asshole...!

Kayak and Grendal chuckled. Ji-hyuk laughed in disbelief before asking who'd taught her that.

"Ludvine said so? That your nipples perk up when you see someone you like—!"

Turned out the culprit wasn't the bald guy, but the half-witch. Oops.

Grace faltered at the unexpected source. Ji-hyuk tapped the mixed-blood suin's head and gently scolded her that such talk wasn't for mixed company.

"Really? ...I've said it a lot. What now?"

"To who?"

"Our guildmates, and... Gunda the hero too."

Ji-hyuk let out another dry chuckle. ...Gunda better not be tossing and turning all night over that.

Once the welcomes wrapped, the captain headed to his third-floor bedroom. He tossed his travel bag and scabbard onto the floor and flung open the terrace doors.

The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving faint, sticky traces of sunset in the sky. He inhaled the cool evening air deeply, exhaled long, then stepped back inside.

From the terrace, the hero went straight to the bath, sinking into the steaming water to savor the comfort. Back home.

He pictured Eizel, alone on the bed. ...Maybe he should've brought her. But even if he'd asked, she'd have refused. Forcing a fairy who'd fled the world's harshness back into it would be pure selfishness. At least he wanted to preserve her pristine reputation. ...The path ahead for him was filthy and painful enough.

After his bath, he filled up at the dining hall and settled in the parlor overlooking the garden. Moonlight poured down, turning the garden into a theatrical scene all its own.

As he drained half his teacup, lizardman Kayak and orc Grendal entered. Ji-hyuk pointed to the chairs opposite with a flat palm.

"Tea?"

"No, thank you."

Neither seemed the tea-drinking type. He nodded lightly and refilled his cup.

"Grendal, how's Mahushu doing? Getting the hang of it?"

"I'm hardly one to judge perfectly, but from my view, she's improved tremendously. Unrecognizable compared to before."

"Good to hear."

Ji-hyuk nodded casually. He'd known she'd grow, of course. But without watching post-hero promotion, it felt stifling. That was always the hitch in raising heroes. Maybe test her skills tomorrow.

The lizardman, who'd been listening quietly, spoke up softly.

"Captain, something to report."

"What?"

Kayak drew an envelope from his pocket and offered it politely. Ji-hyuk took it, tore it open right there, and scanned the contents.

"A few days ago, a hero came by the mansion and left this directly."

Ji-hyuk nodded as he read, a smirk tugging his lips.

"This is it... the Otherworlder gathering."

"...Pardon?"

"Otherworlder heroes' meetup. That's the one. I'm an Otherworlder too. Birds of a feather, right?"

"Ah, I see."

Of course, they didn't take every Otherworlder. B-rank minimum. Now that Ji-hyuk qualified, they were extending the invite.

He knew the group well— he'd frequented it plenty. Not particularly useful, though. Mostly drinking, bad jokes, or screwing around. Still, ignoring it outright would paint him as an eyesore. Better to show face once. Network a bit while at it...

"Anything else to report?"

"Nothing much. ...Oh, someone from the Valkan Duke's house stopped by."

Ji-hyuk clicked his tongue. Persistent bastard. He'd dealt with this before in past loops. Drag it out, and they'd back off eventually. The duke was tenacious but cut losses coldly when it suited.

"Got it. Good work, both of you."

"Just doing our duty."

The loyal subordinates bowed. Ji-hyuk flashed a grin and dismissed them. Once they left, he soon retreated to his bedroom.

Hoo... His mind was a tangle.

Hero Gunda heard the news of Ji-hyuk's return late that evening via messenger. He lay on his bed, heart conflicted.

Gunda, my nipples are gonna go rock hard—!

He'd been shocked by ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Mahushu's words. A surge of lust hit him hard. He'd barely restrained the urge to pull her close and kiss her. He knew she was an innocent virgin clueless about sex. She'd just blurted something she'd heard.

...He knew, but it still aroused him unbearably. Damn it.

Gunda tossed and turned on the bed. Every lewd thought felt like a betrayal of Kang Ji-hyuk the hero. Such a kind, good man. This was wrong...

The deeper his affection for Mahushu grew, the more his conscience stung. He felt sorry to Ji-hyuk. Despised himself for lusting after another man's woman. Am I really this pathetic?

The instant he heard Ji-hyuk was back, Mahushu flooded his mind obsessively. ...Did they...? Probably not yet. She was too pure for that. But considering how alluring she was, would Ji-hyuk really hold back? Any guy with a dick couldn't ignore a woman clinging with affection!

Enough. Just sleep. None of my business.

But the thought wouldn't budge. ...Maybe tonight, fresh from expedition, Ji-hyuk would bed her. Gunda knew firsthand how pent-up lust exploded on homecoming.

He tried not to think. Clenched his jaw till his teeth ached, squeezed his eyes shut. But his mind betrayed him to the end.

"F-fuck...!"

He bolted upright. Guilt and arousal twisted viciously in his chest. Sorry. Sorry, Kang Ji-hyuk...

The righteous hero couldn't hold out. He shoved down his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pants. His cock stood rigid, begging for touch.

Gunda, my nipples are gonna go rock hard—!

Nipples... Mahushu's nipples...! But it was Ji-hyuk touching and sucking them, not him. ...The scene kept playing in his head. He tried inserting himself, but guilt blocked it.

Gunda gripped his cock and stroked. Imagining Mahushu moaning under Ji-hyuk's caresses. Ugh, ugh.

After so long holding back, climax built fast. In his fantasies alone, he'd cum several times over from toying with her. Finally, he splattered thick white semen on the floor.

Hah, hah.

He gritted his teeth. Sorry. Fuck. This is wrong...!

Once wasn't enough; twice was easy. He jerked off two more times, picturing their intercourse.