Chapter 34. Alley Boss One.
The next day at dawn, the four heroes transformed into a mercenary group with the hilariously rustic name of Eagle Mercenary Corps. They headed to the north gate of the city before sunrise and exchanged light greetings with the two other mercenary groups already waiting there. Plenty of the mercenaries were already eyeing up Ji-hyuk's two women with lustful stares.
"Fuck, you gonna keep staring or what?"
As expected, the hot-tempered Ganesha snapped at them the moment she caught those lecherous gazes raking over her body. Still, the bastards just grinned like they enjoyed the bite—more spice the better—and didn't let up.
"Ganesha, easy. That's just how these guys are."
Until they crossed the gorge, Ji-hyuk was nominally the leader of the mercenaries, so he lightly reined in the fuming princess. She shot them dirty looks before whipping her head away with a hmph and pressing right up against Ji-hyuk's side.
"...Hmph. I'm only holding back 'cause of you."
Ji-hyuk nearly blurted out, Me? Or you mean my dick? but swallowed it down with a gulp.
Soon enough, the Jack Trading Company arrived. The three mercenary groups linked up with the caravan and passed through the north gate. The wagon carrying Eagle Mercenary Corps slowly rolled out of the city. By then, the sky was just starting to lighten in the east.
Surprisingly chatty Gunda broke the awkward silence. "This gorge has quite the nasty reputation. I came through here once before, and monsters swarmed us every damn night. Kept me up the whole time—soul-shaking stuff."
Ji-hyuk remembered his own past run-in here. He'd encountered Azgul, that hermaphroditic goat demon with both cock and pussy.
...Pretty sure I fingered Yael's drugged-up pussy back then.
"Keep going past here and eventually you hit the desert city of Kaisalbar. That's where I first met Ji-hyuk."
"...Kaisalbar?"
The princess perked up at the mention of Ji-hyuk. Gunda jumped on it eagerly. "Yeah, Kaisalbar. Sur threw this tournament, and me and Ji-hyuk both entered. ...We got our asses absolutely handed to us. You remember, right Ji-hyuk?"
Ji-hyuk chuckled dryly. "Wasn't at full strength back then."
"Why? Did he beat you that bad?"
Gunda rushed to correct himself as the princess smirked. "Ahem, not that bad, Your Highness... just a bit..."
"Fuck, he beat your ass black and blue. I can tell just looking at you."
"...Yes, he beat my ass black and blue."
"You little shit. You'll need another hundred years to catch up to him. Just spear-thrust your dick off instead, punk."
"That's why I'm going all out these days."
"Oh ho, look at this punk getting cocky now that he's grown a bit?"
"No, Your Highness! When did I ever—"
Gunda folded without a proper fight. The princess looked at him like a kid brother, then ruffled his hair roughly after raising her hand high.
"Cute little shit... Not a kid anymore, huh? Lemme see that dick. All grown up now?"
"Y-Your Highness...!"
"Aw, fuck, fine. Just messing with you. Don't get all serious."
Even Elizabeth was numb to scenes like this now. Back in the day, she'd have been mortified inside at all the cock and dick talk... Habits were scary things.
The caravan pushed through the whole day and reached the gorge entrance. The caravan master was a show-off; no sooner had he hopped off the wagon than he summoned the three mercenary groups and his guards, cleared his throat, and launched into a long-winded speech. It boiled down to this:
- Rumors say the gorge is extra rowdy lately.
- That's why he splurged on three whole mercenary groups this time.
- So bust your asses protecting the caravan and earn your pay, fuckers.
Ganesha, with her fiery temper, couldn't let it slide without a word. "Fuck, that guy's got a mouth on him. ...Stick a wick in his navel and light it—human candle, right?"
"Pfft."
Elizabeth stifled a laugh at the lame joke, eyeing Gunda who was doubled over wheezing pathetically. Surprisingly, he cracked up hard at even unfunny quips. The princess seemed to like how Gunda laughed along so freely; the two had become like real siblings now. No more whining about how tough she was to handle—they chattered away like old pals.
First watch went to Red Bear Mercenary Corps, then Eagle, and finally Giner Mercenary Corps. The four heroes gathered around a small campfire and bedded down.
Uuuuwoooo—
An unknown monster's howl rode the chilly night air. Ji-hyuk gazed up at the starry sky twinkling overhead, then slowly closed his eyes to sleep.
· · ·
The caravan cleared the gorge in six full days. Monsters infested the place just like the rumors said, keeping them up every night fending off attacks. Aside from one unlucky bastard who got his head chomped off, everyone made it through unscathed.
They trekked another full day after exiting the gorge and finally entered the great city of Palahinyo. Ji-hyuk collected the rest of his pay and parted ways with the group. The weary heroes headed to a nearby inn for some R&R.
Naturally, guys bunked with guys, girls with girls— not enough rooms for singles. They washed up quick in the baths, scarfed dinner in the hall, then scattered back to their rooms.
Ganesha grabbed Ji-hyuk before he left. "Hey, Kang Ji-hyuk. ...Meet me tonight."
"Why?"
"Why you ask, you punk...? You know damn well."
She tiptoed up, needy expression on her face, lips brushing his ear. "Fuck, I can't hold out anymore..."
...Fair enough. A week of just fingering herself—she deserved some release. Truth be told, Ji-hyuk was a bit intimidated by this lewd princess's libido. Not a druggie like Yael, no masochistic kink like Grace, but her obsession with sex had to be innate. Physical types often turned into sex maniacs, and she seemed cut from that cloth. Probably channeled all that pent-up lust into building muscle back when she couldn't act on it.
If she'd married back then, she'd have fucked her husband to death.
"Got it. See you tonight."
"For real? ...Then come out if you hear noise at night. Got it?"
"Yes, Your Highness. Rest easy till then."
"You too—sleep tight."
Her hand slyly brushed over his crotch bulge before she spun back to her room.
In modern times, that'd be straight-up sexual harassment lawsuit.
Gunda was already out cold, sprawled belly-up with the blanket kicked to his feet. Ji-hyuk chuckled once, then hit the hay. Staring at the ceiling, he ran through tomorrow's to-do list. Top priority: contact the info broker for Don Basil.
Back alleys were tricky—you couldn't just charge in blindly. Ji-hyuk knew the streets inside out; give that dick collector even a sliver of an opening, and he'd vanish. Couldn't fully trust Palahinyo's count either. No guarantee the count wasn't in bed with this damn collector. Connections like that were the norm.
Memory fuzzy after so long, but he recalled some link between them. Even if not full partners, the inner castle was bound to have dark elf spies. Sneak in there, and their covers would blow. Odds of nabbing the dark elf would plummet. Plus, dark elf Budel was already at war with Don Basil—everything was on hair-trigger alert.
Caution was key. As he mulled it over, night deepened. The chatter died down, and the air grew still. Ji-hyuk was drifting off when the door in the next room creaked open. He snapped awake.
Footsteps stopped at his door. He glanced at Gunda—dead to the world, lost in dreams. Ji-hyuk slipped out quietly.
The princess waited in the hall, face shadowed with lust. They walked in silence out of the building and into a dark, deserted alley. It reeked faintly of mildew.
"Just once, okay?"
"What? Once? ...No way. I've been holding back forever, you punk."
She fidgeted, then held up two fingers. "Fine, twice... top and bottom. Deal? ...Fuck, me begging like this?!"
"Alright, twice it is."
Score. Ganesha grinned like she'd won the negotiation, dropped to her knees in front of him, yanked down his pants, and pulled out his cock. No trace of shame in her moves anymore.
"Hey... stroke my hair too."
"Your hair?"
She just nodded and engulfed him. He obliged, petting her head while briefing her on tomorrow. "Gonna be busy. Can't drag this out."
"...Doing what?"
She spat him out to ask. "Meeting people, buying stuff..."
Slurp, schlorp, smack, glurk.
His words cut off. He'd held back too—needed the stimulation. Under the pouring moonlight, they went top once, bottom once, lost in the act. They never noticed the figure peeking slyly from the window above.
The two heroes straightened their clothes and slipped back to the inn. A quick nod goodnight, and they split to their rooms.
Gunda slept with the blanket shoved down, belly exposed. Ji-hyuk pulled it up to his chest, brushed a hand over the peaceful face, then returned to bed. He sank into calm slumber.
Far off, some rooster crowed cock-a-doodle-doo in the moonless night. The echo faded into silence.