Chapter 12. Demon Realm
In the blink of an eye, a month and a half flew by like an arrow. Ji-hyuk's group passed through several cities and finally arrived at Sele Toria, the westernmost city on the continent.
Even Gid, who knew the lay of the land well, was seeing this place for the first time. He curiously took in the modest little town. Being so far from the central regions, it had that rustic rural vibe. Of course, it wasn't as rundown as the small town of Gudrak, but compared to the other cities, it felt pretty backwater.
The townsfolk eyed these unfamiliar travelers with wonder, especially staring at the non-humans. Most of the residents here were human, with only the occasional goblin mixed in. No surprise—it looked like a dull place for hot-blooded races like orcs or lizardmen to live. There weren't even any mercenaries on the streets, which said it all.
Mahushu gawked with wide eyes at this place so utterly different from her homeland. Kaisalbar, the desert city, had been nothing but golden sands, but here, sand was nowhere to be found. Vibrant green foliage grew so lush it hurt the eyes.
"Don't act so country-bumpkin, warrior girl."
"Country? Where's a classy warrior like me ever been country—!"
Gid teased Mahushu playfully. She bristled at the word and launched into her usual spiel about honorable warriors.
Yael shot Gid a slight glare, as if telling him to stop picking on the innocent girl. The bald bastard just chuckled slyly.
Ji-hyuk skipped the inn and headed straight for the inner castle. With the mission site right around the corner, it was time to borrow some baron muscle.
The guards at the inner gate politely asked their business. Ji-hyuk's group didn't look like your average travelers, after all.
"We're here to see the baron."
The guards exchanged uneasy glances, unsure how to proceed, and called for the guard captain. Protocol was protocol.
Soon, a pot-bellied middle-aged man emerged and demanded their identities.
"We're here on hero business. We need to speak with His Excellency about something urgent..."
At those words, the captain bowed low. Heroes were exalted figures you barely dared look at.
He bellowed to open the gates and sent a soldier inside to announce them. Ji-hyuk's group strode confidently into the castle.
Gid puffed up his shoulders proudly at the sight of people bowing and scraping to them.
"Fuck, this is why they say get ahead in life. My dick's twitching from how good this feels."
Mahushu whispered to Yael, asking what a "dick" was. The sharp teaching assistant faltered for a moment at her curious student's question.
"Oh, uh... it's this thing that, like, twitches when you're feeling good. Guys have 'em."
"Oh?"
Thankfully, Mahushu didn't press further. Good thing she wasn't the model student type.
The group followed the guard captain's lead to the palace. Calling it a palace was generous—it was downright shabby. Either the baron wasn't into extravagance, or he was broke. Or both.
They entered. Maids and servants pressed against the walls, clearing the corridor. The baron's office wasn't far.
"Right here."
The captain halted precisely at the door. The stiff-backed escort knights caught his signal and knocked smartly.
"They've arrived."
- Bring them in.
The knights flung the doors wide. The plump-faced baron welcomed Ji-hyuk's group warmly.
"Welcome to Sele Toria."
"Such a warm reception leaves me at a loss."
"If only I'd known sooner, I could've thrown a proper feast. Shame. Please, sit."
The doors thudded shut. The group stood at attention behind him, while only Ji-hyuk took the seat opposite the baron.
He cleared up a misunderstanding first.
"By the way, since you seem to have the wrong idea—I'm not a hero yet. Just a candidate."
"Ah... is that so?"
"So no need for the formalities."
"Got it. How about we talk like this, then? That work?"
"Yeah, perfect."
With the honorifics sorted, they exchanged introductions and a light handshake. Ji-hyuk briefly introduced his standing comrades as well.
"But what brings you all the way out here...?"
"The mission."
"Mission?"
The baron looked puzzled. The last hero to visit had been six or seven years ago. Truth be told, there wasn't much here worth a hero's time.
...Except for one thing.
But that wasn't something a mere candidate should touch. Even the heroes who'd come years back had failed and slunk away.
"Don't tell me... you're here because of the demon in the Demon Realm?"
"Looks like you know."
"Hoo..."
The baron let out a troubled sigh.
"Frankly, that doesn't seem like candidate-level work. Even heroes failed."
"I knew that coming in. Don't worry about it."
The baron fell silent. He knew he couldn't just send away a candidate who'd trekked from the capital. Nor could he forcibly dissuade someone set on the task.
"Alright. I'll cooperate fully."
"Not asking for much. Just a little help."
"No worries. I won't neglect someone devoting themselves to the continent."
Thankfully, the baron was a man of sound values. Ji-hyuk expressed his gratitude for the man's thoughtfulness.
The baron provided them cozy, comfortable quarters—and even assigned a personal maid to each.
The group dispersed to their rooms. Gid, fresh from his first attended bath, beamed at dinner like he'd died and gone to heaven. Mahushu looked like she wanted to puke at the sight.
After a hearty evening meal, Ji-hyuk met the baron privately for a more intimate chat.
"Get us some guides and porters."
"That all? No soldiers?"
"Skip the soldiers. Just lend us five or six knights."
"Done."
They exchanged a few more words before parting. Night had already fallen deep.
Sele Toria's nights were quiet. Like any farming town, folks turned in early and rose at dawn. The servants seemed to have finished their duties and retired.
Ji-hyuk veered toward Yael's room for the first time in a while. He knocked lightly, and the junkie mage peeked out, face startled.
No prior heads-up from the boss tonight, so she looked up at him in surprise.
"Ah, Boss... come in."
Her voice dripped with fluster.
The boss stepped a few paces in, hands clasped behind his back, and stood tall.
"Nothing major... Just got some time, so take your dose early tonight. You'll have to hold out once we enter the Demon Realm."
At the long-awaited permission, Yael's lips curled up sharply.
"Ah, yes, got it."
"Yeah. Sleep well. ...Don't overdo it."
With that curt warning, Ji-hyuk turned crisply and left. No lingering.
Ah—.
Yael opened her mouth but couldn't call him back. He was gone.
Regret rooted her in place for a moment. Then drug cravings hit, and she dashed to her luggage.
Like a petty thief, she rummaged frantically and pulled out a deeply hidden leather pouch.
She extracted a paper of powder, portioned some onto her palm, then sealed it tight and stashed it away securely.
She was dying for it. But first things first—she reminded herself firmly.
Get a clue on double casting. Don't forget. Must do it. Don't forget.
At this rate, who knew when double casting would come. Time to borrow the drug's power.
With abundant mana and precise control, maybe she'd crack it—such hopes.
Perfect timing, last chance before the Demon Realm. Resolved, Yael dumped the powder in her mouth.
She licked her palm furiously till it was slick. The long abstinence made the effect hit fast.
Ah, aaaaaah—.
Ecstasy slammed her like lightning. Limbs shook uncontrollably.
The haze passed quick. Heightened nerves caught even faint breezes.
Walking felt orgasmic. She strode forward, only to smack her head on the wall and topple back.
Didn't hurt. She just giggled.
"Dick, dick, Boss's diiiiick—!!"
She yelled it loud, straight from her mind.
She kept licking and sucking her palm.
Suddenly spun, dropped to all fours, barked like a dog.
Crawling wildly, she yanked down her pants, baring her ass.
Groin already drooling fluids.
Dick, dick, dick, diiiiiiiiick—!!!
She writhed in agony, desperate to be impaled on Boss's dick.
She crawled to the door, headbutted it thud-thud.
Sticky fluids stretched and splattered the floor.
"Boss's dick, dick... ahn...!"
Then it hit her—the thing she'd nearly forgotten.
Pondering how to get fucked by Boss's dick sparked the double casting idea.
Ah, right. That, yeah, do that...!
Yael stripped naked first, clothes flying.
She flopped onto the cold floor back-first. Should've chilled her, but feverish heat made it refreshing.
The junkie heaved shuddering breaths, fighting for focus. Tough, but she clenched teeth and endured.
Unlike her bliss-quaking body, mana flowed like breath—effortless.
She yanked in ambient mana hard.
Double casting. Dual spell chants.
Like drawing with both hands. Normally near-impossible, but awakened by the drug, doable.
Her brain spun several times faster.
Ah, aaaah, aaaaaah—.
Both hands manifesting spells simultaneously.
She concentrated to etch the flow in memory.
This moment, she forgot the high, lost in the work.
Here it comes, comes, coooomes, coooooomes, coooooooming—!!!
The spells neared completion. This was it. Exactly it.
Indescribable mental ecstasy hit. Rivaling the bliss of being pierced by Ji-hyuk's dick.
Yes, yes, yes, did it, did it, I did it, IIII DID IIIIT—!!
Two light orbs formed at once.
Aaaah—.
Seeing her creation, she climaxed.
Vision flashed.
"Aheeeeeik—!!"
Juices squirted from her crotch. Eyes rolled back.
Mana cut, orbs vanished.
She remade them with both hands. Climaxed again. Repeated the cycle endlessly.
Did it. I did it. Finally did iiiit—!!
Yael laughed through tears. Sprawled, squirting, sobbing and cackling in drugged bliss.
"Hahaha, dick, Boss's diiiiick, I did it, dick, aaaah."
She babbled mindlessly, throat on autopilot.
Fingers plunged her hole wildly.
Boss, Boss, BOOOOSS—!!
The junkie flailed in rapture, near death.
Impaled the dick. Nailed double casting.
Impaled the dick. Now I can get double-cast by Boss—.
Ehehehe. Aeeeeik. Pussy goooood. Fuck my puuuussy. BOOOOSS—!!!