Chapter 12. Demon Realm
“Captainnn—!!”
Yael, who had been pacing anxiously and stomping her feet, came running out of the darkness toward the captain who had appeared. She wanted nothing more than to throw herself into his arms right then and there, but pride held her back from actually doing it.
“You okay?”
“I'm fine. But Gid and Mahushu...”
Ji-hyuk quickly strode toward his companions. Gid had come this close to dying, but thankfully, no one on Ji-hyuk's team had kicked the bucket. The knights, however, had lost two. To think things had gone south so fast in that brief moment. The Death Knight had been a real monster, no doubt about it. If his team had been full of greenhorns, the casualties would've been way worse.
Gid's body had recovered, but he was still lying on the ground, whimpering from the aftereffects of barely clawing his way back from the brink of death. At least he had enough strength left to crack a wry grin.
“Captain...”
“You did good, you little shit.”
Ji-hyuk squatted down by his head and patted that bald dome of his a couple times.
“Gimme... some pocket money... fat stacks... fuck...”
What a punk. His sheer dedication to pussy was almost admirable. Was this why humanity hadn't gone extinct yet?
Mahushu, who had taken the worst of the injuries, bounced back surprisingly fast. She'd gotten some healing, but it was mostly thanks to her beastkin's superior recovery. Gid, who had soaked up way more heals than her, was still groaning like a bitch—proof of how fragile humans really were.
The two dead knights were mangled beyond recognition. No way a non-tank knight could tank a massive hammer smash like that. One of them must've been the knight captain, since he was nowhere to be seen. So Ji-hyuk just pointed at one of the surviving knights and put him in temporary charge.
“Y-Yes sir! I'll do my best—!”
The crushed-up meat piles that used to be bodies looked too heavy to haul. Better to bury them properly somewhere and just grab their belongings. The knights agreed that was the way to go.
Kayak shook the unconscious porters awake one by one. The ones who finally stirred rolled their eyes in terror, still shaking like leaves.
“The fight's over. No need to freak out anymore.”
Ji-hyuk announced that he'd killed the demon. They hadn't seen it themselves, but no one doubted it. After the display of skill he'd put on earlier, even a demon seemed fair game. Hell, the damn thing had run off scared anyway.
They quickly cleaned up the area. Buried the two bodies, pocketed their gear, and moved the group somewhere else. The stench of blood here made it a shitty spot to crash for the night. Still, the tension had eased up a lot compared to before. They'd passed the worst of it. But no slacking off until they were out of the Demon Realm—who knew when more monsters might show up.
The group lit a campfire and stuffed their growling stomachs. Everyone shoveled food in without a word.
“Night watch is me and two knights tonight. Everyone else, get some solid sleep.”
Ji-hyuk decided to stand watch with the two knights who'd passed out earlier. Ashamed of their fuck-up, they accepted the order without complaint. The rest of the crew hit the mats and were out like lights.
The Demon Realm forest was dead silent.
Woooo—.
Some nameless beast howled somewhere in the distance. The demon was dead, but the place was still creepy as hell.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Ji-hyuk's group trekked all day and finally escaped the Demon Realm. By then, the sky was already dyed red with sunset. Everyone wore expressions like they couldn't believe they'd survived that nightmare.
“Gods above, thank you.”
The porters slammed their foreheads into the dirt shouting it. This was an experience they'd never forget.
The knights were just as grateful. Sure, they'd lost two comrades, but surviving still meant something.
“Fuckin' hell, it's really over. Whew, shit, fuck, I almost croaked without even getting my dick wet.”
Gid rambled about how his dream death was dying balls-deep in pussy. Classic bald bastard wish—everyone chuckled.
They camped one more night by a stream, pushed through the thick grass, and kept walking until a path finally appeared. Their steps grew lighter. A full day later, they reached that slash-and-burn village from before. The wagons that had carried them sat there gathering dust, waiting.
“Wagons—!!”
Gid lit up like he was about to get a maid's sponge bath. Reasons varied, but the joy was universal.
They crashed in the huts one more night, then loaded up. The bumpy wagon ride was quiet. Everyone stared off in deep thought. Fresh off cheating death, they were probably hit with some profound feels. Mahushu especially seemed changed. She'd strutted around proclaiming herself an honorable warrior, but she'd been less help than the knights—she had to be pretty disappointed in herself.
Ji-hyuk saw it as a good wake-up call. Growth happened in stages, and right now, she needed to recognize her place. Self-reflection. Confidence was fine, but hers had tipped into arrogance. Just like Master Eizel had always warned about.
—Turns out, I'm not all that after all.
That was where all real reflection started. The ones with potential would grind to overcome it; the duds would collapse in despair.
...Ji-hyuk firmly believed Mahushu had potential.
The wagons rattled on for half a day straight before reaching the small town of Sele Toria.
Ahh—.
No one had expected to miss this shithole town this much.
Word of Ji-hyuk's return had spread, and the baron came out of his palace personally. He didn't dare ask if the mission succeeded or failed—just peeked nervously. Ji-hyuk scratched his itch right away.
“Mission accomplished.”
“...For real? You actually killed the demon?”
“Yes.”
Of course, no way to prove it here and now. That required the imperial capital's mission archives. Still, the baron bought it. Ji-hyuk wasn't the type to lie. And even if he was, treating the weary crew well was good enough.
“You have my deepest thanks. I won't forget your efforts.”
“Appreciate it.”
The baron hooked them up with rooms to rest. Gid was over the moon about finally getting that maid bath service.
“Alright, see you all later.”
“Yes, Captain.”
The group scattered to their rooms. Ji-hyuk got the maid treatment too. With his flawless looks and build, the maid attending him had eyes burning with heat, her movements laced with flirtation. But he kept his hands off her.
Cleaned up, the crew headed to the dining hall. The baron was already waiting—un-noble-like, showing up early.
“Sit, please.”
The others trickled in. The four surviving knights entered too. Once everyone was gathered, the baron first mourned the two fallen knights. Then he heaped praise on Ji-hyuk's achievement.
“Never dreamed a candidate would pull this off. ...It's all thanks to you.”
“No, it was a team effort. Especially those two noble souls who rest now—we couldn't have done it without them.”
“True. You're right.”
They passed the credit around and dug in. After days of stinky jerky, fresh food hit like heaven. Everyone ate till they were stuffed and satisfied.
Meal over, they dispersed to their rooms. Ji-hyuk stood by the window, gazing at the pitch-black night.
He clasped his hands behind his back and let out a long breath through his nose. So far, so good. Solid start. Just get back to the capital safe, and C-rank hero was locked in. The capital would lose its shit—first ever one-shot jump to C-rank, historic stuff.
Perfect. That was the plan.
Once he was a hero, he'd start a guild. For raising heroes, obviously. Scout talent, train 'em up. Needed a big organization like that. That's why he'd gone hero himself—nobody'd join some no-name's guild. But a record-breaking hero? Instant hype.
Wonder if the capital's got any good prospects...
Lost in thought, someone knocked. The druggie TA, Yael.
“Tired as hell—why aren't you sleeping?”
She stood with hands clasped politely in front, head bowed low. No words.
Ji-hyuk smiled faintly. He knew exactly what this junkie TA wanted.
“Yael.”
“...Yes.”
“No judgment. You can say it.”
The sharp, rational instructor in public was now just a bitch in heat craving her crush's cock.
“Captain, sorry, but... I, I can't hold out anymore...”
Ji-hyuk eyed her quietly. She peeked up, gauging his reaction.
“Double casting... I'll nail it later, promise. I'm so close. Just a bit more...”
“Then go do it.”
“I can't take it anymore... You know how bad I am.”
“...That why you did what you did?”
Ah—. Yael dropped her head in shame. That time meant that night, obviously.
“Huh?”
He pressed for an answer.
“...Yes.”
“That desperate?”
“H-Hallucinations... I rushed it. Sorry.”
“Hallucinations?”
“Yes. Believe me. For real.”
Ji-hyuk chuckled.
“Not saying I don't. Just... surprised me back then.”
Fair enough. Pants down, pussy spread—what guy wouldn't be shocked?
Ji-hyuk approached slowly. She tensed up hard—clenched her asshole without thinking. He got close. Her female scent hit him. She caught his male musk.
“What'd the hallucination say?”
“...Huh?”
“What'd it say?”
......Ah......
Yael couldn't speak. Ji-hyuk whispered slyly.
“Tell me straight, hmm?”
Her chest tickled. Body heating up.
“Come on.”
She fought the shame and opened her mouth slow.
“...P-Pu-Pussy... spread... look...”
“Yeah?”
Ji-hyuk grinned wide.
“Then spread that pussy.”
—!! Yael's head snapped up. Ah—.
Ji-hyuk kindly repeated.
“Spread your pussy. Come on.”
—Spread your pussy.
...The exact situation she'd fantasized about—could she really refuse if the captain said it again? ...No, she couldn't. Hell, this was what she wanted. Not a hallucination—the captain saying it for real.
She looked up with wet eyes, body trembling in weird ecstasy. The moment she'd craved.
“...Yes, Captain.”
This time, definitely no hallucination. Yael happily decided to spread her pussy.