Chapter 21. New Team
“Fuck! Shit!”
It was the crack of dawn, when no one should be up. Rubbing her sleepy eyes as she headed to the stream to splash some water on her face, Ludvine lost her balance and tumbled forward. She didn’t fall in completely, but her face, arms, and part of her upper body plunged into the water with a splash before she pulled herself out. Her chest and sleeves were soaked through.
Forgetting her drowsiness was secondary—the mood was just utter shit. Yeah, total fucking shit.
The expedition was nothing like the romantic journey Ludvine had imagined. From start to finish, it was a nonstop parade of bullshit.
“This fucking sucks! All of it’s fucking bullshit!”
She couldn’t even wash properly, so she felt grimy and smelled rank. The sleeping arrangements sucked, taking a shit was a hassle, and meals were just dried meat every damn time. Sure, dorm life at the magic academy had its annoyances, but compared to this shitty expedition, it was practically paradise. That’s how bad it was.
Still, she had one last ray of hope: her handsome, badass captain. Ludvine lived day to day just for the sight of him. Even unwashed, the hero seemed to glow. That faint musky scent even felt manly somehow. She was clearly head over heels, but whatever—it didn’t matter. Without that, she’d never make it.
Ludvine trudged back to camp with a sourpuss face, and big lug Bruce called out to her with a smirk.
“Hey, ugly.”
Her redheaded, freckled eyes narrowed to points. Instinctively, she checked if the captain was around first. She had to play the sweet, innocent mage in front of him, at least.
“...You asshole, who’re you calling ugly? Fucking retard.”
“Whoa, look at her snapping just ‘cause the captain’s not here.”
Puhuhu.
The others snickered. Fire shot from Ludvine’s eyes. She was already in a foul mood, and “ugly” just made her blood boil.
“I’m gonna remember every one of you laughing right now. Just you wait—I’ll smash a fireball right into the back of your skulls, you fucks.”
“Oh nooo, I’m so scared.”
Bruce pretended to shiver dramatically. Grendal stepped in.
“Hey, enough.”
Ludvine glared daggers at Bruce’s ugly mug before plopping down right next to Grendal. He was an orc, sure, but he felt like a friendly big brother to her.
“Come on, eat up. Let’s prep to head out.”
The orc patted her back gently, like he was soothing a kid. Her lips pouted.
“I wanna beat that fucker’s ass.”
“He’s just rough around the edges from rolling in harsh places too long. Deep down, he’s a good guy.”
“Nah. That prick’s rotten inside too. Can’t you tell from his eyes? Total asshole... and ugly as sin.”
Grendal chuckled. Ludvine punched his side playfully to shut him up. The orc whined exaggeratedly.
That’s when the captain arrived. Seeing the laughter, he asked with a grin what was up. Bruce opened his mouth to spill, but Ludvine shot him a hey and unleashed a barrage of murderous glares instead. You tell him and you’re fucking dead, you dog.
“Oh... just something like that. Puhuhu.”
As the captain’s gaze turned to her, she flipped her expression to pure innocence and giggled hehe.
Anyway, they scarfed down a quick meal, packed up camp, and hit the road in the carriage again. It had been nearly a month since leaving the capital. After passing one big city and one small one, they were now heading for the continent’s only underground city: Horompel.
No one had been there before—just stories.
“They say if you go there, you get snatched at night and swing a pickaxe till you drop dead.”
Jepopo the kobold loved to yap, especially ghost stories and rumors from who-knows-where. Innocent Ludvine hung on his every word, eyes wide.
In the boring-ass carriage, even bullshit tales were entertaining.
“For real?!”
“Dead serious. Pretty girls get sold as whores, uglier ones tossed to the kidnapped workers. Word is, their pussies get wrecked in days and they croak.”
Bruce, who’d been listening quietly, snickered slyly and pointed at Ludvine.
“Then if this bitch gets nabbed, she’s worker bait.”
“You...!”
Ludvine kicked his shin hard. He didn’t even flinch, just chuckled.
Fucking kill that bastard.
Grendal chuckled heartily. “Still, in a proper city? Come on.”
“It’s real, I swear. You know the underground right under the surface? Total luxury spot. Booze, gambling, hookers—everything.”
“And?”
“They strip you clean, then snatch debtors and chuck ‘em in the mines.”
Surprisingly, Ji-hyuk chimed in. “He’s right. That’s their MO, so watch yourselves. Trust only your teammates—no one else. That’s the best policy.”
Bruce’s smirk vanished. Coming from the captain, it hit different.
“Fuck, for real? ...Damn, scary-ass place.”
“See? Told ya. Don’t get your nose pierced.”
With the captain backing him, Jepopo puffed up.
“S-so they really grab women and... do that stuff?”
Ludvine asked Ji-hyuk all wide-eyed and innocent. He grinned, leaning in to pat her messy red hair.
“Stick by me and you’re safe. Don’t wander off.”
Aaah. Lost in happy fantasies, her freckled face flushed red as her hair. Hehe. She couldn’t help giggling. Even Bruce’s sleazy laugh didn’t bother her.
“Captain, they say the women there are stunners... what do you think?”
Jepopo fished slyly. “I’m good... But I’ll give you a few days free time. Got prep to do anyway. You’re not idiots—you won’t get into trouble, right?”
“Of course! We’re gold-rank mercs—known in the biz.”
Everyone drifted into happy daydreams. Grace tsked at the men and lit another cig.
Years with these horndog males, and their constant horniness still baffled her.
The chatter fizzled out. The carriage fell quiet. Outside, the sun peeked up. The chill eased.
Ludvine still shivered, wrapped tight in her thin blanket.
The field grass swaying in the wind seemed shorter. ...They’d come pretty far north.
Ten more days on the road. They crossed plenty of merchant caravans heading to the capital, all from Horompel. Hauling top-grade iron and precious metals smelted deep underground. Pricey stuff, so plenty of escort mercs.
“Impressive as hell,” Bruce said, eyeing the caravans.
Ji-hyuk played know-it-all. “Half the capital’s metals come from here—easy to grasp, right?”
“That much?”
“That’s why it’s rich. Underground city doesn’t mean drab—you’ll be shocked.”
Early afternoon, Horompel finally came into view. Ludvine’s jaw dropped.
“You said it was underground?”
“It is.”
But towering buildings lined both sides of a massive canyon-like rift. A white castle stabbed skyward like a showoff, topped by a huge gem blasting sunlight in dazzling rays.
Everyone was half-dazed by the splendor. Even Grace forgot her smoke, staring.
They rolled up to the gates. Merc badges got them through smooth. Ji-hyuk headed straight for the count’s castle. No need for hellishly pricey inns with their funds.
Snow-white and massive, the castle drew awed gasps. Flashier than anywhere else. Ludvine’s heart swelled—finally, some romantic adventure payoff. Fuck yeah, worth the suffering.
The hero team dismounted and entered. This was the perk of rank.
A steward greeted them lavishly, apologizing that the count was busy, so he’d handle things.
“Understood. Running a huge city like this? Bound to be swamped.”
“His Excellency’s magnanimity humbles us.”
The middle-aged steward’s silver tongue was pro-level. ...Makes sense—survive a cutthroat place like this, you gotta excel somewhere: looks, talk, muscle, cash.
They were shown to quarters—lavish as hell. From the window, the yawning canyon glowed red with flames and gray smoke billowing from below.
“Fuck, it’s huge.”
Jepopo gawked, whistling. Like a dragon’s claw gouge. People in the rift looked like ants. Even at dusk, the depths glowed lava-red, lighting the city like neon.
They wolfed down the count’s dinner and crowded windows, gawking. This was the view from the top.
Ludvine propped her elbows on the sill, chin in hands, soaking in the romance. Stories to brag about back in the capital. ...If only the hero was right here.
Night fell black. The redhead smacked the mana orb on the table. It flared, lighting the room. How rich do you gotta be to leave pricey shit like this unguarded? The count’s wealth was unimaginable.
She rummaged her bag, pulled a book, and lounged crooked on the bed.
The Tale of Mage Linje and Hero Rubor
She flipped to her bookmark and dove in. Her free hand wandered teasingly over her chest and crotch.
Captain!
Ludvine projected herself as the heroine, him as the hero. The steamy scene hit, and she was instantly wet.
Fuck, yes, so good, fucking amazing.
Imagining his cock, she ground hard against her crotch. Pleasure surged.
“Captain, Captain, I love you, love youuu.”
—I love you too, Ludvine.
“Kiss me.”
Mmm. She puckered up, tongue lolling lewdly. Orgasm hit; her hips bucked.
“Hngh!”
She slumped, book clunking beside her, panting raggedly.
Aah.
“Fuck...”
Feeling pathetic, Ludvine muttered hollowly.
“I wanna... fuck so bad...”