Chapter 24. The Beaten Woman
The hero team slowly departed the underground city. Kobold Jepopo licked his nose with his tongue, gazing wistfully at the receding count's castle. It gleamed brilliantly under the rising sunlight.
"…We're really leaving now."
Jepopo muttered it almost to himself. Grace, pipe clenched in her teeth, puffed short drags of smoke while staring endlessly at the castle. She still couldn't forget that scorching first night with the captain. It had been intense and potent enough to effortlessly shove aside the Regma who'd filled her heart for years. Her dead lover had faded into a dim haze, while her beloved captain stood in sharp focus.
Sorry, Reg. I'm a bad girl. …But I think it's time to let you go.
Grace inhaled the smoke deep into her lungs. Then she exhaled it in a thin, drawn-out stream. She repeated it several times.
Goodbye, Reg. Sorry. …Goodbye.
Fwoooo—.
Her distant gaze drifted far away. Vivid memories of her happy days with Reg bubbled up. And naturally, they began weaving into memories with hero Kang Ji-hyuk.
…Ah…!
She recalled the captain's cock again. It had been incredible. His manhood had plunged into her deepest depths, stamping its thick imprint as it came and went. An unforgettable, ecstatic pleasure—
The chain-smoking healer felt like she'd awakened to a whole new world. It was more thrilling than booze, gambling, or smokes. She now vividly understood just how dizzying the physical ecstasy of sex could be. At least among all the pleasures she'd known so far, nothing came close.
Her lips curved shyly upward. But the smile vanished just as quickly. This was a secret for her and the captain alone—no one else could ever know.
Thud thud.
She upended the spent pipe to knock out the ash, then shoved it into her pack. Then she stole a quick glance at the captain sitting across from her.
Strangely, ever since that day, looking him straight in the eye felt embarrassing. She wasn't some virgin, so she couldn't make sense of her own virgin-like heart.
The captain's gaze was fixed on Ludvine Martinez, sitting right beside him. After the expedition ended, Ji-hyuk had emphasized to the half-witch the necessity of double casting. A mage's caliber was decided by whether they could pull it off.
"That's not hard at all—!"
Ludvine had shouted it full of bravado, but of course it wasn't going to happen. No matter how much she groaned and strained, there wasn't even a hint of the spell manifesting. Only then did she vaguely grasp just how advanced double casting really was.
"Yael's been at it for over a year and a half. Still, she's smart—she'll get it soon enough."
"…I can do it too—! I'll do it faster than Yael."
"Yeah. Succeed, and I'll grant you one wish. …Nothing too crazy, though."
"…A wish?"
"Yep. Gotta have some motivation, right?"
"…Yes, you're right…!"
A fierce spark of challenge lit up Ludvine's face. She was still just a green newbie, but Ji-hyuk had high hopes for the half-witch. There were memories from past loops, and this expedition had shown him that witch blood was more potent than he'd thought. Raise her systematically from the start, and she'd grow even better. In past loops, the guild had chased raw power above all, so her magic had developed asymmetrically. They'd pumped up the destructive force first and foremost. Had to rack up results, after all—a guild wasn't a charity. Her talent had gotten her onto the hero team somehow, but in the world of true elites, half-assed tricks didn't cut it. A tree that grew crooked from the start had its limits. That was exactly why Ji-hyuk had recruited academy students. Talent was one thing, but a rigorous system was key.
…And for theory, the promising TA from the theory department, Yael, was the expert.
Ji-hyuk gently stroked the head of the struggling Ludvine, then looked across again. Grace, who'd been peeking, startled with an "Ah!" and whipped her head away.
A bit embarrassed, she fished the pipe back out of her pack and stuck it in her mouth.
Ji-hyuk tossed his gaze out the carriage window.
…Mahushu should be back by now, right? With Gid, Kayak, and Yael along on a mere 20-point mission, they wouldn't struggle. He'd figured they'd beat the others to the capital by a month or two.
A hero Mahushu without her hero Gunda. They'd always been the inseparable hero couple, so suddenly separating them felt awkward. But what could he do? She had potential to grow even more—handing her off to Gunda would just lower her ceiling.
Ji-hyuk pictured the comrades he'd reunite with in the capital.
…His thoughts stretched long, like shadows at dawn.
Hero Gunda had been bustling with preparations since early morning. He bathed clean the moment he woke, donned sharp clothes, and styled his hair. Before heading out, he stopped by the room of his most trusted subordinate, who was already up reading at dawn.
The subordinate took one look at the sharply dressed Gunda and grinned meaningfully.
"Off to that place again today, sir?"
"Yeah. Keep the kids in line—no screw-ups."
"Don't worry about here. Have fun on your date."
"…It's not a date yet."
"Who wouldn't fall for our captain?"
"You little…."
Gunda turned to leave, then paused with an "Ah," and spun back. He raised a single index finger to his lips and tapped them.
"Secret from Emily, got it?"
"As if I'd spill."
Gunda bolted out of the mansion like the wind. The manager at the entrance handed him something—a single flower.
"Thanks."
He took a deep sniff of its sweet fragrance, flashed a big smile, and hopped into the carriage. He slid open the window to the coachman and urged him to get going.
"Right away, sir."
Whirr—
The carriage lurched into motion, speeding down the avenue away from Gunda's mansion.
Riding inside, Gunda sniffed the flower repeatedly, his chest swelling with excitement.
After wrapping up his last mission and returning to the capital, he'd heard rumors of a new hero's debut. New heroes popped up a few times a year, nothing special—but when he learned who it was, he couldn't help being shocked.
- This hero's unusual—a mixed-blood suin, they say.
- …Mixed-blood suin? What's the name?
- Mahushu, I heard.
That was when Gunda realized the captivating mixed-blood suin had become a hero. Naturally, he was thrilled. He'd visited her mansion afterward, meeting twice. He'd always gone empty-handed, feeling a bit awkward, but today with a flower in hand, his chest felt full. To him, that single bloom outshone a hundred gold coins.
Should I say you're beautiful like a flower? …Nah, too much right off the bat—might overwhelm her. …Or would that be better? Better to push forward like a man than play it halfway….
The hero Gunda, who charged fearlessly at monsters without hesitation, now dithered over a single phrase.
As he agonized, the carriage pulled up to the mansion.
A guard lightly knocked on the door. Gunda slid open the window and showed his face. The guard snapped a quick salute and swung open the gate. The carriage glided smoothly inside.
A maid spotted it and hurried to inform the manager. Soon Durka emerged to greet hero Gunda.
"Welcome, Your Excellency."
"Good to see you. …Mahushu inside?"
"Yes. Shall I escort you?"
"Nah, I'll go myself. …Where is she?"
"In the backyard."
"Got it."
Gunda brushed off the offer to guide him and strode off alone. Truth be told, he hoped for no interruptions. He cut through the garden toward the backyard instead of the mansion. A gardener trimming trees bowed deeply at the sight of the hero. Gunda waved a hand—"Keep up the good work"—and marched on with confident steps.
Before long, faint whooshes of wind-cutting sliced the air. Gunda's lips spread into a grin. Mahushu was practicing her spear arts again today. Perfect. With her mid-training, he wouldn't need some awkward topic—just chat about that, and it could flow naturally to other things.
He soon exited the garden into the backyard. Mahushu, lost in her spear swings, took a moment to notice him. Then she lit up with an "Eh!" and smiled.
"Gunda—!"
Mahushu's innocent smile was breathtakingly beautiful. Gunda smiled back from the heart. He caught her sweat scent—and even that struck him as fragrant.
The mixed-blood suin approached and asked what brought him.
"Just passing by, thought I'd drop in."
"Oh yeah?"
"Training, huh?"
"Yep! Gotta train hard to become a great warrior—!"
So pure. To Mahushu, becoming a great warrior was the noblest goal in the world. Some might call it naive, but Gunda adored that innocence.
The hero offered the flower he'd hidden behind his back. Mahushu's eyes went wide at the bloom suddenly appearing before her chest, and she looked up at him.
"A flower?"
"…Here, take it."
"This?"
"Yes."
Mahushu took it readily from his hand. Then she looked back at him as if to ask why.
He found her purity—that she needed every little thing spelled out—utterly lovable.
"Just a gesture of goodwill."
"Goodwill? …Ahh, like friends?"
"Ah, yes—friends."
…Right, start as friends.
Mahushu beamed and stuck out her hand.
"I love making warrior friends too. You're strong. And you know honor—!"
"You bet."
Gunda took her offered hand and gave it a light shake up and down.
"Ah, keep going with what you were doing. I'll watch from over there."
"You will? Okay!"
Mahushu glanced around, unsure where to put the flower. Gunda took it back.
"Take it when you go. Put it in a vase in your room—somewhere nice and visible."
"Yes."
Gunda smiled warmly and headed toward the mansion. That's when he spotted the lizardman at the window. Kayak, right? The man gave him a light nod. Gunda returned a small wave.
The hero settled into a chair and watched Mahushu swing her spear with a contented expression. Just watching lifted his spirits.
He'd been gazing at her for a good while when suddenly Durka came running up in a panic. He rushed straight to Mahushu and relayed something.
—!!
Mahushu looked utterly shocked, dropped her spear on the ground, and bolted off somewhere. Gunda grabbed Durka and demanded to know what was up.
"The master has returned."
Ah.
Gunda's heart plummeted.
…It felt like fate's cruel prank. Why now, of all times….
But the mansion's owner was back—he couldn't just stay away. Gunda trudged with heavy steps toward the entrance.
A crowd had already gathered there. His beloved Mahushu was nestled in another man's arms, laughing more beautifully than ever.
…Ah.
Hero Gunda's chest grew heavy. His expression naturally hardened. But he couldn't let it show. Celebrating a hero's safe return from a mission like this would be improper.
The man, having greeted everyone, turned his gaze to Gunda. Gunda plastered on a bright smile.
"Long time no see, hero Kang Ji-hyuk."
"…You remember."
"Of course. How could I forget?"
How could he forget that miserable, gut-wrenching defeat? He still had nightmares about it sometimes.
…And he'd lost Mahushu there too.
"Good to see you, Gunda."
Ji-hyuk extended a hand while holding Mahushu close. Gunda smiled even wider and clasped it firmly.
"You too, hero Kang Ji-hyuk."
…The hero hid the flower behind his back.