Audrey's Obsession, Madness, and a Kiss-Filled Home Party
"Hands that lack any sense of aesthetics shouldn't be laid on the manager, if you please."
The one who drove an ice spear straight through Kwon Taeho's hand as it swung toward me was none other than—
"...Audrey?"
I had left her at the temporary campsite specifically to prevent something like this. Yet here she was.
"How did you even—"
"Manager, you promised me."
"P-promised what?"
The man whose palm now had a massive chunk of ice embedded in it was screaming at the top of his lungs, but Audrey paid him no mind. She casually brushed off her suit jacket and walked straight into my arms, pressing herself against me as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"You promised... you'd come back soon."
Her voice dropped to a chilling whisper against my ear.
"...So why are you late?"
"Wait, just hold on a second—"
"This fucking bitch— urgh!"
Still nestled in my embrace without breaking eye contact with me, Audrey silently raised her handgun and fired ice spears into both knees of the hunter who had been rushing toward us.
"If you take one more step, I'll aim for your head next instead of your knees."
"Hiiik...!"
Kwon Taeho, now sporting a large, glittering accessory in his palm, and the nameless guild member pinned to the ground by ice spears piercing through his knees. Their gruesome examples were enough to make the gym rats who had been sneering at Calathea and Audrey just moments ago falter and stumble backward.
But still...
The Audrey before me felt different from usual. Stronger. If I had to describe it, she was operating at a level comparable to a fully active S-class hunter. The speed with which she condensed freezing mana in the air, formed the ice spears, and launched them was instantaneous. She hadn't been anywhere near this sharp even during her spar with Calathea.
"It's quiet now. I can finally hear your answer, Manager."
"W-what was the question again...?"
Her breath, carrying the bite of arctic cold, brushed against the nape of my neck as Audrey looked up at me with eyes like the frozen seas of the North Pole.
"I'm asking why you lied to me."
In that moment, it felt as if the two of us stood alone on an endless snowfield locked in eternal winter.
"N-no, that's not—"
"Were you perhaps thinking of abandoning us to be with these unaesthetic creatures? Is that it?"
"I told you that's not it!"
She had just stopped Kwon Taeho from attacking me—what kind of insane suspicion was this? But I didn't have the luxury of dwelling on it. While trapped in Audrey's embrace, my body was slowly beginning to freeze over.
"Just listen to me for a second, okay?"
I quickly explained everything before I turned into a human ice sculpture: how I'd gone to locate the boss monster only to discover unexpected intruders, how I hadn't wanted to drag the two of them along so I'd tried to handle it alone, and how that had led to a bit of friction.
"So according to the manager, you lied to meet them, got into a fight during the process, and that's why you were late coming back to me."
"Uh, yeah, something like that. So if you could just ease up on the—"
"Then there won't be any problems if I kill them all, right?"
"......Huh?"
"Please wait a moment, Manager. I'll finish cleaning up shortly."
The instant Audrey raised her handgun again, a chill shot down my spine. I grabbed her arm on pure reflex, stopping her.
"W-what do you think you're doing?"
"As I thought... those things are more precious to you than I am, Manager?"
"Why is this conversation suddenly heading in that direction?"
"You're dodging the question instead of answering, Manager."
"No, I'm telling you I've never seen these people before today! I only came here to assess the situation!"
"In that case, it shouldn't matter if I remove these utterly unaesthetic beings."
Right. This was exactly what they were like. They might behave themselves in front of me, but to anyone else, these were complete psychos. In Audrey's blue eyes, there wasn't the slightest hesitation about massacring the eighteen hunters who had simply gotten into a quarrel with me.
"It does matter, that's why I'm stopping you. Why would you kill innocent people?"
"Because anything unaesthetic has no place in this world. Especially those who tarnish beauty."
I whipped my head around at the wave of cold radiating from behind me. The Iron Fist Guild's campsite was slowly freezing solid from the edges inward. The members trying to pull the ice spear from Kwon Taeho's palm and administer first aid, the ones hovering helplessly around their comrade with shattered knees—everyone's feet were now frozen to the ground. They couldn't even run. The muscle-bound men who had acted so tough earlier were now screaming like terrified children, their panic echoing everywhere. It was pure pandemonium.
"Audrey, stop this."
"I don't want to."
"I said stop!"
"The manager betrayed my trust. Do you understand what that means?"
Audrey, still in my arms, radiated cold strong enough to make my whole body shiver. She rested her head against my chest and looked up at me quietly, waiting for an answer.
"Look, um... I'm sorry. Sorry for lying."
"Is that apology born from reflecting on how you betrayed my trust? Or is it simply because you want to protect their lives?"
"...I don't know myself."
"At least you're being honest this time."
Audrey smiled faintly and lifted her head from my chest. Wait, was she checking my heartbeat? A creeping chill ran down my spine, but—
"Because I listen to the sound of the manager's heart every single day."
The cold emanating from her smile was far more terrifying.
"Manager, don't even think about lying to me and then distancing yourself. That would be an extremely, extremely unaesthetic thing to do."
"R-right. I'll be careful from now on."
Satisfied, Audrey smiled and pressed herself against me once more. She buried her face in my chest, clinging tightly with both arms around my back.
"Huu... haa... huup... haaaa..."
She inhaled deeply enough to make her slender back tremble, then exhaled.
......
Which one was the real Audrey? The cold, ruthless hunter who always wore a black suit? The madwoman driven insane by profound childhood loss? Or the childlike girl searching for her father whenever she clung to me?
I habitually wrapped my arms around her in return and glanced behind me. The ice threatening the Iron Fist guild members had melted, freeing them. Kwon Taeho glared with venomous eyes but didn't dare make a move, and the rest of his group had completely lost their nerve. I tried to mouth the word scram at them without Audrey noticing.
That was when a thunderous vibration shook the ground, as if the world itself were collapsing—
"Hee— haa! Let's go, Pupu!"
"Grrrr— grrrraaawr!"
Along with Calathea's cowboy-like shout came the sight of a massive purple wolf the size of a three-story building charging straight toward us.
"Hey, you stupid wolf! The manager's over there, there!"
As the distance closed, I could clearly see the blonde madwoman riding atop the wolf's head, yanking its ears to steer, and the desperate, thrashing boss monster beneath her.
What kind of circus is this now?
"I'll take it from here! Thanks for the ride, Pupu!"
"Krrk?"
Calathea kicked off the giant wolf's head—the very monster she'd been riding like a personal vehicle—and leaped into the air. The wolf's head grotesquely crumpled from the force of her push.
"Oh, fuck."
BOOOOM—!!
The wolf's head burst like a balloon. Horrifying sprays of blood and chunks of flesh exploded outward, showering the Iron Fist guild members completely. The pieces flying toward me, however, were neatly blocked by an ice wall Audrey had erected, as if warning them not to interrupt.
"Ahaha♡ I'm here, Manager!"
Completely ignoring the catastrophe she'd just caused, Calathea skipped over to me with a bright smile, still wrapped in Audrey's arms.
"But what's with those filthy guys? Did the manager call for some male escorts or something...?"
"...As if that would ever happen."
"Aww, I told you I'd take care of it with my own hands! Calathea's service is completely free, you know? Free♡"
She shot a disgusted glance at the Iron Fist guild members now covered in meat chunks and blood, then immediately returned to her cheerful self, clinging to me and chattering away.
These two really are something else.
One was a shamelessly perverted woman whose body was as provocative as her personality. The other was an elegant, high-class beauty who loved acting spoiled. How nice it would be if they were just normal girls.
"Anyway, Manager, does this mean the raid is complete?"
"...Yeah. It's complete."
The boss monster's corpse, which Calathea had ridden like a taxi, oxidized into black ash. A spherical deep-purple mana stone rolled out and dropped to the ground. At the same time, the ominous subspace surrounding us began to shatter from high above, like an eggshell cracking open.
"They really came prepared."
What greeted us as the subspace broke and we returned to reality were several vans—clearly belonging to the Iron Fist party.
"The hunters are out. Get the cameras rolling."
And there were the cameramen and reporters from the press.
Well, since things had turned out this way, I might as well make good use of it. Besides, those guys didn't look like they were in any state to give interviews anyway.
"Hey, Audrey. Could you step aside for a bit? We did make a promise... right?"
"...Just this once."
After one last menacing whisper, Audrey reluctantly let go. I gently set her down beside Calathea and strode confidently up to the reporter.
"Hello. I'm Seong Yohan, manager of the prisoner corps that just cleared this A-class gate. If you'd like an interview—"
"Drink up, drink up! Manager, don't be shy—have another glass♡"
"No thanks. I'm going to step out for some air."
"Boo— what a bore! Boo—!"
"...We'll settle this later, you."
To celebrate the prisoner corps' first successful gate raid since its formation, we were holding a simple home party. Expensive hanwoo beef and plenty of alcohol made for a modest but genuinely enjoyable gathering just for us.
Given what happened last time, I had wondered if it was really okay to let them drink, but since we were in our private quarters, I figured nothing could go wrong and gave permission without thinking too much. Audrey was here too, after all—the one who would stop any unaesthetic behavior.
"Huu..."
I stepped out onto the veranda and looked down at the nightscape. A peaceful, tranquil city. But the two women behind me—Calathea and Audrey—were jagged stones that didn't belong in such a scene. Especially the way Audrey had acted back at the gate... the memory was still vivid.
"...Manager."
"Ah, Audrey."
As if summoned by the thought, she had followed me out and was now clutching my sleeve.
"You have to keep your promise."
"What promise... oh, that."
Like always, Audrey stepped into my arms, but instead of wrapping her hands around my waist, she gently cupped my face.
"You promised to let me experience a kiss once the gate raid was over."
"I remember."
"Then please... hurry."
Our eyes met—hers a clear, icy blue. A quiet silence settled between us. All that could be heard were distant cars passing on the road, the sound of a couple laughing as they walked near the villa, and...
"...Manager."
Audrey's soft, coaxing voice. I gently wrapped my arms around her slender waist and carefully leaned in. I knew I probably shouldn't be doing this with a prisoner under my care, but somehow our relationship had already crossed that line. Her small, cool lips met mine.
"Mmm..."
Just the contact of our lips made Audrey's slender back quiver. Her shy reaction—so different from Calathea's—was oddly cute. I lightly nibbled her soft lower lip and slowly took the lead.
My lips on her upper lip. Her lips on my lower lip. We took turns sucking gently, then, as if by agreement, tilted our heads and deepened the kiss.
"Chuu... chuur... mmm, chu, chuurup..."
Our tongues slipped through parted lips and intertwined, slick and hot. Like dancers at a ball, we slid and rubbed against each other, gradually losing ourselves in the kiss. Audrey let out small, whimpering sounds each time our tongues met, slowly pushing me back against the wall. I kept my hands on her narrow waist, accepting her spoiled advances.
"Haa, ha— um, chuup, chut, chuurup♪ Mmm, chuu, chu, chu... chuuuup♬"
Sometimes languid, sometimes desperate. Audrey had taken complete control of the kiss's rhythm now, eagerly sucking on my lips and tongue. I responded in kind...
We kissed so deeply that we forgot about the meat waiting inside, until the scent of each other's saliva was thick between us.
"Chuu..."
Finally, as if reluctant to let go, she gave my lip one last gentle tug before releasing it and lowering her head.
"Haa... haa... haa..."
Sweet breaths and heartbeats—impossible to tell whose was whose—echoed between us as our eyes remained locked.
Is it finally over?
Relief washed over me, yet a strange sense of disappointment lingered as well.
"So... did you learn what you wanted from that kiss experience?"
Audrey clutched my collar tightly, steadying her breathing. She blinked slowly, as if savoring the memory of our kiss. Then she lifted her gaze.
"...Yes. I think I learned something."
Her eyes held an uncharacteristic heated intensity as she stared straight at me.
"So let's go back inside and drink some more."
Audrey licked her lips with a smile that, for once, looked eerily similar to Calathea's.