Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Reunion
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-Thud
I trembled with shame, leaving the vanishing shop window behind me.
"Why... why did I end up like that..."
-Creak!
"I got the carriage for the trip back! We can leave as soon as possible if that's okay... What's with that look? Like a maiden whose purity's been trampled."
"...I don't think I can get married anymore."
"Pardon?"
"No... it's nothing..."
I straightened my disheveled clothes and turned to face Ye So-cheon.
"Are we done here now?"
"Yeah. I recovered my sword, and secured the divine relic to lure the Blood Cult. Once we're back and finish preparations, we just need to announce it at the right time. It's one of the few chances to draw them out."
In case you'd forgotten, here's a recap of the plan Ye So-cheon and I had devised:
1. Use my abilities to uncover the location of the Divine Lord's secret vault and secure the necessary items in advance.
2. The Divine Lord's secret vault also holds a relic from the Blood Cult's past. Even if undead from another world devoured it, since those things trace their origins to the Blood Cult, they can't ignore the relic.
3. So, spread the word that the Divine Lord's secret vault has been discovered to provoke the Blood Cult, then lure them in and wipe them out in one fell swoop.
"I have to say, it's a pretty perfect plan, right?"
"...Not sure if it's perfect, but..."
There wasn't really anything to nitpick.
I'm no expert on wars or strategies anyway, so I had nothing to say about it.
Ye So-cheon was the one with actual experience, so it was probably best to just follow her lead.
The gap in our life experiences was massive, so she must have the wisdom that comes with age...
"..."
"...What? What's up?"
"Suddenly, I feel really annoyed for some reason."
"Must be your imagination."
Sword Empress was like that, and now Ye So-cheon too—how do they always pick up on it when I even think about their age?
Women are scary.
"Agh... my back..."
After a journey that felt long if long, short if short by carriage, I stepped onto the soil of Shaanxi and rubbed my still-unfamiliar back pain.
"Sigh. Can't even show a sturdy man's resolve."
"That's gender discrimination..."
"Talking in riddles again."
Ye So-cheon came up behind me and kneaded my back.
-Crackle... Crackle...
"Haaaah..."
"Feel better?"
"A bit higher up..."
"Here?"
"Yeah..."
Her palms spread a thin current to loosen my muscles, and an unintended lewd moan slipped from my lips.
"...Anyone overhearing might get the wrong idea."
-Squeeze, squeeze
"Hng..."
"Control your moaning!"
"Even if you cover my mouth, it leaks out..."
"...What a lascivious body."
After the massage from Ye So-cheon, we prepared to part ways.
"You're heading to the Poison Phoenix's place now, right? Want me to drop you off?"
"...Better not. Might raise suspicions if we're seen together."
I couldn't forget.
Ye So-cheon and I had crossed that line in the secret vault.
To be precise, it was more like she unilaterally pounced on me, but the fact remained—we'd done it.
"Just be careful yourself. You especially. I won't get caught."
No matter what Dang Ayoung had said before, I couldn't just blurt out, "Oh, by the way, I slept with Ye So-cheon!"
I'd already decided to hide it as much as possible and only confess if absolutely necessary.
"The strongest and most beautiful latecomer disciple, the Poison Phoenix, plus two righteous heroes... Quite the flashy resume. If it gets out, you'll make a name as the scandal of the century, you know?"
"I'll let the two pass, but the one who raped me doesn't get to say that."
"...Ahem."
I gave Ye So-cheon, who averted her gaze and cleared her throat, a cold stare and sighed inwardly.
"...What's done is done. I'll try my best not to get caught."
"Y-yeah, do that. I'll be thinking about plans with the Sword Empress."
"...You be careful not to let the Sword Empress find out too."
"Psh... As if that uptight woman would ever suspect. She wouldn't even consider it."
"...Well, you know her better than I do."
Ye So-cheon had known the Sword Empress longer, so she'd handle it.
...Probably.
After bidding Ye So-cheon farewell, I headed to Dang Ayoung's house.
'Don't get caught, don't get caught, don't get caught...'
-Hoo...
Standing before the door, I took a deep breath, swallowed hard, and knocked.
-Knock knock
"It's me, Ayoung."
-Crash!
Shortly after knocking, familiar commotion sounds came from beyond the door.
-Bang!
"Whoa, you're here? You should've sent word ahead..."
"I did send a letter."
"Ahaha... Y-you got here faster than I expected."
This felt oddly familiar, like déjà vu from last time, but I stepped through the open door anyway.
"Um, you know..."
"Hm?"
As I took off my shoes in the entryway, Dang Ayoung fidgeted hesitantly before speaking up.
"You're back after so long... How about a hug?"
"...Sure, why not."
-Smoosh
"Ah?"
It wasn't a big deal, so I wrapped my arms around Dang Ayoung's waist and pulled her close.
As always, our height difference made it feel like I was the one being hugged.
"Huh? Wh-what?!"
"Why so surprised? You asked for it."
"I-I thought you hated that lovey-dovey stuff."
"What kind of talk is that?"
"You never initiate hugs or anything. You do play cute sometimes, but..."
Her words made me think back, and yeah, she might have a point.
I rarely took the initiative to kiss or hug Dang Ayoung first...
"...You drain me so much at night, why would I need to do more?"
Probably because she wore me out with affection every night.
So I never felt the need to initiate during the day.
"...That's your reason?!"
"What do you mean? Look at all I go through."
"N-no... Whenever friends talked about their lovers, I'd wonder why mine never did that stuff..."
Dang Ayoung had those kinds of worries too?
I figured someone in her position wouldn't bother with such things, but it was more grounded than I thought.
"...But do I really act cute that often?"
"...You don't?"
"I've never done that...?"
I'd never intentionally acted cute with Dang Ayoung, so this was baffling.
"Must have hearts in your eyes or something."
"No... Definitely..."
"If you haven't eaten yet, let's have some food. I timed it just right."
Embarrassment flooded me, so I fanned my face and changed the subject.
As I pulled away and turned,
-Grab!
"W-wait a sec."
She gripped both my shoulders, locking eyes with me.
A familiar sensation.
I instinctively knew what was coming next.
"S-sorry to ask right after reunion, but... just once..."
"...Sigh."
Her breathing had gotten ragged even during the hug earlier.
With a sigh, I started removing my cloak.
"But I haven't washed up yet."
"I prefer it that way."
"No filter from you today..."
"Th-that's..."
At my young age in my prime, after leaving her alone for months, I bore some responsibility, so I didn't protest.
And well...
As a man, I had no reason to hate sex unless it was rape-level or overly excessive.
...And I wasn't entirely without longing myself.
"All off? Or just pants?"
I tugged at my shirt with my fingers and looked up at Dang Ayoung.
And the sight of her looking down at me was...
"...Haa. Haa."
...Openly panting now.
With her hands clutching her nose like it might bleed, it was clear this wasn't just a fleeting arousal.
She was in heat, no other word for it.
"...I'll head to the bed first, so calm down a bit and..."
-Thud!
...My escape was blocked by Dang Ayoung's arm.
The wall slam I'd endured a few times before.
Back to the wall, arms pinned by hers, and Dang Ayoung blocking the front, not hiding her aroused state at all.
An ominous premonition rose.
"...You're not thinking of doing it here, right?"
"..."
"Come on... Even if no one's coming, this is the entryway..."
Ominous hunches never lie, they say.
-Grip
"W-wait... Why my waist..."
-Whoosh!
"Kyaa?!"
Dang Ayoung grabbed my waist and hoisted me up.
The sudden floating sensation drew a girlish scream from me, but that wasn't the point now.
"N-no way?! Th-this is the entryway?! At least inside the house—not here, right?!"
-Flail flail
I instinctively wrapped my arms and legs around her neck and waist like a cicada, twisting desperately, but I couldn't escape her grip on my waist.
"Th-there's a perfectly good bed, why the entryway..."
-Smack
"Mmph! Mmmph!!"
My scream vanished into Dang Ayoung's mouth as she sealed my lips.
My struggles stopped once I felt her hands stripping off my pants.
Reason? No point resisting anymore.
That was it.
