Lust and the Ambush of Blue Saber
Irua’s eyes. They held the spiral of a universe that no human could observe, half-hidden by long lashes. In her slightly opened eyes, I could see a mixture of emotions: fear, terror, excitement, a dazed haze, pity—and guilt. The trembling of her fingertips vibrated through my cheek and straight into my brain’s synapses. Her thin lips were slick with saliva. From that gap, her breath escaped with soft, wheezing sounds. The heat of her breath, even though her skin was cold, left room for me to imagine just how warm she must be inside, how soft a human she truly was.
“…Oppa.”
A voice pleading for something. I knew what it meant. She was burdened by guilt. Irua, who had absorbed a portion of my memories and emotions because of her ability. What I had felt since meeting Irua was that she was incredibly patient and rarely expressed her emotions. She would grit her teeth and endure even the most grueling training. Even when her body couldn't take it and she wept or vomited, she never screamed. Even when her legs shook, she didn't collapse. Yet, when she took in my emotions, she had wailed like that. Was she truly that tormented?
Irua was moral. Originally, she was a character who wasn't supposed to appear for another two years. I didn't know what events might cause a change in her heart, but for an SSS-rank villain, she was far too soft-hearted. Irua believed that it wasn't just the Dragon King Squad that made me this way, but society as a whole. And she included herself in that society. That was why she felt this guilt.
I thought to myself. That was wrong. This ridiculous situation wasn't some convenient story where a man and a woman shared a physical relationship because they desired each other. Above all else, Irua was nineteen.
“You fucking bitch!!”
I activated the dragon’s power. I partially transformed my right hand and swung my fist toward my own face with all my might.
CRACK!! BOOM!!
I was sent flying by the recoil and slammed into the wall. That cleared my head a bit. I shook it.
“Zeo?! What are you doing!”
“Hmm. Did I ever explain the characteristics of the ‘Red Dragon of the Apocalypse’ that dwells within me?”
I asked Irua, slumped against the shattered wall, my head struck by a piece of stone that had fallen from the ceiling.
“No, not exactly…”
“This dragon is the one that once annihilated humanity in mythology. In terms of raw power, it is the strongest.”
“Yeah. Zeo is strong.”
“The Red Dragon had four knights under its command. They each held the origins of plague, war, famine, and death. Those are also the four skills I use.”
“The Red of War was super-strength, right?”
“That’s right. It’s certain that the Red Dragon is the strongest ability compared to any hero, villain, or monster. But there is a demerit. Because it is an ability whose nature is evil, I must consume evil to maintain its characteristics and growth.”
“So that’s why you have to eat monsters…”
Irua’s eyes turned sad again.
“Also, there is a condition where I must periodically vent my anger. Sometimes my personality might become strange.”
Even when I was a hero, I had been in trouble many times because of this. It was much better now. Just attacking the Dragon King Squad was enough to vent my anger.
“Originally, consuming monsters and venting anger should have been enough, but it seems that with the recent increase in stats, a demerit… a sin has been added. Before, it was only gluttony and anger, but it seems lust has emerged as well.”
“What does that mean?”
“What just happened to you was because of that side effect. Even so, I’ve put you through an unpleasant experience. I’m sorry.”
I bowed my head. A moment of silence followed.
“…Yeah. It’s okay. I forgive you.”
“However, I must also reprimand your response to my actions.”
“Huh?”
Irua looked a little surprised, as if she hadn't expected that.
“Irua. Do not feel guilty toward me.”
“…That is.”
“My memories and emotions flowing into you was an accident. It’s something you don't need to know, nor should you. Don’t pay attention to me. Don’t be bound by me. Just use me for your revenge.”
“…But.”
Irua clenched her fists in frustration and looked down at the floor. It seemed she didn't like what I had to say.
“It is a sad thing to mix with someone who does not love their own body. Never do it again out of feelings like guilt.”
“Why are you so sure it’s guilt?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“I control my own emotions.”
“You’ve only recently unlocked your ability, so you must be in a state of confusion. It will stabilize with time.”
“I’m telling you, I control them. I know very well what I’m feeling right now.”
There was a hint of anger in Irua’s voice. Did she feel ignored?
“Right. You’ll do well.”
“…Idiot.”
…Huh? Did Irua just call me an idiot? She seemed much angrier than I thought. She must have been really scared.
“I’m leaving.”
Irua turned and headed back to her room. I stood up, my body feeling stiff. Soon, there was a knock.
“Master.”
“Is that you, Emma? Did you hear everything?”
“Yes. Are you alright? If you are in great pain, I will prepare a sedative.”
“No, I’m better.”
“Then I will tidy up the room.”
“Please do.”
Emma skillfully cleaned up the room I had turned into a mess. In the meantime, I sat on the sofa and checked the system window.
The maintenance condition, which was level 2, had risen to level 3. As expected, lust had been unlocked. Damn it. This isn't good. The more the maintenance conditions of the Apocalypse are unlocked, the worse it is for me. Gluttony is just painful because I have to eat monster corpses, and anger just causes misunderstandings because I have to get angry without reason. There were times when I had friction with Ji Se-hwa or Shin Yu-kyung because of the anger condition. Fortunately, when Somi was there, she understood it. At least recently, the anger level was being maintained steadily by attacking the Dragon King Squad, so I didn't have to worry about it too much.
It says that a form change opens up when I reach level 7, but that’s a function I don’t even know about. It was an ability that was difficult to grow in the first place. Did it start opening up because of the process of clearing the ‘Hero of Light’ and achieving the new goal of ‘Head of Evil’? I don’t want to be burdened with demerits for a function I don’t know. But I can’t lose the Red Dragon either.
“Master, I have finished cleaning.”
“Good work.”
“About the demerit of lust you mentioned earlier…”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“I cannot do that. It doesn’t just end with the Red Dragon’s power weakening, does it? I remember how much you suffered when you didn’t eat a monster for a month!”
Emma knelt in front of me, grabbed both my hands, and exclaimed.
“I know your personality, Master. I have served you for over two years now. You wouldn't call a professional woman; you’d just try to endure it alone.”
“That’s…”
“Please. I also have a sexual service function. Naturally, there is no need to worry about pregnancy. If you permit me, I will serve you with all my heart.”
“Emma, I appreciate your feelings, but.”
I had no such intention. It wasn't that Emma wasn't my type or that she lacked charm as a woman. In this world, there are even those who take androids as wives. The distinction between androids and humans is not easy. However, they are difficult and expensive to produce, so their numbers are very small. Emma, with her blonde, semi-curly hair, had the appearance of a mixed-race Westerner. Her perfectly sculpted face overflowed with the charm of a mature woman full of maternal love. Although hidden by her thick maid outfit, her figure was the very definition of perfection. Refusing such a temptation would be a huge discourtesy. Still.
“There is only one woman I love.”
I answered her.
“Master…”
Emma closed her lips regretfully.
“But isn’t the demerit of lust only relieved by sexual acts?”
“That is correct.”
“How do you intend to relieve it?”
“…I don’t know.”
This was a problem. The maintenance condition value drops as time passes, and when it reaches 3, restrictions are placed primarily on level and stat increases. If even one of them drops to 2, I won’t be able to use my skills. If it’s 0, it’s simple. I die. The biggest problem was that I couldn’t think of a proper way to raise the lust value. Emma tilted her long-lashed eyes up toward me.
“Would it be alright if I served you using only my mouth?”
“…Hoo.”
Do I have no choice but to compromise?
“I’m sorry, Emma.”
“No. Serving you, Master, is my greatest joy.”
Answering that way, Emma smiled brightly. There was no desire or obscenity in that smile, only a pure heart. I had no choice but to be grateful.
“Then, excuse me.”
Emma pulled her upper body toward my lower body. Emma slowly pulled down my pants, scanning my waist with both hands. Her mouth was so warm and soft that it felt like a heavenly meal that didn't exist in this world.
“My goodness, I was so surprised yesterday! Is that Galactic Empire really that strong?”
“They say it’s stronger than the Dark Kingdom. Well, since we have the heroes, there shouldn’t be a problem. Did you see the announcement from the Association? They said they’re pulling in heroes from all over the world.”
“To think you’d show the wit to break through the crisis using the Red Dragon’s name in that situation—as expected of Blue Saber! With that kind of sense, I can trust Saber Asset Management!”
“Hehe, of course.”
Ji Se-hwa held a wine glass among the middle-aged men and accepted their words appropriately.
‘These old farts talk way too much. They should just pay up instead of adding all this nonsense.’
Ji Se-hwa had founded an investment firm. It was a small-scale management firm with little capital, but thanks to her name value, investors lined up. Those gathered here were also big shots from famous funds. Ji Se-hwa was planning to make money by circulating cash by raising capital from them, increasing leverage to inflate corporate value, increasing the investment limit, choosing a suitable target company, and then continuously splitting and listing its subsidiaries. If she said that the target company was related to the Dragon King Squad, it wouldn't be difficult to inflate its value.
“So, how will the general scenario go?”
Ji Se-hwa didn’t have a precise vision yet, but she answered roughly as she had thought.
“The Galactic Empire is large, so they need more hero equipment. Let’s designate a new company that supplies suits, operation systems, and all equipment to the Dragon King Squad, and list its subsidiaries sequentially by item.”
“Oh! That’s a great idea!”
Octopus-style listing is the magic of capitalism that creates money out of thin air. There are laws defining it overseas, but not in Korea. Ji Se-hwa intended to exploit that gap. The ones who turn fake numbers called stocks into cash are stupid ants. It is banks and funds that suck the money of citizens like mosquitoes.
“Hahaha, success is already right in front of our eyes!”
“For the Dragon King Squad!”
The moment the wine glasses clinked together.
BANG! THUD! THUD!
The door was kicked open, and the sound of suppressed gunfire followed. The guards collapsed. Ji Se-hwa sensed the crisis and immediately took out a switch from her pocket. She never let the transformation device leave her arm, anywhere, anytime.
But.
Vwoom—!
With a shockwave of black matter, the switch was knocked out of her hand. Ji Se-hwa felt a chilling sensation and turned her head.
“Blue, hello? No need for introductions, right?”
“You fucking bitch.”
Ji Se-hwa bared her teeth and glared at Dark Matter.