Chapter 53
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Overpraise
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As Cheonwi's hand brushed the long, torn knife scar along her side, Cheolhyeol flinched and twisted her body. Shame came flooding in. Unlike the smooth, flawless skin of noble ladies from powerful clans, her own body was patched together like ragged cloth.
But Cheonwi didn't stop.
He lifted her chin, meeting her gaze.
"I told you, you're beautiful."
There wasn't a shred of falsehood in his eyes.
"I'll kiss every one of your scars. Let me prove just how nobly you've survived."
Cheonwi lowered his head.
His lips touched the scar below her collarbone, where an arrow had grazed her.
Mmwah.
A soft, wet sensation.
Cheolhyeol's breath caught in her throat.
Cheonwi's lips didn't stop, trailing downward. A sword slash above her breast, a spear wound across her abdomen. Like a pilgrim at holy sites, he reverently kissed each mark of her suffering etched into her body.
"Ah, ugh... stop... it feels... weird..."
Cheolhyeol's head tilted back.
Each press of his lips felt like a hot ember embedding itself in her flesh. The shame vanished, replaced by an unbearable thirst.
Her mind went blank. This wasn't the exhilaration of cutting down enemies on the battlefield. This was far stickier, far more primal pleasure.
Her ironclad reason was melting away.
"Haa, haa... Cheonwi... you..."
Cheolhyeol's hand clutched at Cheonwi's wet hair.
It wasn't to push him away. It was a desperate plea for more, deeper.
Cheonwi didn't miss her reaction. He sensed she was completely disarmed.
He slowly rose, leaning her against the edge of the tub. Her red hair spilled messily over the white marble.
Under the water, their lower bodies intertwined. Cheonwi positioned his 'weapon' before her tightly shut 'gates'.
A taut tension hung in the air.
Cheonwi grinned mischievously.
"The general's gates are impressively fortified. Not a single gap in sight."
"......"
Cheolhyeol looked up at him, panting. Her flushed face, dilated pupils, parted lips—she looked every bit the lioness in heat.
"But with my siege ram... I think I can breach them."
Cheonwi shifted his hips slightly, aligning the tip.
"May I? Or shall I... retreat here?"
A polite yet utterly lewd proposition.
Cheolhyeol bit her lip. She burned with frustration. Hesitating before prey like this went against her nature. Her body was already aflame, and there was no turning back.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
"...You talk too much."
Cheolhyeol growled, pulling Cheonwi's neck close.
"The enemy commander is right here... hesitating is a soldier's shame. Charge in! That's an order!"
It was a declaration of surrender—and a command to assault.
Cheonwi's lips curved up.
"As you command."
With a single thrust of his hips, Cheonwi plunged in.
Splurt!
A heavy impact pierced through Cheolhyeol's body.
"Kyaaaah!"
Cheolhyeol threw her head back, screaming. A sharp cry of pain and pleasure echoed through the bath. The water in the tub sloshed violently, spilling over onto the floor.
An overwhelming fullness she'd never known. The tearing pain gave way to scorching heat filling her completely.
"Hngh! Ughhh! Too... big...!"
"Relax, General. We're just getting started."
Cheonwi held still, giving her time to adjust, then began moving without restraint.
Slap, slap, slap.
The sounds of water and flesh colliding rang out explicitly.
The tub was a battlefield in itself. Cheolhyeol clung to Cheonwi's shoulder like she wanted to bite it off, while he relentlessly pressed the assault.
"Aaah! No! There! Uwaaaan!"
The Iron Blood General of legend wailed in ecstasy. Pride and decorum dissolved like foam. Only instinct remained.
How much time passed?
The fierce underwater battle ended, leaving the bath filled with ragged breaths.
The tub's water had halved, the floor soaked.
Cheolhyeol lay in Cheonwi's arms, panting. Sweat-and-water-soaked red hair clung to her cheeks.
Her eyes had completely changed.
No trace of venom or killing intent—only the languid submission of a female conquered by her male.
Cheolhyeol laboriously lifted her gaze to Cheonwi.
"You bastard... no, you..."
Her voice cracked.
"You're a real monster. On the battlefield, in bed... how can a human do this?"
Cheonwi chuckled, wiping her forehead with a wet cloth.
"Overpraise, General. You were magnificent too. Bravely charging into your first battle."
"Don't tease me."
Cheolhyeol shot him a mock glare, but her eyes dripped with affection. She placed her hand on his chest. His heart pounded strongly.
Cheonwi overlaid his hand on hers.
"Now we're 'accomplices', General."
"Accomplices?"
"Since they've figured out I'm no eunuch. Will you keep my secret?"
At Cheonwi's playful question, Cheolhyeol snorted.
She buried her face in his chest, mumbling.
"My sword... never betrays its master."
Her arms tightly wrapped around his waist.
"From today, my body and heart... all yours. Take responsibility."
Cheonwi smiled contentedly, kissing her red hair.
"My honor, my General."
The two sank into the deep afterglow, savoring each other's warmth, as if wishing the night would never end.
Sunlight slipped through the gaps in the carriage window, illuminating the bed.
The bed, ravaged by last night's fierce battle, was a total wreck. Torn sheets, pillows scattered on the floor, and two entwined figures greedily seeking each other's body heat.
Cheonwi lazily opened his eyes. His left arm, used as a pillow, throbbed heavily—but even that pain felt sweet.
In his arms slept the Iron Blood General of the world, oblivious to all.
Her eyes, usually sharp with killing intent as she commanded battlefields, were now softly relaxed like a lamb's. Red hair tickled his chest. Cheonwi grinned mischievously, tracing her nose bridge with a finger.
"Mm..."
Cheolhyeol groaned softly, opening her eyes. Her hazy red pupils met Cheonwi's.
Three seconds of silence.
Last night's memories flashed through her mind like film. The bathhouse struggle, the surrender on the bed, and...
"Kyaaaak!"
Cheolhyeol screamed, yanking the blanket over herself. She curled into the corner of the bed, face crimson.
"D-don't look! Don't stare!"
The general who commanded the world blushing over mere nudity. Cheonwi propped his chin, admiring the sight.
"A beast last night, a lamb this morning, General."
"Sh-shut up! Get dressed! And turn around!"
Cheolhyeol huffed, but it only came off as cute, devoid of dignity. Cheonwi chuckled, inching toward her.
"We've seen it all anyway. And..."
Cheonwi slipped his hand under the blanket, wrapping around her waist.
"A morning stretch isn't bad."
"Y-you madman! There are soldiers outside... Mmph!"
Cheonwi silenced her with a kiss. Her fists pounded his back, but the blows weakened. Soon, her arms wound around his neck.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
A clamor of drums erupted outside the carriage.
This wasn't a simple training beat. It was the urgent alarm signaling enemy intrusion.
"Tch."
Cheonwi pulled back with a smack of his lips. Cheolhyeol panted dazedly, then her eyes sharpened at the drums.
"Enemy raid."
She kicked off the blanket in an instant. Forgetting her nudity, she grabbed her scattered armor and donned it. A warrior's aura rose from her back.
"Which bold bastards dare interrupt my morning?"
Killing intent laced Cheolhyeol's voice. Cheonwi smiled wryly, gathering his clothes.
"Let's see. Wonder what fools this time."
Stepping out of the carriage, soldiers were rushing to the walls. But the mood was off.
A normal raid should fill the air with tension, yet the soldiers looked dazed. Some were even drooling.
"What? Why are you all spacing out?!"
Cheolhyeol bellowed, striding to the wall's railing.
Cheonwi followed, peering down at the battlefield. Moments later, even he let out a low murmur of admiration.
"Oh..."
No stinking barbarians or hairy savages there.
Instead, a legion of bronzed beauties glistened under the sun, arrayed in formation.
Leather bikini armor—less protection than bindings to accentuate their bodies' allure. Taut abs, sleek thighs, wild tattoos brimming with feral charm.
Rulers of the southern jungles: the Amazons.
"Ooh yeah... that's the enemy? Eye candy jackpot."
"Man, I could die happy. Captured by those big sis types? Dream come true."
"See those thighs? I'd be their punching bag gladly."
Imperial soldiers gawked at the enemy lines, weapons limp. Morale hadn't dropped—it had skyrocketed in the wrong direction.
"You idiots! Snap out of it! Eyes down?!"
Cheolhyeol jammed on her helmet, unleashing a furious shout.
"They're the enemy! Cut throats or die!"
But the soldiers' gazes remained glued to the Amazons' flashy exposure.
Cheonwi pulled a magical telescope from his bosom. Through the lens, the magnified Amazon warriors were even more tantalizing.
"Hmm... their quality's top-notch too? Muscle tone and skin elasticity aren't average."
"Cheonwi! You too?!"
Cheolhyeol glared daggers.
"Ah, of course, no match for our General. Just analyzing enemy strength."
Cheonwi replied shamelessly, shifting focus to the enemy center.
There, amid the warriors, stood a woman of overwhelming beauty who drew the eye.
Lion pelt as a cape, thick thorn whip in hand: the Amazon Queen.
Tira.