Chapter 51
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: The Hero More Demonic Than a Demon
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A cliff stretched out below the gorge.
If you fell, you could probably die cleanly.
It was incredibly high.
A fierce wind howled up from below.
I didn't even dare to look down.
I stuck right by Ashy's side, leaving the decision to her.
She was the leader of this party from the start, after all.
"Let's cross."
Ashy started crossing the rope bridge without a hint of emotion.
Her ash-gray hair whipped wildly in the wind.
Gripping the reins tight, I stared blankly at her back.
Neigh-!
The horse didn't seem thrilled either.
It clearly hated the idea of crossing the bridge.
Even though we couldn't communicate with words, I could feel its emotions.
"What are you doing?"
"It's just... too dangerous, isn't it?"
Ashy glanced back over her shoulder.
I couldn't bring myself to tell her I was too scared to go.
"It won't collapse, so don't worry."
"...It won't collapse, right? It won't. But it's not as easy as it sounds."
I inspected the stepping stones.
Sturdy ropes and thick wooden planks—it wasn't like some rickety bridge from the movies.
It seemed well-maintained, not in bad shape at all.
If I mustered just a bit of courage, I could cross.
But I was terrified.
Courage wasn't something I could pull out or put away at will.
"What about the horse?"
"One horse can cross with room to spare. The cart obviously goes down below the gorge."
Ashy shot me a glare, like why are you asking something so obvious?
There were two routes across the gorge.
One for individuals, one for groups—they split based on that.
We fell into the individual category.
We just had to use the stepping stones strung across the top.
For groups, you had to go all the way down to the base of the cliff.
It was a long detour, like climbing and descending an entire hill.
"Ugh, a grown man scared of everything."
"......"
This was unfair.
Even at a glance, there were hundreds of feet of drop—anyone human would be scared.
But because my companion was a freak of nature Hero, I got treated like a total wimp.
It was so unfair.
Ashy turned back toward me.
She stepped off the bridge and spread her arms wide.
"For someone so scared, how did you ever plan to die?"
"I don't know."
In the first playthrough, Kang Ajin had died.
Ashy turned back time to meet him.
Even knowing the original story, why had he followed her to his death?
What had I been thinking when I faced my end?
I'd probably never know.
"Since you say you can't go yourself, I'll carry you. Come here."
"Don't people usually say 'hop on my back' for this?"
"That'd be no fun. Plus, with the holy sword on my back, it'd be hard to carry you piggyback."
"Ah."
The Hero's holy sword couldn't be touched by anyone but the Hero.
To be precise, you could touch it, but not lift it.
It was a setting in the story—only the chosen Hero could wield it.
"You can't cross the bridge yourself, but hugging me should be doable, right?"
The mental image was weird, but I had no choice.
I didn't have the guts to go alone.
All I could do was cling to Ashy.
'But how do I even hug her?'
I imagined it from her perspective.
Assuming I was the one holding Ashy, I pictured the most comfortable position.
Two options came to mind.
Princess carry or reverse koala.
Supporting the back and knees was the 'princess carry,' while hugging like a sloth clinging was the 'reverse koala.'
The reverse koala seemed easier since I'd be holding on with my own strength.
"Come on, hop in."
Ashy spread her arms, inviting me to try it.
A burly guy getting cradled by a slender woman.
It was a situation that should be embarrassing, but there was no helping it.
I let go of my stupid pride in the face of the gale shaking the gorge.
Gender didn't matter against nature.
With that rationalization, I jumped into Ashy's arms and clung on.
"Ahh, like this?"
I wrapped my arms around her neck and locked my legs around her waist.
Her large breasts squished softly against my chest.
Ashy adjusted with a natural swing, supporting and lifting my thighs.
She didn't seem strained by my weight at all.
She held me effortlessly.
"Puppies love getting carried like this, huh?"
"...This is reverse koala. Or sloth position..."
"Yeah, carried and fucked."
Ashy grabbed my ass and shook me up and down.
Her strength was insane—my body bobbed lightly like nothing.
This felt backwards, gender-wise.
I clung to her, begging her to stop.
"Hey, stop it!"
"I'll definitely fuck you like this later."
"...Seriously, don't."
Ashy giggled as she grabbed the horse's reins.
She'd seemed scared a moment ago, but clearly not.
It was the rider's issue.
Led by Ashy, the horse crossed calmly as if nothing had happened.
I was the only coward.
"Wanna look down?"
"...No."
"Heh, okay. Stay put like a good scaredy-cat."
We were crossing the stepping stones.
Even if the footings were well-secured, there were limits.
It couldn't silence the creaking noises.
I buried my face in the nape of Ashy's neck.
I squeezed my eyes shut to block out the visuals.
The sharp wind and chilling creaks shook my nerves.
Amid it all, Ashy's scent wafted over me.
Her body odor seeped deep into my lungs, giving me a sense of calm.
We reached the other side safely.
Neigh-!
The horse seemed to mock me.
Born male but clinging to a female to cross—what a pathetic human!
Was it thinking something like that?
Feeling down, I lifted my head.
I got down from Ashy's arms and planted my feet on solid ground.
I glared at the bridge over the gorge and shook my head.
I absolutely couldn't cross that thing on my own power.
Not the second time, not the third—I'd be relying on Ashy every time.
"Let's head back."
Ashy mounted the horse.
Same position as before.
Ashy rode with me in her arms.
The horse was smart, so no issues.
"Let's rest here before going."
The horse had reached its limit.
The sun was setting too—it was time to camp.
We hadn't found a village, so we'd sleep outdoors.
We tied the horse to a nearby tree and pitched the tent.
It was a two-person lightweight, not super spacious.
Just enough to shield from sudden dawn rain.
Sleeping bags inside, a small campfire outside.
Crackle, crackle—we had a simple dinner over the flames and rested.
When the sun fully set and the fire was our only light, we decided to sleep early.
...But things don't always go smoothly.
"Heh, finally night."
Ashy wriggled over to me.
She unzipped my sleeping bag and slyly slipped her hand into my pants.
Like she was claiming her property.
Groping my crotch so naturally.
"...Can't we just sleep?"
Ashy ignored me.
Like it was punishment, she flung open the sleeping bag and yanked off my pants.
Her small, delicate hand delved even deeper.
"Sleep if you're tired."
"...How can I sleep with you groping me like this?"
"Then don't sleep—tell me not to touch? Why shouldn't I?"
Her bold retort made my head spin for a second.
'It's my dick—do I really have to explain why she can't touch it?'
No words came out.
Pop!
Ashy yanked out the Aneros, making my inhale and exhale clash.
"Once a day, Puppy has a duty to offer his ass to me. If you wanna live as my husband, you gotta keep it."
"...Better than conscription, at least."
"Exactly. So, ass out."
Ashy smacked my cheeks, then grabbed my balls.
No more words needed.
Wincing in pain, I rolled over.
On my stomach, knees up.
"Do you have to be so rough? Is that the only way you'll listen?"
"...It's bedtime. We could do this in the morning..."
"Night and morning. So don't argue."
Cat pose, ass out.
Perfectly obeyed—the balls were freed.
Ashy let go.
"Puppy's dick and ass are mine, so they gotta be ready anytime I wanna fuck 'em. If your owner wants to eat Puppy's ass, suck it—what should Puppy do?"
"......"
"Right answer: pants and underwear off, ass presented."
What a sight.
Ashy seemed awfully pleased with her own answer.
She giggled exaggeratedly while stroking my ass.
"Puppy, so sexy. Ass too pretty. Seducing me?"
"It's dark—you can't see a thing."
"I see everything. Don't worry."
Ashy slid a finger into my hole.
Lately, my hole had been properly tamed.
Not just the Aneros—even Ashy's fingers went in without resistance.
"Ngh, hngh..."
"Gonna eat well, Puppy?"
Middle and ring finger hook, the finger claw scraped roughly out.
Schlop, schlop—the sucking sounds followed naturally.
Ashy buried her face in my ass.
Sitting on my calves for weight, gripping my waist tight.
Slurp, slurrp-.
My ass clenched hard.
No matter how many times, I never got used to it.
Hard to adapt.
Ashy's breath shattered against my skin, her soft tongue delving deep.
My hypersensitive nerves interpreted and relayed it all...
"Urgh, Ashy..."
"Mmph, slurp, smack..."
I reached back to push her away, but somehow our fingers intertwined.
My ass spread open.
The hole, not meant for that, now spasmed uselessly.
Melted gooey.
"...Hah, hah... Tasty, Puppy's ass."
Ashy smacked my ass.
Harder than expected.
The signal to stop.
I lowered my ass and flopped onto the sleeping bag.
Sticky and wet.
I flipped the precum-soaked sleeping bag and relaid it.
Ashy said to use hers as a blanket.
We shared one blanket and closed our eyes.
No chance to wash.
Wiped roughly with a white cloth and done.
'What's that noise...?'
It was still pitch dark outside.
Ashy wasn't beside me.
Did she go to the bathroom?
I peeked out the tent flap.
Ashy stood far off, campfire at her back, staring toward the mountains.
She must've heard me—she turned and walked over.
"...Too noisy, woke me up?"
"Huh?"
"Get back in and sleep. I'll be right there."
As she got close, a faint metallic blood scent hit me.
Bathroom should smell like piss or shit...
"...Come back quick. It's cold without you."
"Heh, got it. Coming soon."
Ashy stroked my head and nudged me back inside.
"......"
I scratched my head and lay on the sleeping bag.
My brain refused to think anymore.
— Make another sound and you're dead. Woke up Ajin, you fucking dogs.
— Mmph! Mmmphmmmph!
— Shut your mouths. No noise.
In my half-asleep daze, counting sheep in my head.
Soon, Ashy slipped back beside me.
I hugged her and drifted off again.
And in the morning...
"What the hell is this...?"
"Thieves who jumped us at dawn yesterday."
"Yesterday at dawn?"
"Yeah."
I faced four—no, four humans.
Four humans sprawled with limbs severed...
"We need to gather guys like these. To summon a demon, we need sacrifices."