Hero's Heroine, Childhood Friend (1)
"This is it, this. Hear that jingle, Kyu-ing?"
-Kyuwoong?
I'd come trembling out of Lunaros Vanderbilt's mansion, then put a bit more distance between us before calling for Kyu-ing.
-Jingle.
I shook the money pouch in front of Kyu-ing, and the sweet, beautiful sound of coins rang out. Inside were gold coins, no less. The kind I'd only seen back in my academy days. I'd originally brought twice as many, but I'd used half for another deal with Lunaros. Even the remaining half felt incredibly sweet.
Lunaros had priced the topaz I'd brought generously. Not just the highest-grade ore, but everything else too—she bought it all. Something about it being good for research.
But she didn't stop at just the money.
The payment for the deal? Generous as hell. More than what my topaz was worth, even. Not that it was cheap, but this extra bit... Lunaros had shoved more cash into my hands and said,
"Use this for expanding the mine or whatever you need. Consider it a small token of goodwill from me to your trading partner."
Sounds nice, right? Translation: Mine that topaz better for me. A favor with strings attached. But my retainers and I reacted differently. They thought it was payment for peeping on her bath, or maybe an investment for later... like she wanted my body and was buying her way in with cash.
Me, treated like a whore. As a count and lord of a territory, this humiliation is something I absolutely cannot forgive... Yeah, I can! Hell yeah I can!
"Not the first time, anyway."
-Kyuwoong...?
Anyway, I wanted to stash this jingling gold safely back at the mansion, but I couldn't. It all had to go into the territory. For now, while I was up north, I'd just enjoy it.
"Teasing me like this... makes me wanna earn even more."
Money's always better in bulk. But this felt extra satisfying because I'd earned it myself.
"Alright... now to hunt down that Dragon Heart."
I shook the pouch as I trudged through the snowfield. Finding the Dragon Heart was simple: head north, toward where the snow fell even harder. That's where the legacy of an ancient dead dragon lay dormant.
With Kyu-ing, heavier snow or sharper winds didn't faze me. The problem? That direction led straight toward the hero's party.
I'd already meddled with the original plot. But that didn't mean I wanted to tangle with the heroines much. They're the hero's crew for taking down the Demon King—best not to touch 'em.
But if I ran into one? I'd already met the saintess and derailed the story, so no guarantee I'd dodge the others.
Case in point: the moment I thought it, a unique color flickered through the swirling snow.
Sigh. What am I, the protagonist? Bumping into a heroine right on cue.
So, how to handle her? I'd planned that before coming north.
"Oh... Hera, huh? Long time no see."
"...Lord Yuran...?"
"Told you to drop the 'Lord.' Feels cold."
On my way from Lunaros Vanderbilt's mansion to the Dragon Heart, I'd run into one of the hero's heroines by chance. Arthur's childhood friend and Lunaros's disciple. The girl with striking pink hair wore a monocle over one eye. She froze in place, staring at me with trembling eyes.
Like prey spotting a predator.
Makes me sound like the bad guy.
For moments like this, I'd decided: just act like my old self. With the saintess, I should've been upfront about my honest thoughts without hiding behind my past-life memories, but confusion held me back. Maybe that's what threw things off, so from now on, I'd be straight with the heroines—my way.
Though with the saintess, I gotta keep up the reformed act.
I'd accidentally come off like a born-again saint to her. If I went back to groping her chest now, she'd think I was nuts.
"Why you just standing there?"
"I-it's just..."
"Guess I'll have to come to you like back at the academy."
She was wary, but didn't bolt or anything, so I sidled up. Then, just like old times at the academy, I casually draped my arm over her shoulder.
"...Eek. Why are you... here, Lord Yuran...?"
"Why? Am I that unwelcome?"
"N-no, I don't..."
"Kidding, kidding. Why you shaking so much?"
My arm on her shoulder let my fingertips brush the top of her chest naturally, but Hera didn't pull away. Or maybe she wanted to, but her body wouldn't obey.
She'd been like this the whole academy days. Still a commoner, she was intimidated by me, a noble.
Though she'll be nobility soon enough.
As Lunaros's disciple, she'd rack up merits in the north and get a title soon. After that, no more casual groping. Might as well enjoy it while I could.
Acting like my pre-transmigration self felt fulfilling. Like my pent-up lust was finally stretching its legs. Thrilling.
"Hm. A bit skinnier? You eating okay?"
"E-eek... Y-yeah..."
"Waist looks even slimmer."
"Th-that spot..."
My hand slid down to her waist, and only then did she protest. Same as academy. She'd tolerate a hand on her shoulder or waist. Even in class or crowds, she'd let me sneak a butt graze where no one saw. But if my hand veered toward her ass otherwise, she'd squirm away.
Then I'd do this.
-Tap tap.
"Alright, alright. I'll stop."
A light tap just above her ass—too high for butt, too low for waist. From her view, enduring this much got me to back off quick, so best strategy.
"D-did you... meet Master... by any chance...?"
Hera asked, face slightly flushed. Easy guess—only Lunaros's place that way.
"Yeah. Good topaz came up in my territory, so we made a deal."
"Topaz...? Why would you..."
"Gotta make money. Anyway, I'm off. See ya."
She stayed rooted even as I walked away. I glanced back, then picked up the pace.
Not awkward, right? Man, still so soft.
Softness comes in varieties: fluffy, springy, chewy. Hera? Pure chewy softness. After so long, my dick nearly rioted. That heat kept the cold at bay, weirdly—even without Kyu-ing.
Wanna grope more, but...
Tangling deeper with a heroine spelled trouble, so I bailed naturally. Showed my true colors perfectly. No awkwardness—why would there be? This is me.
"Kyu-ing, come back out. Cold."
-......
"Kyu-ing?"
-......
"Hey, what're you doing? Come on."
-...Kyuut...!
I'd called a few times with no response, but Kyu-ing finally emerged—then slammed into my right hand. Not hopping, more like stomping.
"What's your deal now?"
-...Kyuut, kyung.
Like it held a grudge against my right hand, it stomped till tired, stared at me, then vanished.
"Quit messing around. I'm freezing for real...?"
-......
Kyu-ing dove back inside. The north's chill pierced me. I was a shivering mess, fumbling to close my coat.
"K-Kyu-ing... I'm gonna freeze... Come out...!"
-......
"P-Puhetchoo!! Ngh! Shit, snot too!"
A few minutes of the north freezing me solid, debating a fire but too shaky to move.
-...Kyuwoong.
Kyu-ing sneaked back, slipping into my pocket. Face hidden, but the cold vanished.
What the hell's with it?
Wanted to chew it out, but it'd probably ghost again. Never felt this disconnected from Kyu-ing.
"Fine... thanks. Sorry, whatever it was."
-...Kyuwoong!
"Tch..."
Warmed up again, I pressed on toward the Dragon Heart. Detoured around the hero's party's spot in the northern ducal lands—took time. Two days later, as cold scorpion stew grew familiar, I found it.
Unlike the raging blizzard around, the Dragon Heart's area was serene. Eye of the storm.
But the heart itself? Didn't match its storm-making power—just plopped in the forest clearing amid trees. No dragon lair, nothing but snow and wood, like an ordinary rock.
"I'll put you to good use."
I said to the heart. But handing it to? Its owner. A dragon who'd been the hero's comrade long ago, come here to die where she'd first met him. Waited for him to find her, but he perished with the Demon King.
The hero heard the tale, didn't sell or use it. Ancient, weak outside this forest—low value, little use.
I'd take it to my territory. No sentimental bullshit like Arthur. My land needed it.
I picked up the Dragon Heart from the ground. Then it hit me.
"...Huh?"
In the original, it'd freeze a normal person's arm solid on touch. Forgot that—and my hand, arm? Fine.
"...Kyu-ing's doing?"
-Kyung.
Biggest difference from others? Kyu-ing. No clue how my weak divine power neutralized dragon might, but lucky me.
"Dragon Heart acquired... Hm."
-Kyuwoong?
Kyu-ing seemed to ask why not rush home. Normally, yeah—but something bugged me.
"Should check..."
Original split into parts 1, 2, side stories. Most heroines in part 1, but not all. The slave one debuts in 2—nearly dies, barely saved by the hero.
But I'd meddled. That "barely" might change. Had to confirm if Arthur saved her.
If not...
"Guess it's on me."
-Kyuwoong....
Not just the Demon King. I'm a reader who finished this frustrating, weird-ass novel.
Not for Arthur. The heroine's hot. Can't watch her die.
Come on, Arthur. Do it right. Please.
I vowed to check that, then head home. Turned toward the slave heroine's spot.
But a weird feeling hit. Someone watching.
"...Nah, imagination."
Stopped, scanned the forest—trees and snow, nothing else. Felt off, but shrugged it as paranoia and left.
High above the quiet forest Yuran had left floated a woman. Slit pupils, sharp nails. Hair mostly blue, rest red. Drop-dead gorgeous by any measure. But more striking: the massive wings matching her hair, spread behind her.
"Hm... interesting. The hero was quirky but underwhelming. This guy's... intriguing. Hehe."
Apex mana creature, young dragon venturing out to sate curiosity. She murmured, watching Yuran go. Smiling.