Pulling Strongly
The next morning.
Mari lifted her head while diligently eating the stew that Marina had made, basking in the warm morning sunlight.
"Oh, right. I haven't told you yet, oppa."
"What?"
"I'm... heading out on another request in a few days. I have a pre-accepted commission with my party members..."
Mari's voice was thick with regret. We'd only seen each other for a few days, and now she had to leave on another adventure. She clearly didn't want to go deep down.
I set down my spoon and rested my chin on my hand, gazing at her.
"Yeah? Hmm..."
I felt bad for Mari, but with her mere D-rank skills, she couldn't safely navigate this dangerous world. She could handle low-level monsters somehow, but continuing as an adventurer meant she'd eventually face a situation beyond her limits.
"Finish eating and grab your bow, then come to the open space behind the inn."
"Huh? Why?"
"I'll teach you a useful technique before you leave. You need at least one secret trump card for crises."
At my words, Mari's eyes widened like a rabbit's, then sparkled with anticipation.
"For real?! You're teaching me yourself? I'm coming right now!"
*
The wide open space behind the inn.
I pointed to a suitable oak pillar and instructed Mari to shoot her bow at full power.
The bowstring drawn taut. Mari held her breath, and the arrow tip faintly infused with mana left the string with a sharp whoosh, embedding precisely into the wooden pillar.
Tang-!
"How's that? Not bad, right?"
Mari turned to me with a proud face. Her fundamentals were solid, no doubt. But it was powerlessness against monsters with thick hides or higher beasts.
"Your form is perfect. But simply loading mana into the arrow won't even scratch upper-tier monsters with tough outer shells."
I slowly approached from behind her. As she drew the bowstring again, I carefully overlaid my hands on her arms. Her shoulders twitched in surprise, but I ignored it, pressing close to correct her posture and whispering low in her ear.
"Listen carefully. Don't just lump the mana together—stack it layer by layer like a pyramid. Wide and solid at the base, getting sharper toward the top."
This was an application of the secret technique I'd used to pierce the Demon King's heart. For Mari, whose mana capacity wasn't vast, this precise control training would actually suit her better. Snug in my embrace, she breathed heavily, focusing intently.
Rustle—.
"Oh my, training together since morning?"
A soft voice from behind. Turning, I saw Marina standing there in the backyard, laundry basket in hand.
Mari hadn't noticed, too absorbed in compressing mana into the arrow tip. To keep her focus unbroken, I quietly approached Marina.
"Let me help you."
"Oh, no. You're training."
"I have time to help with that much."
I started hanging the laundry with her, and moments later—
Pang—!
The arrow left Mari's hand with a sharp whoosh and struck the pillar. But the compressed mana didn't explode—instead, it scattered mid-flight.
"Argh, oppa! Is this even possible? I can't even get started!"
Mari pouted and whined, turning back. Only then did she spot her mom and grinned sheepishly. "Huh? Mom, when did you come out?"
I dusted off my hands from the laundry and walked over to her.
"If it were easy, it wouldn't be a secret technique. Anyone could use it. Once you succeed, I'll show you what it feels like. Give me the bow."
This technique had always brought me victory as the hero—it was as natural as breathing. I carefully drew up a bit of mana. Compressing it at the arrow tip, layering thin membranes over it in an instant.
To the eye, just an ordinary arrow with a faint glow. I took stance and lightly released the string.
—Shuuuuk! Kwaaaang!!
The arrow sliced through the first pillar like tofu, then slammed into the massive tree behind, exploding. A massive boom kicked up clouds of dust.
"Whoa...! Awesome! Oppa, you're incredible!"
"My goodness..."
I shrugged lightly and lowered the bow. Then, glancing at Marina, whose eyes were wide open.
"Do you know how to shoot a bow too, ma'am? Seeing how well Mari handles it, I bet you have talent yourself."
Mari's eyes lit up in agreement.
"Yeah! Mom, give it a try!"
Mari scampered over and forced my practice bow into her mom's hands. Caught mid-laundry, Marina took it awkwardly, looking flustered.
"Hey, you. Mom's never done this before."
"Come on, I'll teach you! Hold it like this, just aim at the closest tree!"
Unable to resist her daughter's insistence, Marina drew the bowstring in an awkward stance.
Ping—!
The arrow flew with a crisp sound and thunked into the edge of the nearest pillar.
"Whoa! Mom's got real talent!"
"You're good at it. First time for real?"
As Mari and I clapped excitedly, Marina's cheeks flushed slightly. She didn't seem displeased. Seizing the moment, I set the stage.
"How about a contest? Mari succeeding the first stage of her secret technique versus you hitting dead center on that target—who does it faster?"
"What?! Obviously me first!"
Fired up with competitive spirit, Mari grabbed the bow and focused instantly. I subtly stepped closer to Marina.
"Come on, ma'am, one more shot."
But she shook her head and offered the bow back.
"No, no. Still a mountain of laundry to hang, and I need to clean the inn hall..."
As she made excuses and tried to slip away, I blocked her path and whispered secretly, low enough for only her to hear.
"If you draw the bowstring with her while she's burning with rivalry, it'll motivate Mari a ton. How about joining in for her sake, just for a bit?"
"...I-is that so?"
Marina glanced between her focused daughter and me, then sighed shortly, as if resigned.
"...Fine. Just a little."
With permission granted, I moved behind her. I adjusted her left arm's angle, fine-tuned her drawing fingers. Her body was stiff with tension, but I felt her wariness easing under my serious guidance.
Ping—!
The arrow flew off, grazing the pillar's edge and ricocheting away.
"Sigh, see? I told you I have no talent for this."
"No, you're close. Just steady your breathing a bit. Try drawing again."
As Marina drew the string taut again and exhaled steadily, I turned my head slightly and called out to Mari, who was eyes closed in concentration right beside us.
"Mari?"
"......"
No response.
Class dismissed.
I brought my lips close to Marina's ear. So close her downy hairs quivered, I whispered low and intimate.
"Noona."
I pulled noona tightly into my arms.
"Eek...!"
Caught off guard by the sudden assault, she nearly screamed but clamped her mouth shut, mindful of Mari, swallowing the sound desperately. Her eyes shook with shock and confusion.
I started rubbing my hardening cock against her plump ass. It swelled instantly through the thin apron, feeling her body heat.
"S-Sian! Have you lost your mind...!"
Her face drained of color, she squirmed to escape my embrace.
"Scream if you want. Mari's so focused, she won't notice even if we did something right here."
"Hah, l-let go, please...! My daughter's right there...!"
I buried my nose in her writhing neck, inhaling her sweet apricot scent.
"I got worried when it seemed like you'd really given up on me. Is it fair to push me away so one-sidedly?"
"S-Sian... let go, please... Mari will see..."
She twisted harder in resistance, pleading with her eyes, but I gripped her waist tighter, trapping her.
"What'll you say if Mari turns now? That I forced you?"
"...!"
"Or should I say we've always been like this? Tell her every sound you made under me."
At my threatening whisper, her eyes shook violently. The secret she didn't want her daughter knowing, the contradiction of pushing me away while her body reacted to my warmth. That twisted guilt choked her.
Mari still had her eyes closed, focused, the mana at her arrow tip trembling at its limit. Time was up soon—the arrow would fly, and she'd turn this way.
I nipped her earlobe lightly, issuing the final ultimatum.
"Noona kisses me first. Then I'll let go."
"...What?"
"I think Mari's about to shoot. If you want me to release, you move first."
I savored her reaction leisurely. Her heartbeat pounded through to my chest—like a cornered deer's before a hunter.
"Time's short. About 5 seconds left?"
"Hah, haa... Sian, please..."
"5... 4..."
Finally, noona threw her arms around my neck. Simultaneously, her wet lips crashed roughly into mine. The terror of Mari turning had shattered her reason completely.
"Mmph, mmph...! Churp, haa..."
Guilt from deceiving her daughter, or thrill of getting caught? Noona's tongue ravaged my mouth more desperately, more feverishly than ever. Even lip-locked, she couldn't fully close her eyes, glancing desperately at Mari's back.
"Haa, smack, churup... Mm, mmm..."
Short but intense friction. Knowing her daughter stood mere steps away laced this kiss with wicked eroticism. Noona's body melted fully into mine.
Ping—! Thunk!
At the sound of the arrow flying and hitting the pillar,
noona jolted in shock and shoved me away. Our secret saliva stretched like a thread before snapping. She hurriedly readjusted the bow, staring at the target. Her back view—hiding her racing heart and ragged breaths—was utterly seductive.
"Agh! So close! Oppa, did you see? It was almost there."
Mari turned to us, face flushed with excitement. Oblivious to why her mom's lips glistened, why she was breathing hard with red cheeks.
"Yeah. You're doing great. One more time. Your focus was amazing just now."