Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: More Sensual Than Perfume, More Potent Than Any Aphrodisiac
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More sensual than any perfume, more vicious than any aphrodisiac.
After taking control of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult in the past, I'd spent countless steamy nights with numerous women.
Sometimes just the two of us, sometimes with several at once.
In cozy bedrooms, in moonlit gardens.
Sometimes we'd lose ourselves in ecstasy, devouring each other; other times, we'd embrace for political gain.
But no pleasure could avoid growing stale in the end—it was only natural to become numb to it all.
No fragrance could intoxicate me anymore, no rapture could hold me.
If the me from my previous life—who'd joked that even holding a woman's hand would be a dream come true—saw this now, he'd spit and call me spoiled.
But once the brief surge of hot blood cooled, all that remained was a deep, unquenchable thirst.
Naturally, my gaze turned to the vast lands of the Central Plains to sate it.
After setting out for the Central Plains aboard the Heavenly Chariot built for me under the banner of conquering the martial world, I naturally distanced myself from women.
The desire to indulge in their bodies paled compared to the thrill of clashing with the Central Plains' masters and the satisfaction of toppling one hypocritical righteous sect after another.
So I'd forgotten.
What it was that ensnared men so viciously.
When I opened my eyes, the first thing that hit me was the scent.
That sweet aroma filled my nose and mouth, suffocatingly thick, making me forget the mystical experience from my dream and even the freer flow of my divine demon energy.
A primal, sensual fragrance no perfume could hope to mimic.
A deadly poison women carried, more potent than any aphrodisiac in the world.
How could a woman's natural scent be so cruel, reducing kings and heroes alike to mere beasts?
Intoxicated by the venom sunk deep into her young, innocent body, I devoured her lips just as I remembered from my past life.
When I reached out and pulled her slender frame into my arms, the woman of twilight widened her ruby eyes in surprise but didn't push me away.
"Mm...!"
She simply entrusted her trembling body to me, like a deer caught in a predator's grasp.
Her thick hair swayed like sunlight soaked in darkness, just before it hid beyond the horizon.
Beneath her black shoulder shawl, her tawny skin glimmered with a wild, sensual allure.
But above all, those ruby eyes melting hazily before me in shock and pleasure made me surrender willingly to the primal urges I'd long forgotten.
"Hup... Pah..."
"Hah, hah...."
As I lost myself in her lips, I realized she'd forgotten to breathe, so I pulled back for a moment—only to find our positions reversed.
She lay beneath me, her shoulder shawl spread like wings of a small bird caught in an eagle's talons, while I pinned her down with my body and ravaged her lips.
Her elegant yet sturdy feminine form felt like embracing a wild beast.
Beyond the softness like fur against my skin, subtle muscles pressed back, delighting my arms and chest that held her tight, while the rustle of her crimson garments and accessories tickled my ears pleasantly.
But the most beautiful was those ruby eyes, melting liquidly, utterly captivated by me alone.
As that gaze stirred my innate male urge to conquer, the moment I leaned in to claim her lips again—
"Dia....nes...."
"Who are you?"
Surprisingly, she knew me.
Her trembling eyes met mine as her shaking hand pressed against my chest, pleading my name.
"I have no ties to a goddess like you."
"What..?"
Her moist eyes sparkled as she let out a small laugh, seemingly charmed by my jest.
But my patience was wearing thin by the second.
"My body overflows with power—the torn muscles and bones feel reborn, solid as new. My depleted vitality surges like it might burst free.
This must be some grace you've bestowed upon me, right?"
My voice in my ear sounded shockingly raw and instinctual, even to the last thread of reason in my mind.
Like a beast growling at prey, barely containing my boiling desire, I whispered into her ear like a threat.
"Am I wrong?"
"N-no, you're right..."
Tears traced delicious paths down her chocolate skin from those ruby eyes melted sweet like liquid rubies.
Was she doing this on purpose?
Did she know that tears from a woman as beautiful and strong as her were the world's deadliest temptation?
"You're driving me crazy."
"Huh? Hup!"
My briefly replenished patience vanished in an instant, and I dove back in like a beast, claiming those pale pink lips.
The breath I roughly sucked from her was sweet; her tongue slipping into my mouth seeking her stolen air was soft.
In return, I slowly fed her the breath I'd taken, but this time my tongue plunged roughly into hers.
Her mouth was sweet like candy in every way.
From her pearl-smooth teeth to her soft tongue, hot breath, and sticky dew.
Each taste made those ruby eyes melt stickier, and with every moment, my surging vitality made my arms and tongue tighten around her body uncontrollably.
"Chup!"
Our breaths mingled in the brief gap, letting an erotic wet sound escape, and with her recovered breath, a hint of clarity returned to her eyes.
Those eyes, melted like cherries in sugar, hardened again like true rubies with will and determination. Now it was her turn—she grabbed my head and stole my breath.
"Chup... Churp..!"
"Hup...!"
Clarity slowly returned to her eyes as we traded breaths.
Seeing the defiance and sparkling desire in them, I had to abandon my illusion that she was mere prey.
I'd gained the upper hand with a surprise attack, but she was a born hunter too.
The vitality and muscles hidden beneath her beautiful attire weren't sweet poison—they were a lethal trap.
Her slender hands around my neck and head pulled me like a noose; her graceful legs snared my waist like a snare.
I've been had.
I couldn't help but smile wryly at how quickly the tables had turned.
This time, she stole my breath and, just as I'd done, thrust her tongue to explore my mouth.
But despite binding me so fiercely, her assault was adorably clumsy.
"Puh!"
"Pfft!"
Her tongue plunged into my mouth like a charging warrior's spear.
But too much momentum made it graze my molars, flooding my mouth with the metallic taste of her blood.
She shuddered at the pain while I burst out laughing at her cute mistake.
Naturally, we pulled our lips apart and called a momentary truce.
"Kngh..."
"You okay? That must hurt."
Her ruby eyes, clouded with lust and shame, glared fiercely at me, but I grinned and teased her more.
"Eek! Y-you, just wait!"
"What? Say it again. That was too cute."
"Eeek! L-let me gooo!"
Her lisping protest only made her cuter.
Nothing more.
"I've seen you again, Atalanta."
"Huh? S-since when? You knew?"
"Of course. How could I forget the woman who charged at me so fiercely?"
"Th-that was... I-I was blind with rage..."
Ah, damn.
I'd tried to hold back to avoid ruining the mood, but no way I could now.
"Puhahaha!"
"Eeeeeek!"
The gap was just too huge.
Eyes melted so softly you couldn't imagine the venomous glare seething with murderous intent.
Limbs wrapping my neck and waist so preciously, impossible to picture them targeting my feet and that unspeakable place just yesterday.
And that sweet tongue and mouth, unbelievable as the source of curses spat in fury.
Every bit of it amused me; every bit was utterly lovable.
"Ah, damn. Did you cast some spell on me?"
Just this morning, I'd pitied her as a girl reeling from shock.
A young hero too immature for me to embrace.
Now suddenly, she was a woman I wanted to hold through the night.
I half-suspected one of Eros's golden arrows had struck, but looking into those bright ruby eyes, I didn't care anymore.
"Eek! Let go! I'm strong!"
"Oho, what's that? Can't make it out."
As I teased her smirkingly, Atalanta flushed crimson with shame and thrashed, kicking at the beautiful garments that seemed tailored from twilight itself—who knew where she'd gotten them.
"Calm down. Open up before you hurt yourself again."
"Eh?"
Her eyes widened like a startled rabbit at my words, but I covered her lips once more.
Carefully drawing out her wounded tongue, I licked it slowly, tasting the blood.
The sweet fluid lingering on my tongue healed the wound, and when I pulled away, the metallic tang was gone.
"Wha...?"
"As I thought—a healing elixir in liquid form. Quite the gift."
The longer our kisses lasted, the more my body healed and my energy replenished.
It was the power of that subtle seaweed scent mixed with Atalanta's body fragrance.
The uncontrollable laughter had scattered the sticky lust and desire clinging to us, and only now did I take in our surroundings.
"Shall we get up now?"
"Eh...? R-really?"
At my words, Atalanta stared, as if checking if I meant it.
Sticky desire still flickered in her eyes like embers, and her limbs showed no sign of releasing me.
Like a flame ignited and refusing to die, she wanted to devour me. And I felt the same.
But the situation wasn't right to continue.