Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Smell
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That brief detour with Kate had come to an end, but I was still lost in the afterglow. Even after returning to the barracks, the sensations and feelings from that moment refused to fade away.
My head felt foggy. We were handed brooms and mops to divide up and clean our assigned areas, but no matter how hard I tried, my movements were sluggish, and I kept making little mistakes.
Every time I walked, I staggered like I might trip over myself, and I mindlessly swept the same spots I'd already cleaned, just waiting for lights-out so I could finally crash.
"Jeong-woo, you okay? Feeling sick or something?"
One of the squad members noticed my state and struck up a conversation out of concern. I appreciated the thought, but once one started talking, the other girls swarmed over, pestering me.
"Probably just not feeling great."
"Jeong-woo, you rest! We can split your share among us."
"No, it's fine—"
Before I could finish, she snatched the broom from my hands, a secretly pleased look on her face as she dove into cleaning with even more vigor.
It was like she wanted me to watch her every move. She figured if she did me favors, it'd make me happy.
But this was a recruit training center, meant to toughen us up.
And the privileges I enjoyed might rub some people the wrong way.
Doing extra stuff unasked would only cause trouble. With so many women around already, and all eyes on me, it was better to just do what I was told and keep my head down.
"You lot."
"Huh?"
Mino stepped in for me. To the others, she probably seemed pretty intimidating.
"Hand over the broom."
Mino didn't waste words. Was it her personality, or did her kind just have a culture of short sentences...?
"Everyone has to pitch in on cleaning. Like the instructors said."
That bluntness only made her more intimidating. And with her towering height, no one could stand up to her. Even the girl who'd taken my broom had no choice but to obey.
"Here."
Mino didn't care what anyone thought. Ignoring the grumbling from behind, she walked back and handed me the broom.
Swoosh-swoosh—
I took it without a word and got back to sweeping the floor. My groin still itched a bit, but I threw myself into cleaning without showing it.
Just to avoid drawing attention,
so I could slip into bed quietly...
"Commencing inspection of cleaning."
But the army wasn't a place where you could sleep just because you wanted to. A familiar voice accompanied by a swishing cat tail entered the barracks, scrutinizing every corner.
It was Drill Sergeant Kate. The squad members froze up the moment they saw her, tense as could be.
Strict, prickly, cold,
never hesitating to dish out punishment,
and always scheming new ways to torment recruits.
A tough-as-nails instructor.
But to me, she was different. Watching her tail sway brought back a flood of dreamlike scenes from the shower room earlier.
"..."
Even Drill Sergeant Kate acted a bit off while glancing around my bunk. She pursed her lips oddly as she walked, her tail moving more honestly than usual.
But worried the other recruits might notice something between us, she quickly moved on from my area. Only I caught the faint flush on her cheeks.
The others just prayed she wouldn't linger at their spots. Getting picked on meant extra punishment before bed.
"...Fold the blanket again."
"Yes, ma'am! Understood!"
"Zip it up to your chest."
"Got it!"
But even to those who'd messed up, Kate gave lenient warnings before moving on.
"Clear. Everyone, stand at attention. Memorize your CQ duty times exactly."
Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief. They probably thought Kate seemed in a good mood today, for some reason.
I was the only one who knew why.
Kate and I,
we'd carved a little secret in the back of the shower room.
Lights-out time,
21:59.
"Lights off."
The first CQ duty recruit stepped out to kill the main lights, leaving only the dim night-lights glowing in the barracks. It was an awkward brightness for sleeping, but everyone closed their eyes anyway.
Of course, drifting off right away wasn't easy. Some chatted now that they'd gotten closer, others tossed and turned searching for a comfy position.
Unlike the squad members indulging in their own choices, I couldn't catch a break even if I wanted to sleep.
The girls on either side of me were too close. Sure, barracks sleeping was always packed like this, but having actual women next to me made it impossible.
They seemed to feel the same. The long-haired girl on my right, and on my left...
Mino.
Even she fidgeted before settling.
Everyone was especially restless tonight. Mino was handling it okay, but the girl next to her kept letting her hair flop onto my bunk, which was torture.
She was even panting. Lying there trying to sleep but suffering like that made me feel kinda guilty. It wasn't my fault, but if I was the reason...
"...?"
Wait a sec.
Wasn't the panting a bit much?
Something was off. Everyone was tossing and turning more than usual tonight. The first two nights, most were snoring within twenty minutes, but tonight, over half were still wide awake after thirty.
"Haa."
Some even sighed deeply. Wondering if something was up, I felt Mino poke my arm and whisper in my ear.
"Hey."
"...Yeah?"
"Sorry, but go to the bathroom. Clean up."
What the hell? Yeah, I couldn't sleep, but why me all of a sudden?
Staring at her in disbelief, she tossed it out casually, like it was no big deal.
"You're in heat. Go wipe it off. Your cum smells strong."
"Huh?"
What the actual fuck was this?
Living my life, and now a girl tells me I smell like cum.
And how bad could it be? It's not like I'd blown a load in my pants or anything...
"..."
Hold on.
Was it from earlier?
No way. That was two hours ago, and we'd rinsed off thoroughly with water to clean up.
But as I sat up and looked around,
Sure enough, some squad members were blushing hard, looking embarrassed.
The black-haired girl right next to me stared at me with glazed eyes, licking her lips.
The beastkin—ones with faint animal traits—were the most restless. Did they have killer senses of smell? My rookie mistake of just water-wiping was making them suffer from the scent like night-blooming flowers.
Water alone wasn't enough. This was a fantasy world; judging by human standards caused problems.
"..."
I had no idea what to say. My whole face burned. It felt like Mom catching me jerking off.
"...Yeah, got it."
"Mm."
Mino acted nonchalant, but even she—who always stayed cool—was rattled. Her usually stoic face was flushed, lips bitten tight.
To avoid getting more turned on by my scent, she quietly turned away. Now facing the wall because of me, she'd buried her face in her blanket to block it out. Probably uncomfortable as hell.
Mino wasn't the only one suffering. Thinking everyone was struggling twisted my gut. And knowing my jizz had this insane effect? My face felt like it might explode.
This was some low-rent smut novel plotline. From now on, even if I jerked off, I'd scrub with body wash and soap till I was raw.
And tomorrow, I'd apologize to the squad. They weren't sleeping because of me, after all.
...But first,
I had to shove off the girl on my right somehow.
"Huu..."
She was breathing so raggedly from arousal,
and weird wet sounds were coming from down there.
No need to guess what.
Schlicking sounds, heavy breaths, eyes locked on me, busy hands...
Put it together,
and there was only one answer.
Arousal Points: +20
Overall Evaluation: Isn't this basically seducing them? The girls can't even sleep...
I gotta hit the bathroom quick.
Arousal Points spiking like crazy—scary as hell...
But something even scarier happened.
"...You're backed up, right?"
Before I could even head to the bathroom,
a hand slyly slipped toward my crotch.
Backed up? What backlog?
I'd already been milked dry.