Monster (13)
And so the Poison Human became part of our family.
But once she became Seon-go's younger sister, a problem arose.
"We'll have to change your name."
It was a name issue. We had to launder her origins — she couldn't go on living with the name she'd been called by within the Tang Clan. Poison Human goes missing, and then someone using the exact same name turns up staying with the Crimson Ring Sect?
That would definitely draw troublesome rats sniffing around.
The Poison Human, who had been Tang Ui-gyeong's daughter, originally used the name Tang A-rin. It was the name Tang Ui-gyeong himself had given her, and she'd lived under that name for seven years before being dragged off to the Tang Clan. Within the clan, she was called Poison Human internally, and externally they'd slapped the name Tang Man-seo onto her.
The Poison Human herself seemed attached to the name Tang A-rin, and felt a sense of distance from Tang Man-seo. It was a name that existed only on paper — no one in the main family truly thought of her as Tang Man-seo.
"I was never once called Tang Man-seo. Every single day, those people called me Poison Human."
Naturally, I had no intention of calling her by that detested name either.
"There's no need to use a name those bastards stuck on you, so don't worry."
"Mister, couldn't I just keep using A-rin? Maybe my dad might hear the name and come find me. My dad might still be looking for me even now."
The Poison Human wanted to keep using the name she'd had before. It was a request she delivered — atypically — with a nasal whine, clinging to me, even turning on the aegyo. Regrettably, it wasn't a request I could grant.
"Tang Ui-gyeong isn't the only one who'd come looking if he heard that name, so I can't permit it. The Poison Human who was being researched at the Tang Clan is a prize coveted not only by the Murim Alliance but also by the Demonic Cult and unorthodox sects. There are plenty of lunatics who believe a being like the Poison Human by their side could multiply their forces several times over."
The Tang Clan itself was one of those lunatics. There was no guarantee that somewhere else wouldn't snatch the Poison Human and attempt the exact same research. So both her name and her origins had to be changed.
"In exchange, I will definitely find your father. I stake my name on this promise."
Only then did the Poison Human nod. She was brimming with regret, but she was a clever one. She understood that simply changing her name and origins would cut down on trouble.
"You really have to find him for me, okay?"
I held the Poison Human's hands tightly. The more strength I put in, the more she strained back, pressing my hands firmly.
******
"From now on, your name is Seon-ah. Seon as in 'immortal,' and Ah as in 'beautiful.'"
The Poison Human nodded wordlessly. She still seemed to find the fact that she'd received a name awkward. Seon-go was smiling as she tidied up the Poison Human's — no, Seon-ah's — hair. Receiving a name carried the meaning of truly becoming family.
"So, how's the name? You don't like it?"
"Ah, no. It's not that I don't like it... It's just, awkward. Being called by another name, I mean."
"You'll get used to it soon. If someone asks you where you came from, what did I tell you to say?"
Seon-ah narrowed her eyes and stared into the air. Then she recited the story I'd told her.
"I was working at a brothel in Shaanxi's Seokcheon, when you — the mister — spotted me on your way back from Sichuan and took me in as a concubine. The brothel's name was Clear Sound Pavilion. I've never learned martial arts before."
"Yeah. Good. If anyone asks, that's what you say, alright?"
The Clear Sound Pavilion in Seokcheon was a real brothel. It was a fairly large establishment used by the Hao Sect as a funding source, and with so many courtesans, it was common for new girls to come in, catch the eye of some rich man, and get whisked away.
I'd already coordinated the story through the Hao Sect Leader, and ever since the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, rumors that I was a lecher had spread far and wide. So me bringing a woman home wouldn't strike anyone as strange.
If anyone dug deeper, there might be holes, but from the start, I was someone who'd had no official connection to this Tang Clan incident. Seeing that Seon-ah had faithfully memorized the script, I nodded with satisfaction.
"We're currently making inquiries about Elder Tang Ui-gyeong through the Hao Sect. They say the world under heaven is vast, but given the kind of work the elder does, it probably won't take long to find him."
He was originally someone who caught snakes using the knowledge he'd learned from the Tang Clan. Even if he'd gone somewhere else, the odds were high he'd be doing similar work, so finding him might be surprisingly easy. At my words, Seon-ah beamed and hugged me again. Seon-go, who had been stroking her hair, bent her waist way down as Seon-ah leaned forward, her hands working busily.
"Oof."
"Ah, I'm sorry."
Belatedly checking behind her, Seon-ah straightened up. Seon-go, who'd made the effort to lean over, was jostled by Seon-ah's movement and wobbled before regaining her posture. The two of them, hesitating and half-bent, entangled in their fumbling, were so amusing that I sat down next to them giggling.
Seon-go and Seon-ah both realized they'd been acting like fools and laughed along. I stroked Seon-ah's hair and said,
"Seon-ah."
A beat late, Seon-ah realized her name had been called and flinched. As if she were a pot coming to a boil, her face slowly turned crimson, and she tapped my finger and said,
"...It's a little, um, embarrassing. And awkward."
"You'll have to get used to it. Someday, the day will come when you can proudly call yourself Tang A-rin again."
At the name A-rin, Seon-ah shrank into herself even more. She twisted her fingers and thighs together, squeezed her eyes shut, and then said in a tiny voice,
"Ah, being called A-rin is somehow embarrassing too."
"Then shall I just call you 'miss'?"
"...That seems cold and I'd hate it."
As she said that, Seon-ah sidled up to me. Seon-go, having finished with the hair, wore a contented smile and drew back. I draped my arm around Seon-ah's shoulders and asked.
"Then what would you like me to call you?"
"...I don't know. If you call me by name, it tickles, but I also have a name now, and if you love me but keep calling me 'miss,' that would make me sad. What would be the best way?"
"At times like this, there's no choice but to keep calling you by name until you get used to it."
"Huh?"
So saying, I pulled Seon-ah close. In the moment she panicked and all the strength drained from her, I whispered into her ear.
"Seon-ah."
"Mnh...!"
As her name entered her ear along with a hot breath, Seon-ah's legs trembled and she squirmed in startlement. She fluttered like a chicken caught by the legs, beating its wings, then stretched her legs straight out and let out a ragged sigh.
"Truly beautiful."
Face flushed, Seon-ah pouted her lips. Then she placed her hand on the back of mine and asked.
"...But, mister."
"What is it?"
Seon-ah looked up at me and asked.
"So, I was wondering... wh, when are you going to lay your hands on me? Touching here, and, here, and all..."
Seon-ah's finger moved toward my leg. The finger, which had been wavering aimlessly as if unable to find its mark, landed squarely on my groin. Through the thin fabric, my cock and her finger touched with a tap.
"I even touched you there, mister."
I glanced aside and saw Seon-go nodding vigorously. And then she pointed at herself, gesturing earnestly; even without words, I could tell what she wanted. Naturally, it was something I wanted as well.
I hugged Seon-ah tightly and said,
"I'll come to you tonight."
Somehow, it felt like I could hear the pounding of Seon-ah's heart.
*****
That night.
I was leisurely soaking in the bath, eavesdropping on a flustered commotion coming from afar.
It was the voices of Seon-ah and Seon-go. They could have simply joined me in the bath, but Seon-go, unable to contain herself, had dashed to Seon-ah's room first. The flustered voice of Seon-ah painted the expression on her face automatically. Her voice, higher-pitched than usual, and the creaking of the door frame conveyed the entire situation vividly.
"U-big sister? What brings you to my room at this hour?"
"My Seon-ah is about to spend her first night with our husband — I was just so worried, so I came by?"
"What? Well... honestly, I am a little worried. Big sister, would you come in for a moment? Let's talk. They, um... they say it hurts a lot the first time. Did it hurt a lot for you too, big sister?"
With a genuinely anxious voice, Seon-ah lobbed the question at Seon-go. In a tender voice, Seon-go recounted her own first experience. I remembered it too, as vividly as if it were yesterday. After her first time, Seon-go had been in so much pain she couldn't move properly for an entire day.
"Well, I used to be a bit frail back then, so after just one time, I hurt so much I couldn't even move. But, Seon-ah, you've learned martial arts and have a trained body. So you probably won't be moaning and sick like I was."
"It hurt that badly? To the point of being sick?"
Seon-ah's voice was brimming with fascination. Watching the two of them chatter warmly like that, I got the sense that if I didn't go in, they'd just keep chatting the night away.
Naturally, I was a man who liked to shove his cock in between two women.
"Huuu..."
I let out a deep sigh to quell my excitement and rose to my feet. My rigidly erect cock slapped the surface of the water.
Chalssak!
Chalssak.