Compromise
Tak! Tak-tak— Yi Cho-rin tossed more firewood into the campfire and prodded it a few times with a kindling stick before turning her head to look at Ga-on.
"…Doesn't it bother you at all?"
Just a few hours ago, Ga-on had received a handjob from her. He'd even ejaculated right into her mouth. Normally, something like that would leave anyone too self-conscious to sleep, but Ga-on looked perfectly fine. She'd barely gotten a wink herself and felt a pang of injustice about it.
Of course, strictly speaking, Ga-on wasn't at fault. The wound had come from him blocking an arrow meant for her, and what happened next was just an accident while treating him. But the human heart wasn't that straightforward.
This had been a first for Yi Cho-rin. Holding a man's cock, taking it into her mouth, swallowing semen—it was all new territory. The grotesque image still haunted her, making her stomach churn, and seeing the culprit sleeping so soundly only fueled her irritation. She wanted to pinch his nose and mouth shut until he jolted awake in a panic. Not to kill him, of course—just to see that flustered, gasping reaction.
"Haaah… Let's just forget it."
It would end with today, anyway. It had only happened because his injury was so severe. There wouldn't be a need to go that far next time. She repeated this to herself, but her mood didn't improve. Doubts kept bubbling up inside her.
Will there really never be a next time?
It had only been a week since they met. Could she be sure no worse situations would arise over the next three weeks? He could get hurt again tomorrow, for all she knew. Would she have to swallow his semen then too? She couldn't just let Ga-on die.
I don't know.
Yi Cho-rin hugged her knees tighter and buried her face between them. Deep down, she knew she'd have to do it again someday. This world was too dangerous to assume no serious injuries would come. If it happened, she couldn't ignore him—she'd have to replenish her mana with his semen.
"Euuugh…!"
The flavor flooded back into her mouth. The sticky, squishy unpleasant texture paired with that fishy, bitter taste. The way it clung to her throat instead of going down smoothly, that gross slide… Nothing about it was good.
And worst of all, what irked Yi Cho-rin most was having an ability that relied on semen in the first place. She'd never been one to chase men—why had she been given something like this?
"Still… as long as his arms don't get hurt."
In the end, Yi Cho-rin settled on a compromise. Avoiding injuries entirely was impossible, and she couldn't refuse to heal him. Especially if she was the one wounded. Swallowing semen was unavoidable, but at least she hoped to skip grabbing and stroking his cock like last time.
They'd grown close over the week, but this incident had made things awkward. Ga-on didn't seem fazed, but she couldn't treat him the same anymore. It left her feeling conflicted.
Once she'd reached that rough conclusion, her mind settled a bit. Not peace, exactly—more like resignation. Half-giving up, letting it flow as it would.
"Dawn already…"
Yi Cho-rin stared blankly at the cave mouth, where the sun was just peeking over the horizon. She'd spent the whole night agonizing over something trivial.
Rubbing her tired eyes from lack of sleep, she stood and approached Ga-on. He lay utterly still, like a corpse, his only sign of life the faint breath from his nostrils. She shook his shoulder.
"Ga-on-ssi. Time to get up."
"…Morning already."
As if he'd been waiting, Ga-on opened his eyes calmly, sat up, stretched, grabbed his two spears, and headed for the cave entrance. Yi Cho-rin stared at his back sullenly before following slowly.
Every dawn, they trained in combat for about two hours. Yesterday's events changed nothing—it was routine.
The only difference was the two spears.
At a clearing a short distance from the cave, Ga-on approached and handed her one. Yi Cho-rin took it reflexively, tilting her head.
She'd always practiced dagger work—why spears out of nowhere? She couldn't hide her doubt.
"Ga-on-ssi. What's with the spear?"
"From today, you'll learn spear techniques."
"Suddenly?"
If that's the case, why not start with spears from the beginning?
Her eyes conveyed the thought plainly, and Ga-on answered steadily.
"We'll be facing orcs now. You can't fight them with a dagger. Their size makes it a disaster up close. Spears are better."
"That's true, but…"
She'd thought she'd grasped the basics of dagger work after a week—starting over felt like a letdown. She wasn't a prodigy, but the regret lingered.
"No need to feel that bad. Dagger skills aren't useless for spears."
"Really?"
"Yes. Besides, your strength was too low before. It would've been too much."
"Ahh— I see."
Only after the full explanation did Yi Cho-rin accept his decision. A week ago, climbing hills had pushed her to her limits. But after absorbing karma from goblins, she no longer tired easily on mountains. Proof: the spear in her hand felt weightless.
Holding it still was one thing—swinging another—but after a week, she was finally ready for spear training.
Realizing this, Yi Cho-rin felt ashamed of her disappointment. Had she started taking Ga-on's kindness for granted?
Biting her lip in self-reproach, she slapped her cheek with a sharp pak! and bowed deeply.
"Ga-on-ssi. I'm sorry!"
Ga-on blinked in slight surprise. He'd read disappointment and a hint of resentment in her eyes, but understood it. He hadn't expected an apology so soon.
"…I don't know what for, but it's fine. Everyone makes mistakes."
"Yes! Thank you for forgiving me. Please teach me!"
Realizing her prolonged bow might offend him, Yi Cho-rin straightened up, gripped the spear firmly, and stood ready. Her enthusiasm drew an approving nod from Ga-on. A student's zeal always ignited a teacher's passion.
"Then let's begin. Just basic stance today—focus."
"Yes!"
In the breaking dawn, their voices echoed across the clearing.
Gulp! Gulp!
"Phew… Time to refill the waterskins soon."
"Yeah. While we're at it with the orcs—strike while the iron's hot—let's hit the lake!"
"Rest a bit, then go."
They'd collected many waterskins from goblins, stockpiled in the cave corner. Now twelve in total—minus one each left ten spares. Barely enough to quench thirst, but three days per fill.
This meant three days since the lake. After a ten-minute chat, they strapped on the last skin and left the cave.
"Yi Cho-rin-ssi."
"Yes?"
"Orcs are leagues stronger than goblins, as you've seen. Even with spears, your skills are raw—it's risky."
Two hours of morning training? Just basic stance and thrust. Barely proficient—rushing in meant disaster.
"What do we do?"
"…I'll hold the front; you circle and harass. Distracting them helps plenty."
"Got it! I'll poke around and annoy them."
She could manage that, thrusting playfully. Her breasts jiggled up and down with each motion. Ga-on averted his gaze from the hypnotic sway.
Yesterday's events had affected him too. Once the reins slipped, reining in lust grew harder. He adjusted his half-erect, tented pants before she noticed and quickened his pace.
"…Yes. Retreat if it's dangerous. Let's go."
"Yes!"
Familiar path—swift progress. Soon, the peach tree by the lake. But guests were there.
"Yi Cho-rin-ssi. Looks like those orcs from before."
"Yeah. Same weapons, same numbers."
Orcs were naturally strong, aggressive, favoring heavy weapons: clubs, halberds, greatswords. Rare among them: shields—one in ten. These had one, matching the prior group. The other two with halberds—near certain.
"I'll ambush. Join when you see the opening."
"Yes. No frontal clash—flank and harass. Right?"
"Perfect."
Ga-on praised her recitation and crept forward. A week's goblin karma had boosted his stealth. No match for assassins, but beyond orc notice.
He closed to point-blank.
Then, the thrust.
Lan (bar), Na (seize), Chal (pierce)—spear fundamentals. Push out, press down, thrust through. Basic to the core, yet mastered, they needed no more.
Talentless Ga-on clung to these three, forging them into peerless arts. Thrust came first, used longest, most often.
Pssht— A flash from the brush pierced the orc's chest.
Crack! Ribs shattered, heart punctured.