What the Hell...? The Witch's Desperate Attack
'What the hell is this...?'
Here, of all places, was something he'd never expected to see: mystery magic. Crude and unimpressive as it was, it unmistakably took the form of a spell. The lump of mana hurtling straight for his heart would have snuffed out his life in an instant if it had hit.
Gaon used the sword he'd been gripping reverse for a throw to swat it away. But his stance was too unstable. His shoulder, already strained from overusing mana, couldn't fully withstand the impact. All he managed was to deflect its trajectory slightly.
Kwaduduk! The mana lump that had targeted his heart twisted off course upon clashing with the blade, merely tearing a chunk from his side.
The searing pain jolted Gaon's mind awake. He desperately used mana to staunch the bleeding from his side, then slowly turned his head toward the direction the attack had come from.
"H-Hiiik!"
There stood the woman with the faint presence from earlier. She'd cast the spell herself, yet she recoiled in horror at the wound on Gaon's side. As he approached slowly, she scrambled backward on the ground. That frustrating game of tag ended when her back hit a tree, blocking her escape.
Trembling in terror at the approaching Gaon, she eventually dropped to her knees, bowed her head, and begged for her life.
"P-Ple-Please spare me! I-I'm sorry! I didn't think it'd hurt you that bad! I just wanted you to collapse so I could run away. S-So please!"
Looking at her, Gaon suddenly felt sweat trickling down his forehead. He raised his arm to wipe it away, and naturally, the sword in his hand rose high toward the sky. Did she think he was about to kill her? She let out a "Hiiik!"
Jjorrreuk... At the same moment, a faint trickle of water accompanied a stain spreading down her pants. Yellow liquid ran along her crotch and soaked into the dirt floor. The acrid stench mixed with the night air as steam rose from the puddle.
Even Gaon hadn't imagined she'd piss herself. Caught off guard by the unexpected situation, he took a step back. Only then did he point the raised sword's tip toward the ground. The woman, who'd been leaking steadily, finally regained some composure. She glanced between her legs, her pale face flushing red. She fidgeted anxiously under Gaon's gaze.
Of course, Gaon couldn't care less about that. The reason he wasn't killing her and had even sheathed his sword in a show of mercy was simple curiosity. That was truly the only reason he was sparing her.
"Your name."
"Y-Yes?"
"What's your name?"
"I-I'm Cheon Jae-hee."
Cheon Jae-hee. Even her name reeked of genius. And indeed, the name was famous. 'To think the Illusion Witch is here...'
A woman with immense mana sensitivity and brilliant intellect, she was the first Earthling to reach the 10th Stage in his previous life. The odd part was her stunning, glamorous appearance back then. Nothing like now... though he had his suspicions.
In truth, even in his previous life, rumors swirled that the Illusion Witch was hideously ugly. No one knew what she looked like before fame, so when it was revealed her beauty was magical illusion, people concluded her real face was just that repulsive. She didn't look that bad now, but compared to the previous life's Illusion Witch, it was understandable to feel inferior.
Having roughly pieced together Cheon Jae-hee's identity from his past-life memories, Gaon let out a low groan at the excruciating pain still radiating from his side in real time. Glancing down, he saw his guts peeking through the torn flesh. It was a serious injury. As he grimaced, Yi Cho-rin appeared from the side.
"Gaon!"
"Ah, Yi Cho-rin. You're here? Sorry, I got injured."
"I can see that! It's this woman's fault!"
She must have been watching. Yi Cho-rin rushed up to Gaon and glared murderously at Cheon Jae-hee, poised to thrust her spear at any moment. Gaon quickly inserted himself between them.
"Yi Cho-rin, hold on."
"Gaon, move. I can't kill that woman."
She questioned why he was interfering but gestured firmly for him to step aside. Gaon grabbed Yi Cho-rin's arm as she tried to pass.
"Yi Cho-rin, just let her go."
"What? Why!?"
Yi Cho-rin's face twisted in disbelief at his plea to let her leave. Anyone would react the same. Spare the one who ripped out a chunk of your side? Impossible unless you were some saintly paragon... and even then, such a wound might turn one into a vengeful demon.
But Gaon couldn't. His goal was to kill the Dimensional Eater later and usher in a peaceful world. He couldn't let Cheon Jae-hee, who would become a great asset, die here. And the current situation was dire. They'd made enemies of Shin Segye. Pursuit was inevitable, and protecting both Yi Cho-rin and Cheon Jae-hee at once would be too much, even for him. Better to send her off. The risk of her calling reinforcements existed, but since they were leaving anyway, it wasn't a big deal.
This incident had taught Gaon that Shin Segye needed to be dealt with decisively. They weren't the ones to worry about—the enemy was.
"...I can't explain. Please."
Yi Cho-rin's face crumpled. From her perspective, was he smitten with this woman? The absurd thought crossed her mind. She shook off his hand.
"No! I'm killing her. She did that to you! I'll make her pay the same way."
"H-Hiiik!"
Cheon Jae-hee jumped as if her soul might flee at Yi Cho-rin's vicious words. Her halted stream resumed, soaking the ground again. Even Yi Cho-rin flinched at the sight. Gaon seized the brief softening of her killing intent and clutched his side to divert attention.
"Kuh...!"
"Huh? G-Gaon?"
"The wound's too deep. I need treatment fast."
"Wha? Wait, what about this woman..."
"No time! Yi Cho-rin, please."
"Ugh... F-Fine."
Yi Cho-rin glanced between Gaon and Cheon Jae-hee before loosening her grip on the spear. At Gaon's nod to Cheon Jae-hee, the piss-soaked woman caught the signal and bolted. Yi Cho-rin stared at her retreating back with a sigh, then supported Gaon.
"I don't get what you're thinking, Gaon."
"Sorry."
"...But I'll trust you. You've never been wrong so far. More importantly, let's treat you quick!"
"Hah... Hah!"
Kim Min-jun ran desperately, his mind racing. 'No way.'
That pathetic loser Hyeo Ga-on was that strong? How? Not just because it was him—could anyone grow that much in a mere two weeks? How was it possible?
His feet moved busily, but his head replayed the scene: the monstrous strength ripping out a man's side with a javelin toss; effortlessly batting away multiple simultaneous attacks; and ending lives without a flicker of emotion, like swatting trash. The fear etched deep into his subconscious made his whole body tremble.
His fear-narrowed vision missed the tree root at his feet.
"Whoa!"
Was his body rigid from tension? What should have been a mere stumble sent him tumbling uncontrollably down the slope, crashing into a pile of rocks. He didn't know why a rock tower-like formation was there, but the involuntary stop finally restored some reason.
"Fuck. I have to kill him."
He couldn't live properly otherwise. To Kim Min-jun, Gaon was already half a trauma. If he didn't eliminate him, he'd live in constant anxiety, wondering when that guy might appear. Kim Min-jun muttered like a zealot brainwashing himself.
Trapped in his own delusions, he twisted everything to his favor, even fabricating facts. "That bat-like bitch Yi Cho-rin."
She must have sensed Hyeo Ga-on's power. That's why she wagged her tail at him first, then switched. She seduced him with that body. It had to be. Nothing else made sense. It had to.
Lost in his dark thoughts, a sinister smile crept across his face—until the rustling bushes in the wind made him flinch. Was Gaon already upon him? He scanned around, realized it was nothing, and fled hastily.
Five minutes after Kim Min-jun left, boom! A heavy impact echoed. At its source loomed a massive hill—the site of the troll dungeon Gaon and Yi Cho-rin had passed days ago.
Jeok! Jeok! Jeok! Each stroke of her long fingers up and down his cock produced lewd, wet sounds.
Yi Cho-rin panted hot breaths, shaking her hand as fast as she could to draw out his pleasure.
"Gaon, not yet?"
"...Sorry. No sensation."
"R-Really?"
"Yes. The side pain's blocking the pleasure."
Yi Cho-rin wondered if she was doing it wrong, then shifted her gaze to his side at his words. 'This is bad.'
His side was caved in fist-deep. Blood-soaked, with ribs and guts sporadically visible. If it made onlookers wince, how much agony was he in? Recalling the escaped Cheon Jae-hee, Yi Cho-rin ground her teeth. Should she have killed her despite Gaon's objection?
She bit her lip at the unfamiliar thought of casually killing someone. She'd resolved to do so eventually since arriving in this world, but thinking it and acting were worlds apart. What to do if they met again? As she pondered, Gaon's voice reached her.
"Yi Cho-rin."
"Yes? What is it?"
"A favor, if you don't mind?"
"Now?"
"Yes."
A request now, when every second counted for treatment? Yi Cho-rin nodded curiously anyway.
"What is it?"
"Could you show me your breasts?"
"...Pardon? I must have misheard."
Breasts? How could she accept such a sudden demand outright? The current act wasn't exactly normal, but this was abrupt. When she asked again, Gaon explained further.
"Pleasure's drowned out by pain—I can't cum. Seeing your breasts might excite me more."
"......"
Show breasts to make him cum. That summed it up. Logical enough—men got aroused by women's breasts. Better than plain handjob for climaxing. Reasonable, but Yi Cho-rin couldn't agree readily.
After a moment's hesitation, she glanced at his wound again, released his cock, stood, and turned her back to him.
"W-Wait a sec."
The situation was urgent. Pushing aside shame and concerns, Yi Cho-rin began unbuttoning her dress shirt.