A Splendid Proposal
Shall I make a splendid proposal? One Thursday evening, I finally landed the last contract after three weeks of business travel. Manager Ha stretched her arms in front of the final client's office. "Waa~ haha... We got every single contract... haha."
"Haha... Yes, we did..."
...... Truthfully, things had grown a little awkward ever since she caught wind of my hobby last week. We barely spoke about anything besides work, and even when we did, the conversation would fizzle out after a few exchanges. Once the workday ended, I'd eat dinner and head straight back to the lodging to sleep. Of course, I was deliberately avoiding her. It was embarrassing. I didn't want anyone finding out about my secret hobby. I might not have been the most outstanding employee, but I'd always lived and worked diligently. If word got out about this particular interest, rumors could spread in an instant. Still, I knew better than anyone that Manager Ha wouldn't go around telling people. The real problem was the guilt that hit me whenever I remembered how I'd been moaning and finishing right before she appeared—using her voice, no less. It made it hard to even look at her face.
Haa... Of all times, she had to be out jogging there...
"Um... I'll go pack my things for the trip back to Seoul tomorrow, haha..."
"Ah... Right... I should too..."
That was our last day on the Busan business trip. The next day, we were riding the KTX back to Seoul. Sitting in our assigned seats, we stayed awkwardly silent, staring at our phones and waiting to arrive. I kept stealing glances at Manager Ha, and our eyes met several times, but we just looked away without saying a word.
"Agh!! This is driving me crazy, I can't take it anymore!"
Manager Ha suddenly shouted and stood up. "Kang Dae-ri, what's with you?! Why haven't you said a single word all week?"
"Manager... It's just..."
After yelling at the top of her lungs, she took a deep breath to calm herself, sat back down, and spoke more evenly. "Well, at least the work went smoothly... Are we really going to keep acting this awkward? What's the problem? Are you that embarrassed about being caught?"
Manager Ha was getting straight to the point. I gave a small nod.
"Haa~ So what? These days, going to a yokai brothel isn't exactly strange."
She leaned back in her seat with a sigh. Of course it wasn't strange, but that wasn't the only reason I'd been avoiding her.
"If you want a smoke, you smoke. If you want a drink, you drink. If your libido builds up, you go to a yokai brothel. Simple as that..."
After saying that, her face suddenly flushed and her voice dropped to a mumble. "I... I go too... once in a while... really, only once in a while..."
"What...?!"
Her shocking confession came out of nowhere.
"Shit!! This is so embarrassing!! Anyway, it's not weird, so cheer up already!!"
She squeezed her eyes shut, shouted, then started smacking my back. I couldn't help but laugh.
"Pfft... Hahaha!! You'll keep it a secret, right?"
"Who do you think I'd tell?"
Manager Ha finally started laughing too. Still... I probably shouldn't mention what happened with Ji-ho last week.
"Oh, right! Do you have time once we get to Seoul today? Want to go here?"
She handed me something. Concert tickets...?
"There's a live show tonight. If you like music, let's go together."
Oh... A concert. The tickets had the Chinese character for "oni" (鬼) written large in a brush-stroke font.
"Oni...?"
"That's how you read it in Japanese. They're pretty famous in the indie scene. I listen to them a lot because I like their songs. A friend gave me two tickets while I was listening to their music, so I was planning to go right after arriving in Seoul~"
Manager Ha played a bit of the band's song on her phone. I didn't listen to music often, but the track was pretty good. J-rock style with a female vocal that really got you pumped up.
"Oh... This is nice. I've never been to a live concert before... It might be fun to check one out."
"Great! Let's go together!! Honestly, I was going to use this to cheer you up since you've been so down all week... I figured we'd enjoy it more if you were in a better mood first... Hehe."
So... she made that embarrassing confession just for this? I decided not to mention it.
About five hours later, we arrived in Seoul and headed to the live music venue a little early. The space was dimly lit and not particularly large, but it looked like it could hold a decent crowd. Quite a few people had already arrived, chatting or sipping drinks while waiting for the show.
"Oh! Kang Dae-ri, there's a bar here too!! Let's drink!"
As expected, Manager Ha was completely focused on the bar, picking out drinks.
"Manager, let's drink after the show starts. It hasn't even begun yet."
"Fine~ I'll just look for now."
The venue gradually filled up until it was packed. I decided to enjoy the show from the back rather than pushing forward. Even with the crowd, the stage was clearly visible because the space wasn't huge.
"It's starting soon~ As expected from the Oni Band, the place is packed."
"Yeah. Aren't you going closer to the front? I thought they were your favorite band."
"Hmm... I like their songs, but this is my first time seeing them live... Plus, being near the bar has its perks."
She raised the beer bottle she was holding. Just then, a powerful guitar riff rang out and someone stepped onto the stage. It was a female oni with two horns on her forehead, short wavy hair, and a petite build. She wore short pants with a black jacket draped over her shoulders instead of properly worn, a gray sleeveless shirt underneath, and carried an electric guitar.
"That's Gouki, the vocalist."
The woman walked to the center of the stage, leaned into the mic stand, and shouted.
"You've been waiting a long time!!!"
Cheers erupted from the crowd. The rest of the band members had already joined her onstage—a four-piece band with drums, bass, guitar, and keyboard. Manager Ha raised her hands and cheered along. I sat on a bar stool, sipping my beer and taking it all in. Honestly, this was my first time at a place like this, so I just enjoyed the music my own way. Instead of jumping around like everyone else, I stayed seated, closed my eyes, and let the sound wash over me. Before I knew it, though, I was standing and gently moving to the rhythm. The performance was that good. Gouki's vocals were excellent, and her electric guitar skills were top-notch too. Every time she shouted, it felt like a cool, strong wind was blowing through. Every time she strummed, it was like lightning striking and sending a thrill down my spine. We lost track of time enjoying the music. After the final encore, the band members waved and disappeared backstage. The audience began filing out, still buzzing with the afterglow. Manager Ha, who had been lost in the crowd, emerged sweaty and grinning.
"Whew~ That was really fun! Gouki's vocals are seriously amazing."
"Yeah..."
Hearing my reply, Manager Ha gave me a suspicious look. "What~? Did you actually enjoy it? You stayed in the back the whole time."
"Ah... It was my first time at a place like this... But I really did enjoy it. It was great."
I could still feel the pleasant afterglow lingering in my chest.
"Well, that's a relief~ At least you don't look depressed anymore, hehe."
"Thank you. Thanks to you, I had a fun experience. I might start looking for more shows like this, haha."
The next day, after the business trip ended, it was my first weekend back in my own neighborhood. Now that I was home with nothing to do, I wasn't sure how to spend my day off. In Busan, I'd been going around with Manager Ha... While lying on my bed, bored out of my mind, the music from yesterday's concert suddenly started playing in my head. Hmm... Should I look it up? I picked up my phone and searched for the Oni Band online. Oh, they released an album?? Maybe I should go check it out... I got dressed and headed to a record store in the busy district near my house. I used to occasionally buy one or two albums when browsing record stores, but lately I didn't go much since I didn't know what was popular and didn't listen to music often. Inside the store, I started looking for the Oni Band's album. Let's see... Oni... Ah, found it! Tucked away in a corner, I spotted their album. These days streaming services were everywhere, but there was something nice about this kind of vibe. Oh! The song from yesterday was on it too... While looking at the album in my hands, I walked toward the register and bumped into someone.
"Oops! Sorry."
"No... It's fine."
The voice sounded familiar. When I looked up, wondering where I'd heard it before, I saw Gouki—the Oni Band's guitarist and vocalist—standing there with a guitar case. She nodded, casually accepting my apology, then noticed the album in my hands. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Huh...? That's our album."
"Ah... Yeah... Haha... I heard it for the first time yesterday and liked it, so I came to buy it."
She looked at me and smiled. "Oh~ Thanks. Now that I think about it, you were the ajussi who came to yesterday's live show, right?"
"Huh? You remember me??"
Gouki laughed playfully and started bouncing on her feet with her arms crossed, mimicking how I'd been moving at the concert. "You were standing in the back by yourself with your eyes closed, moving like this. It was funny, so it stuck in my memory."
"It was actually my first time at a concert like that..."
She burst out laughing. Then, wiping away a tear that had formed, she said, "Ahaha... Sorry for laughing~ Still, it looks like you enjoyed it enough to buy the album..."
"Your singing is really good... I used to listen to music a lot, but lately I barely do."
I felt a bit embarrassed, but talking about music with her was fun, and the embarrassment gradually faded. Her eyes sparkled whenever the conversation turned to music, and she became much more talkative. Time passed like that...
"Ah! It's already... I have plans today... Sorry, did I keep you too long??"
"No, it's fine. I didn't have anything to do today anyway."
"Then~ See you next time~ Come to another show!"
She waved and left the store. I paid for the album and headed out too. Checking my watch, it was still too early for dinner. Hmm... I still had plenty of time before dinner... Should I go see Nago...? While walking toward the place where Nago worked, I spotted Gouki in the distance, still carrying her guitar. I jogged up to her.
"Are you heading this way too, Gouki?"
She took out her earphones and looked at me. "Oh? You're going this way too, ajussi?"
"Yeah, I'm meeting a friend."
"Really? Perfect, I was bored! We can chat while we walk."
By chance heading in the same direction, we walked together, chatting about everyday things, music, and other hobbies. Before I knew it, we arrived in front of Nago's workplace. Nago wasn't sitting outside on the bench. Maybe she was inside... I said goodbye to Gouki.
"Ah, I'll head in from here."
"Okay! I'm here too~ See ya~"
We greeted each other and both reached for the door at the same time. Huh? We stood there with our hands on the open door, staring at each other in silence. The only sound was the bell above the door jingling. "Uh... You're here too, ajussi??" "Uh... You too, Gouki?" Just then, a white-haired three-tailed fox yokai came out from inside, spotted us, and waved. "Oh my~ It's Oppa and Gouki. You two know each other?" "Ah... Hello." "By the way, Oppa, what should we do...? Nago unni caught a cold and couldn't come in today..." "Eh? The friend you were meeting was Nago unni?" Gouki looked at me in surprise. "So your plans were here too, Gouki?" Gouki blushed and scratched her head. "Haha... Well, I need to absorb essence two or three times a year... So I work here occasionally." A long time ago—long before I was even born—yokai and humans began coexisting. The yokai brothels were created for those yokai who needed to absorb human essence to survive. Before coexistence, prostitution had been illegal in human society, so even after coexistence began, only yokai were allowed to work there. In modern times, most yokai working at the brothels didn't actually need to absorb essence. After all, the need to absorb essence wasn't genetic or a species trait—it was an individual characteristic that varied from person to person. For example, even among gumiho, some needed to absorb essence while others didn't. Plus, the manifestation rate seemed to be decreasing over time, and the trait was gradually disappearing. "There are still yokai who absorb essence these days..." "Right... Even if it's only two or three times a year, it's still such a hassle... Haa~" Gouki, who had been sighing with her head down, suddenly looked up at me. "Ajussi!! Do it with me!!" "What...??" "Nago unni's out with a cold anyway, so you've got nothing else to do! And I'd rather do it with someone I know... It's less awkward..." We'd only just met today, but she was already treating me like an acquaintance. The three-tailed fox, who had been watching quietly, smiled and spoke in a sly voice. "Now that I think about it, Nago unni said this oppa was pretty amazing~" "W... What do you mean...?" "Well... In various ways~?" The fox shrugged as if to say she didn't know the details. Gouki's eyes sparkled even more. I'd only planned to chat today... But I guess there's no helping it... In the end, Gouki and I ended up in a private room together. She straddled my thighs as I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at me with seductive eyes. Her face slowly drew closer until her lips gently pressed against mine. She tilted her head this way and that, slipping her tongue into my mouth and exploring. Every time she moved, her horns brushed lightly against my forehead, tickling me. "Haa... Haa..." Her heated breaths passed into my mouth and down my throat. She shrugged off her jacket, then pulled off her sleeveless shirt. Her small breasts and nipples came into view. "Gouki...! Your underwear...!" "Hehe, just~ Well... I felt like going without today~ They're small, so it didn't show anyway, right?" "Even so, mmm!!" She sealed my mouth with her lips before I could finish. Then she grinned. "You're more of a stuffy ajussi than I thought~?" She leaned down and buried her face between my legs. My robe fell open, and a warm, wet sensation enveloped me. "Mmm, mmph, slurp." She took me deep into her throat. Unlike regular fellatio, it made wet, obscene gulping sounds. The stimulation was intense—it felt like she was having sex with her throat. But the saliva-slick passage was stickier than any other, giving a completely different sensation. "Pwah~! I can't breathe~" "Are you okay?" Strings of saliva stretched between her mouth and my length like a spiderweb. Tears welled in her eyes. "It's been a while, so it's tough, haha. Alright! Now do whatever you want, ajussi!" She stood in front of me with her arms spread. I couldn't hold back anymore. I lifted her up in one motion and thrust straight into her. She grabbed my shoulders, stretched her legs out, and trembled. "Kwoooooook!!!" Was that too rough? I wrapped my arms around her arched back to support her and started thrusting while standing. "Kkhh... It's too big!!" Gouki buried her face in my shoulder and started biting. Her body was suspended in the air, so her insides had to take both gravity and my force at once. Realizing this belatedly, I laid her down on the bed. But I had no intention of going easy. I hadn't been particularly aroused today, but she'd seduced me. I climbed on top of her prone form. She, who had been catching her breath, slowly raised her hips as she felt my length against her. "Like this..." She wiggled her raised hips, rubbing against me as if begging. I responded to her invitation by pushing my now-hard length into her. Then I whispered in her ear. "You brought this on yourself, Gouki... Be ready." I grabbed her horns with both hands and pulled her upright. Then I thrust deep. "Uuuuugh!! D... Don't touch the horns~!" In the mirror across from the bed, her eyes were rolled back, drooling as she moaned. Were her horns an erogenous zone...? I didn't let go of her horns and kept thrusting wildly. The sounds of flesh slapping, sticky fluids squelching in tight spaces, and two slick bodies grinding together filled the room, heightening the excitement. "Aah~ There!! I like it there!! Hit that sensitive spot more!!!" She seemed to be enjoying it too—her moans grew more enthusiastic. Water poured from between her legs like a waterfall, soaking both our thighs. "Ugh! Gouki... I... I'm..." "Cum!! Ajussi!! Deep inside!!!" Thrust!!! My hips slammed flush against her ass. Not satisfied, I pushed even deeper, crushing her against me. Sticky fluid surged through my length and erupted deep inside her. The sensation of climax shot up my spine like an electric shock, spreading through my entire body. It felt just like when I'd first heard her guitar playing. Strength drained from my hands, and I let go of her horns. "Haa... Haa... You came so much..." She trembled and collapsed onto the bed. Lying there, she gently rubbed her lower belly with her hand. It felt strange. "That was delicious... Ajussi..." We went several more rounds after that. She probably didn't need any more essence, but for some reason she kept saying she wanted to do it anyway and stayed with me. After our passionate encounter, she was completely exhausted and clung to me naked. "Your lower half is nothing like an ajussi~" "No... I'm still in my twenties..." Only now did I complain about her nickname for me. She snorted with laughter, then picked up something from the table. It was the album I'd bought at the record store. "I'll give you a present as thanks for feeding me essence~" She took a marker from her guitar case and scribbled her signature on the album. "Here! It's the first signed album of my band life! You're lucky, ajussi!" "Oh~ Thank you. I'll treasure it." "Yeah... Come to another show... Zzz..." She fell asleep mid-sentence. Hmm... I still have plenty of time... Should I take a nap too...? And so we drifted off into peaceful sleep together.