It was a quiet night. The moon hung high in the dark sky, casting a silvery glow through the window. In the gentle moonlight, the outline of Jung Ha-yeon was faintly visible.
Slurp… smack… slurp… slurp… smack… slurp…
“Mm… gulp…”
“Ah…”
Jung Ha-yeon paused occasionally, swallowing, her throat moving with a soft gulp. The sound was unexpectedly sensual.
After a moment, she took a deep breath and resumed, her tongue slowly enveloping me once more.
Though it was her suggestion, it was clear this was her first time. Her movements were awkward, lacking finesse, but she was earnest, diligently trying her best.
Despite her inexperience, I felt an overwhelming pressure, as if I might lose control at any moment.
Her mouth was warm, and the sensation traveled up my spine, enveloping my entire body in a comforting warmth.
It wasn’t about technique; it was the atmosphere. Her every action was filled with a sincere desire to please me.
Careful not to hurt me with her teeth, she moved her mouth gently, her tongue working tirelessly. I found her efforts endearing and couldn’t help but bite my lip softly. I placed a hand on her head, stroking her hair slowly.
Slurp, smack, slurp. Slurp, smack, slurp.
Gradually, her movements became more confident, her head bobbing faster. Her hair swayed with the rhythm, and her bare chest moved in time. The sensation intensified.
Jung Ha-yeon, usually so composed and graceful, was now so bold, and it excited me even more. I stopped stroking her hair and found myself gripping it gently. My body tensed, and I felt the climax approaching.
I tried to hold back, but the atmosphere was too intoxicating. Finally, I let out a low moan and released.
“Ah!”
Jung Ha-yeon opened her eyes wide, her movements halting.
As the intense pleasure coursed through me, I felt the urge to pull her closer but managed to restrain myself. She had done enough.
But then, her next action left me speechless.
“Mm… gulp… gulp…”
“Ha-yeon?”
I called out in surprise, and she looked up at me, her eyes meeting mine. She brushed her hair back behind her ears, revealing my glistening self.
She had swallowed. Confirming this, I exhaled softly, feeling a wave of relaxation wash over me.
“Why did you do that?”
“Because it’s yours, Su-hyun.”
“But it can’t taste good.”
“Hehe. It’s not so bad.”
She smiled, then shyly kissed the tip of me. Her cheeks were flushed with a rosy hue. Her unusual boldness today made me wonder if she had been holding back for a while.
Just then—
“Kyuu!”
A familiar sound made me turn my head quickly. There, in the doorway, was a baby unicorn, peeking through with its front legs covering its eyes.
“Oh, my!”
Jung Ha-yeon, startled by the sound, looked up in surprise.
Before either of us could react, the baby unicorn disappeared in a flash.
We heard the sound of its little hooves pattering down the hallway.
”…”
”…”
Jung Ha-yeon and I stared at the door, speechless.
It was a quiet night.
The Mercenary Clan didn’t have a set breakfast time. The dining hall was always staffed, so members could eat whenever they were hungry.
Most clan members, however, tended to gather for breakfast around the same time.
The pleasant mood with Jung Ha-yeon had dissipated after the baby unicorn’s unexpected appearance. I wasn’t too bothered, as the unicorn was just an animal, but it did dampen the mood a bit.
Jung Ha-yeon, on the other hand, seemed more affected. She quickly excused herself and rushed out, likely to find the unicorn.
The next morning, I witnessed an amusing scene in the dining hall.
“Kyuu.”
“Do you want this?”
“Kyuu kyuu.”
Jung Ha-yeon, Im Han-na, and Baek Han-gyeol were having breakfast. Or rather, they were trying to, along with the baby unicorn.
The unicorn sat on a chair, mouth open, while Jung Ha-yeon awkwardly fed it.
It was a cute sight, but something felt off.
The unicorn’s demeanor was haughty, its innocent face now mischievous.
“Ah, you’re here, brother.”
“Welcome, Clan Lord. Here for breakfast?”
As I entered, Baek Han-gyeol and Im Han-na greeted me. I nodded and took a seat, glancing at Jung Ha-yeon, who shook her head desperately, signaling me not to ask.
“Um, little one, I need to eat too…”
“Kyuu?”
The unicorn glanced at her, snorted, and then tapped Im Han-na.
“Hm? You called me?”
“Kyuu.”
“Why?”
Im Han-na asked with a gentle smile, and the unicorn pointed at me.
“Kyuu.”
“Me? The Clan Lord?”
“Kyuu.”
“And now… Ha-yeon?”
“Kyuu kyuu.”
The unicorn nodded, then seemed about to do something else when Jung Ha-yeon quickly offered it another spoonful.
’…’
Unicorns are intelligent and sensitive creatures. Whatever happened last night, it seemed Jung Ha-yeon had made a mistake.
‘She should have handled it more calmly…’
Watching her sweat nervously, I sighed inwardly. It seemed the unicorn had sensed her unease and was trying to assert its dominance. Or perhaps there was another reason I wasn’t aware of.
I decided to let Jung Ha-yeon handle it for now, ready to step in if needed. The unicorn’s occasional glances at me were still within acceptable limits.
“Clan Lord, breakfast today is simple: bread and soup. The kitchen staff is busy, so I’ll fetch it for you.”
“Oh, no need. I’ll get it myself.”
The dining counter was empty. I gestured for Im Han-na to sit back down and stood up.
“You don’t have to, Clan Lord…”
“I’m the one eating, so I should get it. It’s just a matter of picking it up.”
As I was about to leave, I remembered I needed to discuss equipment with Im Han-na.
The decision regarding the Twilight Priestess had been postponed. It seemed best to address it after breakfast if she was free.
“By the way, Im Han-na, do you have any plans this morning?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Great, then…”
I was about to suggest we talk in the office after breakfast when—
“Clan Lord! Clan Lord!”
Someone burst into the dining hall, shouting urgently.
I turned to see Shin Sang-yong, drenched in sweat.
“User Shin Sang-yong?”
“Pant, pant! Clan Lord! Something’s wrong outside!”
“What?”
I frowned slightly at the unexpected news, prompting him to continue without catching his breath.
“Oh, I had some errands to run in the city center this morning…”
“Yes, yes. Calm down and tell me slowly.”
“Right now… whew. From the square to the warp gate, there are hundreds of Istantel Low clan members gathered. And they’re fully armed!”
The moment I heard those words, my heart sank.
‘It’s starting.’
Sung Hyun-min looked incredibly anxious. His eyes darted around, and he couldn’t stop fidgeting, a stark contrast to his usually composed demeanor.
“Sigh…”
“Can you sit still for a moment? You’re like a puppy that needs to go out. What’s wrong with you? This isn’t like you.”
Finally, Lee Hyo-eul couldn’t hold back and snapped at him. Hyun-min gave an awkward laugh.
“Ha, haha. Sorry. Just thinking about having to go out soon makes me nervous.”
“Come on, it’s not like it’s your first time.”
“But it’s different now. Back then, I acted on my own beliefs, but now…”
Hyun-min trailed off, cautiously glancing at Hyo-eul.
“So, you’re saying our next move goes against your beliefs?”
”…Yes.”
Hyun-min answered honestly. Hyo-eul looked at him for a moment before leisurely lighting a cigarette.
The sound of the lighter echoed softly in the room. Thin wisps of smoke drifted from her lips.
“Hyun-min, do you remember when we were together three years ago?”
”…Yes, I remember clearly.”
“I told you then, your half-baked beliefs would hinder your growth as a user. If you just learned to shift your perspective a bit, you could…”
At that moment, a spark flickered in Hyun-min’s eyes.
“Lee Hyo-eul, I respect you personally. Your advice has always been rational, and following it has never led me astray. As someone who’s experienced your guidance firsthand, I know that well. But surely, there will be users who are dissatisfied with today’s actions.”
Hyun-min interrupted her, but surprisingly, she didn’t seem upset. In fact, she wore a gentle smile.
“Hyun-min, I think you’re misunderstanding something. This isn’t just my idea. You know that, right?”
”…”
“This is what you all wanted from the start, wasn’t it? Sure, I accepted it because it seemed rational, as you said.”
”…I’m worried this incident might plunge the Northern Continent into chaos.”
Hyun-min’s voice was filled with concern, and Hyo-eul chuckled softly.
“I understand what you’re worried about, but don’t stress too much.”
“User Lee Hyo-eul.”
“Do you think I haven’t considered what you’re thinking?”
With that, Hyun-min fell silent again.
“Everything’s been thought through, so don’t worry too much, okay? Whether things go as I planned or as you fear, we’ll see soon enough.”
She flicked the ash from her cigarette and stretched her arms above her head, standing up. Then, she turned to Hyun-min, who still wore a troubled expression, and spoke with determination.
“So, let’s put aside those trivial thoughts and get going. It’s time to begin. Operation: New World’s First Step.”
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
For those hoping for a sweet, everyday life, I must apologize in advance for the upcoming chapters.
Personally, I believe war is a harrowing thing. From its onset to its conclusion, there won’t be any leisurely daily life depicted.
In essence, this chapter marks the end of the first part of Su-hyun’s respite. From here on, things will escalate rapidly. :)
(I’ll be taking a break from responding to comments today. Instead, I’ll combine them with the next chapter’s release. Due to the Chuseok holiday, I had to attend four lectures today. Haha.)