Calamity – 禍 (6)

* * *

The waning of ennui didn’t exactly spark enthusiasm for everything.

Perhaps it was because my humanity had been wrecked by prolonged ennui and self-harm, but seeing the same pattern even after learning emotions suggested it was purely my own issue.

Maybe it’s because I can’t empathize.

The joy, sorrow… that humans should naturally feel, and the empathy and listening that are fundamental to conversation. The countless interactions within that space.

I could somehow fake the former, but the latter was proving difficult. I don’t laugh when I should laugh, or cry when I should cry. Even if my emotions have become more diverse, the right emotion doesn’t just pop out at the right time.

The countless emotions I’ve gained… yes, things like excitement and happiness that are involved with ‘motivation’ arise from situations that are a little, no, a lot different from ordinary people.

‘…Just wandering around makes me feel empty.’

Well… even if I think like this, I’m not a monkey, I have self-control. It’s a shame, but there will be plenty of opportunities, so I should be patient.

I glanced at Shuriel-nim and turned my head again.

With each step, a rustling sound lingered in my ears. The snow of the North, which falls occasionally regardless of the season. This grim, unsettling snow had long become a part of the daily life of the Northerners.

“Haa―…”

As I exhaled, a white breath gently puffed out.

Heavy. As I blankly stared at the breath that wouldn’t easily dissipate, Pawin quietly spoke.

“…It’s particularly chilly today. First… it seems best to secure lodging. After that, we can depart with a bit of leisure.”

“Are we resting for the day?”

“…I will go around gathering information.”

Pawin shook his head at Shuriel-nim’s question.

A similar pattern to when we were hunting the twin Demons. Information was needed. The location of their hideout wasn’t even properly identified. First, it was a priority to narrow down their general range of activity.

Still, I expect it will be easier than last time. Even if the North is a separate world, it was still part of the Empire. Moving around and gaining cooperation is simpler.

“…Just in case, if you encounter Plüton during your investigation, please try to keep him occupied for as long as possible, as immediate use of force is authorized.”

Of course, combat authority too.

We had already obtained consent from the Holy See and the Northern Alliance. The moment he’s spotted, we were allowed to do whatever we wanted, as long as there were no civilian casualties.

“That’s the best thing I’ve heard you say so far.”

Shuriel-nim, who had only been doing desk work while managing the territory, muttered with a raised corner of his lip.

“Are we splitting up again this time?”

Frankly speaking, the process of finding Demons was seriously boring. That’s how work is, but for me, whose desire fulfillment is directly related to mental stability, it was a critical matter.

“We don’t lack the authority to act, so we only need to look around the important places. It seems like everything’s been discussed with the Baron.”

I see. There didn’t seem to be a need to split up. I chuckled and nodded. Since the only reason I laugh is very specific, he probably noticed.

“If there’s any useful information before we go to the canyon―”

At that moment, Shuriel-nim frowned and stopped speaking.

“…?”

“…Just a moment. I don’t feel well.”

With good timing, Pawin brought over Karal tea.

Shuriel-nim, who gulped down the water, breathed out heavily, as if feeling a bit better.

“Haa…. Anyway. It doesn’t seem like there’s any useful information here. Let’s just eavesdrop a bit today and call it a day.”

* * *

The place Pawin found was a slightly shabby inn.

I wasn’t sure if it was because he had no desire to stay in a fancy inn, or if this was the only inn available, but judging by the innkeeper’s face, he seemed to have been here several times.

Shuriel-nim didn’t seem to have any complaints. That was natural. Having often experienced remote areas and extreme situations, he was good at sleeping anywhere.

“Hmm?”

However, Pawin only secured two rooms. The inn wasn’t very good, so the rooms were small. So, even separate rooms would be insufficient, yet he only secured two.

‘He knows my heart.’

I was planning to do that anyway, so I was quite pleased that he took care of it.

She quietly spoke, seeing the corner of my lip twitching.

“…You don’t need to worry about me.”

A voice that seemed to know what I was going to do, and that I would do it even if she was there.

“…I will go out to gather information for a while. It won’t take long… I hope you enjoy yourselves.”

“Heu-heum. Thank you.”

“…Come to think of it, I might be a bit late.”

I thanked him as if nothing was wrong. Getting flustered over something like this… is too early. My face only turns red when I’m suffocating and gasping, or when it’s swollen from beatings.

“Shall we go up?”

“…Let’s.”

Shuriel-nim was sparing with words.

I rolled my eyes, looking at the strangely calm Shuriel-nim. His complexion… seemed normal, but his expression wasn’t good. He was always frowning, but there was a subtle difference.

“Is it because of the Fraud?”

Is it because of the Fraud again?

There’s a saying that prolonged exposure to the Fraud leads to depression…

“No. I just feel dirty. Let’s go up.”

“Yes? Ah, kyaak―?!”

Tak! Shuriel-nim, grabbing my hand, strode up the creaking wooden stairs. I was pulled along, stumbling, with my wrist held so tightly that it turned red.

―Kkii-ik, kung.

“Shuriel, -nim?”

“…I feel suffocated.”

Hwiik. He throws off the tightly wrapped clothes. Clothes strewn haphazardly on the floor. I narrowed my eyes and took a step back. No matter the situation, he always pursued at least minimal neatness, yet he was throwing his clothes around so carelessly.

While taking off my clothes, following Shuriel-nim, I slowly turned my head.

‘Why is he like this?’

Judging by how firmly he rejected it, it wasn’t because of the Fraud. It would be a different story if it was a side effect he hadn’t noticed himself… but he’s been fine all this time, so why suddenly?

As I continued to think and threw off my clothes, only a semi-transparent shirt that could be torn immediately and underwear that clearly showed axe marks covered my body. The area was small, and the material was tight, making it even more explicit.

Shuriel-nim looked at me like that and said.

“Are you going to do it?”

“Yes?”

Directly.

“I asked if you’re going to do it now.”

Also, forcefully.

“Uhm, no, now? Th-that…”

Shuriel-nim approached me with large steps. I stopped taking off my chest shirt and looked up at him. He was cold. A gaze that settled as deeply as the Fraud.

My heart pounded at that icy gaze.

I liked it today. The atmosphere, the way he spoke, the way he looked like he would definitely treat me like a ‘toy’.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Th-that. Uhm, okay. If that’s what you want… it’s okay even now…”

Hehe… I smiled and pulled at the panty string.

The panty that was slipping off was already sticky with vaginal fluid. The panty clung to my buttocks and smooth thigh flesh, creating a precarious atmosphere. As I untied the other side in that state, it fell with a thud, revealing my white clam flesh.

I took off my panty and held it in one hand with a slightly flushed face.

I showed off the short, tight panty as if flaunting it.

My body, which was easily aroused, had already poured out a considerable amount of vaginal fluid.

“Whenever you want…”

I stuck out my tongue with a provocative and alluring face.

“Today, I want you to be a bit rough… is that okay?”

“Ha, rough? Weren’t the things I’ve done so far rough enough?”

“It’s rough enough just with the size… uhm, how should I put it. I’m a bit tired of begging, getting pounded, and passing out.”

When it’s just the two of us, I can reveal my tastes without filtering them.

That’s why I seem to be more drawn to it.

Because he grants these ridiculous requests.

“Hmm….”

Shuriel-nim, looking around, hesitated and pondered with his mouth. He was contemplating how to digest the request of ‘being even rougher here.’

“…Shall I put up a soundproof barrier?”

Greater roughness tends to generate greater noise and smells. Mainly from my mouth and the cut surfaces.

“No. There’s no need for that.”

“Then?”

“There’s a good function… there’s no need for that.”

“Good function…?”

I tilted my head at that suspicious combination of words, but before long, I understood the meaning, and at the same time, Shuriel-nim’s mouth opened.

“「You are not allowed to open your mouth without my permission.」”

“――…!”

Tak, my lips closed. Only then could I remember that I was a worthless slave.

Pudeuk, kudeuk. Shuriel-nim began to loosen his hands and feet. My lips were parched by the force, but I couldn’t dare to open my mouth without permission.

“I was feeling suffocated anyway, so this works out well.”

―Kung.

A very small footstep. In an instant, Shuriel-nim’s figure disappeared from my sight. I tried to accelerate my thoughts, but it seemed better not to, so I immediately stopped accelerating.

A fleeting moment of time flowing normally.

Shuriel-nim, who reappeared, was in a slightly lowered posture. As if to throw a punch―

“Eup――?!”

―Peo-eok!

At that moment, my vision spun.

“Eup, eu-eup….”

An enormous impact to my abdomen. My strength drained away due to the instantaneous muscle contraction, relaxation, and convulsions. I squatted down, rolling my eyes back.

‘A belly punch, is it?’

When he threw the punch, he generated Aura behind his body to prevent himself from being pushed back. I felt like I was about to pass out at any moment, but as long as I wasn’t being impaled by Shuriel-nim’s cock, my consciousness wouldn’t easily break.

It felt like my internal organs were crushed. They might have actually been crushed. I kept tasting something fishy in my mouth, but I couldn’t open my mouth, so I couldn’t tell if I had vomited blood.

“Eueup, heueup….”

“Is this what you want?”

Words filled with mockery. He speaks while crushing me, who’s shivering and drooling tears and urine.

‘Just a little, just a little more…’

But this wasn’t enough.

Since it was a play done with consent, the tension was bound to be less. Because there was a minimum of respect in my subconscious. Even if it wasn’t me, there was anxiety that the other person might be like that.

I needed something more to alleviate this anxiety.

“Heueup… heup…”

I awakened my fading consciousness and raised my head. The foot that was being withdrawn, the pouring scorn. Breaking through that humiliation and shame, I crawled on all fours with difficulty.

I swallowed the saliva and blood that had pooled in my mouth and approached his instep. I rubbed my cheek, pale with pain, against his shoe, and raised my buttocks, expressing submission.

“You hopeless, bitch.”

―Peo-eok!

Shuriel-nim kicked the top of my head without hesitation.

“Eueup―?!”

My body floated. My scalp tore and scattered blood. Kicked and sent flying backward, I fell to the ground with a kung sound.

When I came to, I was leaning against the wall, slumped over.

My head was spinning. The most primal form of violence, assault. I’ve been subjected to it countless times, but it was on a different level from the punches of thugs. The power of an Aura Knight was hard for a weak girl’s body to handle.

It was just a belly punch and a kick, but my internal organs were crushed and my skull was cracked. If I were a normal person, I would have died five more times from organ failure and concussion.

I quickly activated Reconstruction due to my more miserable condition than I thought. I opened my eyes with difficulty as the blood that had flowed between my forehead flowed down, and a bit of my vision cleared.

“Eueueup…”

And when I opened my eyes.

A long meat stick was poking my forehead.