episode_0114

“It’s my turn this time.”

“I’ll be back.”

“Okay, come back safely.”

Since Arina had monopolized Ian for the entire night the day before, Millene arrived with pinpoint accuracy as the next date time approached—though how she found their location remained a mystery.

Though it was called a “date,” in Arina’s case, aside from the very beginning, it had mostly taken place on the bed.

Her voice was slightly hoarse from crying all night without rest, and dark circles hung under her eyes.

Had Millene not come looking for the two of them from the morning, they might still be tangled up in each other. Though she was relatively strong for a mage, she was no match for Ian, and Arina even felt a sense of being rescued by Millene.

The moment Arina woke up after collapsing into sleep, one thought crossed her mind:

“Will he be okay?”

Ian had stepped into the realm of superhumans, so physically, there’d be no issue—but what about stamina?

She had already taken so much from him—would there be anything left for Millene? The thought of Millene pouncing on him like she wanted to kill her was already exhausting.

Sigh. “Well, it’s not like I need to worry about that.”

He’d probably be fine. Right before Millene arrived, when he tried to take her one more time, she had felt her insides go cold.

“But it was really good.”

Still, if she had to go through that again, she wasn’t sure her body could handle it.

Sitting up, Arina glanced around the room.

Of course, no one was there. She didn’t have anything to do, either.

Now that all three nations were on their side, capturing the hero’s party was just a matter of time—practically already accomplished.

Though it hadn’t been fully realized yet, she already felt like she’d hit burnout.

“What did I used to do in times like this…?”

Truthfully, this was the first time she’d ever been left without a goal, wandering aimlessly. Her entire life had been spent running toward something without rest.

She didn’t know how to spend time alone.

For the past few years, she’d mostly spent it drinking.

But now, even that wasn’t an option.

Arina looked down and stroked her stomach. Not yet.

She wasn’t pregnant. Checking inside her own body wasn’t difficult with magic, so she was certain.

But someday, she would definitely have a child. For the sake of the child she would have with Ian, the man she loved, it was better to start taking care of her health now—so she planned to quit drinking entirely.

She had started drinking to forget unpleasant memories, and now that she had completely shaken off the past, there was no reason to drink anymore.

Well, except that her body now craved alcohol.

Haaah. “No, no, no.”

Staying still like this would only make her think about it more. Wiping away the drool she hadn’t realized she’d let out, Arina headed downstairs for breakfast.

The moment she stepped out of the room, she felt it—intense, prickling stares from all around. It wasn’t unusual for her to draw attention wherever she went, but the intensity was different this time.

It wasn’t the usual gaze directed at a celebrity. Even for someone like Arina, who had been through countless battles, the unfamiliar atmosphere put her on edge—until her enhanced hearing caught the truth.

“Damn, she’s hot. She’s alone—should I go talk to her?”

“Weren’t you here yesterday? That girl’s got a man. Handsome, too. And judging by the moaning that didn’t stop until morning, he must be good in bed.”

“Wait, isn’t that Riel Frost? I think I saw her on a wanted poster…”

“Huh? Now that you mention it…”

“So the girl crying her eyes out behind the door last night was the Grand Mage? Damn, I’m so fucking jealous.”

“You’re saying that even though you know she used to be a man? Hah. Still, those sounds were killer.”

“What’s the big deal over some sounds? Was it that good?”

“Just imagine her face before she went in. After hearing that, I bet no one pulled out last night.”

BANG! The hushed conversation about last night’s events was cut off by the sound of a table being slammed. The source, of course, was Arina.

Her face burning red, she glared at the group of young men.

“D-Did she hear us?”

She had.

But since she was the one who had eavesdropped by enhancing her hearing, she couldn’t exactly call them out.

More than that, she was too embarrassed to even face them.

They heard everything?

Now that she thought about it, she had been so lost in the moment that she hadn’t held back her cries. At that volume, it was impossible for the neighboring rooms not to hear.

But Arina had her grievances, too.

City inns like this should at least have soundproofing magic!

If this had been some backwater village without a trace of magic, she would’ve cast it herself.

But the first inn they’d chosen naturally had basic magical treatments, so in the heat of the moment last night, she hadn’t even thought to check.

The result? Sitting in the middle of the inn’s common area, the center of attention, drowning in unbearable shame.

The lewd words she’d whispered to excite Ian, the sensual moans—all of it replayed in her mind.

They heard everything. Do they all think I’m some kind of pervert?

But it wasn’t like she could deny it. She had initially resisted, but Ian had uncovered every last one of her preferences.

Even though she was pinned down and completely dominated by a stronger man, what she felt wasn’t fear—but security.

If I submit to this man, I’ll be safe. The fact that it was Ian made all the difference.

In the end, Arina left the inn in a hurry, dropping payment for her meal before it even arrived.

The moment she stepped outside, she locked eyes with more people. This time, their gazes were as normal as ever—but drowning in shame, Arina quickly walked away.

She couldn’t shake the illusion that everyone knew about last night. In this situation, the only place she could go was the lodging they had secured earlier.

The room originally meant for the three of them. Their travel belongings were all there, so maybe she could just hole up and read a book to calm down.

Thinking that, Arina reached for the doorknob—but stopped when she heard voices inside.

“Hey, Millene. Even so, isn’t this a bit much? Arina might come back.”

“So what if she does? It’s not like we’re doing anything wrong. You two went at it all morning.”

“That’s true, but… wouldn’t that make things awkward for Arina? If we just rented another room—”

“Everywhere’s fully booked. What am I supposed to do? It has to be today. I refuse to let that girl have a child before me.”

Click. The doorknob made a faint sound as she let go, but the two, lost in their own world, didn’t seem to notice.

The door, however, was slightly ajar—enough for Arina to peek inside.

Tch. “Mmm— You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this. I tried so hard to get your attention, but you wouldn’t even look at me… I’ll make you forget all about Arina.”

Millene swallowed Ian’s lips, tangling her tongue with his as she slowly pushed him back. When he fell onto the bed, she climbed on top, stripping off his shirt before tossing it aside. She left kiss marks down his body, then pulled off his pants and took his cock into her mouth.

Arina’s impression? She’s… really good at this.

“Ngh… You’re good.”

“Of coursh I am… Pwah. If you’d just given me a chance, I could’ve done this anytime. Starting to regret ignoring me now? I’m way better, right?”

“Comparing them like that is a bit…”

“Hmph. Can’t say anything bad about her, huh? Even after tasting my virginity, that’s all you’ve got? Nngh—!”

Millene, now seated on top of Ian, let out a faint moan at the pain of penetration. The sheer size of the man’s first entry into her was overwhelming, stretching and filling her in ways she’d never experienced.

Soon, the membrane symbolizing her purity tore, and a trickle of blood ran down.

After pausing to adjust to the pain, Millene carefully lifted her hips before slamming back down. How is she this good when she was a virgin until just now? From Arina’s perspective, Millene was skilled enough to make her feel inferior as a woman.

Unlike Arina, who could only lie beneath Ian and cry out helplessly, Millene took the lead, servicing him expertly.

From a man’s perspective, a woman like that would be far more appealing. And unlike her—who hadn’t even been a virgin—Millene had given Ian her first time.

Just as Millene had said, he’d probably forget all about her.

“Khh… Ngh—!”

As if to prove it, Ian let out a moan Arina had never heard before.

Her heart sank. For the first time, Arina regretted allowing Millene into their relationship.

The difference between us is too much. If this keeps up, won’t I just be pushed aside? All I have going for me is my face and big breasts.

Overcome by the fear of losing Ian, Arina slumped to the floor—only to feel an odd heat between her legs. Without thinking, her fingers trailed down to her damp panties.

The slickness coating her fingers glistened under the dim light.

“…?”

Why now?

She didn’t understand why she was getting turned on at a time like this, but her body moved on its own, fingers slipping inside.

“Nngh— Hah?!”

Am I really this messed up? This should be the worst moment of her life, yet pleasure coiled through her. Even as she told herself to stop, she couldn’t pull her fingers away.

“He’s mine… He liked me first… Ian is mine…”

Watching her lover with someone else—it reminded her of the incident with Yuria, but the feeling was different.

Millene was a wife she had acknowledged, so it wasn’t like she was being stolen.

But she never imagined she’d be masturbating to the bitter taste of jealousy.

“Ahn— Hah?! Ngh—!”

A moan slipped out before she could stop it. Arina quickly covered her mouth.

Had they heard? She peeked inside, but their own noises seemed to drown hers out.

As their movements grew more intense, the sounds of skin slapping and heavy breathing only grew louder.

Lost in the heat of the moment, Arina’s fingers moved faster, fully lost in her own pleasure.

So much so that she didn’t notice when the noises inside stopped.

Or when the slightly ajar door swung fully open.

“What are you doing?”

“Hah— Huh? Ahn… Wha—?”

Before her stood two people—a man and a woman, both naked and glistening with sweat.

And on the opposite side? A bitch on all fours, fingers buried inside herself.

And that bitch was her.

Her spine turned to ice. Trembling, Arina couldn’t even hide her shaking pupils as she spoke.

“Wh-What? Why are you… already…?”

“Why? You were making so much noise out here—you think we could just ignore it?”

Millene’s cold gaze bore into her. Arina couldn’t meet her eyes.

“Did you do this on purpose? You couldn’t even wait your turn and had to butt in?”

The anger in Millene’s voice was palpable.

Of course. Arina would’ve reacted the same way.

“N-No, I…”

“Then what? You got turned on watching us and decided to finger yourself?”

“……”

“You—the one who used to act so high and mighty—are just a shameless, filthy pervert.”

No words could defend her. Arina’s head hung lower and lower.

There was only one thing left to say.

“…I’m sorry.”