Ch.62Something Precious Than Honor

“Ooh…!”

In the VIP hospital room that was once stained with rainbow vomit.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m completely healed! Thank you, Princess.”

“Fufu. No need to thank me, I only did what was natural. Really.”

I checked my perfectly healed condition while expressing my gratitude again and again to Princess Kurumi.

Rewinding to about 10 minutes ago.

After Sophia and Princess Kurumi had emptied their stomachs, they leaned against opposite walls as if declaring a temporary truce.

The cleaning staff promptly entered and thoroughly cleaned up all traces of their dramatic confrontation(?).

“Shinwoo. Over here.”

“What’s this?”

“Fufu. It’s ‘Sap of the World Tree.’ You’ve heard of it, right?”

“W-World Tree Sap?!”

The princess approached me with a smile despite her exhausted appearance.

Under Sophia’s sharp gaze, she handed me what was none other than the undisputed ultimate healing potion in the Hunter’s Blood universe.

A legendary item said to revive even the dead as long as body heat remained—World Tree Sap.

“You’re giving this to me?!”

“Yes. Actually, I came here to give you this.”

“But World Tree Sap… that’s too much…!”

This was an item that even I, a veteran player of the original game, had only obtained three times.

Even though it was just a tiny amount in a thumb-sized bottle, its value easily surpassed “millions”—it was a treasure in itself.

For her to casually offer it like it was water…

Naturally, I tried to decline out of guilt and burden.

But.

“Please! Please drink it! Otherwise, I’ll throw it away!”

Princess Kurumi was desperate.

Since I had nothing to lose and was genuinely grateful, I reluctantly gulped down the World Tree Sap in one go.

Gulp.

And now, back to the present.

“Thank you, Princess. I’ve unintentionally incurred an enormous debt.”

“Not at all! If anything, I’m the one who’s indebted to you!”

Kurumi shook her head in denial at Shinwoo’s apologetic thanks.

She had good reason, as there was a secret behind that World Tree Sap.

‘I’ve done… something naughty…!’

The truth was, that World Tree Sap was originally meant for her own recovery.

However, contrary to the intentions of her family who had sent the healing potion out of concern for the sacrifice, the princess was no longer just a mere sacrifice.

“Please leave.”

“Ah, yes!”

As soon as she sent away all the doctors—sent by her family to monitor her under the guise of providing care—out of the mansion.

“Bleh…”

She had secretly spit the sap she’d been holding in her mouth back into the glass bottle.

And now that very sap had traveled down Shinwoo’s tongue, through his esophagus, and into his stomach.

Shudder…

“…? Princess, are you okay? You seem to be trembling strangely…”

“What?! Oh, it’s nothing! I’m just a little cold.”

“…But it’s the middle of summer?”

The fact that something of hers had gone inside Shinwoo.

That reality made her whole body, especially her lower half, quiver and tremble.

‘Is this what they call an indirect kiss…?’

It was actually closer to an exchange of saliva than an indirect kiss, but Kurumi’s mental thread began to unravel more and more.

After all, if Shinwoo could drink her “saliva” so deliciously.

Perhaps…

Perhaps next time he might enjoy something “thicker” just as much.

“Heh, hehehe, hehehehe…”

Kurumi rubbed her thighs together, trying to contain the downward satakuri flowing without Shinwoo noticing.

However, Sophia, who had been watching this scene from behind:

‘…As expected, her conduct is vulgar!’

Her expression showed she couldn’t help but feel tense about the appearance of another woman—or rather, Shinwoo’s personal ona… no, woman—besides herself.

A little while later.

“Lia. Do you happen to have any other family?”

“Fa-family?”

After returning home and soaking in the bath.

While washing Lia, Shinwoo thought of the humanoid baby monster that resembled her.

Eve.

***

There was a man who had worked as a commander of a USFK aircraft carrier ten years ago.

Now he had been promoted to Commander-in-Chief of United States Forces Korea after being recognized for various achievements, starting with the subjugation of the entity named Angel.

His name was Major General Talisman.

In the past, he had exchanged a fist bump with the monster of Jamsil, transcending species.

And currently, he found himself in a truly awkward situation.

Click.

Clack.

“…Would you care to explain what you’re doing right now?”

“Haha. Yes, of course.”

The situation had unfolded in an instant.

As he was sitting in the USFK base commander’s office as usual, he suddenly found himself surrounded by heavily armed subordinates who had stormed in.

And there was a Black man revealing himself before the Commander-in-Chief.

He was none other than US Congressman Donzo Mykree.

“Mr. Donzo… do you understand what you’re doing right now?”

“Ah, there seems to be a misunderstanding. I appeared so aggressively simply to create a ‘venue for dialogue.'”

“Venue for dialogue…? What kind of dialogue begins with guns pointed at someone?”

“That’s because this is such an important conversation. If you’re offended, I’ll have them lower their guns.”

Sensing Major General Talisman’s mood, Donzo snapped his fingers once to quiet the soldiers who had been pointing their guns.

Then he walked to the desk and sat down, attempting to truly open a dialogue.

“Captain Talisman. The United States has only one request for you.”

“Request? One thing? You barge in here and start spouting nonsense I can’t understand.”

“Please understand that point. Anyway, a danger level A-class monster is scheduled to appear at the USFK base in the near future.”

“W-what did you say?!”

Even Major General Talisman, who had been maintaining his poker face, couldn’t help but react to the mention of a monster appearance.

He jumped up in surprise and glared at Donzo as if demanding an explanation.

However, regardless of his reaction.

“I plan to neutralize all soldiers stationed at USFK at that time.”

“…What?”

Donzo began to reveal his plan.

“Of course, I’ll keep them safely in underground bunkers without harming them. Then I plan to completely destroy all remaining USFK bases in Korea.”

“…! Are you a spy sent from Russia or China?”

“No! Of course not! Don’t you understand this is a small sacrifice for the greater good?”

“I don’t understand at all. If something like that happens, it won’t end with just one USFK base, but could affect relations between Korea and the United States…”

Yes, USFK forces absurdly destroyed while asleep.

Major General Talisman knew all too well how such news would inflame public opinion in both Korea and the United States.

“…You don’t mean?”

“Yes! That’s exactly what I… no, what we want! The breakdown of US-Korea relations! And the withdrawal of USFK after losing trust!”

“…!”

“And finally, to teach Korea—which has survived as a small nation among superpowers throughout its 4000-year history—to ‘know its place.'”

Major General Talisman quickly grasped Donzo’s true intentions from his words.

“You think I’ll stand by and watch that happen?!”

This was merely a unilateral project of one political party, not a decision made by the entire United States.

Soldiers were beings who pursued justice and moved only by the will of the head of state, the President.

“Donzo Mykree. I’m placing you under arrest on charges of inciting terrorism.”

Talisman firmly opposed Donzo.

“…Even though I could offer you a higher position that would allow you to work in the US mainland rather than this small Asian country once this project is complete?”

“Do you think our mighty US military consists of people who would be swayed by mere positions? ‘Honor’ is something money can’t buy. In that sense, you’ve just tried to manipulate us by treating USFK like merchandise! That alone is reason enough for your arrest.”

“…Good. Impressive. Well, you do have three stars, so I should expect this much.”

At this, Donzo raised both hands as if surrendering.

‘…He’s surrendering this easily?’

Talisman was suspicious watching this, but he thought that even a US Congressman wouldn’t be crazy enough to attack a soldier.

“Stay where you are. I’m going to handcuff you right now.”

He got up from his seat and walked around the desk to personally handcuff Donzo.

That’s when it happened.

Ring ring ring.

“Oops! I forgot to switch my phone to vibrate. Could you answer it for me?”

“…? Me?”

“Yes. Captain Talisman. In fact, you’re the one who should answer it.”

Donzo looked at Major General Talisman with a cheerful face and winked.

However, feeling an inexplicable unease, Talisman hurriedly took out Donzo’s phone from his inner pocket.

And the scene on the video call on the other end.

Seeing it, he couldn’t speak another word about honor or anything else.

“Ah, Grandpa!”

“Grandpaaaa~!”

“……”

“Hey~ Captain. Your cute grandchildren are calling you. So smile now. Are you going to keep that gloomy face?”

“…Damn it.”