Chapter 24. A Woman Who Gets Beaten.

After leaving the catacombs, the hero team finally returned to the underground city, Horomphfell, after a fortnight. The team members looked at the towering Count’s Castle with expressions anticipating comfortable sleep and delicious meals.

The Count’s Castle, revisited after a month, hadn’t changed a bit from last time. Soon, the caretaker came out to greet the hero team, providing cozy lodging and a hearty, delicious meal. They decided to stay here for about four days.

Grace, exhausted from the hard work, entered her room and immediately threw her luggage haphazardly on the floor, collapsing onto the bed with a long sigh. …This expedition was especially tough.

…Just a few years ago, I could stay up for two nights straight and still be energetic….

Well, after living a ruined life for nearly two years, drinking, smoking, and gambling, it was only natural that her body wasn’t in good shape.

After rolling around on the plush bed for a while, Grace went to the bathhouse, took a clean bath, and returned to her room feeling refreshed.

Just then, a beautiful sunset was painting the sky outside the window. She sat in the chair by the window, savoring a glass of wine while admiring the enchanting scenery.

As her movements ceased and her thinking time lengthened, her thoughts naturally branched out in various directions. The subject of her thoughts touched on various things before finally reaching the events in the catacombs.

Ah… Fuck, what do I do, seriously…!

Grace still felt ashamed and her heart pounded at the thought of her disgraceful behavior back then. To cause such a commotion, asking to be killed right after confessing her loveㅡ. Guilt towards her dead lover, and shame towards herself, stirred chaotically in her heart.

You crazy bitch. You deserve to die. Crazy, crazyㅡ!

She slapped her own cheeks. She was a bitch who deserved to be hit. Having driven her lover and colleagues into a death trap, how dare she talk about love without knowing her place. She wouldn’t have anything to say even if Ludivine laughed at her as a bitch and kicked her.

The chain-smoking healer took out her smoking pipe from her luggage. Then, she slightly lowered her pants to reveal her thigh, sat on the edge of the bed, and gathered her legs together.

Her pure white thigh was tempting. She recalled her dead lover and her own ugly behavior, and then struck down with the smoking pipe.

Ttzaakㅡ, a sharp sound of flesh hitting flesh, and a tingling sensation shot up, sending shivers down her spine.

I need to be hit. I’m a bitch who deserves to be hit. A bad girl. A crazy bitch.

Ttzaakㅡ. Once again, a red line was drawn on her thigh. In fact, this was nothing compared to the pain she had experienced in the catacombs back then. It was so ridiculous that it wouldn’t be strange to call it a thrilling sensation.

I’m sorry, Reigh. I’m sorry.

Ttzaak.

I’m sorry. For forgetting you.

Ttzaak.

I’m sorry, Daejang-nim.

Ttzaak.

Grace continued to strike her own thigh. Hard. Harder and harder.

She felt like her guilt was somewhat relieved there. Strangely, her heart felt a bit lighter. Perhaps it was because of the thought of washing away her sins, but she also felt a strange sense of pleasure.

Yes, if you’ve done wrong, you have to be punished…!

The moment the fierce beating landed on this tempting thigh, it was incredibly thrilling.

She had taken revenge, but she hadn’t completely escaped from that guilt. However, at the moment of the beating, it felt like it was gradually lessening.

A long beating ended. Grace looked at her thigh, which was red and swollen, and felt a sense of satisfaction. Now she felt a bit more comfortable.

The chain-smoking healer flopped onto the bed in that state. Haa, haa. Her breathing was slightly labored.

As she stared blankly at the ceiling, she suddenly thought of Daejang-nim. She remembered his warm touch when they held hands.

– I like you, Ji-hyuk-ssi.

What should I do, really….

Grace’s heart still tightened whenever she thought about it. What kind of stubbornness made her say such a thing.

She abruptly raised her upper body again and struck her thigh wildly with the smoking pipe.

Crazy, crazy, psycho, madwoman, bitch.

Then, she threw the smoking pipe on the floor, took off her bothersome pants, and flopped onto the bed.

Her thigh was burning. Her heart, unable to find its way, felt as uncomfortable as if her limbs were numb.

“Aaaaaaahㅡ!”

She buried her face in the pillow and screamed out her frustration.

…She felt like she was going crazy with longing for Daejang-nim.

· · ·

Ji-hyuk stayed cooped up in his room for two days, resting thoroughly. The rare feeling of leisure made his body feel like melting cheese on a hot fire.

On the third day, he remained holed up in his room all day as well. He had all his meals brought to his room. He sipped on fine wine, blankly watching the scenery outside the window.

Before he knew it, the sky was painted with the colors of sunset. The surface of the underground city was like paradise. An elegant swanㅡ. But underneath, its feet must be frantically paddling.

Ji-hyuk didn’t care what was happening deep underground. It wasn’t something he should get involved in. His worn-out sense of justice tried to maintain a line that didn’t disrupt the order. As the saying goes, when in Rome, do as the Romans do, and this place had its own laws.

He held up the wine bottle to his mouth. But nothing came out. He tilted the bottle over his tongue and shook it. That was already the fourth bottle piled up in the corner of the room.

The hero ordered the maid to bring another bottle of wine. She soon brought another new bottle. He subtly fondled the maid’s buttocks. Ah. She didn’t refuse and accepted his touch.

Serving the great one at night was a maid’s natural duty. Moreover, there was the strict order from the head maid. To willingly obey whatever requests the hero made. That naturally included sharing a bed.

Ji-hyuk also felt a surge of desire for the first time in a while. As the tension eased, sexual desire took its place. Rather than going to a brothel and acting disgracefully, it was much better for him to take a well-behaved maid like this.

Just as the atmosphere was about to heat up, someone knocked on the door. It was the healer, Grace. The maid retreated with a slightly disappointed look.

The maid left as the door opened and Grace entered. Ji-hyuk popped the cork of the wine bottle with his hand and poured it straight into his mouth from the bottle.

“What’s wrong?”

Grace slowly approached Ji-hyuk with her head bowed. She stood there silently for a while. Sitting in the armchair, he patiently waited for her to speak.

“Um…, Daejang-nim….”

She opened her mouth after a long time.

“Yeah, speak comfortably. …Do you want to sit over there?”

Ji-hyuk pointed towards the bed and got up from his seat. Grace hesitated and approached, sitting demurely on the edge of the bed. Daejang-nim sat close to her, leaving only enough space for about two fists between them.

“What’s wrong? Tell me. Hmm? It’s okay.”

Daejang-nim naturally took Grace’s hand. Ahㅡ. The chain-smoking healer was overjoyed by his warm touch.

Is this okay? Can I really feel this happiness?

She kept thinking of her dead lover. She must have loved him, otherwise she wouldn’t feel this guilty.

It had only been two years. To forget her lover so quickly after his death and to harbor feelings for another man was a very low thing to do.

“Daejang-nim….”

“Yeah.”

“Am I… a bad person?”

“Who says you’re bad? …People’s hearts don’t work the way they think they do.”

“Still…, I have no loyalty, I’m useless, and I’m just a burden.”

“No, you’re so needed. What would have happened to Bruce without you? He would have definitely died there. You saved him.”

He stroked her soft hair.

Grace smiled briefly, then her face turned sad again. Her dead lover kept appearing before her eyes. Ahㅡ. Witnessing her lover die before her eyes was an unforgettable shock and horror.

Shhㅡ. Ji-hyuk carefully embraced Grace.

She felt his warm embrace and slowly pulled away. Then, she glanced at him and subtly offered something. It was her smoking pipe.

“It’s okay. I don’t smoke.”

“No, that’s not it….”

The chain-smoking healer found it very difficult to speak. She kept looking at Daejang-nim’s face.

“Why? It’s okay. I told you to speak comfortably. …You even confessed that you like me, what’s so difficult about it?”

She gained strength from that.

“Then…, I’ll take my punishment.”

“…Punishment?”

Ji-hyuk looked at Grace as if he had heard something unexpected. She avoided his gaze.

“I think it will make me feel better. …I did terrible things to Daejang-nim. And I showed my colleagues an ugly side of myself.”

“No, it’s okay. You don’t have to go this far.”

“No, I won’t feel comfortable if I don’t. Daejang-nim, please punish me. That’s the only way I’ll feel better.”

She then held out the smoking pipe to him again.

“Please, I’m begging you.”

Ji-hyuk gave a bitter smile. How severe must her guilt be to go to such extremes? …This time, it seemed better to just hit her a few times as she asked.

He took the smoking pipe she offered. Ahㅡ. The corners of her lips slightly turned up and then down.

Then, she put her palms together facing upwards and slowly held them out to Daejang-nim.

They didn’t say anything. He held the smoking pipe with the mouthpiece facing up. Then, he looked at her sternly.

He poked her hand with the smoking pipe and pushed it slightly in an easy-to-hit direction.

“Stretch them out. You’ll get hurt if you don’t. More, more.”

Grace stretched out her palms and bit her lip slightly. Her eyes narrowed slightly.

“How many hits do you want?”

“…Five, no, ten….”

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“Yes, I’m okay.”

“Alright.”

Ttzaak, a sound rang out and heat spread through her palm. Eupㅡ. Her upper body flinched.

It hurt.

But, she felt comfortable.

“I’m sorry.”

Ttzaak.

“I’m sorry, Daejang-niim.”

Ttzaak.

“Eut, I’m sorry.”

Ttzaak.

“I’m sorry.”

Grace flinched with each hit and said sorry pitifully.

Eventually, after six hits, she couldn’t bear it anymore and clenched her hands tightly, bending her upper body forward.

“Ugh.”

She rubbed her burning palms together.

“If it hurts, let’s stop now, hmm?”

“No, I can still do it. …Four hits, more left. Here.”

The chain-smoking healer insisted.

Haa, haa.

Her spine tingled. She broke out in a cold sweat and her groin throbbed.

Ttzaak.

“Eup, I’m sorry.”

Ttzaak.

“Euk, I’m sorry….”

After completing all four hits, she slowly rubbed her palms, massaging the hit areas.

“Grace, do you feel a bit better now?”

Ji-hyuk felt a bit sorry for her. Grace looked at him with slightly flushed face, panting as if she had just run.

“Daejang-nim….”

Her voice trembled slightly.

“What should I do?”

Her eyes were moist, as if she would burst into tears at any moment.

“…I like Daejang-nim. What should I do because I like you? I can’t take it anymore. I can’t stand it anymore. I, I…, hit me. More. Okay?”

Grace grabbed his clothes and shook them.

“Hit me to bring me back to my senses. Quickly. My cheek or my body, anywhere. Hit me hard.”

“Grace.”

“Quickly. Otherwise, I won’t come to my senses. I’m a woman who only comes to her senses when she’s hit. I’m a crazy bitch…! Quickly. Quickly, Daejang-nim.”

She finally cried.

“Daejang-nim, I love you. I love you, Daejang-nim. Hit me. Otherwise, I’ll kiss you. You don’t want that, do you? You don’t want to kiss a crazy bitch, do you? Then hit me. Quickly.”

She moved closer and closer to him.

“Here. Slap my cheek hard. To bring me back to my senses. Hmm? Why aren’t you saying anything? Okay? Does that mean it’s okay to love you? Okay. Then I’ll kiss you. I’m going to kiss you… Oop…!”

Ji-hyuk lunged forward. And kissed Grace’s lips. Her surprised body stiffened. But soon her lips opened wide and accepted his tongue.

He tasted the pungent taste of tobacco. That wasn’t so bad either.

They frantically sucked on each other’s tongues. Both he and she had lost their reins.

Grace wrapped her arms around Daejang-nim’s neck. He gently stroked her back with his hand.

She couldn’t come to her senses in that ecstatic pleasure.

It was so good.

It felt like she was going crazy with how good it was.

After a long time, their lips parted. Grace stared intently at Daejang-nim with loving eyes.

“Are you okay now?”

Ahㅡ.

Only then did she understand what had happened.

She had kissed him.

In the end, she had kissed Daejang-nim.

“I, I…, this is….”

Grace could only stammer and couldn’t speak properly.

Ji-hyuk, who was quietly looking at her, opened his mouth.

“Do you want to do more?”

At that question, she opened and closed her mouth, blinking her eyes a few times.

“I’ll definitely…, take my punishment… later….”

They tangled again.