The Team, and the Women

The Ley Clan.

Known for inbreeding to preserve their claimed draconic bloodline.

But Doyun was aware it stemmed not from necessity but simply the clan’s inherent preferences.

In a certain iteration, a clan member had confessed that they were ‘physiologically’ incapable of feeling attraction towards women outside their clan.

Going beyond mere preference, some intrinsic factor seemed to be at play.

“So what exactly did he denounce me over?”

“Just baseless tantrums. Something about lacking sufficient evidence for the expedition, or whatnot. Seems he became envious that someone else encountered the Dragon Lord he claims descent from instead of himself. The same with unearthing Războlnic’s legacy – that friend is quite the Războlnic fanboy like his uncle Fredrick.”

“Wait, so it’s not the clan’s official stance?”

“No. From the clan’s perspective, it’s just their youngest son acting out. He tends to throw these little fits often.”

“I see. What should I do about it then?”

“No need to react at all. That friend is, well… how to put it, a bit immature. Understandable, being the youngest Hero and all…”

“The youngest Hero, you say…”

Even amidst all this, Doyun found himself intrigued by the potential of such a talent.

“Some even find that immaturity endearing, leading to a small fanclub for him. Ah, but he’s not a bad kid.”

“A sister-loving, immature Hero. I can somewhat envision what he might be like.”

Doyun wouldn’t mind meeting him once.

“But I find this whole situation so amusing.”

“What is?”

“Wouldn’t it be utterly hilarious when you’re eventually revealed to be Enoch Războlnic himself? To see that clueless Războlnic fanboy’s reaction then?”

“…”

“Tee-hee.”

Doyun felt both Brudhild and Eloah had grown quite mischievous over the past century.

And within a few days, Doyun realized Eloah’s words rang true.

Without him even needing to step forward, various figures had come out to speak on his behalf.

Haineken’s defense, the World Tree’s statement requesting the fabrications cease, Brudhild’s endorsement, and even the Rockenmeyer Kingdom he had previously aided.

The Ley Clan’s youngest Hero seemed quite flustered, likely not anticipating such heavy-hitters rushing to defend a mere novice adventurer he had carelessly provoked.

Others felt the same way too. Clearly, this novice adventurer carried considerable backing, far from being a simple newcomer Disciple.

Some, observing the lineup vouching for him, even deduced his connection to the Rockenmeyer incident’s protagonist.

And so the matter gradually subsided, allowing Doyun to refocus on his objectives.

“Will you be going on another expedition soon?”

“Indeed. It remains the swiftest path to growth.”

“With the evaluation ceremony approaching, I’m curious to see how much your rank will increase. The evaluation should take place around when you return from this next expedition, alongside your party.”

Doyun nodded and returned to the lodgings where his team members awaited.

+++

While awaiting their report review, Leona’s team had undertaken a few additional expeditions, during which Sophie displayed remarkably rapid growth.

[Status Window]

Name: Sophie

Race: Half-Human·Unicorn / Celestial Being

Affiliation: –

Talent: Genius

Stats:

Strength – 2 -> 3

Agility – 4

Vitality – 4

Fortitude – 2

Mana – 3 -> 4

Innate Traits:

[Blasphemy’s Retribution]

[Vow of Chastity]

Acquired Traits:

Skills:

[Horn Technique Lv.2 -> Lv.3 Rank E]

[Purification Lv.- Rank B]

[Celestial Archery Illusion (Tenkyū Gensō Hikū) Lv.- Rank A]

‘Her growth rate exceeds expectations.’

While the other stats were understandable, reaching Mana 4 was truly remarkable.

Doyun’s intensive guidance and the growth acceleration from [First Guild Master] had undoubtedly contributed, but this exemplified the system-acknowledged ‘genius’ talent blooming.

She had become a full-fledged Disciple capable of taking the vanguard alongside Leona without Doyun’s presence.

Doyun too had made considerable progress.

Stats:

Strength – 5

Agility – 2 -> 3

Vitality – 8

Fortitude – 4

Mana – 3 -> 4

Skills:

[Hecleus’ Style – Orthodox Fist Lv.1 Rank S]

[Swordsmanship Lv.2 -> Lv.3 Rank S]

Sub-Skills:

[Buske’s Style Swordsmanship]

[Seventh Sense Lv.- Rank A]

[Javelin Throwing Lv.2 -> Lv.3 Rank B]

[Războlnic’s Style Mana Cultivation Method Lv.1 -> Lv.2 Rank S]

Sub-Skill:

[Draconic Mana Breathing – Triumph (Kai): Războlnic’s Style]

During this period, Doyun’s standing within the team had risen sharply too.

With him taking the vanguard in place of Chiwoomen, the team’s overall expedition fatigue had drastically decreased.

And in their previous expedition, Leona’s contribution had been 1%, with the remaining four members each contributing 1% as well. They had received 200 and 50 gold coins respectively from the 20,000 coin pool.

Considering Leona, the highest-paid member, only received 2 gold coins monthly, this amounted to several years’ worth of salaries – an immense sum for them.

Having outright gifted them such a fortune, on top of already saving their lives once before, the team had begun placing their trust in Doyun long ago.

All except one – Chiwoomen, who found this situation utterly unpalatable.

‘Why did a guy like him have to join our team…’

Keenly feeling his dwindling standing, he grew increasingly uneasy.

Chiwoomen had envisioned building his own harem within the team, thoroughly savoring their previous composition.

He harbored an ardent crush on Leona, believing himself the ideal man for her.

Moreover, he had casually set his sights on the buxom, sultry mage Jillaine, and the sadistic healer Yejin who stirred his baser urges.

Separate from his love for Leona, this stemmed from a primal desire for possession. Why, was it not common for capable men to command multiple mates?

The tank Kaperman was an admirable fellow, but an absolute virgin. As the team’s sole male surrounded by gorgeous women he dined and bunked with, he remained in a perpetual state of arousal yet lacked the courage to act due to zero romantic experience – his chastity remained firmly intact.

But then that Han Doyun character had barged into their midst.

‘A worthless punk only good for fighting, both dull as a brick and clueless about the world…’

The night they returned from that first expedition, Chiwoomen had proposed to Doyun that the three of them – himself, Leona, and Doyun – escape with the 40,000 gold coins. Doyun would keep 30,000, while the remaining 10,000 would be split between Chiwoomen as the mastermind and Leona the ranger facilitating their getaway.

But upon hearing the proposal, Doyun had frowned and cautioned,

‘Don’t mention this to Leona Noona. I’m advising this for your own good.’

Having disliked Doyun from the start, Chiwoomen’s resentment truly took root from that moment.

Far more grating than the paltry 50 gold coins he had received was the 5,000 he felt had been snatched away.

‘That bastard… pretending to be so noble, costing me all that money… Fuckin’ asshole, really…! And why does he speak down to only me!’

While not inherently vile, the 5,000 gold coins had proven more than enough to corrupt Chiwoomen.

Exacerbating matters were Jillaine and Yejin’s blatant, undisguised lustful gazes towards Doyun, coupled with Leona’s subtler looks carrying undertones of affection.

But lacking Doyun’s prowess and standing, Chiwoomen could only endure in silence.

And so, as night fell during their march, they decided the watch rotation order.

Doyun entered the men’s tent and lay down. With Kaperman and Yejin on first watch, only he and Chiwoomen occupied the tent.

Shortly after, Doyun sensed the activation of magic alongside Chiwoomen’s breathing rapidly quieting beside him.

‘A sleep spell.’

Doyun sighed. He had somewhat anticipated this, given the brazenly overt gazes.

Around when Chiwoomen’s snoring commenced, someone entered the tent.

“Hello there~”

The sultry mage Jillaine crawled in, her ample bosom swaying enticingly as she slithered onto her stomach.

Doyun, having remained awake, propped himself up.

“…Why are you here?”

“Want some milk?”

She loosened her robe’s front suggestively.

“…”

“No need to worry. I put Chimin to sleep. The poor dear has a light slumber.”

“…And Kaperman, Yejin, and Leona?”

“Why the reluctance? We’re all colleagues here. You seem quite the veteran yourself from that mercenary vibe – must’ve seen plenty of action on the battlefield, eh?”

Doyun nodded. Evidently, such behavior was commonplace for Jillaine within this team.

“Ah, and for the record, I haven’t touched Kaperman or Chimin – Kaperman’s a virgin, and Chimin just… doesn’t do it for me as a man, you know? I mainly target fresh-faced newcomers like yourself.”

“…I see.”

Doyun breathed a sigh of relief upon learning of Kaperman’s chastity.

He was well aware many tanks opted for that path. The testes, along with the brain, were among the body’s most difficult organs to regenerate from injury.

“What about Leona Noona? She’s a ranger, after all.”

With her keen senses, she had likely overheard their entire conversation.

“Of course I have her permission! Ah, her and Yejin are part of the same circle as me. The team leader and Yejin have both been rather… antsy lately.”

“Leona Noona too?”

“Mhm. She’s usually not like that – the team leader is a bit… an innocent maiden, you could say? More into pursuing true love with a gallant prince charming than raunchy camping hookups. So when an experienced, worldly girl like me acts all pure and naive, she finds it genuinely endearing.”

“…She does seem quite pure, I’ll grant you that.”

“Exactly. So she tacitly permits indirect acts while feigning disinterest. But today, that yearning maiden seemed rather… antsy, shall we say?”

In truth, Doyun had sensed those subtle undertones from Leona too.

Such signals had been gradually amplifying ever since he had rescued her from the Ogre during their previous expedition.

“As for Yejin, well… that girl’s even rawer than me when it comes to carnal desires.”

A pebble flew in from outside, thumping against the tent flap’s fabric. It was Leona.

“Fufu. Isn’t our adorable team leader just the cutest?”

“…”

“So then.”

Jillaine rolled her shoulders enticingly, emphasizing the swaying presence of her descended bosom.

…They truly were immense.

“Not a boob guy? You seem more like a hip man to me.”

“…Sophie and I don’t have that kind of relationship.”

“Is that so? That cutie pie has been shooting you those ‘impregnate me’ eyes, you know. Don’t act oblivious with me.”

“…”

“Well, if you don’t want these, I’ll just enjoy them myself then? Mind if I suck you off instead?”

“We’re three days into the expedition, so the scent won’t be too pleasant.”

“Haven’t you looked in a mirror lately? I could clean that thing for you daily if need be, no joke.”

Jillaine didn’t wait for permission. Her hands were already fiddling with Doyun’s pants.

Having confirmed there was no risk of team discord, Doyun didn’t stop Jillaine. He had always been accepting of forthcoming women – it was a path he had crossed over to quite frequently.

He merely used his senses to monitor Sophie’s awareness.

Like Leona, she too remained awake, her attention focused in this direction.

Doyun, being perceptive, knew she harbored feelings for him. Which made engaging in this tryst all the more necessary.

As always, he could never devote his emotions solely to one woman. There were far too many who desired him.

He had attempted it before, but those iterations had always ended in catastrophe. A woman’s possessiveness was… truly a terrifying force.

He needed to make it clear to Sophie that he remained open to other women. To give her time to ponder and make her decision.

Lost in thought, Doyun’s pants had already been lowered without his realizing.

“Woaahh…”

Jillaine licked her lips, murmuring in awe.