Absorbing Life Force

+++

On their return journey from Amasbin with the imprisoned guild members, they muttered in disbelief upon learning the gate destroyer’s identity aboard the carriage.

“Di, Disciple Han Doyun did it?”

“No… I thought he was that top-tier Disciple, our guild’s secret agent who stopped the Rockenmeyer invasion…”

Leona’s team shared the same sentiment.

Leona asked Doyun, “Just what kind of technique was that?”

“It’s a skill I recently received from the Vagabond Hero Master. But I didn’t expect it to be this kind of technique either.”

“Wow… The wandering master’s technique…!”

Leona and the other guild members gasped in awe. For the wandering master to personally visit and impart such an extraordinary skill.

Meanwhile, Sophie gazed at Doyun with a conflicted expression.

‘Doyun is…’

He was growing stronger far too rapidly, distancing himself from her.

Ever since the Cradle, Sophie had held feelings for Doyun in her heart.

But now, the circumstances were different. Up until the tournament, Sophie had actually been ahead of Doyun.

She was the leader of a faction within the Cradle, enjoying significant clout, and was considered a far more promising talent than the mana-deficient Doyun.

As such, she had felt no burden in approaching Doyun and had even used her faction’s resources to support him from behind the scenes.

However, from the tournament onwards, he had grown stronger at an astonishing pace.

In a flash, he had become the Cradle’s top graduate and received love calls from every guild as the Boss Monster Killer.

Up to that point, it was still fine. In fact, she had even privately fantasized that as the Cradle’s second-in-command, she would be qualified to assist him.

But then he hit a jackpot on his very first expedition, borrowed a sword from Brudhild, awakened his swordsmanship… and now displayed the tremendous might to demolish entire walls singlehandedly.

He had become a remarkable man far beyond a mere second-rate talent from the Cradle like herself.

‘…’

Overwhelmed by conflicting emotions, Sophie hung her head dejectedly.

And Doyun, sensing her demeanor, quietly watched over her.

+++

Upon returning to the guild, Doyun immediately spoke with Millaine and Eloah.

It was regarding his previously mentioned plans to join the battlefield, as well as the performance he had just demonstrated.

Conveniently, a suitable location had arisen amid the numerous skirmishes between Muspelheim’s frontlines and the borders within the Holy Stones. It seemed this would likely become Doyun’s debut battlefield.

After concluding their discussion, Doyun headed straight for Sophie’s quarters.

For now, there was a more pressing matter than future plans.

Knock knock.

“Sophie. It’s me.”

A flustered reaction could be sensed from inside.

[Co, come in!]

Doyun opened the door and entered.

It was Sophie’s room, smaller than Doyun’s C-rank quarters – she had been promoted to E-rank thanks to him previously.

“Can we talk for a bit?”

“Huh? Yes! Of course!”

Flustered by the sudden development unlike before, Sophie readily agreed to a conversation, her fondness clearly showing on her face.

Seeing her reaction, Doyun smiled wryly, resolving to converse with her more often going forward. He then took a seat on her bed beside her.

Although in the same dormitory, Sophie’s room had a sweet, baby powder-like scent.

‘Come to think of it, this is my first time in her room.’

Yet she was currently his only subordinate, and he hadn’t really looked after her much until now. He would have to start paying more attention.

Meeting Sophie’s gaze, Doyun asked, “Sophie. You haven’t seemed yourself lately. Is something the matter?”

“Huh? Ah, no! Nothing’s wrong…!”

She waved it off, but her eyes soon lost their luster as she hung her head, clearly harboring some unvoiced thoughts.

Doyun gently grasped Sophie’s hand resting on her thigh.

Her body flinched slightly at his warmth.

“Sophie. We’ll be a team from now on. Even if it’s just the two of us, I want to ease your concerns as the leader. Tell me, okay?”

A team they would continue being together.

Those words caused Sophie’s pupils to tremble violently.

Overwhelmed by the unexpected kindness, her emotions welled up as tears moistened her eyes.

Doyun waited patiently in silence.

“Ac, actually…”

Finally, Sophie unburdened her heart’s turmoil.

“I’m just too weak… and lacking…”

Hot tears dripped from her pink, round eyes.

Her emotions heightened, Sophie poured out her pent-up thoughts, unaware that her voice was trembling.

“…Doyun, you’ll soon become a Hero. Lord Haineken, the Vagabond Hero, and Lady Brudhild… they all have such high expectations for you. And… you’re the Boss Monster Killer.”

For now, Doyun silently listened to her tearful words, holding her hand tightly.

“Then… it’s not right for you to look after me like this. I’m just… a second-rate talent who barely graduated from the Cradle… Doyun, you should form a team with the continent’s top Disciples. I can’t keep up with you, so I’ll only hold you back for sure…”

“…”

Inwardly, Doyun swallowed hard. He never expected she had been harboring such thoughts, to the point of shedding tears over her inner turmoil.

Sophie’s sobs and sincerity poured forth for quite a while, and Doyun listened to it all.

After hearing her out, he spoke solemnly.

“…Sophie. The Dragon Lord told me you have talent.”

“Huh…?”

The Dragon Lord’s endorsement was no light matter.

And just her possession of the Celestial Archery Illusion skill, allowing travel anywhere, made her worth a king’s ransom. Sophie was currently underestimating herself.

“As an innate spirit-type, you’ll only grow stronger by absorbing my life force. So your place belongs by my side.”

Doyun didn’t bother with empty platitudes to console her. What she needed now wasn’t meaningless reassurance, but confidence in herself.

“The Dragon Lord said…?”

Taken aback by the unexpected endorsement from such an eminent figure, Sophie could only stare wide-eyed. Me? Talented? She still couldn’t fathom it.

Moreover, the notion of growing stronger by absorbing life force…

Suddenly, Sophie recalled her close friend Jillaine’s words.

‘Doyun’s semen… life force… slurp…!’

In an instant, her face flushed crimson.

Sensing Sophie’s gaze and demeanor, Doyun immediately realized her train of thought and flinched. She took it that far…

He had overheard every lewd remark Jillaine had casually made to Sophie that day.

An awkward silence settled in the room. The somber mood from earlier had vanished completely.

Now, a palpable sexual tension lingered between the two.

Doyun found himself grappling with the same dilemma as during the Essence of Life Formation incident. But his struggle didn’t last long.

‘…Sophie was suffering to the point of tears all on her own. As her team leader, I can’t simply abstain over something as trivial as prudishness or embarrassment.’

Having experienced much, Doyun had witnessed cases where people’s minds broke down in the throes of war.

And if his own subordinate showed such signs, addressing it was part of a team leader’s duty.

While his words said otherwise, Sophie’s true desire was simply to remain by Doyun’s side. And to achieve that, a degree of growth convincing enough for her to accept was crucial.

Before long, Doyun spoke again.

“…Sophie.”

“Ye, yes?”

She responded with a start.

Doyun gripped Sophie’s hand more tightly. Feeling the searing pressure warming her hand and thigh, she unconsciously clenched her loins.

Doyun met Sophie’s gaze.

“…There’s a way the Dragon Lord mentioned to accelerate Sophie’s growth.”

“…!”

Her face flushed beet red as her eyes widened. Doyun’s forthcoming words were all too obvious.

The Dragon Lord’s statement about growing stronger by absorbing life force. And Jillaine’s mention of the life force in semen.

As if swept up by her own excitement, Sophie unconsciously parted her lips.

“Wh, what… is it…?”

Her trembling voice inquired as her hips squirmed restlessly.

“It’s…”

As Doyun’s lips parted, the room’s air and Sophie’s face gradually grew hotter.

+++

Knock knock.

[Are, are you there…?]

“Yeah, come in.”

Hearing the voice, Jillaine gave permission, and Sophie entered the room.

“What’s up?”

“I… well…”

She faltered, unable to voice her purpose.

‘Hmm…?’

Jillaine tilted her head, sensing a peculiar aura emanating from Sophie. The petite girl had an adorably innocent expression mismatched with her squirming, sizable hips.

As a quarter-succubus, Jillaine immediately picked up on the virginal sexual tension and expectant arousal.

She had also witnessed Doyun entering Sophie’s room earlier.

‘Hurmm…’

Had their cute junior finally blossomed, ready to put those wicked hips to use?

Unaware of her sister-like gaze and amused smile, Sophie soon opened her mouth.

“Um, you said you have a lot of experience with men, right? With, with Doyun too… and…”

“That’s right?”

“Then… um… I, I have something… to ask…”

Jillaine grinned a lecherous smile at the delightfully pure and naive situation.