Holy Kingdom – Crossed Paths (1)

“This dungeon has been a thorn in our side. According to reconnaissance, it’s confirmed to be a stronghold of the demon tribe. If you resolve this, the Rezenia Kingdom will guarantee you immense political power and wealth within our borders.”

“…I’ll consider it.”

‘I’ve never even been to Rezenia Kingdom.’

But maybe new experiences would be good?

As Jade fell into contemplation, another kingdom’s envoy approached him.

“Hero-nim! I am-“

But another envoy gently pushed him aside.

“Greetings. I am a diplomat from the Aetis Empire. If you hear our proposal, you’ll surely be satisfied.”

“What do you think you’re doing? You should follow the order of proceedings. Is this how the Empire behaves?”

“Hoho, I could take that remark as a diplomatic issue.”

The envoys from various nations began arguing in front of Jade.

‘What the hell am I even doing here?’

Jade’s headache grew worse.

“Excuse me, I need to step out for a moment.”

“Wait! Hero-nim!”

“Hero-nim, you should at least hear the proposal-“

Jade hurriedly escaped the banquet hall, leaving behind countless grasping hands.

Jade, who had taken refuge in the backyard garden, let out a sigh.

“Haa…”

It was suffocating.

He’d vaguely known politics were difficult and complex, but never imagined it would be this bad.

The envoys clung to him not just to deal with the demon tribe-their eyes were clearly pursuing their own nations’ interests.

Just deciphering and responding to their hidden intentions was exhausting enough.

‘Thankfully no one’s here.’

He could finally rest here.

Jade leaned against the wall and looked up at the sky, tension easing from his shoulders.

Countless stars dotted the vast night sky.

The sight seemed to clear the suffocating feeling in Jade’s chest.

“Beautiful.”

When feeling depressed or stifled, nothing beat blankly staring at a beautiful night sky.

“Already running away?”

“Huh?”

Jade turned to see Rena standing beside him with crossed arms.

“Rena? When did you get here?”

“I followed you when you rushed out. If you can’t handle this much, what’ll you do later?”

“…You’re right. I just needed a short break before going back. Where’s Annie?”

From what Jade remembered, Annie had been sitting with Rena.

‘Did Rena really leave Annie alone?’

If so, he felt a bit guilty.

“Annie suddenly said she wasn’t feeling well and left. But she didn’t seem sick. Probably had another reason…”

“Must be personal matters. She’ll tell us if it’s important.”

“You think?”

Rena tilted her head, then suddenly extended her hand to Jade.

“If you’re staying here, want to take a walk together? How about it?”

“I’d love to.”

Jade took Rena’s hand and began walking slowly toward the garden.

As they walked quietly, Rena asked about the earlier events.

“What did you think of the envoys’ proposals?”

“Too hard to decide. And none felt truly desperate.”

The envoys pleaded for urgent help, but Jade sensed their hidden desires beneath the surface.

“Can’t blame them. It’s peacetime now. They’ll claim urgency, but no nation would crumble over demon remnants. They probably want to recruit you.”

“Then why was I chosen as the Hero? The remaining Legion Commanders are threatening, but not enough to overwhelm nations.”

“Don’t overthink it. The Goddess must’ve had her reasons for choosing you.”

“Yeah.”

Silence fell between them again.

The soft touch and warmth from her hand felt precious.

Jade tightened his grip, not wanting to let go.

‘Can this count as a date?’

Jade decided to consider this his first date with Rena.

Even this short walk with her made him happy enough.

Most of his worries had already flown away.

Jade glanced at Rena’s face.

His gaze lingered on her red lips.

Memories of their kisses surfaced repeatedly.

-Gulp.

Jade swallowed hard, suppressing rising desire.

‘Calm down.’

He should enjoy this date now.

This innocent nervousness wasn’t unpleasant anyway.

When they reached the garden’s deepest part,

“Jade, stop for a second.”

Rena suddenly halted.

“What’s wrong?”

“No one will come here now…”

Rena glanced around cautiously.

“Good. Face me.”

“Like this?”

Jade turned and stood still as requested.

“Stay just like that.”

Rena approached and knelt before him,

-Clink.

then began unbuckling his pants.

“R-Rena?”

Was she planning to do that outside?

Getting caught would be disastrous.

Jade found this situation absurd but was too flustered to stop her.

“Just stay still. Last time only I felt good-you must’ve been frustrated.”

As Rena pulled down his underwear, Jade’s erect penis sprang out.

-Twitch.

Rena looked at it approvingly before gently stroking it.

“Already excited? Were you fantasizing about me while walking?”

“…A little.”

During their stroll, Jade had occasionally superimposed memories of that night over Rena.

‘Ah. That was bliss. I’ll never forget it.’

His first time with someone he loved-any man would feel the same.

The most astonishing thing was knowing he could experience this happiness repeatedly.

Rena kneeling before him proved it.

“No man could stay calm seeing you kneel like this, Rena.”

“Huhu, so men really like this.”

With a light laugh, Rena extended her tongue and began licking his penis like candy.

-Lick, lick.

Each touch of her soft tongue sent pleasant shivers through Jade.

She kept glancing up to gauge his reaction while licking.

Their eyes naturally met.

‘Ha.’

Is this heaven?

The tongue’s sensation felt good, but the征服感 of Rena serving him while looking up excited him more.

Rena was his lover, his companion, and his.

Jade felt pure ecstasy.

“Enough licking.”

After ensuring sufficient saliva coated his shaft, Rena opened her mouth wide and took him in.

“Aah… Glrk.”

She began bobbing her head, sucking Jade’s penis.

“Schlurp, schluuup, schlup!”

Her tongue circled the shaft as she sucked.

‘This feels strange.’

It felt like he’d become Rena’s master.

Satisfied with her service, Jade stroked Rena’s hair and praised her.

“You’re doing great, Rena.”

-Swish, swish.

He then glanced around cautiously.

Only insect sounds reached his ears.

‘Would they revoke my Hero title if caught?’

Outdoor sex risked exposure.

This tension and thrill only heightened his arousal.

Soon, Jade couldn’t hold back his climax.

“I’m going to cum.”

He gripped Rena’s head and thrust deep into her mouth, ejaculating.

“Glrk?!”

After momentary surprise, Rena began slowly swallowing the semen.

-Gulp, gulp.

“R-Rena? You don’t have to swallow that…”

But she’d already finished. Rena stuck out her tongue to show she’d swallowed everything.

“Bleh… Hehe, yours tastes good?”

‘I’m going crazy.’

Her lewd display made Jade’s penis instantly harden again.

“Ugh, are you some kind of beast?”

“Sorry. But you’re just too sexy…”

“Guess this wasn’t enough. How about my breasts next-“

-Clap. Clap. Clap.

“”!!””

Sudden applause made Jade and Rena scramble to adjust their clothes.

A man in blue robes emerged from the shadows.

-Thud, thud.

“What an amusing scene.”

“W-who are you?”

“To witness such a spectacle during a stroll. Has this generation’s Hero already fallen for a woman? I had low expectations from your first appearance.”

“Who are you?”

‘I don’t remember seeing him at the banquet.’

Jade tried discerning the stranger’s identity.

His attire wasn’t priestly or paladin-like-not Holy Kingdom personnel.

Then perhaps an invited guest? Or an enemy targeting him?

“I came curious about the so-called Hero, but your level’s obvious. My master wasted time suggesting cooperation with trash like you.”

“What?”

“The woman seems to have seduced the fool with her looks. No-with her body?”

“Shut up. Keep insulting her and I won’t hold back.”

He could tolerate anything except slander against Rena.

Jade burned with anger at the insults.

“Don’t glare so murderously. Planning to make a scene here? Your Hero title protects you now, but I don’t care about such things.”

“…Then let’s test if you’re all talk.”

“Jade?!”

-Thud!

Ignoring Rena’s shout, Jade drew his sword and charged. An impulsive choice.

The robed man carried no visible weapon-clearly a mage.

‘I have the advantage against mages.’

Jade planned to subdue him first and interrogate him later.

“Can’t even control petty emotions. Pathetic.”

The man snorted and raised his hand.

-Rumble.

As expected, giant hands made of earth emerged-far weaker than Raspa’s magi.

He could easily slash through this.

Jade’s right eye began glowing gold.

-Crack!

His sword precisely struck the weak point, shattering the earthen hand instantly.

But-

“Ghk!”

Jade found himself captured by a giant hand.

‘I definitely cut through it…?’

He couldn’t hide his shock at this unexpected outcome.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know about the Hero’s abilities?”

The man approached the immobilized Jade.

“Layering magic can fool your eye. A simple trick, but you’re too inexperienced to notice.”

He fell for something so basic?

Arrogance.

He’d underestimated the magic, thinking it easily breakable. Complacency cost him.

Jade regretted his mistake but couldn’t break free.

“Let Jade go!”

Rena drew her sword and charged, but

“Both of you being nuisances? Must share the same stupidity.”

-Boom! Boom! Boom!

“Kyaa!”

“Rena!”

Overwhelmed by magic, she was captured just like Jade.

Struggling against his bonds, Jade spat out words.

“Kuh… You think people will ignore this?”

“You attacked first. I merely defended myself. Still relying on your Hero title?”

“….”

Jade had no retort.

“Whatever.”

-Whoosh.

“Ugh!”

“Hk!”

As the magic binding them dissolved, Jade and Rena collapsed.

“I can’t fathom why the Goddess chose trash like you as Hero.”

“Stop!”

Ignoring Jade’s shout, the man turned and left the garden.

Remember this. I’ll repay today’s humiliation.

Jade burned the retreating figure into his memory before checking on Rena.

“Rena, are you okay?”

“Yeah. Just some scratches. His magic wasn’t lethal. Who was that guy?”

“Definitely a mage. But why would envoys act like that?”

“Then he must be from the Magic Tower.”

“Magic Tower?”

Jade found Rena’s reasoning plausible.

If the Holy Kingdom invited various factions, the Magic Tower would be included.

Only the Tower would house such a powerful mage.

“Arrogant people usually come from the Magic Tower.”

Rena’s expression showed distaste for the Tower.

“Should we report this to the Pope? Letting it slide…”

“You’d ask the Pope for help? Get a grip. You drew your sword first. Detailed investigation would put you at disadvantage.”

“Ugh.”

Rena was right.

However angry, he should’ve at least identified the man before attacking.

Jade hung his head at his inexcusable mistake.

“…Sorry. I lost my temper and messed up.”

“It’s fine. You stood up for me. Let’s fix our clothes and return before envoys hunt you down.”

“Got it. Let’s go.”

-Pat, pat, pat.

Jade brushed off dust and followed Rena back to the banquet hall.

‘If he’s from the Magic Tower, what’s his role?’

But thoughts of the mysterious man lingered in his mind.