MTLNOVEL Chapter 175
The broad back that I still cannot forget.
It was my memory.
That reliable back which protected even the child of an enemy.
That cruel back which had just killed my mother moments ago.
It flew like an arrow and pierced my heart.
Afterward, I harbored the single-minded desire to become as strong as him, entered the organization called Salgae, and trained endlessly, eventually believing I had reached a similar level to his.
But when I met him in person, I could truly feel the gap. The vast difference between his realm and mine.
And I was amazed. To witness the spirit of such a powerful human being, pushed to the very brink.
The him I saw with my own eyes was far more haggard and worn out than any person I’d ever seen. It was hard to believe that this was the foremost individual of the realm.
I made the decision.
I, with these hands that have traversed the path of killing, would help him.
Although his situation was pitiable, I had no doubt about the bright future that lay ahead of us.
Why do unexpected things keep appearing?
I do not want to fall behind.
I haven’t felt this competitive urge for a long time. I have always stood as an overwhelming front-runner.
On the stage called the martial world.
But I have no intention of losing my position as the front-runner—not even a little bit.
I am not willing to back down. I will stand proudly by his side and push aside any woman who gets in my way.
I can allow a few to stand behind us, but only to an extent.
That is my limit.
My feelings.
My heart.
I will not suppress them any longer.
“I love you.”
I said it.
My heart beats wildly. Even the first time I killed a person didn’t make my heart race like this. It feels like it’s pounding madly.
But I don’t want to miss this opportunity. Now that I’ve set the tone, I’ll take the lead.
To make sure he can’t withdraw.
“I’m serious.”
“Ryun… ”
“I’ll wait for your answer a bit later.”
I leaned in, preparing to do what I had imagined hundreds of times, alone—the intimate acts of lovers or paramours.
I closed my eyes and, before he could fully evade, thrust my face forward, puckering my lips.
Puck.
Something touched my extended lips. It was soft yet firm in a pleasant way.
Two masses. Though my eyes are closed and I can’t see, I know what they are.
Ah—these are the lips of my benefactor.
In the vast expanse of the world, the one I love the most, my only lover.
Since my benefactor became alone, no one has been allowed to take this step—until now, me.
A strange sense of conquest and pleasure surges within me. I am driven to insert my tongue, accept his, ravage more roughly—or even be ravaged myself.
I will not hold back.
“Hm…!”
I opened my tightly puckered lips and extended my tongue gently.
Just as I was about to slide it into the gap I could feel—
“Hm!?”
Bitter.
When we were merely touching lips, I hadn’t noticed this bitterness.
And it’s rough. Considering how rugged my benefactor’s lips have always been, this is beyond what I had imagined.
Sensing something strange, I cautiously opened my eyes. Through my slightly blurred vision, I could see my benefactor watching me with a look of evident bewilderment.
No, it wasn’t my benefactor’s eyes that were close to mine, but rather, they were about half a foot away.
Then, who did I kiss?
“Ryun.”
As I lowered my gaze, I saw a couple of my benefactor’s fingers pressed against my lips.
Ah.
So that’s it.
He rejected me.
Still, I don’t want to give up now.
“Mm…?”
“B, but what are you trying to do, Run?”
“Hm… Please stay still, benefactor…”
“Why… mmm!”
I opened my mouth and drew his two fingertips inside.
If I can connect like this, even just this way—mouth to fingers—it’s enough for me. Even if there’s no apparent gap in his heart, I’ll create a place for myself in his body.
Blop.
“Benefactor…?”
“Ryun, what do you think you’re doing?”
His hand withdrew.
My benefactor looked at me with an expression of disbelief.
Everything before my eyes went dark.
I like Hong Ryun.
But this liking is human affection, not heterosexual attraction.
Not that Hong Ryun lacks charm as a member of the opposite sex. In fact, she’s immensely attractive, beyond comparison with any other women I’ve encountered.
To describe with perhaps crude terms, she’s like a well-crafted sculpture; her chest and derriere are extremely full, and her appearance is so beautiful that even Jin Gayoung—the most beautiful martial artist in the realm—occasionally expresses admiration.
However, just because of her beauty, it doesn’t mean I am obligated to feel love.
What’s the age difference between us?
It’s not good for either of us. That’s why I must refuse.
“Ryun, this is not right.”
“…”
“To confuse me as a child is natural, but this is different. What you did just now, it should be done with the person you truly love…”
“…”
“…”
Hong Ryun glared at me silently.
Feeling the silent severity of her gaze, I stopped talking.
A frozen silence settled.
Amidst it, Hong Ryun spoke in a slightly sorrowful tone.
“Do I seem like I’m not genuine?”
“…”
“Benefactor, I like you. I really, truly like you.”
“Whenever I see you, my heart beats.”
“In my life, which consisted of nothing but blood, swords, and screams, you are my only light.”
“Is it wrong for a moth to fly towards the light? To be drawn to a light that burns so brightly, to the extent that anyone can be pulled towards it?”
“I’m not joking. I’m not mistaken about how I feel. I truly want to be in love with you. If I could, I’d imprison you on a remote island just so you could be mine alone.”
“I love you. Truly love you. I always want to feed you the tastiest things, give you everything good that I can. Benefactor, how long will you continue to ignore this part of me?”
“Shall I demonstrate it to you? Then try it. Feel it yourself. How much I love you. Experience my love firsthand.”
After saying that, Hong Ryun took another step closer toward me.
I don’t know what to do. I avoided her by turning my head aside earlier, but now I’m truly in a tight spot.
“You’re overthinking.”
“? ”
“You’re only plotting ways to escape this situation… Can’t you just accept it?”
Hong Ryun grabbed my wrists.
And then—
“Don’t run away. I’ll hold you down.”
“…”
She tightly gripped my hand and pressed it against the center of her chest.
Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump—.
I could feel her heartbeat, alive and real. It clearly showed how nervous she was despite her calm demeanor. Hong Ryun is extremely tense but doesn’t want to show it to me, that’s why she’s trying her best to hide it.
“Do you still think my feelings are due to a child’s misunderstanding?”
“…”
“Doesn’t my heart always beat like this whenever I see you? This restlessness that doesn’t calm even after meditation? Can you describe this with any word other than love?”
“That… ”
“I won’t let you escape.”
Hong Ryun crossed my wrists and pushed them upward. I naturally ended up with my arms stretched above my head.
She held on so tightly that my hands couldn’t move. Her grip was strong enough to make her veins protrude through her skin as she restrained me.
Sweeep.
Her other hand slowly ascended and began to caress my cheek, almost like a snake moving stealthily and stickily.
“The same trick won’t work twice.”
“R, Ryun. Please let go of my hands….”
“If you want them so badly, you can release them yourself. You’re much stronger than me.”
“I hesitate because I might hurt you if I use force!”
“In that case, that would be better. If I can’t possess you, I rather would.”
Before I could escape this time, she grabbed my chin to keep me firmly in place.
Hong Ryun leaned in once more, and this time very quickly—
Chu.
Felt like soft clouds pressing against my lips.
Gradually, my mind began to blur.
But I tried to resist, driven by the last thread of my self-control.
Hong Ryun held me tightly, refusing to let my resistance succeed.
Chop, chu.
“Ha—!”
“Uh…!”
“Ha, ha, haeu…!”
“Uh….”
She didn’t release my lips, biting them gently but desperately.
It was clumsy. Yet it was earnest.
And that earnest side of Hong Ryun—
I began to find it gradually beautiful.
My cheeks flushed.
Chooorrp.
Hong Ryun’s lips gradually parted, and a small tongue emerged and sought entry into my mouth.
I immediately clenched my lips tight, but—
Kuuk!
Given her refined skills, Hong Ryun’s tongue was strong.
If I used my internal energy, I could resist, but that could hurt her tongue.
Helplessly, I opened my mouth, and our tongues mingled softly yet passionately within our kiss.
“…What?”
Yu Soeun came to the training hall looking for Byul Rak when it was time for dinner, intending to personally serve him the food she had cooked.
However, upon arriving at the training hall, she came across a profoundly intimate scene—a sight that shocked her.
“Mr… Master…?”
Their kiss looked extremely intimate and sticky.