Sword Empress’s POV
Cough.
She caught off guard. To think she’d turn my own words against . Do I sound that old? I’d never noticed. After my rejuvenation, maybe I should’ve adopted a youthful tone? Changing now would feel forced...
Ugh!
Snapping back to reality, I faced an unbelievable sight.
"Sir, I’ll give you a special treat, just for you..."
"Nooo..."
She was climbing onto him as he lay there. My sword moved before my mouth.
Whoosh!
"...That’s enough."
The blade lodged into the wall, blocking her. She shot an annoyed glare, but I was the one who should be annoyed.
Crack.
My mood was ruined, interrupted just before she could taste the finest fruit.
"...What’s the aning of this, guest?"
"And what was that stunt you just pulled?"
"Hehe... What stunt? I was just serving a guest as the manager."
Swinging my sword or stooping to vulgarity would mark as an amateur. A true master stays composed.
"Is that so? To my eyes, it looked beyond ’service.’ Perhaps this is routine for you? If so, my apologies."
This damn wench...
I didn’t say it outright, but the implication was clear—whore, slut, tramp. Being likened to those who sold their bodies or chased pleasure blindly was offensive. What I did was pure predation.
"Heh... hehe... Of course not..."
I forced a relaxed smile, hiding my creasing forehead.
Crackle.
Our glares could’ve drawn blood. In the brewing storm, a cute voice broke through.
"S-Scary..."
Tremble.
His shivering body sensed the icy tension. I steadied myself. Calm down, Roselia. She’d drawn her sword first, giving the upper hand, though I wasn’t blaless for pouncing earlier.
"Oh my! Sir, are you hurt?!"
Feigning shock, I ran my hands over his body.
"W-What?!"
"Sir! You can’t draw a sword in here! He must be so startled!"
"N-No, it was you who—"
Savoring her flustered reaction, I pulled him into my arms again, tangling our legs to keep him close. From her angle, she couldn’t see.
"Sir, are you okay? I get scared when swords are swung like that... Aren’t you scared?"
"I’m scared..."
"Hehe, you feel the sa, don’t you?"
Grind.
Her teeth ground audibly across the room. I buried his face in my chest, flashing a smug look, then pulled the sword from the wall and handed it back.
"Be more careful next ti."
Grit, grind.
"Tch... Thanks..."
She tried to stay composed, but she was on the verge of breaking—like a cup about to overflow.
Squeeze.
"Sir, aren’t you cold? I feel a chill from sowhere..."
I pulled him closer, tauntingly. Then I saw it—her hand rising.
Smirk.
Just as I thought this petty fight was nearing its end—
Gulp, gulp.
Thud.
"...How about a proposal?"
She chugged a bottle of liquor and spat out sothing odd.
"What kind of proposal?"
"Since we’re in a tavern, let’s settle this with a drinking contest. First to collapse loses."
"...Hmm."
A desperate last resort. Was she confident because she was a martial artist? Foolish. She might dispel alcohol with inner energy, but humans have limits. Her aura was barely Sword User level. For a vampire—night kin who manipulates blood—to lose? She’d need a century more.
"Hehe, I accept."
Crush her now, and she can’t pull tricks later. If she clings to him after, I’d slander her in front of him, ruining her reputation.
Clink.
"But are you sure? You’ve already had quite a bit."
"There’s a martial world custom where the strong give the weak a handicap. Think of it like that."
"Ohh..."
What arrogance. Who was giving whom a handicap? My pride urged insults, but I held back.
Roselia’s POV
She was tenacious. I manipulated my blood flow to suppress the alcohol, but she wasn’t faltering.
Clink.
"...What’s this? At your limit?"
Her face was flushed, but her eyes stayed sharp.
"Hehe, my face hasn’t even turned red."
"Is that so? Your turn. Drink up."
My vision blurred slightly. It’d been ages since I faced such a strong opponent. She’s got guts challenging ...
Gulp.
The liquor burned my throat, a sharp sting piercing my esophagus.
"Hehe... Your turn, sir..."
Gulp.
"Your turn again."
Damn...
Sothing was off. The last Sword Expert-level drinking bet wasn’t this tough. Was she cheating? I could use magic, but not yet—sudden changes might raise suspicions in this supposedly magicless world, though I’d heard of sorcery.
Grind.
I’d shake her up. I couldn’t lose—not for pride, not when I hadn’t tasted this man who rivaled an incubus.
"By the way, sir, what’s your relationship with him?"
"...Relationship?"
"Yes... Your reaction feels, how should I say... like a jealous lover."
Her pupils wavered. Just as I thought. Her type freezes when confronted directly.
"Are you two... perhaps lovers?"
"N-No! W-We’re not exactly that kind of—"
"Oh my... Then that’s even stranger..."
I smirked inwardly. She’d taken the bait perfectly.
"Then by what right are you interfering with ?"
"..."
"If two consenting adults want to share so love, what’s the problem? If you were his lover, that’d be one thing, but an outsider has no right to ddle."
"Ughhh..."
Her face flushed crimson, lips trembling. She wanted to speak but couldn’t. This is how won fight, rookie. Co back in a decade. She’d fought well, but this was her limit. Hit her weak spot, and she’d flounder. A little more pressure, and she’d collapse—bet or no bet.
Swish.
What play should I start with? I hadn’t stripped him, but I sensed he’d accommodate anything. What body could produce such a sweet scent? I wanted to peel him open now.
"...We’re intimate."
"Huh?"
Her mouth finally opened. I braced for a cliché—childhood friends, lovers, so sob story.
"We’ve slept together."
"...What?"
"It was both our first ti."
This fight... wouldn’t be easy.
Han Soyeon’s POV
Step, step.
"Still a long way?"
"Just a bit farther."
The sun had set, sparing my skin from stinging rays, but I kept my blood-colored cloak tight to hide my appearance. I’d asked for directions to the Golden Orchid Tavern, and this man, claiming a shortcut, guided . I followed.
"Feels like we’re going deeper..."
"Hehe, shortcuts take back alleys."
"...Hurry up."
I shoved the man with his creepy laugh and kept pace. He stopped—at a dead end.
"...What’s this?"
"Kekeke, you fell for it."
His deanor shifted, a sleazy cackle escaping.
"Haa..."
I’d suspected a trap, and here it was.
"Guide properly now, and I might let you live."
"That’d put us in a tough spot."
Four n erged from the shadows.
"How about it, miss? Co along quietly—"
Slash.
No need for a sword against this scum. A single hand strike severed the leader’s neck.
"W-What the—!"
A hulking man charged. Perfect—I could test this strange new body. Unnatural strength surged through .
Sss...
No swordsmanship, just a kick I’d briefly learned, aid at his gut.
Boom!
"Urgh!"
He crashed into the wall, cracking it. I hadn’t even used much force. Raw strength alone? My body wasn’t trained for external martial arts—this was abnormal.
"..."
"H-Hiii!"
The others stared, terrified, glancing between and the blood pooling on the ground. I felt I could control it.
How...?
Like a baby learning to walk, I knew I could move it but not how.
Ripple, ripple.
Mimicking my master’s sword-control, I focused. The blood stirred slightly. At this rate, I’d lift it soon—
Spurt!
"Arghhhh!!!!"
"H-Hiii!"
A blood blade pierced one man’s arm. Curious, but no ti to linger.
Slash.
I cut him down, then turned to the last, trembling on the ground.
"Golden Orchid Tavern."
"Y-Yes?"
"Guide ."
My priority was Yuseong. I couldn’t waste a mont. I’d kill the guide after.
Roselia’s POV
"Y-You’re already in that kind of relationship?"
"Is it surprising? Two adults sharing love?"
"N-No way, hehe..."
She was tougher than I’d expected. They’d shared their first tis in this conservative world—a significant advantage. If she’d been more skilled, I’d have struggled.
"What’s wrong? You look flustered."
"N-No, it’s nothing... Just surprised your relationship is deeper than I thought. Hehe..."
"Now that you know, how about stepping back?"
"Oh my... But didn’t you say you weren’t exactly lovers? I’m pretty sure you said it wasn’t special..."
"...Tch."
Her trump card, but her inexperience showed. If she’d boldly claid they were lovers from the start, I’d have no moves. Barging into a relationship where they’d shared firsts? She could swing a sword, and I’d have no defense.
...They swapped virginities but aren’t lovers...
Rare in this world. In my previous world, I’d call it friends with benefits, but here, it hinted at a deeper story.
...She’s slept with him...
Gulp.
If he was tasty enough for her to guard so fiercely... A good restaurant keeps drawing custors—I burned to taste him myself.
"...Sir, how about we set aside formalities and talk honestly?"
"Hm... Let’s hear it."
"Was it tasty?"
Slurp.
My mouth pooled with saliva before I realized it.
"...If you let go of him first, I’ll answer."
"Huh? Let go?"
At her words, I glanced down.
Grope, grope.
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