Volume 3 Chapter 145-2 Merchant City Ramsey II
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
They stepped onto the red carpet that marked the bathhouse entrance.
As they passed through the doors, wooden screens flanked both sides, making it difficult to see inside. However, a warm mist filled with the scent of sulfur drifted out from beyond, accompanied by the faint sound of laughter—playful, relaxed, and clearly mixed between men and women.
Though they couldn’t see anything yet, it was easy to imagine the scenes happening beyond the screens. The very design seemed meant to spark the imagination. A clever touch—likely the work of Zayn.
Perhaps it was the heat, but Linca’s cheeks were already pink as she walked down the partitioned corridor. At the end was the changing area. However, instead of undressing there, she and Kian simply removed their shoes and socks. An attendant took care of the footwear, as expected from such a high-end bathhouse—one that didn’t even require a single gold coin for a private room.
When the final partition opened, they entered the bathing area.
It looked like something straight out of a religious text from the Western Church—a paradise filled with steam and bare skin. Two large rectangular baths dominated the room, where men and women soaked together. Some were clearly taking the freedom too far, their behavior bordering on improper.
But tonight, Kian and Linca had reserved a private room—tucked away in the farthest corner among the wooden partitions.
A small door within the partition stood open, revealing a hexagonal bath within. Smooth marble steps surrounded it, making it easy to enter. In the corner, a small box sealed with magic appeared to be meant for storing clothing.
”If you call for me when you’re ready to leave, I will return your footwear. Please enjoy your time,” said the attendant, bowing before slipping away.
Left alone, Kian and Linca looked at each other. An awkward silence followed.
One second… two seconds… three…
”…Huh? Aren’t we going in?” Kian asked.
”Ah, y-yes, of course,” Linca replied, startled.
Just then, a sharp, high-pitched cry echoed from the communal bath beyond the wall. Linca’s gaze flicked in that direction and her face turned a deeper red.
”You’re acting super suspicious,” Kian teased.
”And what about you, Sir Kian? You’re way too calm in this situation!”
”It doesn’t matter what others are doing. Come on, let’s just get in.”
”Ugh… You really are experienced with women, aren’t you?”
”I’ve said that from the beginning. But for years as an Adventurer, I didn’t have a partner. I had to… handle things myself. Now that you’re here, that’s not necessary.”
”That’s gross.”
”I’ve had medical checks, you know. I’m clean. Though I admit… I probably don’t give off the cleanest image.”
”You’ve definitely made women cry before.”
”…Can’t deny that. I’ve even been banned from certain places. Does that bother you?”
”If I hated it, I wouldn’t have brought you here!”
Linca turned away with a huff and pushed past him into the room. Kian followed her, shut the door, and slid the bolt closed.
His ‘Nightshade’ coat was water-resistant, but since it was made of living leather, he quickly took it off before the moisture could damage it. He removed his innerwear and wrapped them for washing. As he began scrubbing them with soap, Linca sat nearby, carefully preparing a mixture on top of the magical clothing box.
By the time Kian was covered in foam, Linca had finished blending the sensory-sharing concoction.
”…It turned out well,” she said, inspecting the red and blue mixtures in the twin mortars.
Kian rinsed himself off in a corner, making sure not to splash her with the hot water. He stepped closer, now clean, and stood before her.
”So,” she asked, glancing up, “what do you plan to do with this?”
”You didn’t ask what it’s for, so I assume you already know.”
”You’re worried that I’m not… skilled enough, aren’t you? That’s why you want to use this.”
”Not exactly.”
Her brows furrowed, a hint of irritation in her expression.
”It’s not that it’s bad. It’s you—you’re just incredibly difficult to… finish.”
”You always seem satisfied before I do.”
”Exactly. It’s inefficient. I received the highest level of education at the monastery, but even with that, it’s not enough to handle your endurance. That’s why I’m experimenting—to learn how your body reacts and bring things to a more balanced conclusion.”
It wasn’t just Kian’s resistance. Linca herself was inexperienced, which made it easier for him to hold back.
If he wanted, he could finish quickly—like that time with Maribel and the so-called ‘tea’—but he had a different goal now. He was letting Linca take the lead so she could grow used to him.
”Still, even without practice, being with you already feels better than anyone before.”
”R-really? Still… I want to master other techniques as well. I want to understand how to reach you, Sir Kian.”
”…Fine. If you’re serious, I’ll help. Use whatever potion or magic you like.”
”Then, I’ll begin.”
Linca pulled a brush from her sleeve, dipped it into the red mixture, and knelt before him. With gentle movements, she wiped down the area with a clean cloth. The pattern she painted was intricate—a design of curves and dots that seemed to form a heart. She worked in silence, her hands steady, avoiding eye contact as she drew along the lower abdomen and thighs.
Eventually, the brush moved to his back, tracing similar markings. When she finished, she let out a small breath of relief.
”Could you do the same for me?” she asked. “Is that possible?”
”If I have an example to copy, sure,” Kian replied. “I’m decent at drawing.”
When he focused, he could memorize patterns after a single glance. He didn’t use that ability often—it was tiring—but this time, he’d make an exception.
”Will this pattern come off in the bath?” he asked as Linca unfastened her belt.
She placed her peplos gently on the box and loosened the ties of her robe. Beneath, she wore a simple white wrap over her chest and black strings at her waist. Her skin glowed against the warm air.
”No, it won’t come off. It’ll remain for a week or two until your body naturally clears it.”
”Eh?”
”Oh, but don’t worry. It won’t activate unless I send magic through it. And even if you tried, I could block it on my end. It won’t affect your daily life.”
”…Still,” Kian muttered, a worried look crossing his face, “I can’t show this to anyone else.”
”Why would you need to?”
”Well… if I go to the ancient temple, or bathe near the village well…”
”You’re not planning to flash it to Ms. Sarah or Sir Umar, are you?”
”N-No… But if someone saw it, they’d definitely think something was strange… especially with a symbol drawn… there.”
Linca removed the white cloth from her upper body and the thin fabric at her waist, keeping both hands carefully positioned to shield herself.
”Ah, you don’t want anyone to see the tattoo, right? Don’t worry.”
”Tattoo…?”
”It’s a special marking. The red pigment comes from incubus scales. It won’t appear unless you’re, well… aroused. Even if there’s an accident like an, uh, reaction, it only shows faint patterns.”
”So as long as I stay calm, it won’t show?”
”Exactly. If not, the monastery would’ve had a full-blown protest from the female trainees,” she said, chuckling softly.
But if it does glow… it’d be the same as announcing certain preferences to the whole world. Until the mark fades, group baths are probably out of the question.
While Kian was still absorbing all that, Linca stepped forward, still covering herself as she spoke.
”Please draw the energy tattoo around my lower abdomen and hips, like this. It’s part of basic training. You’re not good at ‘Shot’ techniques yet, right? This will help.”
”Training and technique in one go, huh?”
”Exactly… Please.”
She handed him a small mortar of blue ink and a brush.
After rinsing the red ink from the tool, Linca let her hand drop slightly. With a quick flick, she untied the dark ribbon in her hair, letting it fall like black silk. Holding the ribbon in her mouth, she scooped water from a nearby bucket and gently rinsed her skin.
Kian turned his face away, but she quickly moved, rinsing with precision.
Then, kneeling before her like a disciplined student, he looked up.
”Could you move your hand a bit?”
”…Alright.”
Beneath the glow of the magic lamp, her skin looked pale and smooth, though her knuckles carried the strength of a warrior. When she finally revealed the spot, the skin was damp, but the intricate area remained modestly hidden by her thighs.
Kian carefully began to inscribe the magical lines with the blue ink.
The design was intricate, looping in curves and dots, forming a delicate heart-like sigil. It matched the one etched on Kian’s lower abdomen, though hers stopped just above her navel.
As he neared the final curve, Linca’s breath caught in her throat. She instinctively pressed her thighs together, then—with a bright blush—parted them slightly to give him room.
”T-this is too much… I thought this would be simpler…”
”You suggested it.”
”I know… just didn’t think it’d feel this awkward.”
”Alright. Front’s done. Now for the back.”
”…Nn…”
She turned away, sitting with her back straight before slumping slightly, revealing the curve of her back. Her posture was still firm, but relaxed.
The shape of her lower body reflected years of martial arts—toned, yet undeniably feminine. The curve of her back caught the light, casting a soft amber glow.
”It won’t fade, even after this?”
”No. Not unless erased with cleansing ink. Then… you too, Sir Kian…”
”…Hm?”
”You’re acting strange too, aren’t you?”
Kian didn’t answer.
With careful hands, he continued painting the mark across her back and hips. Despite her silence, a faint tremble ran through her.
Her breathing was quiet, almost held in, but the tension in her body spoke volumes.
Kian didn’t comment. He simply finished the final stroke, letting the ink dry.
”…It’s done.”
”Thank you,” she said quietly, turning toward him again, hands returning to cover herself.
”Leave the tools in the box.”
”I did.”
”Come here.”
”Okay.”
Linca stepped closer. The soft steam in the air swirled around them. Her eyes flickered with something unreadable as she sat on the marble steps by the bath.
She didn’t speak again. She only looked at him—waiting, maybe… or just unsure.
And that was enough.
Notes:
• Linca – Jibril’s favorite girl. High-ranking warrior monk woman from Shin, with strong abilities like ignoring attacks and poisons.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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