Living with the Dangerous Beast-Chapter 13: Shadows Beyond the Door

In the midst of her thrashing, Sohwa suddenly opened her eyes.

She exhaled shallow breaths, her eyes first registering the ochre-coated ceiling, and the soft cotton blanket was tossed aside.

She wasn’t in the tiger’s embrace but in the comfort of her own room.

Sohwa immediately ran outside, her feet barely touching the ground. The hinge creaked loudly in the quiet dawn.

She desperately needed to relieve herself, her lower abdomen tight with urgency.

And just as she was hurriedly crossing the yard, she heard a faint groan.

“Aah....”

The sound came from the guest room.

Hyper-alert, her fox ears picked up the sound easily.

‘Could it be that Dohwi is having the same nightmare?’

If so, it was only right to wake him.

Ignoring her urgent need, Sohwa quickly changed her direction towards the guest room.

Seeing the bright light coming from inside, she tilted her head in confusion.

‘Does he sleep with the light on?’

As she approached the door, she saw Dohwi’s shadow through the paper screen and hesitated.

He was half-lying down, leaning on one arm.

“Hoo... Sohwa....”

The way he called her name was filled with yearning.

But the occasional groans mixed in sounded anything but normal.

‘Is he in pain? Should I go in and check on him or not?’

As Sohwa stood there, unable to decide, Dohwi’s voice grew louder.

“Ah... Sohwa, come here.”

Was he seeing a ghost? It didn’t sound like he was talking to her.

“Mmmmm.”

His voice, echoing as if from a cave, carried an oddly sensual tone, which caused Sohwa to blush just by the tone of his voice.

Sensing that something wasn’t right, Sohwa tried took a step back.

‘I don’t know what he’s doing, but I shouldn’t be listening to this.’

Just as she was about to turn away, Dohwi hastily started to undo his pants.

A moment later, something large and rigid sprang out.

“...!”

Seeing it only as a shadow made it seem even larger.

It was as big as her clenched forearm, moving up and down against his stomach, more suited to a stallion than a human.

Dohwi’s body swelled and contracted with his heavy breathing. freёweɓnovel.com

‘My goodness, what is that?’

Grasping the strange object, Dohwi slowly moved his hand up and down.

“Ah....”

As Dohwi leaned his head back, his profile—from forehead to nose, lips, chin, and prominent Adam’s apple—looked like a masterful ink painting, though his moans suggested he was in pain.

“Sohwa, come sit on my face.”

While Dohwi continued to handle himself, Sohwa stood frozen, unable to move as if she was caught in a sturdy trap.

‘What is he doing...?’

Just behind the door with the light on, why was he making such a spectacle?

Dohwi knew that Sohwa often got up at dawn to use the bathroom. Regarding that, Sohwa couldn’t understand why and what Dohwi was doing, such obscene acts didn’t belong in her house, at least in not in such a bold manner.

Slowly, she began to step back, carefully to avoid making noise. Just then, Dohwi shifted, accidentally tearing the paper door.

“Huh!”

Sohwa quickly covered her mouth. Unfortunately, through the torn paper, she could see the naked monstrosity clearly.

Sohwa’s reason told her that she shouldn’t be looking at ‘it,’ but her instincts didn’t let her off the hook.

The grotesque pillar, veins bulging, with a large mushroom-like head, blushed red like a ripe plum.

‘It’ pulsated as if alive, dripping a small bead of fluid from its tip.

“Sohwa....”

Startled by the sight and the sound of Dohwi calling her name, she hiccuped.

“Are you there?”

His languid voice, now aware of her presence, made Sohwa’s heart race.

Worse, he reached for the hinge, as if to open the door.

Without looking back, Sohwa ran away as fast as she could.

That night, the cries of aroused foxes echoed like a chorus around Mount Yeehwang.

* * *

“Pheasant for breakfast... I see....”

Embarrassed to meet Dohwi’s gaze, Sohwa focused on the dish in front of her.

It was a rich pheasant stew made with savory broth including various vegetables and mushrooms, a feast worthy of a king’s table.

Setting the dish before her, Dohwi spoke without looking at her.

“You came to my room last night, weren’t you?”

Caught off guard, Sohwa, who had been staring at his long, straight fingers, shook her head vigorously.

“N-no, I didn’t.”

Despite her reaction, Dohwi calmly served her some vegetables, speaking as if in passing.

“I heard a fox.”

“I heard it too.”

Sohwa’s shoulders stiffened.

Last night, foxes cried all through the night.

It was unusual for Mount Yeehwang to have so many foxes at the same time.

“I should go chase them away.”

Dohwi chuckled, amused by Sohwa’s determined look.

She had never fought for territory, and he found the idea of her chasing away foxes rather cute, his subtle yet playful gaze suggesting as if she should be worried about being chased away herself.