Chapter 38

Chapter 38

The Local Guide Hassan of the Marshlands

038 – The Local Guide Hassan of the Marshlands #5

As I gazed at Luna’s pale, smooth armpits, I blurted out something impulsively without restraint.

“Does it feel like an egg is forming? Should I help ease it…?”

“…Huh?”

After Luna momentarily questioned me, a fleeting silence enveloped the cramped tent. I couldn’t help but deeply regret my words.

What I had just said was not about alleviating curses or fatigue, but rather stemmed from an urge to touch Luna’s body.

Though I have little experience with women, my internal monologue told me that women tend to quickly detect such lewd intentions from men.

Even if Luna had a naive and innocent side, or perhaps because of it, she might possess a strange intuition, like a herbivorous animal sensing danger, and decipher my wicked thoughts.

d*mn. Things were going well between me and Luna until now. Would the atmosphere now become awkward?

“What did you just say, Hassan?”

Unbelievable. Either Luna didn’t hear me or she’s pretending not to. She asked again.

Now I was presented with two options:

Either I pretend ignorance and change the subject…

Or I man up and stick by what I said.

In the span of just a few seconds, as an internal conflict brewed, I felt my lower half—known as ‘Juji’— urging me to “Go for it!”

But relying on Juji’s judgment in man’s life often leads to ruin. So I decided to stick to the cooler reasoning of my brain.

Thus, my brain made my mouth say, “Should I give you a massage? I’m pretty good at it.”

“There… really…?”

A faint trace of suspicion flickered in Luna’s emerald eyes, but she didn’t seem particularly flustered or wary as I suspected.

“Tomorrow, we might encounter cultists. It’d be better to relieve your body now so you can move comfortably tomorrow.”

“Well, that… makes sense, I guess….”

In truth, I had massaged Luna’s body before. However, something called ‘Nox’ interrupted then, erasing her memory of the event. Consequently, this was effectively my first time suggesting such a thing to her.

Luna appeared to be contemplating—whether it was alright to let this strange, dark man touch her.

“If anything hurts or feels weird, we can stop.”

“Hmm… alright… let’s try, a little.”

Yes, that works.

“Then, lie down.”

“Like this?”

Thud.

Luna hesitated for a moment before turning her back to show me her waist and the backs of her knees. I’d seen her like this before, but today, it felt somewhat different, more intimate.

Perhaps, as the saying goes, “Learning a dance late in life can bankrupt your home,” and the late realization of her softness had rewired my sense of judgment.

“Massage gently. My body is filled with growing pains, so even the slightest touch hurts.”

“Don’t worry about that part. Let me just check your pulse first.”

Swish.

As my hand grabbed her thin wrist, there was a dingle-like sound, and words appeared.

<Luna Noxdotty Level 3 -> Level 8>

Status: Nox’s Curse, Erebore’s Curse, Severe Growing Pains, Slight Headache.

Her level has gone from 3 to 8? The bl**d that had hardened in Juji rushed back to my brain. Could this be due to lifting some growth-weakening curse I previously removed? Or is it because she’s the daughter of Nox? This is all I could speculate.

“Hassan, why are you holding my wrist?”

“Luna, do you have a headache?”

“…A little? Just a mild pulsing sensation… did I mention that?”

“By checking your pulse, I can roughly learn about these things. It’s a secret art known among the wilderness folk in Samaria.”

“So… is it… legal? The gods don’t approve of such things…”

I briefly wondered if Luna might report me as an illegal healer, making me the star of the next stoning festival. How should I defuse this?

“No, it’s not illegal. It’s just a massage. Now, I’ll start. I’ll be on you, so if it gets too heavy, tell me.”

“Umm… alright. It’s not heavy.”

Finally, I placed my hand on Luna’s nape. This was a point called Fengji, which I had once pressed while massaging the witch Nemea.

I knew the name, but had completely forgotten why this spot was significant.

Upon reflection, pressing this area encourages bl**d flow to the eyes, ears, and brain, reducing headaches by improving bl**d circulation—though this detail seemed less relevant right now.

Luna’s neck was so delicate and fragile it seemed like it would break with the slightest force. To avoid causing her pain, I pressed the Fengji point gently with my index finger instead of my thumb.

For about 3 to 5 seconds and then a slight twisting motion would enhance the effect.

“Ugh, uh…”

Luna shivered, groaning faintly in pain.

“Why? Is it hurt?”

“No… it’s… it feels refreshing in my head… like someone splashed cold water… inside my brain.”

“If it’s painful, tell me.”

“Mm… okay… It hurt a little at first… but… what is this? It feels… so clear-headed now. Ohhhhh…”

It seems like she enjoyed it.

With a craftsman’s focus, I applied gentle pressure to Luna’s neck and back. At each of these touches, she gave off strange groaning sounds while shivering.

“Hassan… It really seems to be working!”

“Of course.”

“Ooh….”

As Luna shivered like she had goosebumps, something chimed.

Ding!

<Luna Noxdotty's Slight Headache has been relieved.
Mission Progress +10>

Words appeared, declaring her headache had successfully subsided.

Now, I’ve come to fully believe in this strange ability of mine. The words are truthful.

Next up, the growth pains.

The affected areas were scattered all over. Areas that raised questions about whether they should be touched.

Would some fearsome Nox reappear?

A bit tense, I placed my hand on her waist.

“Ugh… My lower back has an egg.”

I lightly pressed Luna’s erector spinae muscles, and she instinctively groaned, twitching her body. Of course, such a reaction is expected when pressing the tense muscles of someone experiencing muscle pain.

But there is no room for leniency.

Thus, I gripped Luna’s slim waist with both hands, pressing the swollen areas on her erector spinae muscles gently with the broad part of my thumbs for maximum softness.

“Ahhh… ouch…”

“Does it hurt?”

Indeed, the muscle pain seemed more severe than anticipated. I should try applying less force.

“Gaahhh….”

Her body felt like holding a small bird, and I treated it with utmost care. Gradually, I could feel the stiffness and tension in Luna’s body ease.

After pressing her lower back for tens of seconds or a few minutes,

“Does it still hurt?”

“At first, it was… but now…”

Now, Luna seemed to have no more words. She clutched the clothes I had laid down instead of thermal insulation tightly with both hands.

“Ugh…”

Swish.

In that moment, the spots on Luna’s thighs disappeared. However, there was no message indicating they had healed.

Thus, I slowly shifted my gaze from Luna’s side, towards her armpits.

The smooth, tender flesh hidden between her arms was, naturally, marked with red spots.

“Ha-ha…!”

The moment I lightly swept my hand across her side and armpits, Luna burst into laughter.

“Ticklish!”

While her laughter was cheerful, it might disturb our neighbors if it continues too loudly during their sleeping time.

“Shh, bedtime for everyone. Keep it down.”

“I know… uh, but, can we avoid this spot? It’s… somewhat embarrassing… ticklish too, hehehe…”

But it’s too late to take back what’s already been touched. I was already absorbed in massaging Luna’s armpits.

“Raise your hands. Like this. Yeah.”

“Haha… but it’s ticklish.”

There are lymph nodes in the armpits; stimulating them helps expel toxins accumulated in the body, as my father would often say. But that fact wasn’t what I was focusing on at the moment.

The first armpits I ever touched were surprisingly soft and delicate, with the impression that even a slight pressure could leave marks.

Thus, I continued pressing and gently twisting her armpits for a few minutes until…

“Huhuuuu…”

Luna, who had been giggling uncontrollably due to the ticklish sensation, stopped laughing, probably lacking the energy to continue, or perhaps experiencing some shift in emotion. She tightly shut her mouth and began trembling.

“Ah, ah… aaah…”

The sounds emanating from Luna’s lips made my heart race.

Massaging and kneading a woman’s body, listening to her cute breaths, made my Juji painfully hard.

In fact, my erection was so substantial it pressed against Luna’s buttocks through the fabric of my pants, but Luna, lost in her own sensations, seemed unaware of it.

Buttocks, buttocks.

Swish—soft.

“Hassan, not there!”

“Stay still. This is the most important part.”

I moved my body near Luna’s calves and grabbed her fleshy and soft buttocks with both hands. Those buttocks that would slightly sway whenever she moved in her loose white garment.

Small enough to fit in one hand, but they were incredibly soft and bouncy—so good I’ve never felt anything compare.

“Isn’t this the most important part?”

“Yes.”

When an egg forms in the buttocks—sitting, walking, or even running can become uncomfortable.

Soft.

Pressing with my thumb, the buttock flexed back with a springy reaction.

A pudding-like softness, warm and inviting. Although pudding itself can’t compare. With my limited vocabulary, this is the best description I can manage.

“Guh… anyway, this spot… ah…”

Luna started to speak, but I pressed and gently rotated my thumb over her buttocks, and she melted into it.

“Ah-aah…”

“If it hurts, tell me.”

“Not painful….”

Luna stopped speaking and closed her mouth. I didn’t need to ask further—I continued pressing her buttocks with my thumb, or fully clutching them in both hands.

Of course, there was no need to grip so tightly, but I just wanted to do so. I was heating up like a runaway train with faulty brakes descending down a slope.

“Ugh… Hassan, enough…”

Luna spoke, but I barely registered it.

My rational mind and heated Juji were chanting in unison “massage—massage—” rendering my thoughts numb.

Surely Luna’s soft, tender spaces nestled between these plump and juicy curves must be warm, humid, and invitingly private.

If I were to guide my swelling erection, which was painfully hard, into that space, what would it feel like?

“Ah… aaah… Hassan… somehow, this doesn’t feel like just a massage… Can I ask? Do… do you want to do… something more with me?”

“Mm?”

“Making a baby… yesterday I asked you if you knew how babies are made… heh… and you tend to sneak peeks at my chest usually…”

“Well… that’s because…”

“I made a vow of purity… if I break it, I will be punished and d*e… uh… Hassan….”

Luna’s sticky voice calling my name resonated in my ears, echoing incessantly in my mind.

Hassan, Hassan….

“Hassan, Hassan! Hassan of Samaria! Hey, man, are you already asleep? Come out! It’s your turn to keep watch!”

No kidding, who’s calling me for real?

[Author’s Note]

Shameruts, Kadeom, rkdnls, Meotinnyeorae, Fangchuksa, and Virgil!!! Thank you very much for always supporting and sending sponsorship coupons! I sincerely thank those who give anonymously as well. I’m really grateful.

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