The fingers that had gripped her neck dug into her hair. It was a large hand, big enough to grab both jaw and neck at the same time. She let out a strained breath as it held her body – and even her head – in place.

This action was difficult to comprehend from her knowledge. The exchange of saliva. That was how If defined this action.

Crushing.

Inside her mouth, saliva swirled and frothed as it was swept along by the twisting tongue, scraping against the inner mucous membranes. The tongue pushed deeper, splitting the bubbles that burst and sizzled inside.

“Hngh…!”

Before she knew it, her body had tilted backwards. The fur brushing against her back tickled her neck, causing If to shrink away. It was a sensation that under normal circumstances would have just felt soft – but now it felt strange.

She should have been able to breathe through her nose and yet her body wouldn’t listen. Never in her life had something as natural as breathing, something she had done unconsciously for decades, felt so difficult.

“Haa…”

Strange sounds kept escaping her lips. Even though she wasn’t moving much, her heart was beating wildly on its own. Overwhelmed by the sensations she was experiencing for the first time, If clung to Ethan.

“Uh-h…”

At some point a knee had slipped between her legs, pressing against the inside. The stimulation from a place she hadn’t even been aware of made her body tremble.

The relentless stimulation moved up and down. The pressure on her trembling body calmed her restless movements. When Ethan finally gave one last suck of his tongue and pulled away, If managed to calm her breathing. His panting breaths were hot against her skin. For the first time, If realised that she could feel exhausted.

“Don’t cry over this.”

A rough finger brushed away the tears that had gathered at the corner of her eye. Even though she usually had strong skin, it was red from crying.

“It’s just the beginning. Why are you crying already?”

Clucking his tongue, Ethan pressed the back of his hand firmly against her other eye, wiping away the remaining tears. Whether it was his fingers or the back of his hand, both were equally rough, but for some reason it bothered her.

“My body feels strange. I think something’s broken.”

Although her mouth was blocked, she still had her nose, so it didn’t make sense that she couldn’t breathe. And it was strange that she was gasping for air without even moving. She also had a fever, although nothing was wrong with her. Now the tears came of their own accord.

They were mumbled with a serious expression. Seeing this, Ethan burst out laughing.

“It’s going to get weirder now.”

” More than this?”

“Even more than this.”

Ethan spoke with certainty as he pulled If into his arms. Her small, slender body was easily pulled in and pressed tightly against his abdomen. Through the lingering warmth of her body, he could feel her small heart beating rapidly. 

‘Ha… How little I’ve even seen her for something like this to feel sweet to me.’ 

Ethan had never described anything as ‘cute’ before. Considering how much of an oddity he was, he could somewhat accept that he was starting to think differently than usual. 

“If.” 

“What.” 

Ethan’s voice, buried against the hollow of her neck, was low and subdued. 

“Something’s moving down there.”

“…….” 

Ethan was silent for a moment. He could give her an answer, but if she asked *why*, he wouldn’t know how to explain it properly. 

“I’m hard.”

‘What does that mean? Why does it move? Is it a hobby of yours, Ethan? What do you use it for? It was soft before – why is it hard now? Why has it changed size? I want to see it. Ethan, there’s a hole here. Is something going in? Or is something coming out?’

Just thinking about it was enough to give him a headache. 

“Hm? Ethan, there’s something moving down there. It tickles.” 

“It’s just something like that.” 

Eventually Ethan gave up trying to explain. 

“What is it?” 

“Well…” 

“But Ethan, I feel suffocated.” 

It was a relief that she was distracted so quickly, but at the same time it made him feel frustrated. ‘Why ask if you’re not going to listen?’ Ethan sighed and propped himself up on one arm, lifting his upper body.

Supporting himself on his knees and hands, Ethan looked down while still leaning forward. Lying on the Grips fur, If looked up at him with sparkling eyes. 

Her transparent eyelashes fluttered slowly in the air beneath their meeting gaze. Her eyes, now calm, were as pale as ever. 

Ethan’s gaze drifted down, past her steadily rising and falling br*asts. 

Her legs, caught between his knees, were spread apart with no intention of closing. 

The moment Ethan saw her skirt pulled up dangerously high, his mind became a tangled mess. 

Seeing her so dishevelled beneath him was… not exactly unpleasant. After all, when in his life would he ever come across such beauty? 

The real problem was that she had practically no s*x education – not even a hint of it.

She was a woman who had been n*ked from the first time they met – a woman who knew no shame or embarrassment. 

It was fine now that they were alone, but once they left this place, things would be different. 

Even if he tried to stay by her side as much as possible, it wasn’t like he could watch over her 24/7. 

“Ethan.” 

“What?” 

“Hug me.” 

Although If knew many things, everything she understood about the world she had learned from Ethan. 

And she shared it all with him. 

So much so that instead of saying “I’m cold”, her first words were “Hug me”.

Before they knew it, night had fallen and the air had turned cold. 

Although they had blocked off the entrance to the cave as much as possible, it was still quite wide since they had dragged the beast’s body in. 

At the sound of the cool wind, Ethan glanced towards the entrance, then turned and lay down with his back to it, shielding it. 

The cool breeze was now blocked by Ethan’s large frame. 

Nestled in this shelter, If buried her face against his warm chest. 

Ethan reached for the cloak he’d tossed aside and pulled it over If’s body. 

Having spent so many days close together, Ethan had learned a great deal about If. 

And so he knew. 

If she went out into the world like this, something was bound to happen. 

‘Besides…’

There were countless things he didn’t want her to hear, countless things he didn’t want her to see. 

If she went with him, they would inevitably come across these things, and each time he would have to find a way to hide them. 

Maybe he could do it once or twice, but not every time. There would be many situations where it simply wouldn’t be possible. 

Out there, only one in ten might be an ally – and even that one could easily turn into an enemy if enough money was offered. 

He had no idea how many would come at them at once, and it would be impossible to choose the right place for a confrontation. 

Sure, he had ways to help her escape, but the moment he used them, her identity as an Ancient would be revealed – a measure to be used only as a last resort.

‘There’s a mountain of things I need to teach her.’ 

Ethan swallowed a sigh and closed his eyes, hugging the now familiar warmth to his chest. 

*** 

It felt strange. 

If thought as she looked down at Ethan lying beneath her with a slain beast. 

She felt that something had changed, but if someone asked her what it was, she wouldn’t know how to answer. 

Tilting her head this way and that, she kept swaying until her head froze at the sound of a voice calling from below. 

“Come down now.” 

If, who had been lying on a thick branch, looked down. 

Her bare feet dangled and swayed beneath the branch.

‘The first thing we have to do when we get out is buy her shoes.’ 

The boots, far too big for her feet, always flopped around and now the slightest bounce caused them to fall to the ground. 

Clucking his tongue, Ethan looked down at the boot that had landed in a pool of blood. 

As he reached out a hand, a small foot – barely the size of his palm – stepped on it. 

Before he knew it, she had come down from the branch and was standing on his palm, her body impossibly light for an adult woman. Even considering his own strength, it was surprising. 

Ethan furrowed his brow. No matter how much he fed her, she never put on weight. 

Although she looked thin on the outside, her weight was barely half that of an average human. 

With a light nudge from his palm, If jumped up, only to be caught and wrapped in Ethan’s large arms. 

Suspended in the air, her body dangled as his strong arm held her tightly around the waist.

“I told you not to step on things like that.” 

“Okay.” 

‘Don’t just say okay.’ 

A vein bulged in Ethan’s forehead. 

If she ever stepped on poisonous blood when he wasn’t around, and people found out she wasn’t hurt, it would be a huge problem. 

And yet she remained completely unconcerned. 

There were so many things she wasn’t supposed to do, but since she never listened, it was enough to drive Ethan crazy. 

“Listen carefully.” 

“Okay.” 

“You’re really good at just answering.” 

With nothing else to do, Ethan could only repeat himself, feeling like he was talking to a brick wall.

“Don’t step on blood, don’t fly. If anyone speaks to you, just ignore them. I’ll take care of it. And if anyone comes near you, call me immediately.” 

If rolled her eyes up to look at Ethan standing over her. 

Meeting her sharply tilted head, Ethan pulled her around his waist and placed her on his forearm. 

In an instant, If’s upper body was raised above his head. 

Only then did If lower her eyes again. As her head, which had been pulled upwards, dropped, the tension in her neck finally eased. 

Using his dishevelled hair as an armrest, she propped her arms and chin up and leaned against him comfortably. 

Splash.

The smell of blood on the ground mixed with the scent of moss. 

Even as he walked Ethan didn’t stop talking. 

“Don’t take your clothes or shoes off without permission. If you really want to, tell me first. I’ll do it for you.” 

Whatever he said, the conclusion was always the same – call Ethan. 

Ethan knew it wasn’t a good long-term solution, but he didn’t have a better one. 

After all, If didn’t know how to handle any of these situations on her own. 

If she managed to remember and do it right, great. If not, he had to make sure she remembered at least one thing. 

Since she probably wouldn’t follow the rules properly anyway, this was the best he could do for now. 

“Okay.” 

She was really good at answering – just answering.