More than a decade ago, after the Conqueror King Ricardo III ascended the throne, the Ricardo Empire entered an era of great peace and prosperity.
It was only natural that countless imperial citizens praised Ricardo III. It seemed as though nothing was lacking. Yet light and shadow exist everywhere.
Even if relatively little blood was shed, war is still war. There were quite a few discontented people—those who lost their titles when absorbed into the empire, those who lost everything when their crimes were exposed, and so on.
Such people gathered to form underworld organizations, becoming a headache for the empire. Since they disturbed the peace, the emperor established a subsidiary knight order to handle them. But the organizations burrowed away like rats, and petty skirmishes dragged on for over a decade.
A little girl, abandoned and dying in a place beyond anyone's notice. The place where Shushu was taken in was also one of those underworld organizations. Usually, only the strong survive in the underworld, so it was natural to pay no mind whether someone died on the roadside.
But the one who picked her up was the phantom thief group 'Crow.'
'Crow' trained every member equally in thievery, regardless of rank. And they poured all their enthusiasm into growing the organization's wealth through that training. Though a criminal group, they dressed their members in fine clothes, fed them delicious food, and housed them in good places. By providing food, clothing, and shelter, they kept the organization running smoothly. Those benefits made them an object of envy for many living in the underworld.
Moreover, they didn't rob commoners—only the wealthy nobles. Thanks to that, many commoners even cheered for them.
In such a 'Crow,' there was one biggest headache.
"Hey!"
"Yes, yes!"
"You—can you really earn your keep? The kids who joined when you did robbed a grand mansion at thirteen."
"I-I'm sorry."
Sharp shouting erupted from early morning. Most eyes turned that way, then, recognizing it was Shushu, everyone wore sneers.
Shushu was a child the boss had picked up off the street ten years ago without much thought. There were many he had brought in. Most of them grew quickly to repay the grace of being saved and became contributors to the organization.
But Shushu was different. Over ten years of training, she had no talent for thievery. Of course, that was possible—but if you lack talent, shouldn't you work harder? She did internal chores like cleaning, laundry, washing dishes, and looking after children, but the problem was she couldn't steal.
When she was first brought in, she had shown cleverness by reading without being taught, so expectations had been high. But this was what came of it.
"You know the others mock you for not even being able to pickpocket properly, right? If you want respect, live diligently."
The man spat sharp words and jabbed Shushu's forehead repeatedly. It was a humiliating attitude, but she just held her stinging forehead and giggled. That was Shushu's place. If she showed any sign of hurt feelings or displeasure, she'd be locked in the storage room with nothing but dry bread.
Still, it was a relief he hadn't hit her today. The man in front of her hurt even with a light blow.
At her foolish smile, the man clicked his tongue and left.
Usually at this hour everyone went to training, so she'd come to avoid them—but she'd run into him unluckily. At least he seemed to be in a good mood today. Normally he hit harder than this; today it ended with just forehead jabs.
Her eyes stung, but Shushu received her meal as if nothing had happened. Friends she'd been close to as a child were nearby, but now only mocking gazes reached her. She had to eat well to endure.
Before she came of age, she'd had many friends. But once she became an adult, the bullying became severe. Yet having lived her entire life here, she wouldn't know what to do even if she left. Besides, it was impossible for anyone who'd belonged to the organization to leave alive.
Just as she finished eating, something suddenly poured over her head.
"Ah!"
"Oh, Shushu, sorry, it was a mistake."
It was an apology, but everyone could tell it wasn't one.
At least she'd finished her meal—that was fortunate. Lately, Shushu was provided not three meals but two at most, sometimes just one, so she had to eat diligently.
"Uh, yeah, it's fine, I'm okay."
As always, she smiled foolishly and let it pass, and mocking laughter rang out from all around. If only she'd been good at fighting like the others, would something have been different? If she stayed here, the bullying might get worse, so Shushu quickly cleaned up and left the dining hall.
The mocking didn't stop until she reached the hallway.
Right after, she went to the communal showers and washed everything off. But she might have to throw away her favorite clothes now. Since no one was there, she sobbed and poured out her sorrow.
Shushu had been an orphan for as long as she could remember, always wandering hungry. She'd hidden in stables to sleep and stolen fruit to barely survive. She'd been beaten with brooms and chased away too many times to count.
Having lived like that, she couldn't describe how happy she'd been to enter 'Crow,' where food, clothing, and shelter were provided. To eat her fill, to sleep somewhere she wouldn't be chased away. And she'd gotten new clothes instead of worn ones. For ten years since, she'd lived to repay the organization's grace.
The problem was she had no manual dexterity—none at all. Even lock-picking, which any member could do, was impossible for her. More than one person had beaten their chest asking why she could cook well but not pick locks.
Shushu herself hated her own lack of talent. If only she'd been good at stealing, repaying the boss's grace would have been easy.
Fortunately, after washing, she didn't smell. Carefully avoiding people, she headed to her room and flopped onto the bed. Lately the bullying had gotten so severe that wanting to die was nothing new.
They must be tormenting her more because they knew she couldn't leave. Compared to other organizations the atmosphere was good, but after someone like Shushu—someone safe to bully—appeared, relations improved further.
Instructors always added to the children: don't end up like Shushu. More and more she heard that if you're going to be that useless, you might as well die. Still, there used to be friends who helped her. They too had long since abandoned her.
"Ugh."
'Crow' was an organization that made even the useless useful. Shushu was the sole failure, so her self-esteem was crushed daily.
Still, affection didn't wane, so she cleaned the organization's building from early dawn and helped with chores.
No one acknowledged her and everyone mocked her, but it was the only thing she could do.
Curled on the bed sobbing, she sat up at the sound of knocking. Quickly wiping her eyes, she carefully opened the door to find Nox standing there. They'd been truly close until she turned twenty, but he had since cut off interest in her. No—he hadn't just cut interest; he'd committed violence against her more than once or twice. He'd come and done so several times, so her body stiffened on its own. After a brief silence, he spoke first.
"Vincent-nim called for you."
"...Vincent-nim?"
Vincent was the one who assigned missions in 'Crow.' He'd been disappointed in her early on for not being able to contribute, and she hadn't been called since her first mistake. Since he really hated lateness, she quickly followed Nox.
Nox had been taken in around the same time as Shushu, but his dexterity and mind were excellent. Thanks to that, he'd risen to a leadership position even at a young age. Why would a leader come fetch her? Could it be a lie? What if, like before, they'd gathered to torment her?
After tangled thoughts, thankfully they arrived at the office. Inside, Vincent was cleaning a gun.
"Hello, Instructor. I've brought her as ordered."
"Good. ...The reason I called is that a few months ago a treasured sword was bought by the Blake ducal house, and I'm assigning a mission to retrieve it. You go too."
"Me, sir?"
Shushu unwittingly asked back. The Blake ducal house? Wasn't that a place with such tight security that no one had ever succeeded? Moreover, the Duke of Blake was famously dog-like in temperament, notorious for dismembering captured thieves and intruders.
Soon Shushu realized the meaning.
I'm to be bait and die.
"Yes. The date is tonight. Nox has prepared everything, so you'd best hear the explanation from him."
"......"
If she chose to refuse and leave the organization, they would turn her into an imbecile who remembered nothing.
Vincent knew well that Shushu couldn't refuse. Having grown up in the organization since childhood, she obeyed everything. As the two left, Vincent clicked his tongue. The boss had brought in many children, but Shushu had been clever, so expectations had been high. If only she'd been good at stealing, she'd have become a leader before adulthood.
It was, from the start, an atrocious mission no one even expected to succeed. After today, one parasite who only ate food would disappear—so he was satisfied.
***
Could she ever return to this place—a room that was little more than a storage closet, yet cozy in its own way? Clutching her bundle, she looked around the room one last time.
She wanted to run away. The thought kept coming, but there were watchers—it was impossible. Moreover, 'Crow' was an organization that tracked its members; she couldn't even dream of it. Even if she was bullied, she had liked living—. When she splashed water on her face and stepped out, Nox was leaning against the wall, waiting.
He glanced at her indifferently, then began heading toward the underground passage the organization had built. It was deep night now—'Crow's' active hours. He explained how things would proceed in the passage, but the odds were high that only Nox would return alive.
The moment they arrived at the Blake mansion where the emperor's brother lived, she felt a chill at its grandeur. Perhaps because not a sliver of moonlight was visible, it looked like the gates of hell. Before starting, Nox, who had been leaning against the wall checking the time, spoke.
"Don't you want to repay your debt to 'Crow'?"
"...Of course I do."
"Then try succeeding at this mission."
"But I know this is a mission where they hope I go and don't come back alive."
"Hm, so you do know. Drink this before we start."
"......"
He tossed a small vial. She caught it but, not knowing what it was, didn't drink—and a sharp slap cracked across her cheek. He'd often hit her before, but she never dreamed he'd do it even on a mission. He held out his hand as if demanding it back. When Shushu hesitated to give it, a sigh escaped him.
Nox's hands were so skilled that the vial was snatched away in moments, and Shushu clutched her stinging cheek.
"You think I'd waste expensive poison on you?"
"......"
"We could go nice and easy, so why do you always make me resort to hands?"
He was right. Poison was hard to make, so there was no way he'd use it on her. If she got caught, she could just bite her tongue and die—no poison needed. Her slapped cheek hurt so much that tears kept streaming down.
Watching her, Nox grabbed her chin and forced her mouth open. With such a difference in strength, Shushu couldn't resist even once as a sweet liquid flowed into her mouth. Once he confirmed she'd swallowed it all, he removed his hand and she coughed.
"Cough! Ugh, ugh!"
"It absorbs fast, so throwing up won't help."
Her throat didn't burn or anything, so she was a little relieved it wasn't poison. She knew well how painful poison was. As Shushu clutched her throat and glared at him with tear-filled eyes, Nox looked at her like she was amusing and spoke.
"The way a fool like you helps with success is like this."
"-Kyah!"
Nox poked Shushu's chest. Startled and ashamed, she quickly covered her chest, and he sneered.
"Put those cow-sized tits to use."
"W-what."
"Getting buried in the duke's co¢k and dying isn't a bad death, is it? Normally you'd only feel pain, so it's better than that."
"You crazy bastard!"
It was a barrage of obscenities she wanted to cover her ears against. No one would want to die like that. Finally unable to bear it, she slapped his cheek, but he only laughed.
Duke Blake. The emperor's younger brother, who at the young age of seventeen had charged onto the battlefield alongside his brother. He was a sword master, and countless rumors surrounded him. He was handsome, so many women adored him.
He'd surely embraced many women—there was no way he'd lust after a twenty-year-old who'd never been touched by a man.
"They say the duke never wakes once he falls asleep. But if he senses killing intent, he swings his sword immediately, or so they say. You're so stupid you can't think anything, so maybe the sword won't hit you."
She never thought she'd hear such words even from Nox, who'd been close to her as a child. If only he'd ignored her or been violent as always, she wouldn't have been this hurt. Because some feeling still remained, her heart ached and tears welled up.
Watching her, he pressed something into her hand. Looking down, it was a mana stone. With mana, mana stones had countless uses. Since she had no mana, it was a stone she couldn't use. But if someone else placed it in her hand and infused power, it could be used.
"Hold it tight."
"......"
When she was young, he'd always called her Shushu—now he didn't even say her name. If she ran now, he'd report her to the organization. If she killed him—no, she knew killing him was impossible. With the difference in strength and ability, there was no way she could take him down.
And even if she killed him and ran, how far could she get?
"If you want to help the organization, keep the duke from leaving his room for even thirty minutes."
"......"
"Honestly, I don't think you can. I've always been ashamed to have you as a peer."
With those words, Nox made her grip the mana stone tightly.
Soon Shushu was transported from the quiet outside into a room draped in deep darkness. Lying flat on the floor catching her breath, she rose. Having entered this mansion, could she leave alive?
As she held her breath and thought, she felt strangely cold and checked her body. Scanning herself in the moonlight that had somehow appeared, she couldn't hide her shock. The clothes she'd been wearing had changed into obscene lingerie.
Her once utterly ordinary underwear was cut open to expose only her nippl€s. Her panties had become something like a garter belt. She looked no different from a pro$titute.
Ah. It was Nox's doing. She'd suffered this kind of torment from others too after coming of age. Those with mana could change clothes instantly, but she couldn't. How many times had she been sexu@lly harassed and fled clutching only rags?
Tears dripped to the floor. Was it because she was crying? Her head felt increasingly hot. Then she heard steady breathing in the room. She'd hoped it was a storage room, but it was clearly someone's room. No—it must be the duke's room.
'Crow' bribes the servants when stealing. Then they gather the mansion's layout and plan which room to enter.
However, with 'Crow's' infamy spreading, nobles increasingly posted guards. They also increasingly used mana interference to prevent escape via teleport stones. So they'd go near unguarded areas, steal, then flee from a place where mana could be freely used.
But for Shushu, with no mana stone and no mana, this was no different from a death sentence.
"Sniff."
Barely suppressing the sobs threatening to burst, she rose. Her night vision was excellent, so she could see the spacious room clearly. It was unmistakably the duke's room. The sword mounted on the wall was a treasured heirloom—said to have been used countless times on the battlefield.
As Shushu wiped her tears roughly, her body was unbearably hot. A fireball that wouldn't cool rolled inside her, seeming to ignite a greater blaze.
Her gaze, slowly sweeping the room, landed on the bed. The blue-toned bed looked cool. Even clutching her chest, it was so hot her mind began to go blank. If only she could relieve this heat, she could do anything.
Letting out a trembling breath, Shushu placed her hand on the bed. Would she be beheaded right away? But the heat sank all thoughts beneath the surface. She climbed onto the wide bed and lay flat. It was so large she didn't touch the person lying there.
The blue bedding was a little cool. But the heat inside remained, and she wanted to relieve it somehow. Since it wasn't pain or suffering, it must be arousal. Though it was communal living, Shushu had used a storage room alone, so masturb@tion was possible.
Yet this was a heat that m@sturbation couldn't resolve. Saliva swallowed itself down her throat. She'd never had anything pierce her hole, but she wanted something to be thrust into her. That thought filled her head.
"Hoo."
Feelings of sadness or sorrow no longer surfaced. Only the thought of wanting her hole violently pounded filled her mind. With a flushed face, Shushu pulled the bedding. Soon she saw someone deeply asleep, and when she went toward them, there was a man sleeping in pajamas.
Looking at his face, it was indeed Duke Raymond Blake. They said anyone with killing intent who entered his bedroom was cut down instantly, but Shushu hadn't been cut yet. Cut or not, right now she just wanted to be impaled on the duke's co¢k.
Fortunately, he wore easily removed pajamas, so she quickly stripped them off. Thoughts of danger or madness were swallowed beneath the surface.
When she removed even his underwear, a limp co¢k was revealed. Even unerect, it looked slightly smaller than a forearm, and Shushu hesitated briefly. Wasn't that far larger than a normal man's? If something like that went in, wouldn't she die of a ruptured organ?
But that hesitation quickly melted in the hot sensation. Gripping the lying co¢k with both hands, she took it into her mouth. Never having sucked a co¢k, Shushu licked clumsily and took it awkwardly into her mouth.
"Mm, mmm."
Mumbling with the glans in her mouth, she lowered one hand. Since it was hardly underwear, her lower parts were immediately touchable—already flowing with love fluid. She rubbed her ¢litoris in circles and sucked the co¢k diligently, but it still didn't stand.
It needed to stand for her to put it inside. She knew a beginner's skill wouldn't make it rise immediately, but she couldn't help whimpering.
"Hn, mm."
Rubbing her cheek against the co¢k she held in one hand, it was hot, yet a smile formed on its own. Again moving her tongue clumsily, she rubbed her ¢litoris frantically. Each rub soaked her lower parts more, yet the heat wasn't properly relieved.
Each time the glans scraped her palate and jabbed her inner cheek, her mind went white. But it still didn't stand, and tears fell on their own. It had to stand to go in—she couldn't insert a limp co¢k.
"Ugh, mm, hk."
If she could, she'd love to slice off the co¢k of the man presumed to be the duke and use it for fu¢king. If she could use mana, she might have used that magic. The unrelieved heat left her mind a mess. When she pulled the co¢k from her mouth, it was wet with saliva. Fortunately, the su¢king had helped—it was slightly erect.
If it stood a little more, she could insert it. At that thought, the tears that had been dripping gradually stopped. How much time had passed? She didn't know. Unable to gauge it, she just sucked the co¢k harder.
"Hoo, mmph."
If she sucked with half the co¢k swallowed, wouldn't it rise faster? With that thought, she raised herself, brought a hand soaked with fluid, and gripped the co¢k. Slowly lowering her head, she put it in her mouth. Even half-filled her completely—if she thrust it deeper, what would happen?
"Ugh, mm."
Rolling her tongue awkwardly and licking the co¢k this way and that, she felt it gradually standing. Ah. Soon she could put it in. At that thought, Shushu smiled foolishly. Wet, slurping sounds echoed through the quiet room. The half-erect co¢k was large, hot, and hard to handle.
She wanted to reach down and rub her ¢litoris again, but that was for after it stood. Bowing her head to thrust deeper, she couldn't breathe and tears streamed down. Yet sucking the co¢k itself felt so good. Rolling her tongue and slowly stuffing it in, she felt it rise.
"Mm, mmm."
When she pulled the co¢k from her mouth, it was soaked with saliva. Licking it lightly with her tongue, Shushu raised her upper body. Seeing the saliva-soaked co¢k erect, she felt awe. How could anyone live daily life with something this big? Was it big because he was a duke?
With strange thoughts, Shushu carefully positioned herself over the man's lower half. Honestly, she couldn't tell if this man was Duke Raymond or not. She just hoped he'd relieve the heat in her body.
"Hoo, mm..."
Just the tip felt overwhelming. But her inner walls were already fully loosened, so she thought she could take it all. Of course, she'd only ever rubbed her ¢litoris—she'd never inserted anything, so she hesitated a little.
As Shushu caught her breath and slowly lowered her hips, a hand suddenly gripped her waist tightly and slammed her down.
"-Haaah!"
Stars burst before her eyes. Unswallowed saliva streamed from her open mouth. At the same time, her inner walls—pressed at weak spots—squirted fluid. The co¢k filling her inner walls seemed to relieve the heat. It felt so good that tears welled up.
In the spacious room, only the sounds of slick, wet friction and sobbing could be heard.
"Hoo, ah, mm, hng!"
****
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