As I delved deeper into the cave, the passages narrowed and complex forks in the path continued. However, since I already knew the original story, I didn't need to wander around.
'Turn right here, then straight ahead.'
I quickened my pace and surveyed the interior. The cave walls were heavily covered in moss, and here and there, bluish glowing ore was embedded, faintly illuminating the path.
Yekaterina carefully followed behind me. Her violet eyes nervously scanned her surroundings.
"How do you know the way so well?"
She asked, sounding curious.
"I have a good sense of direction,"
Yekaterina seemed to harbor doubts about my answer but didn't ask any further questions.
Before long, the passage widened, revealing a vast space. A serpent-shaped altar stood tall in the center, with an old box resting on top of it.
"Is that... what you were looking for?"
Yekaterina asked cautiously, gazing at the altar.
"That's right."
I replied, scanning the ceiling. A gigantic serpent was coiled there. Its eight piercing blue eyes stared at us as if targeting prey.
I drew my sword from my inventory. As if waiting for my move, the serpent bared its sharp fangs and opened its maw.
"Stay still there."
I muttered coldly, imbuing my sword with power. I swung the blue-tinged sword towards the serpent's forehead.
-Swoosh!
The sword energy sliced through the air and flew. A blue afterimage was drawn, accompanied by a tearing sound.
-Thwack!
It pierced through the serpent's tough scales and accurately penetrated its head. Its massive body convulsed and trembled, then fell from the ceiling.
-Crash!
Black bodily fluid oozed from the serpent's corpse that had fallen to the floor. A foul stench, reeking of rotten meat, spread throughout the area.
"Ugh... What's that smell..."
Yekaterina grimaced and recoiled. She turned her head, covering her nose with her sleeve.
I walked past the serpent's corpse towards the altar.
"What in the world... is inside there?"
Yekaterina asked with curious eyes.
"Nothing much."
I placed my hand on the box and slowly pushed open the lid.
-Creak...
The hinges of the long-neglected box creaked. Inside the box was a scroll engraved with a serpent's emblem.
The moment I grasped the scroll, its information appeared before my eyes.
[Tiamat's Torn Remnant]
Grade: A
-A portion of Tiamat's power resides within it.
-Grants the user a faint portion of Tiamat's power and a unique ability.
'Just as described in the original story.'
I put the scroll into my inventory.
"Is that all?"
Yekaterina asked with a puzzled expression.
"Yes, it's done. Let's head back to the village now."
I nodded lightly and started walking back towards the cave entrance.
"By the way... what kind of item was that?"
She still couldn't hide her curiosity and kept asking about the scroll.
"It's just a useful item. Don't worry about it."
I replied curtly and walked ahead. Yekaterina sighed and followed behind me.
On the way back to the village, I pondered what to do with Tiamat's Remnant that I had just acquired.
'It doesn't seem like it would have good synergy with me.'
Tiamat's Torn Remnant granted the user a unique ability to summon snakes.
'They're not ordinary snakes, but... the fact that they're growth-type doesn't really appeal to me.'
Yoon Jaeho only used them for combat in the early stages, and after the mid-game, he mostly used them for reconnaissance or surveillance.
'As expected, it's not really my style to use it myself.'
While I was pondering, a voice from beside me interrupted my thoughts.
"Hmph, if I want to survive here, I'll need to get stronger too."
It was Yekaterina's voice. After we exited the cave, she had been chattering continuously. Whether she had grown comfortable with me or was simply bored, she kept chattering incessantly beside me.
'She's more talkative than I thought.'
I nodded appropriately and replied.
"If you want to survive here, it would be best to adapt quickly."
"Can't you help me?"
"Why should I?"
"Oh my, we've already kissed, haven't we?"
Yekaterina gave a playful smile and watched my reaction.
"Well, there's nothing stopping me from helping, but..."
I cut off my words and slowly scanned her body. Perhaps because we had walked a long forest path, her clothes were soaked with sweat and clung to her body, revealing her figure completely.
"But if I help you, shouldn't there be a suitable price?"
"Hmm... I wasn't planning on getting help for free either."
Yekaterina maintained her smile and didn't avoid my gaze.
I met her gaze and naturally reached out my hand, bringing it to her chest. Then, I poked her nipple, which was slightly prominent through her clothes.
"Eek...! Wh-what are you doing all of a sudden!"
"What am I doing? I'm just checking it out in advance, since it's going to be mine exclusively from now on."
"Seriously... you were kind of cool just now... but now you just seem like a pervert...."
Blushing, she turned her head. Then, a faint murmur was heard.
"Let's finish the rest at the inn."
I poked her breast with my finger once more, then resumed walking.
***
Back in the room, I locked the door and immediately tossed off my outer clothes.
At my sudden action, Yekaterina's eyes widened as she stared at me. Her face quickly flushed, and her violet eyes darted over my body as if stealing glances, unsure of what to do.
"What are you doing? Are you just going to stand there?"
At my words, she avoided my gaze and slowly reached for her clothes. Her fingertips trembled slightly, and soon her outer garment slowly slid down.
Her ample breasts, slender waist, and plump buttocks... the physical beauty of the Russian belle came into full view.
"You have a surprisingly great figure."
"Th-thank you."
Yekaterina blushed and avoided my gaze.
"Now, take off your underwear too."
Yekaterina hesitated for a moment, then slowly reached behind her to unhook her bra. As the purple bra fell to the floor, her ample breasts were revealed.
"Your panties too."
Blushing, she slowly took off her panties as well. Her pure white pussy was revealed.
"Come here."
I extended my hand to her. She approached me, her legs slightly together, as if shy.
"Spread your pussy with your fingers."
Yekaterina hesitated for a moment but slowly spread her pussy with her fingers. As her labia parted, the inside was clearly visible.
"Hnnngh..."
I looked at the opening she had spread. She had said she was a virgin, but I didn't believe it. I inserted my middle finger inside.
-Squish...
"Ugh..."
Yekaterina's vaginal walls tightly squeezed my finger. As I pushed my middle finger deeper, her waist twitched. A thin membrane was felt at my fingertip.
"Ah..."
A small moan escaped her lips.
After confirming her hymen, I withdrew my finger. Sticky vaginal fluid coated my finger.
"That's enough. Follow me now."
At my words, Yekaterina nodded, her legs slightly together. Her fair skin was flushed red.
I entered the bathroom, turned on the water, and filled the large bathtub. Then, I looked at her and said, as if giving an order.
"Wash my body."
"Yes..."
Yekaterina approached cautiously. First, she sprayed water on my body and then washed it.
Yekaterina's touch was clumsy. I could feel her hands trembling slightly, as if she was nervous.
"A little lower with your hands."
At my words, her hands slowly moved down. Even as she wiped past my buttocks and down my thighs, her gaze kept drifting towards my penis.
"Put the towel away and wash my dick with your hands."
"Gulp..."
Yekaterina's fair fingers wrapped around my penis. She awkwardly fiddled with my dick.
"How does it feel to touch a dick for the first time?"
"It's hot... and it's so hard, it's amazing..."
Her fair fingers rubbed the glans. My limp dick slowly began to get erect under her touch.
-Squish... Squish...
As my dick grew larger, she swallowed, her Adam's apple bobbing.
"Oh, it's incredibly big...? I heard all Asians were small."
A gasp escaped Yekaterina's lips. Her violet eyes stared intently at my growing penis.
"I am on the larger side, yes."
As I replied and made my dick twitch, her face flushed.
Her hand continued to caress my penis. She rubbed the glans with her palm, then moved down, tracing the bulging veins.
"Mmm... so this is how hard it gets..."
Yekaterina's breath grew hot. Her fair fingers wrapped around my penis and slowly moved up and down. At first, it was awkward, but her movements instinctively became more natural.
As my dick became erect, pre-cum flowed out.
"It's about time you used your mouth."
Yekaterina's violet eyes gleamed. Seeing the clear fluid forming at the tip of the glans, her lips parted slightly.
"Is this... semen...?"
She lightly touched the pre-cum with her finger. As the sticky fluid coated her finger, she looked at it with a curious expression.
"No, it's what comes out before we really start."
"Ah..."
Yekaterina seductively licked the pre-cum from her finger with her tongue. Her eyes widened at the taste of a man for the first time.
"It's incredibly delicious...?"
Having tasted the pre-cum, Yekaterina, as if amazed, tasted it again with her finger.
"It's sweet, yet... it's a strange taste. Haaah..."
Her tongue wrapped around her finger and licked it.
"Ah... it's strange. The more I taste it, the more I want to eat it..."
Yekaterina's voice trembled sweetly. Her fair fingers rubbed the glans once more. She gathered the newly formed pre-cum with her finger and brought it to her lips.
"Haaahm..."
Her tongue licked every last drop of the fluid from her finger.
"Haaah... Is this how all men's are?"
"No, it's because I'm special. And semen will taste even better, you know?"
At my reply, Yekaterina's violet eyes gleamed with desire. Her fair fingers rubbed the glans once more.
"I want to taste it..."
She slowly knelt down. Before my erect dick, her lips parted slightly.