LS Chapter 4 (Part 3)

As the scenes he had tried to forget came rushing back, Yujin’s head drooped. People say some can live on memories alone, but not him. Every time he thought about those moments, he missed his grandmother and parents terribly. He longed for his small, peaceful village.

If only he could go back. Even though it was now empty, deserted by everyone, the yearning for it never left him.

While Yujin was lost in the memories of his dead past, Bart spoke.

“If you want to talk about it, go ahead.”

“…About what?”

“Where you lived.”

Yujin mulled over Bart’s words. His home. Did he really want to talk about it? He wasn’t sure. Thinking about it brought sadness and pain, but also a deep sense of longing.

“They say when you can’t see what you miss, you look for things that remind you of it,” Bart said.

“…”

“There was someone who spent all day staring at something connected to a memory they missed.”

“Who?”

“Doesn’t matter. If you want to talk, I’ll listen.”

Bart’s words were spoken so casually, as though it wasn’t a big deal, as he tossed another piece of charcoal into the brazier. A burst of red embers flared up and then faded into the air. Yujin stared at the heatwaves rising around the brazier before finally opening his mouth.

“When I found a new herb in the mountains, my grandmother would spend days explaining it to me. Honestly, it was exhausting. She’d explain it over and over again, and I’d have to stare at that herb all day.”

Bart nodded as he pulled his blade from its sheath and inspected it. Yujin paused, distracted by the gleam of the sharp blade. When Bart noticed Yujin’s silence, he shifted his gaze from the blade back to Yujin, fixing him with a pointed look.

“And? Why’d you stop talking?” Bart asked.

“…Oh, right. Once I’d gotten familiar enough with the herb, I’d have to go out alone and find it to show her. But it was so hard. At first, they all looked the same.”

“I imagine so,” Bart replied, wiping the blade with a cloth. When Yujin fell silent again, Bart tilted his chin slightly, urging him to continue. Yujin blinked at him, then let out a small smile.

“One day, I got so frustrated that I purposely picked mushrooms instead. When I showed them to my grandmother, she got furious.”

To mimic his grandmother’s expression, Yujin furrowed his brows deeply and puffed out his cheeks, glaring at Bart as if scolding him. He placed his hands on his hips and even shook his shoulders slightly for emphasis.

“‘Yujin, put that down right now!’ she yelled. I felt so wronged, but at the same time, I was scared of how angry she was. I ended up crying. Turns out the mushrooms I picked were poisonous. That’s why she was so upset.”

“…”

“Luckily, they weren’t deadly, so nothing serious happened. But I still got scolded a lot.”

“I see.”

“And then, another time…”

Two shadows danced on the ceiling of the hut, one moving animatedly with large gestures, the other sitting still.

Those two shadows stayed there, cast against the canvas of the hut, talking through the night.

* * *

“Don’t give them more, even if they ask for it. We’re running low on herbs,” the healer grumbled, handing the concoctions of herbal extracts and decoctions for wound treatment to the aunt. The healer had been overwhelmed with work as more warriors were injured than expected. On top of that, ignorant warriors who believed that more medicine would hasten their recovery and Namta, who loudly demanded more supplies, only added to the healer’s throbbing headaches.

“I’m already passing along the message,” the aunt replied, her tone indifferent as she checked the quantity of herbs received. Unlike the healer, who muttered complaints with concern, the aunt didn’t show much care. To her, warriors reaping the benefits of their status didn’t warrant sympathy for injuries sustained in battle.

Everyone knew that the risks they took were the price for their freedom to act as they pleased within the settlement. Why fuss over something so obvious? She couldn’t understand the healer’s worry.

“Still no word from Bart?” the healer asked.

“Not really.”

“Where on earth is he getting those herbs?”

“How would I know? If you’re that curious, why don’t you ask him yourself?”

“You know Bart’s temperament…”

The aunt finished counting the herbs the healer had provided and called out to Nongpi, who had been fetching water.

“Nongpi, come here.”

“Yes, Aunt.”

“Take this to the kitchen.”

“Understood.”

After making sure Nongpi headed toward the kitchen, the aunt turned to the healer and said, “He’ll manage. If he told you not to come, it must mean he’s doing well enough on his own. And with the herb shortage, why are you so anxious about Bart’s treatment?”

“It’s Bart, for crying out loud. He’s the leader’s most valued warrior. If anything goes wrong with his injury, I’ll be the one held accountable.”

“Anything else to hand over? If not, I’ll come back tomorrow for more herbs.”

The healer’s reasoning wasn’t wrong, but the aunt didn’t care much. Warriors prioritized their physical condition above all else. They rode horses, shot arrows, wielded swords, and engaged in hand-to-hand combat. A single injury that impaired their body could strip them of the title “warrior.” Knowing the grim outcomes for those who lost their warrior status, they clung desperately to their well-being.

Even when warriors refused treatment, it usually meant their injuries weren’t as severe or they could manage on their own. The healer knew this too, but things seemed different with Bart. Perhaps because the tribe had already lost two of their best warriors, and if the leader’s prized fighter’s condition worsened, the healer would bear the blame. However, the aunt saw no reason to involve herself and remained indifferent.

“Aunt, are you planning to add more workers to the kitchen soon?” asked one of the men managing kitchen tasks as he checked on dinner preparations.

“I suppose so. Half the kids sent out for the battle didn’t make it back,” the aunt replied curtly.

“Do you know when? Everyone’s been struggling lately because we’re short on hands,” the man pressed hesitantly.

“Soon,” she answered, her tone cold and dismissive.

Acknowledging her response with a quiet nod, the man walked away. After checking the kitchen hut, the aunt headed to the laundry area. The influx of injured had doubled the amount of washing, and if the laundry wasn’t dealt with promptly, the warriors would start complaining.

“Yujin! Where are you sneaking off to again?!” Chi-chi, who was managing the laundry, shouted at Yujin. The aunt turned to look at the commotion.

Though Bart had specifically assigned Yujin to the warrior quarters, she had initially thought the boy wouldn’t last long there. For a male, Yujin was small and slight, and the rough environment of the warrior quarters seemed ill-suited for someone like him. Yet, to her surprise, Yujin adapted well. The conditions were vastly different from those of the general quarters, but Yujin seemed to hold his ground, even among the boisterous and demanding warriors.

Typically, someone like Yujin would have either quit or caused trouble by now. Maybe the boy had more resilience than she’d assumed.

“Chi-chi. Did you gather the dry laundry?” the aunt asked.

“Huh? Oh, no. I was just about to,” Chi-chi stammered.

“Stop dawdling and get to it. Can’t you see the pile of wet laundry waiting to be hung?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry,” Chi-chi replied sheepishly.

Yujin, who had been trying to figure out how to shake off Chi-chi’s persistent attention, was unexpectedly saved by the aunt’s arrival. With Chi-chi occupied, Yujin quietly slipped away, heading toward the mountains.

He glanced up at the sky as he walked. The sun was already sinking, wrapping itself in streaks of red as it prepared to disappear. Quickening his pace, Yujin ran toward the hills, the wind whipping past him and the rustling leaves dancing in rhythm. Dark blue clouds moved across the sky, tinged with the crimson glow of the setting sun.

He wanted to see Bart.

Upon reaching Bart’s hut, Yujin carefully inspected his thigh. Taking out a fresh cloth and herbs, he paused to pull out a small pouch from his chest pocket and handed it to Bart.

“Here, take this.”

“What is it?” Bart asked, eyeing the pouch.

“It’s just an herb that’s good for strengthening the body. You can wash it and eat the roots directly.”

“Where did you get it?”

“I found it by chance in the mountains,” Yujin replied, a faint flush on his face. He had spent three days searching for the herb but felt too shy to admit it, so he lied.

“By chance?”

“Yeah. There’s a surprising amount of useful herbs around here.”

“Is that so?”

“By the way, how’s moving around? Still uncomfortable?”

“Not really,” Bart answered plainly.

“Walking is fine, but you should still avoid running. Even though it looks like the wound’s almost healed, the inside might still be torn,” Yujin advised.

It was a lie. Bart’s wound had been healing faster than expected, and he no longer needed daily herbal treatments. But Yujin chose not to correct his assessment. It was an excuse to keep coming back, after all.

As the realization hit Yujin, a sense of urgency washed over him—this could be the last time he’d ever sit beside Bart. Who could guarantee there would be another opportunity? Out of all the countless days he had spent in the Mounted Tribe’s village, the fifteen days spent tending to Bart’s wound were undeniably the happiest. He wanted to prolong this moment, even if it meant lying, but deep down, he knew today was the end.

“So, Bart… People are saying today’s the last day of the rest period. Is that true?” Yujin asked cautiously.

“Yeah,” Bart replied simply.

“I see… Well, even so, you shouldn’t push yourself too hard during training,” Yujin said, his voice tinged with disappointment. He wanted to find an excuse to extend their time together, but no reason came to mind. If he lingered too long, he might even resort to claiming Bart shouldn’t be walking yet—an outright lie.

To keep himself from blurting something foolish, Yujin tightened his lips and carefully applied the herbal extract he had brought onto Bart’s wound. He wrapped it securely with the clean cloth he had dried under the afternoon sun and tied it neatly.

Maybe I could bring him herbs every now and then, Yujin thought, trying to justify the idea. If he refused, maybe I could come by after battles instead. As his thoughts wandered, his eyes once again fell on Bart’s muscular thigh. Every time he saw it, he couldn’t help but marvel at how strong and solid it was. Even as another man, Yujin found it undeniably impressive. The way the muscles flexed and rippled with every movement was captivating.

Even though he had seen warriors’ bodies before, tending to Bart’s wound always felt like an entirely different experience. Yujin found his fingers unconsciously grazing the firm muscle. His touch was light, but the sensation beneath his fingertips was like polished stone—unyielding yet alive. The subtle quivering of Bart’s smooth muscles left Yujin’s heart pounding. Enchanted, Yujin let his palm slide over Bart’s thigh, feeling its strength.

“Hm,” came a low sound from above.

Startled, Yujin snatched his hand away and shrank back. His mind raced as he realized what he had been doing. I must’ve lost my mind. He couldn’t muster the courage to look at Bart and stammered out an apology instead.

“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

“…”

Bart said nothing, as usual. Yujin awkwardly cleared his throat and scrambled to gather his things. On any other night, he might have stayed until dawn, stealing glances at Bart in the quiet of the hut. But tonight, he couldn’t bear to remain. If Bart asked him why he had done it, he wouldn’t know what to say. I wanted to. Or, because I like you—those words would never escape his lips.

As Yujin hurriedly stood to leave, Bart grabbed his wrist and yanked him back with surprising force. Yujin stumbled and found himself pressed against Bart’s chest. The warmth radiating from Bart’s body seeped into Yujin’s cheek, just as it had during their first kiss by the creek. Heat pooled in his chest and spread through his body, leaving him flustered.

When Yujin tried to pull away, Bart placed a firm hand on his shoulder, gently but decisively pushing him down to the ground.

“B-Bart?” Yujin stammered, his voice trembling.

Bart’s hand moved to Yujin’s forehead, brushing his hair back with deliberate care. His fingers caught on Yujin’s soft strands, tangling slightly before smoothing them down. The touch was both cautious and unwavering, like a hunter inspecting its prey before striking. When Bart’s rough fingertips grazed Yujin’s cheek, he felt frozen, as if caught in a trap.

Bart’s hand traveled down, pausing at Yujin’s lips. His thumb pressed gently against the slightly parted, flushed skin, making Yujin’s lips flatten momentarily before springing back with a faint blush beneath the surface.

“Take it off,” Bart said, his voice low and gravelly.

“…What?” Yujin’s breath hitched, his chest rising and falling heavily under Bart’s intense gaze.

“You didn’t hear me?” Bart growled, his tone unyielding.

“No, I mean…”

Yujin hesitated, his voice faltering as he searched for words.

“What do you mean by…?”

Bart seemed to wait for Yujin for just a moment, but even that brief moment was unbearable for him. He sat Yujin up and roughly stripped off his clothes. Yujin sat still without any resistance, allowing Bart to do as he pleased. If he truly disliked it, he would have refused. He would have said no or run away. He would have expressed his refusal in some way, but Yujin just sat there quietly.

Before he knew it, Yujin was lying naked on the floor, breathing heavily. He was scared because he knew what Bart was about to do. But at the same time, he felt a strange excitement. As Bart’s hot breath filled the hut, his fingertips tingled and his stomach churned. Large palms caressed his thin, bony back.

Before tearing into the flesh of his prey, Bart ran his hands over Yujin’s back, pressing into the spaces between his bones as if checking for the most delicious parts.

“Hnng…”

Everywhere Bart touched felt hot, as if on fire. The intense gaze and rough hands made his skin tingle. Before he knew it, Yujin was naked again, lying face down on the floor. He felt Bart’s coarse hands moving over his body, measuring him, and he shivered, his shoulders trembling.

“Everything is so small.”

“What… hnng.”

Yujin’s round buttocks were spread apart by Bart’s hands without hesitation. Startled by the cold air touching his entrance, Yujin gasped.

Before he could catch his breath from the shock, Bart’s thick, hard cock forcefully tore into Yujin’s tight, small hole, pushing its way inside.

“Ah! It… it hurts…!”

“Tsk, relax.”

“Ba— Bart. Just a little, ah! … Be gentle. Please… It hurts too much, ugh! It’s too… ah!”

The pain of his flesh tearing made his vision blurry. Tears that had welled up in the corners of his eyes streamed down Yujin’s cheeks.

It hurts, it hurts so much.

Yujin bit his lower lip so hard it might bleed, enduring the pain that felt like his waist was being severed. It felt like a sharp blade was stabbing into his lower back. The blood vessels in his eyes burst, and blood trickled from the corners of his mouth.

“Phew, relax.”

“N-no… I can’t, ah! Ugh! W-wait… ah!”

Bart’s formidable cock forced its way deep into his body, then pulled out, leaving the pale entrance gaping. This briefly relieved the pain of his body being forced open, but then, the thick flesh thrust back in, feeling even larger this time, scraping against his tender inner walls and forcibly creating a path.

“Hnng…”

With each thrust of Bart’s hips, excruciating pain shot up from his tailbone. It felt like Bart’s cock was not a flesh organ but dozens of knives stabbing into him, his insides being sliced by sharp blades with every movement. Yujin wanted to scream and beg for him to stop, but he gritted his teeth and buried his face in the blanket.

I will take it all. Until Bart is satisfied. So that he will remember me. I will take it all.

Yujin clamped both hands over his mouth to keep from screaming, tears streaming down his face.

Looking down at Yujin, whose entire body was rigid and whose thin shoulders were trembling, Bart stopped moving. He watched the pitiful sight of Yujin’s small back shaking uncontrollably, then reached out and turned Yujin’s chin to face him.

“I— I can… do it.”

“I know.”

“Don’t stop. Please… keep going, okay?”

Gazing at Yujin’s face, a mess with tears, snot, and sweat, Bart leaned down and kissed him. Then, with a rough and husky voice barely containing his excitement, he commanded,

“Yujin, remember what I told you before? Move your tongue.”

“Hnng… sob… Okay.”

Even then, and even now, Yujin didn’t really know how to move his tongue. But he diligently chased after Bart’s tongue, which was wriggling and moving around in his mouth. Bart kissed him deeply, licking every corner of his mouth and sucking on his tongue as if to pull it out, before finally pulling away. A string of silver saliva stretched between them before snapping in the air.

“That’s it, like that. Stick your tongue out more and relax your hole.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Each time his tongue was sucked on without mercy, it dripped with saliva. His chin was wet, and so was the floor. Tears streamed down his face without pause, and his arms shook like leaves as they supported his body.

The words from before? He remembered me?

Bart remembered the time they spent together in the valley. Yujin was happy. Perhaps because of that, a hotter flame spread through his body than it did that day in the valley.

“Yujin, does it still hurt?”

“…No, I’m okay.”

The thick, veiny shaft, engorged as if filled with writhing snakes, thrust in and out of the small hole between his buttocks. Unable to hold back any longer, Bart exhaled deeply and gripped Yujin’s waist hard enough to leave handprints.

As if screaming, the already stretched hole seemed to tear even more as the thick, long cock quickly moved in and out. Each time it forcefully spread him open and thrust in, a pain like his hips were being severed shot through him. And when the cock that had been buried deep inside him finally pulled out, it felt like his internal organs were being pulled out with it, making his toes curl.

Somewhere, there was a faint smell of blood, as if his insides were tearing. The more violently Bart thrust, the more the weight of the pain consuming Yujin’s body grew. But Yujin said he was okay.

Each time the violent sound of flesh slapping flesh rang out, Yujin’s round buttocks were flattened and then bounced back, red and pitiful. The sensation of his internal organs being pushed up made his chin tremble, and his fingertips turned white.

“Hnng! …Uh, uh-huh! Uh, Ba— Bart, hnng!”

“Ha, you’re so pretty.”

What did he mean by pretty? Me? Or this situation?

Yujin’s body shook like a leaf in the wind, unable to withstand Bart’s force. It was an act filled with painful agony. But the fact that Bart remembered him and the moment he called him pretty made up for everything.

Yujin bit back the screams that tried to escape his lips and accepted Bart with his whole body.