Side Story: Hell on Earth
Chapter 116
Our First Night
A sweet kiss from the devoted lover… began… an unforgettable wedding night. Every touch was so gentle it seemed as if it had never touched. Belief performed every movement with care, treasuring each minute, cherishing every second… dispelling the fear of those lecherous men from the past that had haunted Ange's soul. The angel's cheeks flushed crimson, embarrassed and confused, she glanced to the right, then aimlessly to the left.
No matter how she tried to distract herself, in every moment of his passionate "love" with Ji, her innocent eyes still reflected his elegant and courteous figure.
This scene was exactly like that night—when Ange had gone to get water and found Belief's door not fully closed. A strange sound, soft yet stirring, had caught her attention. Curious, she had peeked inside and instantly froze, stunned by the passionate scene of Belief and Ji lost in their love. Farewell to those pink-tinted lips, fervent kisses surging like waves toward that "grand sandcastle," each time accompanied by a scorching breath.
From the moment the young general ordered a reconnaissance of the sacred ground before setting up camp, the vanguard officers, their blood burning with fervor, had explored in all directions, traversing valleys and streams, slowly advancing toward the depths of the sacred land, where that strange sound grew increasingly intense.
Ange thought her sister was being bullied. She had never seen anyone bully another in such a strange way. This "bizarre behavior" had struck a heavy blow to Ange's psyche. Her innocent, angelic face had drained of all color, her trembling legs too weak to lift.
The angel clenched her small fists, resenting her fiancé for treating her sister so cruelly, for making Ji seem as if she were suffocating, her vacant eyes staring into the void. Ange wanted to scream, but before her anger could erupt, it was extinguished by the sweet words that harmonized with that strange sound—a sound like a sigh, but not of sorrow or resentment—of ecstasy:
"Ah… thank the deities… for blessing me to be your wife… ah… thank the goddess of love for guiding you to my sister. I love you!"
Ange could not push the door open. The little girl was shocked and confused, not understanding why Ji was being "bullied", yet her sister was moved and expressed gratitude to Belief. Her sister lifted her flushed face and whispered shyly:
"Darling, I want to 'take care' of my 'beloved husband'!"
Ange watched blankly as Belief knelt before Ji, revealing an affectionate smile. The young sister thought he was about to apologize, but was surprised to see the "victim" so gentle, caring, and deeply affectionate toward the "accomplice" of her "assaulter." Her sister remained so passionate, using… "passionate breath" to warm her "partner"… just like the way Belief had violated that intimate place… while… her mother had always reminded and warned her never to let any man other than her husband… gaze at… and… care for her.
Far from stopping her husband's "advances," Ji gracefully tucked a strand of hair behind her ear… to… better watch him, wholeheartedly "caring for her beloved husband," just as she had said.
Ange was intelligent and sharp—the type to learn one thing and know ten—yet the young girl still did not understand what was truly happening. But seeing that Ji was not sad, but rather exhilarated, her sister's feelings for Belief grew even sweeter and deeper.
Especially when the couple entwined, unwilling to part even for a moment, their love pushing their emotions to the peak of ecstasy, Ange became even more convinced—that what Belief and Ji were doing was not as terrible and shameful as she had mistakenly thought. This was love for the one they cherished.
It was just that the way the two expressed their love was strange, completely different from the wedding night Ange had imagined. What puzzled her even more was that from the moment she heard that sigh-like sound from her sister, Ange's ears began to burn… until… she saw the two lovers become one, and the burning sensation spread throughout her entire body. Ange could not see her own face, but she knew it had never been as red as it was tonight.
Everything Belief had "done" to Ji—the way her ecstatic sister had responded to him that night—was happening again… on this wedding night. Only now, Ange no longer felt confused, shocked, misunderstood, or resentful toward her husband as she once had.
The second time she witnessed it, Ange was more experienced, because after undergoing a relatively comprehensive process of learning about married life, the misunderstanding she had held toward the man of her life had turned into admiration.
She welcomed that feeling of care and affection that always cherished family. It was Belief who held his wife's shy gaze… who had long since… loved and cherished Ji.
The elder sister, with a heart brimming with devotion, entrusted her love and faith to the husband who would build a dwelling and shield his kin—he held a timeless love for his two faithful wives... until... their hair turned white with age, and happiness lasted a hundred years.
Love knocked at Ange's heart, calling out to those who longed for peace to find the shore of happiness. Belief was taken aback by this sudden gesture, then, seeing Ange shyly lower her head, he smiled softly. Ji temporarily stopped "taking care" of her "husband" so that Belief could turn his full attention to her sister. She also thoughtfully handed her husband a bottle of mint water.
Ange pressed her lips together, holding back a smile—she understood: Ji wanted Belief to remove the lingering "strong scent" of the "first wife" from her husband's lips… so that… her young sister would no longer be shy, no longer… embarrassed. He smiled, thanked Ji, took a sip of water from the bottle, and rinsed his mouth with the cool, refreshing liquid.
Belief wrapped his arm around Ange's waist, slowly drawing her closer. He lifted her chin and gently pressed his lips to her dark pink cheek. His kiss gradually moved toward the corner of her lips, which were parting slightly to receive the heat of passion, yet it remained so gentle, as if every moment he was careful, afraid of hurting her fragile soul.
Belief's hand slowly slid the pure white wedding gown down her body. On her small, lovely frame, the deep scars from the whip remained. The pain that had tortured her loved ones had also trampled upon her elder sister's heart. Ji had long since lost count of how many times she had silently wept, holding Ange, comforting her little sister.
When the Hive had separated her from her family, Ji had worried day and night about her mother and Maria's frail bodies—they had to take her place, protecting Ange and Yi, shielding the children from the whip with their own bodies. That pain had tormented a heart full of resentment.
That pain refused to let go of her soul. The dark past was a haunting specter, buried deep in the lowest layers of memory's tomb. Whenever the opportunity arose, those ghosts would crawl out of their graves, laughing savagely like the genocidal slaughter itself, mocking Ji for her eternal powerlessness, forcing her to watch helplessly as they tormented her family, her sister.
Now, those demons were tormenting Ange again, making her instinctively shrink back, frantically wrapping her arms around herself, covering the skin that had not yet fully regained its former fairness.
Ange's heart was filled with fear, as if she were being torn apart by demons. The little girl grew even more ashamed… because… Belief had stopped. Her husband's figure was frozen in her tear-filled eyes, motionless for so long… as if… time itself had died.
The little girl lowered her head sadly, convinced that her husband had been deeply shocked. He had not placed his hand on her sobbing, trembling shoulder… because… he did not wish to cherish this already withered flower.
No one knew her husband better than his wife. The one who had shared Belief's bed before the angel appeared… understood… that her husband felt regret, resenting fate for not allowing him to meet the angel earlier. Cruel fate had made this devoted man bear the pain of Ange enduring humiliation and suffering, of her surviving through countless hardships.
That humiliation had dug a mass grave deep in his memory, and among those buried there were countless unfortunate souls—Belief's victims. Each corpse revived within his soul, transforming into mutilated ghosts—some missing legs, some missing arms, some missing heads, some nothing but half a body. All of them screamed madly, demanding that the murderer pay with his life, rushing in to tear apart his conscience.
He clutched his head and wailed in agony, his eyes crisscrossed with blood-red veins, like vengeful spirits returning to exact their revenge. The two sisters frantically embraced him, encouraging him, comforting him.
Ange did not understand why Belief had suddenly become so panicked. The man who was always gentle no matter what happened was no longer himself.
He buried his head in his wife's chest in shame. Ji gently patted her husband's back and whispered in his ear:
"I believe you would never harm anyone for personal gain!"
Hearing these words of comfort—words directly tied to the genocide—the clever young woman suddenly understood why Belief was acting so strangely. Having known her husband for only a short time, Ange found it difficult to truly understand him.
But for a girl as pure and innocent as Ange, if someone treated her and her family with genuine kindness, the angel would repay them with all her heart—just as her mother had taught her: one must repay kindness. A man who cherished his wife and respected his family was also a man who would protect his wife and loved ones with his very life.
Ange gently placed her hand on Belief's cheek. The little girl gazed deep into his tear-filled eyes… letting her husband feel that his wife firmly believed that the man she and her sister had chosen to rely on for life could never be someone who would stop at nothing, trample on humanity, or harm and slaughter the innocent.
"Before, you let my mother keep my grandfather's photo. You deliberately dropped the photo album so we could hide it. When the Hive issued new laws to let evacuees return to normal life, you did everything you could to provide spiritual and material compensation to the families of those who had suffered."
These words of praise honored Belief's character, and also expressed their conviction: that all evil originated from the Hive. Belief had been forced to obey his superiors, reluctantly dipping his toes into the blood of innocent civilians… because… if he had resisted, he would have only brought about his own destruction.
Ji was proud of her sister—though young, she was sensible and understanding. The wife silently watched her husband admire the angel… guiding… him out of the darkness. Ji said softly to her husband:
"In truth, you could have walked toward the light. It was self-loathing and torment that locked your conscience in the sins of the past, keeping you from ever wanting to escape the darkness."
Years of loneliness, with no one to understand or care about his pain. Belief had always hoped and waited for the day when someone would sympathize with him, share it with him. Today, the gods had blessed him… letting… two companions save this soul that had been constantly on the verge of madness… and… heal the wound in his heart.
Belief gazed adoringly at the ones he loved, admiring the profound companion of his life. His wife shyly nestled in her husband's arms.
Ange took the initiative to join her sister in tasting the bitterness and sweetness woven into the tears of a strong man… through… the warm, loving kiss that walked alongside their undying family affection.
Belief responded to his two wives. Every fervent kiss replaced the words they wanted to say: "From now on, no one will ever have to gnaw on suffering alone."
Ange was no longer psychologically burdened by the scenes of female evacuees being raped in the past. Ji also eased the long-held pain of being unable to protect her loved ones. In the struggle against the sin that had been slowly destroying and consuming his spirit, Belief was no longer alone.
A virtuous wife would stand shoulder to shoulder with her husband, overcoming the darkness of the past… walking toward the light.
Every time he caressed Ji and gave Ange a warm kiss, the deep scars on his young wife's body were drenched in tears of lament—resentment at a fate that had brought the lovers together too late.
If they had met earlier, his beloved wives and their kin would never have suffered such humiliation and torment. If they had become a family sooner, his soul would not have wandered so long in the darkness.
Ange and Ji closed their eyes, feeling every passionate kiss. Each touch gently explored every trace of pain… soothing… and making up for years of humiliation—when every day had been a nightmare. Now, those nightmares vanished in the intoxication of true feeling, as they fully enjoyed the climax of their wedding night.
Passion and desire led the way with a steady rhythm, letting the devoted lover care for the places that had been wounded, pitying the broken sunflowers. But now, those flowers had bloomed, joyfully welcoming the one who tended them with such care.
Ji lay beside her younger sister, their fingers intertwined, their hands gripping the mattress. She smiled softly, patting away the tension… waiting… for the moment when the little girl, trusting the man who would never harm her soul, was to come to visit this paradise. Ange had closed the door to her heart without realizing it. Belief calmed her spirit gently and courteously. Ji softly recited the words Maria had taught her:
"This is normal for a married couple. All lovers do this. Even Mother and the Great General are no exception. A teenage girl who has never been intimate with a man is naturally shy. But you need to normalize this sensitive matter—don't be too embarrassed, don't be afraid of anything else. It's not as bad or as perverse as you imagine."
Those words opened her heart and settled her chaotic thoughts. Ange relaxed her whole body, letting her husband admire this beautiful, sacred place, which slowly released a sweet, peaceful scent… like… a sandcastle, only… much "smaller"… and… not hidden in a vast green forest… but… adorned with spring flowers and grasses for the snow-white paradise.
Belief did not dare to look too long, afraid of making his wife shy. Once again, before advancing into the holy land, the general ordered the vanguard to scout outside the forbidden area first, gliding along the river that flowed down from the distant horizon.
Ange's face flushed crimson. Her body was even more sensitive than her sister's, which made her even more embarrassed. The angel dared not look at anyone; her dazed eyes began to glaze over. Faintly, she heard that strange sound from that night again. The sound did not come from Ji… but… echoed softly in the angel's own heated breath.
Experiencing that overwhelming emotion firsthand, that ecstasy of the soul, drifting with her loving husband's tender touches, Ange shyly understood why Ji was so passionate, so obsessed.
Without realizing it, the little girl lowered her head and saw Belief looking up at his wife. Their eyes met, and Ange shyly turned her face away, yet she still let her husband continue to "care for" her wholeheartedly, until "love" guided the angel to heaven. That strange sound gradually grew louder, resounding, humming a long melody, finally fading away with the shy, timid, yet… "fulfilled" breath of a bride on her first lesson.
That sound echoed in the traveler's mind, making him even more excited, even more joyful—because before visiting paradise, the husband had been a little afraid: if he was too rough, his wife would be frightened. But Ange brought unexpected joy, surprising Belief and Ji for a few seconds.
The two had considered all sorts of possibilities—normal, positive, awkward—but this excited angel seemed even more "fulfilled" than Ji had been when her husband pampered her… far beyond any prediction. The unbelievable sight made her already rosy cheeks burn even redder, and the shy angel hid her face behind a pillow.
Ji pursed her lips, hiding a smile—because her husband had stood there stunned like a fool for a moment. He frowned, wondering why Ange had been excited in a way that was both strange and familiar. He turned to Ji, narrowing his eyes as if to ask his wife this delicate question. Who knew a woman's body better than a woman?
Before marriage, Ji had experienced many sensitive times. After becoming a wife, her behavior had been very similar to Ange's… on the most passionate days, when she made love with her husband, Ji had also been "womanly" like Ange.
Half-believing, half-doubting, yet overjoyed. Belief and Ji glanced at Ange, who still had her face buried in her pillow—she was still a little shy, so in this awkward situation, her husband couldn't "make love" to her.
The man who was quick-witted, decisive, and never confused in any situation now suddenly didn't know what to do. He scratched his head, forced a smile, and sent a distress signal to Ji. His wife barely suppressed a laugh and said to her husband:
"Darling, I've got a fun game I've wanted to play with you for a long time, but I never had the chance…"
Belief asked curiously what game it was. Ji smiled and said:
"Mind Connection!"