Goodnight Kisses Are Common Sense
Doing a goodnight kiss with my stepsister was common sense. I was so flustered that I could only manage to blink as I stared at Lee Ha-eun. No, was this really Lee Ha-eun? The vibe was similar, sure. But no matter how I looked at her, this was a completely different person.
She was probably even more shocked than I was. I didn't know the full situation, but she was sweating bullets, looking totally lost.
Finally, fed up with the silence, I spoke first.
"Lee Ha-eun Hunter... right?"
"......"
No answer came. Our gazes tangled awkwardly in the air.
Yeah, so. To sum it up simply.
"You were carrying out an order, but if your identity got exposed, rumors about Cheonhwa Guild collecting aphrodisiacs would spread, so you were disguising yourself on purpose?"
"Y-yes..."
"So this Lee Ha-eun identity is fake too?"
"......"
I'd hit the nail on the head. I'd suspected it ever since I saw her changed appearance. At first I wasn't sure, but it was a face I'd seen somewhere before.
"Meirin, right?"
"How did you..."
"Back in the day, I'd look up hunter profiles on the subway when I had nothing to do."
Honestly, I would've recognized her even without that. She was famous. Meirin. A-rank hunter. Class: assassin. Position in Cheonhwa Guild: killer. She was more known for something other than her skills or exploits.
The craziest part? She dressed like that even before the world went insane. That's why I'd assumed Lee Ha-eun was some cosplay pervert raiding gates.
It was her all along.
...Wait. So who the hell did I just have sex with? Was the virgin I deflowered really Meirin? It was a reasonable doubt since her body changed along with the disguise.
"Um... Meirin?"
"What."
"Can I just see your pussy once?"
"...Are you insane?"
Her reaction told me everything I needed to know. I quickly grabbed my clothes and got dressed. Whatever else, it was time to pack up, close the gate, and get out.
The boss fight? No need to explain. One full-power ordinary punch from Meirin, and the Slime King lost all form, exploding apart.
Gate cleared.
Returning to original location shortly.
We walked along the road after leaving the motel. We had things to discuss. And thoughts to sort out. The night air felt especially cold against my skin.
"I'll send the promised money right away. We got a ton of loot too, so selling that won't leave us shortchanged."
"Yeah, probably."
"...Honestly, I have no idea what might happen to you going forward."
This was the real point, more than the money. Cheonhwa Guild. The one with rumors of people getting buried alive for pissing off the master.
"No need to worry that much. I'll protect you, of course... And unless I say something, the master probably won't notice. They don't mess with anyone who's not a threat to the guild."
"Hmm."
She said that, but I was extremely uneasy. Meirin was reliable in strength, but she was such a klutz.
"W-what's with that reaction? You don't trust me that much?"
"Didn't you say earlier you couldn't take responsibility?"
"That was...! Yeah, but I didn't expect you'd pry so much and actually make me spill it! If anything, you're the one at fault here?!"
Technically, I was about 90% the cause from start to finish. But hey, she was shouldering some blame too. I quietly wiped away tears inside at Meirin's boundless camaraderie.
I'll trust you, babe.
Whatever, Meirin was the only one I could rely on now. She had her flaws, but she was an A-rank hunter who'd seen it all.
If things went south? Well, then I'd hold Meirin's hand and we'd go down in a drum barrel together...
"Anyway, you worked hard today. Call me if you need me next time. I'll help for free."
"No need to go that far."
"Thanks to you, I can bring chicken home to my sister who's starving alone. Another of babe's graces..."
"Agh! Seriously!"
The day ended with a smack on the back from Meirin.
Today's tally. Hunter Association settlement. Skill level-up + acquired trait Appraisal Eye. Cleared 4 gates. Befriended A-rank hunter Meirin. Miscellaneous income estimated over 2 million won.
What the hell. Didn't I live like a beast today?
No wonder I felt like I was dying—it was just from working my ass off. Even if Meirin carried the gates, I wasn't slacking. I'd been doing all the side work, running Appraisal Eye non-stop, so yeah, I was beat.
But was I a slave to capitalism too? Thinking of the deposit hitting my account made the fatigue vanish.
Heh heh...
Today, Kim Dayeon was done for. I'd stuff her belly full.
"Oppa? What kept you so late? And what's that in your hand? Chicken?"
"Hungry?"
"You always say you're broke... I told you not to buy stuff like this."
"I bought it for myself. Skipped dinner and nearly died working till now. Want some? Set the table then."
"Asshole."
Mouthing off, but Kim Dayeon started setting the table anyway. I changed into comfy clothes and quickly washed up.
"Beer?"
"Hell yeah."
I sat at the table she'd set, cracking open the box. The savory fried batter scent rode hot steam, tickling my nose.
"Oppa."
"Yeah, thanks."
Pop— I cracked the can, slurped the foam first, and clinked lightly with Dayeon. The anticipation alone felt great, even before drinking. I slammed it into my empty stomach. The carbonation stung refreshingly down my throat.
"Why'd you buy so many varieties? Who's gonna eat all this? You used to just get market fried chicken sometimes, what's with the franchise today?"
"Ah, well, see."
This sly fox Dayeon. Her instincts were spot on. She'd buttered me up perfectly to hype myself.
"What—2 million won? That's why you were late?"
"Days like this don't come often. Gotta cash in when I can. Do I finally look like a hunter now?"
"...You didn't pick up gambling somewhere, did you?"
"Don't need lessons for that."
I played it cool with a joke. Dayeon eyed me suspiciously but had trusted and followed me since she was little. She stared, then grinned brightly.
"Good job, oppa."
"......"
"Seeing you come home hurt or collapse asleep every day worries me. Don't push too hard. I started part-time again recently. Come home early sometimes, eat dinner together."
Damn. I wasn't the teary type, but my eyes were stinging now. When did this kid grow up so much? Saying stuff like this.
"...What'd you eat wrong?"
"Sigh, even when I care. That's why you got no girlfriend."
After our short late-night snack, we prepped for bed. She had school, and I had a packed tomorrow: settling loot, testing Appraisal Eye, maybe upgrading gear if time allowed...
Above all, I was just exhausted. I threw a blanket on the floor and lay down.
"Oppa."
"...What."
"Sleeping there'll give you sore muscles. Come up."
Dayeon patted the mattress where she lay. She never yielded it usually—what gives? And even super single size was tight for two.
"Not enough space. I'm good here."
"Don't be like that."
In the end, she grabbed my hand and dragged me half-forcibly onto the bed. Side by side on the cramped mattress, so close that any squirm would touch.
"...Oppa, don't you do that stuff?"
"What."
"Kisses and such. Everyone says families do it these days."
What the fuck. What kind of bullshit common sense was this? The random topic chased sleep away. My brain spun desperately to preserve our sibling harmony.
"...Didn't you say we're not blood-related?"
"Does that mean non-blood siblings can't kiss? We're half-mixed since different dads, right? Wanna mix tongues a bit?"
"What kinda crazy talk is that...?"
Was she weak to this stuff? Where'd she keep hearing weird shit?
"C'mon, quick. You're the only family I got. If we don't kiss, people'll think it's weird. Say our house is a mess or whatever."
Her high school days flashed back. Rainy day, staff room. Adults' irritated voices. Dayeon huddled in her room, ears plugged. That pissed me off so much back then.
Sigh, fuck... why drag up painful memories.
She knew I couldn't say no like this. Just once? I reached out, stroking her hair. She closed her eyes softly, expectant.
Mm— Lips met, and hers parted immediately, tongue greeting mine. I licked lightly to taste, then explored properly.
"Mm... chuu, chup, paha— nng..."
Dayeon gripped my collar tight, leaning in. I wrapped my hand around her slim waist. Despite starting it, her back was rigid with tension.
"Oppa, mm... oppa..."
Our breaths mingled. She inhaled my exhale; her hot breath stuck sticky to my cheek. Her face held a complex, subtle heat. Eyes squeezed shut, pupils trembling beneath.
...Fuck, what am I doing.
I pulled my tongue back, gently pushing her face away. Regret lingered as sticky saliva stretched long.
"Mm... a-already done...?"
"Let's sleep. Wiped out from today."
"...Nng."
Her voice dripped with that lingering regret, but exhaustion won; she drifted off quick. Listening to her soft breaths, I turned away quietly.
What was I thinking just now? No clue. Romantic feelings for my stepsister? She'd be left utterly alone without me.
Fuck, just sleep.
Fatigue bred weird thoughts. I closed my eyes quietly.
The stepsister kiss left a bitter aftertaste.
