Yu Eunseol's Choice

"Alright, now eat up?"

Is that any way to phrase a quest?!

I knew something was off about how half-assed that quest felt. So this is what it was leading up to all along.

Whoosh!!!

Clang!!

I startled as Yu Eunseol, panting heavily, swung her Japanese sword, which I blocked with Mook.

"You...! You...!"

"I said it was a mistake."

"Don't you dare lie to me..!!"

Even just the panties were enough to push her this far. Of course, everything that had been building up finally exploded, but what would happen if I forced sex on her when she didn't want it?

According to the quest reward, Yu Eunseol would join us for the sake of revenge. And every single moment after that, she would be watching for her chance. I wouldn't be able to rest easy or sleep soundly. Even eating and drinking would require constant caution.

In short, it would be a living hell.

That meant I had to make Yu Eunseol want to have sex with me. Even if it wasn't sincere.

"You're quick on the uptake."

"......"

My blunt honesty made her eyes widen in shock for a second before they narrowed again, radiating a cold, sharp chill. She yanked her Japanese sword free from where it was locked against Mook and thrust it straight at my forehead.

Whoosh!!!!

I twisted my body sideways to dodge the blade tip flying at me with murderous force, the flashing Japanese sword slicing past right in front of my eyes. But that wasn't the end of it.

Yu Eunseol's skill: Sword Dance. A skill that allowed endlessly varied attacks through beautiful, dance-like movements.

Whoosh!!

The Japanese sword that had clearly been thrusting in a straight line suddenly swept horizontally, aiming for my neck.

I ducked my head to avoid it, and the blade immediately arced back like a boomerang, drawing a half-circle downward. The moment her left hand gripped lower on the hilt, the two-handed Japanese sword surged upward toward my face.

Whoosh!!!!

Scary. It was a truly vicious attack, but I twisted my body by lifting my right shoulder in the opposite direction, as if flipping it over, and slipped past it.

I ended up in a completely unstable stance, while Yu Eunseol spun both wrists like a choreographed move. Following that motion, the Japanese sword rotated in a circle, turning the upward-facing blade downward.

Whoosh!!!!!

The Japanese sword came slashing down diagonally to cut me while I was still off-balance. Every movement flowed into the next as naturally as water. That minimized the gaps between consecutive attacks, blocked any chance of a counter, and let her keep the pressure on without pause.

This was how you properly used the Sword Dance skill. It wasn't just about swinging a sword a little faster or more unpredictably.

At this rate, though, I was going to die.

I dropped into a near-crouch and pulled my body away in the opposite direction from the diagonally descending Japanese sword. Yu Eunseol immediately rotated her wrists again, changing the blade's angle, and this time swept the Japanese sword upward in a diagonal slash.

Of course, it didn't go the way she wanted.

Grab!!

Thud! Thud—

With my left hand I seized the hand holding her Japanese sword, and with my right—now free of Mook—I pulled her waist in tight against me.

"Lesson's over for now. My tuition's pretty expensive if you're going to keep going just for a pair of panties."

"Let go of me..!!"

"If you want to continue, pay the extra tuition."

"......"

I slid the hand gripping her firm, slender side a little lower and lightly tugged the hem of her skirt upward with my fingertips. Her eyes flew wide in panic and started trembling, and finally she loosened her grip enough for me to take the Japanese sword.

"If you want, I'll spar with you again next time."

"......"

Yu Eunseol, head bowed low, whispered something.

"What?"

"Closer..."

"We're already close enough, aren't we?"

"Come closer..."

"......"

Did she have something to say?

I lowered my face toward Yu Eunseol as she slightly lifted her bowed head to look up at me.

She rose onto her tiptoes, closing the already narrow gap between our faces until it was barely a handspan.

Was she seriously about to kiss me? Had she fallen for me or something? Was this some "You're the only one who's ever treated me like this" moment?

In that instant—

Whoosh—

The face that had been fueling my imagination vanished. A sharp, stinging pain shot through my neck.

"Aaaagh!!! What are you, a vampire?!!"

"Ugh..!!!"

"It hurts!! It hurts!! I said it hurts!!!!"

"E-Eunseol!"

"Oppa!!"

"Kang Juhan!!"

Yu Eunseol bit into my neck like she was trying to tear the flesh off and refused to let go until the women came rushing over in a pack, grabbing her all over and prying her off.

"Ow!! That little...!!!"

"......"

I rubbed my neck furiously while she still looked unsatisfied, wiping her mouth lightly with the back of her hand and shooting me a murderous glare. But then her pale face grew even whiter, flooding with shock.

Because the hand groping around her chest area felt nothing at all.

"N-No...!"

"Eunseol, what's wrong??"

"I-It's gone..."

"What is??"

"My necklace...."

"Hup!!"

Kim Seojeong clapped a hand over her mouth in surprise. She knew how precious that necklace was to Yu Eunseol. But there was one thing neither of them knew.

That the necklace was right under my foot, which I had unnaturally shifted half a step forward.

Sigh... Now I've even stooped to pickpocketing...

That was the moment.

When Yu Eunseol was biting my neck and the women swarmed in, grabbing her all over to pull her off. That was when I slipped my hand through her hair and unclasped the necklace. I caught it on the top of my foot so it wouldn't make a sound hitting the floor, then stepped on it to hide it.

"It's not in the changing room.."

"Not over here either..."

"Nothing here either.."

"Eunseol.. is it really that important..?"

"......"

Yu Eunseol had gone colder than I had ever seen her. Cold enough that the air around her seemed to freeze. The reason was simple: the necklace I had stolen was her treasure.

"Seojeong.. what kind of necklace is it..? Is it really expensive..?"

"It's not like that.."

"Then..?"

"It's... a memento. There's a photo of Eunseol with her sister inside the necklace..."

"Ah..."

To Yu Eunseol, her sister had been sister, mother, father, and friend all at once. Her only family. The only person she could trust. The kind of sister who had given up her own life to take care of her little sister.

It was the memento left by that sister—filled with gratitude, guilt, and the memories of the hardest yet most loved period of her life—so to Yu Eunseol it was more precious than anything else in the world.

Knowing all that and still doing this made me feel like complete garbage, but I had no other choice. I couldn't spend every waking moment on edge because of Yu Eunseol's revenge.

Anyway, it was about time to make the request. To ask them to help look for the necklace.

"Eunseol, where do you think you're going?!"

"To find my necklace."

"You don't even know where it fell and you're just going to look for it?!"

"It has to be somewhere."

"It's dangerous!"

"She's right! Eunseol, just calm down for now!"

"We can look after the soldiers come and clear this place out. It won't be too late."

"......"

Instead of just saying it was dangerous, they offered a concrete alternative, and Yu Eunseol's intensity eased a little. An Gyeongsu—some guy who never even appeared in the webtoon—was getting on my nerves. Time to assert my presence a bit.

"Hyung?"

"Oppa?"

"Where do you think you're going??"

"You guys head back up to the third floor. I'm going to look around a bit more and see if there are any other quests."

"It's dangerous!"

"Exactly! What are you thinking, looking around when it's dangerous?!"

"I'm not the one in danger. I'm being careful because you guys are. You go on ahead~"

I started walking off as casually as if I were just heading to the convenience store downstairs, and the voice I had been waiting for called out.

"Wait a moment!"

"......"

I forced the rising corner of my mouth back down and turned around with the most nonchalant face I could manage. Toward Yu Eunseol, who had stopped me.

"What?"

"Th-That... my necklace..."

"What? Finish your sentence."

"Could you... help me look for it..?"

I crossed my arms and pretended to think it over. I could accept right now, find the necklace for her, and earn some goodwill. But I didn't have time for that approach.

I had seventeen minutes to have sex with a Yu Eunseol who hated my guts. And the only way to do it without giving her a legitimate reason for revenge was to get her consent.

"If I see anything that fell, I'll pick it up. Though with junk everywhere, no idea if I'll actually find it."

"W-Wait a second!"

"What now?"

"You don't even know what it looks like!"

"I heard the rough description earlier."

"Still, in more detail..!"

"Ah.. what a pain..."

"......"

I could see it. The surge of rage rising in Yu Eunseol. But she forced down the anger that had climbed all the way to her throat and instead bowed her head politely, asking again.

"Please... I'm asking you...."

"Haa... Come closer and explain it properly. A photo would be even better."

"Ah..! It's a silver necklace! The way it looks is...."

As she stepped closer to explain, I whispered just loud enough for only her to hear.

(Follow me. If you want to find the necklace.)

"......"

"So what does it look like?"

"Ah... that is...."

The hesitation on her face was obvious. But the answer was already decided.

"Could I... go with you..?"

"That would be best."

"What are you talking about?! Where do you think you're going!"

"Just an explanation might not be enough to recognize it... so I thought it would be better if I looked myself..."

"Then I'm going too! I'm not letting you go alone!"

"......"

Yu Eunseol glanced at me, and I nodded readily.

"Fine by me. But handle yourselves. I'm not helping."

"Yes."

There was a reason I was taking Baek Sihyeon along. Including this linked quest, there had been a total of three quests related to Yu Eunseol so far. The first: tear her clothes. The second: ejaculate using her body. Both of the previous quests had involved Baek Sihyeon. Baek Sihyeon discovers the torn clothes. Don't get caught by Baek Sihyeon. This linked quest was the same. Dress up to please Baek Sihyeon. Show Baek Sihyeon the panties.

Maybe the hidden quests weren't tied to my and Yu Eunseol's actions at all, but to Baek Sihyeon. Back at the church, when I tore her clothes, the hidden condition had been completed by Baek Sihyeon seeing it and getting excited.

"Eunseol, we'll definitely find it."

"Yes.."

"......"

I had a feeling that if Baek Sihyeon saw me having sex with Yu Eunseol, the hidden condition would be completed. It fit perfectly with the tastes of that perverted god who only ever gave out quests like this. But how was I supposed to make Baek Sihyeon watch me have sex with Yu Eunseol?

Besides, showing it to other people wasn't really my thing.

"This way."

"Why?"

"The necklace should have fallen somewhere along the path we took."

"I think you've got the wrong idea. I said I'd check for the necklace along the way I was already going. If you want to go that way, go by yourselves. My goal is to pick up new quests, so ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠there's no reason for me to backtrack."

"So you never intended to help look for the necklace in the first place?!"

"Is that how it works out?"

"Hey!!"

"See you later. I'm going~"

"W-Wait a moment!!"

"But are you sure you should be making that much noise?"

"Pardon..?"

"I told ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you clearly. Handle yourselves."

"......"

Baek Sihyeon's eyes started trembling with unease. He must have heard it by now too. The noisy, clattering footsteps of the ants.

"Kieeee!!!!"

"Kiee!!!"

"Kieeee!!!"

"Kie!!!!"

"Kieeee!!"

"Kieeeee!!!!"

Quite a few of them. At least five ants, and I could see two mantises as well.

"Eunseol! Get behind me!"

"We have to thin them out before more gather... Ah...."

I grabbed the wrist of Yu Eunseol, who was recklessly about to charge the insects. Of course I could clean this up if I stepped in. But I had no intention of doing so.

"What are you talking about? We run."

"E-Eunseol!!"

I took Yu Eunseol's wrist and started running. There were ants along the path ahead too, but one-handed swings of Mook were more than enough.

Crunch!! Crunch!!!

By the way, this felt way better.

It was the brand-new skill that had come out of the random skill box I received for clearing a quest. With Sturdy Body from completing the hidden condition plus Acceleration, I already had five skills. Baek Sihyeon, by comparison, probably had three at most.

"Ugh..!!"

"Sihyeon oppa!!"

"Just keep following me."

"What are you saying?!"

"He's not going to die anyway."

He was the protagonist, after all.

"What do you mean...!"

"Don't you want to find your sister's necklace?"

"......"

"If you shake off my hand right now, I won't help you."

"......"

She looked back and forth between me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and Baek Sihyeon, who had fallen behind, blocked by the ants. I couldn't give her time to think. I had to sweep her up in emotion.

"The soldiers? They won't be able to clear this place. That means you'll never find your sister's memento. If you don't like what I'm saying, then shake off this hand."

"......"

"Choose fast. The longer you wait, the more danger Baek Sihyeon is in. I'll go save him the second we're done."

"Done with what.."

"Have sex with me."

"What.."

"Sex."

"Se... a-are you insane?!!!"

She ruthlessly shook off my hand and stopped, so I turned, pulled her waist in, and held her.

"Kyaa!!"

"I keep my promises. I'll find the necklace, and I'll save Baek Sihyeon."

"Let go of me right now..!!"

"What exactly can you do if you go over there right now?"

"......"

There was nothing she could do. Except die with him. But she couldn't die. There was someone she absolutely had to find.

"We're out of time. Are you doing it or not?"

"Those words.... how am I supposed to believe them..."

"Believe them. I don't lie."

Probably?

All that was left now was Yu Eunseol's choice. Baek Sihyeon, conveniently in danger. And the only memento of her dead sister. If she rejected my proposal, I would have no choice but to force it. In a world without laws, I couldn't afford to throw away six stat points over something as minor as sex.

But it didn't look like I would need to.

"Keep... your promise....."

"Of course."

I took the resigned Yu Eunseol into the nearest store. Then I opened the door behind the counter and stepped into the storage room.

Thud!!

Clatter clatter clatter!!!

The moment I shoved her against the shelves, boxes full of merchandise came cascading down.

"Y-You'll really find the necklace too..! And save Sihyeon oppa... Mmph!!!"

Seriously, we don't have time. And the more someone talks, the more they start thinking. At times like this, you just push forward.

I kissed her hard and sudden. Whether from shock or something else, Yu Eunseol shoved against my chest with all her strength.

"What do you think you're doing?!"

"We already agreed to do it."

"Th-That alone should be enough! Why the kiss.. Mmph!!! Mmmph!! Mmph..!! Mmm...! Haaah..! Haaah..!"

"That's a real kiss. Shall we continue?"

"I-I don't want..! I don't want to ki.. Mmph!! Mmm..!! Mmm...! Mmm...."

The hands that had been weakly batting at my chest gradually lost their strength. She was accepting the kiss.

I wonder if he'll find us properly?

I had even left the Japanese sword on the counter so it would be easy to spot, and left the door slightly ajar. No idea. If he didn't see, that was fine too. I was already strong enough without any extra rewards.

"Haaah..!!!! Haa..! Haa..! W-Wait a second..... Ahnn..!!"