Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: What Dream Are You Dreaming, Na-young? (5)
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Joo Na-young stood there with her arms crossed, her face screaming, 'Let me see just how good you are at this massage thing.'
This bitch! Why the hell didn't you sleep last night? Do you have any idea how sleepy I am because of you?
I couldn't exactly call her out like that, so I just glared at her instead. She glared right back. But damn, her eyes looked even more fucked up than mine.
'Looks like she didn't get a wink of sleep either.'
I eased up on the glaring and turned my attention to the others, who were eyeing me with way too much enthusiasm.
"Who wants to go first? Yeah, not you. Go on back. You already got one earlier."
The moment I asked, Lee So-eun bolted forward, but I sent her packing. Then the level 41 stepped up all ladylike.
"Uh, can unnie Min Hyo-min go?"
"Yeah, your muscles feel a bit knotted lately..."
"Alright, have a seat. Hey, Ji-ah, why are you glaring like that?"
Let's see what makes a high-level shoulder different... Oh! Ohhh!
The firm, bouncy texture under my hands! Definitely not like any woman's shoulder I'd felt before.
Mia's and Yeon Du-na's were soft and fluffy, while Chae-yeon sister's and Lee So-eun's were a bit stiff but still squishy.
But Min Hyo-min's shoulder had this chewy, springy bounce that wasn't just hard muscle—more like it was pushing back against my fingers! So this is what a level 41 shoulder feels like!
"Mmm... feels good, oppa."
Would it keep feeling that good?
I hadn't planned it, but Lee So-eun had set the stage perfectly.
Might as well rack up some points while I'm at it.
I activated Essence Absorption and kneaded that chewy shoulder a few more times. Min Hyo-min's chatter started dying down fast.
"Mmgh, ngh. Hnngh."
"How's it feel? Good, right?"
"Mmh, ah, yeah, yeah. Feels... great."
She held out like a true high-level until her arousal hit 50, stifling her moans the whole time.
I'd planned to cap it at 30 with everyone watching, but her stubbornness got to me, and I couldn't stop midway.
"Alright, all done. Next!"
"Me, me!"
I gave Min Hyo-min's shoulder a light pat, and Shin Ji-ah came rushing over.
'I'll take those hands that rubbed unnie's shoulders!' Or something like that.
"Ngh, ahh. Eek."
Shin Ji-ah desperately held back her moans but couldn't break past the arousal 30 wall.
She rubbed her thighs together, then twisted away from my hands and bolted from the chair to hide behind Min Hyo-min.
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"It... it kinda hurt for me."
Lee So-eun, who'd gotten a regular massage that morning instead of the Essence Absorption kind, looked puzzled, but Shin Ji-ah just lied and said it hurt.
You cheeky little thing, lying like that? You ran off because your pussy got wet!
Only Min Hyo-min shot her a knowing, sympathetic look.
Next up was the pretty boy Yoo Ji-woon.
Pretty boy, my ass. You think I'm gonna fall for that cute face?
B-but... this kid's neckline is so delicate. And those little peach fuzz hairs are adorable. Essence Absorption?
"Hic. Ah, hyung."
Pomi, who'd been quietly watching, made a shocked face.
-Wha, what?
-Hey! I slipped for a second by mistake! Don't look at me like that!
Damn, why's this guy's neck so smooth? Skin's all pale and soft too.
The moment I tried to release Essence Absorption, a lewd sound slipped from Yoo Ji-woon's mouth.
"Hnng."
-Whoa, scared me. Mia, can you see my goosebumps from here?
Why's he moaning like a girl? If I couldn't check his gender in the status window, I'd swear he was female.
Luckily, it was just a quiet moan only I could hear, so no weird misunderstandings.
I gave everyone else a turn, including another regular massage for Lee So-eun, until finally, only Joo Na-young was left.
She'd watched everyone's faces melt into bliss and seemed intrigued, but the second our eyes met, she narrowed hers again for another staring contest.
"Sit."
"No thanks."
"Come on, just try it."
I'll humiliate you in front of everyone, so hurry up and sit, bitch?
Making her moan publicly would blow off all last night's frustration.
"Ugh, fine, whatever."
This bitch?
"Ah, don't do it then, don't. I was just telling you for your own good. See if I offer later."
"What did you say?!"
In the end, everyone but Joo Na-young got their massages, and afternoon service kicked off.
Even as they left after closing, they sweetly said, 'You'll do it again next time, right?' leaving me feeling pretty smug.
"Why don't you go pro in that field?"
I said it half-joking, but it wasn't a bad idea.
If you're skilled enough, you make bank, and you can legally Essence Absorb female clients.
"I'll think about that later. First, gotta figure out Joo Na-young. She stayed up last night, so she'll crash early tonight."
But as if mocking my plans, her name in the skill window didn't switch to sleep status that night either.
Maybe our sleep schedules overlapped a bit since I was waiting, but either way, no Dream Demon skill for me.
Two days passed like that.
"This bitch isn't staying up on purpose because she doesn't wanna see my face in her dreams, is she? Nah, no way. Even if I'm ugly and she hates me, not sleeping at all is overkill. Right, Mia? I'm not that ugly, am I?"
"Huh? Uh... yeah."
Not comforting at all.
I was standing out front when I spotted Joo Na-young trudging in to work from afar.
She looked drained, but when she saw me, she whipped her head away.
This, first thing in the morning.
"Haa..."
I didn't have the energy to deal with her bullshit either.
I shook my head and headed back to the kitchen.
Soon the shop opened, time flew, and customers started pouring in.
"Oppa, table 5's stir-fried soybeans aren't out yet."
"Yeah, almost done. Just plating now, so hang tight a sec."
Who orders booze snacks for lunch? Soybean lover maybe?
I plated the nearly done soybeans, sprinkled some sesame seeds on top, and served.
-Hey, white Pomi. Hands off. You trying to touch the food? I'll do it at home, so hold on.
-Looks like plenty...
-Why're you deciding that!
If this punk ran a restaurant, it'd definitely end up on TV—as one of the worst.
"Oppa, table 2 wants one oil pasta and one hamburger steak."
"Got it!"
We powered through the lunch rush, and once customers thinned out, I finally caught a breather.
Crack, pop.
"Whew, am I getting old?"
I muttered while rolling my neck, and Myeong-sook Auntie and Yeon Du-na snickered.
"What, talking like that in front of an adult!"
"Good work, oppa."
"Ahh, haven't been sleeping well lately. Gonna catch a quick nap."
"What if even I'm fine and you're already like this?"
"Auntie, you're just too healthy."
I dragged a chair to lie down in the break room when the door creaked open.
"Ah."
Joo Na-young, about to come in, turned right back around. But I'd already seen her face turn ashen.
"Hey, come here. What's with that color?"
"Huh, what about it."
"You look awful... I'll head out, so get some rest."
"I'm fine."
I grabbed her wrist as she tried to leave.
"Fine my ass? Serving customers looking like that! This your shop?"
"Ugh, what do you care? It's not even your place. Let go! Ah...!"
She yanked her arm away energetically at first, then suddenly wobbled. Her knees buckled, and I barely caught her as she collapsed.
"Ugh, such a pain. Just rest already."
I forced the squirming girl into the chair and sat beside her for a bit.
"Ugh..."
Joo Na-young trembled like her pride was wounded from practically falling into my arms, but her body couldn't keep up with her temper. Her drooping eyes fluttered a few times before she passed out.
"Damn, tough girl. No sleep at all?"
Her breathing evened out quick, and she leaned her shoulder against me.
A faint cosmetic scent wafted into my nose.
I looked at her peacefully closed eyes.
"What are you, four? Cutest when you're asleep."
I let her use my shoulder for a while when the door creaked again. In came the pretty boy... uh, Yoon.
"Huh? Hyung? What's up with Na-young?"
"Guessing no sleep. She's been off since work started. Min Hyo-min unnie noticed and sent me."
"Eh, doesn't seem hospital-bad, so tell her not to worry. I'll watch her here. Maybe give her a massage later."
"Ah! Th-that? I... I liked hyung's massage too."
Don't say that with a blush. Gonna give me weird tastes.
"Anyway, go on. And leave the door open on your way out. Don't want rumors with just us two in here. Though nothing would spread about this one anyway."
"Hyung's the loss."
"Heh, first time hearing that in my life. No flattery, get out."
Yoo Ji-woon nodded and left the door wide open as I asked before heading back out.
I watched his back, then carefully stood so as not to wake her.
"Heh heh, shall we get started?"
Dust into mountains, they say. Just need 50 points or so.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Joo Na-young had been feeling off lately.
"Why do I keep dreaming about that loser?"
He'd shown up in every dream for three days straight.
It'd be one thing if she didn't remember, but they felt so vivid, like real memories.
In the second one, she'd even acted all cutesy like a cat!
Why won't my own dreams go my way!
"Creepy. Horrifying!"
She'd pushed through without sleep for four days now.
She'd nod off unintentionally when too drowsy, but probably less than two hours a day total.
Last night and this morning too.
"Ugh, feels like death. Just gonna crash today."
She finally waved the white flag.
Her exhausted body had drained most of her initial spunk too.
Honestly, it was just a dream anyway.
Staring at her hollow eyes in the mirror, she wondered what the hell she was doing.
Fine. Sleep tonight. If he shows up, slap him silly.
On the way to work, she spotted him standing out front.
'Working together today? Ruins my morning.'
Ignoring him would've led to Yeon Du-na bitching after hearing from that tattletale, so she grudgingly greeted.
"Morning..."
But when she turned, he was already heading inside.
"Huh?"
Did he just ignore me? What the hell.
After lunch service, her eyes wanted to shut, knees buckling.
"Na-young-ah, go rest. Unnie'll wake you."
She nodded weakly at Min Hyo-min unnie's words and shuffled to the break room—only to run into him again.
"I'll go, you rest."
She refused and tried to leave, but he grabbed her wrist.
"Don't touch."
Normally she'd slap him right then, but no energy. She just let him seat her, and her memory blacked out there.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Squeeze, squeeze.
Rub rub.
"Ngh, grrr."
The warm, refreshing pressure on her shoulders, back, and neck.
Her brows twitched as she woke, realizing her body was rocking with the motions.
"Mmn. Ngh?"
Only after more kneading did she recall passing out.
'Wait, is Choi Jun-young touching me right now?'
Chills raced up her spine.
Just then, his hands massaged her nape.
"Ahhk!"
Shocked by her own cry, she clapped a hand over her mouth and whipped her head back.
His sweaty, ugly mug grinned at her.
"Awake?"
"Ngh, what the hell are you doing?"
"Can't you tell? Giving you a massage."
"Hic, ngh, who said you could touch me! Ahhng?"
"Feels amazing, right? Might as well finish since we started."
"Ah, ah, mmn."
She hated being manhandled like dough by him, but the ticklish pleasure blooming everywhere he touched.
Old fatigue seemed to crumble away wherever his fingers went.
"Ahng, ngh, aaah!"
'What, why am I making these noises? Did this bastard grope me while I was out?'
The relieving pleasure mixed with a hot, lewd one, leaving her flustered.
She frantically looked around.
Break room door was wide open.
This creep wouldn't do anything blatant in such an open space.
In the end, Joo Na-young pretended to relent and surrendered to his big hands.
"Hngh, ah, aaah, there, ah."
Her moans continued until Min Hyo-min came to signal the break's end.