Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Individual Conquest (6)
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A mother spreading her arms wide to protect her daughter, and the man standing before her. Her own powerless, trembling body. The scenery of the home where she lived as a child came into view, and Joo Na-young realized she was dreaming that dream again.
A memory from over ten years ago.
The mother and daughter who were beaten every day by a trash of a man not even worthy of being called "Dad," begging and sobbing.
The sight of her mother passing out from an especially brutal beating had become a trauma for her, making her dream of that exact scene two or three times a year.
A dream she'd had too many times. It was now so familiar that she recognized it the moment it started, but the child version of herself in the dream always just trembled helplessly, pathetically.
And after waking from the dream, the vivid image of her mother collapsing would make her burst into tears for a good while.
When her mother came rushing in, startled by the crying, and held her close, the contrast between the young woman from the dream and her current aged, weary self only made the sorrow deeper.
"Get out of the way, you bitch?"
Slap-!
"Aaack!"
"Hoo, fuck, I said move. Wanna die? Let go, you won't let go?"
"Please, pleeease! Na-young's dad..."
Her mother, clinging desperately to the bastard's pant leg, was forced to stay collapsed on the ground just like always.
Guess it's my turn next? She vowed to stay composed—no crying, she'd glare defiantly—but the moment he raised his massive hand before her, her tough act from reality vanished, eyes burning and jaw quivering.
"M-Mommy... Mommmmyyy."
Her tiny lips moved against her will, and she hated them for it.
"Hoo, ha, this fucking bitch pissing me off. I said move!"
Her mother's hand, gripping his pant leg with fierce determination, was flung away. And then the enormous shadow loomed over her.
Too terrified to even lift her head, she saw the shadow's hand stretch out long in her vision.
And that outstretched hand began plummeting toward the floor again.
Shwoooosh-.
The sound of it slicing through the air.
Now it would start with that hand strike, and she'd take hit after hit until she woke up crying, right?
I want to wake up already. I know how this goes anyway—just wake up quick!
No matter how she screamed inside, she couldn't escape the dream, and the falling hand didn't stop.
Suddenly, she thought of that man.
The guy who'd been showing up in her dreams every night lately. The ugly one. The one who kept making her have those lewd dreams.
If that man who popped into her dreams at random times showed up here too...
"Why aren't you here today?! Help me at a time like this—Choi Jun-young!"
She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the incoming pain.
Shwaaack! Thwack!
"Aaack! Ah... Ahh? Eek?"
She screamed reflexively but felt no pain. Surprised, she let out a cute yelp at the sudden sensation of being lifted.
"You called for me? Hey, but is that really your dad? I hit him without thinking, but it's a dream, so it's fine, right?"
That voice she'd been dying to hear today.
Lifting her head, she saw him grinning down at her brightly.
The moment she saw his face, the fear and sadness she'd felt melted away like snow.
"Ha, haha. You're still ugly after all."
"This brat's got attitude even as a kid. Wanna smack you one, but you're too cute, so I'll hold back."
"Heehee, hahaha!"
"Oh? Laughing now? I'm not the type to go easy on girls. Ugly people gotta be ruthless. Know that?"
She laughed freely, looking around, then realized they were airborne. Choi Jun-young was flying through the sky, carrying her princess-style.
"What a dogshit dream, total bullshit dream. Heehee."
It had been such a terrifying nightmare, but the moment this guy appeared, it turned into total nonsense. Her dad's furious glare up at them from below was just hilarious now—no more fear.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Thank you."
Mwah.
The little Joo Na-young in his arms said she had something to say and wanted his "ear" close, so he leaned in—and got a kiss on the cheek. What a cutie!
"If you're thankful, don't forget this when you wake up. Give me a kiss at the shop too? Heh heh."
"Loser."
"What? Hey, you punk!"
With Joo Na-young's bright smile, the [Dream Demon] skill deactivated.
"Nngh."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Quest has been updated. Would you like to check?] [Yes] [No] Huh? Quest updated? What's this mean?
"Yes."
📜 QUEST UPDATE 📜 Condition 1: Loser stat has already reached 100, fulfilling the quest success requirement.
Condition 2: Target 'Joo Na-young's affection and emotional bond have exceeded +40, already achieving the quest reward (emotional reversal).
Quest updated.
Loser's Rebellion → Loser Hides His Power
📜 QUEST 📜 Loser Hides His Power
— You healed Joo Na-young's trauma, and she now sees you as reliable.
⏰ Period: Within 30 days from update date
✅ Success Condition: Ensure the dream doesn't end as just a dream...
🎁 Reward: Points x2, Random Skill Gacha Coupon x1
Ooh!
Isn't this like catching a mouse while stepping backward?
I'd basically given up on it, but dipping back into her dreams just to get a bit closer to Joo Na-young brought this luck.
The quest deadline, which had one day left, reset to 30 days. They say people's minds change between going into and coming out of the bathroom—kinda like that, though no extra rewards added makes it a tad disappointing.
But the quest name, and "ensure the dream doesn't end as just a dream"... What the hell does that mean? Fly around holding her in real life or something?
Pomi, who could've shared this good news, was still snoring away. And Yu-ra... Huh? Where'd she go?
He sat up and scanned the room—no Yu-ra. No light leaking from the living room, no sounds from the bathroom.
[Yu-ra, where are you?]
He grabbed his phone and texted. A reply came soon after.
[Doing homework at home, oppa.]
Ah, right—she'd bounced last night before we hooked up, saying she had homework. Guess it really was urgent.
[Can you finish by 7:30? You'll eat breakfast, right?]
[Yeah! I'll hurry and come over.]
Pomi said their fridge was mostly just fruit and desserts. But watching her eat last night, it seemed she wasn't eating home-cooked meals not because she hated them, but because there weren't any.
Can't do it every day, but we should eat together sometimes. Pomi eats so much anyway—adding one more spoon's worth isn't much.
Sent the text and lay back down, but sleep wouldn't come. He watched Pomi's snoring for a bit, then remembered the post So-jin uploaded to JjalSsaNet yesterday. A day later, comments must be exploding.
Logged into JjalSsaNet on mobile.
[Title: (Mildly Gross) So-jin's not a virgin anymore ㅜㅠ (Blood warning)] (357)
Whoa, 357 comments in a day? Real?
Scrolled through. Content similar to yesterday, but reactions fell into a few categories:
1. Bitch So-jin's a concept whore.
2. Jealous of the old man.
3. I'm the old man!
4. We only fuck daughters.
Everything from debates on whether the blood was real hymen blood or paint/ketchup, to convenience store owners guessing the location—total chaos in the comments.
Sudden thought: I wanna brag!
Next time with So-jin, post a proof shot with my ID. Should've taken one last time—forgot.
A few hours later, Yu-ra returned after finishing homework, her bangs wrapped in a scrunchie. So cute he went to pat her head but ended up pinching her cheek.
"Don't forget what happened yesterday. Try it again and see."
"Ah, ahyah."
She was talking about the ass party with Pomi. Pomi came out after washing up and got her cheek grabbed too.
"You too, come here."
"Ah, oppa! It hurts! Oww."
"That thing about sending you back home? Total joke, so don't worry."
"Y-Yeah."
Pomi, who'd been fretting about getting scolded by Yu-ra since waking, clung to her tightly, peeking up slyly. Yu-ra hugged back with a resigned look, making him smile automatically.
After spending all yesterday together, they seemed pretty close now—like real sisters despite the age gap.
"Jun-young, can I go with Yu-ra unnie today?"
Pomi, who properly called her "unnie" when Yu-ra was around.
"What? Follow her to school?"
"Yeah. Wanna see the school and shop."
Pomi looked to him for approval. Shouldn't she ask Yu-ra?
"Yu-ra, you okay with her tagging along?"
Yu-ra stroked Pomi's head.
"Won't you get bored during classes?"
"I'll look around school while Yu-ra unnie studies!"
"Alright? Oppa, I'm fine with it. I'll watch her today."
Pomi puffed her cheeks at being "watched"—hurt pride?—but shut her mouth, scared of whining and getting left behind.
Thought for a sec, then nodded. His Target Status Reveal level was up now; he could handle conquests solo fine. Plus, Pomi watching the kitchen at the shop got boring fast lately—she'd doze off.
"Well, if you're cool with it. Pomi, listen to Yu-ra, got it?"
"Yeah! Hehe."
Finished breakfast and cleanup—time to head out. Walked out together, split at the cafe crossroads nearby.
"I'm this way. See you later. Don't come home too late."
"Bye-bye-!"
They turned and waved until each vanished around the corner.
-Pomi, if any creep bugs Yu-ra, kick 'em right in the balls.
-Okay! Put lots of snacks in inventory for me!
-Got it.
Used Invisibility nearby, then Flight to soar off.
Best part of this combo: No getting hit by cars even invisible! Crosswalks without pedestrians are death traps for invisibles. Nearly got smashed crossing on green once.
Too cold to fly fast, so jogged along airborne, peeking at this woman's, that woman's stats. If lewd traits, landed to rack up points.
Feels less human by the day.
Almost at the shop when his phone buzzed.
[Old man, here's my schedule♥]
"Oh, So-jinnie. Nice, nice."
Schedule came as image. Gotta meet So-jin soon, post that proof on JjalSsaNet. Or just ask her for any pic?
[So-jin, old man wants to brag about banging you on the site. Send one good pic you didn't post?]
Pocketed phone in Inventory after sending.
Entered the shop to a cheerful welcome.
"Oppa, you're here? ...Huh?"
"W-What's up?"
"Oppa, be honest with me—just me. Where'd you get it fixed? You got work done, right?"
Ah, damn [Charm]. Note: [Plastic Surgery] skill was off. Using both would change him too much to dodge questions.
"I work every day—when would I get surgery? Tell your oppa to give me more vacation and pay. Then I'll fix it up."
"Something's off... Oppa's handsomeness blooming late?"
"What? Late bloom? Wait. Yeon Du, weren't you off today? Why're you here?"
"Oh, right. Myeong-sook Auntie got rushed to ER last night with stomach pain—appendicitis. Me and Chae-yeon unnie are covering till she’s discharged."
"Why no heads-up? Should call her. Surgery already?"
"Yeah, early morning. I got the call then too, but since you're in till Thursday, she probably just texted us."
"She okay?"
"Yeah. Quick discharge, don't worry too much."
Still, glad she's alright. Head to the hospital first thing tomorrow morning.