Chapter 86

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Translator: Ace

Chapter: 86

Chapter Title: Easing Sohee's Tension

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"What are you doing here at this hour?"

I had a pretty good idea why Sohee had come, but I asked anyway, just to tease her.

She flushed red and scowled, shouting at me.

"Hey, you jerk! You know damn well—mmph!"

Her voice echoed down the hallway, so I quickly clapped a hand over her mouth to shut her up.

Sohee startled at the sudden move and tried to push my hand away. I said,

"What if you yell here? What are we gonna do if someone hears?"

Her struggling stopped. She got what I meant.

Seeing that, I figured she wouldn't yell anymore and released my hand from her mouth.

"Let's not talk here. Head up to the second floor. I've got a room prepped there."

Sohee nodded quietly and followed me.

Where had her usual bubbly energy gone? She dragged her feet like a pig being led to slaughter. It almost made me feel sorry for her.

Sex is supposed to be fun for both of us, after all.

I led Sohee into the room on the second floor.

The same one where I'd been with Miyoung not long ago.

Of course, Sohee had no clue.

Time to get to the main event? I glanced down at her, and noticed her body trembling faintly.

"You that nervous?"

"N-no! Nervous? What're you..."

She reacted like usual, but her voice betrayed how tense she was.

I could've started right then, no problem. But seeing her so wound up cooled my mood a bit.

It felt like forcing things with a much younger girl.

Better to ease her nerves first, then go from there.

I perched on the edge of the bed and patted the mattress beside me with my palm.

"Come here."

"Uh, yeah?"

"Sit."

She looked dazed but sat next to me as told.

"How's it been staying here? Livable?"

She clearly hadn't expected the question, staring at me in total confusion.

"Huh? Oh, uh... yeah, it's livable."

Then she shook her head.

"No, 'livable' doesn't cut it. Safe from zombies, no inconveniences, plenty of food stocked—it's way beyond livable. The best. A real paradise."

"From your perspective, sure. Your mom—Miyoung—can stay safe here, right?"

I dropped her mom's name casually, and Sohee's eyes went wide.

"Hey, hey, don't glare like that. Your mom told me it's fine."

"Sigh... Mom's too nice. She probably okayed it 'cause you saved us."

Sohee sighed and looked at me.

"You did save us, though. Even if it means I'm buried under a huge debt, no regrets."

"I'm not pressuring you to pay it back. I figure you can handle it."

"Yeah? Well, maybe. I hit level 10 recently and got a new trait."

"New trait?"

At my question, she beamed like a kid showing off a toy and shared her status window with me.

The new trait she mentioned was Berserker.

I remembered it from the shop.

True to the name, it was a trait for hyper-focused, mad combat.

As a Technician, I had no use for it, so I'd ignored it in the shop. Guess Sohee bought it back then.

Wonder what the Berserk skill it gave ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her was like?

Not bad at all. Close-quarters zombie fights? Infection's the big worry. This eliminates that.

Plus, it boosts Strength like Ha Dongseok's Superhuman Strength—and amps you up more when hurt. Pure berserker vibe.

Pretty solid trait for a shop item.

Well, Base Manager was shop-bought too, so not all shop traits suck.

Huh, wait a sec...

"Oh yeah, forgot about this."

"Huh? What?"

"You jogged my memory about something I'd blanked on."

The shop opens every Saturday.

And today was early Monday.

Meaning I'd missed the opening day.

Plan was to control shops every opening for coins, but I'd spaced.

Blame that rat bastard.

He barged in with his goons right when it opened, wiping shops from my mind.

Chaotic day saving his minions from my attack, too. Zombie Wave day 6—no respawns. Got ~3,000 coins off Ha Dongseok, so I thought I'd earned my keep and crashed. Forgot the shop.

Bit of a bummer, but lucky—Wave ongoing, hard for folks to reach shops easily.

Shop restocks every two weeks, items rotate.

This was week 1, so changes next week. Low stock spots probably skipped.

Especially the ones I cleared last week—sold out, few visitors now.

Probably.

Next shop day? Secure it no matter what.

Order Ha Dongseok's crew to lock down multiple nearby shops too.

Control several? Coin haul skyrockets.

"What're you thinking that has you grinning like a creep?"

"Huh? Nothing."

Got lost in coin dreams, apparently smiling.

"Ahem! Anyway, use that to get stronger. Hurry up and earn my 100,000 coins."

"Don't need reminding. Oh, and you brought a new girl today... your disciple? What's that about?"

"Ah, Lee Seoyoon? Planning to take her as my actual disciple."

Sohee frowned slightly.

"You teaching her some mystery power? Like the one that offed the Taker easy?"

She meant black magic, so I nodded.

"Then... can't I learn it too?"

"You? Hmm... probably not."

Sohee couldn't sense demonic energy at all. Forcing it? Possible, but risky if it fails. Not recommended.

And success odds low.

Losing her that way? My loss.

She looked disappointed, head down.

"Lee Seoyoon has the talent. Can't learn without it. And it'll take her ages to reach my level—no need to envy."

She probably pictured me mowing down zombie hordes and wanted that power. But Seoyoon? Years to get here.

"Plus, you've got killer talent. Best fighter I've seen."

Not flattery—dead serious. Sharpest combat sense of anyone from the old world.

"Glad to hear it. Feels good coming from you."

She grinned wide at the praise.

Time to start?

When we entered, she was shaking. Talking loosened her up—back to normal now.

Bring up sex? Might tense her again. But less than before, maybe.

I reached behind her smiling back, rested my hand on her shoulder, and gently pulled her toward me.

She jumped at the touch, staring.

"Figured you were relaxed now."

"...Better than at first."

"Looked like it. First time?"

Too embarrassed to answer, she turned her head away.

That was answer enough.

"...B-be gentle, okay?"

She mumbled, head still turned.

Tough-as-nails Sohee sounding like that? Adorably cute.

I pulled her closer and leaned in slow for a soft kiss on her still-turned lips.

She didn't pull away, just accepted it.

Under the bright moonlight, I decided to move to the next step.