Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Don't Ask, I Said
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Having decided we'd entered its range, the Mud Slime fired a glob of mud.
More precisely, it was the creature's bodily fluids, which resembled mud.
The moment it hit the golem, a foul stench rose along with acrid smoke.
The struck section caved in, and the blackened soil and stones crumbled to the ground.
"It's mixed with something foul beyond just earth and water. Handle it yourself."
"Yes, Gnome!"
Oh Yeonseo moved her fingers through the air like a fish in water.
She summoned multiple magic circles, manipulating them as if working a touchscreen.
Grroooowww—!!
As the golem raised one arm, the soil and stones below its wrist clattered and reshaped.
The fingers vanished, forming a massive cylindrical hose.
The gaping hole in the center looked like it could suck in anything.
Like a vacuum cleaner nozzle, the transformed hand plunged straight into the Mud Slime's body.
"Beasts that know only slaughter have no right to the earth."
With Gnome's chuunibyou line, the arm embedded in the slime began to vibrate.
A deafening roar echoed as the slime's body got sucked into the hole.
The thing thrashed wildly, extending muddy tentacles to wrap around the arm, but it didn't budge.
Smoke rose as the wrapped section crumbled, only to immediately regenerate.
It was a monstrous regeneration rate no monster could withstand.
Realizing that wouldn't work, the slime changed tactics.
Its lower body spread out, absorbing the sticky floor.
Fresh mud sprouted like new flesh on the melting parts being sucked into the golem.
The golem kept sucking from above, but the regeneration from below was no slouch either.
Of course, Oh Yeonseo wasn't just standing by.
Like a conductor on a podium, she gracefully directed the air with her fingers.
"Undine!"
"Got it."
The ground split open, water rising into the air.
The slime's body cracked in places as water jets gushed upward.
It was like reverse playback of rain falling.
"No water, no mud, right?"
Drained of moisture, the slime's body cracked wide open.
It turned crumbly like poorly fired pottery, its color fading.
"Grrraaah... grooo..."
The dried clay twisted and shattered into fragments on the floor.
The slime had hardened so much there was nothing left to suck in.
"Sylph!"
"Alright, time to finish it."
A whirlwind enveloped the now-moistureless clay lump that was the slime.
Shavings peeled from the surface, turning to sleet and rising toward the ceiling.
It powdered away like ingredients in a blender, vanishing in just a few minutes.
Oh Yeonseo's eyes glistened as she watched the dispersing slime.
She wouldn't pity a monster like that—it had to be tears of joy at reaching the peak as a summoner.
"Congrats. You're way better at handling us than that guy. Mix in a lot of her Yin Energy. It'll taste great."
Why did that sound like "creampie her" to me?
Has my brain gone haywire since acquiring Yin Energy?
"Sylph... thank you... sniff."
Wiping away tears, Oh Yeonseo overlapped in my mind with the one writhing beneath me.
Having thoughts like this in a gate—definitely pent-up frustration.
Back home, I'll have to indulge in my secret collection at least three times.
Squelch~
Oh Yeonseo hugged my neck.
The pleasant weight made me sway unsteadily.
"Yeonseo, if Yin Energy goes in... you'll get aroused, you know."
"The three spirits are consuming it continuously. It feels much better than before."
There's a method like that, huh.
Does this mean Oh Yeonseo and I have great chemistry?
"Mmm, this mix tastes good too. Keep hugging since we're eating."
I'd suddenly become a Yin Energy supply depot for the great spirits.
At least the three had compromised—no total drain like with Gnome.
"Thank you, Woojin. I always wondered when I'd summon the great spirits, but I never imagined it'd happen this easily."
"Easy? You were struggling so hard earlier."
"My body hurt, but in your arms, I felt it. You were constantly trying something for my sake, right? Even... touching my chest was for me..."
"Well, it wasn't entirely selfless... but the spirits said it'd help you use your skills better, so..."
I shouldn't have brought up the front part—my brain must be fried.
My thoughts were spilling out without any filter.
'Hope she doesn't peg me as a pervert.'
But Oh Yeonseo's reaction was unexpected.
"You can touch the right one outside. Call me anytime."
She said, her face flushing red.
"Sounds good to me. I'll definitely call."
No filter again.
I'm losing my mind.
Blue Gate (B-04) Cleared. Congratulations!
[Rewards]
Points: 2,000pt
Artifact: Yin Energy Terminator
The clearance message appeared in midair, and the rewards were distributed.
Other hunters had ranks, levels, and stats they could level up like in a game, but I got nothing but points and artifacts.
I'd asked why I didn't have ranks and levels like them, but the answer was that the King of Yin Energy didn't need such things.
[Kings don't need trivial numbers. You can crush everything with overwhelming Yin Energy.]
So how overwhelming is it, exactly?
One-shotting trash mobs in a Blue Gate doesn't count as overwhelming.
There are four more gates above—prove you can do it there too.
At least compare it to current hunters' ranks.
The points were the same issue.
Available Points: 3,704pt
Already stacked this high, but no clue where to spend them.
They said I could use them with a gate merchant, but not a sign of one.
"I'd love to give this to you, Woojin, but the contract prevents it. Sorry."
Oh Yeonseo held an artifact ore that looked like a gem crystal.
Take it out, appraise it, refine it to extract the artifact.
Artifacts from gates had advanced human tech by leaps and bounds.
The state strictly controlled them to prevent leaks abroad or misuse by corporations.
"Even if you gave it, I couldn't use it anyway, so don't worry."
Before appraisal, artifact ore was just a rock.
Appraisal fees were one issue, but using official appraisers left records, making disposal tricky.
Black market appraisers existed without records, but a student like me couldn't access them easily.
She knew my abilities were special but not that I'd received points and artifacts.
I'll keep it secret until I figure out how to use them.
Points aside, artifacts had no physical form.
'Artifacts are in rewards, but why not hand them over?'
Listed but not delivered.
Same with the last one, Yin Energy Scout.
[No inventory, that's why. It'll sort itself when you meet the gate merchant. No rush anyway.]
Just keep waiting, they say.
"How long do you plan to stay with the Hunter Agency, Woojin?"
Oh Yeonseo asked.
Cha Yona wanted me for research cooperation, but it wasn't mandatory.
As a semi-awakened, the pay for gate runs was juicy enough to stick around.
A few lab checkups paid enough to cover living expenses.
Of course, no plans to linger as a temp forever.
"Until graduation. One semester left."
If unawakened, I'd prep for the Hunter Agency civil service exam.
Goal was administrative position before graduating.
"No guild plans? You could get special treatment."
Mid-tier-plus hunters got guilds begging, but semi-awakened were iffy.
Some signed exclusive contracts for hunter synergy, but many freelancers hated org life.
With skill, solo White Gates for mana stones were possible.
As I hesitated, Oh Yeonseo continued.
"Wish I could recommend mine, but honestly, I wouldn't suggest any of the four great guilds."
"Everyone's dying to join, but you think differently."
"This'll take a while, so let's talk outside. We gotta meet up soon, right? Not gonna touch my chest?"
Her provocative words shut me up.
Speaking here might spill another unfiltered line.
"Why so quiet? Don't want to touch them?"
But she pressed on.
Dead set on my answer.
"It's just... it won't end with touching, you okay with that?"
Fuck, that's why I said don't ask.