EP.16 Level 3 - Too Scary~ (8)
"Okay, this feels like it wraps up this week's business nicely."
Ah, right—I had plans to check out equipment for Myo Seola this week. Better text her to head out today.
"Hm?"
As I sent the message and sipped my coffee, someone in the corner kept staring at me intently. When I glanced over, Ayoung's face turned beet red, and she bowed her head low.
She's embarrassed, huh. Sitting next to her, Yeo Yurim alternated looks between me and Ayoung with a face that screamed utter confusion.
Well, can you blame her? Ayoung used to glare at me like she wanted me dead every time our eyes met, and now she's gazing at me with the starry-eyed look of a girl deep in love. It's gotta be surreal.
But you're not far behind either, Yurim, you bitch.
Next week is your turn.
I was itching to mess with her right then, but outfitting the girls' gear took priority. Today was for scouting equipment for Jeong-ah and Myo Seola.
"Manager-nim!"
"Huh, where's Seola-ssi?"
"She's waiting in the car already."
"Okay."
I waved to Ayoung and headed out. Climbing into the hunter van, I spotted Myo Seola avoiding my eyes while pouting sulkily.
Is she pissed?
"Sorry, Seola-ssi. I had no idea work would pile up like this and we'd only make it out on Friday."
"That's not why I'm mad."
Then what? Following her sharp gaze, it landed on Jeong-ah, who was grinning from ear to ear.
Ah, she's salty that Jeong-ah's tagging along.
"Sorry. I was supposed to focus on you..."
"You know that, and you still?"
"Jeong-ah hit level 7. Both of you need gear upgrades ASAP."
"...I reached level 8 yesterday."
"Pardon?"
What the hell. She was level 6 just a bit ago, right? A two-level jump out of nowhere? Sure, low levels can spike like that sometimes, but from 6 to 8 this fast?
"That's some insane speed..."
"So you should've taken me alone as special treatment."
"Sorry. Want me to tell Jeong-ah to get lost now?"
If anything, Jeong-ah herself would love being ditched right now. But yeah, prioritizing level 8 Myo Seola over level 7 Jeong-ah made sense.
"Too late. But we'll eat dinner just us two later. Only snagged two seats."
"Uh, um. Jeong-ah, you cool with that?"
"Yes♡"
Yeah, figured as much. No way she'd turn down some neglect play or abandonment fetish fuel.
Her tastes sure come in handy at times like this.
"Hm, bras first?"
"Probably smart."
Mana pools in the breasts, so nothing aids and amps mana use more effectively than a good bra. Especially for Jeong-ah, whose main costs run on mana—I planned to dump most of the budget there.
"This a new release?"
Jeong-ah pointed at one on display and started reading the specs. Looked like a fresh drop from the hunter gear brand Nozomi, aimed at B-ranks. 100 million won? Solid average pricing.
"Nozomi new model, right? Mind explaining?"
"Ah, the Travia H7? Nozomi pushed it hard, said to put it on show. Covers up to A-rank, with the latest mana assist circuits."
All flash, no substance. Circuits were upgradable on old bras anyway. Nothing here worth grabbing unless the pickings were truly slim.
"Eunhyuk-ssi, what about this one?"
Myo Seola had spotted something promising. The demo size was small—tailored for special-cost hunters. 80 million? At level 8, we could swing pricier.
"Never heard of the maker."
"True, but the effects are a perfect fit."
A-rank durable circuits were par for the course, but the special feature felt fresh: it notifies and displays whenever mana hits your set recovery threshold. Handy for hunters who burn mana periodically to generate costs. Made sense—special-cost types prioritize convenience over raw mana boosting. And at a price slightly undercutting similar gear, it had real edge.
Smart design.
"Then Seola-ssi, let's go with this."
"Yes. Jeong-ah's the issue now?"
"Yep."
For mana-heavy elementals like her, the bra was make-or-break. Had to splurge on one with legit payoff effects, price be damned...
"Hm, this one's no good for Jeong-ah."
"Ah, isn't that the one Ayoung sunbae uses?"
"Yup."
Freya 009, Ayoung's current ride. It cools her swirling fire mana, letting her trait crank fire temps even higher. Total mismatch for ice-affinity Jeong-ah.
"Nothing that warms things up a bit?"
"But honestly, no need to match temps perfectly."
"Why?"
I shot back, and Jeong-ah glanced around before whispering in my ear.
"Feels good—like a slight frostbite on my tits."
"You crazy bitch..."
She's weighing self-harm perks over combat efficiency at this point. But as I thought that, one piece caught my eye.
That could work...
"How about this?"
"Not... a bra?"
"Coverage is skimpy, but it's a bodysuit."
The type fusing bra and panties into one. Another Nozomi joint, total sales disaster.
"Targeted B-ranks, launched at 500 million a pop."
"Ooh, down to 300 now?"
"Dead stock. No customs, so size check required."
Nozomi's Blackfeather X. Mashup bra and panties into a bodysuit for better synergy and peak efficiency.
Problem is, it's batshit insane gear.
First time I read the specs, I figured the designer was deranged. Who the fuck markets a bodysuit with a massive dildo jammed in the pussy?
But it held steady at 300 million despite the psycho design for a reason.
Overwhelming performance.
Like it was screaming, "Pull this insane stunt, and this is the payoff!" The dildo's packed with circuits that link to the bra section, pumping output to absurd levels. Downside: load shifts from just breasts to deep inside the pussy.
But for a masochist like Jeong-ah, that "flaw" was a non-issue. She'd probably relish the pain mid-fight.
My rundown wrapped up, and Jeong-ah's eyes lit up as she locked in the purchase.
"Definitely this. They said it can resize later!"
"Knew you'd say that."
"Uh, that thing's a bit..."
Myo Seola grimaced at the dildo's brutal girth. Legendary levels of zero fucks given for user comfort—just pure performance.
Who fights with that stuffed in?
"Hehe..."
"A girl like that actually exists."
With bras sorted, we shifted to the panties section. Time to hook Myo Seola up with the big one.
"Can swing up to 500 million, so get something top-tier."
Upper brass might summon me for dropping half a bil, but I could smooth it over. Level 8 Myo Seola? No way I'd cheap out.
We scoured hard but struck out. Most were ranged-defense panties. Fine option, but Myo Seola mixed melee, so specialized defense felt iffy.
"Hm, what about this side?"
"Ah, stores magic tools, right?"
Melee panties skip heavy defense—melee hunters tank hits or block directly anyway. Instead, they pack storage for weapons.
"Ooh, 450 million, but capacity's nuts."
"Wow..."
Standard holds one or two weapons; this baby fit nearly 100. How the—
"Ah."
"......"
Of course. Just raw physical space.
Shit, now we're jamming dildos in to store gear?
Though it's pretty cute as dildos go...
Way shorter and adorbs. More like just the tip teasing the entrance—for circuit and storage space, probably minimal.
Should be fightable.
...Right?
"Yeah, this feels off. Something else..."
"N-no, I'll take this."
Myo Seola blurted it out, face flaming red. Embarrassed, but if it boosted combat, she'd suck it up.
"Size measurement, please."
"Sure."
All three pieces were in stock at their current sizes—immediate pickup. I swiped the corp card, loaded the hunter van.
"Jeong-ah, head back on your own."
"Hng♡ Can't at least leave the gear?"
"Dream on."
"Y-you're really ditching me?"
Myo Seola gawked, but I peeled out for real. She's got cash; she'll manage.
"Where's the restaurant again?"
"Ah, check navi search history."
Damn, this place? Screams stupid expensive. Not my usual scene.
"Never knew this spot was nearby."
"You didn't? It's great."
"...Not big on hassle."
Money's not the issue. But that cash could feed the orphanage kids real nice meals. Happiness compounds, y'know.
"You pull solid pay, right? Around C-rank like us?"
"Donate most to the orphanage I know. They're like family; can't stop."
She nodded like she got it, fiddled with her phone a sec. I parked in the restaurant lot per navi, then glanced back.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Why the intense stare? Anyway, we entered, gave the reservation, got seated by the window. Early for dinner, so a few spots open.
"Ooh, nice vibe."
"Yeah."
As evening crept in, the cityscape glowed orange—stunning panorama. Restaurant nailed the prime, unobstructed spot.
Gorgeous.
"What's good here? Recommendations?"
"I like B set. D gets rave reviews too."
B: carbonara and steak. D: mac 'n' cheese and beef stew. Meat dish plus pasta, sounds like.
"B and D, split 'em?"
"Perfect. Let's do it."
Ordered up, then checked on training gripes.
"None. You're babying me too much—it's getting annoying."
"Can't help it when you're improving so fast."
"I'll take it as a compliment."
It is one. I chuckled at the absurdity, and she silently set something on the table.
Card?
DIAMOND 4
After a bit, she pocketed it again. Whatever was printed on that card was definitely 'Diamond 4'.