FFF-Class Feminist Hunter - Episode 2: Level 1 - Am I the Only One Uncomfortable? (2)

"Was that punch earlier a mistake?"

I'd clearly targeted spots like the abdomen that wouldn't threaten her life. Hell, I didn't even hit her head.

"...Trait window."

"For real?"

Oh, this hallucination has some serious realism. It even has trait levels—super natural.

"The name and description are a bit weird, though."

Basically, it matched the system of real trait windows I knew pretty well. For starters, it listed how to gain EXP for leveling the trait. EXP led to levels up to a max of 10. And there were sub-traits, aka skills.

"Short and sweet. Is this the only one open right now?"

And an F-rank? First time seeing that. E-rank was supposed to be the lowest known.

"How realistic is this thing, anyway?"

To test the limits of this hallucination, I headed to the bathroom. If I'd really awakened, my eye color would have changed.

"No way, for real?"

Staring at my now-golden eyes, my mind reeled. Implementing this level of detail? My hallucination's quality is insane.

"Gold eyes mean supporter type, right?"

Close-combat types were red, long-range blue? Though basing position on eye color is dumb. Traits depend on how you use them, regardless of color.

"Hair color's the same, at least."

I'd heard some people's hair changes due to mana influence on awakening. Mine hadn't.

"Or maybe it's not a hallucination—it's a dream?"

A dream could explain the extra detail over a plain hallucination. Maybe I wanted to awaken so bad I dreamed this up?

"Bullshit. No matter how I slice it, this feels real."

What the hell? Weren't men incapable of awakening? Why me? An ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠irregular?

"Not a hallucination, that's for sure."

Okay, say the eyes are hallucinated too. But what about these sensations in my body? No doubt about it—this is mana.

"I'm losing my mind."

I'd always yearned to awaken, but now that it happened, my head hurt. First man to awaken? Better not get dragged to a lab as a guinea pig.

Hold on...

Regular women get mana checks yearly to sniff out those hiding awakenings for crime. But for a man?

I can hide it easy.

Keep the awakening secret, build strength. Once I'm untouchable...

Like S-rank?

No one but another S-rank can touch an S-rank. Sure, they care about image for perks, but if they went rogue? No one could stop them.

"Okay. That's the goal for now."

Problem is this trait. No clue what it wants me to do.

"Gain EXP by making women happy."

What's the benchmark for 'happy,' though? Traits are interpretive, but this one's especially vague.

"Sub-trait's the same."

Distort perception? Sounds like hypnosis.

Wait—hypnosis?

There were mental interference traits. Awakeners used them for crimes before.

"After that, they did preemptive core extraction surgery on mental types before they could grow."

If this sub-trait is mental interference, getting caught means instant game over. Can't lose this chance like that.

"Wonder if it works on me?"

Hmm, nothing to lose. Let's test color perception lightly.

"This cup looks white. Am I the Only One Uncomfortable? Shouldn't it be black?"

As I muttered, mana tingled up. Focusing it on myself, my vision shifted suddenly.

"It actually worked?"

The cup that was white moments ago now looked black. Perception successfully distorted. So natural, you'd never notice without knowing.

"Mana keeps draining, huh."

Cut the mana, and the color snapped back.

"Key is how far this goes."

Probably more mana drain on physically enhanced awakeners. Mental defense traits? Forget it.

It worked on me, so it'll work on awakeners too.

Test on C-ranks at work tomorrow. If not them, academy kids or civilians.

"But civilians feel off."

Research says stronger monsters give more EXP under same conditions. Applies to people too—stronger target, more EXP.

To max EXP fast, gotta target hunters.

Lucky my job puts me around them. Looking forward to work for once.

"Mr. Park, aren't you off today?"

"Just came in to lay low. Didn't wanna waste vacation."

"Be careful."

"Yeah."

Quick greetings as I scanned around. Hunting C-rank hunters to test my trait.

"Who you looking for?"

"My charges. The newbies."

"Oh, the two headed to the rooftop earlier?"

Rooftop? Why there? Hiding from bully seniors?

Sigh, poor kids.

Lots of good hunters, but theirs are assholes. Doesn't help they're my charges.

Door's open?

Peeking through the crack, they were chatting. Too far to hear.

Gotta try.

If I can twist their perception here, I can eavesdrop undetected. Fail? Just say I was looking for them.

"They can see me, right? Am I the Only One Uncomfortable? They shouldn't."

Targeted both. More mana drain than yesterday's self-test.

Feels good?

Not sure if it landed, but activation seemed fine. Now, step out unseen.

"What the—the door flew open. Wind?"

They noticed the door but blamed wind, not seeing me. Nailed it.

Right after I entered, Bae Jeonga made an ice chunk in midair and hurled it at the door.

Bang!

The slamming door chilled my spine.

One second later and I'd be fucked.

Too lazy to close it manually, but if it'd hit? Fatal. And my awakening would've been exposed.

"Ugh, annoying. Why we hiding like this?"

"No choice. We're weaker than seniors."

"Not Yurim senior. Fuck, that manager asshole..."

Me? Why me now?

"Jeonga, he was trying to help..."

"Not my problem. Yurim hates us, but Ayoung could've been cool if we played nice. That prick ruined it."

Huh, fair point? C-ranks aren't beneath Min Ayoung.

"Still, he meant well."

"So? He caused trouble. Nothing solved."

Harsh but true. Can't argue facts. Didn't know Yoo Chaerin was like that either.

"Manager was thinking of us..."

"What are you, a teacher? Preachy. If that's it, fuck off. Let me chill alone."

"Huh? O-okay."

Bae Jeonga snapped, Myo Seola panicked and headed out. Then, sensing wrongness, Myo Seola tripped.

"Kyaa!"

Black. Wait, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not the point.

Ice on the floor just now?

Glanced at Bae Jeonga—grinning ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠slyly. Totally tripped her on purpose.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, floor was slippery."

Myo Seola left clueless. Alone now, Bae Jeonga burst out laughing.

"Haha, what a retard. Hilarious."

This bitch? Pretending victim while bullying Myo Seola?

Unbelievable.

Thought she was a victim like Myo Seola, but Bae Jeonga was trash too. My hunter luck sucks.

Sigh. Undo on Myo Seola first.

Plenty mana left—experiment on Bae Jeonga? Normally guilty, but after that stunt? Nah.

"My looks and voice—Am I the Only One Uncomfortable? Should feel like her favorite person."

Curious if abstract stuff works. Didn't test yesterday.

"Eh? S-Senior Yoo Chaerin?"

Bae Jeonga startled straight, posture perfect. Yoo Chaerin, huh?

Her fave is Yoo Chaerin.

Fan crush, admiration? Didn't specify gender, so fine. S-rank vibe means no lip.

"What's your name?"

We kinda know each other from last incident. Yoo Chaerin wouldn't remember a C-rank, though.

"B-Bae Jeonga."

"I see. You okay? You're shaking."

"I-I... I'm your fan, senior!"

"Ah."

Imitating Yoo Chaerin best I could. Trait covers gaps.

"Fan means you like me?"

"Y-yes!"

"Nah, liar."

"No?!"

Hmm, how to mess with her? Idea hit.

"Then you'll do anything I say?"

"O-of course!"

Bold in front of fave. Bonus point.

"Anything, for real?"

"Yes!"

"Then strip."

"Pardon?"

Her doubtful look was kinda pitiful. But she bullied others for fun—fair's fair.

"Take off all your clothes."

Made sure she heard right, repeating the order.