EP.21 Level 4 - Study If You Don't Know (5)
"Phew, feels nice and cool."
After drying my hair with the blow dryer, I slowly started styling it. I trimmed my shoulder-length bob to naturally blend the brown and gold tones, just like always. Finally, after pinning it in place, I could stand up from the mirror.
"Perfect."
Yesterday, when I got home from work, my hair was a total mess—probably because I dozed off out of boredom. Since I'd slept soundly tonight, I'd make sure to head home looking sharp. Sleeping at a weird angle like that always gives me a headache. Sure, a flat iron could fix it somewhat, but ever since hitting level 8 and my body getting tougher, I could feel that the flat iron just wasn't cutting it anymore.
This is a pricey hunter-grade one I splurged on, too...
Well, who cares about a stupid flat iron if I hit level 9 and become an A-rank hunter soon? B-rank salaries and upkeep allowances aren't bad, but the gear made exclusively for higher ranks costs a fortune. A flat iron that works up to level 9 probably runs as much as level 8 equipment. Thieving bastards.
"Ayoung, sleep well?"
"Oh, Yurim."
Min Ayoung, a fellow Hunter Academy grad and teammate. She's a bit dim, which makes her easy to use, but if you play along just right, she listens well enough. That's why we're pretty close.
"Hah, no need to ask—those jiggling tits say you're doing just fine. Haven't they gotten even bigger?"
"I hope so. I wanna hit level 9 ASAP. Still no clue how to break through the wall."
"Same here. What can ya do?"
Huh? Why does it feel like it's been forever since we talked?
Today's Tuesday, so we must've chatted a ton yesterday. With her being my only academy buddy on the team, it always feels that way, but... for some reason, I couldn't recall our conversation from yesterday. I vaguely remembered talking, but...
I got nothing on the details.
"Ayoung, what'd we talk about yesterday?"
"Talk?"
"Can't remember."
"Hmm..."
She thought for a sec, then shook her head like it was nothing special. The only standout was her yapping about some book she'd been reading lately...
Probably forgot 'cause it was so boring.
Ayoung surprisingly digs romance novels about girls dating girls or whatever. Well, she hates guys, so she avoids anything with men in it.
"Wanna just do some training today?"
It might mess up my hair a bit, but better than dozing off and ruining it from boredom. Ayoung might get dungeon duty, but I've met my quotas, so low chance for me. Might as well train.
"Ayoung, help me out with training."
"Stack buffs on you, right?"
"Yeah."
Everything about my trait is great—except this. A cost system that requires dragging an ally along? Rare as hell, and tough for anyone but me to pull off.
We grabbed gear from the locker room and changed. Gotta go in with just equipment in case clothes rip. Last time, I wore my outfit 'cause I hated the training footage, ended up shredding it and going home in rags—way more embarrassing.
"Should I gear up too?"
"If you want? Just in case."
"Cool."
I stripped fully, stashed my clothes in the locker, and slipped on the bra gear. A soft click, and a pleasant flow of mana support wrapped around my chest. Then the panties with the weapon pocket. I pressed the center button to open the subspace, grabbed the hilt protruding from the front, and drew my sword.
"Looks fixed up nice."
"Didn't it break last raid?"
"Yeah, they said they'd repair it and leave it here—did a good job."
This country's on top of hunter gear, at least. They even track every checkout forever. Overkill, but with all the awakener crimes lately, can't blame 'em.
"Whoa, still can't get over it no matter how many times."
"What?"
"Your tits, Ayoung. Pure mana hunters like you—don't they ever feel heavy?"
Not that visuals suggest it; hunters don't feel that weight. Our bras and panties are built heavy-duty anyway.
"Lemme stack some buffs."
"Go easy."
My trait's base is boosting an ally's physical strength. But that's not the main gig—the stacks from those buffs become the cost to amp my body. I preload allies with buffs, then dump it all into my firepower at once. That's my style.
Stacking multiples on one person doesn't boost harder, but the stacks count. So even one ally lets me use my power freely.
Flip side: solo, it's useless.
Remembered getting isolated last time, nearly monster chow 'cause I couldn't do shit. Grimaced. Ruined my mood.
"Usual difficulty?"
"Yeah, loosen up first."
Haven't properly trained since the dungeon. Start light on familiar settings.
"Hah!"
Swing at practice monsters, parry unavoidable hits. Simple stuff, but timing trait bursts for firepower is key.
"Hm?"
But... is this how my trait feels normally? Usually, my whole body heats up, power surges. Just now? Kinda... ticklish?
Placebo?
"Nah."
Running for combat means wind friction inevitably. But post-trait, the sensation shifted. Picking up finer details... amplified, almost.
Sensitivity up? No level-up or body boost—why? Still, better monster/response awareness meant precise movement felt easier.
"Yurim's on point today?"
"Feelin' good."
Dunno why, but if it helps, great. That's what I thought at first.
"Ugh, what the—?"
Weirdly, each trait use ramped the amplification. Now even wind from running felt like it was licking my whole body. What was helpful intel turned overload, confusing me. Too much sensation—I couldn't focus.
"Yurim!"
"Eek!?"
I missed a monster move. Ayoung sized me up, torched it, and halted training.
"Hahk..."
"You okay? Feel bad anywhere?"
"Body's too sensitive... what the hell?"
"Tired?"
Maybe? But I slept great. Dungeon was easy despite weapon break—no real strain.
"Want a massage?"
"Massage? You know how?"
"Hehe, you'll see."
Not expecting much—free, though. Ayoung's no strength enhancer; how refreshing could it be?
Wait, no—I buffed her.
Might work then. As I figured bare minimum gain, she pulled something out and slathered it on me.
"Ooh, cool. What's this?"
"Jeong-a's."
"Asked what, not whose."
Classic Ayoung. She probably doesn't even know. Ask Jeong-a later.
"Cooling it down nicely."
"Knots?"
Ayoung, not knots—it's just firm. Physical enhancers build tough bodies; unavoidable.
"Gotta loosen it then."
"What?"
Even with strength it barely budged—how's she gonna... Eek!?
"Hng! W-what're you doing!?"
"Massage?"
Doesn't feel like it. What massage strokes so blatantly? Zero pressure, pure stimulation.
Why's her touch so lewd?
Did she 'learn' massage from porn?}
Her being dense, maybe watched lesbian harassment "massage" vids and thinks that's it. Explains the hands.
"S-stop... Eek♡"
Dunno why, but hypersensitive body jerked. At this rate, we'd end up... insane.
"Y-you... that's not proper massage!"
"Isn't it?"
"Massages aren't this lewd—ahng♡"
"Knew it."
"What?"
"But you've been stressed lately, Yurim. Thought it'd help unwind."
"Who unwinds like this!"
Her common sense vacuum—where to even start? Might end with lifetime shame of her ravaging me.
Brain screamed run, but her touches froze me. Small mercy: she avoided blatant spots like clit or nipples. Keeping lines?
"Hauwk♡ Ayoung, stop..."
"Just a bit more."
Layering pleasure softly building. Like stacking thin towels—good vibes piling endlessly. What I dismissed snowballed.
Something's wrong.
I ignore this stuff, but I masturbate when horny. Know the buildup to climax.
But way past that threshold—no release. Pleasure flooded my head, but trigger clogged—agony. Why? Should've cum by now.
"Feelin' good, Yurim?"
"Hng♡ Hate it♡ Let me cum..."
"Wow, just like Darling said."
Darling? Who's that? Ayoung's single.
"Okay. No more teasing. You're loosened up plenty."
"Heuuk♡"
Head spun dizzy. Mistook it for climax—bliss—but no, still denied.
"Gonna grab lunch. Come out when you're sorted, Yurim."
"Eek!?"
She wiped my pussy, slicked her fingers with juices, sucked them clean, and left. Weird? Was Ayoung ever like that?
"Dunno... but gotta hold out."
Whatever this is, can't lose. I steadied my trembling body, changed clothes.
"Hold on."
You can do it, Yeo Yurim.