EP.46 Level 5 - My Head's Spinning (18)

"Hey, what the hell is this?"

"What now?"

The man answered grumpily as his female superior smacked him on the head. What was it this time? What was she digging into him for now? If she weren't a hunter, he would've filed a MeToo complaint against her in a heartbeat. Thinking exactly that, he listened to the audio file she'd played for him.

"Why are you showing me this? I forwarded it because it ended with them saying it was a prank call."

"Sorry. It, it was... it was a prank call."

See? The man asked with a puzzled look. He stared at the woman with an utterly confident expression, convinced he'd handled everything correctly.

"Are you seriously that dense? They clearly said mental manipulation, and at the end they stuttered while claiming it was a prank call. Shouldn't your first thought be that they might have been hit with mental manipulation during the call?"

"...Oh."

She had a point. The woman's words sounded reasonable. So this could actually be a legitimate report of a real crime?

"To be fair, if the other party had been a woman, I probably would've thought the same. But it's a man, right?"

"Your thinking is too shallow. If it really ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was mental manipulation, the first thing they'd do is hide their identity by becoming the gender that gets the least scrutiny. And which gender is most advantageous for that?"

"Ah! Men, since they don't get inspected?"

"How the hell did someone like you make it into the Violent Crimes Division?"

Well, sure, they called it the Violent Crimes Division, but he was basically just a phone jockey. The man grumbled back, but the woman didn't seem to care. She tossed him a single document.

"Go conduct the examination. I've already secured an arrest warrant."

"These come out that easily!?"

"Mental manipulation cases can cause massive damage, so warrants are issued almost immediately. In exchange, if it turns out to be nothing, the compensation is generous."

It made sense. There weren't many mental manipulation crimes these days, but countermeasures had been thoroughly prepared back when things were worse. Watching the woman explain everything properly for once, the man found himself genuinely impressed. So she really was a competent senior after all. He'd always thought she was just a broken human being who did nothing but chew him out.

"Um, but... you don't mean right now, do you?"

"Tomorrow. The chance that the person at home is the real one is high, and the reporter was Yoo Hyemi, correct?"

"Yes."

"The fact that Yoo Hyemi works in the same building makes the workplace suspicious too. Tomorrow when they both come in for work, we'll ambush and arrest them."

As she spoke, she quietly handed him a small vial along with the papers. The man frowned at the unfamiliar bottle design.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"And what's this?"

"It's enchanted with Level 10 Purification. Assuming the target used mental manipulation to subdue Yoo Hyemi, who is Level 9, nothing less than Level 10 Purification would be able to stop it. It lasts about thirty minutes once consumed. Use that window to administer the awakened-grade sedative and bring them in."

"A Level 10 Purification potion!? We have something like this?"

"We only had the one. It's a work by Saint Seo Eunha. We received it from the regular supply she provides to the nation."

"Whoa. If it's one of Seo Eunha's potions, the price would be insane."

"Which shows just how heavy the responsibility for this case is."

The more the man listened, the stranger it felt. If it was that important, why was she handing a mission like this to him? If she'd prepared this thoroughly, she could just take the credit herse—

"Just do what you're told. Why are you complaining so much? Should I do it myself? If this really is a legitimate case and you succeed, you'll get an immediate special promotion. Don't you get it? Since I'm the one pushing this, even if it turns out to be nothing, there won't be any repercussions for you."

"No, that's exactly why it's weird. Why aren't you handling it yourself..."

"Because my phone shuttle has too low a rank to be useful. Satisfied?"

"...Fine. I'll do it. Hey, I said I'd do it! Don't take it back!"

"Sigh. Do it properly. I'm giving this to you because my rank wouldn't rise even if I handled it myself. Of course, the best outcome would be if you were right and it really was just a prank call."

"Yeah, I guess so. I'll be heading out now!"

"Make sure you're ready first thing tomorrow morning! I can't cover for you since I have the day off!"

"I know, I know!"

The moment the woman got home, she threw herself onto the bed and let out an irritated groan. Dealing with men who had no power really was exhausting.

'Haa, it can't be real, right?'

Either a female awakened was disguising herself as a man, or it was exactly as that idiot subordinate said—just a prank call. She hoped it was one of those ordinary scenarios. But the circumstances were lining up in an oddly suspicious way.

"Yes, Master. I'm calling because I have something to report. No, it looks like it will be difficult today."

Normally she would've rushed straight to him instead of reporting by phone. The woman felt a pang of regret that she had to postpone the schedule where she was supposed to meet her Master starting today. But this incident was too big to brush aside lightly.

"There is a possibility of a male awakened. Ah, nothing is confirmed yet. We can't completely rule out the prank call theory or the possibility that a woman is disguising herself."

As she spoke on the phone, her hand began gently stroking her own buttocks. The act was far too obscene to be done while reporting to someone.

"Yes, I'll contact you again once there's a conclusion. I'll come right away once this is wrapped up. Ah, Master, really♡ Please wait just a little longer♡ Uhh♡ Yes♡"

She hung up while acting coquettish, then slipped her fingers into her soaked panties and began masturbating in earnest.

Squelch! Squelch!

Lewd sounds echoed through the room as her expression gradually transformed into one of desperate longing.

"Haa, Master♡ Ahh♡"

Her clothes felt like they were in the way, so she stripped them off layer by layer until she was completely naked, rolling around on the bed. With one hand she massaged her breasts while the other vigorously pumped inside her pussy, desperately trying to comfort herself. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't reach the level she craved.

"Ah, ah.... It just isn't the same if it's not Master's..."

In the end, she gave up on masturbating. She licked her own love juices off her fingers and lay comfortably on the bed.

All she had to do tomorrow morning was check the results of that man's mana examination. Then she could run straight to her Master's side.

"Master...."

The woman smiled happily as she thought of the person she'd been speaking with on the phone. On her belly—no, inside her womb—a heart-shaped tattoo engraved with the letter Q glowed with an ominous light.

"That was delicious. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I had a proper breakfast like this."

"...Just what exactly have you been eating all this time, Master?"

"One pack of ramen in the morning is plenty. If not that, then maybe some three-minute curry?"

"I'm so glad I came here...."

"Why?"

"It feels like I made the right choice by staying with you."

"The way you said that makes it sound like I've been living terribly until now...."

The moment Hyemi heard my words, she nodded firmly. Had my life really been that pathetic?

"Your salary isn't exactly high, is it? Where have you been spending it all...."

"On my hobbies?"

"Which are?"

"...I mostly donate it to the orphanage."

"......."

She was staring at me with genuine surprise. Well, even I would find it strange if some pervert who acted like I did suddenly claimed to have a hobby like that. That's why Hyeun is always so fascinated by it.

"Hehe, I guess I was really misunderstanding you. I didn't know anything at all. Not about my sister, and not about you either, Master."

"Isn't it natural not to know?"

"No. I should have known. I shouldn't have reported you when I didn't understand anything...."

"Report? What report?"

Was she talking about when she tried to report me as an awakened criminal last time? That really had scared the hell out of me.

"Not that.... Ah, no. That's exactly it."

"Just get ready. I'll wash up quickly and come out."

"Should I wash you?"

"No, we'd probably be late if you did."

If I got in the bathroom with her, there was a high chance we'd end up going another round. With our commute time approaching, we didn't have that luxury.

"Ah, that's not what I meant. I was asking if I should have a spirit wash you."

"Oh?"

Was that even possible? Since she'd offered, I asked her to try it, and in less than a minute I was washed, rinsed, and dried. It even felt cleaner than when I did it myself....

"Then what have I been doing all this time...?"

"I usually just shower with normal water too. Undine is female, so she doesn't really like thoroughly washing a woman's body. Of course, she'll help with anything she can do that normal people can't."

"Does she like men?"

"She likes handsome ones."

"...Really?"

It sounded like she was saying I was handsome. Should I just accept it as a compliment?

"I feel strange for some reason."

"Why?"

No, it might be the most natural thing in the world for you, but getting ready for work together like this feels like a newlywed couple. And why are you buttoning up every single one of my buttons when you dress yourself instantly with spirit magic?

"Do you dislike it?"

"No, I like it."

"Then why are you reacting so strangely?"

So this is what it really feels like to receive 'service.' What the hell had I thought service was until now?

"Ah, Darling, you're here. Huh, and who is this next to you?"

"Ah, Ayoung. This is Yoo Hyemi, a hunter from Yoo Chaerin's team. You know she's been staying on the floor below for the past two days, right?"

"I know that. What I'm asking is why you're coming out so close together, and why you're commuting together."

There was a slight edge in her voice. Hmm, maybe I should have left Hyemi downstairs after all? I'd brought her along because I was worried about leaving her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠alone with Hyeun.

"We're living together."

"Hey, hey! You don't have to say that...!"

"Oh?"

Ayoung smiled as she grabbed my collar. If she stabbed me with that straight ball, I'd have to explain the whole situation.

"How strange. When I asked to live together, you refused so strongly, Darling. Yet now you've started living with Hunter Yoo Hyemi, whom you weren't even close to until last week."

"Ahaha, Ayoung. It's a misunderstanding. There were some circumstances, so she's staying at our place temporarily. It's not what you think."

"Huu, this morning Master filled my belly with his cum.... It's still warm inside me."

Don't lie. I had Undine scrape it all out earlier.

"Darling, come to my house after work today and explain yourself."

"No, that's...."

"I told you to introduce me to anyone I don't know beforehand."

"But you already know Hunter Yoo Hyemi...."

"I don't. Anyway, I don't know her, so explain."

This was driving me crazy. I glared at the culprit who was clearly enjoying this as she looked my way. Was she doing this on purpose to torment me? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I was starting to get scared that she might end up bullying me along with her sister.

"Excuse me. It's getting really noisy outside?"

Hyemi frowned and slightly opened the window to check the situation. Seeing her suddenly turn serious, I tried to look too, but she stopped me.

"Why?"

"It's the police. More precisely, the Awakened Crime Enforcement Agency."

"...Don't tell me it's because of that report last time?"

"Even though I said it was a prank call, the content was too suspicious, so it looks like they decided to follow up."

This was getting dangerous. Should I use my trait on everyone who came to arrest me to get out of this? But what if they brought an S-rank hunter to counter that possibility?

"Darling, you have a call."

"...At a time like this?"

"Y-yeah?"

"What's your level right now?"

"Who are you? Why are you suddenly asking something like—"

"Tell me quickly! If you get caught like this, you're dead!"

It was true that the current situation was urgent. But suddenly calling me to ask for my level...

How did she even know I was about to be arrested by the police?

"Ah, never mind. Your current level isn't that important anyway. Level 6. You must reach Level 6 before getting caught no matter what. Remember, it's Level 6. If you haven't reached it yet, run away immediately."

The call ended the moment she finished speaking.

What the hell was that? My brain couldn't keep up with the situation.