EP.48 Level 6 - I'm a Social Weakling (2)
"Ugh, fuck."
A harsh ringing blares in my ears. Having just woken up, dizziness floods my head, and a dull throbbing headache brings up nausea.
"How strong was that shit they dosed me with?"
"Ah, you're awake. How's your body feeling?"
"Like I'm about to keel over. Who the hell gives that potent crap to a regular civilian?"
"Surprisingly, it's the standard sleeping pill for non-hunter civilians. As long as it's not used too often, you should be fine."
It's not the cop from before. She's a woman with big tits, so probably a hunter. Did something weird slip out?
"Hmm, your recent movements were a bit suspicious. Of course, the test results came back negative. No need to worry too much."
"So, can I go now?"
"Ah, we have a few questions. You've probably slept a lot and are hungry—eat this first and just answer some simple ones."
It was the signature menu from a famous porridge chain. Yeah, I'm starving enough that my head's spinning.
"I won't hold back. I'm famished."
"Go ahead. We'll wait."
The familiar taste hits different when you're this hungry—damn good. I wolf down the porridge and start talking with the waiting cop.
"Whew, now I feel alive. What did you want to ask?"
"We heard there might've been some odd incidents lately."
"Odd incidents?"
"Days where your memory's fuzzy, or maybe someone held you captive. That sort of thing."
Hmm, sounds like they're probing for another awakener criminal disguised as me. Admitting anything would be a hassle.
"Nothing like that."
"And... you've been meeting Yoo Hyemi a lot lately. How'd you two get acquainted?"
"Met her through work at first, got close via her sister Hyeun."
"Hmm, and you got close to Hyeun through work?"
"That's right."
After that, it was questions about how I got chummy with my team hunters. They seemed surprised we'd gone from not-so-great to tight-knit recently.
"They're still the newbies who just joined. We weren't that bad from the start, and Ayoung had a ton of misunderstandings piled up. It cleared up when I was with her hitting level 9."
"Things still iffy with Yeo Yurim?"
"We always acknowledged each other's strengths, but no deep personal bond. Same as ever."
She acknowledges my dick, anyway—never gonna admit to me personally. Not really a lie.
"Hmm, nothing suspicious."
A few more minor questions wrapped it up. Good thing my answers were smooth and plausible—I tailored them to match what the others would say, so no contradictions.
"Thanks for your time. We'll process the reward money ASAP."
"Ah, sure."
They handed back my phone; powering it on showed April 1st. Slept straight through almost two days? That pill packs a punch.
"Guess yesterday counts as no-show."
"We handled that. But you gotta clock in today."
No time to swing home if I wanna avoid being late. Once at the office, wrap up this week's stuff. And Hyemi's probably there, so reactivate my ability.
Oh, April 1st—Myo Seola's birthday.
Maybe grab a quick gift on the way. She's one of the few who treats me normally, unlike the others. Feels right to look after her. Hell, I'm grateful.
Thinking of her donating to the orphanage, she seems sweet-hearted too.
"Something nice but not burdensome?"
Big payout coming soon, so price isn't an issue. Problem's picking one fast.
At least the office is close.
I duck into an unmanned jewelry shop. A simple necklace would work... or earrings.
"This one?"
Seola hasn't pierced her ears, but these ring-like clip-ons don't need piercing. Monster-material make 'em pricey for the rugged design, but they're great for ear-ring newbies.
Famous brand, should be safe.
They hype a patented mana-clip system—no pierce, no hook. The ring-like design shines because of it. Press the gem and clip?
"Wish I had more time to browse."
If Seola hates it, return it. Free within a week if no defects, I think.
"Made it without being late."
"Hey, Manager!"
"Jeong-ah, long time no see. Doesn't feel that long since I just slept yesterday."
"Whoa, heard you got nabbed by the cops—thought you were finally getting dissected."
"Don't jinx me."
Hyemi still not in? I call— no answer. Try Hyeun.
"Hyeun-ah. Hyemi didn't show?"
"Texted earlier she's taking the day. You okay?"
"Yeah. She's still crashing at my place, right?"
"Yeah, but she meets me before heading home—small mercies."
Oh, she's keeping some sisterly ties. With effort like that, maybe they'll mend eventually. Hope so...
"Hold up—what do you two do when you meet?"
"Uh, well..."
"Spit it out."
"She... uses my mouth as her toilet before leaving...?"
"......."
Not good at all. Hyemi's attitude toward Hyeun hasn't budged since two days ago.
"Whoa, only Hyeun gets that reward? Kinda jealous."
"Jeong-ah, go die."
"Hng♡ This scolding hits different after so long♡ Missed it♡"
These two crazies together. I think Hyemi's scary with Hyeun, but the real terror's the ones who enjoy it. Kinda scary how I'm getting numb to it.
"Ayoung's out on a raid? Seola?"
"Seola's birthday today—taking off."
"Ah."
Gift later, then. Pick the best on the way back. Sucks not giving it today, but oh well.
"Oh, hit level 8."
"For real?"
"Broke through over the weekend... Sub-trait makes ice perfectly transparent."
"Ice is already transparent?"
"Like this."
She points at empty air, tells me to touch. I do casually—icy cold! Jumpscare; thought it was nothing.
"Stealth ambush tech?"
"No firepower boost, so meh."
"Huge edge against sight-reliant monsters. Honestly, utility hunters like you are in short supply lately."
"Really?"
"Yeah, raw power scales with levels anyway."
"Mana pool grows."
"Exactly—utility's king. B-rank's B-rank; for same tier dungeons, they pick utility specialists."
Jeong-ah nods, getting it. Though she's probably fantasizing about me punishing her trash trait instead. Traits tie to work, so can't indulge.
"Manager's a manager through and through."
"When have I ever slacked?"
"True. Pervert one minute, workaholic the next."
"Insult?"
"Compliment?"
Sorry, Yurim's snark trained me to flinch at that tone.
Yurim's raid still going?
"Isn't this the one started Monday? Not done?"
"Yeah. Chaerin's stuck too... Failed once, re-entered late."
"Yoo Chaerin entered and failed?"
A dungeon tough enough for B-rank Yurim? Hyeun nods, explains.
"Went in blind, banking on Chaerin's firepower. Place too vast, terrain drained mana hard—pulled out."
"So retooled for environment?"
"Yep. With Chaerin, they'll clear quick."
Was a hype op to milk nationalism and calm public—botched it, now chaos. Sucks to be Chaerin fanboys.
"Thanks, Hyeun-ah..."
"Gotta help a fellow manager."
Check PC—Hyeun cleared a ton. Finish the rest, done early. Two days backed up, but she saved me.
"Proper reward later, this meat toilet wants nothing more."
"Deal—let's play hard."
Leveled up, so more trait spam. Better than level 5's two-three uses draining mana.
"Whoa, two days' sleep cleared my head."
"Eat while working. Hungry?"
"Porridge held till now, but burns fast."
Lunch already? Time flew processing backlog. No time to eat out—order pizza, multitask.
"New menu?"
"Anything but Hawaiian."
"Got it."
Why's she working here on laptop instead of downstairs? Not pervy vibes—just grinding.
CCTV, duh.
She cleared downstairs cams to mess with Hyemi; cops came, full reinstall. No pervy work sesh possible below. Hence here with me?
"Jeong-ah, pizza?"
"Can I? Wasn't this for Manager?"
"Plenty left. Right, Hyeun-ah?"
"Probably?"
Munch pizza, keep grinding. This raid report's near-identical to last one's...
"Manager."
"Yeah?"
"Ever see trump cards with Seola? Recent as possible."
"Uh, yeah. Day you asked about heart 7—ran into her."
"What card?"
"Diamond 5?"
Jeong-ah ponders. Why mid-pizza?
"Something up with Seola?"
"Not sure... Saw heart 8 yesterday. I saw heart 7 when you had diamond 5... Wait. Manager, your level now?"
"Level 6. Hit it two days ago."
"Got it—half-day for me!"
"What? Jeong-ah!"
She mutters to herself and bolts. What's her deal?