EP.75 Level 8 - Tilted Playground (1)
"Jeong-ah!"
"Y-Yes!?"
This girl kept her mouth shut tight even during the Seol-ah incident last time. Same reaction now.
She's usually cool and playful thanks to her masochism, but when something serious hits, she suffers in silence all alone.
"Still that scared? Sorry. I shouldn't have let you take my semen and crank up your sensitivity like that."
"N-No, it's fine. I said I wanted to do it. More than that, I'm sorry for making you worry, Manager."
She should just say something like usual—whip me since I messed up. Her acting like this leaves me speechless.
"I'm grateful, actually. Thanks to you, my EXP's at 99%."
"Oh, really? Hit the wall again, huh."
"Used to it."
She finds it amazing that I leveled up right away last time.
Anyway, thanks to Jeong-ah, my EXP filled up fast, and I got to spend the weekend relaxing without a care. It'd been ages since I rested without stressing over anything, and it really recharged me.
Well, Ayoung threw a fit wanting a date, but I was too wiped to care and just crashed.
Recent stuff had me on edge constantly. I needed the break too.
"So, what's up?"
"Something's bugging me a bit."
"Bugging you?"
"It's nothing big. I'll tell you once I'm sure."
Jeong-ah's the type who doesn't lean on others, so she always dodges like this. But something feels off. She's a total maso who gets off on me verbally tearing into her—does that even mesh with this personality?
No matter how I slice it, it seems weird. I'd glossed over it before, overwhelmed by her masochism, but thinking back on this incident, it nags at me.
"Jeong-ah. Tell me."
"......."
"I said tell me."
"N-No, I don't wanna."
Yesterday's events must've hit her hard. Should I wipe her memory to help her get past it? Or wait for her to overcome it herself?
"Sigh, pretty please."
"...Just use your trait."
"What?"
"Force it out with your trait..."
"No plans for that."
I know stonewalling like this isn't healthy. But she hasn't done anything wrong—I don't want to go that far.
Unless I'm dead certain she's in danger, then maybe.
"Why not?"
"I trust you. I'll wait till you're ready."
"...That's sneaky."
"What's sneaky?"
Jeong-ah silently wrapped her arms around me. She looked up with a soft smile.
Would've been cute if her huge tits weren't pressing right into me, stirring up dirty thoughts. This body's a menace—even now, it tempts without trying. Impressive.
"Honestly, I'm still scared. Afraid we'll hit that level again. That's why I asked you not to use Strengthen anymore."
"I know."
"But in that moment... Seol-ah popped into my head, weirdly."
"Seol-ah...?"
Out of nowhere? No connection to yesterday.
Did the pain from when Seol-ah locked her up overlap? Or maybe Seol-ah was watching remotely back then.
"Not sure exactly. But just now, seeing Seol-ah... I felt really sorry for her."
"Sorry for her? That's odd."
Way too random an emotion.
I tilted my head, and Jeong-ah sighed like she'd expected it.
"See? You don't get it. That's why I didn't wanna say."
"Nah. Just talking like this is good."
"Why? Not a hassle?"
"Why would it be?"
I hate it more when silence lets things snowball. Like with Seol-ah—she clammed up till the incident blew up.
That's the kind of plot twist I despise.
"Oh, right... Sorry. Got too used to it."
"Used to what?"
"Personal stuff. I'll tell you later."
"Hiding again."
"C'mon, I'll consult you as much as possible from now on. Keep forgetting you're that guy."
"What guy?"
"The one who likes me a ton."
Suddenly? So out of left field, it flustered me.
She tosses flirty lines like that as jokes usually, but in this mood... it's embarrassing.
"You're so cute. You drop way lewder stuff normally."
"Mood matters."
I said that, and she giggled, letting go.
She's impossible to read. What goes on in that head?
Hyeun's at least predictable with her lewd one-track mind... Jeong-ah's a mystery.
"Still, good chance to think things over. Lately, I just chased pleasure to forget everything..."
"Really? Had no clue."
"You have tons of people needing attention. Can't cling forever. Tried settling for masturbation."
"Hmm..."
Makes sense. She started out glued to me, then pulled back once those thoughts hit. I figured she just dug neglect play, but she distanced herself to avoid bothering me.
That's kinda serious.
"Just tell me from now on. Worst case, I'll neglect you right beside you. Don't do it solo. I like group stuff too."
"R-Really ok? Won't bother..."
"Don't think like that. During sex with you, do you see others as a bother?"
"N-No, I love it."
Sounds like a different angle, but she gets it? Good enough.
"Some might hate it, but get permission first. Think I'd always say yes? Just ask casually."
"Got it."
Huh, never really done a date vibe with Jeong-ah? Too tricky for a date, but wanna hang out more.
Issue is, orphanage today.
No heads-up, but hunter life's unpredictable—holidays or not, stuff pops up.
Don't pre-notify to spare the kids disappointment if I can't make it.
"You like kids?"
"Kids? Little ones?"
"Yeah."
"Don't hate 'em. Why?"
Gonna invite her along.
Usually Seol-ah, but she's dungeon raiding.
People vary... Kids heal me when I'm beat.
"Kinda curious. Your face lights up every time you go."
"They're all fluffy."
"Doesn't fit you at all."
"Wanna die?"
She's way better already. Must've been traumatic—won't snap back overnight, but hope she recovers quick.
Bright kid like her moping? Messes with me too.
"How 'bout this?"
"Oh, yeah. They'd love it. Get a few fightable ones."
"Gotta watch that too..."
"Multiples don't always fix it."
Hard picking toys. Popularity explodes? Buy more. Flops? Warehouse bait—don't overdo.
"Kids' dolls have huge tits these days."
"Ours didn't go that far... Hunters are super popular now."
Reflects the times. Hunters used to be high-risk, high-reward. Now? Shinier than celebs.
"This should do. Came to hang, now I'm a pack mule. Sorry."
"Nah. I love being greedy—this is fun."
Hmm, new hunter? Loved Seol-ah's magic show—Jeong-ah's ice would thrill 'em.
Toys good. Food prepped just in case. Ask director—if no lunch yet, full feast.
"...Manager?"
"Uh, wha...?"
"This the place?"
Head spun. Eyes deceiving me? Legs buckled—dropped the bag.
Toys spilled everywhere.
Not just new ones. Shattered favorites the kids adored. Tiny shoes too.
Orphanage yard was trashed.
"Director! Director!"
Rushed inside, heart pounding.
Interior was hell—worse than outside. Burn scars everywhere. Awakener raid, no doubt.
Faint pained groans—bolted deeper.
"Director! You ok? What happened?!"
"Eun-hyuk-ssi?"
"What happened?! The kids!"
"Please... the children... save them..."
"Director!"
"Manager, back off a sec. I'll seal the bleeding."
Froze the wound shut.
What the hell? Who did this?
Pulled phone to report—vibrated, incoming call.
Saw sender, picked up instantly.
"...Gongju."
"Bring her to my place now."
Line dead.
Jeong-ah and I rushed the director to Gongju's. She rewound time, healed everything.
"Prepped ahead—even this long back, it worked fine."
"...You knew."
"It'd already happened."
Couldn't hold back—grabbed her collar.
Knew? Should've warned me. Could've stopped it from the start.
"Am I wrong!? What if the kids got hurt?!"
"Culprit's S-rank Kang Ari. You know her..."
"You—!"
"Block it? A level 7 you?"
What? Snapped to.
Her fist trembled in mine.
"Kang Ari ships kidnapped girls to the Women's Rights Committee's production facility. Keeps boys to her taste as sex toys. Sells the rest trafficking."
"You..."
She's tangled in this deeper than anyone—similar past.
Trait level has increased!
"Save them. All of them."
"Damn..."
This was the trigger that shattered my wall.