To the Beach?
It hadn’t been that long since midterms ended, yet final exam season had already arrived. Not that I was actually studying right now.
“What are you doing?”
“Reading a report.”
Just then, Cheon Ma-ru—who had been holed up in his room doing something lately—appeared.
“A report?”
“There’s one place I sponsor regularly. It’s related to my parents’ treatment.”
“…Your parents’ treatment?”
“Huh? Didn’t I mention it?”
“I only knew something had happened. You never told me the details.”
Didn’t I? I thought I’d explained it while we were eating burgers that one time. Guess I was mistaken.
“My parents have been in a coma at the hospital for about ten years now.”
“Ten years?”
“A little over, actually. That’s how long it’s been. They were attacked by that villain I mentioned before. I did tell you that part, right?”
“Yeah…”
The sudden shift to such a heavy topic made her visibly flustered.
“Anyway, they’re being kept in a medically induced sleep at an association-run hospital while researchers work on a cure. I’m the one funding the research. Since there are so few survivors from that incident, it’s not exactly a popular research topic.”
“…You’re paying for the research? That can’t be cheap.”
“So far it’s come to about four trillion won, I think?”
“…Four hundred million?”
“Trillion. Four trillion.”
Cheon Ma-ru’s face went completely blank. Just what did this guy think an X-rank hunter was?
“Reality just flew out the window…”
“Well, not every hunter earns like this.”
“Obviously. But where does the money even come from? Does the association have that much cash lying around?”
“I don’t actually receive much from the association.”
“…What?”
“The money they can offer is basically pocket change. The association isn’t a corporation, so they’re not exactly rolling in funds. Instead, I get a lot of conveniences and privileges.”
One of those was medical support. The capsule my parents were sleeping in was a perfect example. Of course, I could afford to get one myself now, but thanks to my contract with the association president, I’d been receiving support even before I became an X-rank hunter. One of the reasons I still work for the association is to fulfill that contract and repay the debt. They helped me keep my identity secret, create a new background, and so much more.
“Then where does the money come from?”
“Mostly from overseas. Whenever a Gate appears that local hunters can’t handle, I step in, clear it, and get paid. Japan and Russia are my biggest clients.”
Japan is the only country among Korea, China, and Japan without an X-rank hunter. On top of that, they lost a huge number of their hunters all at once after failing an S-rank Gate raid. So whenever a high-rank Gate appears, they usually call me.
“They haven’t called me much lately, so it looks like they’ve recovered somewhat. But they’ll still call me for any S-rank Gates.”
“Are you going to be okay?”
“With what?”
“Clearing an S-rank Gate by yourself. That’s just too…”
“I really wonder what you think X-rank hunters are. And I don’t go in alone.”
X-rank hunters were beings capable of solo-clearing S-rank Gates. It wasn’t for nothing that countries showered them with every privilege imaginable just to keep those walking strategic weapons within their borders. They really were on the level of mobile strategic armaments.
“I usually take one or two healers or basic supporters with me. I only have one life, after all.”
“That’s true… Still, be careful.”
“Will do.”
Ding-dong—
“Oh, they’re here.”
“I’ll get it. Keep reading.”
Even though she told me to keep reading, I simply closed the report and put on my glasses. The terminology in these documents had gotten way too technical lately. I could barely understand a thing.
“We’re here~…”
“This body has arrived~! Wait, A-rang, how are you always here first? You two aren’t actually living together, are you?”
“No, we’re just neighbors.”
“For real?!”
“Fake.”
Kim Chae-eun, as energetic as ever, and Heo Yeon-hwa—who seemed a little brighter these days—had arrived. Naturally, the purpose was a study session. Learning from the two of them was definitely more efficient. Since they both seemed happy to help, there was no reason to refuse.
“Alright… Today let’s go over the basic laws regarding awakened individuals.”
At the academy, they also taught the fundamental laws related to awakened people. Just like how throwing a chair at that rampaging weirdo last time hadn’t caused any real trouble, awakened individuals were held to different standards than non-awakened ones.
“Awakened individuals are fundamentally beings that non-awakened people cannot restrain, therefore—”
I studied while listening to Heo Yeon-hwa’s unusually clear and organized lecture. This girl really should have gone to a teacher’s college instead of the academy…
“Want to go on a trip together during vacation?”
“A trip?”
It was break time. Kim Chae-eun was already hunting for the next fun activity.
“Let’s go to Busan! I’ve always wanted to visit Gwangalli Beach.”
At the word “Busan,” my head instinctively turned toward Cheon Ma-ru. Wasn’t his family’s hometown in Busan?
“Isn’t that too far? There’s beach in Incheon too—”
“But I’ve been there so many times already~. It’s finally vacation! We should really go somewhere and have proper fun!”
It looked like he really didn’t want to go to Busan. He’d said his ex-girlfriend would be at the academy, so it probably wasn’t because of her. Was he just uncomfortable about seeing his parents?
“Gwangalli is always crowded. You won’t be able to enjoy it properly.”
“That’s what makes it a tourist spot! And while we’re there, I want to get hit on at least once.”
“That almost never happens these days…”
She had a point. I couldn’t think of any other reason why Cheon Ma-ru would be so against going to Busan.
What a sneaky bastard. From the looks of it, he still hadn’t called his mother like he promised. Should I just drag him there?
“I… also… don’t really like… swimsuits…”
“See? Even sis doesn’t want to go.”
“But… I do want to try one on… hehe…”
“She says she wants to try one on.”
“…”
Cheon Ma-ru shot me a desperate look. The urgency in his eyes only confirmed my suspicions.
“The beach sounds great. We can grill some shrimp while we’re there.”
“Really?! Wait, it’s three against one, right, Ma-ru oppa?”
“…”
I met Cheon Ma-ru’s betrayed gaze head-on. You should have called your mother earlier, you unfilial son.
“Then after finals, let’s all go buy swimsuits together the next day!”
“Wait, swimsuits?”
“You’re not planning to go to the beach in your uniform, are you?”
I had been so focused on punishing the unfilial son that I’d completely forgotten what the conversation was about. I definitely heard her mention swimsuits earlier…!
“Um… well. I’m not really close with water…”
“Didn’t you learn how to swim before you awakened?”
I glared at Cheon Ma-ru for suddenly throwing me under the bus, but he looked completely unapologetic. Damn it. Because I struck first, my excuse didn’t work.
Still, I had to stop this somehow. There was no way I was wearing a women’s swimsuit. Absolutely not!
“That was when I was seven…”
“They say your body remembers what you learned as a child.”
“That’s right! And Gwangalli Beach isn’t even that deep, right?”
Damn it. There was no escape. They were seriously going to make me wear a swimsuit? A women’s swimsuit? Me?
“Then it’s decided! We’ll go after finals! Alright, everyone, back to studying!”
“Wait…”
In the end, I couldn’t stop it. I was now doomed to be dragged along to buy a swimsuit.
“Enjoying yourself?”
“What?”
I had somehow ended up doing a fashion show while buying a swimsuit. I resolved to treat Cheon Ma-ru like the venomous A-rang from the beginning of the semester. Not forever—just for today.
“Must be nice, huh? Going on a beach trip with three pretty girls?”
“None of this would’ve happened if you hadn’t given permission.”
This jerk was playing dirty by bringing up facts. My tail kept trying to stand up. Out of pure rage!
“Then you should come with us when we buy swimsuits. You need one too, don’t you?”
“What? Why would I go there?”
“You don’t have a swimsuit either. Let’s go together. I’ll buy it for you.”
“No, I can just order one online…”
“I. Will. Buy. It. For. You.”
“…Thank you.”
Be afraid. Right now I was venomous. About 1.1 to 1.2 times the original A-rang from the beginning of the semester.
“And don’t you dare get a nosebleed and pass out while staring.”
“I wouldn’t—”
“And no ogling other girls’ chests and rating them either.”
“…”
Huh? He was starting to look genuinely pissed.
“Well then, before our resident pervert starts rampaging, I’ll just head back home—”
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Eep—!”
I quickly stood up to run back home, but Cheon Ma-ru immediately blocked my path. I shouldn’t have said that last part. Wait… wasn’t this the classic wall-slam position?
“Um… this position is a bit…”
Cheon Ma-ru’s body completely filled my vision. I was considered tall for a woman, but only slightly above average. It was nothing compared to Cheon Ma-ru, who was tall even among adult men.
His broad chest filled my sight, and his low voice poured directly into my ear. His scent, his breath—everything kept dragging my mind back to that moment.
—I-I think I’m going to…! Please let me go!!—
The memory of being pinned beneath him, even my climax only granted with his permission.
My tail, which had been standing straight up, drooped on its own. They say when canines lower their tails, it means submission.
“I… I was wrong…”
“Right. It wouldn’t be good if I went wild staring at other women there.”
I tried to find some way out, but there was no opening. If I tried to slip away clumsily, I’d probably get devoured on the spot.
“So you’ll just have to help me, won’t you?”
“Huh? Help with what…”
“You can help me get used to women’s bodies so I don’t get excited when I see someone new.”
This was exactly what I thought it was. He was saying he was going to look at and touch every inch of my body. I had to stop this somehow…
“…”
I had to stop it… but…
In the end, I couldn’t say a single word as his hands began to remove my clothes.