I'll Treat You!
“That’s an insane record! Shortest clear time on the 73rd floor?!”
“Is it true you cleared the cursed zone without using a single elixir?”
“Kuroaki! Just one word, please!”
A barrage of flashes and microphones rained down on Sonya.
The moment she broke the shortest clear record on the 73rd floor, the reporters swarmed her.
The previous record had been set a year ago by the Hero, Yu Sera.
In Taepyeong City, not covering the fact that Sonya had shattered the record of the city's strongest hunter—the Hero—would make you the crazy one.
Amid cheers from her guildmates and staff, Sonya forced down her fatigue and lightly waved her hand.
“It was just luck. I happened to get an item perfect for the raid. I'll do the interview officially through the guild later.”
“Sonya! Just a little!”
“Kuroaki, please, just a quick interview!”
“Doesn't this mean the rankings might finally shift...?”
Ignoring the flood of questions, she retreated to the hunter lounge and collapsed onto the sofa with a long sigh.
Psssh!
As she removed the purification mask meant to cleanse the 73rd floor's poison, her black wolf ears perked up with a deflating sound.
It had been so stuffy.
Even if it was for the raid, a mask that covered her head-mounted ears?
“Even the beastkin-specific mask shouldn't be like this.”
No matter the mask, her hearing picked up everything around her—but with her ears sealed like this, situational awareness was tough.
Especially for a Lycanthrope like Sonya, who sensed presences through air currents.
These minor equipment issues were one reason why conquering the 73rd floor had been such a hassle for her all this time.
Sonya loosened the tie of her signature black suit and sighed, pulling out her smartphone.
The moment she turned it on, the internet was flooded with stories about her.
Sonya was already a superstar, but this 73rd-floor shortest-time update had massive ripple effects.
Not just the 72nd, but breaking the 73rd-floor record too.
Whispers were flying that she'd evolved to a level threatening the Hero's ironclad rank-one spot.
Praise for her everywhere.
Normally, she'd avoid even glancing at these.
The public's expectations, cheers, and acclaim always felt like crushing pressure to Sonya.
The burden of perfection.
The pressure to improve and meet those expectations.
She'd push herself to the limit because of it, so even praise-filled comments got scrolled past fast—that was her usual self.
But today was different.
A soft smile played on Sonya's lips as she read the comments.
She even chuckled watching her fans' fierce keyboard battles.
Then her gaze drifted to her own hands.
The part-timer's hand that had held hers to pass the World Tree pollen.
That rough but kind touch.
Who could even imagine?
Holding Kuroaki Sonya's hand.
She was everyone's hero, everyone's aspiration.
People clamored for photos, lined up for autographs—like the star she was.
But that part-timer didn't see her as a star.
A face like he had no clue who she was.
Doesn't he read news or papers?
It surprised her that he didn't know her—and amused her.
And relieved her.
No need to mind social facades.
It put her at ease.
—I figured direct contact would work best.
—If brushing doesn't transfer it, rubbing works too.
Recalling that made the sensation feel real again, like he was holding her hand once more—she clenched her fist without thinking.
Imagining gripping his hand tight as he held hers...
Wh-what am I thinking?
Am I crazy?
Sonya wiggled her still-warm-feeling fingers and shook her head.
That's when it happened.
Clunk!
“Whoa! Sonya, you see the article? Total chaos out there!”
The lounge door swung open to a bright, cheerful voice.
A woman with blonde ponytail and blue eyes stepped in.
Dressed in lightly modified holy knight armor, she was one of the 7 Heroes—the “Hero,” Yu Sera—fresh from comment-section comparisons with Sonya.
One of Taepyeong's strongest hunters.
The hero many called the strongest by records.
Always sharing bright energy with her sunny smile, she grinned and plopped down next to Sonya.
“How'd you know to come?”
“Huh? Balthy told me.”
No sooner had she said it—
Thud.
A heavy sound shook the lounge floor.
—Noisy. I said open the door gently, Hero.
His entire body of solid minerals—a massive frame.
Joints grinding with heavy friction as he moved, he was one of the 7 Heroes—the “Fist King,” Balthazar.
As the over-3-meter golem entered, the air shifted.
His emotionless golem eyes fixed on Sonya.
—Congratulations. New shortest record.
“Just luck. Fist King would smash it the second you start on 73rd anyway, right?”
—This unit isn't fully immune to poison either.
Thud!
He shut the door and stepped in.
“You two must be busy— what brings you here?”
“What do you mean? Here to celebrate our top wolf girl, obviously!”
Yu Sera beamed sweetly and snuggled right up to Sonya.
“Honestly, 73rd kicked my ass too. Lived on elixirs for the poison... Heard you did it in two days, so I had to come see your trick. Does this mean you're stronger than me now?”
As Sonya cleared her throat awkwardly at Yu Sera's fussing, the arm-crossed Fist King cut in.
—Analysis of residual mana on Kuroaki's body detected high levels of nature-attribute mana. No elixirs used, and anti-poison nature mana/techniques are limited—estimated she used World Tree pollen. Correct?
Yu Sera's eyes went wide.
“What?! World Tree pollen? That stuff even elves can't get anymore? You'd need a ton for a raid like that—where'd you score it?”
Yu Sera grabbed Sonya's shoulders and shook her.
Sonya shook her head dizzily and peeled off Yu Sera's hands.
The convenience store part-timer's face flashed in her mind at the question.
If she said World Tree pollen—now rare even for elves—came from a mere part-timer's fingertips, would these two believe it?
“...Just got lucky and met a benefactor.”
Sonya dodged, glancing at Yu Sera.
Come to think of it, Yu Sera was the only “human” among the 7 Heroes.
One of the rare true humans in Taepyeong.
She might know.
What human guys like.
“Hey, Sera.”
“Yeah?”
“Humans... what gifts do they like?”
“Huh? What're you on about?”
Yu Sera tilted her head; Sonya averted her eyes, fiddling with her mask.
Her black tail swished anxiously.
“Hu-human males, I mean guys. Wondering if there's something they especially like as a gift.”
Silence.
An awkward hush fell over the lounge.
Yu Sera's eyes bulged as she replayed Sonya's words; even the golem Fist King froze, staring at her.
“No way.”
Yu Sera gaped, pointing a shaky finger at Sonya.
“S-Sonya... you're in love?!”
“N-No!! It's not like that!”
Sonya shot up, waving her hands frantically.
Her face burned red; ears and tail stood rigid.
In love?
Absolutely not.
Just...
“I-I got help from him, so I wanna say thanks at least, but I don't know what he'd like...”
If he were Lycanthrope, it'd be easy.
Just gift a slab of meat.
But humans? No clue.
Humans were rarer than dragons in Taepyeong.
Yu Sera and Fist King's shock lingered despite Sonya's excuse.
Ask who among the 7 Heroes had the least personal interactions? Sonya always topped the list.
She avoided outside activities beyond work interviews.
For such a Sonya to fixate on a human?
And from the story, that human guy seemed to be the one who gifted her the World Tree pollen.
A human strong enough to gift World Tree pollen in Taepyeong?
Curiosity bloomed in Yu Sera's mind about Sonya's crush.
But shelve that for now.
Sonya looked like she hated it.
“Hm, what human guys like... Been ages since I met one, so it's fuzzy, but if I recommend...”
Sonya perked her ears, listening intently.
This scene's rare—feels nice.
Meanwhile, the man in question, Kim Minchul...
“Hunter troublemakers... What a pain in the ass.”
Was dealing with them.
***
Beware hunter troublemakers.
Something Convenience Store Gallery users hammered home over and over.
Honestly, it hadn't hit home.
Never seen one.
But now I get it.
Why everyone freaked out.
“Customer! This isn't a coin! Customeeer!”
A villain who slipped a mystery silver coin among 500-won coins at checkout and bolted.
Hunter speed—couldn't chase on human legs, so I gave up.
“Put it on my guild tab! I said put it on!”
“If you keep being so unreasonable...”
“Hey! Know which guild I'm from?”
A villain claiming to be some guild exec, demanding credit.
Least this one, call the cops—easy fix.
At least they could talk.
The real tough ones were different.
“Oh, my baby doesn't bite~ It's fine.”
A tamer troublemaker hugging a massive, leashless beast cat.
Cat-mom let her panther-sized pet trash the shelves.
“Aw, so full of energy. Wanna play?”
“Uh, ma'am? Damaged goods need compensation...”
“Oh, you're mad over my baby playing? It was just a little fun!”
“...”
And that “fun” shredded snack bags on the display?
Called the cops again.
Was gonna add a word, but...
Grrr.
Would've gotten mauled by the cat-beast.
Golem cops subdued her and cat-mom in seconds—no further damage.
“Taepyeong cat-moms are too violent.”
First time a cat scared me more than the owner.
67th-floor wipe must've wrecked a lot of hunters' mental.
Didn't think it'd hit the store.
“Guys who shut up around the manager...”
Being human sucks.
If I were stronger, no such crap.
“Maybe boxing?”
Dropped it—world champ couldn't beat that cat-beast.
Sometimes facing reality quick is best.
Checking the POS cash drawer, I eyed the mystery silver coin from the troublemaker and sighed shortly.
“Gotta cover it myself.”
Habit of double-checking before ringing up.
Opened my wallet, refilled the 500-won coins, pocketed the silver.
Black market or pawnshop later—better than 500 won.
Comforted myself with that.
As fatigue piled from back-to-back minor pains—
Ding-a-ling.
Cheerful bell; someone entered.
Familiar face.
“Welcome... uh, welcome.”
Today, cap pulled low, dusty work clothes.
The elf day-laborer who'd given me the World Tree branch, Priella.
“Hey, Minchul.”
Her lighter expression today as she approached the counter.
“You look happier today. Something good?”
Priella chuckled at my question, leaning her basket on the counter.
“Payday today.”
“Ah, congrats. Finally got it.”
“This queen's buying today.”
“Pardon?”
“You covered the Elven Chips last time, tossed in some discarded bentos too. Elves don't forget favors.”
A fresh grassy scent wafted from her.
“For the hardworking part-timer, this queen'll treat big! Pick anything you want!”
After today's troublemakers, her words felt so solid.
“Can I really freeload then?”
“Of course!”