Thrilling First Steps (2)
Thrill.
That was the word for it.
Kang Seojun had been tested.
[Necrotizing Dermatitis Lv. Lowest], [Hunchback Lv. Lowest], [In-turned Foot Lv. Lowest], [Twisted Arm Lv. Lowest], [One-Eyed Lv. Lowest]……
How was he supposed to make a girl's heart race with a string of these debuffs…!
"A-ah…!"
Kang Seojun dragged his hand down his face in utter despair.
Jin Serin watched him with concern and asked, "Did you leave something at home? Should I turn the car around?"
"Ah, no… No, it's fine."
Turning the car around was out of the question.
Any deviation from the quest route risked a bizarre failure outcome.
"Hah…"
Even though he forced himself to look calm, these sudden quests were far too harsh even for someone as seasoned as Seojun.
As Seojun clamped his eyes shut in misery, Jin Serin grew restless too.
"E, e, you don't feel well!"
She hadn't forgotten how badly he had suffered from motion sickness during their last dungeon run.
Jin Serin quickly pulled over.
"Sir! Please stop the car for a moment!"
"Ah…"
The instant the car halted, a system message appeared before Seojun.
[Warning! You have left the quest route. Return to the quest route within 30 seconds!]
"T, this…!"
Seojun's face turned deathly pale.
"N, no! Start the car! Go!"
"B, but…!?"
"Ugh…!"
Seojun's face grew even paler, as if someone were strangling him.
Jin Serin’s face paled along with his.
"A, um, mister, the hospital! Please take me to the hospital!"
"Stop!"
The quest location was a school commute route.
Any halt would register as leaving the route.
He had to keep moving—no stopping.
Seojun had been about to start the car again when he hesitated.
'No! Wait a second!'
If he got out of the car now, he would buy another ten to twenty minutes.
Walking was slower than driving, but it would work.
"The hospital is fine! Walking will help."
"Really? Are you sure?"
Seojun quickly stepped out of the car and began walking, and Jin Serin rushed to follow.
[Quest route returned. Quest continues.]
Seojun exhaled in relief after reading the message.
Jin Serin interpreted it differently.
"You're feeling better now? Good."
"E, e… T, the weather is nice…"
Damn it.
They had passed the first hurdle and gained time, yet the situation still felt completely unchanged.
The quest goal was to make Jin Serin's chest flutter with excitement.
Yet heart-related quests were always an enigma and weakness for Seojun.
He was supposed to overcome such a trial with a spec far more pathetic than his previous life!
Still, Seojun quietly clenched his fists.
'The academy is still a fair distance away. If I play it carefully, there should be gaps…!'
He needed to utilize even the slightest advantage.
Right now, the first step was to create a comfortable atmosphere.
"Sorry I couldn't contact you for the last two weeks."
Seojun started with an apology so there would be no misunderstanding.
"Huh?"
"I had some urgent matters to handle, so I turned my phone off entirely."
"Ah, ah! So that's why! I thought I was bothering you… Hehe…"
After Jin Serin's awkward laugh, the conversation fell silent again.
Seojun racked his brain for something to say.
Why was conversation so difficult?
Countless topics and words flashed through his mind while his mental fan raged.
Seojun's plan was the natural approach to spark excitement.
First, establish a relaxed atmosphere, then deliver a decisive move when she relaxes.
Whether in battle, negotiation, or romance, easing tension was always crucial.
But with the conversation dead, there was no way to start the first thread!
Seojun's lips trembled, so he blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
"You, you didn't have any problems for the last two weeks!?"
A shrill whistle escaped with the final word.
Jin Serin opened her eyes wide in surprise, as if she hadn't expected Seojun to ask first.
"Eh, eh?"
Then she smiled with a slightly more relaxed expression.
"I…"
The words that left Jin Serin's lips were far beyond Seojun's expectations.
"I've been thinking about what it really means to be best friends for the last two weeks."
"Eh…?"
"That is… Back then you said we were there to help each other…"
As Jin Serin continued, her face grew increasingly gloomy.
"I still don't know how to repay everything I've received so far… Ah! I didn't mean to say no, but… I just feel a bit insecure… That's why I'm just a bother to you… Unilateral… Ah! Saying something like this feels wrong too… Um…"
Why was the conversation going so dark!?
They were supposed to be building excitement, not entering a funeral parlor!
He had to twist the flow of conversation!
"Don't get impatient!"
Seojun's voice was the most impatient of all.
Jin Serin flinched at his shrill shout.
"E, eh!?"
"If you wanted to keep picking apart every little thing, you shouldn't have suggested being friends in the first place!"
Seojun felt like crying inside.
After all, when you give something, you naturally receive something in return—that had been his long-held belief.
[Constellation Tree That Tends the Flower World is listening to your words.]
[Constellation Golden Fox of the Sun and Moon Palace is listening to your words.]
[Constellation Queen of the Deepest Abyss is listening to your words.]
"……"
Why do they have to watch like that? It makes me nervous.
The constellations' attention made his thoughts race even faster.
How could he end the conversation so Jin Serin would feel at ease and the constellations would be satisfied?
Whoosh!
Just as he thought, a fierce gust of wind slammed into them.
"Ugh…"
The wind was so strong that both their hair was a mess.
"Ah…"
Jin Serin frantically tried to fix her disheveled hair.
But the wind had tangled it completely, and the strands wouldn't cooperate.
"Hmm…!"
Seeing this, a spark of inspiration flashed through Seojun's mind.
This was clearly the work of luck.
He should help her now to show goodwill.
Seojun reached out and said, "I'll help."
"H, hiit…!"
"…Eh…?"
Seojun froze at the unexpected reaction.
She had jumped back as if he had touched something filthy.
"Ah."
Seojun looked at his own hand.
It was covered in skin that looked like it had been pulled from boiling oil.
Seojun closed his eyes tight in regret.
His appearance was now indistinguishable from living slime.
That was how it was.
Jin Serin had shown no sign until now, but deep inside her chest there had to be a deep physiological revulsion.
Even a teenage girl's hands touching her would be repulsive.
She was the kind of girl who couldn't accept her fate because she hated disgusting and frightening things.
This had nothing to do with personal favors or their current relationship.
It was just instinct.
Buried deep in human genes.
'Oh no!'
Seojun felt a wave of regret wash over him.
"I'm sorry."
"A… No… That's not…"
Seojun tried to pull his hand away with a hurt expression, but Jin Serin grew even more anxious.
If things continued like this, the atmosphere would plunge deeper into a labyrinth of tension and unease—miles away from excitement!
If the situation stayed this way, quest failure was obvious.
'Now is not the time to hesitate.'
[Constellation Queen of the Deepest Abyss pities the rejected you.]
Seojun had barely thought that when the constellation immediately sponsored an item.
[Constellation Queen of the Deepest Abyss is sponsoring Tears of a Nation-Toppling Beauty to you.]
'This is it!'
◈ A rare consumable item from the Queen of the Deepest Abyss that grants the 'Charm' skill for 30 minutes.
'If this is it…'
The greatest weapon in the world was the ability to use tools.
If he couldn't do it with his own power, he would borrow the power of tools.
"Just a moment."
Seojun stopped walking and quickly placed Tears of a Nation-Toppling Beauty into both eyes.
The tears spread evenly across his dry eyes.
[Charm skill acquired for 30 minutes!]
'Good.'
Strange power seemed to flow into his eyes.
Naturally, he instinctively knew how to use the Charm skill.
"Jin Serin."
Seojun immediately called the target's name to activate the skill.
"……N, yes?"
The heavy, solemn voice made Jin Serin instinctively use a polite tone.
Ping!
The instant their eyes met, Seojun activated the Charm skill.
[Charm skill activated.]
Pink flames flickered in Seojun's eyes.