Dodging the Lie Detector and Chicken Bribes
Lies aren't something you think about while telling them. Park Hyun-young was inwardly shocked. Even though he'd retired due to injury, he was still an A-rank hunter. And yet, he hadn't sensed a thing from her.
"…No way?"
"Huh?"
He looked down at Yumia. Her hair was as white as moonlight on a winter solstice night. Light shattered in her jewel-like eyes. Her nose and mouth were impeccably sculpted. Though small in stature, her gaze carried a certain maturity. Every gesture stirred the paternal instincts of fathers everywhere. Unthinkingly, he recalled his own daughter, who'd just turned twenty.
But business was business.
"Kid. What's your name?"
"Pardon?"
Jupiter's Observer. An artifact that discerns truth from lies by observing fluctuations in others' mana. Unless someone had S-rank mana control or could lie as naturally as breathing, it never failed. Even if she had S-rank potential, she'd barely be at the tower's entrance. This would expose her for sure.
"It's Yum Yuri."
"I see. Figures it couldn't be you."
No mana fluctuations registered on the artifact. Her expression didn't change a bit. No matter how he looked, those weren't the eyes of a liar.
Sera glanced at Yumia.
"Sorry for taking up your time. Doesn't seem to be this kid."
"Ah, yeah."
"Makes sense. No way those tiny pebble hands could smash those monsters."
This guy's eyes must be knotholes.
Sera recalled the Hell difficulty first floor. Yumia had effortlessly parried a skeleton soldier's attack and exploded its head. If only this guy had seen that ferocious glare.
Sera felt relieved they hadn't been caught, but a strong urge to shatter his illusions bubbled up.
"I heard you beat up a fellow trainee pretty badly for touching your stuff."
"Uh… yeah. That's right."
There had been… quite a few like that. Of course, even Yumia wasn't the type to pick fights with just anyone. There were exceptions, though.
"No way this angel-like kid would have that kind of temper."
"An… gel? Gulp."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just remembered something from the old days."
Sera thought back to training camp as she listened to Park Hyun-young.
'Hey, you hid booze, right?'
'So what're you gonna do about it? Gaaah!'
'Then I'm searching you.'
'Die! I'm seriously gonna die! Waaah!!'
Sera pictured Yumia landing gut punches on a burly male trainee. He'd begged for mercy until she let him go.
'That guy's rep was trash, so I let it slide, but who knew it'd come to this…'
For the record, smuggling booze into training camp was forbidden, exceptions aside. Yet Yumia reeked of alcohol at least once a week.
"Must've been tough for you, having a top cadet like that around."
"Ah… yeah. It was tough."
In a different sense.
"Are you an adult?"
"Yes. Looks can be deceiving."
Yumia snapped indignantly.
"Deceiving how? What kinda talk is that!"
"I've got a daughter about your size."
"Ah, screw this old man. Let's ditch him and go drinking."
Yumia yanked at Sera's arm. Park Hyun-young watched with a fond smile. And he was convinced.
Definitely not her.
She seemed like a girl fresh out of her teens, trailing after her big sis. Probably just a personal disciple Sera was raising. His own daughter had lately discovered the joys of college bar-hopping, giving him headaches…
"At your age, you should take on a disciple too. Good luck."
Sera was infamous for not taking any disciples, even loosely. This kid must be someone she really cherished. Pushing further would be a loss. Sera, meanwhile, was thinking something else.
I'm younger than her…?
"So, how'd you not get caught?"
Sera asked as we ate at a Hunter Street eatery.
That old guy from earlier? He had some weird eyes, sure.
"Caught? At what?"
"Jupiter's Observer. The lie detector artifact from the abyss."
"Oh. That was an artifact?"
News to me.
"I just answered when he asked. He let it slide without a fuss."
"No, how did you dodge that… Never mind. Then why use a fake name?"
"Some creepy old dude asks my name—who gives it?"
"Fair."
"Kyaa! Boss! One more bottle here!"
Nothing beats a post-hunt meal with booze.
"So, any haul from the tower?"
"One SSR to start."
"…SSR? Those don't just pop out like candy."
"Speedrun bonus, plus it was an upgrade on something I already had."
SSRs were rare even as speedrun rewards. Must be Inventory being weird.
"What'd you upgrade?"
"Dragon Eye."
"Whoa… the world's so unfair. That OP trait gets even better?"
"You have one too."
"Yeah, I do."
Sera's ability was mid-to-high SSR by any metric. And she'd graduated training less than a year ago. Impressive.
"Anyway, that plus two SR enhancement rights. Brought 'em here."
I pulled two glowing golden orbs from my Inventory.
"…Real SRs."
"Problem?"
"Nah. But you can't take these out, right?"
"Huh? Can't?"
"Exit blocks it, yeah?"
I'd stashed everything in Inventory, so I hadn't noticed. Nice perk. Could Sera use one?
I handed her an orb.
Status Enhancement Selection cannot be transferred. Owner: Yumia
"What?"
It wouldn't leave my hand when I tried giving it to Sera. Not that I really planned to. She was way stronger anyway—why give it up? I needed it.
"Nothing."
"Wild that they drop this early. Only floor 3, right?"
"Yup. Jealous?"
"Hardly."
Sera grinned like she meant it. Another green bottle appeared, but she snatched it instead.
"Hey! Gimme back my booze!"
"This'll do. When're you gonna grow up?"
"You should know—I did grow up, that's why I'm like this."
Sera popped the cap and chugged.
"Aaaah! My booze!"
She grinned mischievously at me.
"Why? I'm paying anyway. Gotta drink too."
"Rich ass stealing my drinks."
Oh well. Ordered another.
"Feels like forever since we sat like this with drinks."
"Hasn't been that long."
"A few weeks is forever for us."
"True."
We clinked glasses.
But I feel like I'm forgetting something…
Oh. Sealed containers at the pricey buffet. Inventory upgraded too. Prime binge opportunity. Forgot!!
I hit the mart. Sera was wasted, so I shoved her in a taxi.
"Urp."
Feeling great. Now I got why post-tower booze was hunter canon.
An hour till closing, not too crowded.
"Mountain nearby—never packed anyway."
Budget? Self-funded. Sold all the magic stones from ghosts on Hunter Street. Low floors, but decent haul.
"Gonna blow it all."
Bank cash was useless now. Silver and gold beat won or dollars. And my fun did too.
"Shopping time!"
What to grab? Potato chips first. All sodas. Must-haves. Good reactions, perfect midnight snack.
Spices next. Grabbed a bunch from every shelf—better safe.
Seasonings too. Some pricey, but whatever. Soy sauce, gochujang for luck.
"Not like I'm cooking."
A Cafeteria uncles would customize if asked. It's buffet-style, but they hook you up.
Then booze snacks. Dry ones—Adrian loved 'em. Reptile thing?
Booze. Used to sneak cheap soju eyeing Sera…
"This time… fancy beer too!"
Not super pricey vs. soju, but luxury for my old studio days.
Man, haven't been back there forever.
Always crashed there or mountains. Nostalgic, loaded up beer. Splash of sake, whiskey. Skip the Captain… nah.
Why even sell this?
Ramen, cans as always. Dorm lockdown saviors.
Finally… these? Not vacation, but modern souvenirs. Science marvels? Kinda gimmicky but practical. Grabbed some.
"And can't resist these. Hello?"
Dialed somewhere.
Called the local fried chicken joint—famous for tasting great. Ran over quick; all fried up. Five fried, five sauced. Pickles, sides too.
"Thanks! Come again…? Can you carry all that?"
"No prob."
Ten-chicken box vanished before the clerk's eyes. She probably still wonders what happened.
Inventory full. Done.
Gomi waited at mountain base. For a ride—and meat.
Gomi's ride was luxury sedan smooth. Why walk?
At Knothole:
"Ah, forgot the meat."
"Gooooom!!!"
Opened packs before wailing Gomi. Inventory full, so bundled.
"Kidding. Here."
"Goom?"
Moonlight gleamed on prime red meat. Domestic premium beef, aged. From my butcher buddy.
Low grade—Gomi skips fat. But Sera-sourced: top freshness, aroma.
"Gooooom!"
Gomi tore in.
…Wait, couldn't he smell it? His face said yeah.
WWE-accepting good bear.
Late night—dorm gates shut. But not my problem.
Doors beg opening, walls beg climbing.
Slipped behind, scaled trees to wall, clinging for estimate…
—Rustle. Presence nearby.
Dragon Eye maxed instantly.
"Who's there!"
Eyes turned blue, slitting dragon-like. Dragon mana roared ferociously, hungry for the foe.
What I saw:
"Grrr…"
Patrolling guard.
Ah. The timid one. Still breathing—good. Almost health room for Celine.
"Sorry…"
Gently laid him down, blanketed from Inventory. Rumors gonna twist again.
Slipped through window. Unlatched, even open. Alice waiting up.
Wavy blonde, blue eyes. Cute pajamas. She scolded on sight.
"Really. Coming in late again?"
Doom of Alice nagging—but not today!
Opened palm. Chicken box appeared. Crispy fry scent wafted.
She'd learned my food was bomb. Eyes shifted.
"If you think that'll get you off again…"
Stuffed a drumstick in her mouth. Crunch.
Her dress quivered in bliss.