Sumi's Panties (2)
When I awakened my 5-star Recovery ability, I figured I'd throw myself into powering it up above everything else. I knew myself better than anyone, after all. Once I became a 5-star healer living large, every woman I wanted would end up under me, begging for it. But that road was long and brutal. Being a 5-star healer didn't turn me into Jesus or anything. I knew exactly how much grind it took to grow, and that made it feel overwhelming. Not that I was quitting—rather than rushing and screwing up, I set a new goal: take it steady, look back without backsliding, and nail it more perfectly this time.
That meant I couldn't dodge the temptations popping up along the way. Or rather, maybe I didn't even try. "Gotta get mine while I do the work."
There weren't any porter gigs lined up right away anyway. Even if I found a party tomorrow and wanted to hit a rift, my Real World session with Seora was tonight. So I slotted in a meetup with Lee Sumi on the side. Just a simple dinner—no big pressure.
"Might as well grab some new clothes and head out in the morning."
Heart pounding with excitement, I logged into Real World like it was homework. I'd scarfed down meals and dove in for years, but after just two days away, did my love for it fade? Nah.
"Hoo. This smell. Virtual reality smell."
It felt like coming home. My stacked inventory. Skills crammed with traits. Sky-high trait levels. I missed it all. It was just that now, knowing this power had moved to reality, I finally had the brains to separate game from real life.
"Let's check skills and achievements before I log."
What achievements had I cleared? I couldn't remember every detail. Sure, stuff like Dramatic Recovery would pop up when the situation hit, but scouting early-game achievements or trait unlocks ahead of time would help.
I'd barely started digging for real-world intel when Seora popped up in front of me. One-use instant teleport artifact. The kind that warps you to someone with a Binding Tattoo.
"Whatcha doing?"
"Huh? You here?"
"You ghosted for two days?"
"Yeah, just got back from a rift."
"Tch."
She crossed her arms, shooting me a pissed-off glare, but I played it cool. I could already read the annoyance in her tone. Our unspoken rule: when not hunting together, beef up your character's inventory. My job was to keep her safer, pamper her better. But I'd skipped it entirely for that porter bullshit, so of course she was laying it on thick. From her side, some lowly porter gig messing with her game time probably stung. Or maybe she was anxious. What if her personal healer bailed for real life?
Not that she'd ever grovel over it.
"Went to a rift and now you think you're a hunter or some shit?"
"It was fun. Good pay too. With my Real World experience, it didn't feel that risky."
"Bullshit. I've seen tons of cocky assholes get wrecked. Quit the rifts, don't get cocky."
"Huh?"
"What huh? I got you covered. How much you need? I'll spot you living expenses."
It was our unspoken code. Easy there, kid. She knew I sold game cash for real money on the side, but she never straight-up handed me "living expense" cash. What was the difference from stuffing my inventory with gold for gear? Fair point. But we'd gotten close enough that curses flew easy—saying it outright would've made shit awkward.
"Why you bitching like my wife? Worried I'll die in a rift or something?"
"The hell? Worried? You wanna die? Do you know how much I've invested in you? That's why I'm pissed—you might quit the game outta nowhere."
She was too blunt to let it get awkward, but it didn't hurt my feelings anyway.
"Quit bitching and let's hunt. Fresh from a rift—I'm in top form."
"Sigh. Fine, let's see after we go."
She looked ready to deck me, but followed without a peep as we headed to the rift. Even after days apart, our synergy clicked perfectly, no rust.
"Wanna get married?"
"You fucking psycho. Did you eat something weird in that rift?"
"Ha. Real rifts are no joke—can't control myself. Don't I seem sharper now that I trust my skills?"
"Shut up. Can't focus."
It wasn't bullshit. After hauling ass as a trash body porter, slipping into my perfected munchkin healer felt like flying. No other porters screaming for aggro or D-rank hunters leaking it everywhere—no one but me to handle. Made it easier. Thick shields tanked hits, eyes locked on Seora for precise heals and shields.
"...You're on point today."
"Told ya."
Took 5 hours 48 minutes to clear an S-rank rift.
"SS-rank soon."
"Hm. Once we get the full 5-star set?"
Even her dissatisfied glare mixed with approval. She could tell I'd sharpened up from the rifts. Was she a sword hunter in real life too? Wonder what it'd be like raiding real rifts together. Daydreaming for a sec, our eyes met.
"...Why that look again?"
Satisfied but annoyed. Something bugged her. Guilty twinge, I changed the subject.
"Hey. Say I awaken as a real-life healer—what then?"
"Won't happen, so what?"
"Fucking bitch. Just hypothetically. Like, some young cute girl I heal flashes her panties—what then?"
Half testing my uneasy heart, hoping a woman's take would ease it. Half-suspecting, but clinging to "maybe?" Saving her life was a cheat code—anything could happen.
"Pfft."
Guess my thoughts and third-party opinion differed.
"If she really flashes panties? Run."
"Why?"
"No normal girl flashes panties to seduce you. 'Thanks for saving me, here's a peek'? Why? Could just pay you."
"..."
"She's got ulterior motives. Not falling for your busted real-life looks. Means she wants to fuck you over good."
Facts hit like punches; I shut up. Too spot-on.
But I had a counter.
"What if she doesn't know I'm a healer?"
"You saved her."
"Brushed it off as an artifact. Assume that."
"Bullshit."
Seora crushed my last hope with a sneer.
"She's not an idiot—would she buy that? Makes it worse. Baiting you 'take it or leave it.' Eat it up, then if you're no healer or won't pay out? Boom, rape charge."
"..."
"And what kinda retarded fantasy is that? Quit wasting brain cells—grind that Resurrection trait. Need it for SS-rank."
Of course, this convo hits the night before meeting Lee Sumi. Mood tanked. Too true, and it felt like that's exactly what'd happen.
So I met her extra worried, heart about to burst. Watching her head to the motel shower, Seora's words resurfaced, unease creeping in. But male instinct drowned the noise.
Lee Sumi was different from Seora. Fancy beef dinner, no offense at my suspicions—instead, understanding, even flashing panties right there. Grabbed me as I tried to bail post-meal, dragged me to the motel. Never once mentioned healer shit. Just grilled me on hauling a 2-star kit—awkward topic, but she dug in.
"Shall we sleep?"
Dim glow in the dark. She rolled toward me in her loose robe, cleavage spilling into view. No experience, but I'm a man. Staring openly, her soft voice flowed in one ear and out the other.
"Just sleep?"
Her small, soft hand climbed mine. Tempting touch heated the air as she asked.
"Kang San-ssi. You'll raid rifts with me again, right?"
"...Pardon?"
"Can't go without you anymore. Please?"
"Ah."
Irresistible temptation—a confession from a girl smitten with her lifesaver! Her pull felt so right, soft hand tugging. But...
"One sec. Need to hit the convenience store... forgot something."
"It's fine. Don't need it."
"No, really—just a quick run!"
Brain snapped alert; I bolted the motel. Head kept turning back despite regret, but her last words made me ditch the feast and head home.