Vague Confessions and a Suspicious Neighbor

"I'm telling you, it's legit."

"For real?"

There was a long silence before Yoo Raen suddenly shook her head.

"Whoa... my sense of reality is kinda fucked right now."

Yoo Serin, who had been quiet, asked in a low voice.

"You said it's not combat-related, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then what is it?"

That was the question. I picked up my water glass, then set it back down for no reason.

"It's kinda... uh, hard to pin down."

"Kinda? Hard to pin down?"

Yoo Raen leaned in closer.

...Did she spray perfume?

"Dude, S-Rank abilities are usually broken as hell from the get-go. What's so hard to pin down?"

I pretended to think for a moment. I was actually thinking. What lie would sound least suspicious?

"It's sorta... support-type."

"Healer?"

"Nope."

"Buffer?"

"Not exactly."

Yoo Raen frowned.

"Then what?"

"Hard to explain."

"Why's it hard?"

I forced a calm expression. I could tell them right away since they were family... but maybe ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it was because I'd taken so much help from them without giving anything back—I didn't want to disappoint them. Or maybe I just hesitated to reveal this vague ability I hadn't fully grasped yet.

"It depends a lot on the situation."

"Situation?"

"It buffs, but... things like the environment or conditions matter. It's better when acting alone. Not quite a buffer."

Not a total lie.

Yoo Raen narrowed her eyes at my explanation.

"Sounds suspicious."

"It's not."

"No, an S-Rank that's 'better alone'? What, assassin?"

"Not assassination."

As we bickered, Yoo Serin quietly cut in.

"Hard to reveal type?"

Her gaze was spot-on. I paused, then nodded.

"Figured telling early might cause misunderstandings. I haven't fully figured it out myself."

True.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"No mana felt."

"Yeah, planning to look into that too."

Classic Yoo Serin. As an ice mage, she'd immediately noticed my mana was zilch.

Yoo Raen crossed her arms and picked a fight.

"This guy's going full mysterious concept."

"Shut up."

"Name?"

"...That's tricky too."

"What the..."

"Later. When it's sorted, I'll tell you."

Yoo Raen sighed dramatically, then burst out laughing.

"Eh, whatever. It'll all come out when you register with the Association anyway."

That stung a bit.

"Planning to register slow."

"...Full concept."

Serin nodded.

"S-Rank, Association will manage immediately. Better prepare."

"See? Sis agrees."

At my slight whine, Yoo Raen stared, then smirked.

"Fine, whatever. Not combat, so no dragging you to dungeons right away."

"Thanks for that."

"But."

Yoo Raen jabbed a finger at me.

"You gotta buff me too, right? Don't even know if it works without mana... Gimme that S-Rank bus."

"...Pfft, sure."

Not like it's up to me, though.

Our chit-chat shifted naturally to dungeons and guild gossip. The meat was delicious as always.

The night air was pretty chilly. Phone said just past 9 PM.

"Ugh... gonna burst."

I patted my belly lightly as I stepped out of the elevator. The hallway fluorescent flickered once.

Passing 305 to head to 306—

Click.

Right next door, a door opened. 305.

A woman stepped out, and we locked eyes. Two steps away.

I reflexively bowed my head.

"Oh, hello."

305. The quest spot. Probably Han Choyeun.

Heart pounding—had I been caught?—I greeted her awkwardly.

But she froze, hand on the doorknob. Her green-tinted hair and eyes gleamed under the light.

She's gorgeous.

Her soft features and subtly sharp gaze looked beautiful even to my heightened standards after seeing Yoo Raen and Serin.

...But those clear green eyes were fixed right on me.

...What? Did I do something?

......

Did she catch me?

A brief silence passed.

"...Yes. Hello."

Her reply was half a beat late. Calm voice, but her gaze felt oddly deep. Like she was scanning me.

Unable to bear the quiet, I spoke.

"We're neighbors... first time meeting, huh."

305 and 306. Just one number apart, weird we'd never crossed paths till now. Probably 'cause I hunkered in my room job-hunting.

Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, then relaxed.

"Yeah."

I gave an awkward smile at the short reply.

"I'm out all day, so... sorry for not saying hi sooner."

I hated small talk, but I forced it out.

Her gaze swept my face, shoulders, down to my fingertips—like inspecting.

A faint chill ran down my spine.

"...Oh, right. I'm Han Choyeun."

Done scanning? She suddenly gave her name. Neighborly intro?

"Yoo Gaon. ...Uh, see you around?"

My body screamed no more chit-chat; I bowed awkwardly and headed to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠306, punching the code.

Then, a prickling gaze on my back again.

Glancing back as I entered—she was still midway down the hall. Unreadable expression, lost in thought or watching me?

Our eyes met; Han Choyeun smoothly looked away.

Door shut. Home air hit, tension drained from my shoulders.

"What was that."

Couldn't read Han Choyeun's reaction. If caught, she'd report it, so probably safe?

"Agh."

Yoo Gaon was completely mentally broken.

Quest demands increased again. Now dishes too—this was basically begging to get caught.

But mana liberation added to rewards was some consolation. Massive increase too—maybe skip six ranks like last time. Didn't know how to use it yet, but I'd figure it out.

Day 5 already, routine as I phased into Han Choyeun's room to start cleaning... or so I thought.

"...Huh."

From crossing the wall, my body felt oddly light. Thought it was phasing at first, but it lingered after deactivation... an energy?

Patting myself down, a guess hit.

Wait... oh, no way.

Confirming my guess—one new line.

This was the status window that applied during Snail Husband stuff?

...This is driving me insane.

I swallowed a sigh and headed to the sink. Dishes weren't many—quick job. One mug, two plates, small pot.

But quantity wasn't the issue.

Unless she's dense as hell, she'll notice.

Floor or windows? Hard to spot. Her place wasn't filthy anyway.

But dishes? Obvious as fuck.

She could come home, notice, call cops, install CCTV. Caught? What then?

Hello, ma'am. Gaon Clean, ensuring your comfy space. Spare me?

They'd think I'm nuts. Tried messing them up post-wash like before—quest canceled instantly. So, pray Han Choyeun's a bit... no, super oblivious.

The front door clicked shut, silence settling. Han Choyeun kicked off her shoes, habitually scanning the living room.

Floor. Windows. Plants. And—

The sink.

She stopped.

"...Ha."

A dry laugh escaped first. Pot and plates left dirty that morning—spotless. No water drops, perfectly placed.

...Dishes too?

Absurd, she tilted her head, then recalled the mana from the fresh sprouts she'd planted that morning.

Vision warped. Same as yesterday—naturally phasing through the wall...

The guy from the hall, Yoo Gaon.

When they'd passed in the corridor. His eyes showed surprise, no malice.

He's weird.

No normal person breaks in secretly. But not that kind of weird.

Cleaning for no reason. What's the goal? Info? No rummaging. Hidden cam? No signs. No crime.

Just enters, cleans, leaves.

She focused on him starting cleaning so routinely. Meticulously wiping floor, windows; handling plants carefully.

Handsome enough to gush over as "delicate guy." Confusion and curiosity swirled—what's his deal?

Video cut after he finished dishes and left; slight exhaustion hit.

"Ughhh..."

What the hell. Han Choyeun glanced at the sink again, quietly deciding.

Pretend not to know, approach this Yoo ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Gaon guy.