Hidden Quest Cleared... But Still Hidden?

"......"

I stared blankly at the notification floating in mid-air.

After our first time having sex, I'd cum maybe three more times before finally drifting off to sleep with Han Choyeun in my arms. And now, well into the afternoon when I finally woke up, this notification was hovering right in front of me.

It claimed I'd cleared some hidden quest and dished out rewards before vanishing...

Stamina enhancement? Fine, whatever. I'd seen enough of this system's insane performance by now—I wasn't shocked anymore.

The problem was what came next.

'Han Choyeun's ability rank has risen to S-Rank.'

"...Does that even make sense?"

I muttered without thinking.

Of course, I'd known this system wasn't normal ever since it handed me an SS-Rank skill. But this was on another level entirely.

A story I'd heard while drinking came back to me. Han Choyeun was definitely a C-Rank hunter with a C-Rank ability—something about communicating with plants. Abilities like hers weren't the best for combat no matter the rank, but since hers was so low, she wasn't really cut out for fighting anyway. That's why she worked more as a researcher than a proper hunter.

But...

'From C-Rank.'

I stared at the notification again.

S-Rank. Not climbing one rank at a time or anything—

'Climbing even one rank at a time would be insane.'

But what? Straight to S-Rank in one go.

"Fucking crazy..."

This wasn't just a good reward. It shattered all common sense.

In the hunter world, rank was an absolute standard. Talent. Growth limits. Potential. It encompassed everything, decided pretty much at awakening... or as people said, from birth.

That's why "rank up" was treated like a legend. There weren't any confirmed cases, but everyone dreamed their abilities might improve someday.

'And it just... does that? Boosts it like it's nothing?'

And not even for me. For someone else.

It might sound underwhelming at first glance, but my own growth was basically a one-time thing. Especially with growth this explosive—straight to the top rank—it'd be a limited-use ability that fired once.

But applying it to others? That meant the system could potentially turn every target it gave me quests for into S-Rank hunters.

"...Hold up."

That thought brought two people to mind—the ones already tangled in my quests. Yoo Serin and Yoo Raen.

Given the timing and the stamina boost reward... maybe the hidden quest clear condition was sex.

"Nah... no way."

My mind was a mess, but I decided not to worry about it right now. It was a hidden quest from a one-of-a-kind ability that hid even the quest details—totally unpredictable.

I slowly turned my head.

She was clinging tightly to my waist in her sleep, looking so peaceful it was hard to believe this was the same woman who'd pushed me so hard last night.

"..."

One arm wrapped firmly around my waist, her leg even draped over mine. Like she was making sure I couldn't escape.

Her arm felt stiff—probably from holding on all night.

"...Hah."

A soft sigh escaped me.

Memories from last night flooded back. Right before we both collapsed from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠exhaustion, she'd showered me with kisses, whining that she didn't want to sleep.

- Smack... Nngh... More, I want more...

Thinking about that gap—flipping between seductress passive and cuteness passive like turning over her palm—my dick twitched again.

"...Ngh..."

At that moment, Han Choyeun stirred slightly.

Her arm around my waist tightened a bit more.

"...Escape..."

She mumbled in her sleep.

"...If you escape..."

"...What're you saying."

I chuckled softly at her adorable sleep-talking.

This woman even talks in her sleep.

"...No..."

She mumbled, burying her face deeper. Pressing even closer to me. Her body heat transferred right over.

"..."

I gazed down at her silently for a moment.

I'd stuck around after last night's sticky atmosphere, but she clearly had some trauma or other. Probably family-related, I guessed—but I had no intention of prying.

I didn't know the details, but her sleep-talking was all about wishing I wouldn't run away. No way was I going to disappoint Han Choyeun like that.

Then, suddenly, that notification from earlier popped back into my head.

...S-Rank, huh.

Even thinking it again, it didn't feel real. Right here on this bed—with this woman sleep-talking while hugging my waist—she'd become one of the top figures in the hunter world.

"..."

After a moment's hesitation, I slowly raised my hand and gently brushed her hair aside. The soft texture grazed my fingertips.

At that instant...

"...Nng."

Han Choyeun's brows furrowed slightly.

And then...

"...You're awake?"

She looked up at me with half-lidded eyes, still groggy from sleep.

"...Just woke up."

I said casually.

"...Liar."

"...What?"

"...You've been watching me."

She mumbled in her sleepy voice, but her arm around my waist showed no sign of letting go.

"..."

She stared at me for a bit, then smiled faintly.

"...You didn't run."

"...Why would I?"

"...Dunno."

She mumbled, closing her eyes again.

"...Still."

She added sleepily.

"...I was holding on."

And with that, she pulled me even closer. Like she was dead serious about not letting go.

Another ten minutes of her squirming around before she finally snapped out of it.

At that point, there was no hiding it anymore—I had to explain.

Sitting against the headboard, I summed up everything as simply as possible. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠What my ability was, how the unique ability called Snail Husband worked. The quests it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spawned and their rewards.

Even sneaking into her place that first time to clean, cooking and leaving food—it was all because of those quests.

And the notification that had just been floating there, plus the hidden quest reward.

I stuck to the key points to avoid rambling, but the story itself was so bizarre. The kind of thing normal people wouldn't believe.

So after I finished, a brief silence fell.

"...So."

Han Choyeun slowly turned to me.

"...To sum it up."

Her eyes were fully awake now, sparkling oddly.

I nodded.

"Pretty much."

My ability spawned quests, clearing them gave rewards, and as a result—her ability rank became S-Rank.

A moment of quiet.

Even after my explanation, she didn't react right away. Instead, she tilted her gaze upward, staring into space without a word.

Probably checking her status window again.

"..."

Her fingers flailed in the air, like she was wiping smudges off a screen. Of course, you can't touch a status window, so her dainty hand just hovered there.

And then...

"...Hoo."

She let out a soft breath, closing her eyes briefly before opening them again. Her expression had changed. Eyes sparkling. The corner of her mouth twitching like she was fighting a grin.

"..."

I watched her pure joy with a warm smile—

"...Ahem."

She suddenly cleared her throat. Adjusted her posture. Straightening her back like she hadn't been half-buried in the sheets moments ago.

"...Yeah."

Pretending to be nonchalant, nodding once.

"...I see."

Acting all casual.

"...S-Rank."

She said it like that—but her eyes were still fixed on empty air.

And her fingers moved again. Tap. Tap. Like poking at the status window to check.

"..."

"..."

"...It's real."

She whispered even softer this time. Then glanced at me.

"...Um."

She hesitated, choosing her words.

"...That's a pretty amazing ability."

Trying—and failing—to sound calm.

I chuckled.

"...You like it?"

"...What."

She shrugged slightly.

"...Not bad."

Another fake cough.

"...Ahem."

Fussing with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her hair.

"...S-Rank."

Muttering it again.

"...Hehe."

"..."

...?

"...Ah."

Her ears turned bright red, embarrassed by her own giggle slipping out.

"..."

"..."

Our eyes met for a second.

And then...

"...N-No."

She averted her gaze, coughing again.

"...Ahem."

The ecstatic face from staring at her status window was gone; now she was obviously play-acting innocence.

"...Anyway."

She opened her mouth like she was picking her words—then realized I was still grinning at her.

"...Ah."

Her eyes narrowed.

"...You just. Laughed. At me."

"...No?"

"...You did."

"...Yeah, I did."

"..."

Her mouth snapped shut.

And then...

"...Hah."

She sighed softly, then suddenly kicked off the covers and leaned forward.

"...Fine."

Her hand grabbed my arm.

"...Come here!"

"Wha—"

Before I could finish, thud. I was flat on my back on the bed again.

"Wait a sec—"

No time to respond—Han Choyeun loomed over me. Much closer than before. Face flushed to her ears, glaring playfully.

"...Get ready...♡"

In the end, forgetting all about hunger, we didn't escape the bed until evening.