Kiss (2)
For six whole days, I thrashed about desperately. I tried every which way to scrape together some money, but it was all for nothing.
In the end, time flowed on mercilessly, and finally...
"Time to pay the interest."
The promised hour had arrived. My hands trembled uncontrollably.
Of course, this stage was just a kiss, but that didn't mean I had any excuse not to pay up.
Haah... They say you shouldn't even enter debt relationships with family.
This was exactly why you shouldn't take on debt. My head spun. A thick sense of disappointment in myself settled in.
"S-sorry. I don't think I can pay this month's interest either."
"Hm? Well... can you at least pay the lesson fee?"
"N-no."
I couldn't pay either. Last month, I failed to cover the tuition, so now it was 5.5 million won.
With 5% monthly interest, that meant I owed 2,750,000 won this month.
"So you can't pay either this month. Which one should we skip, then?"
"Uh... the tuition."
"Good, good. Then the 2.75 million interest rolls over, making your current debt 57.75 million won?"
She didn't have to spell out the exact amount like that. But Master kindly went down to the 50,000-won place.
It was an insane sum. Next month, it'd be 2,887,500 won... This must be what they meant by money begetting money.
"Anyway, per the contract, now..."
"...Do whatever you want."
"Uhihihit."
That laugh just now sounded ridiculously dumb. Hard to believe it came from the Sword Saint.
"Before we start, let me ask: this is your first kiss, right?"
Hearing that, some petty impulse flared up in me for no good reason.
I knew it was nonsense even to myself, but... I wanted to twist up that smirking face of hers.
"No."
"What? You said you never had a girlfriend."
"Doesn't mean I couldn't have kissed someone. Kids these days all do it."
"...Are you calling me old-fashioned right now?"
She's twisting my words weirdly. When did I say she wasn't like kids these days? I stared at her in sheer disbelief, and Master's face twisted up like...
A goblin's. Even demonic possession couldn't make it that ugly.
"No matter how out of touch I am with you young folks—it's been like ten years—I've never heard such a stupid line!"
"Euh..."
"Get over here! I'm checking right now!"
Did I poke the bear for no reason? No wonder they say don't scratch where it doesn't itch...
My waist was suddenly seized by her arm. I flinched and shrank back in surprise as her face drew close.
Such a perfectly sculpted face. Who knew a beauty like this could get so pissed.
She looks like the textbook beauty, but...
The reason someone like her had zero experience with men was probably because she's a Player.
Regular folks instinctively fear Players.
Just like how your muscles freeze at the roar of a lion or tiger.
They say Players can stiffen a normal person's body just by showing emotion plainly.
And high-level Players? Their intense emotions can straight-up stop a normal heart.
Master's level is among the top in Korea. Definitely...
Even as a Player myself, when she got mad, my body locked up on its own.
"No funny thoughts."
Her face came even closer. Just a few centimeters away now. The arm around my waist had long since loosened. Guess she was finally honoring that promise not to grope me.
Her hands are big...
Not freakishly huge like a basketball player's, but long and elegant, like a model's.
For some reason, staring at Master's hands made the tension drain from my body.
Not that it mattered—her strength far outclassed mine anyway. I had zero means to resist.
I stayed still like that, and finally, her lips met mine.
"Mmph!"
A soft sensation. That's the only way to describe it.
Why were Master's lips so incredibly soft?
I took it in like I was entranced. I knew I shouldn't, but her lips robbed me of my senses.
"Pfhaah..."
"Ughhh!"
"Felt good, right? Say it felt good."
"It, it felt good."
"Not what I—your brain's totally fried, you idiot."
My head was so fuzzy, I had no clue what I'd just said...
"One kiss and you're all wobbly—definitely your first! You cocky little shit."
"Ughhh..."
"From now on, if you don't listen, I'll drain your strength with kisses. No pointless resisting, got it?"
I had to endure more of this from now on? I'd go insane... What if my brain turned into an empty shell?
She looked like that was exactly her goal.
Another week slipped by.
Master must've been thrilled to start kissing me, because she showed unusual generosity for a while.
"Listen up—the 16th floor has a vampire count as the boss."
She started spilling Babel info she'd refused to share before, claiming it was a hassle.
You could find basics in books, but detailed stuff like this was hoarded by Players—next to impossible to learn otherwise.
"The Viscount Urten shows up right as you enter. He's about 2 meters tall, with blood orbs on either side."
According to her explanation, from the 16th floor on, so-called "named" monsters—powerful ones—appeared.
"Any countermeasures?"
"Yeah. But it's kinda awkward to just tell you..."
"Wh-what?"
"To get precious info like this from seniors, you gotta buy 'em drinks and fancy meals."
"..."
I got her angle now. She wanted to play a little game.
I let out a loud sigh and planted a smooch on her cheek. Loud and clear—smack!
She could do it anytime, but she wants me to initiate.
How devious could one person be? Did she turn this way because she became an old maid?
Tragic, really. If she weren't a Player, she could've found someone decent.
But she didn't, so she ended up a scheming thirty-something spinster.
"Ah... but that lacked sincerity."
"Lips would lead to funny business. You think I don't know?"
"What nonsense. When have I ever done that? Framing an upright instructor like me—such ingratitude."
I stopped at a peck because lips would've sapped my strength. I hated feeling that powerless!
"Destroy the blood orbs first. Sure, dozens of ghouls will swarm to protect 'em. But if you don't smash them in 10 minutes, you're screwed."
Anyway, she started sharing the info.
"After 10 minutes, the orbs glow red and start area blood-sucking. Lose about 30% of your blood and you're dead. Don't wanna bleed out? Break 'em fast."
"Ugh..."
"The orbs aren't that tough, though—you can shatter 'em quick. Bring a pistol."
Most don't use guns in Babel because they're useless.
Fine against goblins or zombies, sure. But higher up, bullets bounce off.
"Once the orbs are gone, the viscount himself appears. He's a pushover on his own. Problem's the ghouls. They're stronger than you'd think."
Unlike zombies, ghouls turn living people undead, so they're way tougher.
"Plus, when cornered, the viscount drains his ghouls' blood to heal. Kill the ghouls first, then him."
In other words, no minions dead? Good luck with the boss.
"Sounds brutal... But didn't you say I could solo up to the 20th?"
"Yeah, you can. The gear I gave you is top-tier."
...Just how good is it?
"The viscount's a total weakling otherwise—easy takedown. Next is the 17th... I'll tell you later. Oh, and finally?"
"...Yeah."
I smooched her cheek again, but dissatisfied, Master furrowed her brow and pursed her lips.
"No way."
Another lip-lock, and my whole body went limp. Strength drained away. My mind went blank.