Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Gym (1)
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Shwaaah.
The sound of running water tickled her ears.
Standing in front of the mirror, Choi Ye-won gazed at her naked body.
Her waist showed no trace of excess fat, thanks to her unwavering daily workouts.
Her hips, brimming with defiant power.
The thigh muscles densely packed along her glutes.
Her lower body was her pride—she knew it outshone anyone else's—so Choi Ye-won took a moment to admire it.
It's really pretty.
Too bad she couldn't show it off.
Her mind drifted back to that board game café incident a few days ago.
For someone as inexperienced as her, it had been overwhelmingly intense.
The day she and Kim Jinwoo, whom she considered a friend, had nearly crossed the line.
If the staff hadn't intervened, something huge would have definitely gone down.
The fact that she couldn't hold back, went home, and masturbated fantasizing about what came next was a secret she'd never breathe to Jinwoo.
"Ugh......"
Thinking about it always set her body ablaze.
Countless possibilities played out in her head.
What if I'd been a bit more aggressive?
What if we'd drawn a different game?
What if we'd booked more time from the start?
And then the lewd fantasies made her chest swell.
Choi Ye-won's eyes drifted to her breasts.
A deep kiss mark lingered on her not-small chest.
The vivid mark Kim Jinwoo had left on her upper breast during Love Jenga was still sharp, even two days later.
"So damn lewd."
It looked like she'd spent a wild night—like proof of that time with Jinwoo.
"You really missed out, you know."
To think he hadn't pushed further.
My thighs are prettier than my chest anyway.
If only that kiss mark had been lower down.
Her hand slid downward.
Shwaaah.
The cascading water.
"Haa, haa."
Choi Ye-won's moans were drowned out by the spray.
This way, she could enjoy it more freely.
"Feels... good......"
Her hips bucked with every finger movement.
The stress from the lab melting away.
-You like it like this?
The man in her imagination wiggled his fingers.
His fingers dancing inside her.
-Leaving such a slutty kiss mark and now you're masturbating alone?
She bit her lip at his mocking voice.
Aah.
Do more.
The man in her fantasy was muscular, tall, burly, with a somewhat innocent vibe—but once he set his mind to it, no one could stop him.
-You're gonna cum on your friend's fingers?
It was Kim Jinwoo.
"I-I'm gonna... cum....... J-Just a bit more... intense......"
Her legs felt like jelly, splayed awkwardly as water trickled between them.
Her body was dry everywhere the water hadn't touched—except between her thighs.
Drip.
It was slick with sticky fluid.
"Eek!!!"
Her body convulsed, waist nearly giving out, so she grabbed the sink in a panic.
"Haa, haa."
Panting, she stared at her hand, slick with her own juices.
The fishy scent.
Her fingers reeked of feminine pheromones, dripping with shameful liquid.
"I must be crazy."
What the hell am I doing, thinking of a friend...
How am I supposed to face him now?
"It's the stress."
The research stress built up so much I lost control.
Yeah, that's fine.
Ye-won forced herself to calm down with self-assurances.
Saturday had been like that, and Sunday too—no Daily Quest appeared.
Did quests take weekends off too?
At least that was a relief.
You guys do have some standards.
Yeah.
We all need weekends off.
But then.
Monday rolled around, and the system message popped up like it had been waiting.
The tone was thrilled about my growth.
"Planning to give me today's quest, huh?"
A gift?
Now, hearing that just made me uneasy.
What scheme is this?
What are you planning to do to me now?
An aphrodisiac effect?
Like a hypnosis app or something?
Sounds the same to me.
The system sounded indignant.
So, more advanced and picky with conditions.
I buried the thought that it didn't seem all that different otherwise.
Anyway, no harm in getting a new power.
So.
What's today's quest?
That's the key.
What twisted quest will this damn system throw at me?
Hold up.
'Taste love juices? With my mouth?'
The sudden spike in intensity made my head spin.
Fuck.
I knew it.
Knew the level would ramp up.
Checking pheromones is bad enough.
But tasting...
My head spun.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
"You bastard......"
Sure, sure.
No failures so far.
But the problem is this'll tank whatever social cred I have left.
Not that I had much—I'm an outsider at school with no connections anyway.
Still, imagining the looks of contempt from Han Chae-ah and Choi Ye-won made my head spin.
"No refusing, right."
Rewards weren't bad.
Gaining abilities wasn't a loss.
But this quest felt daunting.
'These damn quests still catch me off guard.'
Of course, part of me thought:
If the intensity keeps rising, eventually...
Something even crazier.
'Like full-on sex.'
Tempting, sure.
As long as it doesn't jump straight to public outdoor stuff.
No need.
The quest narrowed it to one instantly.
Just two days ago, Saturday with Han Chae-ah had lowered her barriers, for sure.
But weekday spots to meet Chae-ah were limited.
Without going to her place, lecture halls were it.
No way I had the guts for this quest in a full lecture hall.
I could joke about it, but sniffing and tasting? Different story.
So, the other option.
"Sorry, Ye-won."
"Shut it."
Reads the room well.
Chae-ah's spots were limited, but Ye-won was different.
More points of contact? Nah.
That's why—more places to meet.
Lab office.
Or just drop by her place.
Easier to broach than with Chae-ah.
Or invite her to lunch.
Worst case, last resort still open.
So, Choi Ye-won it is.
Today, I gotta see Ye-won.
Before class, I headed to the professor's office.
She's there most times unless teaching.
Really didn't wanna come here.
"Excuse me."
"Oh? Jinwoo? What's up? Finally made up your mind?"
Professor Choi Ik-hyeon grinned the moment he saw me.
"No. Here for Ye-won."
"Ye-won has morning class—went to the lecture hall."
"Ah...... Thanks. Oh, Professor."
"Yeah?"
"Can I borrow Ye-won for lunch? Got stuff to discuss over a meal."
"No can do. Big afternoon meeting—needs her for materials. Can't go anywhere."
"You make her do that too?"
"Nah. Why burden a busy researcher with errands?"
"Then maybe......?"
"She wants to. Says she needs to focus."
This.
Is she dodging me on purpose?
"Got it."
Bailed after the refusal.
If she wants it, prof had no reason to say no.
"Something happen between you two?"
"...Nothing."
"Really? Girl's gone full zombie."
"......No idea."
"Lovers' quarrels are fine—just don't mess with her research."
"Not that."
"Sure."
Professor Choi Ik-hyeon chuckled smugly.
'Screwed.'
Screwed from the jump.
Left with house visit or...
The nuke option.
'Better than house visit.'
Might be.
"Jinwoo."
"Not doing grad school."
"How'd you know?"
"Only two things you say in that tone: class rep errands or try grad school."
"Sharp kid."
"Thanks."
I slipped out before he could grab me.
Natural meetup: busted.
Time for forced encounter.
"Didn't wanna go there."
It's a natural workout spot.
No choice.
Classes done.
No shared classes with Chae-ah today, so solo quiet study.
Lunch alone, naturally.
After afternoon classes, skipped front gate homeward—headed to back gate.
One must-visit spot for today's quest.
-@@Gym.
Choi Ye-won's gym.
We went together up to her sophomore year.
Originally from repeater days, switched post-admission, settled here.
I stopped when enlisting; she kept up almost daily for body maintenance.
Less now as grad student, but still 3x weekly—her favorite.
Inside, familiar sights welcomed me.
"Hey? Jinwoo!"
Owner spotted me, waved.
"Long time."
"Discharged? Why no word?"
"Busy earning."
"Kid, need cash? Talk to me. I'd hire you as trainer tomorrow."
"No talent for teaching."
"Pfft, you are a trainer just existing. Folks tense up seeing you."
"Pass."
Not doing it.
Taught Ye-won some—teaching ain't easy.
-Jinwoo, teach me upper body!
Showed back exercises, tapped out first.
"Ye-won here?"
"Here for her, huh?"
"Kinda."
"...So you two dating now?"
Shook my head at his question.
Owner always swore we'd end up together.
Here we go again.
"Not like that."
We almost crossed lines, but still friends.
"Really? Thought you were locks."
"How's the wife?"
"Great. Too great—problem. Recently seduced me for a trip..."
His family man rant gaining steam.
"Oh? Ddaengchili?"
Locked eyes with Choi Ye-won emerging in training gear.
Crop rashguard covering upper chest but baring midriff, loose tennis pants.
Style highlighting solid thighs and tight abs.
No leggings, yet her figure popped.
This is a violent physique.
"W-Why're you here?"
"To see you."
"W-Where you looking?"
"You're pretty, so."
"W-What...!"
Ye-won flushed beet red.
Gym owner, staring, asked me:
"Still not dating with that?"
I told you, no.