Desert Deception
Rookie: Baek Jaesung 17
I could communicate remotely with anyone registered as my slave. But it wasn't free—I had to pay credits. The cost varied by distance, and it was surprisingly steep, so it wasn't a feature I used often.
I reached out to Yeonji using the remote communication function.
Yeonji replied instantly.
Yeonji knew me too well. Just as I knew her.
Classic Yeonji. She always exceeded my expectations.
Jang Hana and I walked together through the narrow tunnel. We relied on a single lantern's light, trudging aimlessly along the path.
Sand hells popped up sporadically inside the tunnel. But they were shit in direct fights like this one-on-one in the tunnel—they couldn't ambush with sand. Aside from snatching falling prey, their combat power was zero.
About 30 minutes in, Jang Hana suddenly stopped. She set Seonuk down from her back for a moment.
"You okay?"
I asked, and Jang Hana nodded sleepily with a weary expression. But she quickly slapped her cheeks to snap out of it.
"Jaesung-ssi. It just hit me—wouldn't it have been better to ask the other party members for rescue back there instead of searching for the exit ourselves?"
Took her 30 minutes to realize that. Jang Hana crumbled under pressure.
The talent that shines in crises is composure. She clearly lacked it. Even when begging mercy for the injured healer Seonuk, her face showed no calm.
"We've come too far to turn back now. Let's find the exit and rejoin the others quick."
I had no intention of heading back to the group right away. This was me-and-Jang-Hana time. Sure, there was an uninvited guest on her back, but he was out cold, so no issue.
"Light up ahead. Looks like an exit tunnel."
Thirty minutes after dropping into the tunnel, we emerged outside—right in the middle of a sand dune.
We'd barely escaped the tunnel, but it wasn't time to celebrate. The three of us were tossed into a barren desert. With one basically comatose, it was effectively two people and a baggage lump.
I couldn't stop smirking at Jang Hana's face, anxiety creeping up visibly.
'In reality—no, in a dungeon where you gotta hold back... how am I supposed to resist that face?'
Dungeons were dangerous. Unpredictable shit happened casually, and even I couldn't guarantee safety.
But with my spare life, I took even this as a thrill. Plenty of people in the world chased thrills risking their necks.
"Wh-what do we do?"
To Jang Hana's panicked question, I scanned around before answering.
"Rash moves are dangerous here. The others will probably come looking. Smartest to wait."
"R-really?"
My answer was technically correct. But in this desert, how soon could the party find us? That was another matter.
If we'd moved on the surface, footprints would've let them track us. But we tunneled here. Plus, I'd deliberately veered far from the party. Quick rescue was damn near impossible.
"Let's find a spot nearby to hole up. Might have to overnight here."
"Okay."
Jang Hana glanced at her lover with a gloomy face. She needed to get him treated ASAP, but now she was stuck—naturally downcast.
What face would she make if she knew this was all my doing? That'd be fun to see.
Night fell.
Desert nights were the opposite of days. Sand has low specific heat— heats fast, cools fast. So nights were as brutally cold as days were hot.
That extreme swing made deserts hellish. Luckily, we found a small cave nearby.
Nothing beats a cave for sheltering from wild cold. But it had a prior occupant: a Desert Orc.
"Jaesung-ssi, careful."
"Holy Missile."
Screw careful—the orc didn't even spot me before I pierced its skull with a Holy Missile. It crumpled without a death cry. Jang Hana stared in awe.
"You... said you were 9-rank? How'd you take it down so easy...?"
"Rank doesn't tell the whole story of a dungeon hunter."
She nodded. I thoroughly searched the cave for other monsters—just in case one showed while resting. That'd suck. None, thankfully.
"Lucky."
I pulled a lantern from my pack. It lit the whole cave bright.
Jang Hana laid Kim Seonuk on the ground. Carrying him meant she hadn't grabbed other gear. Her and his stuff was split among party members. Standard for injured—that's what I learned in training too.
"Um... got any water?"
Jang Hana asked, lips cracked dry. Her face was pale. She hadn't drunk since meeting me.
I handed her my canteen from the bag.
"Not much left."
"Sorry. When we get out, I'll pay you back."
No need. She'd pay all debts here.
Jang Hana propped up Kim Seonuk's head and trickled water into his mouth.
Just a sip. My canteen was near empty. Inventory's stocked, though.
She didn't drink a drop herself. Impressive willpower. Almost noble.
She returned the canteen.
"Drink some too, Hana-ssi."
"I'm good. Not much left anyway."
"Save it, you can stretch two days. Drink."
After coaxing a few times, she relented and sipped.
Her face lit with joy and relief at that sip. Who knew water could make someone look so blissful?
She took just two sips, minding the owner's eyes.
"Thank you."
She handed it back smiling.
'Time Pose.'
I froze time right then.
Time Pose's massive stamina drain still felt brutal. It guzzles 99% of my stamina and mana.
Maxing those wouldn't overcome the demerit. Good thing I had instant heals like Solari World's date palms.
I stared at mannequin-stiff Jang Hana. Her fluffy hippy perm and sleek looks gripped my gaze perfectly.
Just one grade hotter, and I'd recruit her to the party.
'Too many gourmet meals spoiled my taste.'
Or if this weren't reality but another timeline, I'd consider it. Party recruitment in the real world? Way stricter than other worlds.
'Even if not party, fuckbuddy's fine.'
Fuckbuddy. Nice ring.
I fantasized wildly. Shoving my dick in her frozen mouth—what'd it feel like? Dying to try.
'Shit, time's up.'
Time Pose ending. I tugged her canteen slightly toward me—just 1cm. Released.
The forward-tilted canteen slipped naturally from her grip.
Normal condition, she'd catch it. But exhausted, freshly hydrated, mentally lax—she didn't react.
"Ahh!"
I overacted grabbing it. Bulging body, narrow mouth—no spill even sideways. Damn well-made canteen.
Out of her sight, I tilted it. So natural, even close-up Jang Hana couldn't tell.
"The water!"
I spilled it, but she thought it her fault. Face drained pale. Easy read.
"I... uh..."
"Ahh! Our last water!"
I snapped irritably—not at her, but she flinched teary-eyed.
"S-sorry..."
"Haa... no."
I sighed heavy, turned away.
Bait dropped. Time on my side. I sat apart. Her eyes welled up. Unlike yielding to Seonuk, she cracked now.
"It's... my fault."
She mumbled choked.
"Not your fault, Hana-ssi. Accident. Let's... not dwell. Hope the others find us soon."
I shut up. Silence would fix it. No need for eloquence.
Jang Hana fidgeted but couldn't speak. My heavy mood sealed it.
I messaged the girls via slave comm. Sujin this time.
I'd used Life Vessel on all my girls. They each had a spare life. Even surprises, they'd be fine.
Life Vessel 1Lv (SSS-grade)
↳ Creates one Life Vessel for a target. When the owner dies, the Life Vessel shatters instead. Cannot create another for the same target for 24 hours after destruction.
If issues there, slave summon costs 10k credits min—but with steady Credit.com income, no sweat.
I could play risky dungeon games because backups covered me.
It got dark. I still hadn't said a word to Jang Hana.