Chapter 142
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: Something's Off About the Newbie's Skills (5)
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Wave Defense.
I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should just come out and say it.
I'd debated this earlier too—since the newbie had just arrived, blurting it out might make me look like I was trying too hard.
But that hesitation didn't last long.
'Even if that's the case, this is clearly the perfect moment to show what I can do.'
If I'd wanted to slack off, I wouldn't have joined the pioneering team in the first place.
I looked Nick straight in the eye and began laying out my prepared thoughts in a clear, orderly manner.
"For starters, our current approach is way too inefficient."
"Inefficient how?"
"Yes. Tackling each sector separately and clearing the webs one by one takes too much time and wastes manpower."
My firm words made Nick's eyebrow twitch in surprise.
"So, what's your idea of an efficient method?"
"First, we need to connect all five sectors with a single pathway. Like this ice path I've been making. Then, at the end of that path—say, the entrance to Sector 1 or 5—we create a narrow 'kill zone' that's easy to defend."
"Go on."
"Next, one person baits all the beasts from Sectors 1 through 4 and lures them into the kill zone. The rest of the team waits there and wipes them out in one go. Given this rift's rules, hitting one beast damages them all. We could clear everything faster, safer, and with far fewer people than now."
Nick stroked his chin thoughtfully for a moment, then broke into a satisfied smile.
"Not a bad answer, newbie. Pretty solid, actually."
He pulled his spear from the ground and slung it lightly over his shoulder.
"But you know there are a few problems with that, right?"
"Pardon?"
"First, how do we set up that 'kill zone'? Finding narrow, defensible terrain and modifying it to our advantage isn't easy. Second, how do we build a pathway linking all five sectors? That's no small task either. In the end, both come down to manpower issues we can't solve with what we've got."
"Ah..."
So it boiled down to manpower after all.
But I wasn't worried.
I could theoretically deploy an infinite number of clones.
Manpower shortage?
Not a problem for me.
I raised my hand slightly and spoke to him.
"I might be able to handle that, Vice Captain."
"What? You?"
Nick's eyes widened slightly.
He stared at me in disbelief.
I met his gaze calmly and replied.
"Dolls can be remade even if they break."
"......"
"Whether it's the labor to build the kill zone or bait to lure the beasts, we use my dolls. As long as my mana holds out, I can treat them like consumables. And besides..."
I added the clincher.
"I don't just make one type of doll."
Hard as it might be to believe, my clones weren't originally for sex.
They were for places too dangerous, tedious, or short-staffed for humans—deployed in my stead.
Sending them to scout hazardous rifts or mine mana stones in quarries to farm EXP for me.
That was closer to the true purpose of the Clone Creation skill.
My bombshell statement sent Nick's pupils shaking like there was an earthquake.
He pressed his forehead, massaging his temples as if his head hurt.
"Hold on... just hold on, newbie. So you're saying... you deploy dolls instead of hunters, and each one has enough skill to pull it off?"
"Yes. At the very least, they're more than capable for non-combat roles."
He waved me off, as if needing time to think.
"...Alright. I've heard enough for now—go back to the captain's side. Looks like I'll need to chat with the other squad leaders."
"Understood."
I'd just turned to leave when...
"Wait, no—hold up."
"Yes?"
He called me back.
"...We haven't even properly introduced ourselves. I'm Nick Hobbs, vice captain of Team 5 and leader of Squad 1."
"Ah, I'm Kang Ihyeon, the new recruit who just joined. I'll be a second-year at the academy soon."
"Mm. Looking forward to working with you."
Nick Hobbs extended his hand.
I shook it, then finally turned away.
Seemed like I'd gotten off on the right foot.
If the vice captain recognized my skill's utility and found ways to use it, my options in Team 5 would expand accordingly.
'That said, I shouldn't go around sharing full strategies like this.'
Obviously, my skills alone could rack up A-rank results easily enough.
Anything more might backfire.
I had to consider the risk of getting too entangled with the pioneering team.
'Yeah, better to pass some of it to Arbiter. Would help them grow as an info guild too.'
Lost in such calculating thoughts, I headed back to the tent where Team Leader So Ye-seo slept.
"Snore... so hot..."
She was still mumbling in her sleep.
"What a cute little mascot."
Coming back from work to find the team leader napping would tank her evaluation.
But questions lingered about her.
Why had she suddenly fallen into such a deep sleep?
Even if faking it, no decent adult would collapse and snooze with a newbie right there.
'Which means... something else must be wrong with her body.'
Could it be the pleasure essence I'd infused her with?
Honestly, her reaction had been different from other women.
Her face flushed a bit, but she hadn't fidgeted or rubbed her thighs together like the others.
Maybe it affected her by inducing deep sleep instead?
Everyone's constitution and response varied.
I swallowed dryly and gazed down at her sleeping form.
'Time to test it.'
I carefully sat beside her.
I extended a finger and gently stroked her sleeping face.
Soft, warm texture.
Smooth as a baby's skin.
She showed no sign of waking at my touch. Instead, she seemed pleased, murmuring "Hehe..." happily.
Emboldened, I gathered a tiny amount of pleasure essence at my fingertip.
This much wouldn't wake her even if my hypothesis was wrong.
I lightly pressed it to her plump red lips.
The instant I did...
"Mm..."
Her lips latched onto my finger like metal to a magnet.
She began sucking vigorously, like a newborn nursing.
At the same time, soap bubbles started bubbling up from her body again.
This time, far more than before—pink-tinged ones filling the tent with a dreamy haze.
Just as I thought.
My hypothesis was correct.
My essence acted like a powerful sedative on her.
'But it's not totally ineffective.'
I left my finger in her sucking lips.
I pushed it deeper instead.
She extended her tongue, licking and sucking eagerly, as if even happier.
"She's a naughty girl after all."
Even if her body accepted the essence and slept, its reactions were honest.
One hand kept my finger in her mouth while the other began groping her body.
Her breasts swelled prominently over the suit.
Softer and larger than expected.
I cautiously cupped one in my palm.
Her body twitched pleasantly.
Emboldened, I undid her suit buttons one by one.
Pop. Pop.
White skin emerged beneath the neat uniform.
A white blouse damp with sweat clung to her body, sharply outlining her prominent breasts.
I swallowed and slipped my hand inside.
Soft, warm bare skin.
My fingertips hit something firm.
I pinched it lightly.
"Heeng...!"
A coquettish moan escaped her sleeping lips.
The bubbles enveloping her burst all at once with sharp pops.
'So that's the switch.'
These bubbles probably reflected her emotional and sleep state.
I gently teased her other nipple too.
She writhed pleasurably, twisting her waist.
Her suit skirt rode up, barely revealing her white thighs.
I slid my hand under the skirt.
Soft, smooth feel.
I stroked her secret place over the dry, fluffy panties.
Gently.
Pressing the slit lightly.
"Hng... mm..."
Her body shuddered again.
Her lower belly twitched in response.
'Sensitivity's pretty good.'
I slipped my fingers beside the panties and directly stimulated the now-wet folds.
I found the tight entrance and eased a finger in.
"Haang...! Mm...!"
Though still asleep, her body instinctively reacted to the pleasure.
Her pussy clenched, sucking my finger in.
Muffled moans leaked from her lips.
Savoring her reactions, I thrust my finger deeper.
Where was her weak spot?
I probed her depths, scraping the inner walls, gauging her responses.
Her body convulsed whenever I hit certain spots.
"Ah! Ah! Ang! Haang...!"
There it was.
I relentlessly targeted that spot.
I pressed the sensitive flesh firmly with my fingertip.
"Hng! Ha! N-no...! Ah, don't...!"
She mumbled in her sleep, but I didn't stop.
I stimulated her harder, deeper.
I pulled out my fingers and rubbed my palm wetly against her sopping pussy.
With slick sounds, one finger slipped to her clit.
Her whole body arched like a bow.
"Ang! Aang! C-coming...! Hng!"
Unable to hold back, she squirted hot fluid over my hand.
Her first orgasm, deep in sleep.
Her body was honest.
Her face remained peacefully asleep, but her body trembled faintly with aftershocks.
'Is she dreaming?'
I blew a bit more pleasure essence into her lips.
Hoping for sweet, naughty dreams.
About two hours later.
A rustle beside me roused me from my brief nap.
Team Leader So Ye-seo was slowly sitting up, drenched in sweat.
"Mm... slept well..."
She blinked dazedly, looking around.
Then she glanced curiously at her disheveled clothes and soaked skirt.
"Huh, why am I sweating so much? And why's my outfit like this..."
"It's hot, that's why. Your freezing magic will cool you right down."
Spotting me now, she grinned foolishly with wide eyes.
"Hehe, Ihyeon, you were here the whole time?"
"Yes, Team Leader. I waited for you to wake."
"Sorry, sorry... I don't usually just crash like that. Yawn, but I was so sleepy then."
Of course, she had no clue what had happened to her body.