Chapter 144
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: Something's Off About the Newbie's Skills (7)
"For now... I think we need to take a closer look at the terrain. Mind if I circle around the perimeter?"
Chloe sneered, clearly disappointed by my compliant attitude.
"What, tucking your tail already? I figured you'd say something cocky like, 'That? I'll clear it in ten seconds flat.'"
She was picking a fight again?
'This bitch... even on the job.'
I couldn't take it anymore. I flooded her with a heavy surge of pleasure essence.
The instant it hit—
Chloe's body froze solid.
Her tail, swaying playfully just moments ago, shot straight up stiff as a board.
Fur bristled across her body, her bronze skin flushing crimson in seconds.
Her pupils trembled violently, like there was an earthquake in her eyes.
"Hngh...!"
A ticklish moan escaped her lips.
She staggered back, reeling.
Maybe it was her beast skills, but she seemed especially sensitive.
Playing dumb, I strolled past her dazed, wobbling form and headed deeper inside.
Suffer a little.
"Alright, I'll go scout the area, Senior."
"Uh... y-yeah... go ahead..."
Leaving Chloe behind, still dazed from the shock and pleasure, I began exploring this godforsaken spider den.
The layout was simpler than expected.
A massive cave without a ceiling.
Only one passage led outside, sealed by a gigantic mass of spiderwebs at the entrance.
Essentially, one huge room.
'Kill zone or whatever, just block the entrance and we're golden.'
Clear the webs, and escaping would be trivial. Plenty of room to fight.
Top priority: remove those webs.
I had two clones to test first.
Not like I had a huge variety to swap per location anyway...
Yu Yejeong, the Swordsmanship Sect hunter, and Miyazaki Rena, the slime hunter.
I pulled out their wooden dolls and set them on the ground.
The dolls shifted form in an instant, taking on human shapes.
Short green bob cut, petite build.
Unlike her youthful looks, the arrogant, haughty idol girl who always looked down on everyone—Miyazaki Rena—appeared first.
Then, beside her, a woman with a completely different vibe materialized.
Long silver-white hair gleaming, poised and elegant.
Matriarch of the famed Yu swordsmanship clan, the tragic widow Yu Yejeong.
"What's up? Why'd you summon me today... Huh?"
"......?"
"Who's this old lady?"
This was the first time I'd summoned them together face-to-face.
Maybe that's why.
An awkward tension hung as they glanced at each other.
"Um... who might this be...?"
"Hah? Old lady, you don't know me? The top hunter in showbiz, Miyazaki Rena?"
"I'm not into that scene..."
"Unbelievable."
Their active eras were worlds apart, so maybe it was natural.
Rena let out an exasperated chuckle and shot me a glare.
"So, what's the deal today? I told you, calling my main body directly is less hassle than summoning me like this. How many times do I have to say it?"
"Sorry, sorry. It's urgent right now."
"Urgent?"
"Yeah."
I gave them a quick rundown of the task.
We had to clear that massive web clump somehow.
Rena still looked pissed after my explanation, arms crossed, lips pursed.
Yu Yejeong, on the other hand, sighed in relief.
"Thank goodness... Calling us for something so wholesome this time..."
She seemed genuinely relieved.
Probably worried I'd summoned them for a threesome or something.
Naive.
She drew her cherished sword from her robes. Unsheathed, it gleamed coldly, razor-sharp.
"I'll give it a try first."
"You sure?"
"Yes. My skills haven't rusted, even if my body's not what it used to be."
She gripped her sword firmly and charged the webs.
A clean, precise slash came down.
Swish—
Her blade cut through the webs like tofu.
As expected from a former clan head.
Well-deserved reputation.
But the real issue came next.
Sticky fluid oozed from the cut ends, gumming up her blade.
Like glue, it dulled the sword's motion.
"This... has some tricky properties."
And the severed webs began regenerating, slow but steady.
Yejeong slashed repeatedly, but the result was the same.
We could push through, but it was pointless like this.
"These webs are probably some kind of magic from the beasts inside. Clear them all, and it'll vanish naturally."
Yejeong advised, wiping sweat.
But I shook my head.
"If that worked, it'd be gone before I got here."
"Meaning...?"
"The beasts hiding inside are likely part of the mine itself. Kill one, and a magic stone pops out right there. Can't just slaughter them recklessly. Might lose the stones if we mess up."
"I... had no idea that was possible."
Right then—
Miyazaki Rena, who'd been sulking with arms crossed, stepped forward smugly.
"Jeez, it's not that hard, why struggle? Useless old lady."
"What did you say?"
"Guess Miyazaki Rena has to handle it. Watch and learn, old lady. You too."
Rena glanced at me and grinned.
She activated her skill.
Her body morphed into sticky, translucent slime.
She hurled herself at the webs.
The sticky strands had zero effect. She slipped through like swimming in water.
"My skill eats poison, acid, physical attacks—most anything. This sticky web? Just prey."
Even Yejeong was impressed.
"Small chest, petty heart... but impressive ability."
A whisper for my ears only.
Rena would've flipped if she heard.
But trouble hit immediately.
The webs regenerated behind her, good as new.
Rena's face twisted in annoyance.
"Ugh, such a pain."
She peeled off small slime blobs from her body, grumbling.
Each wriggled like living things, crawling to the webs and devouring them voraciously.
The slimes ate faster than the webs regenerated.
"You have a slime summon skill too?"
I asked, surprised. Rena shrugged.
"Not summon. They're just parts of me."
"Impressive."
"Right? Right?"
Perfect matchup.
Her slime powers countered the webs ideally.
But sustainability was the issue...
"Rena, could other slimes—not yours—eat these webs?"
"Hah? Stupid question. Of course not. Only my slime, Miyazaki Rena's, can chow down easy. Random slimes would melt on one bite."
"Too bad."
My slime farm plan fizzled before starting.
So what now?
Couldn't station her clone here permanently.
As I pondered, Yejeong suggested:
"I think there are two ways."
"Two?"
"Yes. First, like Rena's doing—blast a wider hole through the entrance. Second, make a new one. Enlarge or add holes, and the web barrier loosens naturally."
She pointed at the cave wall with her sword.
"Either way, securing entry is key."
Abandon kill zone, dig new path.
Not bad, but...
Did we have to dig?
I unsummoned them and pulled another doll.
The brainiest clone: Aira Petrovna.
"You called, Master?"
Cold, mechanical voice.
I shared my idea.
"Aira, see that wall?"
"Yes. Confirmed."
"How about excavating one whole side into a climbing route? No ground path—scale the wall, enter the habitat from above."
"...Pardon?"
She went silent, like a soldier hearing 'dig through the mountain.'
But soon, she tapped her thin lips, calculating rapidly.
"Wall height: about 20 meters. Material: high-density igneous rock. Standard gear would take considerable time."
"Can you or not?"
"You're serious... If I use all my knowledge, skills, and your resources..."
She paused, then replied confidently.
"Yes. Possible, Master."
Good enough.
Feasible meant worth trying.
Plus, my level-5-stuck clone skill could level up on a big project, and I had her doll-making skill.
'Not sure the bosses'll approve, though.'
Maybe Chloe being in charge helped.
She didn't seem the type to scrutinize estimates.
I memorized Aira's perfect work plan and returned to Chloe.
"Senior, I'm back."
"......"
"Senior?"
Something was off with her.
The feral glare from before was gone. She lay where I'd stood, writhing like a cat in heat, rubbing against the ground.
"Sniff, sniff..."
She was inhaling the dirt frantically.
Her stiff tail wagged wildly in delight each time.
'Damn, this effective?'
My pleasure essence lingered.
Spotting me, she jolted up, face beet red, flustered.
Drool trailed uncontrollably from her lips.
"Th-this...! I-I...! It's just...!"
Hiding my amusement, I approached with concern.
"Senior, you okay? Face is flushed, drooling..."
Her face burned hotter.
She fidgeted, gauging me, then confessed desperately.
"Yeah... the scent... it's too good..."
"My scent?"
"Mhm... Sniffing it makes my head buzz... body goes weak. Feels... weird."
Her brutal honesty surprised me.
Others would've denied it desperately.
This woman owned her desires outright.
Wild instincts overriding reason?
Suddenly, she strode toward me.
Staring straight into my eyes, she cut to the chase.
"...Hey, junior. You got a girlfriend?"
"Pardon?"
So bold and aggressive.
A different flavor of overwhelming from Team Leader Soyeon.