Chapter 46
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Special Syrup in the Coffee
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As the atmosphere softened considerably, Kim Doyun, his tension finally easing, stood up while rubbing his stomach.
"Looks like I got a signal right after drinking that coffee. Hehe, excuse me for a bit."
"Sure, but don't go too far."
Kim Doyun gave a quick bow and scurried out of the tent.
Suddenly, the tent held only me, Yoon Harin, and Rena, who was quietly tending to her own tasks.
The space, which had been filled with Kim Doyun's lively voice just moments ago, now settled into an awkward silence.
Yoon Harin fiddled with the paper cup in her hands, her gaze fixed downward. She seemed to have something to say, her lips twitching a few times before she finally mustered the courage to look up at me. Her eyes were still cautious.
"Um... Senior."
"Yeah? What's up?"
"About that doll earlier..."
She glanced at Rena before continuing.
"That... it's modeled after the famous Hunter Miyazaki Rena, right?"
"That's right."
"Did you get permission from her?"
I looked at her silently for a moment. Under my gaze, she flushed slightly, looking flustered, and hurriedly added,
"Ah! Sorry! I didn't mean to put you in a tough spot or anything! I just... I was worried that if Rena herself found out... it might cause a big problem..."
Her expression was one of genuine concern for me. I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.
"Thanks for worrying about me, Junior Harin."
"Huh?"
"But it's fine. For now."
I spoke in the softest tone I could muster, trying to reassure her.
"I'm still just an academy student, and I'm not using this ability for any commercial purposes. It's purely for personal training and skill practice. Of course, if I become an official hunter later, I'd obviously change the design or get formal permission from Rena. I know that much common sense."
Relief washed over Yoon Harin's face at my straightforward, reasonable answer. She finally smiled comfortably and nodded.
"Ah... I see. That's a relief. Guess I worried for nothing."
"Thanks for caring."
I smiled at her once more.
'I can never travel with this girl.'
I thought the exact opposite.
In response to my answer, Yoon Harin gave an embarrassed smile and turned her gaze back to her coffee cup. But she soon looked up again.
She must have found the awkward atmosphere from our serious conversation unbearable. Forcing a brighter tone, as if changing the subject,
"Oh, but this coffee... it's really unique!"
"Is it?"
"Yeah. Like I said earlier... it's incredibly sweet. Sweeter than any coffee I've ever had. If it's okay, could you tell me how you made it? Is there some secret recipe...?"
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she glanced at Rena. I thought to myself, 'It's just instant coffee, what's the big deal...' but outwardly, I casually asked Rena,
"Rena, Junior here is curious how you made the coffee."
Rena paused her work and turned to me. Then... she did something unexpected. She scooted closer to me, leaned in, and brought her lips to my ear. The cool, smooth touch of her lips brushed my earlobe.
What was she up to?
This was the first time I'd seen Rena conscious of her surroundings. Soon, her mechanical whisper flowed into my ear.
"...I added special syrup."
"Special syrup? Wasn't it just instant coffee?"
I whispered back quizzically. Rena lowered her voice even further.
"...A syrup concentrated from Master's semen."
"What?"
I froze solid.
Did I hear that wrong? Semen... syrup?
"...A-Are you insane?"
I whispered back without thinking. Cold sweat trickled down my spine. What kind of crazy talk was this?
"...But it was the optimal method to fulfill the command to make it the sweetest possible. According to my database, the source of the 'sweetness' that induces the strongest pleasure and addiction in living beings is that. However, I didn't account for the variable that it could act as a toxin on other male individuals... It would likely cause effects like reduced libido, shortened genital length, and so on..."
Rena explained in her utterly businesslike tone, but the content was anything but.
Sweeten it, so she concentrated my semen and added it? And it's toxic to other males? Then Kim Doyun rushing out clutching his stomach earlier...
'Fuck, what did I just feed the original protagonist?'
I tried to keep a calm smile on my face, but inside, cold sweat was pouring out.
Not content with arousal semen, now special semen syrup? Things were spiraling more and more out of control. What the hell was I supposed to tell Yoon Harin?
Sorry, I made syrup with semen in it—drains men's vitality but drives women crazy!—No way I could say that.
I shrugged casually, acting as nonchalant as possible.
"Oh, that. Sorry, that's a secret. She says she added 'special syrup'."
Yoon Harin looked a bit disappointed at my vague dodge.
"Ah... I see. It must be some secret recipe."
She set down her empty paper cup and asked,
"If it's not too much to ask... could I have another cup? It's just so delicious."
"......"
'I want to say no...'
Refusing here would look suspicious. In the end, I had no choice but to nod. My mind was a mess inside.
"S-Sure. Drink as much as you want."
"Wow! Thank you, Senior!"
Yoon Harin beamed and handed her cup back to Rena.
'Is this okay?'
Worries crept up. Could this little incident derail the original story big time? Would the protagonist couple end up weird because of my 'semen coffee'?
But I shook it off quickly.
'No way it'd be a big deal.'
Even if there were issues, it wouldn't affect their skills.
"Rena, one more cup."
"Understood."
I sighed inwardly in relief and signaled Rena with my eyes. Rena nodded quietly, gathered a thick, transparent liquid in her mouth, and carefully drizzled the sticky, dense-looking white fluid over the hot coffee she'd poured into Yoon Harin's cup.
Driiiip...
The white liquid spread slowly into the black coffee, blending languidly. Instead of a stir stick, Rena dipped her slender finger into the cup and stirred slowly.
It was a strangely sensual, erotic scene contrasting her expressionless face.
"Hup..."
My dick perked up again.
Damn it, I'd just calmed it down, and now...
The thing that had hardened while teasing Rena was rearing up again. If she noticed, my favorability with the protagonist's party would hit rock bottom forever...
I forced a calm expression and crossed my legs to hide the change below. Yoon Harin seemed too focused on her fresh coffee to notice my state.
Just then, the tent flap opened, and Kim Doyun came back in.
"Phew, feels great! But Harin, you're drinking that bitter stuff again?"
"What do you mean? It's sweet and delicious."
Yoon Harin retorted and savored another sip of the steaming, fragrant coffee. She looked satisfied.
"Nah, you're lying. When I drank it earlier, I thought it was poison."
"Your taste buds must be off. You probably can't appreciate coffee's flavor yet."
"No way, I drink coffee fine..."
"Haha, tastes differ from person to person. I should refine the recipe more."
"No need, Senior. It's this guy's problem."
"It is not!"
Watching them bicker brought a sigh of relief.
Somehow, the coffee talk had shifted to whose taste buds were childish.
Really, no matter how horny I got, this was no way to behave...
"Oh, right, Senior!"
After bickering with Yoon Harin a bit, Kim Doyun raised his hand high.
He looked at Rena with an intrigued expression.
"Yeah?"
"Could I spar with that Rena doll sometime?"
He lightly clenched his fist as he asked. His face was still boyish, but his eyes were serious.
"It's just a doll."
"I know it's a doll, but that aura when I first saw it! That presence! It reminded me of active hunters I saw as a kid!"
"Hey, Kim Doyun! What now!"
"Wait a sec, it's a doll Senior made. It has to be super strong!"
Yoon Harin tried to stop him again, but he ignored her, waiting eagerly for my permission with sparkling eyes. His face was full of pure admiration and curiosity for strength, as a prospective hunter about to enter the academy.
"Hmm..."
I pretended to think it over.
This could be a chance to bond with the protagonist, right?
Fine.
Plus, it'd let me gauge his current level, so no reason to refuse.
"Sure, why not. Could be a good experience."
"Whoa!"
Kim Doyun's face lit up at my approval. Yoon Harin looked a bit anxious but didn't object further since I'd allowed it.
"Shall we head outside then?"
"Yes!"
I led them to a low clearing a bit away from the campsite, where faint external light seeped through cracks in the cave ceiling. Blended with the surrounding phosphorite glow, it created a mystical atmosphere.
The ground was relatively flat, good for moving around.
'Kim Doyun, huh...'
The one who'd later be called the Sword Saint.
Of course, in just a year—no, a few months—he'd surpass a nobody like me with his insane talent.
But not yet.
Before the main story, he was just an unawakened rough gem.
This might be my last chance to match him—or even hold the edge.
"This spot looks good. Decent space, less risk of hurting each other."
"Yes! Thank you, Senior!"
Kim Doyun was already buzzing with excitement. He slowly drew the well-maintained one-handed sword from his waist, which looked a bit worn.
Tshing—a clear frictional ring echoed in the clearing. His eyes sharpened. The earlier awkwardness vanished, replaced by the seriousness and fighting spirit of a prospective hunter.
"Rena, you ready?"
"Yes."
Rena stepped quietly to the center of the clearing. Kim Doyun took position opposite, regripping his sword.
Yoon Harin watching from beside me gripped her staff—nearly as tall as her, tipped with a red gem—tightly. Her anxious face only made me more tense.
'I'd love to spar with Yoon Harin too, but...'
That'd be suicide. As a fire mage, she was a perfect counter to my freezing magic.
Besides, with my mana nearly depleted from the mana tether, the outcome was obvious.
A moment later, I gave the start signal.
"Begin!"
The instant I spoke, Rena moved first.
Half her body, starting from her lower half, rapidly transformed into blue slime. In a flash, her human form vanished, and a shiny blue jelly-like texture began spreading across the clearing.
Like a massive blue puddle unfurling, the slime quickly dominated the surrounding area. Its sticky, slippery surface was perfect for trapping feet and restricting movement.
"Whoa! Even the ability is exactly like what I saw on TV...!"
Kim Doyun seemed momentarily flustered by Rena's unexpected transformation and spatial control, but he responded swiftly. He readjusted his grip, lowered his stance, and began concentrating blue mana at his sword tip.
'Wait, that's...'
Shwaaak!
My hunch was right. A sharp blue beam shot from Kim Doyun's sword tip. Sword aura.
'Why's this kid already shooting beams from his sword?'
An advanced technique where swordsmanship hunters infuse mana into their blades and release it.
Usually starts at C-rank, freely wielded by B-rankers, and this guy, not even in the academy yet, was already doing it?
The implication was clear.
He possessed mana-based skills surpassing his physical level.
Fitting for a protagonist, but it left me feeling oddly deflated...
'At least it'll be fine, right?'
Fortunately, his sword aura didn't damage Rena's slime directly. The blue beam slid off or got absorbed upon contact, nullifying its power.
But the continuous barrages effectively halted Rena's slime expansion and kept it from approaching him.
Each hit on the slime surface sizzled with blue scorch marks, but it regenerated instantly.
Sizzle!
Shwaaak—!
The clearing filled with the slime's wriggling sounds mixed with the sharp whooshes of sword aura slicing air.
'Phew... still inexperienced, though.'
I breathed a sigh of relief. The sword aura's power wasn't fully developed, and it seemed mana-intensive.
Spamming it like that, he'd tire soon. If it dragged into a prolonged fight, Kim Doyun would likely be the one to falter.