Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: The Basics of Negotiation, Teasing
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"I really want to awaken too."
Is this what it feels like to watch a movie unfold right in front of you?
The desperate gleam in the beauty's eyes could shake any man.
"You will! You'll definitely awaken!"
Im Hyeji, already half-swayed, swallowed her teary eyes and hugged Lee Soo-ah.
Lee Soo-ah's gaze never left me.
And then she came at me aggressively.
"Is it possible?"
"Kuh... yeah?"
I averted my eyes and nearly spat out my beer.
No matter how much info I'd deliberately leaked, that was meant for Lee Soo-ah to 'overhear' secretly.
Of course, she was supposed to know while Hyeji and I remained oblivious.
But to ask so directly like this...
"W-well... I hope you do awaken..."
I stayed as calm as possible in my response.
It was a good situation.
But unexpected, and not quite in this way.
"Thank you. Seeing Hyeji shine today made me glad I shelled out the big bucks for this experience. Feels like I got everything I wanted."
Lee Soo-ah looked genuinely relieved.
Even without awakening, she downed her beer like we were celebrating one.
"So, are you two dating?"
"Pfft."
This time, I really spat it out.
"Wh-what?"
Im Hyeji glitched out with a weird reaction, while Lee Soo-ah grinned like a seasoned lioness eyeing prey, toying with us.
"Ah, you're just so close. Doesn't look like mere friends to me."
"No. Just my little sister's friend."
"Y-yeah... We got close 'cause he's my friend's brother, and turns out we click on a lot... hehe."
"I see... you click a lot... Ah! So Hyeji, you met this oppa and got your extra awakening, right?"
".....Yeah? Timing-wise..."
The questions bordered on rude, but it was hard to nitpick.
Not a formal setting, we'd had some beer, atmosphere nice and tipsy.
Plus, whether on purpose or not, we'd been caught with Hyeji sucking my dick in the bathroom, so we were at a disadvantage on the small stuff.
Thankfully, the tense grilling wrapped up just right.
Overall, a win.
Felt her desperation, her pitch for awakening power—solid.
Now, just the deal left.
The next day, we wrapped the dungeon, parted warmly, and Hyeji headed to Lee Soo-ah's place with her.
[HyeJi__02]: I'll contact you, oppa!
Seemed like groundwork was done last night, but with Soo-ah needing finer convincing, I felt uneasy.
To impregnate her with ability anyway, I'd have to spill some about mine eventually. Better from Hyeji—same sex, been through it—than me directly.
If she wants it after hearing, she'll come.
If not?
"..."
Hadn't thought that far.
Worst case, pheromones, impregnate, pray for good skills.
But felt like it wouldn't go that far.
To Lee Soo-ah, it was trauma.
The U.S. incident.
Big media splash back then, but ages ago, tons of dungeon accidents since—forgotten now.
Friends were dying trying to protect her, right before her eyes.
She was powerless, trembling and awaiting death.
Even tough idols shake recalling the incident.
That's why she craved awakening.
Power to face such monsters unflinchingly, to slay them.
Money? Songs? Fame? Popularity?
Monsters from dungeons proved that they are worthless firsthand.
Of course, it's not easy.
She—and tons of people were craving an awakening—many had tried it all.
- Ways to awaken as hunter.
From folk remedies to scams galore.
She dove in trying to awaken herself through them.
She heard dungeon frequenting boosted odds slightly in awakening—backed by papers even. So she contacted Semi Guild Master which she vaguely knew.
She accepted gladly, even assigned an SS-rank hunter with Resurrection.
It started out neutral.
She just envied the extra skill awakening story.
But after the dungeon feats and hints of artificial power origin...
Her rationality crumbled.
Normally, with her long idol career she would've sparked doubt.
Why spill secrets so easyly? How's this reaching my ears?
But the circumstances fit.
Hyeji and her porter in that affair, caught mid-blowjob—built some trust instead.
Idol life taught Soo-ah such ties were common.
Just like that.
Usually top girl idols, have contacts with men banned, secretly they would have meets with obviously-not-boyfriend male manager instead.
It sounds absurd at first, but it's an everyday case.
So drunken pillow talk in those spots would sometimes rings true.
Plus two days of watching the Hyeji-Kang Jik dynamic, overhearing their chats.
They whispered thinking they were quiet, but the close Soo-ah caught it.
She pretended being distracted, but her ears perked and overheard. Through unconscious slips, the extra awakening was mostly credited to Kang Jik.
Especially Shining Heal.
The group heal that stunned even Hyeji, her eyes on Kang Jik; overheard 'magic stone' mention which confirmed it.
60-70% sure.
She usually avoids 'certainty,' but experiencing the rice-line life from youth? This was certainty enough.
Not 100%, so she dragged Hyeji for a final check.
They pounded some booze.
Not just awakening talk—so she clicked with Hyeji.
Nice, she was a good listener.
Empathetic and after two days of dungeon bonding? She felt comfy spilling her guts despite it being their first meet.
"Unni... you're so pretty... I'm jealous..."
"Girl... Hyeji-ya. You're pretty too!! Skin how so good? I'm more jealous. Being young. Youth's the best."
"Hehe. Skin's from oppa's semen.... Ah! Hehe.."
Mid-chat, the timing hit.
"Ah, Hyeji-ya. You only got skills from Mr. Kang Jik?"
"Yeah... Had ability already, just impregnated skills.... Eek!"
"...Impregnated?"
"It's..."
"It's okay, Hyeji-ya. I won't tell a soul. Asking 'cause I want it bad."
"...Unni... really won't tell?"
"Yeah. Trust me. Swear on my career."
"..."
Teary, she was conflicted about it for a long while—then Hyeji dropped some bombshells.
"Oppa Kang Jik's ability is to impregnates skills... My SSS Resurrection came from that..."
"....Impregnate... skills?"
The violent word sobered her, she was speechless—but Hyeji doesn't seem to be a lie.
"Not a baby... Instead a skill forms. Had to wait for three days... bad nausea, pain, but relief after birth."
"....Can I get an ability too?"
Head spun.
"Maybe...? ight be possible, but ask oppa—I dunno yje specifics exactly."
She would do anything to hunter-up.
But this unforeseen method...?
She heard from tent whispers, sure.
She Initially thought it was some sort of concept play.
28, virgin, but age-grown, she knows man-woman stuff during sex.
Eat semen, impregnate skill? Where's the common sense in that?
Figured some ability to craft skills, dressed as a couple's fun concept.
"....You're not joking? How does skill impregnation works?"
"Take oppas semen...."
Hyeji not blackout drunk—shyly sharing, face red, hand on belly dutifully.
"Not a drop wasted... For higher odds..."
"....."
"Even post-birth it does not end. Feed nutrients steadyly till skill matures."
"Thanks... for telling... Hyeji-ya..."
Soo-ah stopped there.
No lie vibe, no denial either.
The sole hope gained takes form in her heart.
Just... think it over.
First-time with a guy, not her type, just take his seed, impregnate a skill.
The word itself repels her thoughts.
Pouring whiskey, gulping—Hyeji recited her sole scripted line.
"Unni, told this 'cause I like you, see you want an awakening... but I hope you don't. First time is brutal... And now even I'm short on oppa's semen... Don't want another woman pregnant taking my semen."
She delivered a dripping sorry.
Like sharing a honey pot 'just cause it's you, but don't barge in uninvited.