Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Indoor Lesson (5)
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Visiting someone else's home was always a tense affair. Even back in elementary school, the first time I went to a friend's house to play, it felt the same. My footsteps were cautious, and every object in the house seemed wondrous. The doorbell chime, the cuckoo clock hanging on the wall—they all felt like relics from another world.
"Haah..."
I sniffed my clothes once more, just to be sure there was no odor. The freshly laundered fabric carried only the faint scent of softener. In my hand, I clutched a delicately designed diffuser. A quick online search had assured me it was the perfect gift for visiting your girlfriend's place.
Yu-jeong sunbae's apartment was in the one-room district just a stone's throw from the academy. With a full year of mentoring ahead, she'd signed a lease here for the convenience. I stood at the entrance, steadying my breath. At a friend's place, there'd always be that casual "Come on in," but no such welcome awaited me here.
The instant my foot crossed the threshold, it felt like I'd shattered some unspoken taboo. Her unit was 204. I gave the prettily wrapped gift box one last check and smoothed my clothes. Composing myself before the door, I pressed the buzzer.
"Who is it—?"
Yu-jeong sunbae's voice drifted from afar. Her bright, lively tone swelled with the patter of footsteps, drawing near the door handle. I stepped back, and she cracked the door open, peeking out to confirm it was me.
"Oh my, Su-hyeon! You came early."
Her face lit up with genuine delight.
I nodded awkwardly and replied,
"I missed you, sunbae, so I hurried over."
"Eek."
She grabbed my arms and gave a playful shudder of mock disgust. Then, with a mischievous grin, she glanced at me before seizing my hand—like she feared prying eyes—and yanked me inside. The door clicked shut, followed by the soft whir of the electronic lock engaging.
Beyond the narrow entryway stretched a cozy single room. A small desk sat within arm's reach of the bed, topped with a pad; a long bolster pillow and blanket invited lounging. No TV in sight, and the kitchenette gleamed spotless. Catching me stealing glances around, she poked my cheek and teased,
"What're you staring at? It's embarrassing. I haven't cleaned properly, so it's a mess—don't poke around too much."
I nodded and trailed her cautiously into the living space. She gestured to a cushion for me to sit, then excused herself to fetch drinks. I nodded again, still gawking like an extraterrestrial on an alien world. A family photo hung at the room's heart—a warm snapshot of beaming faces, much like Yu-jeong's own cheerful vibe. Beside it, a clothes rack held a white robe emblazoned with a black dragon.
What the...?
Pouring juice, she noticed my stare locked on the robe and explained,
"It's from the Black Dragon Clan. Gotta wear it when I'm on training ground duty. Whaddya think of the design?"
"Looks good."
It screamed outdated '90s tackiness, but I played along. She burst into laughter at my words.
"Ha, liar. Everyone says that. 'Great design.' But offer 'em one, and they won't touch it with a ten-foot pole."
I couldn't help but chuckle along. No way was I taking that robe. We sipped our juice slowly, and I offered the gift. She accepted it, tilting her head.
"What's this?"
"A diffuser."
"Oh, perfect—I needed one. Thanks!"
With that, she pulled me into a tight hug. I felt a rush of heat surging southward. At home, she was dressed casually: short shorts that bared a hint of thigh, a thin shirt translucent enough to trace her bra's outline.
Leaning toward the pad, she murmured,
"So, shall we dive right in? D- and E-rank stuff, right?"
"Yeah."
"Skip the Jungle Cat we've seen a ton of, then—start with E-rank."
"Sure."
"Hmm, what first... Ah, this one."
She fiddled with the pad, typing [Elder Spider] into the search bar. The name alone sent a chill through me, but I nodded. E-rank—probably just hand-sized, right? She glanced at my face, smirked, and flipped to the screen.
"Eek..."
I sucked in a sharp breath without thinking. Monkey-skull head, grotesquely bunched forward arms, skeletal legs topped with a bloated gut. The encyclopedia photo showcased a nightmare of a spider.
"This... is a spider?"
The size comparison put it at knee height on a human—practically large-dog territory. Sunbae beamed at my reaction.
I scanned the description below.
[An extra-large spider dwelling within gates. Preys on small insects and Jungle Cats. Though bulky, its body lacks durability—simply stomp the belly to burst it and end the threat.]
Sunbae chimed in,
"E-ranks are usually harmless; they just look creepy. This Elder Spider seems hideous in the book, but IRL? They bolt first—you rarely even get a good look."
"So, no need to hunt 'em?"
"Nah, live-capture requests pour in. Their prey webs are tough and pretty—handy for gear crafting."
"Live captures exist?"
"Yep. Legally capped at certain ranks, but live monsters have tons of uses. Folks declaw and detooth Jungle Cats for pets, even."
I pictured the Jungle Cat's savage mug. Wild that anyone would domesticate those feral brutes. Sunbae added,
"Here's an Elder Spider ecology vid. Wanna watch?"
"Yeah."
She slid the pad my way and hit play. The monkey-skull horror clattered about, head clacking. It lurked in the underbrush, stalking a Jungle Cat. The oblivious feline shredded small game with razor claws, its brutality on full display.
The Elder Spider extended just its front legs from the grass, coiling the rest. Then it lunged like thunder, clamping the Jungle Cat's throat.
"The Elder Spider's plump abdomen blends with the grass—undetectable to Jungle Cat eyes."
The footage cut to a bald researcher in lab gear droning on about Elder Spiders. His opening line screamed tedium. I exhaled the breath I'd held during the hunt, tension easing.
His lecture ballooned beyond spider habits into the intricate food web linking Jungle Cats, Elder Spiders, and myriad creatures.
And then... a sly sensation slithered up my waist.
I glanced sideways, startled. Yu-jeong, eyes on the screen, had reached for me. Her fingers grazed my abs tentatively, then trailed upward to fondle my chest. My hard-earned pecs still held their sculpted appeal.
She skimmed lightly before dipping lower, tugging at my zipper. Her slim digits whispered over fabric, shattering my focus on the lecture.
Gaze fixed on the pad, she unzipped me. Pants sagged open; her hand ventured cautiously over my underwear, stroking my glans through the cloth. The delicate teasing undid me—I slumped back slightly.
Each of my shifts made her jolt, pause, then resume. Her touch was amateurish, but the earnest hunger to arouse me pulsed clear. Her fingers glided over my rigid tip, inching downward. I broke. My hand shot to her thigh.
Firm from drills and delves, it yielded under my palm. She tensed in surprise, then parted her legs invitingly. Kneading higher, I slipped under her T-shirt.
"Hnng..."
Her taut, flawless side brushed my skin. I ventured upward, cupping her breast. The bra's grip felt novel. Like working dough, I kneaded clumsily.
"Haa..."
She sighed deeply. The documentary plodded on about predator-prey dynamics.
"A cycle of hunter and hunted. Truly fascinating, isn't it?"
I half-heard the researcher. Hand descending, I delved into her shorts. She twitched to clamp shut, then eased them apart. Her nape quivered with each stroke over dampening fabric.
"Ah...! Ahh...! Nng...!"
She bucked her hips in sync, underwear soaking through.
I drew her close by the back. Her flushed face met mine. She swiped the pad aside; audio cut as it thudded to the floor. I eased her down, pinning her beneath me.
Condoms waited in my pocket.