Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Equipment Shopping (3)
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Park Sun-woo wandered around, picking out gear here and there.
I'd thought he wasn't interested in equipment, but once I laid out the opportunity, he was zipping around like a pro.
Is it because it's gear he'll actually use?
Surprisingly, he was inspecting everything meticulously.
Park Sun-woo, gawking around like some country bumpkin fresh off the bus to Seoul.
"Kuh..."
Han So-ra barely swallowed her laugh as she watched him.
She knew the whole truth.
She couldn't be 100% sure because of the mask blocking facial recognition, but she was 99% convinced that Park Sun-woo and the masked man were the same person.
'Calling Hunter Sun-woo "Mr. Mask" makes me want to laugh every time.'
She'd never imagined deceiving someone could be this much fun.
She could even understand how Park Sun-woo felt, pretending not to know after raping her.
That didn't mean she wanted to toy with him, though.
She had zero intention of tormenting him.
She was just savoring the leisure and amusement that came from her informational advantage.
The everyday routine and conversations flowed on casually.
Park Sun-woo had no idea.
He had no way of knowing he'd already been seen through by Han So-ra.
'Mr. Mask... you're so cute...'
If Han So-ra was content with this dynamic and never let on?
Park Sun-woo would go on living, oblivious to having been exposed.
Forever.
"This one's pretty good."
Park Sun-woo picked up a shield.
It was a round shield, made of the same moonstone as that Chinese one from earlier.
"Are you looking for a moonstone shield because of the 20th floor clear?"
"Yeah, given the enemies..."
"Moonstone's way better than pure silver."
One quick search pulled up all the info on the 20th floor.
The setting was a city fallen to the zombie virus.
Hunters had to survive endless zombie hordes.
Moonstone was a superior substitute for pure silver.
It outperformed silver functionally and had incomparable durability.
"Perfect. Is that shield enough for you?"
"Yeah, I don't think there's anything better suited to my level."
Han So-ra approved his choice.
It was an excellent decision.
He'd picked gear that was immediately useful and top-notch in performance.
Han So-ra handled the payment herself.
She handed over a bunch of gold bars mined inside the 'Tower'.
As long as social order held, gold's value was eternal.
Gold was the most reliable currency of all.
"Shall we look for something besides the shield?"
"Besides the shield? More?"
Han So-ra planned to outfit Park Sun-woo from head to toe.
Enough to breeze through the 20th floor.
"No way it's just the shield. We're only getting started."
Park Sun-woo was the man who'd raped her.
He'd torn her cherished virginity by force and dumped his stinking semen into her pristine womb.
He deserved her hatred.
She should be furious, just like Choi Da-eun.
But Han So-ra felt no such rage.
Because losing her purity had taught her pleasure.
Or rather, she'd discovered liberation.
Deviant acts free from any interference.
The thrill and ecstasy kept secret from the world.
Even shame became a novel stimulant.
Han So-ra was genuinely grateful to him.
If not for him, she'd have stayed ignorant, just ogling faces while her pussy rotted away.
'Looks aren't everything.'
His big face had definitely factored into rejecting Lee Hae-wan.
She'd felt zero masculine appeal, so it couldn't be helped.
Lee Hae-wan was just a coworker, and that was fine.
But getting sticky with him—swapping spit, slamming flesh...
'Ugh, no.'
Even imagining it was impossible.
She didn't want to do that with Lee Hae-wan.
Sorry, but she wasn't even that sorry—Lee Hae-wan was a total flop as boyfriend material.
But Park Sun-woo was different.
Honestly, his looks weren't much different from Lee Hae-wan's, yet she felt less repulsion.
'He's not exactly handsome.'
He was better than Lee Hae-wan by a good margin, but not by a significant degree.
'All his features are in the right places?'
That was about it.
So why did Park Sun-woo alone look so appealing?
The inner closeness she'd nurtured on her own made him seem favorable.
Even though they were slightly distant in real life, he felt oddly intimate.
It wasn't quite rose-tinted glasses.
"So-ra?"
Park Sun-woo, walking ahead, turned back.
He'd been waiting a while up front.
Han So-ra's pace had slowed way down.
"Ah, sorry. I was just thinking about what gear would suit you..."
Han So-ra grinned and hurried to his side.
Park Sun-woo clutched the shield she'd bought him tight to his chest.
His eyes sparkled like a kid with a birthday present.
His face showed him pondering the next gear choice.
He'd refused earlier as too much, but now with good stuff in hand, he was beaming.
In the 'Room,' he played merciless rapist, but in real life, he just did cute things like this.
Watching him, Han So-ra unwittingly licked her lips.
'...Should I just devour Mr. Mask whole?'
What face would he make during sex without the mask?
Could he still smirk so slyly in front of an S-Rank Hunter like her, maskless?
"Mr.... Hunter Sun-woo, how's it been with the 'Haetae' Guild folks?"
"Eh, not bad. Heaven compared to the 'Milky Way' Guild."
They chatted away while strolling the 'Black Market'.
With each stall they passed, another piece of gear joined Park Sun-woo's load.
At his request for mobility, they went with chainmail and leather armor instead of full plate.
"Isn't this too much spending? Seriously overkill."
"You've already taken it all. Too late for that now. No refunds."
"Really?"
He'd snatched everything up without a peep while browsing, but now as they headed out, he was playing coy with insincere complaints.
"No refunds, huh? Guess I have no choice."
"Is that a hint of laughter in Hunter Sun-woo's voice? Or am I imagining it?"
"Must be your imagination. Even S-Ranks have off days. I get it."
They left the 'Black Market'.
Instead of heading to the rooftop to log out, they went straight down to the 16th floor and out of the 'Tower'—much faster.
"Thank you, So-ra. For all these expensive, top-tier gears as gifts..."
They exited the 'Tower'.
That hesitant vibe right before parting—like he was wondering what to say.
He seemed ready to head straight home, so he expressed his gratitude.
She couldn't just send him off like this.
No pretext yet for summoning him to the 'Room' next time—she needed to drag this out somehow.
"Hunter Sun-woo, busy today?"
"...Huh? No?"
He had time to burn.
Hunters not diving the 'Tower' were basically unemployed.
Park Sun-woo had nothing particular planned.
He figured he'd head home early, show off the gear to Choi Da-eun, and enjoy her fan-girl freakout.
Han So-ra looked at the dazed Park Sun-woo and said,
"Then spend the day hanging out with me."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 📰 Breaking News ['Haetae' Guild's Challenge Continues. Straight from Clearing the 49th Floor to the 50th...] 📰 Breaking News [S-Rank Hunter Lee Hae-wan, "Korea is never weak. 'Joseon' Guild was the problem."] 📰 Breaking News [Lee Hae-wan and Han So-ra Still on Good Terms—Pink Vibes?] The media was hyping up the 'Haetae' Guild nonstop.
They'd even tossed in articles flaunting his relationship with Han So-ra.
Deals were struck with those outlets and reporters to provide various favors.
Lee Hae-wan smiled as he confirmed the 'Haetae' Guild's growth.
It thrilled him to see the guild he'd nurtured soaring with wings.
He had it all now.
Wealth, fame, power.
All Lee Hae-wan's.
Just one thing missing.
A woman.
Han So-ra, the perfect 10 he'd set his sights on.
Only by claiming her—the one who fit best by his side—could he truly savor 'success.'
'...Should I give her a call?'
He had more than enough pretext.
With the 50th floor raid prep underway, he could check on the raid team's condition.
Of course, the talk would stay strictly personal.
"Ahem."
Lee Hae-wan cleared his throat.
The guy who never shook during press conferences was trembling over a call to Han So-ra.
His heart pounded like it might burst.
"Hoo."
He took a deep breath and dialed.
The ringtone echoed.
Soon, Han So-ra picked up.
—Why?
Irritation dripped from her voice.
His call had clearly ruined her mood.
Lee Hae-wan shrank back and forced out the words.
"Uh... w-we're hitting the 50th floor soon, right? Just checking if you're in good condition..."
—So-ra, you can't do this...
"......?"
A man's voice.
An S-Rank Hunter's senses never lied.
Han So-ra's with a guy? W-who?'
He figured it out soon enough.
Han So-ra uttered the man's name.
Her whisper couldn't fool Lee Hae-wan.
—Hunter Sun-woo, behave. I'm on the phone.
"......!"
P-Park Sun-woo?!
With Park Sun-woo?
Lee Hae-wan checked the time in a panic.
[22:42 PM] At this hour?