Looks Like I'm Getting Kidnapped
"Haa... haa... This is... really something..."
The woman's breathing grew even rougher after she took a bite of the baguette.
Her face flushed deeper, her eyes rolled upward—no one could mistake it for anything but an erotic expression. I shrank back instinctively.
A pervert who gets off on eating bread...?
"What... the hell... is this...?"
Cha Eunwol shoved the baguette in her hand straight into her mouth.
Crunch crunch.
"Hmm...?"
The instant she swallowed the whole thing, Cha Eunwol's eyes went wide as saucers.
Heat surged up from her body.
Her heart pumped furiously, flooding her veins with scorching life force.
Consumed Baek Arang's Baguette. Special buff applied.
Vitality: Stamina consumption for all physical activities reduced by 50%.
"What the... insane...? A buff? On food?"
Cha Eunwol checked her status window in horror.
This wasn't some narcissist alchemist's potion, nor a buff from an elite buffer noble.
She'd just eaten a freshly baked baguette... and now she had some unheard-of buff.
"Hah, haha, hahahahaha!"
A booming laugh erupted from Cha Eunwol's mouth.
Tears welled up as she laughed heartily, then she wiped the crumbs from her lips with the back of her hand and turned to me.
"H-hey... d-don't come any closer!"
I instinctively thrust the baguette out like a shield and yelled.
She got all hot and bothered from the bread, and now she's laughing like a maniac.
Definitely not right in the head. Especially those madness-glazed eyes—terrifying.
"C'mere, you lucky charm!"
My warning was ignored flat-out.
She closed the distance in a flash and stretched both arms toward me.
Whoosh!
"Eek?!"
My viewpoint shot up in an instant.
She'd slipped her hands under my armpits and hoisted me into the air like I weighed nothing.
I clutched the baguette to my chest, dangling helplessly as my short legs kicked in the void.
"You're seriously amazing. How'd you make this? Got some special skill?"
She yelled with sparkling eyes, still holding me aloft.
No impure motives or malice—just pure praise for my bread.
But her voice was so loud, and she was way too close. Put me down already.
Honestly, scary.
"U-um... could you put me down first...?"
"A Vitality buff? Never seen it before. You invented this? Genius, and you're just a kid!"
She set me down gently on the floor, then clapped a huge hand on my head.
Pet pet! Ruffle ruffle!
"Eeeek... my head's spinning...!"
Her hand messed up my hair wildly over the hoodie.
Her touch was so rough and vigorous, my neck whipped back and forth.
What am I, a dog?! She's petting me like one!
"Best thing I've ever eaten! You selling this baguette too? I'll buy 'em all!"
Her enthusiastic shout as she petted me snapped me to attention.
All of them...? Wait, who is this woman?
"Ah, this one's not for sale..."
I straightened my rumpled hood as I answered.
"What? Why not! I'll pay whatever—sell it!"
"I just baked this for fun. Something this long and curved is a pain to store and kinda awkward to sell anyway."
I set the baguette down on the counter.
"This is my snack. I'll bake more other stuff to sell."
"For real? Like what? Croissants? Bagels?"
"Haven't decided yet. Gotta plan it out now."
She pumped her fist in delight at my sassy reply.
"Awesome! Then I'll buy everything you make! Don't sell to anyone else—bring it all to us. Whatever the price, I'll take it!"
Her bold declaration left my mind blank.
Who the hell was she to throw around blank checks like that on behalf of her guild?
Even hunters with cash wouldn't go that far, right?
"Um... thanks for buying my bread, but... who are you exactly? From the same department as Kim Hyunah?"
I asked cautiously, and she planted her hands on her hips, puffing out her massive chest.
"Me? Oh... right, no intros yet."
Her red eyes curved into a grin.
"Baekya Guild leader, Cha Eunwol. Nice to meetcha, genius little missy."
For a second, I doubted my ears were working right.
What? Who?
No way... my client's boss?
The one drooling over the baguette and cackling like a lunatic was my cash cow?
A chill ran down my spine.
Flashbacks hit me: treating my client's boss like a psycho just moments ago.
If she took a dislike to me now, my bread biz was done for.
"G-Guild leader! I didn't realize... H-hello...?"
I bowed deeply in a panic.
Perfect corporate grovel, soul-deep from my pre-TS office days.
"...Please take good care of me from now on."
Cha Eunwol blinked wide-eyed at my greeting, then burst out laughing, clutching her stomach.
"Pfft... hahahahaha! What? You were all guarded a sec ago, and now this? You're hilarious."
She laughed till tears formed.
Damn... thought my heart was gonna drop out.
To Cha Eunwol, the tiny kid in front of her aping an adult greeting was just adorably cute.
"You're too cute, gonna die."
Unable to resist, she plopped both hands on my head.
Pet pet. Ruffle.
This time, way softer and gentler.
"Grr rumble... purr..."
A happy purr slipped from my mouth.
Feels good...
My body went slack from the pleasant stroking, brain offline.
Eyes half-closed, I nuzzled into her hand.
"Oh?"
Cha Eunwol flinched in surprise, then covered her mouth and giggled.
"What is this? Total dog-cat hybrid. Why you purring so hard?"
Amused, she pinched my cheeks with her fingers and yanked sideways.
"Euuugh..."
My squishy cheeks stretched like rubber bands.
I blinked, cheeks trapped.
Reason kicked in, flooding me with insane shame.
What the hell did I just do...? To a stranger...?
I tried scrambling back, but couldn't budge her iron grip.
"Doesn't hurt, and you're so chill. You're a mystery—and cute."
She released my cheeks, then reached for my deeply hooded hoodie.
"But little missy."
Her huge palm rubbed softly over my head, on the hoodie.
"Why hide these cute ears?"
Squish squish.
Her long fingers traced my ear shape perfectly through the fabric, massaging the cartilage gently.
"Hweeh...?"
My heart plummeted.
I frantically patted my head with both hands.
Hoodie was on right. Ears totally hidden.
How'd she know?
I gawked up at Cha Eunwol in shock.
She shrugged leisurely at my panicked stare.
"I'm an S-rank hunter, y'know? At my level, I've got tons of passive skills running. Like mana sight that pierces through magic flows."
She grinned and tapped her red eyes.
"Your mana circuits are crystal clear to me. Even those perky cute ears on your head."
X-ray vision via mana...
A cheat skill that sees through things with magic.
My hoodie was meaningless against her.
"Eek!"
I crossed my arms over my chest in a hurry.
"X-ray vision... what're you using it for? Peeping inside guys' clothes...?"
"Anyone'd think I'm ogling some dude naked. It's just mana shapes like a skeleton. Your body's not exposed or anything—relax."
I was about to sigh in relief when...
Cha Eunwol scanned me up and down casually.
"But... why no underwear underneath?"
A suffocating silence blanketed the bakery.
"H-huh...?"
How...?
My voice came out mosquito-thin.
Brain flashing white.
"Any hunter my level would notice. Even if you're still growing, always wear undies."
She eyed me like a delinquent kid.
I was a guy not long ago, suddenly a girl—where would I get women's undies at home? Didn't even know my size yet.
Chest so flat, figured hoodie alone would fool anyone.
"W-well, it's..."
My face burned crimson.
Tears pricked from the humiliation.
Lips trembling, no excuse ready.
As I froze, Cha Eunwol roared with laughter.
"Pfft... hahahahaha! God, you're cute. Why're you this adorable? Poke ya and you react perfectly."
She kneaded my cheeks, cackling.
I tried fleeing in shame, but she nabbed my nape lightly.
Whoosh.
She lifted me higher this time, eye-level.
"Like you more the longer I look. Bread's great, reactions hilarious."
To me dangling in midair, Cha Eunwol's red eyes gleamed as she said,
"You're mine starting today."
"...Huh?"
"I'll raise you good. 'Kay?"
Yep, total nutjob confirmed.