Caught by a Weirdo
“Umm…”
A languid sigh escaped Kim Hyunah’s lips as she sprawled on the sofa after receiving my kneading.
She slowly opened her eyes, which had been closed.
“What… is this…”
Everything around her was so incredibly clear.
For a long time, extreme sleep deprivation and the side effects of countless awakening agents from the Tower had made her eyes constantly uncomfortable, even as an Awakener.
When she was utterly exhausted, her chronic condition always blurred her vision like a thick fog.
But the view before her now was completely different.
“My eyes… they don’t hurt at all… not dry either…”
Without even wearing lenses, she could see perfectly fine.
Her trembling hands reached up to touch around her eyes.
The astonishing changes weren’t limited to her vision.
“My body… was it always this light?”
It felt like she’d undergone some kind of bone-cleansing rebirth from a wuxia novel—her body was unbelievably light.
It mocked the peak condition she’d always prided herself on.
This was on another level from the body she’d forced to move every day with harsh awakening agents.
It was as if she’d returned to her healthiest days, vitality bubbling fiercely through her veins.
“What in the world happened to my body…”
Flustered by the unbelievable sensations, her gaze naturally drifted forward.
She sought out Baek Arang, the one who’d wrought this impossible miracle.
Baek Arang stood blankly near the sofa, staring dazedly into empty space.
Is that… the skill window she’s reading?
“Um, Miss Baek Arang?”
Kim Hyunah called out cautiously, but Baek Arang didn’t move, as if she hadn’t heard at all.
At that moment, Kim Hyunah’s eyes shifted from Baek Arang’s cute face a little higher up.
“Huh…?”
Her eyes widened round.
Maybe from the intense massage she’d given me earlier.
Baek Arang’s oversized chef’s hat, which she’d pulled down firmly, was now tilted to one side, half-slipped off.
And from the gap in the hat.
A single tiger ear, covered in fluffy white fur, poked out with a pop!
Twitch.
Flap!
That adorable white ear twitched and perked up noisily, like a living creature.
Kim Hyunah gasped, clamping both hands over her mouth.
A beastkin… a cute girl one?
Active Skill: Kneading Lv. 2
Now you can use kneading on even more things!
I couldn’t help but let out a wry chuckle at the blue skill window floating in the air.
“Seriously… you gotta be kidding me?”
A deflated sound escaped my lips.
I mean, it leveled up, right? Shouldn’t there be some epic “Ooh!” moment of awe?
What kind of lame description is that!
“Now you can use it on more things.” That’s it? Just that one measly, insincere line?
“This is really… it? For real?”
I tapped the skill window in disbelief, but the text didn’t change a bit.
This pisses me off more than the TS itself.
Does it mean I can use it on other creatures besides people?
Climb the Tower and knead monsters or something?
An orc would love a kneading session, huh? You shitty system.
Overcome with rising anger and emptiness, I slammed the skill window shut.
“Um, ex-excuse me… Miss Baek… Arang?”
Just then, Kim Hyunah’s cautious voice came from beside me.
I swallowed my rage at the system, plastered on a business smile for my customer, and turned my head.
“Ah, yes! How’s your body feeling…?”
My cheerful greeting cut off abruptly.
Kim Hyunah had one hand clamped over her mouth and was pointing at the top of my head with her trembling other hand.
“Huh…? What’s wrong? Is something still bothering you?”
As I tilted my head and asked seriously, she stammered back.
“Y-your… head…”
“My head…?”
Clueless, I reached up and patted the top of my head.
There’s just the hat up there, right?
The rough fabric of the chef’s hat, which had slipped crookedly, hit my hand first.
And right beside it… an incredibly soft, fluffy bundle of fur brushed my fingertips.
“Ah…”
As my fingers touched it, the beast ear on my head flinched and flapped wildly.
The dizzying sensation hit me crystal clear.
“Eek…”
A squeaky yelp escaped me.
Blood drained from my head to my toes.
How the hell did it slip off?
I’d been caught.
Kim Hyunah right in front of me had seen exactly what I was—a tiger beastkin.
My body went rigid like a log.
“Th-this is… w-well, you see…”
Damn it… what do I even say?
Pale-faced, I flailed my hands desperately.
No matter how hard I racked my brain, no natural excuse came to mind for this disaster.
Worse, my gut told me lying wouldn’t work on Kim Hyunah, who was staring holes through my ear.
As I stood there trembling, mouth agape.
Swish.
Kim Hyunah slowly approached from the sofa, cautious as could be.
“Um… Miss Baek Arang…”
“Y-yes…? Wh-what is it…?”
“You see…”
Kim Hyunah swallowed hard, cheeks flushing red.
Her eyes weren’t on my face—they were fixed piercingly on the white ear sprouting from my head.
That gaze felt awfully sticky.
Something’s off here…
It started getting scary in a whole different way.
“Could I… maybe touch it? Just once?”
“…Pardon?”
What did this woman just say?
I doubted my ears.
I figured she’d ask about my skills or pry for info.
She’s asking to touch my ear?
Her eyes burned with obsessive, desperate hunger, like she was possessed.
Her hand lifted subtly, radiating pressure.
My instincts screamed.
Danger.
If that hand touched my ear even once, something crucial about me would change forever—I could feel it.
I snapped to and backed away, pressing both hands firmly over the twitching ear on my head to hide it.
“N-no! Absolutely not! It’s super sensitive—anyone touches it, and it’s bad news!”
I blurted it out like a kid without thinking.
At my firm refusal, Kim Hyunah’s shoulders visibly slumped.
Her face was pure despair, like she’d lost the world.
She seemed kinda cool at first, but…
Her hands fidgeted regretfully as she smacked her lips repeatedly.
“Ah… what a shame… No, I’m sorry. I lost my head for a moment and was rude.”
She bowed deeply in apology.
“I’m truly sorry for the impolite request.”
“No, it’s fine… You must’ve been shocked seeing my ear pop out like that… I’m the one who should apologize. It’s not gross, is it?”
As I scratched my cheek awkwardly, Kim Hyunah shook her head vigorously.
“Gross? What are you saying! How could such fluffy, adorable ears be gross… anywhere in the world!!”
She balled her fists, voice brimming with emotion.
Why’s she so… intensely sincere? It’s scary.
“Plus, thanks to your massage, my body feels completely different. It’s been years since my vision was this clear and sharp… After you gave me such a gift, how could I put you in a tough spot?”
Her voice rang with genuine gratitude, no trace of deceit.
Mixed with a hint of ulterior motive.
I stepped back another pace and sighed in relief.
“Good to hear… Seems like the skill effect really kicked in.”
I’d confirmed she harbored no malice toward me, but I didn’t let my guard down.
The ear I’d crammed back under the hat kept twitching in response to my anxiety.
I rolled my eyes sneakily, gauging her reaction.
“Um, about me being a beastkin…”
“I’ll keep it secret, no matter what.”
She cut in sharply before I even finished.
Why’s she like this…?
Her swift, resolute answer left me flustered instead.
“For real? You won’t tell the other guild members or the guild leader?”
“Of course not. How could I leak the secret of someone so precious who made my body feel this comfortable?”
“And… something this cute… is better kept exclusive, right?”
My sensitive ears caught her final mutter perfectly.
…Is this woman a perv?
Kim Hyunah placed a hand on her chest and swore knightly resolve.
If I hadn’t heard that impure bit, she’d seem totally trustworthy.
As I forced an awkward smile to thank her.
She stepped closer stealthily, whispering low.
“In exchange, just one tiny little condition.”
“C-condition?”
What kinda pervy crap is she planning?
My ears perked up as unease swirled; I swallowed hard.
To my tense self, Kim Hyunah spoke earnestly, dead serious.
“When we’re alone from now on… could you take off the hat?”
“Pardon…?”
“I won’t beg to touch it. Just let me look.”
Her eyes gleamed with terrifying obsession and the hunger of a starved beast.
“By any chance… do you have a tail too?”
A chill ran through me; I bolted backward.
I’d hooked a crazy person.