Fourth Specialization (3)
10th-floor stairs. A wooden bucket stuffed with bows and arrows sat there. I grabbed a fistful of arrows and headed back up to the rooftop. One more thing to check. Human Beasts killed since acquiring the new specialization: 48 in total. Still no level up.
I pulled the bow from the quiver at my waist, aimed downward, and fired. Then the second one.
...50. One level per 50 kills, huh. ...That's a lot. I glanced at the arrows piled at my feet. Duplicates generate 72 per day. Roughly 100 left in the bucket. Can't burn through them all just for levels. Who knows if the government will call or not—gotta leave some for the others. Started dipping into reserves since we were burning 8 or 10 a day on top of duplicates. People need ammo.
"Hoo..."
...Levels won't come easy. One per 50... Strength at 46 now. Dumped the point from that level up into it—47. Even summoning the Shadow Warrior and going all out wouldn't net a full level. Shadow Warrior's honestly too good. But with Strength barely at 47...
I looked down at the bow in my hand. Sense skill doubles my count—200 headshots possible right now. Arrows just can't keep up.
...Me too. I need weapons too. As much as those government folks want 'em.
"...Haa."
A sigh slipped out. Still, with Shadow Warrior in pocket, I'd keep sniping from the rooftop like always, grinding levels slow and steady. One per 50 sucks, but it couldn't dampen the thrill of that summon's power. My chest swelled with satisfaction. Scooping up the arrows, I headed into the rooftop stairwell when footsteps echoed from below.
What the hell? I descended casually, slotted the arrows into the bucket, stood, and peered down the 10th-floor hallway. Quiet. But I heard steps? Peering down the stairs, I spotted a shadow. ...A woman. Just plastered to the wall? No one else around. What's she doing standing there?
I went down a flight—shadow vanished. What? Waited a beat, and she peeked out from behind the wall. Ah. That woman. The one from the mart who flinched when she saw me. The one who's been popping up around me way too often lately.
Our eyes met. She ducked back behind the wall.
...Damn. I chuckled and said, "What're you doing there? Can't sleep?"
She peeked out again. "Ah... Hello."
Hello my ass. How many times is this now? Five, six times a day, popping up like it's coincidence, saying hello, then vanishing.
She had round bobbed hair. Cute cat-like face. Shorter than Su-hyeon, wearing some awkward skirt that didn't suit her wide hips. And a blouse? Past 2 a.m. What the hell's this outfit? Heading out on a date?
I chuckled and descended the stairs. She startled as I approached, spun to flee.
Acceleration.
Auto-cast: Acceleration
I strolled down leisurely, closing in on her slowed form. Right in my face now. Close enough to smell her shampoo. Looking down, cleavage peeked out. Big hips, but modest chest. Kinda hot in its own way. Bad timing for her, though. Shadow Warrior had me buzzing, heart full to bursting.
Su-hyeon and Ye-eun no longer shared my bed. Since Eun-seo became mine, the three slept in separate rooms. Only gathered for meals. I'd been heading to Su-hyeon's room. Needed somewhere to unload this pent-up energy.
But showing up in my sights now? Not smart. Ignored her hellos for days, just nodded back. Done with that shit.
I lightly gripped her wrist. Acceleration ended. She tried to bolt, but her arm was caught. Gasped, turned to me. I yanked her to the wall, pinned her there. She inhaled sharply—"Hah!"—and glanced up, eyes wide with fear.
"Wh-what are you doing..."
Tried to slip away; I braced the wall. She flinched, froze. I stepped closer—one book-thickness apart. "You've been popping up a lot lately."
She whimpered, face flushing red. I leaned in, whispered in her ear. "I'm in a great mood right now. Need a woman bad. Your fault for showing up at this hour. Got it?"
Arm wrapped her waist, pulled her tight. She grabbed my arm. "Wh-why are you—hic."
Sucked her earlobe; words cut off. Yanked her blouse free of the skirt, slipped hand inside, grabbed her breast. Bra in the way. Nibbling her ear, unhooked it quick, fondled bare skin. She clutched my hand, pushed weakly—fake resistance. If she really hated it, she'd scream, shove hard. Just pretending.
Hand under skirt, stroked panties—already damp slit. Wet since I grabbed her, huh. I smirked, kissed her. "Ngh..." Breath hitched. Tongue pushed in; she parted lips, welcomed it. Kept showing up in my sights, craving this after all.
Hand inside panties, caressed plump, slick folds. No hair. Smooth, but faintly textured. Waxed herself. Pulled hand free, grinning, unbuckled my lift belt and tossed it aside. Spun her around, hugged from behind, dropped pants and underwear together. Cock sprang free, raging hard.
Gripped her breasts, yanked panties down, pressed in and thrust.
"...Ahhk!" She shuddered—hurt? I eased in slow, smiling. What's her name? College girl? How old?
"Name?"
Just moans as I thrust, biting back answers. Why not talk? Whatever. She showed when I needed, so I'm taking. Skin slapped. Moans mixed with breaths. Echoed softly in the stairwell.
* * *
Life didn't change much with the new specialization. Hunted daily with Shadow Warrior for levels, fucked in downtime. Partners up to four now, but the new one's so shy she just flees since that night. Spots her every other day, takes her then—no more hellos. Face red, just lingers till I pounce. Fucks her in stairs or empty offices below; no complaints.
Su-hyeon, Ye-eun, and Eun-seo still clueless about the new one. No reason they'd mind in this mess. Hugging them twice daily already. Stamina skill, hell yeah. When to tell 'em? Gotta say something. But she won't even give her name—how?
Days of killing and fucking rolled on. Stockpile arrows. 72 duplicates daily—with Shadow Warrior, 100 kills easy. Two levels a day. Started stacking extras in the bucket. Burned plenty leveling Wild Hunter; time to rebuild.
Four days later. Racking kills with Shadow Warrior, sniping from rooftop. Phone rang. Chief of Staff An Jun-gyu.
"Yeah, hello."
"Hello, Sung-hoon. An Jun-gyu here."
I set the bow down. "Yeah. Been a while, Chief."
"Yeah, it's been a while. Everything alright on your end?"
Everything alright—ha. Lit a cigarette, chuckled. "No offense, Chief, but we both know why you're calling. Cut to it. Accepting my terms?"
Exhaled smoke, waited.
"Straight to the point—good. Yes, calling to say we've accepted your conditions."
"Right. So, what happened?"
Silence. Cleared throat.
"...Pardon?"
I chuckled. "Come on, Chief. I'm no idiot. Two weeks radio silence. Ain't bureaucracy in this shitshow. You planned to reject—hence no call. Now you ring back. Something went down. What?"
No answer. Inhaled smoke, blew it out. "Chief, we'll be working together if you accept. No secrets?"
Inhale on his end.
"...Fine. No point in secrets now. Special Forces Team 1 went out on op—went missing. Signs point to them getting hit by those bastards."
...Knew it. Didn't like my terms, so they went solo. With just a couple pistols and rifles.