Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Weak Flesh, Weak Spirit
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"Fight Hilde? What do you mean by that?"
"It's not so much a fight as it is sparring to build your skills."
I pointed to the wolf tracks and continued.
"You never know when monsters like this might attack. I think you need at least some way to protect yourself."
It was an excuse for my plan, but it wasn't entirely wrong.
At the very least, her current combat ability wouldn't help much if she lost to a horned rabbit.
"The old Team Leader wouldn't have had a problem, but you don't have your abilities here."
"Mm, true enough."
Shin Seom-hwa seemed fairly convinced by my words.
The reasoning itself was sound.
Though the intent behind it wasn't quite so pure.
'But the reason she's hesitating must be Hilde.'
After all, sparring directly would make the skill gap glaringly obvious.
Of course, that was exactly what I was aiming for.
"Of course, Hilde and I will keep protecting you, so it should be fine."
"No. I can't rely on you two forever."
I knew she'd say that.
With her strong pride, Shin Seom-hwa would find the idea of being 'protected' by someone unbearable.
"Then let's go with light sparring with Hilde to get you used to close combat. Hilde, mind helping out?"
"I'm fine with that anytime."
Hilde gave her approval.
I pulled a wooden staff I'd prepared in advance from my inventory.
"What's that?"
"Just a plain old staff."
▶ Wooden Staff
Grade:F+
A plain staff made of wood. Crafted from lightweight timber, it has good springiness and is easy to wield. Carefully made with balanced weight and sturdy construction, it's a decent weapon. Lacks lethality but is perfect for self-defense.
I spun the wooden staff once right there on the spot.
It was light, so it wasn't too hard.
"Hilde specializes in spears, and spears are the easiest for beginners anyway."
To be precise, Hilde could also use spears.
But since her real weapon was the 'Valkyrie Spear', Shin Seom-hwa thought of it that way.
"But using a real weapon would be dangerous, so I prepared this."
"Did you make that yourself?"
"It wasn't too hard."
Boosting my strength via the status window made moving logs a breeze now.
Plus, I had the 'Tool Crafting' trait.
"Living on the island means making whatever you need yourself. Feels like the Stone Age sometimes."
Of course, gacha made things a lot easier.
But that was still a secret from Shin Seom-hwa.
"I have other weapons too, but practice with this for the time being."
"Y-yeah. Thanks."
Shin Seom-hwa took the staff with a faintly moved expression.
She seemed to think I was being considerate.
'Though that'll add some psychological pressure for her too.'
I didn't expect Shin Seom-hwa to get used to close combat quickly.
I wasn't hoping for that in the first place.
What I wanted was the rivalry with Hilde itself.
.
.
.
'...Yeah, it'll turn out like this.'
Back at the shelter, I watched their sparring quietly.
As expected, the gap in their abilities was stark.
"Haa, huaa!"
Shin Seom-hwa dropped the staff to the ground, sweat pouring off her.
Meanwhile, Hilde even wore a relaxed smile.
And that was with Hilde holding back.
Or rather, toying with her.
'I told Hilde not to go easy and to show the power difference.'
How far the gap was between her and Hilde.
How powerless she was without her abilities.
That was the point of the sparring.
To make her thirst even more for abilities.
"Shall we take a short break?"
"N-no... I'm... still... fine..."
Shin Seom-hwa picked up the staff with trembling hands.
Her cheeks were flushed red, her legs shaking like a sick deer's.
Both were dressed in white short-sleeve tees and black leggings for the sparring.
Which made their toned bodies and sweat-slicked skin fully visible.
'Haa, wanna rip those leggings and thrust straight into her sweat-drenched pussy.'
Hilde aside, Shin Seom-hwa's figure was impressive too.
Sweat beading on her collarbone and navel, with hips and breasts barely contained.
If this were a gym, the owner would pay her to keep coming—the perfect lines.
I recalled her mentioning Pilates and workouts on weekends.
"Shin Seom-hwa relied heavily on her abilities, but she's kept in shape."
Not that it made her a match for Hilde.
"Seom-hwa, put more power into your thighs and waist when you thrust."
"Urgh, kuh!"
Shin Seom-hwa was probably at her physical limit already.
A normal person would've collapsed by now.
She was holding on through sheer pride.
"Haat!"
Hilde's staff shot out like a snake.
Shin Seom-hwa reflexively stepped back, but the staff hooked her leg.
In the blink of an eye—Ah!—her body tilted.
The ever-poised Shin Seom-hwa from the office tumbled to the ground.
'That makes twenty falls.'
An overwhelming skill gap.
Even a child could see the results were clear-cut.
"Is that enough for now?"
"N-not yet... I can... do more."
Yet she stood again. Was it her refusal to lose out of sheer tenacity?
A desperate look, pride crumpled—the sight I'd never seen at the office.
It stirred my sadism.
'I wanna see that haughty face twisted in arousal and ecstasy.'
Was it the uninhabited island changing my tastes?
Or because it was Shin Seom-hwa, always above me at the company?
'Either way, it's quite the sight.'
Their large breasts jiggled with every intense movement.
Sweat-soaked clothes clung transparently to intimate areas, but neither cared.
Two beauties rivaling celebrities, sweating buckets in leggings while wielding staffs.
Upload to YouTube? A million views easy.
'Come to think of it, I haven't spun the gacha in a while.'
I'd been half-waiting since I didn't know when the next pickup quest might pop.
Then Shin Seom-hwa showed up, and I forgot.
'Maybe time for a spin?'
Spinning it so much had me hooked.
Now I even pressed buttons in my dreams sometimes.
'Shin Seom-hwa's too focused on sparring to notice, so now's the time.'
Three times... no, five... wait, it's been a while, so exactly ten.
I gave in to temptation in real time and spun the general gacha.
As usual, nothing too useful came out.
Good items were rare anyway.
As I checked the items with mild disappointment,
a new one suddenly appeared in a flash of light.
▶ Incubus's Erotic Seal Stamp
Grade:B+
A seal said to have been used by an incubus famous even in the demon world as a Casanova. It can place an erotic seal on any desired body part of a woman who has feelings for you. You can check her affection level before applying it. Women marked with this tattoo feel greater attraction to the man, and the man can view her status window. The placement, shape, and color of the tattoo are up to the man. Disappears after use on one woman.
(Nearby women: Shin Seom-hwa - Affection 60%)
"Oh, nice?"
A B+ grade item after so long.
I let out a light whistle as I read the lengthy description.
It was just the thing Shin Seom-hwa and I needed right now.
Shin Seom-hwa barely steadied her ragged breathing.
It had been quite a while since she started sparring with Hilde.
But she never felt like she was holding her own.
"That last attack was good. You're picking it up quickly."
"I still can't even graze you, Hilde."
Sweat pooled in her cleavage, her head spinning.
She'd never been pushed this hard even back in society.
Meanwhile, Hilde still brimmed with composure.
"Sit and rest a bit. I'll get some water."
In the past—or even a few days ago—she would've insisted on going herself.
But her exhausted body refused even that.
The fact crushed her pride.
"Hoo... damn it."
Hilde.
The first woman she'd ever thought was superior.
Looks, brains, abilities—even personality.
Shin Seom-hwa had always been ahead of everyone, and it was only natural.
But Hilde was different.
At least in here, she lagged behind in every way.
'I know it's unavoidable in my head, but...'
Her pride refused to accept it.
The turmoil in her heart only grew.
Back in society, had she ever wanted to surpass someone like this?
No, she'd never even competed.
'No one ever tried to keep up with me.'
Wherever she went, everyone treated her special.
No one ever tried to stand equal.
'Except Kim Jin-woo.'
Jin-woo was the one who kept striving to catch up despite everything.
His abilities and career couldn't compare.
Yet he chased her back with everything he had.
Only Kim Jin-woo never gave up following her.
She'd even felt grateful for that.
"But now it's the opposite."
She gripped the wooden staff Jin-woo made tightly.
She knew it was consideration.
And expectation too.
Probably because he knew the old her from society.
'But how long will it take to be useful like this?'
Inferiority and helplessness.
Emotions she'd never felt in society.
Shin Seom-hwa had no idea how to handle them.
'If only... if only I had my abilities...'
Outside the island, she was always strong.
Thanks to her long-built status—and her A-grade ability.
With her ability, she wouldn't feel this way.
She'd be the one protecting, not needing help.
'...I really do need abilities, huh.'
If there was no way, she'd have given up early.
But a path had opened.
The massage Kim Jin-woo suggested.
It kept nagging at her.
'But how could I do something so embarrassing...'
Her pride wanting to climb higher clashed with her pride as a woman.
They muddled her mind.
And she felt the former growing stronger.
"Shin Seom-hwa, I brought water."
"Ah, thank you."
As she wrestled with those thoughts, Hilde returned.
Time for another round soon?
She knew she shouldn't feel reluctant, but she did.
'It's just because my body's weak.'
The old her wouldn't have hesitated.
With that regret, she forced her weary body up.
That's when it hit.
"Huh?"
The world spun suddenly.
Her vision blurred, balance gone.
Nausea surged from her churning stomach.
'This is... dangerous...'
Her unresponsive body collapsed.
She heard Hilde's voice by her ear but couldn't reply.
Even then, the thought of needing help again brought tears to her eyes.
'Damn it...'