Chapter 102

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: penny

Chapter: 102

Chapter Title: Training Grounds

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"Still not there."

I scrolled through the dormitory upgrade menu and saw that [Dimensional Gate] hadn't been unlocked yet.

'Honestly, it's a bit of a shame.'

The sale price of 1 million points meant it would cost over 2 million to buy one.

In simple terms, I'd lost more than 1 million points in that recent trade.

'But if it helps my party hone their skills, reflect on their abilities, get comfortable handling them, and boosts our survival rate, it's not a total loss.'

Sometimes experience is more valuable than any resource. Especially for our team, who had no real life-or-death combat experience back on Earth.

'Just in case, I'll sell one more.'

I set up the remaining five Dimensional Gates in one spot without selling them.

With my now ample funds, I installed what I'd originally come for: the [Training Grounds].

There were more picky conditions than expected. So I opened up the 1st floor first.

At the same time, a door appeared on one side of the dormitory. Click. I opened it to reveal stairs, and after descending them, I was greeted by a space similar to the 2nd floor.

The difference was that it was completely empty, without a single piece of furniture, as if no one had moved in.

And another thing.

The building had expanded by about the size of a balcony space, and through the glass windows, I could see the lake's gravel and clear water right there.

'Spacious enough to make a great lobby.'

Of course, I had no plans to decorate it right away. That wasn't the priority. Without hesitation, I turned toward the wall opposite the lake.

The [Training Grounds] facility was still too large, and only impossibility messages popped up. Thanks to that, I had to create a very long hallway on the 1st floor of my dormitory. A passage about 400 meters long, stretching toward the opposite side of the lake.

'Nearly 30,000 points just on the hallway.'

But finally, the conditions were met.

I hesitated one last time. 240,000 points in the early game was an enormous sum.

With that money, I could do a ton of things.

To make a joke, I could line up every woman in the Rest Area and fuck them all.

'But now's not the time to think about money.'

We'd been away from the battlefield too long.

Two days ago at [Crimson Sea Cliffs], there'd been no combat at all, and before that, we'd rested in the Rest Area for days. My party had been out of fighting shape for too long.

'Nothing good comes from staying away from the battlefield.'

You lose your edge, and your skills rust.

Ideally, I'd depart tomorrow, but with the [Summoner's Letter Envelope] cooldown, we had no choice but to stay in the Rest Area.

In short, we'd have to kill another 7 days here, so installing the Training Grounds—even if pricey—was the right call.

'Yeah, this direction makes sense. Let's do it.'

960,000 points vanished in an instant, and four doors appeared on either side of the long hallway. I picked one and stepped inside to find a vast space, with red lines drawn on the floor.

I selected 'Real Combat Training' and stepped over the line. My vision shifted dramatically.

Before my eyes stretched a familiar snowy plain.

Swoosh—

The chill brushing my skin.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The crunch crunch underfoot.

White snow drifting lazily from the sky.

Hop. Hop.

And on that snowy field, familiar animals were bounding about. But they were a bit different from the Tutorial.

The once skittish foxes were gone; now one appeared and started attacking a woman.

"Aaack!"

The woman fled, dodging the fox's teeth and claws.

In other words, keep healing her to prevent her death.

'So that's how this system works.'

I kicked the fox away lightly and saved the woman. But as if that wouldn't work long-term, a new fox replaced the dead one.

Whoosh!

It immediately chased and attacked her again. So this time, I tried interfering with the fox.

Kyaat!

The cheeky fox lunged at me.

"Pulling aggro too? Not bad."

One curiosity: could you die in training? I looked down at the fox gnawing on my arm. The pain was dulled, at least.

I pried open the fox's jaws and shoved my neck in.

"My high stamina means its teeth aren't piercing."

In the end, I cleared the objective after 10 minutes. Still, I got the result I wanted. Like a loading screen tip, a notification appeared.

In summary: the facility ensures no trainees die, so use it freely.

Only then did I relax, stand, and bring my party down to the 1st floor.

"Wh-what is this?"

"Training grounds?"

They were baffled at first, but by dinner time—after entering at lunch—they were buzzing excitedly.

"Isn't it amazing? I really thought it was a real person!"

"Yeah, I was shocked too."

"The wounds felt so real, it surprised me. Not as painful as reality, but everything else was incredibly lifelike."

They chattered enthusiastically, clearly hooked on the Training Grounds. Shin Seo-yeon said, straining her neck with excitement.

"So, how far did everyone get?"

"How far? Oh, real combat training?"

I was curious too.

"Level 7 for me."

"Same, level 7."

"Heh, you all barely made it. I hit a whopping level 10."

Whoa.

True to her reputation as the top firepower, Shin Seo-yeon had reached level 10 already.

There must've been plenty of obstacles to slow her down, but she'd bulldozed them with overwhelming power.

As we marveled—

"I got to 17."

"What?"

All eyes turned. There was Isera, rolling around with a harpy.

"Level 17."

"Crazy? Did you cheat?"

"What're you saying, auntie?"

Level 17 meant monsters from the 17th Trial Zone. She could survive if thrown into one now.

An overwhelming score compared to the rest.

'Makes sense, though.'

Other stealth classes had at least one weakness.

This system demands objectives like luring monsters or farming items to compensate and survive.

But Isera had no weaknesses—just needed stamina and intellect. Hence the phenomenon.

'Cheat is cheat.'

The party kept training until bedtime, chattering over dinner. No risk to life, instant feedback—they were hooked.

"Sis, switch with me."

"Huh? Oh, sure."

Another plus: trying other roles to understand them.

In Trials, where death loomed, a mage tanking as healer was suicide. But here? Safe.

'They're improving.'

While they trained fervently, I sold vending machine goods on the street and shopped for the next Trial.

Bought 30 random boxes from the weapon shop, sold gear at a loss.

"Selling such good weapons so cheap?"

"You're taking a loss."

"Won't even cover labor."

Simple reason: build our party's rep for selling decent gear.

Like a naengmyeon shop always out of stock or serving awful food—no repeat customers.

Short-term loss for long-term gain.

'Alright, business done. Hm?'

"Huh? Min-jun?"

"Where where?"

"Whoa! Where've you been?"

The Bitch Squad spotted me and waved excitedly.

"Long time no see, everyone."

I smiled back brightly.

Hanging around selling in front of the dorm was partly to meet them.

They'd been gone a few days; I thought they'd moved on, couldn't even summon with the envelope. Glad they hadn't.

"H-hello..."

"Ah, yes. Baek Yeon-ah, right? Feeling better now?"

Kim Jong-ho's usually silent girlfriend looked more composed, emotions sorted.

"Yes, thanks to your help then. They've taken care of me like family."

Nod. Up close, the Bitch Squad's bond seemed solid. All women, surviving the same region together—they got along great.

I considered inviting them to my dorm but shook my head.

'Take it slow. No rush.'

Plenty of time to vet them properly.

"Eaten?"

"Just about to."

"Like beef?"

"!!"

I led the cheering Bitch Squad to an expensive beef place in the Rest Area. Sponsor perks: treat them, hook 'em up.

While they feasted in the hall, I pulled Im Ah-rin aside and handed over items.

"Min-jun, this is..."

"Here, take these too."

I pulled out gear for the whole Bitch Squad— all from random boxes.

"I-I can't accept this! So much...! And a Mythic item?!"

Ah, yeah, fair reaction.

Our party was numb to Mythics, even seen Transcendents. But average players maxed at Epic.

"Don't die stupidly after all this investment."

"St-still..."

The [Necklace of Valentia] boosted aura effects. Few could use it well. I'd pulled it specifically for the Bitch Squad and Im Ah-rin.

No regrets.

"...Thank you. I won't disappoint."

"Good, that's the spirit."

Twenty years old, squad's youngest, but in 5 days she'd taken control. Leader material.

As Im Ah-rin equipped the necklace, a notification hit me.

A new option appeared under the ring's. Giving related items to owners seems to benefit me too.

"Decided on the next region?"

"No, still thinking."

"When do you plan to leave?"

"Was gonna go tomorrow."

She looked at me—she'd been waiting.

"Sorry, stuck here a while. Planning to move separately this time."

"Ah..."

"Don't be too bummed. Where I'm going is seriously dangerous."

She wanted to ask how I knew, but didn't. That's what I liked about her.

Im Ah-rin knew her place, toed the line.

Anyway, separate paths, so I recommended a spot for the Bitch Squad.

"Go to [Nerara Great Plains]."

"Great Plains?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Yeah, no ambush worries, no cold, plenty of cover. Plus, great for group play."

Im Ah-rin looked puzzled. She cautiously spoke up, figuring it needed clarification.

"But if there's lots of cover, doesn't that mean ambush risk?"

"No big trees or rocks blocking views—you can scout far constantly."

Nod.

"Key is ambushes during travel. Keep status open, check for stat changes."

"Ah, got it."

She nodded before I finished—already using it that way.

Her odd ability—stats up with more women, down with men—shined in scouting.

"Head there and..."

I recommended [Nerara Plains] to the Bitch Squad.

Third Trial zone with most survivors—also prime for farming.

Beast corpses there sold well; effort equaled cash.

'One downside: no gear farming.'

Irrelevant with my sponsorship.

I detailed strategies, cautions, profitable items.

"Thank you."

Im Ah-rin, as always, didn't ask how I knew—just trusting eyes.

"Getting help again. I... won't forget this debt."

"Don't be so formal. Like you caring for your squad, same reason."

Nod.

"Right. From next Rest Area, I'll show results."

"?"

"I'll scout and recruit prime new members for your enjoyment, Min-jun."

Haha, smart girl. One reason I sent them there: many survivors for Bitch Squad expansion.

"Good. Looks aren't everything—focus on character, potential. Ones that benefit the group, no issues."

"Yes."

She'd handle it smartly. We wrapped up. Or tried.

"Min-jun, you gotta see this performance first."

"?"

I got the meaning quick.

"H-hey, sisters! Wait!"

Baek Yeon-ah writhed naked on the long ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠table, surrounded by the Bitch Squad. Her pale body flushed red from their caresses, pussy dripping clear nectar.

"I-I've never done this with any guy but oppa...!"

"Hush. It's for you too. First, lick sis's pussy? Like yesterday, move that tongue."

"Mmph?!"

Bitch Squad took turns facesitting, getting eaten out.

Meanwhile, I mounted Baek Yeon-ah and pounded away.

Thwack thwack thwack thwack thwack!

"Hngh?! Suck! Hooo mmmph!"

The Bitch Squad: my personal fucktoy org. I rammed my massive cock balls-deep without mercy.

"Hoooooo mmmph!"

Her soaked pussy clenched wildly. Tight despite wetness—hard to thrust fast.

But gripping her hips and slamming hard, it slid deeper.

"Pha! Ahh! W-wait! Stop...! D-dangerous! That's dangerous right now!"

"Why dangerous? Speak."

"Ahk! It's t-too big... Hiiik!"

As two-thirds sank in, her eyes bulged. The Squad teased from the side.

"How big?"

"You had a boyfriend, right? Bigger than his?"

"Answer quick."

They twisted nipples, yanked pubes, sucked ears—tormenting her.

"S-sisters please... Ahk. St-stop."

"Oh? No answer?"

"Our newbie maknae needs more love all night?"

Intensified assault; she clenched her pussy and yelled.

"D-different from boyfriend! Bigger!"

"Just bigger? Answer."

"Hiiik! Tighter too! Fills me deep, ravages inside—love it!"

Amused, they toyed with her longer.

"Say you love the huge cock."

"Love huge cock. Ahk. Love huge cock."

"Better than boyfriend?"

"Y-yes! O-oppa's better. But love huge cock. This dick's so big, love it. Min-jun's cock best."

No joke—drooling top and bottom, she wrapped legs around my waist. Whined like a bitch per thrust.

Ten years of pussy conquest. Virgins fell easy, hooked forever.

Slap. Slap. Slap slap slap.

After three rounds, she crawled over, sucking my cock desperately, eyes begging for more. Lit up joyful when it hardened.

"Yeon-ah likes Min-jun too."

"Forgets boyfriend already."

I asked:

"What about you lot? Just watching?"

The Bitch Squad girls' eyes gleamed lewdly. They started rock-paper-scissors. One by one, climbing on top.