Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Worries
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"If you're asking for a one-time 'service' like what men and women do…?"
"Yes, that's right."
The women stood there blankly for a moment, processing my words, their cheeks flushing red. Joo Ah-hyun shot back in protest.
"What do you take women for? How can you make such an outdated proposal!"
"Let me say this upfront: I'm absolutely not treating women like objects or anything like that."
"Women aren't objects! Ugh."
She seemed to realize I'd beaten her to the punch on what she was about to say, so Joo Ah-hyun trailed off and shut her mouth.
"I went through all sorts of hardships to get this accessory."
"I saw that in the Rest Area. It's from the Tutorial area, right? Why package it like you went through some huge ordeal?"
"I did. I shivered in that freezing cold for ten days straight, hunting foxes like my life depended on it."
The women's eyes went wide.
"Ten days?"
"Yeah, the drop rate's pretty low."
"……."
Hearing it was an item earned through ten days of suffering in that bitter cold left them speechless. Joo Ah-hyun looked awkward.
Kim Yu-rim felt the same.
And behind the two, Han So-hee stared at me with wide eyes, as if she couldn't even imagine someone camping out there for ten days.
'This is on the level of looking at a madman.'
Well, who in their right mind would roll around with foxes for ten days in the dead of winter? Even I could see it was insane.
"Anyway, it's something I earned with great difficulty. I'd like to get a fair price for it if possible, but you ladies don't seem to have the means."
"Eek. Yeah, that's true."
Their faces grew even more awkward, soon turning solemn.
"In that sense, my offer of a one-time service is a huge concession."
"Sigh. I get it. I understand, but… I have a boyfriend."
"I need some time to think…."
Joo Ah-hyun was hesitant because of her boyfriend, while Kim Yu-rim needed time to carefully consider.
"……."
Han So-hee, meanwhile, plopped down on the floor as if it wasn't even worth hearing more, taking a rest.
'Looks like they're still worth buying. If it were me, I wouldn't pass up an opportunity like this.'
And rightly so—these chances didn't come often.
That said, I wasn't holding it against them. It just meant they were untainted gems.
Slow to adapt was an issue, but too quick was a problem too. Women already selling themselves in the Rest Area for pocket change were inherently lower quality.
They'd sold themselves cheap, after all.
Tap tap.
'Hm?'
Someone tapped my shoulder from behind.
Turning around, there stood Yi Sera. Our cute little reaper was writing letters on my palm with her finger.
「Oppa, isn't it time to head back?」
Checking my watch, it was 7 p.m. Time to rejoin the group. I tucked the watch away and said,
"Anyway, no pressure—think it over. I need to head back, so I'll hear your answers tomorrow."
"Pardon? Where to?"
"I've got my party upstairs."
At the mention of a party, the women tensed slightly.
"Any women up there?"
"The gender ratio's a bit off, but aside from me, it's all women."
Their faces brightened instantly.
"Then come with us! Why wander alone? Let's talk it out and all go hunt zombies together."
"Haha, can't yet—haven't gotten all my weapons."
"Ah…. Well, can't be helped. You can't come down without elemental weapons from upstairs."
Having eased their guard, the women begged me to come back tomorrow for sure.
After parting with them, I led Yi Sera upstairs.
"For oppa."
Yi Sera suddenly held out a pouch. Inside were stat shards.
"Thanks. Anything you want to eat tonight?"
She'd worked hard; time to feed her well.
"Yeah, beef."
"Anything else?"
"Tuna?"
"……."
Her tastes were oddly similar to Shin Seo-yeon's.
Tuna cans it is.
[Strength stat increased by 3.]
[Agility stat increased by 4.]
[Stamina stat increased by 4.]
All stats rose except Intelligence. My body felt noticeably lighter. I clenched and unclenched my fist, smiling in satisfaction.
'Let's see. Yi Sera gained 3 Intelligence too, and if things go well, I can boost each stat by 15 per body part.'
The future felt much smoother.
Of course, this wasn't enough to hit my goals yet, but I could make up the shortfall another way.
"Hey, unnie, that Dickhead did this…."
Voices drifted over—they were both safe.
I opened the door.
"I'm back."
"Huh? Dickhead?"
After my meaningful outing with Yi Sera, I sauntered into the waiting room. Shin Seo-yeon lit up at the sight of me, then unleashed a barrage of curses.
"You fucking asshole, where the hell were you?! Off sucking honey somewhere alone? Met some girl, didn't you?!"
Damn, Seo-yeon was sharp as ever. How did she always nail it?
"Nothing like that."
"Bullshit! Spill it—what were you doing?"
She rushed over, locking me in a headlock with her breasts.
"Min-jun, we were so worried since you were late. No injuries?"
The Saintess followed, slipping on her heels for me.
And then the Saintess locked me in a breast headlock too…. Huh?
"Unnie, this guy's not the type to die out there. Bet he was slacking off downstairs. I'm sure of it."
"Seo-yeon, you can't say stuff like that."
Buried between breasts, I dazedly watched them.
Just yesterday, they'd been awkward. Especially the Saintess, flinching at every word from Shin Seo-yeon.
She'd been too timid to even speak up, but now she was taking my side and scolding Shin Seo-yeon.
"Unnie's too nice for her own good."
Yet Shin Seo-yeon didn't seem to mind. No snapping or nagging at the Saintess.
Quite the harmonious vibe.
'Spending the whole day together must've bonded them.'
Makes sense—share a dark, dank space with a hundred grotesque skeletons.
A day? Hell, a few hours were enough to bond with the human nearby.
'Especially with the Saintess's [Recovery Authority] healing body and mind alike.'
No stress buildup meant no fights.
'Good call leaving them alone.'
I gazed at them with deep satisfaction.
Nothing headaches like party infighting. I'd seen plenty of groups split, shatter, even turn enemies over it.
In a way, their harmony was today's biggest gain.
"So, Dickhead, what kept you?"
"Went downstairs to scout."
"Nice, hunting grounds any good?"
"Ghost types, but no good loot."
"No gems?"
"Nah."
Shin Seo-yeon spat on the floor.
"Fuck that, not worth it. From tomorrow, you hunt here too, Dickhead. Three of us? Heh heh, we can clear to the opposite waiting room easy."
"Depends. Gotta check other mobs."
My eyes drifted to the floor. Unpicked gear littered everywhere.
'34 weapons, 71 priest robes.'
Decent haul. I scooped them all into my inventory.
"Junk loot?"
"Here."
Shin Seo-yeon hefted a heavy pouch. Wow, a lot.
"Just gems?"
"Yeah."
Even they only got trash junk.
"Dickhead, no puppy eyes—won't share. Remember, you gave me all the gems that time?"
"Of course, all yours."
Too heavy to carry, too wasteful for an inventory slot over one weapon.
A hassle she was handling? Perfect.
'Gathered that much already. Won't need pocket money for Seo-yeon later.'
Heh heh! I eyed her gem pouch fondly, while stealth-cloaked Yi Sera licked her lips with the same expression.
I was thrilled too.
'Over 100 gear pieces in a day. We're rolling in it.'
Never got this much in Round 1—no inventory limited farming.
'Wish inventory had more than 10 slots.'
I scanned the room wistfully.
Unpicked gear rolling on the floor.
Inventory slots held only one weapon type each.
Ten types max for me.
After pricier stuff, daggers and clubs littered the floor—cheaper junk.
'Wasteful, but oh well.'
We farmed one last skeleton wave, left the debris unreset, and exited the waiting room.
This kept respawned skeletons from wandering out overnight.
"Any hunting inconveniences?"
On the way back to camp, my question made Shin Seo-yeon and the Saintess exchange looks. They answered in unison.
"Sometimes they respawn right at the barricade—tricky to handle."
"Fireballs explode too much; it's awkward then."
Couldn't flame-thrower with the barricade at risk, so the Saintess clubbed them each time.
"You swung that well. Heavy?"
"Oh, yeah. Thanks to your robes, I'm stronger than Seo-yeon."
The Saintess beamed, swinging like a baseball bat.
Whoosh—
Ominous air-ripping sound.
'Right, [Robes of Lumina] boost all stats by 10.'
The Saintess could now outmuscle most male athletes. Smashing skeleton skulls? Easy.
Mythic-grade effects indeed.
'Still, just two feels shaky.'
First Trial was fine, but mages and healers sucked at melee.
Next Trials would toughen up.
'Can't babysit every time.'
I needed to solo for efficiency.
Shin Seo-yeon handled firepower; Saintess mana sustain.
'Got a tank in mind, but timing's unknown—annoying.'
Planned teammates post-Third Trial; unplanned snags popped up.
'Yi Sera won't cut it.'
"What're you thinking, Min-jun?"
"Nothing. Just dinner ideas."
"Not busy?"
"Nope."
"Then answer. Who first watch tonight?"
Huh? Snapping to, the Saintess and Crimson Flame Witch stared intently. Eyes burning with desire.
"Watch?"
They nodded.
Pick-me eyes.
"Hmm. You two first?"
"……."
They'd bonded—keep it that way. First watch was sweet too.
…My consideration was wasted.
"Ahh! Ahhn! Min-jun oppa! Pound me harder!"
From first-watch Shin Seo-yeon to second Saintess, I got milked dry sleeplessly.
"Ahk! Ahk! Min-jun! Cum inside!"
"……."
A morning bathed in pure white light.
"Ah."
Waking as usual, I was naked, tangled with the virgin.
Difference from yesterday: I knew who'd snuck in to suck me off.
I poked the hime-cut assassin's cheek.
"Hey, up. Breakfast and hunt prep."
"Mmm."
"Get up."
Pinch.
"!!"
Nipple tweak jolted her up, fierce eyes scanning like a vigilant virgin reaper.
"Prep to go. Food's ready soon—get set."
"Mhm!"
Yi Sera grabbed her clothes and bolted out.
Prep food, and the pre-S-Rank assassin would sneak her share to the warehouse.
"What? Why's my share so small?"
She always took extra for Shin Seo-yeon—dunno why.
Post-breakfast, we split at the waiting room.
"Fighting today too."
"Yes, be safe, Min-jun."
"Dickhead, slack off and die. Work hard or regret watch duty."
"……."
Night before, she'd cooed 'oppa' under me; daytime bitch mode.
Harmonious with Saintess—unlike Round 1—but why still nag me?
"Dickhead, answer me?!"
Should I make her rim me tonight?
Thwack.
"Ow!"
Shin Seo-yeon clutched her head after Yi Sera smacked her for badmouthing me.
Leaving the Crimson Flame Witch, I headed mid-layers with Yi Sera to hear the women's answers.
"Ah, don't be so picky…."
Voices from downstairs.
Unfamiliar.
I crept silently. At the chapel entrance clearing, two groups faced off.
'One's the three women from yesterday.'
Opposing: strangers.
"New faces."
"Left pews. Saw 'em farming shards."
"Yeah?"
"Mhm."
Women circled right pews, men left. Explained the all-women survivors.
"Think carefully. We should band together now."
Five men persuaded the women.
Curious, we hid in stair shadows, eavesdropping.