Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Desire
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The chapel.
This place, reminiscent of a grand opera house, was shrouded in darkness and fog.
On its left side, in a corridor on the third floor surrounded by blackout curtains and rock walls, five men gathered, panting heavily and spewing curses.
"Fuck, what the hell was that guy?"
"No idea. It was my first time feeling something like that. The moment I looked into his eyes, my legs just started shaking without me realizing."
"Ugh, my heart's still pounding like crazy, damn it."
No one could explain what had just happened.
It was the first sensation of its kind in their lives. Like standing before an unstoppable predator as helpless prey.
Once their racing hearts finally calmed, thoughts of the women reignited their briefly subdued lust.
Desire surged from their groins to their minds, finally overpowering the fear and compelling them to forcibly rationalize the situation.
"So, what do you guys think it was?"
"Well... a Unique Ability, maybe, boss?"
"Unique Ability?"
"Yeah. How else do you explain something that bizarre?"
Hm, that made sense. Group leader Park Yong-chan nodded.
He'd worked as muscle for loan sharks since childhood and prided himself on his eye for people after all he'd seen.
To him, that young man earlier was just an ordinary college kid—nothing more, nothing less.
"Makes sense. We've all got our special powers, so why wouldn't he?"
With the conclusion reached, Park Yong-chan felt a surge in his loins.
'Yeah, I don't care where the fucker came from—no way I'm letting some punk cost me that beauty.'
The moment he laid eyes on Han So-hee, he'd known she was no ordinary woman.
Even after bedding plenty of pretty faces from the back alleys, her stunning features and that enigmatic aura were a first.
'That haughty, elegant vibe... gulp.'
"So, what's the plan now, boss?"
"Plan? We wait for an opening and take him out. We got caught off guard by that freak ability before, but we've got nothing to fear from him. Right, boys?"
"Damn straight."
"We'll waste that bastard in front of the girls, then fuck 'em all raw to make up for lost time."
"Kuhuhu. Now that's the boss I know. Head out to keep watch now?"
They were grinning lewdly, conspiring, when—
「Aaah...」
"Huh? B-Boss, Specters incoming. And a lot of 'em."
"What? How many?"
"At least fourteen, easy."
"Shit, bolt for the entrance!"
The men fled out the main doors in a panic. After barely escaping, they panted heavily in the open space outside, sighing in relief.
"Fuck, that shaved ten years off my life."
"Tell me about it. Who knew we'd run into that many right from the start?"
They killed some time before re-entering the chapel, heading right for the stairs to kill Kang Min-jun as planned.
「Aaah...!」
But they didn't get far before fleeing outside again.
"Ah, fuck. Why's everything going wrong today?"
It wasn't a joke—this really was one of those cursed days. Every time they entered the chapel, hordes of Specters chased them out soon after.
Once, twice, three times...
"Fuck, how many times is this now?"
"...Twelfth time, boss."
"This is insane. What the hell? Why do they always head straight for us like they know exactly where we are?!"
It was maddening.
They'd been in and out for over five hours now, too hungry to eat, legs weakening from fatigue.
The last time, the guy at the rear nearly got caught and mummified.
"What do we do, boss?"
"Ugh. If there were fewer, we could fight..."
Always outnumbered, they were stuck.
What was with this sudden change?
'Did the monsters' behavior shift?'
So abruptly?
Then why weren't the women inside fleeing or screaming?
...Were they all already dead?
As tangled thoughts piled up, someone shouted, pointing at the chapel door crack.
"Boss, someone’s coming out!"
Emerging through the fog was a short little girl.
A cute girl with hime-cut bangs and chubby cheeks. She stepped out, paused, and eyed them warily.
Park Yong-chan narrowed his eyes.
"Who the hell are you? Never seen you before. More importantly, how'd you move around in there? Specters are swarming like crazy."
"...I hid behind a pillar until they passed."
"What? That doesn't make any—"
Park Yong-chan shut his mouth.
It wasn't wrong.
Five of them lacked hiding spots, forcing flight, but alone? Plenty of places to evade Specter eyes.
"But what are you old guys doing out here? Not going for the [Bardo's Remains]?"
"Of course we—wait, you know where they are?"
"Yeah, down below."
"!!"
The men’s eyes widened at her casual words.
"Down below?"
News to them. They'd never imagined a separate space underneath.
"There's another area under the chapel."
"Ha, so that's why we couldn't find them after ransacking the place..."
Now it all made sense—why days of searching yielded nothing.
Park Yong-cheol asked.
"Hey, kid. How do you get to the lower level?"
"There's a hole by the stage that goes down."
"Stage?"
"Yeah."
"Isn't it crawling with mobs?"
"It is, but when Specters swarm outside like crazy, it's clear. Like now?"
Ah. They scowled.
It meant they could've escaped six days ago, but bad luck and timing led to a massive Specter group on stage, dooming them.
"Fuck this shitty luck... Hey, kid, this better not be bullshit."
"It's not."
"Lie and you're dead."
The girl slipped something from behind her back.
A human humerus—from shoulder to elbow, long and unmistakable.
Instinct told the men, led by Park Yong-chan: that was one of the [Bardo's Remains].
"Got more?"
"Yeah, tons below. Enough for you old guys to grab one each. Need a guide?"
"For real?"
They could escape this hellhole.
No need to stay longer.
That thought dominated their minds, paralyzing reason. They missed the eerie glint in the smiling girl's eyes.
"This way. Follow me."
"Boys, let's go."
"Yes, boss!"
And so, they vanished from the chapel forever after.
Only the girl returned, grinning brightly, refreshed.
"That's payback for trying to kill Oppa. Enjoy."
「Aaaak!」
Nine Specters in total.
I tangled with them while glancing at the women.
"Kill 'em! Kill 'em! Kill 'em!"
"Ah-hyun, you done yet?"
"Huh? Almost. I invested heavy in stamina, so I'm a bit slower at hunting than you, sis."
With that, Ju Ah-hyun finished off two Specters and swept her hair back, as if she'd just had a fun romp.
Kim Yu-rim, having already downed her two, sauntered toward one side.
"Huff. Huff."
There, Han So-hee was locked in a desperate struggle with a Specter, sweating buckets.
"Fall back, So-hee."
"Ngh. I'm fine—"
"Yeah, no heroics."
Whether Han So-hee retreated or not, Kim Yu-rim unleashed on the Specter. Ju Ah-hyun joined soon after, and the Specter died pathetically in an instant.
"Ah."
A world apart from Han So-hee's pace.
No helping it. The moment the fog curse and Specter curse hit without accessories, her movements slowed by nearly half.
Slower moves meant slower kills—simple as that.
'Though that's not the whole story.'
I used Full Appraisal on Kim Yu-rim and Ju Ah-hyun.
Why Kim Yu-rim always hunted fastest.
A cost-effective power: first strike on any target was always critical.
'Stack strength and equip a good weapon, and most trash mobs shatter in one hit.'
And that was just the start.
Excelling in ambushes, assassinations, multi-foe battles—top-tier Epic ability, party-friendly too.
With her solid base stats, guilds would come knocking soon enough.
'This one's no slouch either.'
Now Ju Ah-hyun. Unlike Yu-rim, hers was utility-focused.
'Useless now against ghost-type roamers.'
But it'd shine in future Trials. She'd get as many offers as Yu-rim—or more.
'Utility's tough early on.'
Mid-to-late Trials favored them. If she survived, that is.
"Oppa! Still going?"
"Min-jun's amazing. Handling that many without a scratch."
I gripped my sword hilt tight and swung wildly. High strength whipped up sword winds, turning all nine Specters to corpses in two seconds.
The two girls scampered over like eager puppies and clung to me.
"Oppa, my turn next?"
"You went first with Ah-hyun last time, so me first now."
No more accessories needed, yet they demanded I fuck them.
Stress relief? Comfort in this gloom from a man's embrace?
I didn't know the details, but I wasn't cold enough to refuse women begging for it.
"Hands on the wall then. I'll alternate."
"Ahk! Bigger than my boyfriend...!"
"Me too, hurry and fuck me."
I slammed my cock roughly into their firm thighs and asses.
Well-toned bodies gripped nicely, high stamina meant they endured hard pounding without tiring.
Best part? They took anything I dished out.
"Ah-hyun, anal okay?"
"Back there? Hmm, no experience. But if Oppa wants, go for it."
Literal fucktoys.
"Yu-rim, spread Ah-hyun's cheeks. Yeah."
I slathered Specter slime as lube on her virgin asshole and forced my thick rod in.
"Kkuuuk?!"
Just the tip in, and badminton champ Ah-hyun clenched like a vice, nearly snapping me.
"W-Wait, Oppa. Gentle... feels like it'll rip."
"Ah-hyun, if it's too much, switch with sis. I wanna give Min-jun my anal virginity quick."
Pain or not, they'd give me anything now. This party was basically my personal harem.
Thwack-thwack-thwack-thwack!
"Ack! Aaack! O-Oppa! My ass is ripping! Please, gentler...!"
"Kh. Cumming now."
"Aheuk. Hic. Hnng."
Splurt. Splurt. Spluuuurt.
"My turn now. Fuck me too."
Shuddering in anal orgasm beside her, Kim Yu-rim cat-like arched her back, ass up, coquettish.
I shoved into those plump cheeks and thrust, head thrown back.
Thwack-thwack-thwack-thwack!
"Ahk! Shiiit! Aaack!"
"......"
The chaebol heiress still sat legs together, watching from afar, unmoving.
But I knew. It wouldn't be long.
"See you tomorrow then."
"Yeah, Min-jun. Get some rest."
"Oppa, tomorrow!"
Fuck, hunt, eat... Day's end came for them too after routine.
"Ah-hyun, you're up today."
"Okay."
The women prepped beds outside the chapel.
Sole sanctuary—no monsters intruded. Skeletons stayed below; Specters couldn't exit.
"Hm."
Patrolling the safe zone, Ju Ah-hyun eyed clear footprints on the floor, head tilted.
"Sis, those guys haven't come back in ages. Something wrong?"
Her Footstep Tracker showed timestamps.
The five men's prints stopped abruptly seven hours ago.
'We hunt Specter packs fine following Min-jun Oppa now.'
They used to flee.
Multiple door trips daily—at least every two hours. Seven hours without traces?
"If something happened to them, good for us. No more scum. Right?"
"True, but feels like they're plotting. Sneak attack while we sleep?"
Wary, they camped far from doors by stairs.
One stood watch as usual, recovering fatigue in sleep.
"Hey, Han So-hee. Your turn."
"......"
Second shift after Ah-hyun: Han So-hee sat on stairs, gazing at faint statue glow from chapel doors afar.
Fwoosh.
Distant, serene quiet.
Stillness dark; her eyes sank cold within.
How much time passed?
Her gaze left the statues.
Snoooore.
Toward the soundly sleeping pair.
Their hands, necks, ears.
Precisely: rings, necklaces, earrings they wore.
Swish.
Dark shadow loomed over Ah-hyun's head. A hand from the silhouette crept closer.
Tremble.
She could snatch anytime. They slept; she'd grab rings, earrings, necklace before Ah-hyun stirred.
"......"
But after lingering, Han So-hee clenched her fist and withdrew.
Arrogant pride forbade petty theft.
Monster corpses fair game for survival, but stealing from inferiors? Unbearable.
Yet her desire rivaled that pride.
"I'll survive. And prove it..."
She murmured into darkness, resolute, repeatedly.
And next day.
Kang Min-jun eyed the chaebol princess striding forward, demanding boldly.
"I want those accessories too."
"......"