Chapter 5

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 5

Chapter Title: Petty Tricks

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"Hey, check the amount. Did it come through?"

"Yeah. It just arrived."

Just in case, I'd raised my transfer limit and gone through the hassle of a phone verification for such a large sum, but the 350 million won transfer had gone through successfully.

And that was why...?

Gulp.

"What's up?"

"No, I just... I didn't think you'd really send that much money."

For Shin Seo-yeon, a first-year college student from a poor family with big ambitions, 350 million won must have felt like a massive fortune.

More than joy, surprise hung on her face.

Shin Seo-yeon stared blankly at her smartphone screen before ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠suddenly snapping her head up to look at me.

"You're not gonna take it back later, right?"

"Why would I? It's just pocket change anyway."

Shin Seo-yeon's eyes widened round.

"Pocket change?"

Whether it was ten won or ten trillion, money on Earth would be nothing more than scraps of paper by tomorrow.

"If you get any more ideas like that, just let me know. If you plop your ass down, slip between my legs, and suck me off nice and hard like today, I'll take good care of you then too."

At that, the look Shin Seo-yeon gave me turned strange. Something flickered in her eyes.

"Min-jun, listen. I'm sorry for everything up until now."

"Huh?"

"The way I treated you like crap and cursed you out... and squeezing money out of you..."

What was her angle, suddenly apologizing like this?

"Anyway, I'm sorry. Let's get along from now on."

"Uh, sure."

Getting chummy with an S-Rank mage, the Crimson Flame Witch? That suited me just fine.

"And it might be a little early, but..."

"What is it? You're dragging it out."

"Wanna date?"

"What? Talk about a curveball with no signal."

I couldn't help but laugh in disbelief.

"Plus, don't you have a senior you're already dating?"

"Dude, after everything we did on video call today, you think I can keep dating him?"

Well, fair point.

"I've already sold my face, so I can't marry anyone but you now. You gotta take responsibility."

She flashed a coy smile, and I got the picture.

Spending money like it was nothing must've made her think my family was loaded.

"Eh, we'll see."

As I trailed off ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ambiguously, Shin Seo-yeon clung to me, rubbing her tits against my arm.

"Aww, Min-jun."

Her voice dripped with saccharine sweetness, and suddenly I understood why China's King Zhou got played by that vixen Daji.

I wiggled my toes, and she crawled down to my feet, sucking each one with wet pops while beaming up at me.

'Shin Seo-yeon at this stage is peak gold-digger mode.'

Hell, she was worse than most pros.

The idea that this girl would one day become humanity's hope, tugging at men's heartstrings and stealing their loads in their dreams every night—it was hilarious.

Smack. Smooch. "How's that? Feel good? Want me to lick between your toes too?"

She shoved her tongue between them, rolling it around eagerly, so I grinned and said,

"Yeah, that's enough. Time to go."

"What?"

"I'll call you if I want more, so keep your phone on. I'll pay you handsomely then too."

"W-Wait, huh?"

"Alright, off you go."

Shin Seo-yeon floundered in confusion, then hugged my leg, looking like a drenched kitten.

"Min-jun. It's late. Can't I crash here tonight?"

"Nah."

"C'mon... We're that kind of friends now, right? You're the first guy in my life."

Just hours ago, this delinquent chick had been spewing curses and kicking my shins. Now she was pouting and begging to spend the night.

But I'd had my fun, so now it was time to pack up and rest for tomorrow.

"Aww, Min-jun."

She wouldn't let go, sticking to me like glue, so I smiled faintly.

"Sorry. I'm picky about who I share a bed with. Don't wanna sleep in the same room as a whore."

"You...!"

"What? Pissed off? Offended by 'whore'? Then get good enough not to get treated like one. Then I'll treat you like a person."

"......"

Finally, Shin Seo-yeon clenched her fists and shot up from her seat.

Semen dripped from between her legs as she yanked on her panties, threw on her clothes, and stormed out, slamming the door.

"See you next time, Shin Seo-yeon."

'Damn it.'

Leaving Kang Min-jun's place, Shin Seo-yeon gnawed her nails in the taxi heading home, lost in thought.

'Things were going so well... He must've caught on.'

Of course, she had no intention of actually marrying Kang Min-jun and living with gray hair until death just because of a few video calls.

Her plan was to date him, bleed him dry for cash,

and if the money kept flowing, maybe marry him and take half in a divorce,

all while satisfying her urges on the side.

But that was falling apart.

'If I'd known, I'd have been nicer to him. Who could've guessed he had that much money? Ugh, such a waste! What a waste, what a waste!'

Was there a way to squeeze out more? If she played it right, she could score big.

Her eyes lit up as she stomped her feet in frustration.

'Oh ho.'

A creepy little chuckle escaped her lips.

I quietly opened my eyes.

It was still early morning.

I finished my shower, stepped out, and changed into the clothes I'd prepared in advance.

『9:14 AM』

I grabbed my wind-up pocket watch that didn't need batteries.

Checked my compass and other tools, bundled up in cold-weather gear,

and packed my sleeping bag securely. By the time I finished checking my backpack, it was [9:51 AM].

'Nine minutes left.'

In nine minutes, everything would start over.

A grueling ten-year journey.

The thought of returning there to face the Trials sent a shiver through me.

Worried?

As if. It was a path I'd walked before—how could I be worried?

This shiver was excitement, if anything.

Joy at welcoming the rosy future ahead.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

As I savored that anticipation, someone pounded on the door.

Bzzz.

My phone vibrated too. Checking it, there was a text from the police station—essentially, someone had filed a report and they wanted me to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠come in.

That was when the notification chime rang out.

-Shin Seo-yeon: Saw the text? Come see me if you want a settlement.

'...Brings back memories. Shin Seo-yeon was always vicious but clever with her petty schemes back in high school.'

Even her delinquent crew was impressed. Sure enough, her handiwork came swarming from all sides.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Kang Min-jun, you fucking bastard! Get out here!"

It was the boyfriend's roar, the guy whose girl I'd fucked last night.

"Come out, you prick! I said come out! If you don't, I'll break this door down!"

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

He must've brought a baseball bat; it was loud and obnoxious. Instead of going after Shin Seo-yeon, he'd come for me first thing in the morning—probably fed some lip service by her.

'What a mess.'

Furious boyfriend breaking in.

Police demanding I show up.

And Shin Seo-yeon angling for a settlement.

The motive was crystal clear.

'She wants to milk me for more cash.'

But with no money left, my reply was already set.

I eyed the dented door and texted her back.

-Me: Yeah, fuck off

-Shin Seo-yeon: You'll regret that

-Me: Me? No regrets here

I'd taken Rank 19 Crimson Flame Witch's virginity.

She'd waited on me hand and foot all night. Service even pros couldn't match.

'Regrets? As if.'

So I sent an honest reply.

-Me: Thanks for the virgin hole, tasted great

-Me: Oh yeah, that footjob you gave was fucking amazing, I'll remember it forever

-Me: Mind if I brag to my friends?

-Shin Seo-yeon: You fucking asshole

"Get out here, you punk! You messed with my Seo-yeon! My Seo-yeon!"

Ah, I almost wanted to tell him. You're just another sucker she used.

I let Sucker No. 51 scream it out until time was up, then stood, slinging my backpack over my shoulder.

'Gear's all packed.'

Now, just wait.

Deep breath. Eyes closed. Recalling the past ten years of Trials, awaiting the harbinger.

The tragic overture I'd dreamed a thousand times.

3, 2, 1.

Instantly, the pounding on the door stopped. The furious phone vibrations after my last text to Shin Seo-yeon cut off abruptly.

"W-What's this?"

Those two out there were probably seeing the message floating before their eyes too.

Light flashed, the ground rumbled.

An asteroid had hit.

'It's starting.'

A notification blinked before me.

More than anyone, I'd been waiting for this moment. Without hesitation, I answered.

"Yes."

Light enveloped me.

And in the space where Kang Min-jun had stood, only flecks ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of light and a lone smartphone remained.