Staging the Perfect Culprit

No, now's not the time to be thinking about that.

I shook my head, pushing away the thoughts about the connection between levels and physical changes that I'd been mulling over. And for good reason—while I was distracted, her hand was inching lower, aiming straight for my pants pocket.

...Well, more precisely, aiming for my smartphone...

Yu Seoyeon seemed convinced I hadn't noticed her touch at all, but with my shirt off, my bare skin was hyper-sensitive, reacting to even the slightest brush of her fingers.

Tsking under my breath, I opened my mouth in a casual tone. "Mind keeping your hands still? If it's hard to hold onto my back, grab my shoulders or wrap them around my neck."

Truth be told, it wasn't just her hands. Her massive breasts were pressing firmly against my back, delivering an indescribable softness. It felt like I was carrying two huge marshmallows strapped to my back.

"Ah...!"

Only then did Seoyeon seem to realize I was shirtless. With a short gasp, she yanked her hands away in a hurry. She cleared her throat awkwardly a few times, then obediently placed her hands on my shoulders.

Hmm, what to do? If this keeps up, she'll keep suspecting me... Since things have come to this, maybe I should pretend to be pissed and confront her?

Of course, that might backfire and make her even more suspicious. There's that saying about the thief's feet itching, right?

But... on the flip side, acting bold and confronting her head-on might dispel her doubts. Only someone innocent could be that upfront.

...If that doesn't work, I'll have to switch tactics completely.

Drag her into the Training Room and train her over and over.

Whatever.

Honestly, my patience was wearing thin. I'd been holding back for Eunha's sake up until now, but her constant suspicion despite everything I'd done made me think she'd doubt me no matter what.

No—Yu Seoyeon had been suspicious of me from the very start. Her doubts wouldn't fade unless...

...the culprit?

The sudden realization made me chuckle softly.

"Let's take a short break before we go."

Saying that, I sat her down on a rock. Then, kneeling, I carefully lifted her foot with both hands and inspected it closely.

"...How's your foot?"

"It feels a lot better."

She said that, but her pale foot was swollen red from cuts and scrapes everywhere.

"...And you?"

Seoyeon suddenly turned the question on me. I shrugged.

"Socks protected me."

"You sleep in socks too?"

"I changed clothes and crashed right after getting home."

She narrowed her eyes at my excuse, staring at me. But after a moment, she dropped it and spoke up. Arguing here wouldn't do her any favors. If I got mad and ditched her, she'd be totally alone—and if goblins showed up like before, she'd be defenseless...

She was smart enough to realize that.

Well, her suspicions will end soon enough.

Chuckling to myself where she couldn't see, I hunched over her foot as if examining it, then subtly flicked my hand toward the forest. That let me signal the goblins without her noticing.

"Kerruk."

That's when it came—a phlegmy rattle from deep in the woods. Seoyeon and I both froze, whipping our heads toward the sound.

"Did you hear that?"

"Yeah, I did."

Her body trembled as her lips quivered. She couldn't decide whether to run—her mind had gone completely blank with fear.

Women are women, after all.

No matter how smart or tough she was, facing those monsters that tried to rape her again was enough to terrify her.

"Kerruk."

"Kekket."

As we stared toward the noise, three goblins burst through the underbrush.

"Run!"

The second I spotted them, I jumped up and grabbed Seoyeon's hand.

"Ugh... ughk..."

But she was too overwhelmed to even stand, sobbing pitifully. Her face was ashen—she was genuinely terrified of those goblins.

Gritting my teeth, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stepped in front of her.

"I'll buy time. You run first."

"B-but..."

"But what? What are you gonna do?!"

I bellowed over ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her protest, making her shoulders jolt again.

"...Run!"

As my shout echoed, one goblin charged me.

"Kekket!"

It swung its wooden club at me, and I had no choice but to raise my arm to block—dodging would leave Seoyeon right in the line of fire.

Thwack!

"Argh!"

A searing pain shot through my arm, like flesh ripping off the bone. My scream tore from my lips, ragged and raw. For a second, I wondered if I was dying.

That fucking hurts!

Part of me wanted to drop the act, suspicions be damned. But I endured, yelling again.

"I said run!!"

Finally, Seoyeon bolted, sobbing as she fled. Meanwhile, the goblins ganged up, pounding me relentlessly. They came so fast I couldn't block much, taking hits to my back and shoulders.

At least they held back this time—it didn't hurt as bad as the first blow.

"Kekket. Master, that woman ran away."

"Kerrur. Shall we chase?"

After several minutes of the beating, the goblins lowered their clubs and spoke.

"Ha... "

I collapsed onto the ground, body and mind in tatters.

Everything aches.

Not a single spot wasn't throbbing. My face was probably the only part that got off easy.

Lying there for a while, I finally looked at the first goblin—the one who'd swung at me—and spoke.

"What's your grudge against me? Why'd you hit so hard?"

It looked a bit sorry, scratching the back of its head.

"Kerruk. Didn't you throw a rock at me first, Master? Kerruk-kerruk."

"..."

I had nothing to say to that.

Karma, huh.

Groaning inwardly, I pushed myself up.

"Sorry about that. I didn't think it'd fly that hard."

I bowed my head in apology. The goblin frantically shook its head.

"Kerruk-kerruk! No, no! Kerruk! Looking back, it's an honor! Kerruk!"

I chuckled softly and patted its head. Then I pulled out my smartphone.

Lucky it didn't break.

I'd worried about it shattering amid the chaos, but it was fine—pristine, like brand new. This phone must be protected by the Manager App.

"Anyway... shall we get started?"

Switching to the home screen, I tapped into the Training menu.

"As expected."

Just as I'd thought, I could still access Training during an Otherworld Quest. Chuckling, I hit Yes to pull up the list.

And this time, I selected Elena as my training target.

Obviously Yes.

"No restrictions notice this time? Hmm... Guess slaves have no limits."

The app didn't treat listed women and slaves the same. Makes sense—why else call them slaves?

Heh, chuckling, I hit Yes and warped to the Training Room.