Can I Touch Your Body?
"Can I... touch your body a bit?"
"No way. For real."
Of course, hearing that didn't change Yoo Seung-ah's expression—her face flushed slightly, with a hint of disdain. Even I could see why; if a friend who came to hang out at the training room was shoving his nose into gym equipment and sniffing it, anyone would react like that.
But... is it really just disdain?
Her expression didn't seem to hold only contempt. Just as I was thinking about analyzing it seriously, Seung-ah spoke up.
"What's the misunderstanding?"
It was the classic question girls like her friends would throw out. Of course, Seung-ah and I weren't dating, but the situation had some similarities to a lovers' spat.
"The part about me being a pervert who likes sniffing smells...?"
I had indeed sniffed the gym equipment, so I had no real defense. But I absolutely wasn't some pervert who liked that kind of thing.
"Hmm... Yu-won."
"Yeah."
"You were shoving your nose into the equipment I use and sniffing it, right?"
Seung-ah, playing dirty with straight facts. Her question was pure truth, leaving me no choice but to nod.
"Yeah..."
My voice trailed off weakly. Taken alone, that statement left zero room for argument.
"So, why?"
The reason I'd sniffed the equipment.
"I heard this was a private training room you use, so I wondered if your scent might linger on the gear you touch...?"
Uh... yeah, that sounds totally...
Even to me, it came off as pervy. Putting it into words like that, I suddenly wondered why the hell I'd buried my nose in there in the first place.
"To sum it up... you remember my usual body scent so well that you were checking if it was on the equipment?"
This is straight-up pervert territory.
Her logic was airtight, no room for rebuttal. Every word she said nailed the truth of the moment, reducing me to nothing more than a pervert who'd memorized his classmate's scent and sniffed gym gear for it.
I nodded again and squeezed out a response.
"That's all true. But isn't it normal to remember your childhood friend's scent to some degree?"
Right? Come on, that's totally something worth remembering, isn't it?
I put on my most serious face, and she fired back.
"Then do you remember Shin-woo's scent too?"
"No?"
Why would I remember some guy's scent?
"That's different!"
Telling her I only had one female childhood friend specimen—her—and no others for comparison wouldn't fly.
"Hmm... well..."
"Pervert."
Guh...
I hadn't even figured out a defense, but she shut it down cold. With evidence this damning, no words could free me from the pervert label. No. At this point, I decided to own it.
"Yeah, I'm a pervert who likes that stuff."
Life's full of twists—like the old saying about the lost horse turning into a blessing. Bad things can lead to good if you shift your mindset. I wasn't a pervert, but by admitting it boldly, I opened a new chapter in this conversation.
"How are you so shameless about it?!"
See? My confidence threw her off balance. This was the flash of genius no ordinary person could muster.
"I have zero shame about my tastes, so no words can faze me now."
Not really true—I didn't have those tastes—but repeating it made me almost believe I did. Could she really stop an 8-ton truck with broken brakes like me?
"Then... can I tell your ex-wives? That you're a pervert who gets excited sniffing my scent?"
"Sorry, my bad."
The truck slammed to a halt.
No fair.
I immediately bowed to Seung-ah. A full prostration—the ultimate gesture of utmost respect. I recreated the legendary deepest bow right there.
"Hmm... a childhood friend who knows his manners."
Was she enjoying this or just playing along?
"You aren't mad, right?"
I kept the bow, neck stiff, and asked. With my Strength and Stamina at 59, I could hold this for hours.
"Nah. I was just shocked you were doing something so weird. Hmm... learned a new kink about you, though."
Smell fetish: added to the list. Protesting more would backfire. Was this another flow from my World Savior trait? Silly thought aside, I straightened up.
Finally facing her properly, I swallowed hard.
Gulp.
Too distracted earlier to notice, but her outfit was way different from usual. Tight leggings clung to her legs, and a cropped tank top hugged her chest for support during workouts.
Has Seung-ah always had such a killer figure?
I'd never paid attention to my childhood friend's development, and this was the first time seeing her in something so revealing. I remembered her sparring with me or Shin-woo in loose gym clothes. If she'd worn skin-tight leggings showing underwear lines before, I'd have remembered.
Did she notice my gaze on her body? She flinched slightly, looked at me, and spoke.
"This is what I wear for home training. What do you think...? Does it look okay?"
Yeah, home training gear. I'd seen women at the local gym in similar stuff, so she wasn't that bold.
"It suits you perfectly. Seeing you like this feels fresh."
Over ten years as childhood friends, yet today revealed another side. People never stop surprising you.
"Good... I was worried since it's the first time showing it to anyone outside family. Glad you like it."
She beamed.
"Shall we start working out?"
I stripped off my jacket. My heat resistance let me wear a short-sleeve tee, but I'd layered a windbreaker for outside eyes. Underneath, tight workout clothes emerged—reserved for those hitting 500+ on the big three lifts. Among peers, my top-tier physical stats crushed 1000 easily, so I qualified.
"But I have no idea how to use this hunter-specific gear. Can you show me?"
First time with pro equipment—kinda exciting.
"Uh... y-yeah! I'll show you!"
Seung-ah, who'd been glancing my way, snapped to and approached.
"You do it like this..."
She pressed against me to demonstrate, her thin clothes transmitting the wild thump of her heart from her chest against my arm. Embarrassing heat rose.
"Hey..."
"Yeah?"
"Can I... touch your body a bit?"
If genders were reversed, this could've been disastrous, but she said it casually.
"Sure, but why?"
"I've never seen such a balanced, solid physique. It could be a goalpost for my next breakthrough."
I got it. She wanted to study my body to advance her own physical growth path. My elastic, tough frame—forged from Brain Spirit Body and Mukroe Byeokryeok Singong—was unmatched in balance among hunters.
"It won't wear out from touching, so go ahead."
Thinking my body might spark her growth tensed my muscles instinctively. Her hands roamed: wrists, biceps, triceps, shoulders, delts, collarbone, pecs, abs—exploring every inch.
Four years of training left scars on her hands. As I glanced, she tried hiding them.
"Kinda ugly, right? Four years of brutal training scarred them up, and calluses everywhere. Embarrassing for a girl's hands..."
No. I didn't see it that way. Those hands measured her effort—more beautiful than flawless ones. I pulled them close and gripped tight.
"Nah? They're gorgeous. They show how hard you worked—way prettier than your hands four years ago. I prefer them now."
Feeling my sincerity, her face reddened as she looked down.
"Really...?"
"Have I ever lied to you?"
I always gave my people truth and heart. Fake bonds crumble, so I hated lies.
"No... that's one reason I really like you."
The air heated up. Hearts pounded harder, and she resumed groping my muscles. Upper body done—next, thighs. She squatted before me, hands on my quads.
Then the training room door opened.
"Kids! Have some drinks while..."
Seung-ah's mom entered with beverages. The scene she saw: me on the bench, Seung-ah squatting in front, her head blocking my crotch, hands on my thighs. From afar? Disaster.
"Oh... um... I interrupted!"
Yep, she went there. She set the drinks down quick and bolted.
Seung-ah's face burned crimson. Silence filled the room.
Sudden awkward explosion. Insane.
It felt suffocating.