At Least the Minimal Line Protects Me

A minimal line blesses me.

Laughter—what is it?

Happiness.

Anger.

Sadness.

Joy.

Joy (喜), anger (怒), sorrow (哀), pleasure (樂).

It's a magical emotion that can hold all of those.

That's why people should be wary of laughter. You never know what it signifies.

So, I don't believe smiles are signs of goodwill.

How could you know when they'll stab you in the back?

You have to assume the worst.

The best approach is to discern the emotion hidden behind the smile and deal with it accordingly.

So.

"What the hell was that smile...?"

What did the broker's smile mean?

That smile he flashed while calling my name before vanishing—what was it?

Chills.

Even now, it gives me goosebumps.

A faint, yet somehow satisfied smile. Why look at me like that?

Was it satisfaction from having me under his control?

Like the smug grin of a victor who's fully tamed his prey.

Ugh.

"What the fuck is it...?"

It's been three hours since the broker came to my place and left.

I've been racking my brain the whole time, but I can't figure out his intentions at all.

Let me sort through the situation step by step.

1. The broker knows where I live.

2. The broker calls himself Olgami.

3. The broker could kill me whenever he wants.

I'm in the perfect loser's position.

Resisting would be the same as death.

The only gain is his codename.

But digging into it without the skills would backfire, so it's not much of a win.

More importantly.

4. He didn't harm me.

5. He just asked for my name, took his money back, and left.

No sign of doing anything to me right away.

That's why I can't read his intentions.

What does he want from me? Is he planning to break me down bit by bit?

But isn't that inefficient?

Something's off.

Haa—that weird smile at the end has me completely lost.

High-level psychological warfare?

Two moves ahead that I don't see.

What is it?

I need a slightly different perspective.

Haa.

Is this the right move?

I posted my dilemma in another gallery.

I couldn't make sense of it myself, so I wanted other people's opinions.

It might not help, but a casual comment could be the key.

Luckily, someone replied soon after.

Eh?

Hold on.

Something flashed in my mind.

I hadn't considered this angle.

Well, a broker of his caliber wouldn't go easy on kids, women, or the elderly just because.

That's the baseline.

A very obvious premise.

No way that's the answer.

But... isn't it worth thinking about?

Because.

"Uh...?"

This is weird?

The broker's actions make sense now?

The situation suddenly clicks?

This impossible puzzle solves too easily?

No, no way.

A guy like that feeling pity?

With that scary face?

Ridiculous.

But... nothing else explains it?

Was I really the one lacking?

I shot up!!

I jumped to my feet and moved.

Straight to the full-length mirror.

I'd bought a new one, so I could check my appearance right away.

"Hmm."

The reflection was clearly a woman.

Not an office uncle, but a slender girl.

A young woman just hitting adulthood, maybe in college, with that fresh vibe.

Right, this is what I look like.

Not a man—a clear woman.

"I really look weak."

Look at that.

The girl in the mirror looks tense as hell.

Maybe from exhaustion, but those dark circles are deep.

An uncle with dark circles feels different from a girl with them. It stirs protective instincts, maybe.

A look that screams "protect me."

Even I see it as fragile and delicate.

Unless you're inhuman scum, it's hard to torment a vulnerable girl like this as a fellow human.

I couldn't do it either.

Unless it's a special case.

Ah...

I get it now.

The broker wasn't that much of a scumbag.

Saving his comrade in the landslide—that was straight-up human decency.

Meaning ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he values bonds quite a bit.

So maybe.

"He's actually a decent guy?"

Of course not entirely.

He reeked of blood, someone who's dipped deep in a world ordinary folks can't imagine.

But probably not scum enough to torment a captured woman.

"No way... for real?"

It started making sense.

Everyone was young once.

If he remembers those days.

If he knows what it's like to be a normal person.

That becomes his minimal line, letting him show some goodness. And it worked in my favor as a woman.

In other words, I'm a line that must be protected.

Unlike the old days, modern women get decent laws and moral standards.

Proof?

'There are lines you have to protect.'

The broker's angry mutter from that day echoed in my head. It seemed random then, but now it's obvious.

This is the natural premise.

Surprising maybe, but the broker had that level of morality.

He wasn't two moves ahead.

I was four moves behind.

My smarts became poison, huh.

Nod, nod.

Now it clicks.

It's not that I was lacking.

Why'd it take me this long to realize?

That this cursed body isn't just a tool for humiliation—it can be a weapon too.

No, in this case, a shield maybe.

If seeing this form erased his hostility, it explains why the Rape Curse didn't trigger. And if it worked...

The broker really treated me with goodwill...

"........."

Hmm.

Why's that?

My mood's weird.

Not certain yet, but it feels like it'll be okay.

Like I won't crash and burn.

The girl in the mirror.

Her expression's softening a bit.

The unease and tension are fading.

Losing that money stings huge, but the "it'll be fine" feeling overshadows it.

If the girl in the mirror isn't lying.

Pfft.

Giving him my name.

Might not have been so bad.

"Urghhh!!..."

Relief was short-lived.

As tension eased and I tried to nap, a crucial fact hit me.

"My mooooney!......"

If the broker pitied me, he didn't need to take the money back. A little sweet-talking and I could've kept it.

Over 1 billion won!

You idiot.

Why realize this nooow!!...

"Grrgh!..."

A groan bubbled from my dantian.

As usual, realization comes too late.

We're already tangled deep. Too many lines crossed for countermeasures. No getting the money back—I'll be stuck with him ongoing.

I don't wanna rely on pity money anyway...

Still pisses me off a bit.

Could've spared mana stone cash at least.

If it's my ransom for a safe return, I'd have to grovel, but the regret won't fade easy.

I overhyped him too much.

I was the superior one after all.

...Kuh.

Humans are so sly.

Just now I was plotting escape from his grasp, but deeming it safe, now I'm scheming to get something from him.

Is this my flaw?

Need to refine more.

I pave my own path.

"Hup!!"

I tensed my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠body and stood.

Such entangled thoughts aren't like me.

Think efficiently.

Not certain yet, so verify if the broker's sincere first.

But no need for active tests.

Watch a bit, and answers will come.

Just wait.

No overinvesting energy here—focus on my tasks now.

My tasks are simple.

1. Raise the lost funds.

2. Monitor the gallery real-time.

3. Train new skills.

Roughly that.

Most urgent: 3.

Powerless words lack authority.

Tower climbs.

Broker showdowns.

This unfair reality.

All because I'm ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠weak.

So I must grow stronger.

Decision made, training lust surged. Wanna hit the back mountain now.

Alright, what new skill to develop?

Scribble scribble.

I jotted a checklist of tests and budding skill ideas into my Inventory.

Ideally, craft one new technique tomorrow.

I still have too few skills.

[Heading to climb floor 7 now.]

"Huh?"

How much time passed?

Phone buzzed—message from 2EE.

We switched to open chat from constant DMs for convenience...

Suddenly climbing 7?

Didn't she already?

[You haven't climbed it yet?]

[Just analyzed strategies and vids nonstop. Floor 5 failure hurt bad.]

Oh ho. That's why she's gallery-stalking.

Real passion.

Perfectionist type, unlike me. Not bad.

No plans to get close though.

Probe her first.

Key player.

[How'd you clear 5?]

[Nothing special. As a frontrunner, no strats known. Sliced goblins quick—thought they were cute, tried petting one.]

[They bolted lol.]

[Yeah. Kinda pissed me off. Saved 'em and they act that guarded.]

[What do you think of the dark elf? Saved but runs—annoyed?]

[A bit cheeky. Least say thanks. Still, pity her—gonna give some etiquette lessons.]

Nod nod.

As expected.

My wariness was a tad much.

Too evasive looks bad.

Need some friendliness?

Public opinion's mostly favorable anyway.

Nightmare setup naturally rides the goodwill route.

Might've overdone it.

Ah~ whatever.

Not climbing anymore anyway.

7's their last probably.

Wanna peek.

[How you tackling 7?]

[Secret. Succeed gifting item to dark elf, tell you special.]

[Ok...]

[Hey, free tomorrow? Dinner together? Wanna chat details pre-dungeon. I'll buy fancy.]

[Nah, busy tomorrow.]

[Oh well. Catch ya later.]

[lol ok]

Next time my ass.

No way I'm meeting you, punk.

I know your ideology's dangerous, you perfectionist bastard.

Problem is, my NPC doesn't know.

She won't just take 2EE's item, right?

But...

What happens if NPC takes the item?

Vanishes?

Reappears?

Usually, NPCs taking items show up with them next time—game rule.

Then what about me?

Does my NPC's item persist?

Maybe... I get the item too?

Hmm.

Probably too much.

Whatever, don't get hopes up.