First Member (2)
Because I'd drunkenly used the Member Registration Ticket on Yoo Seo-ah, I had no choice but to wait for her. But that didn't mean I was just twiddling my thumbs while waiting. Why? Because unlocking the First Member Registration Achievement Reward had revealed the House Owner Exclusive Abilities page!
Alright, let's open it up!
Healing Massage (EX-rank)
As the owner of the Safe House, you have a duty to treat and protect members rescued from danger.
This exclusive ability, Healing Massage, is a service to heal members.
The Safe House assists the owner in fulfilling this duty with utmost sincerity.
The power of healing infuses the owner's touch.
Massage members' injured areas to heal wounds.
The more sincere and devoted the touch, the greater the healing effect.
Healing Body (EX-rank)
The Safe House prioritizes members' peace and safety.
Among these, Healing Body is a service for members' inner tranquility.
Elements that grant peace to members are added to the owner's body.
Body temperature becomes comfortably warm.
Body scent becomes incredibly soft and fragrant.
Heartbeat becomes more soothingly perceptible.
The greater the affection toward the member, the stronger the effect.
House Owner Authority (EX-rank)
If an intruder enters the Safe House, the owner holds absolute authority over the space.
Service Evaluation Incentive (EX-rank)
Rewards are granted based on members' service satisfaction.
(Rewards unlock when satisfaction reaches maximum.)
For the past week, I'd been staring at this newly unlocked exclusive abilities page, pondering how the hell to use them. And I reached one conclusion.
Fuck, how the hell do I use this shit!
A total fucked conclusion!
The House Owner Exclusive Abilities that had teased me with "absolutely not to be revealed until the first member joins" had built up all this anticipation. Because of the "rescue, treat, and protect" line in the Safe House description, I'd imagined becoming some badass all-purpose bodyguard.
But no.
"Healing Massage, Healing Body, what the fuck. Calls itself a safe house and it's just a damn massage parlor!"
The reality was some AV-grade ability set.
No. It is Safe House (EX-rank).
"...These abilities mean I gotta satisfy member Yoo Seo-ah with Healing Massage and Healing Body, right?"
Yes, correct.
"It's a fucking massage parlor! Shit!"
Shit is incorrect. It is Safe House (EX-rank).
Damn thing answers too well! And what's with the obsession over EX-rank every time!
If it was just Healing Massage, I could've overlooked it with some blurry eyes. Massage is legit therapeutic for knotted muscles, after all. But Healing Body? That's straight-up sus. No way to play dumb on that.
Body temp gets comfortably warm, scent gets softly fragrant, for members' inner peace and shit. Super sketchy phrasing. And "heartbeat becomes more perceptible"? What the fuck do you use that for? Where?
Sure, you could argue it's a rare unique ability, gotta make use of it somehow. I didn't start out all "fucked, shit!" and despairing. I ran simulations like crazy for a week.
Ignoring Healing Body, maybe I could work with Healing Massage? But that was a hard no too.
Healing Massage grants healing power to my hands. Meaning I gotta massage directly with my hands for it to activate...
Fuck, realistically, could I do that to Yoo Seo-ah? She's insanely busy, lives in a whole different world as a hunter. Hell, even eye contact feels rude now, exaggerating a bit.
Inviting this powerhouse to my house and going, "Uh, Team Leader, mind if I squish and poke every inch of your body? Heh heh heh"? Yeah, four years of goodwill down the drain, sexual harassment charge, straight to the Awakener prison bus.
"Sure, if I spin it right, her personality might allow a hand massage..."
But I doubted a hand massage alone would hit max satisfaction for this Safe House achievement. Plus, she's an A-rank hunter in Cheongmyeong Guild, one of Korea's big three. Super busy, won't visit often.
Distance breeds distance in hearts, so when she does come, gotta max it out...
"Too intense, man..."
No answers with hand massages, no matter how I thought. The more I dwelled, the more I hated my drunk ass for this reckless shit.
But what's done is done. Better to twist my body finding a way than whine. That's how I, Kang Jinseong, roll.
So for the past week, I'd pulled all-nighters studying massage.
"Still, with my skills now... even just hands might not max satisfaction, but decent should be doable."
Result? Mastered hand massage. Other massages near pro level too. Haven't tried on anyone yet, but a week of study felt right. I've got massage talent.
Whether delusion or not, results will tell. As I thought that and prepped more hand practice—
LIFE IN DANGER DETECTED
A crimson system window I'd never seen flashed urgently.
Bang! The firmly shut front door burst open.
Crash! Thud! Something covered head to toe in blood flew in from the entryway, tumbling into the house.
What the fuck, suddenly.
Too abrupt—my brain blanked, body froze. Blood-soaked something hurled into my normal life. Even after ten years as a hunter seeing all kinds of shit, this rattled me...
"Ugh... uwa... urgh."
Eh? A groan from the bloodied thing I hadn't expected alive. A very familiar voice.
My pale brain kicked into gear. I checked the red system window I'd ignored amid the open door chaos.
VIP-rank Geom-hwa Yoo Seo-ah member in mortal peril.
Activating First Member exclusive one-time Emergency Rescue Function.
"T-Team Leader?!"
Fuck!
The moment I realized the red blood-soaked mess was Yoo Seo-ah, my body was already lunging toward her.
VIP-rank Geom-hwa Yoo Seo-ah member's HP below 1%.
Death in 1 minute without treatment.
Kneeling before the crimson Yoo Seo-ah, a chilling system window popped up. No treatment in one minute? Death?
Thoughts of calling an ambulance evaporated. Explaining to 119 would take that minute easy.
Any other way? To save Yoo Seo-ah...
Sudden desperation—heart pounding, mind chaos, panic incoming.
"...Ah."
Glancing down, my hands. The new ability infused in them.
This exclusive ability Healing Massage is a service to heal members.
The owner's touch gains the power of healing.
Massage injured areas to heal wounds.
"...How'd it come to this."
Like a surgeon, hands up, I eyed Yoo Seo-ah. Not one intact spot—utterly wrecked. Without her groan or the system alert, she'd look like a corpse.
Her limbs twisted impossibly. But compared to other wounds, limbs were minor.
Once wished to open up with her someday.
"Guess that wish came true like this."
Monkey paws, you crazy bastards. Anyway, knew a way—no hesitation.
Grievous injuries, but no doubt it'd work. Like hand massage practice, touching would save her.
"Team Leader, gonna touch you. Saving you, so no lawsuits."
Inappropriate joke tossed, hands extended to Yoo Seo-ah.
The more sincere the touch, the greater the healing.
Right before contact with her bloody, tattered body, the description flashed.
Sincerity boosts effect. No issue—I wanted to save her more than anyone.
You die, we're done! No more tickets! Can't be unlucky six-fingered loser!!!
"So don't die, Yoo Seo-ah."
With worldly reasons, history's first Healing Massage began.
※
"...Holy shit, it actually works."
Just moments ago, more "something that was Yoo Seo-ah" than Yoo Seo-ah herself—she'd regained her original beauty. Spotless everywhere. Safe House Cleaning System wiped blood and dirt; now she just looked peacefully asleep.
Tons happened till she fully recovered.
"Kang Jinseong, you killed it. If I had a weak stomach, I'd have fainted a dozen times."
Healing Massage wasn't "touch and whole body relaxes" easy mode. Had to identify injury, apply precise massage—real deal for effect.
Thank fuck for that week of study. Adults ain't wrong about skills. They come in handy.
Praised myself, eyed restored Yoo Seo-ah.
"Gotta change her clothes first."
Healed body, but not clothes. Cleaning revealed her rag state.
"Ugh, this ain't even fit for rags."
Grabbed my pajamas from closet, ripped off her shredded outfit.
Just healed her with all I had—no lewd thoughts seeing nakedness. Maybe later, not now. Exhausted. Wanna crash.
Dressed her in my pajamas. Top loose but fit; pants'd slide right off.
"Tricky... no women's clothes."
Good enough. Princess-carried her—no sleeping on living room floor post near-death.
To bedroom, bedded, blanketed.
"Haaa..."
So much happened, wiped...
Seeing her in my bed, blanketed—tension released, fatigue crashed. Saved her, good. My turn to rest. Bed taken, couch it is.
Heading out—
LIFE IN DANGER DETECTED
Red system again. Whirled to bed.
Saw her: pale, sweating buckets, groaning.
"Wh-what? Why suddenly? Bad treatment?"
External injuries treated, but internal injuries and mental shock remain unhealed.
System replied to my mutter. Hated its snark before; now grateful.
Rushed over: "More massage?"
Healing Massage (EX-rank) heals external wounds only; unsuitable for internal injuries or mental shock.
"Then what... wait. No way."
Frustration bubbling—forgotten ability surfaced.
Healing Body. For members' inner peace. Sketchy as hell, but method clicked.
The method the owner just thought of is the most suitable treatment for Yoo Seo-ah member at present.
Reading my mind now without asking. Eyed Yoo Seo-ah.
"Ugh... hng... urgh..."
Furrowed brow, sweating profusely. Lips blue, trembling, ghostly pale. Obvious even squinting—bad shape.
If Yoo Seo-ah member left like this for 10+ minutes, 99% chance of permanent disability—vegetative state.
"Argh, fuck! Fine! Got it! I'll do it!"
Yanked blanket. Pajama-clad body exposed. Loose fit showed skin spots—no lewd vibe. Save-her thoughts dominated. Good.
"Yeah, she'd rather awkward hugs than veggie state."
Rationalized, climbed bed, lay beside, wrapped arms around her back, pulled face to my chest—tight embrace. Yoo Seo-ah as my personal hug pillow, squeezed.
Cheongmyeong folks see this? Dead. Irreversible shit feeling.
But had to. Save lives.
"Hoo... haa..."
Stabilizing breaths from embraced Yoo Seo-ah. Tremors stopped, color returned. Healing Body nuts. Instant fix?
Tension melted. Massive fatigue wave.
"Ugh, what is this."
Why so sudden. Even relaxed, weird...
House Owner exclusive abilities Healing Massage (EX-rank) and Healing Body (EX-rank) consume owner's stamina.
Healing Body (EX-rank) activates continuously during sleep; rest easy.
Oh, that. Relieved by explanation, succumbed to sleep.
Squeeeezed tight—smaller than looks, perfectly nestling Yoo Seo-ah.