Chapter 109
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Summit Revelry
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"Talking like some young guy with early-onset dementia."
I gently touched the lingering warmth on my cheek and gazed at Yoon Sua, who was smiling happily in the distance. If anyone could look at that smile and not feel healed, they'd have to be a demon, not a human.
"Oppa! Seriously! For real! You worked so hard. You were seriously so cool."
"Great job. Even I can't believe it, and I saw it with my own eyes."
Oh Hana rushed over, patting my butt. Han Aebom soothed me with an even more relieved expression. Their voices seeped right into my heart.
I'm gonna lose it, for real. This isn't an illusion.
At this point, it felt like an addiction—or maybe a sickness, but in the best way possible. My mood was weirdly euphoric.
"Hoo...!"
A laugh I couldn't hold back slipped through my gritted teeth.
My knees were shaking, my left palm stung, and not a single part of me was unscathed, yet dopamine flooded my system like I was in perfect shape.
Oh Hana, Han Aebom, Yoon Sua... All three were top-tier women who'd normally be out of my league just by making eye contact. Every time they expressed genuine gratitude toward me, my chest swelled like it might burst.
Did I have some buried need for validation I didn't know about? Or maybe some slave instinct wired into my DNA... I'd heard stories of ancient slaves fainting from joy at a king's praise. I got it now, a little.
[Yoon Sua's Joy 2 / Climb to the summit of Cheonyoung Mountain with her and appreciate the view quest completed.]
[Rewards granted: 200,000 won, Stamina +2, Elixir (Replica).]
[Elixir (Replica) can be claimed at any time. Effect is a degraded version of the potion containing the gods' miracle.]
On top of the mental rewards came the material ones, as if it were only natural. Who wouldn't get hooked on this?
Tangible rewards kept piling up one after another. And today, even the quest system felt like it was whispering "Good job" in my ear. Probably just my imagination, though.
"...Oppa, you sure you're okay? Why are you grinning like that all by yourself? Should we call 119? Someone finally lost it at the Cheonyoung Mountain summit."
"It's not that bad."
I cleared my throat and headed toward Yoon Sua, who was busily setting out food on the mat with the two genuinely worried women.
Could volunteering give you this feeling? I asked myself, but the clear answer was "No." It was only because of these women—and the quests—that I could savor this mind-blowing combo.
'Whew. Feels like I've got even more reasons I can't let go now.'
Even if I wanted out now, they'd probably throw a fit to stop me. Hell, I should train them thoroughly so they can't even think of leaving... make them fall for me completely.
It sounded trashy, but I couldn't stop myself anymore.
"Hyunwoo, you said you wanted kimbap, right? Eat as much as you like. And here's some cool water."
"Hey! Hold it right there!"
Oh Hana shouted urgently as Yoon Sua kindly portioned food into a disposable plate for me. She rummaged in her backpack and pulled something out. What was that?
[Non-Flame Heating Pack]
"What's that?"
"Hey! Just sit quiet and watch! Telling you ahead spoils the fun!"
She dipped back into the backpack, and with a clattering sound, pulled out a pot. No wonder her bag bulged out like military gear. She brought a pot? And now ramen too. I glanced around nervously and said,
"Hana, you can't make fire on a mountain—it's a fine... Back in the day when tigers smoked, maybe people ignored it, but not anymore."
"What are you talking about? Can't you read? Non-flame! Non... Anyway, no fire! You can boil water without fire and eat ramen. I saw it on YouTube recently."
"Whoa, really?"
It suddenly brought back memories from my military days, boiling ramen with shoe polish on missions. Crazy stuff, but ignoring the harsh smell, it tasted amazing.
"Wow, impressive. Is that even possible?"
"Ahem! Call it my secret weapon prepared just for you, sis. Kimbap at the summit needs ramen to go with it!"
"Seriously, where do you pick up this stuff?"
"Here, like this. Just like this."
For all her swagger, it was surprisingly simple. Put in the non-flame heating pack, add water, secure the pot container on top, add more water. Done.
"Hm."
She stroked her chin, seeming a bit disappointed with her own setup, but then shouted as the water started boiling fast.
"I-it's working!"
"Pfft!"
"Puhuhu...!"
Even the unflappable Han Aebom covered her mouth with one hand, shoulders shaking. We all ended up laughing uncontrollably.
A warm time at the summit on a perfect hiking day. How could I give this up?
"Ta-da, Oh Hana! While the ramen boils, I'll belt out a song to kill the boredom!"
"Wait, that might bother other people."
"Hm, true? Then I'll ask permission! All you cool and pretty folks here! Mind if Oh Hana sings a refreshing tune?"
She didn't even need a mic.
...Or so I thought, until she pulled out a Bluetooth mic from her bag. You really live life to the fullest, huh?
"Ooh, nice! Go for it, sing one."
"Wooo!"
If it were anyone else, maybe not, but Oh Hana asking made it an instant pass. Only gripe: she picked a Genesis Eleven song again, that group I couldn't stand.
Still, with her phone's crappy MR track transposed to a female key, it sounded like a whole new song. And her vocals and dance skills were top-notch.
'She's the real deal.'
No matter how many times I saw it, she screamed idol. It was natural to mistake her for some agency's trainee.
「♩♪♬!」
"...!"
Oh Hana nailed the final high note perfectly, grinning as she panted. Cheers and applause erupted from everywhere, like they'd been waiting.
"Woooow!"
Some kids were already fans, fumbling with their phones. Heh, good luck finding her online.
Me? I had her masturbation videos, pussy pics, all sorts of goodies safely tucked in my secure folder. On sexless nights, I'd lie in bed, browse them when bored, and drift off.
"22 isn't that old. Why not try debuting as an idol now?"
Han Aebom's cool observation from the sidelines made Oh Hana flinch.
"Nah, sis. I'm not that good. Idols are on another level. I'm just scratching the surface."
"Really? I think you are."
"...Ah! Ramen's done!"
Oh Hana deftly changed the subject. I'd thought the same a few times. If she loved Riki that much, why stalk when she could debut as an idol and get closer easily?
I'd brushed it off as fandom being better, but her reaction suggested otherwise.
'Considering I never guessed Han Aebom's backstory until she spilled... who knows what she's hiding.'
Just like no one knew my secure folder was packed with pics and vids of Oh Hana, Han Aebom, and Yoon Sua.
"Whoa! This ramen looks amazing!"
Whatever. Time would tell. I'd done what I could.
Right now, enjoy this hard-earned moment.
"Let's dig in."
"Let's eat."
Snap—the wooden chopsticks split cleanly. I rolled kimbap from the shared plate into the ramen and shoved it in.
"Mmmph!"
A moan escaped involuntarily. MSG-laden ramen is always good, but this was paradise. A reactive celeb would've lost it...
"Hnnng! So good...!"
Yeah, just like that. Kimbap and inari sushi vanished in seconds. Everyone was inhaling it.
"Wow, seriously delicious. Right, Aebom sis? Mountain food just tastes better. Agree?"
"It does. There's science to it—lower air pressure at altitude enhances umami while dulling other tastes."
"Huh?"
Probably not what Oh Hana wanted to hear.
"Plus, after burning energy climbing, your body craves replenishment, making it taste even better."
Me and Oh Hana froze mid-chopstick, while Yoon Sua laughed like it was the funniest show ever.
"Where'd you learn that, Aebom? Impressive."
"Internet."
That damn internet! Should I cut the house LAN? Or Wi-Fi? At least block it at bedtime? Nah, that'd bug me too.
"Sis, the internet isn't reality. Moderation's key."
Even Oh Hana saying that...
"I filter out junk and take in only useful info efficiently. No worries."
"People who say that always dig up useless crap from weird communities."
I thought Han Aebom was worry-free, but internet talk sparked concerns.
No wonder parents beat kids for too much computer time back then.
"Yoo-hoo!"
"Yah-hooo!"
Who yells "Yoo-hoo" at a summit these days? But for us, it wasn't just any peak.
We belted it out, ignoring stares.
"Yah-hooooo...!"
Yoon Sua screamed like she was on sacred ground she'd never revisit. Then Oh Hana's insane photo sesh—probably 100 shots.
Time flew. Like someone fast-forwarded just us.
"Hm hm, love makes you prettier~"
"This is too good."
After hearing Oh Hana's hum maybe 10 times and seeing Yoon Sua's bliss a million, descent time loomed.
"Whew."
I took a deep breath to steel myself. Downhills scared me more than up. Most incidents happened there.
'Leave the cart here for now. Pick it up later.'
Probably have to carry her.
Wonder if my knees and back could take it. Uphill was breathless, but downhill would wreck joints...
'Stamina +7'
Total from quests so far, including this one.
'Yeah, doable.'
With the elixir claimable post-quest, worst case, call 119. Sorry to burden them, though.
Call now...?
I wavered, then glanced at Yoon Sua's chest and shook my head. Gotta piggyback. Yeah.
"Um, Aebom. Hana."
"Yeah?"
"Sorry, but Yoon Sua and I need a quick private chat. Can you watch for us?"
What? I was stretching my back and knees before heading down when Yoon Sua dragged me to a secluded spot, asking them to keep watch.
'No way?'
I thought, keeping it internal.
Soon, in a spot out of sight, Yoon Sua shed her hiking windbreaker, baring her breasts. Holy shit.