Falling (3)
Falling (3)
As we sat at the table to eat, Deokgu plopped down in front of me.
"So, shall we get chummy with our Adventurer leader?"
Deokgu said that as he ordered a simple meal and drinks from the server. I asked back in slight surprise.
"Can we drink?"
"What's the big deal? We're already adults."
"True."
It wasn't long before the server brought the food and beer in wooden mugs. The fizzy bubbles popping away were mesmerizing.
I lightly raised my glass. Deokgu did the same.
"Cheers!"
"Cheers."
We clinked our glasses lightly. The wooden mugs collided with a dull thud rather than a crisp ring, but since I'd never heard a glass toast before, I couldn't tell the difference.
Deokgu downed his beer in big gulps right after the toast. I followed suit.
"Kuh—! That's the stuff."
"Have you even drunk before?"
"I had some wine when I was a kid?"
"At best, you mooched a couple glasses and now you're acting like a pro."
"Hey, I'm still a post-drinking expert compared to you, the total newbie?"
He'd only had one drink, but Deokgu was already talking wild like he was wasted.
I smiled lightly at him. No need to take a drunk guy seriously.
"Yeah, sure."
"Haha! Don't worry! Drinking with me means your first session'll go smooth!"
"Looking forward to it."
"You bet!"
With that, he chugged the rest in one go. The half-full mug emptied in seconds.
After the one-shot, he flipped the mug over his head, shook out the last drops, and yelled at the server.
"One more draft here!"
"Yes, sir~."
Watching the server quickly bring another, I tossed out some advice.
"You got money for the drinks?"
"No worries. Thanks to you guys raking it in, I can afford a little... Ah, keep this secret from the others?"
"Yeah, yeah."
Even if it was a secret, he'd get busted by the hangover tomorrow, but telling a guy already sloshed was pointless, so I quietly sipped my glass.
'Tastes good.'
I'd never drunk in reality, so no comparison, but Otherworld beer wasn't half bad.
For the palate of a modern guy addicted to fizzy sodas and sugary drinks, that was high praise.
"Not calling the others?"
"Huh? Who?"
"Like, the guys."
"Nah. Why look after those hiding their Abilities to leech off us?"
"You noticed too?"
"I'm not an idiot. How could I not?"
Every time he tilted his glass, words he'd never say sober came spilling out easy.
As the drinks dwindled, one thought pierced my mind.
'If this guy had been like this in school, he wouldn't have been such an outcast.'
I knew why he was being so buddy-buddy now—we'd been in the same boat back then.
Both friendless, lost in our own worlds.
But while I hadn't changed much after falling into the Otherworld, Deokgu had flipped completely.
The whole person had changed, you could say.
"Hey, can I ask one thing?"
"Hm? What?"
"Why'd you change so much?"
"Change? Me?"
Deokgu paused mid-sip, tilting his head. He didn't seem aware.
"Yeah, you changed. Compared to back in Korea, you're a whole different person."
"Eh, probably 'cause I got an Ability."
"Even so, it's too much..."
His change wasn't some minor thing. The guy was reborn. Like he'd tossed his old Trauma aside, personality and all...
"Psh, forget that small stuff. Cheers!"
"...Sure."
Drunk as I was, I brushed it off and sipped. First booze ever was way too sweet.
And morning.
"...Ah, my head."
I woke instinctively as dawn broke, clutching my pounding skull and looking around.
"Where... Oh, right."
I fell into the Otherworld yesterday. With the class.
Just a day in, but now it was sinking in.
That I was really in the Otherworld.
'Guess I can sleep more then.'
With that, I dove back into bed.
A week had passed since falling into the Otherworld.
"Yawwwn..."
Han-young yawned hugely while swinging his massive hammer lightly. That "light" swing from the 0.1-ton weapon blew a Goblin's upper body to bits.
"Kieeeek!"
"Ah, missed the shot."
Han-young griped at the blood on his hammer. He'd learned from experience: instant-kill Monsters turned to dust, but anything less left messy remains.
"Tch. Cleaning's a pain."
Kwachik-!
No death cry even. The natural follow-up crushed the Goblin flat.
'He's mastered it now. Wonder if I could even win in a fight.'
I licked my lips watching Han-young. In days, he'd gotten so comfy with his Super Strength he wasn't getting tossed around by it anymore.
If I dueled him sword-to-hammer, that 100kg mass would smash my blade aside and pulverize me in a flash.
Skill beats strength, sure, but there are limits. Not beating someone a hundred times stronger.
'And even Han-young with that overwhelming power... still pales next to Seoyun.'
But Han-young's brute force was nothing against Seoyun's Ice Manipulation Ability.
Jeojjeok—
"Kik, kieke..."
"Kuluk, kugh. Kuuh..."
The Goblins froze in place.
She used to fire 1-meter Ice Pillars, but lately she blocked their blood vessels instead—less waste.
A mm-thick ice plug in a Goblin's veins burst its brain vessels, knocking it out cold forever.
"You guys. Clean up."
"Yessir."
"Good work."
"...Yeah."
Seoyun barked orders high-handedly, but no one rebelled.
Rebel and she'd crush you physically.
"Ah, annoying."
Han-young just tapped his hammer on a downed Goblin's head to finish it. Over 100kg was plenty destructive.
I was teaching Eunha, still clumsy at killing, the vitals.
"See, this is the carotid in humans... It's down anyway, so grip the dagger two-handed, put your weight in."
"Like this?"
Puk—
"Yeah. Just like that."
Eunha learned fast. She'd cut her finger once mishandling the dagger, but thanks to her Skill, it didn't faze her—she'd felt it firsthand.
After, her fear of pain vanished, hesitation gone, so she picked up the rest quick.
"Hey, did I do good?"
"Huh? Yeah. Good job. Keep it up."
I brushed off her words, gathering the Magic Stones from the Goblins.
Nailed quota today. Time left for twenty more easy.
Bag full of stones, I hoisted it and approached Seoyun.
"Good wor—..."
"Water."
"...Yeah, here."
"Faster."
At her word, I handed over the canteen. Fresh well water from dawn.
But Seoyun scowled at it.
"Lid's on."
"Huh?"
"Aren't you supposed to open it? You're not doing jack anyway."
"Haha, right. Sorry."
She was extra prickly, like on her period, so I twisted off the cap and passed it.
Finally taking it, she drank, then grimaced.
"It's lukewarm."
'Cool it with your Ability.'
"Tch, useless."
Muttering, she chucked the half-full canteen.
I snatched it mid-air, plugging it before more spilled. Couldn't save my clothes from the splash though.
Seoyun stood silent, no apology, then glared and snapped.
"What? Lead. Gotta find next Goblins."
"...Right."
I pulled the map from my bag, checked the path, and took point.
Spotted Goblins soon after. Seoyun bolted ahead alone.
"Hey, you okay?"
Han-young sidled up, arm around my shoulder, after watching her shake me down.
"That bitch crazy? Why's she such a nasty temper."
"...She'll hear."
"So what? Being strong means everything? People need manners."
'You say that to her face?'
I sighed inwardly at Han-young trash-talking her so bluntly.
Yeah, I get it—got strong powers but can't use 'em, feel useless, self-esteem tanking.
But build your pride solo, please. Don't drag others in...
"What? Coming or not."
"Going now, hold on."
Seoyun was already done, walking back. I hurried ahead.
Back from Dungeon hunting, Seoyun skipped dinner and headed straight to her room.
"Gimme money. I'll eat if I'm hungry."
"Yeah, got it."
Deokgu handed cash without fuss at her demand. She earned most of it anyway—even if she asked for all, he'd have to.
Pocketing it, she locked her door and Ability-sealed it extra.
Straight to the bath, rinsed sweat and grime quick, then froze the water off her body and shook it away.
Ice-cold shower, yet her body steamed up instantly.
No—Ability backlash.
"Huu..."
Long exhale. Felt like it vented some inner heat.
Not enough. All-day Dungeon use left side effects burning.
"Hup."
Seoyun carefully flopped face-down on the bed. Pillow under her belly, she cuffed her outstretched hands and feet with Ability-made Handcuffs.
Now, even if someone walked in, she couldn't resist.
That thought fired up her already hot body more.
"Haaang—."
Bound hand slowly stroked her Clitoris. First Masturbation since the Otherworld hooked her instant.
"Uhk, there... Hah! Hk, huaa—!"
Face buried in bed to muffle, but secretly hoping someone heard, she moaned out.
'Why... why isn't he coming...'
Seoyun recalled today's chat with Dojin. He clearly resented her enough.
Yeah, enough to come pin her down if pushed...
"Haaaang!"
She fantasized being raped by a teammate. Multiple guys wasn't her thing—always just one in the dream.
Dojin appeared in her room. Normally she'd squash him easy, but now reversed.
Hands and feet bound by her own Ability, mind frayed from heat, Dojin toyed with her.
But her virgin subconscious made him too gentle. Not enough to quench the fire.
She wanted him ignoring her, crushing her in a hug that'd break her.
Creampie her, pregnant or not, slam her ass hard, then ditch irresponsibly.
'Rough is fine... just...'
"Huuuuk!"
Today too, she fantasized being raped by her teammate.
Hoping for it deep down, nudging it that way.