Sniff Sniff, I Want to Smell More. I'm Losing My Mind.
“Kim Siu is totally screwed.”
I'm suffocating. The iron stamina that let me swing my sword endlessly without tiring—that Kim Siu is dead. Damn it.
“This isn't even A-rank level. More like B-rank or lower.”
Sweat pours down in sheets. These past few days, I've been hitting the training center every single day. Two hours? No way. On days without tutoring sessions, I'd rent a private room from opening time and use it all day long. Realizing that wouldn't cut it, I shelled out for an all-day pass. A cool 250,000 won per day—not cheap—but it didn't matter. Getting my body back to normal as fast as possible was the priority.
“Huff... huff...”
Blisters have formed on my palms. You think I'll give up just because of this? With sheer grit alone, I graduated top of my class at the academy and even earned the nickname “Next-Gen Supernova.” This hurdle? It's nothing to me.
“Hoo...”
I glanced down at my palms, blood oozing from them. Sweat kept blurring my vision, so I wiped my face with a towel. Forcing my trembling hands into fists, I gripped the sword again. The feel of it in my hand was starting to feel familiar. But that was enough for today.
“I've got tutoring later.”
I couldn't show up exhausted. That would be disrespectful to the student paying for lessons.
“Hoo...”
I caught my breath. Time to shift gears to her prep for the second exam. The second exam—finals for first-year cadets. Just a month after the first, but the difficulty jumped sharply. Simple reason: the simulation opponents weren't monsters, but villains.
Monster patterns are straightforward. In real combat, most lack intelligence and follow basic routines. Exceptions are irregulars, but those are rare. That's why first-year sim monsters are beginner-level.
Villains are different. Even in first-year sims, their patterns are astonishingly sophisticated and varied. To drill a wake-up call into cocky students who underestimate the hunter world, they input real captured villains' behaviors.
So the second exam task: evade villains until reinforcements arrive. Rescue scattered survivors in the sim city and escape to the goal point. Students have two approaches: prioritize personal survival over civilians, or throw yourself in to fight and hold off villains while saving them. The latter scores higher, usually.
Self-sacrifice—that's the core virtue of a hunter. But charge in recklessly and get eliminated early? You're out. Strategy is key.
And this first-year second exam...
This was the test where I first claimed top rank in my year.
My strongest subject.
“Gotta shower first. I reek.”
I headed to the showers. Couldn't show up stinking of sweat.
Training done, I arrived at Yoo Ara's place. Walking the now-familiar street into the familiar complex, a sudden question hit me.
“Other students should've started inquiring by now. Why no word?”
Unusually quiet. I turned a repeat-year student into second in her class. Sure, while A-class kids scrapped among themselves, D-class reaped the benefits—but second is second. Word should've spread; other students should've approached via Yoo Ara long ago.
“Nothing at all.”
Even Yoo Ara never mentioned anyone else wanting lessons. For me, needing to recruit fast, this was a problem.
“No way...”
After mulling it over, I reached a simple conclusion. The reason Yoo Ara hadn't recommended anyone.
“Doesn't she have any friends?”
Never heard her mention friends during tutoring. She'd talk classes, but never who she went with.
“Her classmate talk was just that one time—getting outranked by Lee Hye-ri, first and last.”
In a merit-obsessed academy, repeaters get brutal treatment. No friends? Not surprising.
“Hm. Can't exactly go to the academy myself.”
Tricky. Time might fix it, but...
“Still, gotta tell her.”
To bring other cadets. Time to hustle. Can't tutor just her forever. Quit my job; gotta cover basics. Money's draining—hundreds of thousands just at the training center.
“Of course, they'll need testing.”
Not just about cash. I'd have partnered with Bong-sik hyung if so.
Lost in thought, I reached her door.
Knock knock.
Immediately—thud thud thud.
Footsteps rushing from inside. Soundproofing's crap. Everything echoes. Hm.
“You're here!”
Yoo Ara greeted me beaming.
“Yeah. Time to prep for the second exam.”
“R-right. Haha.”
She seemed oddly giddy, eyes on me. What's up?
Conquest progress up again. Probably since crossing 60%. The way she's wagging her tail like a puppy...
I stepped inside.
“Huh?”
As I brushed past her opening the door, she gasped, nose twitching. Nostrils wiggling like a rabbit's. Eyes closed, she sniffed deeply, then looked at me.
“Teacher, did you work out?”
“How'd you know?”
“Smells like sweat.”
“Oh? Really?”
Scrubbed everywhere in the shower—even the nethers—and it still lingers?
“It's fine, though. Not bad. Smells manly. Nice.”
She leaned in, sniffing again.
Up again, even now. What? Does she have a smell fetish?
“Teacher, sometime let's hit Orange Young together. I'll pick a cologne that suits you.”
Why's she so clingy today? Voice soft, room faintly perfumed.
Hold up.
“You sprayed perfume?”
“Oh? You noticed? Tried it for school today—didn't wanna go plain. How is it?”
Perfume for commuting? The thick scent screamed fresh spray. Think I'm clueless?
“Try smelling.”
She thrust her wrist to my face. Higher conquest, changed demeanor—definitely the progress's effect. This drastic? Probably past 50%; positive feelings outweigh negatives now. She's trying to build favor her way.
Hm. But not the time.
“Focus on class. Second exam's soon.”
“But teacher, class hasn't started yet.”
“Wanna get expelled?”
One slip and she's out. Fail to finish the year properly? Gone. Expelled after passing the first? Too unfair.
Her liking me? Not priority. Her passing is.
She clamped her mouth shut at my firm tone. Progress didn't drop.
Ding!
Yoo Ara: Conquest Progress – 73%
Up another point. What's with her? Why's it rising so fast? Not just accumulation...
Lately, just thinking of Kim Siu made Yoo Ara's heart pound. Blame the constant masturbation fantasizing about him. Head knew exam prep came first, but body craved release.
Recalling their “lessons,” the lewd scenarios hammered at her 21-year-old heart. Crotch twitching, lower belly aching. Couldn't hold back—after masturbating to those memories, his phantom image lingered. More time obsessing over him.
They say familiarity breeds fondness. Spot on for her.
So on tutoring day, extra excited: makeup on, even perfume she rarely used.
Maybe things'll progress more.
Not class progress—other progress. Heart racing at the thought.
But then.
“Ah.”
The moment he brushed past into the room, she caught his manly sweat. Scent only an awakener could detect—body wash, shampoo, sweat blending into potent male pheromones.
Her Kim Siu-obsessed heart throbbed. First time smelling this. He always reeked of clean office-worker cologne mixed with after-work vibes.
But this primal scent? Unprepared, she fell hard. Wanted to close eyes, savor more.
“Sniff sniff.”
Craved more.
“Teacher, let's go to Orange Young together.”
Recommend a cologne to match. Not his mild old-man scent—something beastly.
But response?
“Focus on class.”
A sharp rebuke.
“But teacher, class hasn't—”
“Wanna get expelled?”
She stared at Kim Siu glaring, words spot-on. Priority: graduate academy.
But this...
Teacher...
His firm focus on her studies made him shine. Scarcity breeds value. His distant aura captivated her completely.
Firmness twisted into charisma, melting her heart.
Why does he look so cool?
That's why her conquest rose. Unbeknownst to him, her feelings ignited further.
But she'd hold back. Second exam loomed, as he said.
Beat Lee Hye-ri for first? He'd praise her. Post-exam break—suggest hanging out.
She steeled herself.
“Second exam's mostly sim villain takedowns.”
And dove into tutoring. Of course, scooting as close as possible without forgetting.
This much closeness should be fine, right?