Excuse Me! Yoo Ara, You're the Tutor, Right?

“Haa, haa……”

Yoo Ara lay beside me, panting heavily. The bed we shared was soaked with her love juices, tidal squirt, and our sweat.

“Teacher…… you were amazing.”

Her fingers trailed over my chest. Her eyes gazing at me brimmed with a strange satisfaction.

“Is sex always this good?”

“Depends on the person.” I stroked her hair. The sweat-dampened strands felt moist. I glanced at the virgin blood she'd spilled.

This blanket's done for.

It was drenched beyond saving. And in a single woman's apartment, there was no way she'd wash it in her tiny machine. I'd have to buy her a new one, I thought, turning back to her.

“Did you like it, Teacher? Because it was…… me?”

“I did.”

“Hehe. Good thing. I loved it too. For real.”

Her voice dripped with coquettish charm as she spoke to me. What started as a massage for her lesson had escalated to this.

Ara must have planned it.

Her bag even had condoms, so she'd clearly thought this far ahead. Date, massage, and sex. I knew exactly why she'd gone to such lengths.

Possessiveness. A greedy desire to own me. She wanted me as her tutor alone. Holding her like this would make me focus more on her, or so she'd hoped.

“Teacher, are you…… taking other students?”

This question confirmed my suspicions.

“Other students?”

“Yeah. We had that bet last time. If I dropped below 5th place, you'd advertise to other students……”

“Right.”

“I was just wondering if you need more students.”

“Hm.”

“Am I not enough?”

I met Yoo Ara's gaze. She stared at me desperately, pleading eyes boring into mine.

“It's better to teach as many as possible. I've got my own goals, after all.”

“……”

Shadow fell over her face.

“But Ara, remember this one thing.”

“W-what?”

“You're my first disciple.”

“……”

“No matter how many others come, that won't change.”

“I'm Teacher's first disciple?”

“Yeah.”

“You never taught anyone before?”

“Nope. Jeong Bong-sik begged me to take you on as my first. Said it was urgent.”

“O-oh, really……”

Her voice trailed off meekly. Her cheeks seemed to flush, though it was too dark to tell for sure.

“So don't worry. Even if I take more students, I won't neglect you.”

“Got it, Teacher…… Oh, and Teacher, about that thing I said.”

Yoo Ara snuggled closer, her fingers wriggling teasingly over my body as she continued.

“I'm heading down to my hometown for about a week. I wasn't planning to, but after getting 1st in finals, they called. I'll get a scholarship too. Feels right to visit once.”

“Next week?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay. We'll skip one day next week. Make it up later.”

“Thanks, Teacher.”

“Wanna wash up again?”

The sweat was starting to dry. Better to rinse off before it got sticky.

“Shall I wash you?”

“Nah. You go first. I'll tidy up.”

“Ah……”

Only then did she notice the mess she'd made, blushing in embarrassment.

Whoosh!

Ara entered the shower, water cascading loudly. I straightened the blanket while opening my status window.

A new skill acquired. Telekinesis (B), an active B-rank skill. It was Yoo Ara's skill.

“An active skill……”

The skill I'd dreamed of. A half-baked hunter my whole life without one, now finally whole. Sure, limited uses, but it was something.

“Gotta test it.”

I steadied my breath and eyed the bed from our tryst. Not just water—love juices, sweat, urine, and her blood had stained it filthy. Even if I'd buy new, couldn't sleep here tonight.

I activated Yoo Ara's skill, Telekinesis.

Vrrr!

Mana trembled inside me. Explosive power. Unlike my specialty mana cutter, this absolute, overwhelming force surged from my hand.

Is this what active skill users always felt?

Unfamiliar sensation. Mana extended from my hand as telekinesis, drawing up the fluids from Yoo Ara's blanket. Liquids wedged between bed and fiber were forcibly yanked into the air, floating weightlessly.

Incredible.

Absurd power. Nothing like passive-only days. Extracting every drop absorbed into single threads?

I flung the telekinetic blob out the window.

“Much better.”

Now fluffy again. Body odor lingered, but it'd do for one night. New blanket tomorrow.

“Even this is possible. No wonder they rave about ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠actives.”

A test to gauge limits. Worth the use. I'd be cautious from now on.

Sitting on the now-dry bed, I stared at my hand. Memories of my past, active-less days flooded back.

“Kinda unfair, huh.”

Suffered so much for lacking one skill. While others sucked the sweet life with theirs? A mere B-rank active, at that. Not even A or S for top hunters—B for second-raters.

I knew actives weren't everything. I'd proven grades aren't all; Yoo Ara had too.

But still.

Can't shake the grudge.

If not Ara's place, I'd have shed a tear. More reason to teach more students. No settling for one skill. Limited uses meant gathering variety.

Teach many, max conquest to 100%, fuck somehow, claim their skills. Called trash? Pervert? Fine. For revenge.

For Daesung revenge.

Necessary steps. I etched the goal anew. My ultimate aim, briefly forgotten amid growing Yoo Ara.

Topple Daesung.

Korea's largest guild, owning a massive academy in Busan. Crush them somehow. Needed more students for that foundation. Yoo Ara laid it beautifully; now I hustle.

Quit the company for this.

“Teacher, all clean. Your turn.”

Steam rose gently. She stood with a towel over her chest, flushed face beaming at me.

“Thanks, Ara.”

Thanks to her. Got the skill, dreaming of comeback.

“No biggie. Obvious. Hurry and wash, Teacher.”

“Yeah. Time to.”

The shower water felt warmer than ever.

“Time to loosen up myself.”

Yoo Ara's trip didn't mean I slack. Training never ends. Slack even a bit, senses dull and fade.

Needed to keep sharp today too. Got a limited active now. From maxing Yoo Ara's conquest.

One step forward; no stopping here.

Changing to head out—

Someone's there.

Faint presence outside. A month ago, I'd miss it. Subtle.

It's her.

The presence from the window during Yoo Ara's massage. The girl spying on every lesson.

Lee Hye-ri's presence. Yoo Ara never noticed, but I'd seen her watching our sessions.

Coming here meant……

Time had come.

I pretended ignorance, dressed, and stepped out.

How far had I walked from the apartment? The pursuing gaze clung stubbornly.

Exiting the complex into an alley—

“Excuse me.”

A voice from behind. I turned. The familiar woman from afar stood there.

Long straight black hair with a blue tint, cold impression. The delinquent type?

She glared with sharp eyes.

“You're Yoo Ara's tutor, right?”

Lee Hye-ri, as expected.

“Lee Hye-ri, right? Nailed the second exam.”

“Knew it.”

“I am, but what's up?”

“Can we talk a sec?”

She stepped closer. Mint scent stung my nose.

“About what? Nothing personal with a student.”

“Tutoring. And it's fine with the tutor here.”

“Hm. Not great here. Somewhere quiet.”

“Sure. Know a spot. This way.”

“Lead on.”

I followed Lee Hye-ri to her pre-scouted cafe. Quiet, deserted.

We ordered drinks and sat facing each other. Mine: iced Americano. Hers:

“Mint choco, huh.”

“Yeah. My favorite.”

“Hm……”

Lee Hye-ri sipped her mint choco latte and cut to the chase.

“Straight to it. Teach me.”

“Teach you?”

“Yes. The teacher who turned a repeater like Yoo Ara into top 1-2 contender? Convinced you can do me too.”

“Overpraise. Didn't do much. Just good teammates.”

First deflection. Basic to raise my value. She needed me. Her repeated visits set the terms: I was A, she B.

“No. No ordinary teacher pulls those scores. Early semester, Yoo Ara bombed. Changed after you.”

“That so?” I sipped coffee.

“Yeah. You might not know, but I watched a month. Thought you were just a perv at first…… But detailed lessons, and her skills improved. So……”

“Lee Kang-san's sister, Lee Hye-ri, wants lessons too?”

“……Yes.”

Her eyes chilled at her brother's name. Admires him, aims for tank? Hates others saying it? Irrelevant. Not needed for teaching.

“I'm pricey.”

“……How much?”

“2 million per semester, plus 2 million success bonus.”

Value hike. Not for cash—for worth. 20 million total.

“And promise no rebellion during lessons. Then I'll teach.”

She glared, bit her lip, nodded.

“……Fine. That much……”

“And pass a test.”

“Test……?”

“Yes.”

“What?”

“Strip naked in front of me.”

Lee Hye-ri's glare sharpened.