S-Rank Tyrant's Morning Inspection
Siu's footsteps dragged like lead weights as he returned from the alley behind the Owl Bookstore. Rain pattered down again, soaking his hoodie until it clung clammily to his skin, and his brain throbbed from the overload of 'copy-pasting' the massive data from Ether Dynamics just moments ago.
"Ugh... my head."
Siu unlocked the door to his rundown basement apartment. But what greeted him wasn't a cozy sanctuary.
Whoosh—the damp humidity assaulted his nostrils the instant he crossed the threshold, mingled with the faint remnants of rose perfume and peppermint oil from last night's scuffle with Hong Yeonhwa. The floor was still slick with moisture, and only the latex mattress he'd risked his life to protect remained pristinely dry.
"Ha... gotta run the dehumidifier first."
Siu peeled off his drenched hoodie and slumped shirtless at his desk. Exhausted to the bone, but there was work to do right now.
Bank Balance: [12,450 won]
"This is insane. Spent everything on experiment materials lately, and today's artificial tears on top of that."
Regret washed over him—maybe he should've just taken the fat stack of 50,000-won bills Shin Seoyun had shoved at him in the bookstore, pride be damned.
But no use crying over spilled milk.
Siu sighed and fired up his laptop.
He'd simplified the formula for the Heat Absorption Scroll (Ice Cup Version) he'd used to block Hong Yeonhwa's flames and posted a sales listing.
Title: C-Rank Cooling Scroll (Prototype/One-Use)
• Effect: Instantly absorbs surrounding thermal energy. Recommended for fire suppression.
• Price: 500,000 won (no negotiations)
"If this sells, at least I can afford some ramen."
Siu hit enter, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes. The quiet room filled only with the steady patter of rain against the window. Peaceful.
For at least three seconds.
BOOM!!
Peace shattered in a deafening explosion. It wasn't the front door opening—the entire rusted iron door froze solid, then burst inward in shards.
"What kind of lunatic—!"
Siu shot to his feet. Chilly fog billowed through the wreckage. And from within it emerged a woman.
Jeans, white tee, long silver hair tied back carelessly in civilian clothes. But the aura she exuded was fiercer than any dungeon boss.
Baek Seol. She'd shown up at his place as promised (or rather, as threatened).
"Hey, part-timer. What are you—"
Baek Seol's words cut off mid-sentence. Her blue eyes rapidly scanned the room.
1. Floor and bed soaked in a watery mess.
2. The room reeking with Hong Yeonhwa's overpowering rose perfume.
3. Siu, shirtless and glistening with sweat.
Crack. The door handle in her grip shattered into ice fragments.
"Ha..."
A hollow laugh escaped Baek Seol's lips. Her gaze plunged to absolute zero.
"Made a real mess, huh? Looks like you two had a fun night?"
It was a misunderstanding. A perfect, deadly one.
And Siu, brain fogged from fatigue, hadn't fully grasped the situation. Staring at his demolished door, he pulled a face.
"No way it was fun! The sprinkler went off last night and flooded the place! More importantly, who smashes someone's door? That's coming out of my deposit!"
"Shut up."
Baek Seol flicked her wrist. Crack! The pooled water on the floor morphed into ice chains, snaking around Siu's wrists and ankles.
"Gah?!"
His body floated into the air before slamming roughly onto the bed behind him.
"H-Hey! What the hell? Let me go!"
"Quiet. No excuses."
Baek Seol climbed onto the bed. She pinned his thighs with her knees, dominating him completely. Her icy body heat made his bare skin twitch.
She planted a hand beside his face and sniffed at him like a beast.
"Disgusting. Your skin, your sweat, all mixed with that fire fox's perfume—it's overwhelming."
"No, listen—that woman barged in last night and—!"
"And? What'd she do when she barged in? Roll around with you? Did you?"
Baek Seol's eyes rolled back in fury. She didn't wait for an answer. Her cold hand trailed down his bare chest.
"I'll check and find out."
"C-Check what?"
"Stay still. I'm doing a body inspection my way."
Her fingertips grazed his collarbone, tracing the lines of his firm abs down to his pelvis. Not a casual touch—precise, varying pressure. Frost bloomed in her wake, only to melt into droplets against his warmth.
A bizarre interplay of cold and heat.
"Hngh, it's cold...! I swear nothing happened!"
"Liar."
Her hand paused at the center of his chest. Her thumb pressed firmly on his nipple.
"Did her lips touch here? Did they?"
"No! I swear on my life!"
"What about here? Your waist? Your legs?"
Her hand crept lower, toward dangerous territory. Siu was losing his mind. He couldn't shove her off—the ice cuffs held firm. Struggling only intensified the pressure of her thighs on his groin.
Damn, her thighs are so soft...
His thoughts blurred. Then her hand reached his belt buckle.
Click. The sound echoed loudly.
"Let's see everything. If I find even 1% of her scent anywhere... I'll cover it with mine. Deep inside."
No joke. Her eyes burned with possessiveness and jealousy.
This was heading for disaster. He'd be ravished under the guise of an 'inspection' by an S-rank hunter.
These women are insane...
Siu's brain kicked into survival overdrive. Traces from Yeonhwa? Scent? Ah, right—one thing.
The perfect, irrefutable evidence.
"The shirt!! The shirt!"
Siu bellowed, veins bulging.
Baek Seol's hand froze at his belt.
"She stole it! She barged in, tied me to the bed, ripped off my dress shirt, and ran!"
His voice dripped desperation—like a gamer robbed of a prized item, not a man defending his virtue.
"Stole it? Hong Yeonhwa, stealing your worn-out shirt because she's short on cash?"
"Not for money—for the scent! She said she liked how it smelled like me! She's a total perv, a freak! Took it like a trophy!"
"......"
Baek Seol's eyebrow twitched. She released his pants and pointed suspiciously at the closet.
"Prove it. Lie, and we're going all the way."
She snapped her fingers. Bang! The closet door flew open.
Hoodies, tees, sweats—all there. But the white dress shirt Siu saved for interviews? Gone.
Baek Seol shoved her head in and sniffed. Sure enough... a faint, disgusting rose perfume lingered not on the clothes, but in the empty hanger space.
Ha, unbelievable.
Her strength ebbed. She flopped onto his stomach, raking a hand through her hair.
The picture formed. That fox Hong Yeonhwa had failed to devour him—or worse, deliberately tormented him and baited Baek Seol by snatching the item soaked deepest in his scent.
Not touching the body, just collecting scent-marked clothes like a pervert.
Fitting for Hong Yeonhwa's personality. She preferred making men obsess over her to outright embracing them.
"God, you're hopeless. Can't even guard your own clothes?"
"How's an F-rank supposed to stop an S-rank dead set on looting?!"
Siu protested indignantly.
Baek Seol felt secret relief. At least his body was untainted. But it was too soon to relax. A shirt today, underwear tomorrow—or the real thing. Leaving this defenseless guy in this unsecured basement? Like tossing prime meat into a hyena den.
"Get up."
She stood. The ice cuffs still gleamed around his limbs.
"Huh? Misunderstanding cleared—untie me? I've got research to do today..."
"Pack your shit."
"...Pardon?"
"Too dangerous here. Security grade F. No defenses. And Hong Yeonhwa's marked the location. Can't leave you in this dump."
"Hey, I like it here though?"
"Shut it. As of today, you're moving to Valhalla Guild dorms. Right next to my room."
Kidnapping declared.
Siu clutched the bedframe in horror.
"No way! That's an all-women guild! No men's bathroom even!"
"Use mine. No arguments—move."
Baek Seol was relentless. She grabbed his collar to drag him.
"No! All my research gear and figures here! Changing environment kills my inspiration!"
"I'll buy it all new! Better than this scrap—bring your body, that's it!"
She hauled him toward the shattered door.
Just as they stepped out—
Ding.
Siu's phone chirped merrily from his pocket. Baek Seol halted.
Now?
"W-Wait. Text..."
Ice cuffs blocked his hands, so he awkwardly thrust out his hip. Baek Seol irritably fished out the phone and checked the screen.
Sender: Convenience store manager, Choi Yujeong.
"......Huh?"
