The Woman from the Dimensional Gap
“Huh?”
I'd let my guard down. To think Kang A-jin was really in this room.
When she suddenly appeared in the dungeon, I'd considered the possibility, but seeing her materialize out of thin air right here left me utterly stunned.
She asked if I wanted to use sorcery.
That meant she'd been watching everything I'd done in this room.
I'd copied her skill in the dungeon to acquire it, but there was no way she could have seen that. I had no idea how to use sorcery, so I hadn't tried it even once there. And during meals with Kim Seol-bi and Kim Eun-bi, I never brought up sorcery, so there was zero chance she'd overheard.
She must have watched me searching for info on sorcery on my phone right here in this room.
A chill ran down my spine.
She'd saved my life in the dungeon, sure—but that was that, and this was this.
“How long have you been here?”
Kang A-jin's face flushed red at my question.
“To be precise, I'm not here at all. Simply put, I'm in a rift in the dimensions.”
She tossed out that bizarre term like it was no big deal, calling it a simple explanation.
Her sense of normal was clearly different from mine—or anyone else's.
“Isn't that the same thing?”
“No, it's not. My real body isn't present here right now.”
“Then where?”
“At my house. More precisely, sitting in a recliner.”
“Like astral projection?”
“No. My body is in the chair, and through a rift in the dimensions, I'm conversing with you, Mr. Sung-gi, unbound by time or space.”
“Hmm...”
Truth be told, I'd wanted to call her out for spying on me without permission, but her barrage of incomprehensible jargon deflated my steam.
“I asked if you wanted to learn sorcery, right?”
“Yes. If it's within your power, I'd appreciate your help.”
“I do.”
I answered without hesitation. I'd just been researching sorcery and learned how incredible it was. Sure, it had heavy restrictions. But overcome those, and I'd become something beyond a normal hunter entirely.
Kang A-jin continued, still floating in midair.
“I'm curious how you acquired sorcery abilities, Mr. Sung-gi.”
It felt less like genuine ignorance and more like she was confirming her suspicions.
Since she already seemed to know everything, I decided on honesty.
“I got it from you, Kang A-jin.”
“Just as I thought...”
She nodded with a bright smile, clearly pleased her hunch was right.
“So you can use Kim Seol-bi's and Kim Eun-bi's abilities the same way?”
“Yes, exactly.”
She'd clearly analyzed my power to some extent. Maybe her curiosity had driven her to tail me, but that didn't fully explain it. The bigger reason was probably that she'd been exposed to my Unreasonable Favor skill too.
Kim Seol-bi, with no prior experience with men, had come on strong. Kim Eun-bi's borderline reckless behavior—it was all my ability at work. The same effect must have hit Kang A-jin.
“One more thing I'm wondering about...”
She hesitated, her words trailing off. Despite her cute looks, her speech was usually a bit firm, but right then, she sounded adorably hesitant, matching her image perfectly.
“What is it?”
“What does physical intimacy with women mean to you, Mr. Sung-gi? Ah! I mean not with other women, but with Kim Seol-bi, Kim Eun-bi, and...”
Her face turned beet red, like it might burst, as she pressed on.
“...with me.”
I was shocked. She was thinking that far ahead?
It seemed she'd figured out the secret I'd pieced together myself. Not with full certainty—more like fifty-fifty suspicion.
After a moment's thought, I went with the truth. She didn't seem the type to blab to others, anyway. Besides, she'd caught me in something embarrassing. If anything, I held the bigger secret over her.
“I think it's the catalyst.”
“Catalyst for what?”
“My experience points go up... and probably theirs too, from intimacy with me.”
“Ah!”
Kang A-jin's eyes widened like she'd had an epiphany.
“Of course! My mana hadn't increased at all in the last year or two—just minor fluctuations based on condition. But after meeting you...”
She trailed off, clearly recalling yesterday's shameful encounter.
I knew what she meant. Kim Seol-bi had said something similar. Even Kang A-jin, with near-S-rank power, had hit a growth plateau. Intimacy with me had cracked it open.
She must have puzzled it out alone and reached her own conclusion—which my answer just confirmed.
“So that's it.”
“Pardon?”
“Why women can't resist you... Just being near you makes my heart race, and that... surging lust...”
She was the type to say it all despite the embarrassment.
Her words let me glimpse how Kim Seol-bi, Kim Eun-bi, and she felt around me. I felt the same. If I could, I'd tumble into bed with any of them. Too bad circumstances made it impossible right now.
“Come to my house, Mr. Sung-gi.”
“Pardon? Suddenly?”
“Explaining sorcery verbally in this state is difficult. To discuss it properly, we need basic tools.”
“Hmm...”
Truth be told, I was feeling a bit stifled myself. Sharing space with Kim Seol-bi and Kim Eun-bi was nice, but they were burning with rivalry, sandwiching me. With no way out in sight, I craved fresh air and a change of pace.
Plus, meeting Kang A-jin to learn sorcery was a perfect excuse. She had worldwide renown in the field—no way she'd teach just anyone.
Researching sorcery solo was like banging my head against a wall. Utterly hopeless. Unlike other hunter skills, it wouldn't come with just time and practice.
“I'll drive nearby. Let's meet there.”
She spoke quickly, as if fearing I'd say no. Her excitement was plain on her face—even if this wasn't her “real body,” per her explanation.
“Got it.”
I agreed. Lounging in this room got me nowhere. What good was all that money if I wasn't free?
Learning sorcery from her might clear my head, maybe even spark a solution to this mess between Kim Seol-bi and Kim Eun-bi.
She lit up at my response.
“I'll get ready right away.”
She gave me a midpoint to meet—not far, just outside the house on the main road. It showed she wanted to avoid drawing Kim Seol-bi's or Kim Eun-bi's eyes. Smart, and exactly what I wanted too. No need to complicate things further.
I left the room and found Kim Seol-bi. She was watching TV in the living room, with Kim Eun-bi there too. They sat at a careful distance, watching the same program—were they on good terms or bad? Hard to tell.
“I'm heading out for a bit.”
“Pardon?”
“Why?”
Their eyes snapped from the screen to me in unison.
“Where are you going?”
Kim Seol-bi's voice carried unease. Just yesterday morning, she hadn't been like this—her obsession seemed to be ramping up. It had been novel and welcome before, but now? Not so much.
“Meeting a friend.”
“Oh? Mind if I tag along?”
“If sis goes, I'm going too.”
Maybe their heightened obsession stemmed from rivalry. Had to be.
“No, I'll go alone. I won't be late—don't worry.”
I turned and headed for the door before they could press.
“Need the car? I can grab the keys.”
“Nah, taxi's fine.”
“Come back soon, oppa~”
I hoped they'd talk it out seriously while I was gone and find a solution. If such a thing even existed.
I left Kim Seol-bi's house and strolled down the hill. Nearing the main road, a rough male voice called out.
“Hey~”
It was nothing like Kang A-jin's soft tone. Three burly guys who screamed “hunter” turned toward me.