Suspicious Connections and Cosplay Temptation
"So that means he's got value, right? What's the point of always banging easy bitches?"
"Heh heh heh."
Jo Dong-geun chuckled at Park Hyun-jun's words. The two had originally been close. At least, there was no reason for Jo Dong-geun to prioritize Kim Seol-bi over Park Hyun-jun. That was exactly why Park Hyun-jun felt he had every right to press the issue aggressively.
"Tell me for real, bro. Why'd you do it?"
"You know Kang A-jin?"
"Yeah, the sorceress. I hire her sometimes when I've got headaches I can't shake."
"That bitch asked me for a favor."
"What? Kang A-jin?"
Park Hyun-jun couldn't wrap his head around it. He'd met her multiple times himself and knew she was the type who never meddled in others' business. If you ranked aloofness, she outdid even Kim Seol-bi. Her icy vibe was so intense she barely registered as a woman. Plus, since so many tough jobs required her touch, everyone in the know had an unspoken rule: don't fuck with Kang A-jin.
"Why would she? What's she got against me?"
"Not you—something she owes Kim Seol-bi. That's her story, anyway. Wants to pay it back."
"Weird. Kang A-jin owing Kim Seol-bi anything?"
The two were privy to most S-rank hunter gossip. Kim Seol-bi was the cleanest of them all—no skeletons, no scandals. She didn't even hook up with men or women for sex. The idea of her being tight with Kang A-jin was a stretch. No obvious connection between them.
"I thought the same. Feels like there's more to it..."
Hearing Jo Dong-geun, Park Hyun-jun suddenly flashed on something.
"Ah!"
Jo Dong-geun eyed him slowly. "What?"
"Hold on a sec."
Park Hyun-jun recalled a report from one of his underlings. He'd brushed it off at the time, but now it nagged at him. A hunter helping that Kang Sung-gi prick—a woman who'd flung paper-like things into the air for attacks. They turned into fire, blades, whatever. Hunter skills were wild, so he hadn't dwelled. But if those were talismans?
Park Hyun-jun had seen Kang A-jin use talismans plenty. Never in combat, but it tracked. If her link to Kim Seol-bi stemmed from this Kang Sung-gi guy... and if she'd come to Jo Dong-geun for him, not Seol-bi...
"Ah..."
Park Hyun-jun felt the fog clear in his head. It all clicked perfectly if his hunch was right.
"Bro!"
"Yeah?"
"I think I figured it out."
"You? Everyone knows you're a dumbass."
"C'mon, bro! Quit joking!"
"Fine, fine."
Jo Dong-geun listened with drug-glazed eyes. "Huh."
Once he heard it all, it made sense—too much sense.
"Fucking weird."
Neither Kim Seol-bi nor Kang A-jin seemed the type to fall for a guy. They could have any man they wanted, yet never had. At least, not as far as he knew.
"Kang Sung-gi, huh? What kinda loser is he?"
"Nobody special. Regular awakener who turned hunter while working at the Dungeon Management Office."
"A normie becomes a hunter? Wild."
"Still just D-rank. Not weird. What's weird is Kim Seol-bi falling for trash like that."
And if his theory held, Kang A-jin had too.
"He got some pussy-magnet skill?"
"Maybe?"
"Hard to buy otherwise. But even with that, a D-rank bagging S-ranks?"
And if it was a skill, Kim Seol-bi and Kang A-jin would've sniffed it out and shut it down.
"I'll keep eyes on him."
"Mm. Do that."
"So, bro—"
"Got it. But watch yourself—my word's out there."
"Thanks, bro!"
A knock echoed from the hotel door. Jo Dong-geun grinned wide. "Girls are here. Wanna play?"
"Hell yeah!"
#
Texts from Jo A-young came constantly.
Everyday stuff. Nothing special on its own—newly met guy and girl texting like that was normal.
But when the girl was Jo Dong-geun's little sister? Different story.
The more time passed, the surer I got. Jo A-young was definitely hit by Unreasonable Favor. No other explanation for her aggression.
Keep it secret for now...
It hadn't been long since three women opened up via lion's den. Adding a fourth would stir shit.
Jo A-young was bold as hell.
Not a bad idea. Rushed, maybe, but hunters dungeon-diving was routine.
Still, neither she nor Kim Eun-bi needed to slum it in a C-rank for me.
Felt like an excuse to meet. Not bragging—shit like this happened daily now. Natural guess.
She was aggressive. Didn't hate solo dungeoning with her. Rookie or not, an A-rank in C-rank needed no experience.
Last raid, Kim Eun-bi carved monsters easy, even if not Seol-bi level.
Plus, my reason: if she was under Unreasonable Favor, dungeon time meant copying her skills. Kim Seol-bi's S-rank hand blade, Kang A-jin's near-S-rank sorcery—more skills never hurt.
But solo with her? Awkward to tell the other three. They'd hate me solo with another girl.
Better include Eun-bi if possible. Keep peace.
Chilling peacefully that afternoon, a text from Kang A-jin pinged.
My heart raced. Only one reason for that timing.
Sofa romp with Eun-bi yesterday had me pent up. Sorry, other girls—but right now, I'd kill for Eun-bi again.
Sitting on the sofa with the two—back to normal, TV on—I said, "A-jin says she's coming over now."
They froze. Reactions split hard.
Kim Seol-bi went quiet, hurt flickering. Kim Eun-bi beamed, thrilled. "Really? Right now?"
Duh—reasons obvious. Nothing to say.
Eun-bi caught herself, glanced at Seol-bi, then tugged my arm. "Oppa, wanna see something?"
"Uh, sure?"
Upstairs to her room—guest room turned hers since she wasn't leaving.
Door clicked shut. "Sit on the bed."
"What's up?"
"This."
Hand in inventory, out came... I gasped.
Seemed like a schoolgirl uniform at first. But no—details off. Flashy colors. Short skirt, short-sleeve tee. Then white thigh-highs.
"Whaddya think?"
"The hell is this?"
"Anime cosplay."
"Why show me...?"
Gasped again. One reason for this timing.
When'd she prep this?