Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Beware of People Who Buy You Steak for No Reason
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"They say to be careful of people who buy you steak for no reason?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Ughhh! I'm so tired I could die."
"You've been working your ass off lately, huh?"
Ji-woo flopped onto the sofa, drained of energy, even setting her gaming console aside.
To quickly clear the massive stack of ignored call-ups that had piled up to a serious level, she'd been running around nonstop for days without properly playing even a single game.
"April starts tomorrow... so I guess I won't have to do this crap anymore?"
"You still need to check in regularly. What if it piles up like this month again?"
"Fine... ughhh..."
If she'd refused even one of today's three dispatches, Ji-woo probably would've been demoted from B-Rank Hero or had her pay cut by more than half.
No matter how important rank games and character specs were to her, Ji-woo was fully aware that she was a hero protecting the city and its people.
Of course, she'd started this job thinking it'd be an easy way to make money with her supernatural ability.
But the satisfaction of doing work she could be recognized for had grown even bigger.
Ji-woo had grown up quietly tinkering with computers and game consoles since childhood.
No matter how great her gaming skills were, no one around her acknowledged them.
But as a hero, she got recognition and could game comfortably on the side—one stone, two birds.
"Si-yoon oppa said it's fine to come over tomorrow or the day after. What do you think?"
"Oh! Really?"
When Do-hwa casually mentioned that Si-yoon had invited the exhausted Ji-woo to his place, Ji-woo's eyes snapped open, and she bolted upright.
"He said Mondays and Tuesdays are slow, so he doesn't usually open. That's why he told me to come then."
Of course, the place Do-hwa planned to take Ji-woo wasn't the shop—it was Si-yoon's hideout. It was Si-yoon's order, after successfully imprinting her.
"But what's this shop oppa runs?"
"Oh! From what I know, it's a bar. Like a cocktail lounge—you know?"
Ji-woo wasn't big on alcohol.
She looked a bit disappointed.
"They've got tasty snacks too. And they do steaks?"
"Steaks? Beef?"
Noticing Ji-woo's disappointed face, Do-hwa made up that there'd be steaks to tempt her.
"Tomorrow at 7 PM in front of the main gate at Seonnam University. Got it?"
"Got it."
Ji-woo nodded and put her headphones back on, grabbing her gaming console.
"Weren't you not gaming today?"
"No way. I haven't run raids in days. I'd get kicked from the guild."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The day of the promised visit to Si-yoon's shop.
Ji-woo arrived 10 minutes early and waited for Si-yoon and Do-hwa.
"Heehee! Beef steak again today!"
Excited at the thought of beef steak, Ji-woo bobbed her head while waiting for the two to show up.
"Ji-woo!"
"You made it on time for once. Good thing no emergency dispatch."
Do-hwa arrived at the meeting spot with an excited look matching Ji-woo's.
"Unnie, though... what's with that outfit?"
"Huh? What's wrong with my clothes?"
A see-through tank top that showed her black bra clearly, and ultra-mini hot pants that barely covered her groin.
It was an outfit that screamed party girl—or exaggerating a bit, call girl.
Ji-woo recoiled in shock at Do-hwa's outrageous getup.
"You never saw me dress like this before?"
"No... we're not even going clubbing. What is this?"
By comparison, Ji-woo's plain hoodie and baggy shorts seemed normal.
In truth, if you asked which was weirder or less like usual, Ji-woo was right.
A baseball cap to hold back her long hair, free-size tees with jeans or leggings—that was Do-hwa's go-to style.
Ji-woo felt burdened by Do-hwa's provocative outfit and averted her eyes.
"Oh! Oppa!"
"Do-hwa, you look pretty today."
As the two bickered, Si-yoon appeared, complimenting Do-hwa's fashion.
"Hello... Ji-woo."
"You can drop the formal speech."
Si-yoon greeted Ji-woo awkwardly still.
She smiled, saying it was fine to speak casually.
"Haha. Alright... I'll call you Ji-woo from now on. Shall we go?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The building housing Si-yoon's hideout was a 5-minute walk from the meeting spot.
From the outside, it looked no different from the other commercial buildings.
But descending the stairs inside to the basement revealed a closed-off, quiet space with impressive interior that delighted the eyes.
"Here we are. It's not open today, so it's a bit messy."
"Ooh..."
Against pitch-black floors and walls, subtle lighting and classic decor stood out.
For Ji-woo, who always stayed in the headquarters dorms, it felt quite unique and special.
-Creak... thud-
The sound of the trap closing on prey that had walked in of its own pure accord.
The door to Utopia—the villain organization's hideout with just two members for now—locked shut.
But Ji-woo didn't even hear it, sitting at the bar table and fiddling with it curiously.
"Hehe... Our Ji-woo is so innocent. I love it."
"Huh? Why! I've been to places like this before."
Ji-woo grumbled at Do-hwa snickering at her wonder at the bar table.
But Do-hwa's words had a different meaning.
"Ji-woo. Ever heard this saying?"
Si-yoon transferred ice to a glass, poured whiskey, and placed it in front of Ji-woo as he continued.
"They say to beware of people who buy you beef. Know why?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Ji-woo picked up the glass and sipped the whiskey.
"Pork or chicken are cheap, so people buy them out of simple goodwill sometimes...
But beef costs a lot, so it's usually given expecting something in return—a favor or payment."
It was a topic that had gone viral years ago from a photo of a sign in a BBQ joint, with tons of people sharing stories online.
In short: be suspicious of people who casually buy expensive stuff.
"Th-then... do I have to pay you money or something...?"
Ji-woo set down her glass in panic, bowing her head.
She felt a sudden pang, wondering if she'd done something wrong.
"No need for that."
Si-yoon sat next to Ji-woo across the table.
"What Do-hwa and I are saying isn't that you did anything wrong to me."
"Th-then...?"
"Someone like me, buying something that pricey with no strings attached?
Truth is, I'm a super suspicious and scary person—way beyond what you could imagine."
Si-yoon lifted Ji-woo's bowed chin with his finger, locking eyes, then wiggled his index finger like tickling a puppy's chin.
"Hehe...♥ Dominator, sir... You said you'd reward me for bringing Ji-woo here...♥"
Do-hwa's attitude flipped; she clung to Si-yoon, calling him Dominator sir, coquettishly demanding her reward for delivering Ji-woo.
"Wh-what are you doing, unnie?"
"Huh? What? Master said he'd give me a reward for bringing you here...♥"
"What the hell does that mean!"
"Ahaha! What else...♥ You got tricked by me, Ji-woo."
Do-hwa smirked, excitedly stroking Ji-woo's chin.
Ji-woo jumped up from her chair in shock and backed away.
'Unnie... She's been off since a few days ago...'
Ji-woo retreated, extending both arms behind her to activate her supernatural ability, [Weapon Manifestation].
-Shoooo...-
A blue glow briefly enveloped her hands, now holding her favorite game character's weapons: a pair of sleek pistols.
"Ahhat♥ That's Ji-woo's ability... manifesting weapons from game characters♥"
"Weapon Manifestation from game characters. Pretty simple yet unique supernatural ability."
Do-hwa had shed her cardigan and knelt beside Si-yoon.
Si-yoon gently stroked Do-hwa's hair while watching Ji-woo.
'What...? Why has unnie become like that...?'
Ji-woo bit her lip at the changed Do-hwa.
"Unnie! Snap out of it! You're a hero protecting the city!"
She desperately shouted at Do-hwa.
"Hero? Right! I'm A-Rank Hero Ignition, protector of the city.
But now... I'm the great Dominator sir's subordinate... and sex slave♥"
But her cry didn't reach Do-hwa, whose perception had already been fully altered.
"Si-yoon oppa... I thought you were a good guy, but you're a villain."
"Whoa whoa! Don't point guns at people like that!"
Si-yoon raised his hands like he'd encountered a robber at Ji-woo's pistols.
But his face was full of mocking sneer, like Do-hwa's.
Go ahead, shoot.
If you can.
...His expression seemed to say.
'Unnie... How did this happen...?'
Blaming herself for not noticing sooner and innocently freeloading meals, Ji-woo vowed to save unnie from that guy and return to normal life—as she pulled the trigger.
-Shoooo...
"Wh-what? Why... why'd the guns disappear?"
Just as Ji-woo's shout hadn't reached Do-hwa,
Her [Weapon Manifestation] vanished without response.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Applying Supernatural Ability Nullification to target: 'Player' Yeon Ji-woo. Status: Imprint Stage 1 (Corruption Level 10%)