Raising Shin Yu-hee (2)
The issues with bedding and meals were somewhat resolved. What mattered now was where to spend this massive pile of exchange vouchers.
"Here to check out? You've still got time left."
I immediately took Shin Yu-hee straight to the exchange counter, where the goblin tilted its head at the sight of me.
"Refunding the remaining time wouldn't make sense anyway. Once you leave early, that's it, human."
"I'm here to trade."
"Trade?"
"Yeah."
No point in haggling with this type. I pulled every last exchange voucher from my survival journal and shoved them in front of the goblin.
"I'd like you to fit us out with gear using these."
"Hmm..."
"S-Sunbae?"
Since I hadn't explained anything, Shin Yu-hee tugged at my arm.
"You can't just hand over all the exchange vouchers like that...! We need to get a catalog or something and buy as efficiently as possible...!"
"This is maximum efficiency. They're not the enemy, Shin Yu-hee."
I pointed at the goblin at the exchange counter, already counting the vouchers.
"They're on our side—genuinely hoping at least one more of us makes it out of the arena, rooting for our comeback."
"......Even so, no discounts."
The goblin grumbled curtly, but it set three vouchers aside and neatly folded the rest.
"You know requesting custom service comes with a fee, right?"
"Doesn't matter. As long as the remaining vouchers cover the full value."
"What do you want?"
"A good slashing blade. Women's leather armor top—one for this girl here. And two robes. One for me, one for her."
"...That lines up pretty much exactly."
The goblin shoved the voucher stack under the counter and stood up.
"I'll get it ready right away. Take about 15 minutes—wait here, human."
"No need to take measurements?"
"Eyeballing's plenty, human."
A true pro. Like a tailor who could size you up at a glance, the goblin headed inside to fetch the goods.
"S-Sunbae."
"Yeah?"
"How many vouchers did you use?"
"Wrong question. Ask how many are left. One now."
"Huh?"
"You've got one too. No different."
"You mean you used... all of them...?"
"No point skimping when it's your life on the line."
"But..."
Shin Yu-hee glanced around nervously. Visibly burdened, but too hesitant to refuse outright, she hung her head in silence.
"...Why are you being so good to me?"
"Need me to spell it out?"
"It'd make it easier for me to relax around you. 'For my party member' feels too much for that..."
"You think it's overkill, or that I've got ulterior motives?"
"Honestly? Ulterior motives... some dirty intentions."
"Straight shooter. Yeah, spot on."
Shin Yu-hee nodded like she'd expected as much. But she didn't bolt or call me a pervert.
"My body's the goal, then."
"Not just your body."
"Huh?"
"If you'd played games, a metaphor might help, but anyway—it's not just your body. Your body too."
Time to lay it out. She might punch me for it—she'd learned pain the hard way—but the debt from me whoring out my dick for her gear would keep her grounded.
"Shin Yu-hee. What do you think 'tutorial' means?"
"Like boot camp for rookies."
"Right. Training camp, military-style. But after that comes hell... and unlike the army, you don't pick your unit."
"Unit assignment?"
"Think high school class assignments. Anyway, the angels say we're heroes-to-be, and heroes mostly run in parties. Figured I'd pair up with promising talent from the tutorial."
I raised my index finger and pointed squarely at Shin Yu-hee.
"Out of 19, I picked you."
"......."
"Sure, you starting by following me at dawn without sleep kicked off our party. But if you'd been with Park Chang-su's crew, I'd have come for you soon enough."
"Why?"
"Prettiest girl with the best body? Seemed tough enough too."
Shin Yu-hee scratched her cheek in silence. Hadn't expected me to be so blunt? Or was she pondering life in our ongoing party?
"Sunbae... is this because of what happened at the freshman orientation party?"
What happened? It was over 10 years ago—memory fuzzy.
"Think of pre-regression me as dead. I live in the now, and this now is a far cry from normal college life—straight-up hell."
"Huh?"
"Whatever went down at orientation—"
"You don't remember?"
"......."
What the...? I remembered the final tutorial boss clear as day, but pre-death? Blanks.
"...Vaguely recall chatting outside to sober up after drinking with someone, then spotting you."
"That's it?"
"Yeah. Was it that big a deal?"
"...No."
Shin Yu-hee shrugged. A bit miffed, maybe, but dredging up forgotten past just gave headaches. Probably some lame simp move.
"Did I screw up?"
"No."
"Good. Anyway, aren't you curious?"
"About what?"
"That I already picked your weapon and ordered it from the goblin."
"...Oh."
Hadn't crossed her mind? Shin Yu-hee blinked in surprise.
"Th-That..."
"Not gonna complain I decided for you?"
"...What kind of weapon? Heard 'blade' earlier."
"Like a Joseon straight sword or katana. Optimized for slashing."
"Slashing...?"
"Yeah. Slashing."
I mimed swinging a sharp dagger one-handed.
"Sparring made it clear. You need a weapon. Not saying you lack talent for fists or feet—they're decent—but no need to scar yourself fighting. Better to scar them."
I swung my air dagger at her body—slashing her collarbone, slicing her forearm, dragging down from her navel.
"Something like this for carving up enemies. Suits you."
"In those medieval knight movies, they stab with swords too."
"No wrist strength."
I grabbed her hand and lightly gripped her wrist.
"Think shoving a blade into someone takes normal strength? Anyway, follow my lead—you won't lose out. I'll keep an eye on you."
"You'll coach my spars too?"
"If I'm unarmed against beginner swordplay, it'd be tricky, but by then we can rent a training ground."
"What weapon do you mainly use, sunbae?"
"Me?"
"Yeah. You can't just keep punching enemies forever."
Some heroes wore gauntlets and bragged about being the ultimate brawler against monsters, but no need to argue that now.
"Got something in mind. Once we get more vouchers—or you snag a win—I'll gear up then."
"Ah."
One win. Her face darkened at the words.
"...I can win, right?"
"The moment 'Can I win?' turns to 'I will win?', you've got potential. The other 18 are stressing optimal meal trades for tomorrow. You're already realistically pondering your first arena victory."
Not great to compare, but humans boost egos by dunking on the worse-off.
"I'll pick well for you. Just recall what you learned taking my hits—you can win easy. One thing to fill in."
"What's that?"
"The will to kill to escape this place."
Murder. Her face grew heavier than at "one win."
"Won't be easy. But you've gotta."
"...What if."
Shin Yu-hee mumbled cautiously, fidgeting with her hem before looking up.
"What if I asked you to fight in my place? Would you refuse outright?"
She seemed seriously weighing the possibility I'd mentioned.
"If I offered any price to fight humans in the arena for me, would you swap me for some other woman desperate to survive by killing?"
"Hm..."
If not for the restaurant incident, I'd have bullshitted "No way." But I knew better. To get vouchers, I'd sucked off a stranger's cum-smeared dick post-creampie. Choi Yu-jin was a step below Shin Yu-hee, but no slouch—and any girl could be raised.
"Yeah, probably. We're revived only against Demon King forces anyway. Think no humans there? Otherworld or not."
"......."
"Unless you gain massive power without killing, you'll get used to it. No different from goblins. Swearing off killing for beliefs? That's saint or holy woman tier—"
.......
"...Good intentions like that won't cut it in this cutthroat world."
"Got it. Then..."
Shin Yu-hee widened her eyes and pointed at the goblin approaching with the goods.
"With that weapon and armor, can I kill my opponent and come out alive?"
"Of course."
Shin Yu-hee through and through. I'd nudged her, but she had hero potential.
"Let's go. Back to the arena for more vouchers."
"Yeah. ...Watch over me, sunbae. I'll do it right."
"Huh? I'm fighting too."
"What?"
Never even considered it, huh.
"Gotta earn vouchers. By winning in the arena."
"B-But that'd max out your five wins today... Ah."
She pointed at herself.
"Proxy fighting?"
"Quick on the uptake. Good call picking you."
Arena wins didn't require you on the stage personally.
"No worries. I'm killer at selling my body."
This time, it was victory on offer, not dick.