Chapter 48
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: For Real?!
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Really?!
Suddenly getting booted from the trial with my lower half fully exposed caused a bit of a commotion.
But setting that aside, the gains from this dungeon expedition were pretty substantial.
"We've assessed the dungeon's difficulty, investigated the trial, and proven we can handle it safely. No choice but to give official approval. Congratulations, Kim Geon-ho. And put your pants on already."
"Thank you."
With three chances available, the club got officially recognized after just this one activity—no need for more.
"Geon-ho, I feel... kinda light on my feet somehow."
Marren could now wield even greater power than before, thanks to suffering less from the curse's effects.
"...How do you always end up showing up half-naked like that?"
Not only that, but Heila kept staring at my crotch—had my dick burned itself into her retinas?—while talking to me.
I had no idea how to handle Heila yet, but just from seeing this reaction to looking alone, I could already guess what lay ahead.
Achieving these three things at once from a single dungeon run? That was an enormous accomplishment.
'And then there's my personal reward.'
The clear reward from the lowest-grade dungeon was so minor it barely qualified as one.
But the result from passing the trial was far from insignificant.
You will no longer succumb to charm when facing sins related to Lust from now on.
'This is seriously broken.'
Honestly, this Lust trial was easy because it was the lowest dungeon difficulty.
But what if the difficulty ramped up? Mid-grade, high-grade, or even top-grade dungeon Lust trials?
Then I might really lose the line between fantasy and reality, dying a brutal death.
Yet one reward from this lowest trial plugged all those variables.
It seemed like because I didn't take the reward right away and got kicked out after enduring the Lust curse longer, this happened.
'Plus, it's basically new intel.'
Staying in the trial longer after clearing it, leaving more than necessary results behind, strengthens the reward.
And not just by grade—it's a massively powerful boost.
First-years at the Academy might max out at mid-grade dungeons anyway.
But depending on how you use these trials, you can snag mid-grade or higher rewards.
Not right now, but signs pointed to sin-related dungeons coming soon.
From now on, sin dungeons weren't headaches to deal with—they were loot farms.
"As expected of Kim Geon-ho, hero among heroes. No one in the Tatara Tribe had a dick as big as yours."
"Tatakum, shut up! Do you have to say that?!"
"Don't the Tatara Tribe know shame? No way—how could such a wise tribe produce an idiot like that..."
"I've only seen Geon-ho's, but I still think Geon-ho's is the world's best."
'Looks like they're all getting along.'
Anyway, my noisy first club dungeon expedition came to a lively end.
"It's about time I taught you the real deal on Ferocious Tiger."
"Pardon?"
What the hell was this out-of-nowhere nonsense?
'So everything so far was just a teaser?'
Maybe my dumbfounded face tipped him off after hearing the master's words.
To fix my expression, the master continued right away.
"You didn't seriously think flipping the heavens and ripping guts was Ferocious Tiger's true power, did you?"
That's exactly what I thought.
Because those two handled most situations.
"Looks like you did... That's just basic basics."
Of course, you need techniques to stun prey and shred bodies.
The master kept talking as he walked to the straw dummy in the center of the training hall.
"Extending and retracting blades, wrapping knuckles around arms—that's not all there is to Ferocious Tiger. That's proof you're still green."
I wanted to retort, You never taught me, but I clamped my mouth shut at what came next.
'Gone.'
He was right there a second ago, but in a blink, the master vanished from my sight.
And at the same time—
Slash.
The dummy split clean in half.
A perfect vertical slice from top to bottom.
I didn't see the blade swing, or even guess where he was.
'What the hell.'
Was there a Ferocious Tiger power like that?
That was beyond martial arts—pure magic territory.
"Ferocious Tiger basics of basics: footwork. Instills fear, forces blind spots, makes you invisible."
While I stood awestruck, the master appeared behind me, casually continuing.
"You're just a strong kid who doesn't know how to use it. You swing wildly with full power. Hilariously, the low-level foes around you make it work by luck."
Blunt criticism, but spot on.
'Luck's the biggest factor.'
Honestly, the kids were weak—that's why it worked. Face a truly overwhelming foe who doesn't flinch at killing intent?
Then pure technique and strategy for the hunt.
But my arsenal was way too limited for that.
'What I have shines early-game.'
Without uncovering true names to awaken real power, even treasures lose value later.
The master knew my issues, dissecting them point by point.
"And your growth rate? A limit's coming soon."
Now, to fix it, he'd teach all nine Ferocious Tiger Forms.
That's where my memory cut off.
Because...
"I'll show you with my body—master it thoroughly."
It was insanely grueling.
Monday after a weekend of torment from the master.
'Am I gonna die like this?'
For some reason, the muscle pain from the Mental Realm stuck to my real body after it ended.
Mental training affecting the flesh—felt the brutality all over again.
'Urp...'
Legs numb just from walking, nausea bubbling up—I stifled it and kept moving.
Weekend loop: Mental Realm training, personal room technique practice.
48 hours straight—not human, just a training machine.
"Geon-ho, you look awful. You okay?"
Comforting me was Marren, wrapping my arm in her soft, warm breasts.
"Not okay, but you could make it better..."
Whoosh!
No matter how beat, I saved energy for my girl's embrace.
I scooped Marren in instantly, groping her chest openly.
"G-Geon-ho, people are watching..."
"So what? They know we're together. This is normal."
Truth was, part of it was wanting her body's comfort.
But also...
"Again! Touching Marren like that?!"
These assholes.
'MaSaMo or whatever.'
Marren Love Club, right?
Dunno how they got my number, but weekend text terrorism.
Blocked 'em all, planning legal action—but not enough.
"We don't like how you treat Marren! And class rep acting like this? Unforgivable!"
Some first-year reps even challenged me outright.
'Warned 'em, but they don't get it.'
Need to taste shit to know it's not bean paste?
Didn't feel it watching me paste Rastel and Karan live?
Pure intelligence issue.
"No matter how strong, you can't take all of Class 11!"
"Tuck tail now, take it back!"
"Hand over Marren nicely, and we'll make sure this doesn't happen again... Urk!!!"
Crack!
A light kick sent the front guy flying into the wall.
'Can't hold back anymore.'
Barely had time to grope Marren on the way to school, and they interrupt?
Couldn't ignore the gathering crowds screeching anymore.
'Marren's grinning like an idiot... what's so great?'
Normally she'd be pissed, right? But Marren beamed at me happily.
Couldn't read her crazy mind, so one thing left.
"Hey, Marren and I are dating, so what the fuck are you interlopers doing? Wanna get wrecked?"
Stressed to death already—why meddle in romance?
Thought romcom side characters like these were fun comic relief.
But experiencing it? Pure annoyances.
If anything, like yuri girls clinging to the heroine despite her boyfriend.
Could've said it from the start to avoid hassle, but delayed for one reason.
"F-For real?! W-We're dating, Geon-ho?!"
This crazy bitch Marren.
"Should I announce it worldwide right now?"
No clue what she'd do next.