Seoyun unnie, are you in heat?
"Seoyun unnie, are you in heat?"
The number one ranked hunter in my mind had this rude vibe, but Yuna was so sociable that she dropped the formalities and got close in no time.
...She's so nice.
Even though she was barely a year younger, she spoke so kindly and chatted a lot. Maybe it was because she'd been a hunter since she was young, but she had this slightly mature air about her.
"Yesl unnie, are you close with Seoyun unnie?"
"...A little?"
"Then does Seoyun unnie like pranks?"
"She probably does... But don't do anything too weird."
"Got it~ Seoyun unnie, shall we head out now?"
After chatting back and forth with Yesl unnie like that, Yuna came back to me and held out her hand.
There was no point asking how or where we were going.
...Teleport, maybe?
She was one of the top mages in the world, after all. She'd probably whisk us away with magic, just like how she'd suddenly appeared here.
"Yeah. Let's go."
I nodded and took Yuna's hand.
Snap.
She flicked her fingers once, and in an instant, my vision shifted.
"...A mountain?"
"It's right in front of the C-grade gate we were planning to hit today."
In the quiet mountainside, where only birdsong echoed, a gate shimmered before my eyes. A single teleport had bridged the distance in one go.
...No matter how you slice it, that's impressive.
Even for one of the world's elite mages, this felt on another level. A single finger snap, and the space around us changed.
"Is teleportation always this easy...?"
The teleports I knew required long chants and pouring in mana to activate. But with just a snap? Yuna looked even more amazing now.
"...You're incredible."
"Hehe. It's nothing."
Yuna smiled modestly at my genuine praise and led me forward.
"You said you were planning to clear this solo, right? What kind of gate is it?"
"Werewolves. I cleared a few before coming, so maybe two or three left?"
"...Okay."
Werewolves? I could handle that.
...She won't get hurt, at least.
With Korea's top hunter right beside me, there was no need to worry.
"Yeah. Actually, I picked this gate for an experiment."
An S-rank hunter doing experiments in a C-grade gate? Now I was curious.
"What kind of experiment?"
"Hmm... It's a secret? Heehee."
"..."
She put her index finger to her lips and grinned innocently—a picture of purity untouched by the world's filth. It was stunning.
...She's cute.
No matter how mature she seemed, she still felt like a little sister, and watching her gave me a strange burst of energy.
"...Shall we head in?"
"Sounds good."
No point standing around dumbly, so we stepped into the rippling gate.
The interior was a tunnel-like cave. Smoky haze filled the air, but torches flickered at intervals, making navigation easy enough.
Once fully inside, Yuna slipped back to my side and naturally hooked her arm through mine.
"You wanted to do this, unnie, so I'll just hang back?"
"Yeah... Got it."
And so, chatting with Yuna, we ventured deeper.
"Unnie, what's your type?"
"Uh... Pretty people...?"
It was the kind of conversation you wouldn't expect in a gate. Who chats like this inside one? Only Yuna could make it happen.
"Am I pretty, then?"
"Pre...tty...?"
"Heehee. Thanks~"
"..."
We bantered casually at first, but as we walked, the sensation on my arm started feeling a bit much.
Isn't this... too close?
Yuna's soft breasts pressed against my arm. She was taller than me, so the arm-hook should have felt awkward, but it was so natural it didn't bother me.
"Yuna...?"
"Yeah?"
"Aren't we a little too close...?"
"Nah, it's dark~ We have to stick together or we'll get lost!"
"..."
What a ridiculous excuse. But her expression was half-serious, half-playful. From experience, that look made me uneasy.
It's just the darkness... right?
Yeah, no way Yuna would stick to me for something weird. That was just my imagination. Why would the world's number one hunter bother with someone like me, barely scraping D-grade?
Especially when...
I blinked as I thought about the people around me.
Blink, blink.
...They're all amazing?
Shockingly, everyone close to me was top-tier. Suyeon as a near-S-rank healer, Yesl unnie as an S-rank Hunter Association president, Jiwon probably at least A-rank promising hunter. All extraordinary people had approached me.
But that didn't mean I wanted to push Yuna away.
"Hehe. Why?"
"...Nothing."
Seeing her grin like she was thrilled made her feel like a kid sister—hard to refuse.
But something's...
As we walked, my body started feeling off. Was it because Yuna was pressed against me? Or the smoke filling the cave?
"Haa... haa..."
Every breath made my body heat up strangely.
What's going on...? Why does my body...
It was hard to describe, but it felt like when I went into heat. No reason for it in a gate, but my body was burning, my belly tingling oddly. Just like when I desperately craved Jiwon.
Why am I like this...?
I'm not some futa-obsessed freak. Getting worked up just from Yuna sticking close? This is insane.
"Unnie, are you okay?"
Yuna noticed my change and asked worriedly.
"...I'm fine."
"Really?"
"Yeah..."
I said it was nothing, but I was losing it. My mind was blank.
Need to finish quick and get out...
After some indeterminate time answering Yuna's questions, I sensed werewolves ahead. Unnoticed, Yuna had stepped back a pace behind me.
...Just noticed that now.
My focus was shot; everything felt hazy. Yuna would protect me if needed, but I had to end this fast.
"Awooooo────!"
"...No time, let's wrap this up."
A half-rate could still handle three mindless werewolves, even off-kilter. I gathered my mana, shaped it into frost, condensed it, and fired.
Crackle-crack!
The frost hit the first werewolf's head, spreading instantly to freeze it solid, then chaining to the others behind. They collapsed simultaneously.
My mana was mostly drained, but I'd wiped them out. A faint sense of accomplishment hit, but my breathing grew ragged—not from exhaustion, but some inexplicable excitement.
Really...♡
"Haa...♡ Haa...♡"
"Unnie, all done? Shall we head out?"
"Yeah...♡"
Her words barely registered as we exited the gate. Yuna seemed to be smiling, but I couldn't tell. Right now, I just wanted home.
Home, quick...
I figured she'd teleport me straight there.
Snap.
Holding her hand, eyes closed in my daze, I opened them to a new, unfamiliar place.
"Where...?"
"Aegis Guild. You look beat—wanna rest up before going?"
We were at Korea's top guild, Aegis, but I was too out of it to take it in.
"Yeah... Can I lie down just for a bit...?"
"Of course. It's my private room—no one'll come in. Rest up. I'll step out for a sec."
With her okay, I flopped onto the sofa nearby.
"Haa...♡ Haa...♡"
Lying down made my condition hit harder.
So hot...
My breathing quickened, body heating up more. I unzipped my hoodie. Forehead burning like a fever, sweat making my shirt cling, I pulled it up to bare my skin to the air.
Writhing helplessly, Yuna returned from her errand.
"Seoyun unnie, you're seriously strong. I was gonna help if it looked rough, but you one-shot them."
"Yeah... Thanks..."
"Ever thought about joining our guild? You're welcome anytime."
"Maybe later..."
Couldn't think about guilds now. Just wanted to sleep it off at home.
"Send me... home..."
"..."
But Yuna just smiled without answering.
Why's she...?
With her power, dropping me home was trivial. What's her deal?
Staring into her eyes, Yuna grinned wickedly and asked,
"Seoyun unnie, are you in heat?"