The Season of Hunger – Spring's First Mist
Kang-jun’s reputation continued to skyrocket. A year-old newbie taking down a Death Knight that was nearly level 250 in a single blow? That alone was enough to fuel endless gossip, and there were plenty who believed it, plenty who dismissed it as exaggerated. Either way, the name Lee Kang-jun was the only one that mattered.
The final month of the 129th year passed amid the rising tide of the man who would shake the organization to its core. …And then the new year of 130 dawned.
Almost the moment the new year arrived, 228 fresh recruits descended on the organization. The 41st branch was no exception—little chicks flocked there like chicks always do. Kang-jun stopped by to check on the newcomers, purely as an observer, and confirmed that this batch had nothing worthwhile to offer. At least not in the 41st branch.
The moment the organization handed over the hefty exploration budget, Kang-jun grabbed his team and sprinted for the equipment store. He also bought a mana staff for Zixu. The thing looked like an ordinary wooden stick, yet it cost ten million won. No matter how bold Zixu’s personality was, her hand would tremble just holding it. She asked quietly if she could even take it.
“It’s the initial equipment support. Just take it.”
“Thank you.”
Zixu clutched the staff to her chest like it was the Holy Grail. Even Hye-mi’s older sister was thrilled, treating it like her own newly acquired weapon.
Kang-jun bought a stretchy, lightweight backpack and a heating vest as well. After adding a few more necessities, twenty million won vanished in a single breath. Incoming funds were plentiful, but outgoing ones were no joke either. Still, he left the remaining three million untouched.
Following the January plan, the team safely completed a 3rd-rank dungeon exploration. With every expedition under their belts, the members grew noticeably more proficient. They still wore the rookie badge, but when monsters appeared they no longer panicked.
Zixu now carried herself like a proper dealer. Her accuracy with slow fire magic had skyrocketed. Thanks to her sharp mind, she had figured out the perfect way to cast it in just a couple of tries.
February arrived. Late winter roared its final farewell with icy fury. The team faced one last winter expedition and welcomed spring.
The air was still brutally cold, but the earth was thawing and green shoots were pushing up. The moment cobalt-green leaves unfurled, something restless stirred in the women’s chests. Hye-mi’s demands grew especially insistent now that spring was near.
Kang-jun’s task toward Zixu had reached full ripeness. In truth he could have claimed her at any moment, yet he deliberately waited. He would only act once she herself asked first. That was the only reason.
- If Zixu asks for it first, I’ll give her 100…
- Screw this mission
- Why the hell this
This was their first real mission in a while. One hundred wasn’t something you could ignore. An extra mission had been added on top.
- If you develop her asshole first, another extra 100
- This is insanely sweet
For such a proud, high-necked Zixu to have her first experience in the ass. It was no small mission. But two hundred was a lot. He had to succeed no matter what.
While those complicated thoughts swirled, Kang-jun received an interview from the organization. It was a background check for a hero spy candidate. Because the Hero Association was locked in open hostility with the player faction—the Villain Organization—his request was anything but easy to approve. Even though he was the 41st branch’s promising talent, this was a serious matter to deliberate over.
Of course, committee officials descended. Kang-jun stated his reasons for wanting to become a hero and was grilled on his loyalty to the organization. Thanks to the 41st branch chief’s and training instructor’s strong endorsements, the interview went far more smoothly than expected.
The result would be announced by the end of March. Kang-jun was confident the organization would gladly accept someone of his caliber stepping forward as a spy.
Thanks to so many successful expeditions, Kang-jun had leveled up quite a bit. Before the year ended he was already approaching his goal of achieving a second awakening.
- Level: 152 (+24)
- Stats (2nd Awakening)
Strength 29 (+1)(+3) / 40
Agility 30 (+1)(+3) / 40
Stamina 28 (+1)(+3) / 40
Intelligence 20 (+1)(+3) / 40
Luck 9 (+1)(+3) / 40
Mana 33 (+1)(+3) / 40
The growth rate was absurd. A player who had barely been active for a year shouldn’t even have stats like this. Even skilled players only reached this territory around the fourth or fifth playthrough. The combination of countless life-and-death experiences and the synergistic power of the underlying martial arts was what made it possible.
Of course the rest of the team was growing just as fast. They had slaughtered countless high-level monsters, so their levels climbed at an alarming pace. Zixu’s and Hye-mi’s intelligence and mana were already close to 20. But to achieve the second awakening, three stats had to hit 20. They had to force-stamina their way there.
So every day they sweated through grueling stamina drills. Especially Hye-mi, who dragged Kang-jun into fierce lovemaking every night. Perhaps that was why her stamina grew a little faster than Zixu’s.
While their daily life together continued, Zixu’s feelings for him kept growing. …Actually, the better word was that they had simply sprouted on their own. She knew Hye-mi and Kang-jun were intimately involved. Anyone with half a brain realized it—Hye-mi sneaking into his room every night.
It wasn’t quite “boyfriend-girlfriend” either, even though the affection was obvious. Their relationship was too intense to be hidden but not obvious enough to reveal. So Zixu tormented herself wondering if she had the right to intrude.
Zixu even gently tested Hye-mi once.
“So… what’s the relationship between you and him?”
“Just… close senior-junior.”
The raw affection was impossible to hide, but Hye-mi said it was strictly senior-junior. Of course Zixu didn’t believe her for a second, but she desperately wanted to. Yet the more she fell, the colder she became toward him. She knew it was wrong, but she couldn’t stop. It was her nature.
Kang-jun, who already knew the truth, treated her with the same kindness no matter how cold she acted. If he had been cold in return, Zixu might have let go. Instead, his generous heart only pulled her in deeper. Guilt toward Hye-mi and affection for Kang-jun tore her apart in an endless loop.
She decided she would simply watch from the side. But watching brought both happiness and pain. She couldn’t sleep at night, trembling with dread. Every time she thought about Hye-mi and Kang-jun sharing love, her heart ached so badly. …And the desire she had to suppress twisted into something perverted.
- Team Leader… Team Leader…
Zixu imagined Hye-mi and herself switched places and started touching herself. It gradually became bolder.
At first she only did it in her room. Later she crept closer to Kang-jun’s door. Even if Hye-mi was stifling her moans, the sound still leaked through the door. Slap-slap, lewd wet noises mixed with desperate gasps hammered at Zixu’s heart like hammers.
She even fantasized that he would catch her. Then the fantasy branched into wondering if he would claim her too. Every night the girl who thrashed in fantasy during the day suddenly turned her face innocent when the sun rose.
Of course Kang-jun already knew everything Zixu was doing. But because of the mission he couldn’t touch her first. He simply waited, eager for the day the dam would finally burst.
…And the day finally came.
Hye-mi woke early, showered thoroughly, and finished her grooming. It was the day the 31st branch comrades gathered. Ogeonam and the troll girl had agreed to go on a date as well.
Zixu’s crotch was already dripping at the thought of being alone with Kang-jun in the team house. She joined Hye-mi’s changing game for a moment, then flopped onto the living-room sofa and downed a cup of coffee to steady her nerves.
‘Yeah, it’s just my dirty fantasy… Calm down.’
But the moment she saw Kang-jun’s face the resolve shattered. She couldn’t even look him in the eyes. The pressure inside her was about to explode.
“Unnie, I’ll head out!”
“…When will you come back?”
“I’ll eat and come back. Probably late.”
“Okay. Got it.”
Zixu felt a tiny spark of relief at the “late” part. Hye-mi, all dolled up, waved at the team and hummed a little tune as she left.
Not long after, Ogeonam and the troll girl stepped out the door, already properly dressed up. Kang-jun watched them leave while munching on freshly toasted bread.
“Zixu, are you going somewhere?”
“Ye-yes?! …Ah, no, I’m not.”
Zixu jumped like she’d been caught with her pants down. Her heart hammered. Her face burned. She rushed straight into her room. He was going to write history today if he played it right. In truth he had been waiting for this moment too.
He ate a quick breakfast, then knocked on Zixu’s door. There was some rustling inside.
“Come in!”
Kang-jun slid the door open just enough. Creak. There was Zixu, sitting primly on the bed. She looked up at him once, then immediately dropped her gaze and started scanning the floor.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing… I was just thinking we could watch a movie together in the living room.”
“Ah, I’m fine.”
“Hm? Okay. …Then rest well.”
Zixu heard the door click shut and her face darkened instantly. She had panicked and rejected him earlier, but the memory of treating him coldly so coldly stung. If she had been too cold, he might think she was weird. If she went out again and said she wanted to watch a movie, he’d definitely think she was suspicious.
Ah, what do I do? She buried her face in the bed and collapsed. This wasn’t supposed to happen…
‘Idiot, idiot! You idiot, you stupid dog!’
She wanted to see his reaction, so she opened the door. If anyone asked why she came out, she’d say she needed water.
Zixu finally calmed her racing heart and stepped back into the living room. Kang-jun glanced at her once, said nothing, and turned back to the TV. She gulped down a glass of water and went back to her room. She paced back and forth, nervously biting her nails.
Why had he looked at her that way? Did he think she was disappointing? What if he hated her? Should she apologize?
Then she suddenly realized her own depravity and collapsed into a chair, defeated. She who had once looked at approaching men like trash dogs was now like this.
Zixu knew she was beautiful. She was confident anyone could be chosen. Years of that confidence had slowly turned her into a cold person. She could never smile brightly, never flirt. If she tried, people would misunderstand. How many men had confessed just for a single word?
This was the first time she had ever felt her heart tugged by someone. So she didn’t know how to express it. She would just suffer alone.
While everyone else groaned, Kang-jun lounged comfortably on the sofa, watching the movie at his leisure. Zixu was anxious, but he was relaxed. After all, the one feeling the loss was her, not him.
‘Even if she looks that way on the surface, inside she must be dying of frustration.’
He decided to tease her a little and stood up, walking to her door. Knock. Knock.
“Ye-yes!”
Kang-jun cracked the door open just enough to peek in. She was sitting exactly on the edge of the bed. Her face was tight with tension. She clearly had no idea he already knew.
“You didn’t eat breakfast, did you? Come out. I’ll make it.”
“Ah… I…”
This time she didn’t refuse immediately. She was trying not to repeat the cold dismissal from earlier.
“Come on. I can cook.”
Kang-jun gave a light flick of his chin toward the kitchen. Zixu secretly left her room and perched awkwardly on a dining chair, torn between whether to help or not.
“Can I help?”
“No. Just sit.”
Kang-jun prepared the meal with practiced ease. It was simple—take some side dishes from the fridge, fry eggs, and cook ham. He placed a full bowl of rice in front of her and sat opposite.
“You’re not eating?”
“I ate something earlier.”
Zixu forced herself not to tremble. She didn’t know if the rice was even going into her mouth or her nose. She kept pushing it in until the bowl was empty.
“Will you really not watch the movie with me?”
“No, I will!”
She had been waiting, so she answered with her head held high. Kang-jun turned away with a dark, lewd smile. How adorable. Watching her squirm like this was surprisingly fun. Especially someone famous for being cold—Zixu, of all people.
They sat side by side on the sofa. Zixu’s body was rigid as steel. Kang-jun relaxed beside her.
…He could feel the air growing thicker, sweeter.
Kang-jun felt the atmosphere thickening and sweetening.