Chapter 20: Cherry-Popping, Yes, That Virginity (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 20: Cherry-Popping, Yes, That Virginity (2)
When Han So-ye first heard Park Sung-jun suggest testing Jeong Yeon-woo, she was against it.
Even though Yeon-woo had shown a capable side—handling himself well in meetings and even managing to suppress a villain like Millionface when captured—the image of the fragile child clinging to her and crying in a dungeon was still burned into her memory.
Trauma is not something easily erased.
He might act mature now, but those bad memories were likely buried deep in his mind. She feared that the boy, who had slowly begun to change by facing monsters in the dungeon, might close his heart once again.
However, no one listened to her.
The comrades who had been in the same party as Park Sung-jun for over ten years all agreed with him. As the youngest member of the party—despite being a founding member of the clan—Han So-ye didn't have the power to override their decision.
Ultimately, she entered the dungeon with Yeon-woo to test the apprentice heroes, her heart heavy with worry.
Contrary to her fears that he might fall into a panic as the memories resurfaced, Yeon-woo looked after the apprentices like a seasoned veteran.
He offered hints to the apprentices who forgot the basic checks upon entry and evaluated them with a cold, professional eye.
Watching Yeon-woo’s profile as he scribbled notes on his pad with unwavering eyes made Han So-ye’s heart flutter, despite the age gap.
‘Get a grip, So-ye...’
Shaking off the stray thoughts, she continued to manage the apprentices alongside him.
Seeing Yeon-woo so unrecognizably changed, her worries finally began to fade. She then relayed the instructions Park Sung-jun had given her.
His expression shifted into one of slight discomfort, as if he found the task distasteful. He scratched his head, handed her the pad, and stepped forward, drawing his handgun.
In truth, Han So-ye had intended to stop him if he showed even a hint of hesitation or anxiety.
But Yeon-woo only looked annoyed at being given a tedious chore; there wasn't a trace of fear in him.
Then, he wiped out a pack of goblins, showcasing the same brilliant rapid-fire technique he had displayed at the shooting range.
Infusing mana into something as small as a bullet was a high-level technique. For someone with So-ye’s experience, it wasn't difficult, but Yeon-woo—who wasn't even D-rank yet—executed it flawlessly without missing a single shot.
Honestly, Han So-ye had to admit that even she would find it difficult to maintain that level of rapid fire while infusing every single bullet with mana.
Just how much had he practiced to overcome the helplessness he felt during that "Cherry-Popping" incident?
While she was marveling at his unseen efforts, Yeon-woo didn't forget to deliver a finishing shot to each fallen goblin.
It might look cruel on the surface, but in a world where life and death were on the line, it was an essential procedure.
The fact that he remained so calm in a dungeon—a place that should have been psychologically taxing for him—made her feel incredibly proud.
When he looked back at her as if asking if she was satisfied, she stared at him wordlessly. Yeon-woo scratched his head with the muzzle of his gun and spoke to the dazed apprentices in a gentle tone.
"My stats are lower than yours. Being D-1 isn't exactly something to brag about, but I wanted to show you that it's possible to fight effectively even with low stats. I hope you realize that Break Line seeks to uncover your hidden talents—the ones that aren't reflected in mere numbers. That’s why we run these dungeons with you."
Since he had cleared the battlefield much faster than the four apprentices combined, his words carried immense weight.
Standing there with a pile of monster corpses behind him while delivering such a cool speech, Yeon-woo looked genuinely impressive.
He had carried out Park Sung-jun’s orders and fulfilled his role as a supervisor perfectly.
Seeing how much he had grown before she even realized it, Han So-ye felt both proud and a strange pounding in her chest.
The other heroes gathered there likely felt the same.
Hmm... I wonder if they're satisfied now?
Since Han So-ye kept staring at me even after the goblins were dealt with, I felt forced to spit out some motivational speech.
This is what Park Sung-jun wanted, right? I did my part, so don't go complaining later.
Boosting morale is easy. After years of living as a commander, I have dozens of these scripts memorized.
If you just mix in words like "pursuit," "trust," "hope," and "vision," it works on everyone regardless of age or gender.
Especially for these little chicks just starting out, it’s like a lethal dose of hype.
As if Break Line actually looks for "hidden talent." I'll be lucky if they don't get cursed out later.
Watching the apprentices whose eyes were sparkling at my words, I walked over to Han So-ye and took the pad back.
"Um... you didn't write anything for my evaluation."
"There was nothing to evaluate. It was a perfect score."
"That’s a relief. I was worried I might get fired."
When I joked while looking at the pad, Han So-ye gave a small laugh and began giving orders to the apprentices.
Her idea of suppressing their hot-headedness by showing them my combat was a success. From then on, the "chicks" acted like real heroes—cooperating, fulfilling their roles according to tactics, and showing plenty of fighting spirit.
I should probably learn a thing or two from Han So-ye about raising morale like this.
Usually, hot-headed types tend to cause trouble in urgent situations, making it hard to maintain a gentle attitude.
When your comrades are about to die, you can't exactly say, "Now, let's calm down for a moment—shall we try it this way?"
The best move is usually to throw a punch, grab them by the collar, and scream at them to wake up.
But since we have the Jewel of Life and this feels more like a training camp than a battlefield, I should consider using some "soft charisma."
I’ll be in charge of these apprentices for a while, after all.
I ran through the dungeon a few more times, absorbing the small amounts of mana I gained from the monsters, and the evaluation finally came to an end.
"Thank you for your hard work!"
The apprentices bowed deeply, trying to stay in the good graces of Han So-ye and me.
Park Sung-jun might like that kind of rigid discipline, but I prefer a more relaxed atmosphere.
"Good job, everyone. The evaluation is ongoing, so let's keep working hard together during the remaining period."
"Yes! Manager, will we see you again?"
"Most likely. I am the one in charge, after all."
The apprentices looked at each other happily at my words.
They were at each other's throats just a while ago, but seeing them getting along after a few dungeon runs was a nice sight.
"It's an awkward time to head back to the clan, so you can leave your gear with the support team and head straight home."
"Oh, then are you getting off work too, Manager? If you're okay with it, maybe a meal with us..."
Jeong A-rim was clearly determined to seduce me somehow.
But are you sure about that? Your senior is standing right here; is it okay to only pay attention to me?
If you get into Break Line, you'll be seeing Han So-ye a lot more than me.
"I have to return to the clan with Hero Han So-ye to report your evaluations."
The moment I mentioned the word "evaluation," Jeong A-rim’s attitude immediately softened.
After parting ways with them, we took a plain van back to the clan.
Seriously, with how much money the clan makes, they give the heroes a van for dungeon trips?
Are they being cheap just because they're apprentices? This is all part of the clan's image.
As I fidgeted in the uncomfortable seat, Han So-ye looked at me and smiled.
"You were cool today. I feel safe sending you into dungeons now. Honestly, you could even return to being a hero."
"I don't know. No matter how much mana I cram into a bullet, it only works in D-rank dungeons. It won't stand a chance in higher ones."
"What if you used something other than a gun? You could use a bow, or since you're so good at mana manipulation, you could even be a mage."
"I'll think about it. I still need to see."
After seeing me take down goblins, Han So-ye was encouraging me to return to active duty.
I do plan on returning, but I won't be an Attacker like she expects.
Even though I used a gun, I didn't show her how I can imbue bullets with magic, and she hasn't even imagined that I might become a Supporter.
I had been hiding it because I was worried someone might try to copy me or surpass me, but it seems I don't have to worry about that.
Now that I've proven to the clan that I can hold my own at D-1, I can probably use various excuses to roam around dungeons freely instead of just being in charge of apprentices.
Since I gave Han So-ye a positive response about being a hero, word will surely reach Park Sung-jun.
A hero makes for a better poster child than a simple office worker, so he won't interfere.
In fact, he might even push for it.
I watched Han So-ye secretly as she dozed off in her seat, looking exhausted from her recent workload, until we arrived back at the clan.
After turning in the evaluation report, it was close to clock-out time, so I headed to the shooting range.
"Hello, Manager."
"It's been a while, Team Leader."
As I entered, Sung Hee-na greeted me with a bright smile, as if she had been waiting.
You were looking forward to this too, weren't you?
Since there was still a bit of time before the official end of the workday, we chatted about how we'd been, waiting for the other team members to leave.
"I'm so sorry... I was right there, and I couldn't protect you."
"No, even S-rank heroes can't see through Millionface's abilities."
Sung Hee-na seemed to still be bothered by the fact that she had let Millionface take me right from under her nose.
I was fooled, and the heroes couldn't find me either, so how could she have known?
As the conversation continued with her apologizing and me reassuring her, the team members left one by one until only the two of us remained in the shooting range.
"Shall we... start the training? I saw that you passed Level 5. Even my team members can't do that with assault rifles. You're amazing."
"It's because my teacher is so excellent."
"I think I'm the one who should be learning from you now."
We talked while placing loaded magazines on the shooting bench and began the practice.
My current score for Level 6 was 89%.
"Incredible. I've never seen that emergency reload method before. It's extremely efficient."
Of course you haven't; it's not from this world.
"But I still have a long way to go. I can hit this while standing still, but if I'm moving to dodge monsters, I'd be lucky to get half that accuracy."
"Manager, are you planning on becoming a hero again?"
"I'm only telling you this, Team Leader, but yes. I'm going to be a hero again."
Since she had never heard of a hero who used a gun, Sung Hee-na looked thoughtful for a moment, but then she smiled and cheered me on.
"I'm sure you'll do great at whatever you choose, Manager."
"Yes, that's why I need to practice. I'd like to do some focus training... or have someone keep touching my body while I shoot."
When I suddenly got to the point, Sung Hee-na looked away, blushing as she remembered our previous session.
She looks quite cold when she's expressionless, but her personality is so gentle that it's incredibly cute.
"If it's not uncomfortable, could I call you by your name?"
"Huh? Oh, yes, that's fine. Please call me whatever you're comfortable with, Manager."
"I'd like you to call me by my name too, Hee-na."
I didn't go as far as asking her to speak informally, but I pushed the momentum. Sung Hee-na’s eyes widened for a moment as she looked at me, but her gaze soon softened.
"Yes... Yeon-woo-ssi."
I turned on the program and loaded a magazine into my handgun while looking at her.
"Will you help me with my training?"
"Anytime."
I was worried I might come off as arrogant, but Sung Hee-na smiled and moved to sit in front of me.
However, I caught her, pulled her up, and brought my face close to hers.
Come to think of it, since coming to this world, I haven't had a normal sequence of kissing and then having sex.
I tilted Sung Hee-na’s chin up as she lowered her gaze, and I could feel her trembling.