Wrapping Up (1)
By the time I somehow made it back home, it was already evening. We'd escaped the island villa during our summer vacation and arrived on New Guinea around 3 p.m., but getting from there to the warp gate terminal had eaten up a good chunk of time anyway.
Do Sihee had to start work at the warp gate terminal, so we ended up riding together in the car for that hour-long drive. Me and Sihee in the back seat, with Eunbyeol driving.
"Are you heading to the warp gate terminal to gather manpower?"
"Less gathering, more like meeting up. By the time the news starts spreading, Mom will already have the report with photos and everything that happened. So by the time I get to the terminal, Do Kyung Group's divine awakeners and researchers should be assembled. With that many people, shipping them by helicopter would be slower than taking a boat, which is why I'm going to the terminal myself. I can brief them on the way and save a ton of time."
"I see."
"And, well... before we part ways, there's my personal wish to spend just a little more time with Sungcheol."
As she said that and started fiddling with my knee from the next seat over, I stroked her thigh in return and asked, "How many people are you planning to bring to the island that a boat's faster than a helicopter?"
"At minimum, four divine awakeners to repair the sacred barrier. Then, for contingencies, one S-rank hunter who can fight underwater, and four A-rank hunters. As many researchers as possible—probably 1 to 20. We'll need at least five dismantlers too. Add me and Eunbyeol, that's at least 25. Bare minimum, of course."
"Because the kraken's corpse is so huge, you're bringing the researchers onto the island?"
"Exactly. Transporting a monster that big from outside means we'd have to cut it up, which would tank its research value. Even moving it all would take forever. Better to use the island villa as a temporary lab. A few might have to crash in the garage, though."
"Lucky the villa didn't get trashed. Though it'll make things a bit uncomfortable for you and Eunbyeol sleeping-wise."
"I can sleep on the yacht, so I'm fine."
"Thanks to Sungcheol, we minimized the damage. Honestly, I was prepared to just abandon the island if things got this bad—it would've been cheaper."
Sihee met my eyes and gave a sly smile.
"I used to worry that becoming A-rank might make me stronger than you someday, but seeing this proves it was a silly concern. Relieved all over again."
"...What if you did get stronger than me? Were you planning to stop seeing me?"
"As if. We might even meet more often. I'd have put you through 'special training' at Do Kyung Group's hunter academy until you got stronger than me again."
"...Got it."
Special training, huh. Sounded like a program with a bad vibe. To satisfy this masochist lady, I'd have to keep grinding nonstop.
In the middle of that conversation, the car carrying the three of us pulled up to the warp gate terminal where we'd started.
Eunbyeol dropped me off in front of the gate to Korea. I thanked Sihee and her.
"Thanks for the ride, Sihee."
"Sad to part so soon, but we'll meet again, right?"
"Yeah, I think so too, Sihee."
I leaned in at the car door and gave her a light kiss.
"See you next time, Sihee."
"Yeah. Take care of yourself till then, Sungcheol."
"You too, Eunbyeol. Beyond the conveniences over these two days—not to mention your big help in taking down the kraken."
"...No. Just doing my duty as Master's maid."
Her face flushed a bit—maybe from recalling the 'conveniences' on the yacht. She'd tried not to intrude on my vacation with Sihee, but Eunbyeol had shone this summer getaway. Especially with transport to and from the island—that was mostly her. Somehow, in just two days, I'd ridden every land, sea, and air vehicle she drove.
...And her tongue had ridden my dick, too.
"Farewell, Kim Sungcheol."
"You too, Eunbyeol."
After final goodbyes with her too, I grabbed some souvenirs, passed through Gimpo Warp Gate Terminal, took the train home—and it was evening by then.
What a summer vacation that turned into a kraken hunt. I let out a wry chuckle at the irony and flopped onto my bed.
And the next morning.
"Agh, ugh... uuurgh."
The intense muscle soreness hit me the second I woke up, forcing out a groan right away.
Thanks to my recovery skill, a night's sleep had healed the broken bones and torn skin, of course. But the full-body ache from overexertion? Sadly outside recovery skill's scope.
Muscle soreness wasn't an injury or illness—it was growing pains. No way it'd heal with a skill.
Couldn't lie in bed all day anyway, not with my schedule. It'd been a week since I first asked Kang Eunyoung for swordsmanship lessons. Time for the next one.
No choice—I groaned and dragged my stiff body upright.
"Ugh, this sucks."
Still, after nearly dying once, even this felt better. My trained instincts said a couple hours of stretching would fix it. No big issue for afternoon plans.
I got up, started stretching, and pulled up the translucent system window.
Skill Unlock (NEW!) >> Point Shop >> Achievements >> Hunter Libido Management List (NEW!) >> Nearby Hunters >> Remaining Awakening Points: 285
No new achievement sparkle, so yacht sex hadn't unlocked anything. Not a big deal. Wasn't doing it for that anyway. First-time milestones would unlock eventually.
More importantly, the sparkling Skill Unlock and Hunter Libido Management List. I could guess, but had to check. Might surprise me later.
First up: the new skill.
Archery lv. 2: 0/200
As expected, Do Sihee's Artemis Archer awakening registered as Archery in my skills. Like Hyeun's Warrior of the Guardian Shield becoming Shield Mastery.
Guessed how others would slot in. Cha Yuri: Wind Magic, obviously. Eunyoung: Swordsmanship.
Han Mina's Beast of the Wild? If it converted...
"...Huh?"
Suddenly, hard to picture. Animal awakening users had multifaceted abilities, not single skills. Mina, Russian Blue-type, could shift form and tap cat traits everywhere.
Baseline: stronger muscles, agile moves from dense fibers. Flexible for tight spaces, sharp smell, crisis sense. Perfect scout.
Non-combat perks too—like purring from headpats or tail as erogenous zone.
Hard to boil that into one skill.
"...No way I suddenly sprout cat ears and a tail."
Cute on her, nightmare for me—dreading the mirror every morning. Jumping the gun, though. Only mattered if her affinity hit 80+.
Sihee's maxed out after the kraken team-up. Without big events, heat-cycle hookups might cap affinity at 'close friend'.
Unlike childhood friend Hyeun, Mina was more like a bro. Our first meet was bro vibes.
'Mina, you joining the joint training camp?'
'Duh, why ask? It's required—no one's skipping.'
'Teacher said guys like me can opt out since dorms suck for boys. Wondering if you heard.'
'Yeah, makes sense for a guy... wait, what?'
'I'm going anyway. Be weird as the only dude. Glad you're in too, Mina. Won't look off.'
'...Dude.'
'Yeah, Mina?'
'You thought I was a guy this whole time?'
'...Wasn't you?'
'Fucking hell, what kind of idiot...'
I learned my 'fellow male hunter hopeful' Mina was a girl right before middle school 2nd year camp. Could've wrecked us, but her big heart forgave me.
Looking back, fond memory.
'S-sorry! Really thought you were a dude!'
'You blind fuck! Did rats eat your eyes?! How'd you miss it, you shit...'
'Hey, claws! Nails hurt—retract 'em!!'
Good it stayed a memory.