Settlement (2)
After briefly reminiscing about those hazy memories with Mina, I dove right into checking the rest of the system updates. I still hadn't looked at the newly added list of "Current Hunters Under Libido Management."
I needed to see just how much Do Sihee's affection had risen, and get the details on the new addition, Eunbyeol. With that in mind, I was about to flip to her page when I noticed a subtle change in Kang Hyeun's status info on the very first page.
It was definitely 80 just a little while ago—when did it jump to 85? It was a small increase, but jumping from 80 to 85 was still a pretty big leap. Was it the effect of that 3P with Eunyoung noona included? Or maybe from the conversation we had before that. Who knows. Either way, the affection going up was good news.
Supposedly 100 is the max. At 85, I cautiously guessed she might even be okay with me sleeping with her family. Just a hunch, nothing precise.
With that thought, I pulled up Do Sihee's hunter profile next.
Do Sihee's profile confirmed she was at 80 affection too. It was 65 last time I checked—already 80? Sure, there'd been plenty of reason for it to rise, but even accounting for that, it was fast growth. Compared to Cha Yuri or Han Mina, who I'd known longer and were still hovering around 60.
After checking Do Sihee, I glanced at Eunyoung noona's entry. Last time, I'd gotten distracted thinking about buying a mithril greatsword and hadn't looked properly. Perfect chance now, so I pulled it up.
Eunyoung noona started at 70 affection from the get-go. Most of that was probably parental affection rather than romantic, though. Likely to stay that way for a while, barring any big changes.
I already knew her Greatsword Berserker awakening ability. She definitely had the vibe for it when she gripped a sword—totally qualified as a berserker. Nothing new there for most people. Except for the detailed info button next to her 3D model.
"...A bit disappointing."
Other than hitting that button to ogle her body for a moment, nothing special.
Next up, the maid Eunbyeol. Just petting her body without knowing she was Han Mina had gotten Mina on the list. Eunbyeol had seen me naked and even sucked my dick—she had to be on there too.
Sure enough, there she was in the Hunter Libido Management list.
...Though the info was way different from what I'd expected.
I'd thought her name was pretty—turns out Eunbyeol was an alias after all. Never expected the hunter info to reveal her real name. Geum Nari, huh? I'd heard it before. Yeah, the hunter lady from Geumhyang Group was named Geum Nari.
She was infamous for all sorts of rumors. Liked showing off her achievements, popping up in interviews and events nonstop, more focused on self-promotion than actual hunting. "Attention-whore hunter" fit her perfectly.
I hadn't recognized her because of the changed hair color and style. Her voice was lowered too—not the high-pitched one from her broadcasts. Those golden eyes had me suspicious, but I just dismissed it.
No way the attention-whore Geum Nari would be Do Kyung Group's perfect maid for Do Sihee. But now it was confirmed.
Why hide her name and play maid? Hard to say, but probably some circumstances. Unless it was a coincidence of names, it had to be her—especially since she was hiding her real identity.
Best to keep this secret. At least until Sihee or Eunbyeol brought it up first. I was using an alias myself when we met, so I had no right to pry anyway.
For the finale, I looked for Eunbyeol's detailed info button, but unlike the others, it wasn't there.
Detailed info is unlocked after acquiring points from the hunter at least once.
'...Right.'
It felt like Esila had caught my sleazy desires—embarrassing moment.
After reviewing Do Sihee, Eunyoung noona, and Eunbyeol's profiles, my tensed muscles finally relaxed a bit. And it was about time to head to Eunyoung noona's.
"Shower first, then straight to noona's—perfect timing."
I washed off the sweat from two days of fatigue and stretching, then changed into a simple t-shirt and jeans.
Most hunters wore proper hunter gear as combat attire once they hit a decent level—at least B-rank verified ones.
I was still just a paper C-rank, so no need for fancy gear. Dressing up was a hassle anyway. Even Hyeun looked uncomfortable clanking around every morning with her greaves and gloves.
Sure, more armor meant fewer injuries and buffs like faster movement or sharper instincts just from wearing it. But it didn't appeal to me. Just a gut feeling.
With the Mystery Mask hiding my Sung Taekyung identity, t-shirt and jeans were plenty. Showing up to noona's private lesson in full gear would just make her uncomfortable.
After showering, I grabbed a quick snack from the fridge and headed next door. I rang the doorbell to let Eunyoung noona know I was there—emergency key or not.
Soon, her soft voice came through the intercom.
"Who is it~?"
"It's me, Eunyoung noona."
"Oh, Taekyung. Here for your lesson?"
"Yeah."
"I'll unlock the gate. Wait just a sec~."
Click. The gate lock disengaged.
Then the inner door opened, revealing Eunyoung noona's face. Not at all what I'd expected.
"Come on in~. Eaten yet?"
"...Something light."
"That's no good~. You know how important nutrition is before and after training, right?"
Clank. Her steps weren't footsteps—metal clinking. Metal gauntlets. Metal boots and leg greaves. Full-body tightsuit for mobility. And she'd brought out her greatsword, untouched since retirement. Pure S-rank hunter Kang Eunyoung.
"Let's start training, Taekyung. From today, I'll teach you for real. Get ready."
Guess I was the one who'd shown up half-assed.
Following fully geared Eunyoung noona, we headed to her basement private training room. I'd imagined the same stark room stacked with logs, but it was different now.
No logs—instead, stacks of tougher granite cubes. And training gear pulled from storage: not just greatswords, but spears and shields too. The shields were especially worn—probably Hyeun's doing.
...She was serious about this.
"Got much real combat experience? Hyeun said you were out for two days straight."
"...Yeah, some pretty unforgettable fights. No shortage."
"Thought you'd been on vacation or something—not quite, huh?"
It was a vacation going in. Not coming back out.
I pointed at the pile of training weapons that looked like hers.
"...What's all this, noona?"
"You graduated hunter high school and don't know?"
"Not that—why training weapons for mock battles... Oh."
I trailed off, then it hit me with a small gasp.
"Nothing beats mock battles for quick growth. You know how fast Hyeun improved, right?"
"...Yeah."
"Grab a sword, son. Time to see how strong you've gotten."
She hefted a training greatsword and aimed it at me.
"......Got it."
It'd only been a day since slaying the kraken. No time to bask in victory.