Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Strong Men Are My Type (3)
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It only took a moment to feel flustered by the bed that had nearly doubled in size overnight, so I immediately opened KakaoTalk and demanded an explanation from Kang Hye-eun about this situation.
「(photo)」
「What is this?」
「Huh? It's a double bed?」
「Not that—what do you mean it got bigger?」
「Well, it felt a bit cramped...?」
"Cramped" probably meant during sex. Or maybe when sleeping together.
Sure enough, even last time, I'd thought it was a little narrow for two tall people.
And with midsummer fast approaching, even rational people would start feeling uncomfortable with each other's sweat and body heat.
Of course, I'd figured it was something we'd just have to endure for the sake of awakening points. I never imagined she'd splurge right after payday and upgrade to a size three steps bigger.
And not her bed in her room—mine.
「How much was it? I'll give you half.」
「Huh? No! I said I'd buy it for you!」
「It's not even a single—it doubled in size. How can I just accept this?」
「It's fine! Just take it!」
「Still, this feels a bit...」
「What's the problem?! I'm your girlfriend, so it's fine to do that much!」
...Huh?
Wait, girlfriend?
Did Kang Hye-eun seriously think of me as her boyfriend this whole time?
「Hold on, Hye-eun. Let's clarify one thing first.」
「Yeah?」
「Sorry, but I don't really think of you as my girlfriend...」
「...Huh?」
A few minutes of silence later, her message came through, practically dripping with confusion even in text.
「We're just childhood friends, Hye-eun. Closer than most, sure.」
「What are you talking about? If we've had sex, we're obviously boyfriend and girlfriend!!」
「No, Hye-eun. Let's make this clear. When did I confess to you? Or did you confess to me?」
「Well, no...」
「Sure, I admit you're an attractive woman. I'm grateful for your help while I was figuring things out. But that doesn't mean we're officially dating.」
「Then what are we?」
「What do you mean?」
「We've already mixed bodies several times—what else could we be if not boyfriend and girlfriend?」
「Just childhood friends. Really close ones who can have sex.」
「...Okay.」
She seemed to have no interest in continuing the conversation. Kang Hye-eun sent that last message and went silent.
I waited quietly for her reply, sorting through my thoughts.
It might hurt her feelings since she'd seen me as her lover, but this was something I had to make crystal clear, even if it disappointed her.
Once I'd decided to give my body to hunters for points and awaken, I had no intention of getting tangled in something as cumbersome as a girlfriend.
I hadn't told Hye-eun about Cha Yu-ri or Do Si-hee out of worry she'd fret as my "childhood friend," not because I thought of her as my girlfriend and wanted to hide it.
Someday, I'd have to tell Hye-eun, Cha Yu-ri, and Do Si-hee that I'd rolled around with other women like some slut. It wasn't something I could hide forever anyway.
If they lost interest after learning that and cut ties, then that was the end of our connection.
...But if, by some chance, someone was okay with it, we'd keep going.
Hye-eun would probably cool off before long and come back around like always. Back in school, she'd get mad at me for no reason, then suddenly snap out of it one day. If not, I could always approach her when her lust built up.
But if my words just now made her want nothing to do with me, I'd have no choice but to accept it and move on. Having the Hunter Lust Manager awakening while pretending to be someone's boyfriend felt like pure deception to me now.
I didn't want to lose over fifteen years of history so pointlessly, so I left one last message that might comfort her.
「Thanks for the new bed. And even if you're not my girlfriend, you're still someone precious to me. That's a fact.」
The "read" mark vanished right away, but no reply came.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After washing off the grime and changing out of my dirt-caked clothes, I flopped spread-eagled onto the now even bigger, fluffier bed.
I immediately pulled out my smartphone and launched the Hunter Lust Manager app. Hye-eun's issue would sort itself out with time—what mattered now was checking what I'd gained from sex with Do Si-hee.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 『Skill Unlock (NEW!) 』 『Point Shop (NEW!) 』 『Achievements (NEW!) 』 『Current Lust-Managed Hunters List (NEW!) 』 『Nearby Hunters Search 』 『Remaining Awakening Points: 0』 'Why are there so many new things...?'
Even the Skill Unlock menu, which hadn't sparkled once since day one, was now glittering like something new had been added. Probably a new skill unlocked, I cautiously guessed.
Of course, among all these sparkling menus, there was only one I'd check first: Achievements, to claim all the first-time rewards.
It was the only way to get points from the menu, so it was top priority.
⚔ ACHIEVEMENTS ⚔ 『Climax via Anal Sex』 『Bring Three or More Erogenous Zones to Simultaneous Orgasm』 『Fill All Three Holes with Your Semen』 Honestly, I'd half-expected the first one. From past achievements, there had to be something anal-related.
『Bring Three or More Erogenous Zones to Simultaneous Orgasm』 was probably from teasing her nipples and clit during anal.
And 『Fill All Three Holes with Your Semen』 must've triggered when Do Si-hee took it in both ends and finished with cleanup fellatio.
I'd thought I'd cleared all the early achievements with Hye-eun and Yu-ri, but Do Si-hee—my first real connection today—unlocked three rewards. Wild.
Thinking ahead, leaving things open with her was the right call. Her masochist streak would unlock way more achievements.
My awakening points, drained to zero, shot back up to 150 from the three rewards.
With points secured, next up was the Point Shop. Maybe another special discount today.
The subspace pouch and mystery mask were essentials now—if there was a third item, it'd surely help.
Full of anticipation, I entered the sparkling Point Shop... only to feel a twinge of disappointment at the new item.
『Application UI Upgrade: Control the Hunter Lust Manager system without using an electronic device as a medium.』 『Price: 50 points (50% discount now)』 Harsh. Selling this after giving points?
It was genuinely useful, though. I couldn't keep fumbling with my phone forever to unlock skills or check potential points.
In combat, if I needed to spend points fast, the current method was clunky. For the future, it was a must-buy... but still.
"This should've been free from the start."
It bugged me to burn points on something so basic when I was already tight.
No option not to buy, though—I clicked and activated the UI Upgrade.
The Hunter Lust Manager app on my phone shut down instantly, its icon vanishing.
"Huh?"
Stunned briefly by the surprise, a transparent menu window soon materialized before my eyes, along with the system.
...So that's what "without an electronic medium" meant.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTICE ⚙ 『The upgraded Lust Manager system operates 100% according to the awakener's will.』 『System launch/termination, menu navigation, skill unlocks & point shop use, achievement rewards & hunter checks—all respond to thought alone, without unnecessary movements.』 I stopped moving my hands and just thought—the menus shifted smoothly, screens flipping as if by magic.
It was handy how it matched my thoughts exactly. Not moving felt weird at first, but this intuitive control meant I'd adapt quick.
The Lust-Managed Hunters list would just have Do Si-hee's new info, so I skipped it. Finally, I checked the Skill Unlock for the new one.
⚡ SKILL UNLOCKED ⚡ 『Spear Technique Lv. 1 (NEW!)』 "...Spear Technique?"
What the hell—spear technique out of nowhere?
Unlocking it at Lv. 1 meant I could use it decently without investing more.
I had exactly 100 points left after the UI upgrade—not like I couldn't level it if I wanted.
'...Do I, though?'
What good was leveling spear technique now? I'd set my sights on swordsmanship—better to save for that or healing for efficiency.
A sword guy spearing without a spear? Useless. Unless I planned to swing random sticks.
If I desperately needed it later, I could always open the system and invest then.
The UI upgrade really shone there. Would've been perfect if free.
"Eh, whatever."
50 points wasn't chump change, but one good fuck covered it.
With three hunters under management, I could rack it up anytime. Better focus on prepping for tomorrow's meetup with Cha Yu-ri.
I had a protein-packed dinner, chased it with a shake and nuts, then hit the hay.
To grind points tireless tomorrow, I needed to stock up on stamina now.