Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: If It's to Get Stronger (1)
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After bidding a somewhat embarrassing farewell to Cha Yu-ri, my footsteps led me straight back to the Hunter Autonomous Guild I'd visited the day before.
There were two main reasons I didn't head home and returned to the guild instead.
One was to test the power of Flame Magic at level 3, now that I'd amassed over 200 points to unlock it. The other was the hope of scouting additional hunters who might earn me some points.
I was already aware that three targets for lust management were plenty, but reflecting on my recent conversation with Kang Hye-eun, I realized I needed some insurance for the future.
If Hye-eun declared she wouldn't sleep with me anymore because we weren't actually a couple, I'd have no choice but to earn points through other relationships, regrettable as that might be.
She'd given me the most points so far, and more than that, she was closer to me than just a sex partner. I didn't want to imagine her drifting away from me. But if she'd only been intimate because she saw me as her 'boyfriend,' I felt a little guilty.
Still, to grow stronger right now, I had no choice but to meet multiple women, have sex with them, and relieve their lust that way.
Becoming a powerful hunter had been my dream for over a decade, so I couldn't give that up.
In other words, since I'd decided to use this method to become a hunter, I couldn't afford to cater to the feelings of women who tried to tie me down more than necessary. Unfortunately, that was how it had to be.
I'd stopped worrying about the morality of sleeping around with multiple women the moment I chose to use this awakening ability. Besides, in this world, a guy who slept around might get called a male slut at worst—like a 'playboy stick' or whatever. That was nothing compared to the old world's judgments.
'And that's a penalty I can easily handle.'
If being treated like a playboy meant I could live out my dream of being a hunter for over ten years, it was a bargain.
After several hunting trips to gain experience, I'd become fairly convinced of one fact.
The fastest way to grow stronger among known methods was to sleep with female hunters and use the points to level up skills.
Of course, the know-how from direct hunts and the sword sense I'd regained after so long helped somewhat.
But it didn't produce the explosive growth that came from spending awakening points on skill levels.
In short, for me, wild bed workouts with hunters were more important for breakthroughs than actual combat hunts.
I didn't dislike the idea of having sex to get stronger. It was just that since 'getting stronger' was no longer the main goal of monster hunting, its importance had relatively diminished.
Maintaining combat sense was crucial, and I'd keep hunting steadily for living expenses and rank-ups, but I couldn't neglect sex—the real key to powering up—just for that.
Ideally, I'd meet someone every day, or every other day at least, to get stronger by sleeping with them. So right now, finding more female hunters to earn me points was even more critical.
Of course, for a normal guy, ejaculating with a different woman every day on the bed wouldn't be easy. But luckily, my awakening ability included 'Healing.'
Even on the verge of collapse from exhaustion, one healing touch could restore my stamina fully. With that, there was no way fatigue would stop me from sex—so the more women earning me points, the better.
'Or even having sex with multiple women at once... I've thought about it.'
Such a suggestion would get me labeled a crazy slut if I was lucky.
If I proposed a threesome with Cha Yu-ri or Do Si-hee to Kang Hye-eun, who'd known me for over a decade?
My longtime childhood friend would definitely 'shield' me. Not defend me—literally hit me with her shield.
I could clearly picture Hye-eun swinging her awakening shield at me, telling me to snap out of it. So, table that idea. Though I'd never actually taken a hit from her (outside of sparring), no guarantee that'd continue.
With anyone else, maybe, but I had to hide other women from Hye-eun. ...Well, she'd half-figured it out when she said I wasn't her boyfriend, but still.
Or what if I imagined Cha Yu-ri and Do Si-hee together? That setup didn't quite gel either.
Cha Yu-ri had a neutral expression but strong opinions underneath, and Do Si-hee was a completely different person with or without a dick inside her.
Another unstable combo, so no threesome proposals there.
'For now, I shouldn't act rashly.'
Maintaining my current relationships would ensure steady points and growth opportunities.
Impulsive moves that might ruin two at once would be unwise.
Of course, I couldn't hide forever, so one of the women might tire of me and leave. Preparing for that by building new hunter connections was essential.
Like last time: hunt black-headed eagles in Peregrine Plains and time my exit for when other hunters finished, catching them with fatigue-built-up points.
About 100 meters from the guild, I slipped into a deserted alley and donned my mystery mask.
Then I summoned my personal Hunter Lust Manager system and upgraded Flame Magic to level 3 for today's use.
🔥 FLAME MAGIC UPGRADE 🔥 Flame Magic Lv. 2 → Lv. 3 Alright, that completes the prep.
"To Peregrine Plains, please."
"Yes, we'll warp you to Peregrine Plains. Please step onto the mobile warp platform."
From there, I followed the guide's instructions and headed straight to Peregrine Plains.
It was the perfect dungeon to test my new Flame Magic's power.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Silver and Jade Corporation. Gangdong-gu Branch.
"Min-ah's late today, for some reason."
Kang Hye-eun, Cha Yu-ri, Cheon Ji-hee, Han Min-ah.
The name of the last member, who still hadn't arrived, slipped from the lips of Kang Hye-eun, leader of the A-rank hunters from the company forming 'Skyblue Shield.'
"...Is this the first time she's been late?"
"Yes. Min-ah's so diligent she'd never be second to anyone."
"If even she's late, something must've happened."
"I'm starting to think the same. No replies on Kotok or texts since earlier. Phone's not picking up either..."
"Maybe too sick to contact anyone."
"That diligent girl wouldn't no-show without word, so that's the most logical guess."
"Without Min-ah, scouting the crystal spider nest like usual will be trickier. This is a problem."
Since Han Min-ah joined the party, this was the first time Skyblue Shield lacked a scout. The other three members were stuck, unable to proceed.
"Let's wait five more minutes. If not, report to the guild and try contacting her..."
-Vrrr. Vrrrrr.
As Hye-eun organized her thoughts to share with the party, her pocket smartphone buzzed rhythmically. Seeing the name on the message, she turned to her teammates with slight relief.
"...It's from Min-ah. Hold on."
"Good."
"Contact at last, so I'll take the call first and update you after."
"Okay."
"Yeah, Hye-eun."
She swiped right to answer and held the phone to her ear. What came through was Han Min-ah's labored groan from the receiver.
"Haa, ha, haaa..."
"Min-ah? That you?"
"Haa, Hye, Hye-eun..."
"You sick? Your voice sounds off."
"J-just a little... a bit of a cold..."
"You okay? Hurt bad?"
Han Min-ah rarely caught even minor illnesses and was notoriously healthy. Even with serious symptoms, she'd tough it out and show up. For her to admit it so openly was almost unprecedented.
So, after years of friendship, worry spilled naturally from Hye-eun's mouth.
"N-not that bad, haa..."
"Your breathing's ragged! You sure you're fine?!"
"R-really, Hye-eun. Probably just, ha, one good night's sleep and I'll be cured..."
"No way. I'll take the day off and visit you. I'll tell Yu-ri and Ji-hee..."
"Ah, nooo...!!"
Hye-eun flinched at Min-ah's near-screaming plea from the phone.
"...H-huh? Min-ah?"
"S-sorry, ha... But my siblings are in puberty and really hate strangers in the house... S-so, don't come..."
"Still, sounds serious. Or go to the hospital at least..."
"Haa, I-I can handle it. Don't you trust me? I'm Han Min-ah...!"
"......"
"So today, without me... You three go with Ji-hee unnie, Yu, Yu-ri unnie... Sorry I couldn't message earlier, haaa, s-sorry..."
"...Forget that, just get better quick. Thinking of work in this state?"
"Aha, y-yeah..."
"...If you're not in tomorrow, I'll barge in whether you like it or not."
"Y-yeah, okay... Ha, one night and I'll really be fine..."
"...Alright, rest up."
"S-sorry for worrying you... Hye-eun, sorry..."
"Know you're sorry? Then show up healthy tomorrow."
"Mmm, yeah..."
-Click.
Hye-eun ended the call with mixed feelings after Min-ah's final reply.
Her gut said dragging it out would just repeat the same, and it wouldn't help recovery anyway. Quick judgment.
"She okay?"
"...Says she is, but I'm honestly worried."
"Gonna visit now? I can come too."
"No. She said not to, so she'd just get mad. And she hates burdening others—it's pathological."
With that, Hye-eun scanned the company dungeon list, skipping Crystal Spider Cave for a safer A-rank one scoutable without Min-ah.
"Min-ah said go ahead without her, so we'll do that. Spider cave's risky short-handed, so another A-rank dungeon."
"Sure."
"Lead the way, Hye-eun."
Grateful for their compliance, she stepped onto the mobile warp gate with the other two for the dungeon.
Her trusted childhood 'friend' had confessed they weren't lovers, and now a longtime teammate worried her—Skyblue Shield leader Kang Hye-eun's heart was heavy for many reasons.