Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: If It's to Become Stronger (2)
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If I had to sum up my impressions of using 3rd Circle Flame Magic in a few words, it was exactly the performance and skill level I'd anticipated.
Flame Burst, which caused an explosion of fire in a specific area; Fire Lance, which fired off multiple spears made of flames; and Flame Citadel, which created a wall of fire rising from the ground.
I hadn't tested the last spell out of concern it might spread like wildfire, but since the first two worked flawlessly, the Flame Citadel should be no problem either.
That said, black-headed kites were special monsters that learned and adapted from the deaths of their kin, so it was impossible to take them all down with flame magic alone. I still had to rely on swordsmanship to finish them off. Even so, it was undeniably faster and easier than before, when I'd had to handle nearly everything with just my blade.
In that hour, I'd soloed two packs of black-headed kites, netting me thirty C-rank monster cores.
Twenty of them had been pure kills with flame magic alone, so the black-headed kites had faithfully served as test dummies for practicing and gauging the power of my 3rd Circle spells.
At this point, I could confidently call myself a C-rank flame mage anywhere. Though since I wielded a sword alongside it, "flame swordsman" might fit better.
After cashing in those thirty C-rank monster materials for guild credits, I didn't head straight out like usual. Instead, I claimed a spot in the corner of the lobby.
My goal was obvious: scout the other hunters milling about inside the guild.
The first thing I checked was whether they were attractive enough to get me hard. Next came the projected awakening points I'd gain from first-time sex with them.
Anyone watching might think I was some points-obsessed maniac. And honestly, they wouldn't be wrong.
After nearly ten years of effort, I'd finally gotten my reward. I had no intention of letting moral hang-ups about conventional relationships squander my chance to become a hunter.
The downside? Even matching just those two criteria—hotness and points—made it hard to find anyone projecting over 30, let alone 50. Gathering awakening points was still no walk in the park.
Of course, if I lowered my standards to women who were less appealing (by my past life's metrics, anyway), I spotted a few with projected 30 or 40 points here and there. But forcing myself physiologically just to stack points? That instinctive revulsion always kicked back in.
'Probably because my first was Hye-eun, followed by Cha Yu-ri and Do Si-hee.'
Kang Hye-eun, with her toned, muscular figure and impossibly huge breasts, obediently following along in whatever position I put her in without complaint.
Cha Yu-ri, a bit short but with perfect proportions, a soft body, and—above all—adorably fun to tease.
And Do Si-hee, hiding her perverted lust behind a noble lady facade, transforming into a bitch in heat the moment I entered her—a total reversal charm.
Having bedded three stunning female hunters I couldn't have dreamed of touching in my previous life, my standards had inevitably risen. And more than that, sex was most enjoyable when I genuinely wanted to connect with them emotionally.
Aiming for someone hot from the start led to full physical and mental pleasure on my end, wrapping up in ultimate satisfaction. But chasing points alone meant sacrificing mental ecstasy just to please her? Honestly, what would that make me but a glorified sex toy?
Even if the act and rewards were the same, my creed was that sex required not just physical contact, but genuine mental communion.
This was one line I couldn't compromise on easily, so scouting my next partner naturally came with heavy deliberation.
'Maybe I should change up how I meet them.'
Aside from Hye-eun, whom I'd known pre-awakening, my first chats with both Cha Yu-ri and Do Si-hee had been inside dungeons. So perhaps building bonds with other hunters would be easier in a dungeon than this guild lobby.
...Or maybe I was just rushing things.
With all the intense events lately, it felt like over a month and a half had passed, but really, it had only been ten days since gaining my awakening ability.
And yet, I'd already rotated through three female hunters, with the total sex sessions for points numbering several times that. Maybe nurturing bonds with my current ones was smarter than chasing new trouble.
Of course, that only worked if they wanted me daily.
'Just in case, I should check.'
As a backup for if no new prospects panned out, I figured lining up one of the existing three for points-gathering was viable. I pulled up the system's current Lust Management Hunter list and checked their projected points.
⚙ LUST MANAGEMENT HUNTER ⚙ 001. Name: Kang Hye-eun Awakening Ability: Warrior of the Guardian Shield Current Estimated Acquisition Points: 20 I'd half-expected it, but Hye-eun's lust hadn't built up much.
Even after six nonstop rounds the last time we met, five days later and her accumulation was still sluggish. That declaration of mine—not being her boyfriend—must've hit her hard.
Personally, I hoped my childhood friend, who'd given the most points so far, would feel desire for me again. But if crushing her pure feelings was why her lust wasn't rising, I'd have to endure it.
Not that I'd lied outright. Better to deliver the truth early and soften the blow than build false hopes with deceit.
With my history of bedding the other two like some slut, becoming Hye-eun's boyfriend would just make me the one wronging her.
In my old world, they called that making someone do the dishes. And I sure as hell wasn't putting one of my most precious people through that.
If Hye-eun truly wanted me as her boyfriend—or even marriage—I'd need to draw the line harder to avoid ruining her life.
I had no plans for marriage anyway; handling this awakening ability was the only path to strength. Until the system vanished, I'd rack up points by sleeping with as many as conditions allowed.
Doing that as someone's boyfriend or husband? Straight-up cheating. Sure, my current setup was similar, but fooling around with a girlfriend versus freely rotating partners? The guilt differed vastly.
It'd be even more stabbing my conscience to claim the partner of my childhood friend, who'd been awakening and hunting steadily since middle school.
Anyway, with Hye-eun's points low and no contact yet, she was probably still pissed from that last text.
Nothing to do but wait for her lust to build or her mood to thaw. Striking when instinct weakened her would make forgiveness way easier.
So I shelved Hye-eun and flipped to the next profile.
⚙ LUST MANAGEMENT HUNTER ⚙ 002. Name: Cha Yu-ri Awakening Ability: Blessing of the Sylph Current Estimated Acquisition Points: 30 As expected, it matched the number from when we'd parted that morning.
30 points was solid—potentially 40-50 with bonuses—but calling her back the same evening after saying goodbye at dawn? That'd feel off.
This time, I'd have no excuse if she called me a pervert again. So Cha Yu-ri was out, leaving the most promising of the three: Do Si-hee.
⚙ LUST MANAGEMENT HUNTER ⚙ 003. Name: Do Si-hee Awakening Ability: Artemis's Archer Current Estimated Acquisition Points: 45 I'd known her ability involved archery with a bow, but the exact name was Artemis's Archer.
Recalling how she'd conjured magical arrows from thin air and loosed them in beautiful arcs, yeah, the name fit perfectly.
And 45 projected points was pretty good. Past overnights had taught me that'd net at least 100 after.
The one snag...
'It's only been two days since we last had sex. Calling her now might look weird.'
I'd imprinted my dominance right up to our farewell. Contacting her in under 48 hours would undermine that image.
She was from the foundation; I couldn't afford to look needy. My gut screamed not to show weakness against her.
If it seemed like lust had me crawling back in two days, she'd sense something off. Plus, I wanted her stewing in anticipation, growing more dependent.
'Hmm...'
All three had some hesitation factor for immediate contact.
Maybe call it a night and head home? As I started to rise—
"......Huh?"
The profile screen suddenly flipped right, revealing a fourth Lust Management Hunter.
⚙ NEW ENTRY ⚙ 004. Name: Han Min-ah Awakening Ability: Wild Power (Type: Russian Blue) Current Estimated Acquisition Points: 200 ...Han Min-ah?
Why the hell was she here?