Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Sinful Man (1)
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By the time I finished up all my business at the guild and stepped outside, the clock on my smartphone already read 9 p.m.
It was well past dinner time, late enough to call it night without hesitation. Even though I'd taken a few breaks along the way, I'd essentially spent a full day in the dungeon, so after wrapping up the commission too, my mind was utterly exhausted, pushed to its limits.
The healing spells I'd used sporadically during fights had restored my body's fatigue to some extent—I didn't feel like I was about to collapse physically—but they hadn't done much for the mental strain of being awake for over 30 hours.
'Before heading home, I should hit an ATM and deposit today's performance bonus.'
I didn't want them tracing my identity through a bank account or anything annoying like that, so even if it was a hassle, I had to take all my pay in cash.
Then, once I got home, I'd crash hard and get some solid sleep. Tomorrow, I'd promised to watch a movie with Kang Hye-eun at the VGC.
It had been a while since we'd seen each other, so I'd smooth over any lingering feelings from our last talk. If the chance came up, I'd propose keeping things physical like before, even if we weren't officially dating.
Lost in those thoughts, I pulled out my smartphone, opened the KakaoTalk chat with Hye-eun, and exchanged a quick reminder about tomorrow's plans.
「Hye-eun-ah」
「Yeah?」
「Don't be late tomorrow」
「Got it」
「You better not be late either, Tae-kyung」
「When have I ever been late?」
「Almost never」
「Still, don't be late」
「Okay」
She worried about the weirdest things.
「What movie did you book?」
「Just the new zombie flick」
「You like horror movies, right?」
「...I don't really like horror movies or anything」
「Huh?」
「Nothing. See you tomorrow」
「Sure」
Strolling leisurely from the guild to home while finishing my chat with Hye-eun, I found myself at my front door before I knew it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ That night, at midnight.
It had been an hour since I'd gotten home, showered off the sweat, sorted the items from my subspace pocket, thought about tomorrow's schedule, and hit the hay a bit early.
Even after lying in bed for a full hour doing nothing, my mind was still sharp as ever.
"Haa... Why can't I fall asleep?"
It seemed like a side effect from spamming level 3 healing spells.
Unlike level 2 heals, level 3 ones came with the bonus effect of 'fatigue relief.' Thanks to that, my body was still full of energy despite being awake for over a day and a quarter. Way too peppy to sleep.
My brain was desperately signaling my body to sleep, but no dice. With plans tomorrow, I had to crash as soon as possible, no question.
If I didn't, it'd mess up my date with Hye-eun for sure. Falling asleep mid-movie would definitely piss her off.
Maybe if I tired out my eyes... My hand naturally reached for the smartphone on the nightstand. As soon as the screen lit up and I saw the KakaoTalk icon, one person's face popped into my head.
"Oh, right. Today was Do Si-hee's hunter promotion exam."
I wondered if she'd aced the A-rank promotion test.
We hadn't exchanged numbers yet, but the open group chat from last time was still there. She'd see it in the morning, so I sent a short message.
「Si-hee, how'd the promotion exam go?」
I figured I'd kill time with some news, but less than three minutes later, a reply came back.
「What do you think?」
Her text already dripped with confidence, so I could guess the result without asking.
Still, it was an obvious cue for me to ask outright.
「Looks like you handled it just fine on your own」
「Yeah, something like that. Thanks, Seong-cheol」
「Didn't do much, but glad I could help」
Our involvement had played a huge role in getting her to A-rank, but from her perspective, what she'd done for me balanced it out.
And in situations like this, a little humble flattery went a long way toward building goodwill.
We'd met twice already, and she'd pegged me as a decent guy. No harm in keeping things friendly.
「Thanks for checking in like this. I'll repay the favor next time」
「Or do you want something from me right now?」
「The gifts and dinner last time more than cover it, so no need to worry」
「What are you talking about? That's that, and this is this」
「Plus, I was in top condition for the exam thanks to our fun time recently. So really, I owe you even more」
「Is that so」
「Yes」
「Then let's call it even with you planning the next date」
「You'd be happy with that?」
「Yeah, that works」
「If you're telling me to plan the next one, you might end up dining at a Thames-view restaurant instead of Han River views」
「Warp gates are so advanced these days, round trip to the UK takes two hours, you know?」
「...Please keep it within reason, no pressure」
Starting the second date with a trans-European trip would break me mentally.
「Alright, fine. Looking forward to our next meet-up then」
「I'd love to see you tomorrow if I could, but things are busy with the promotion. Might take at least a week」
「No rush, I'll wait」
In this world, heirs of major corporations hitting high hunter ranks boosted their company's power too.
Scions of 'big corp' level enterprises were mostly in foundations, and even among elite ladies from powerhouse families, they networked with similar-ranked hunters.
Socializing among corporate hunter kids often influenced inter-company ties. Hearing Do Si-hee get swamped right after B-to-A promotion really drove home her chaebol heiress status.
「Oh, and that proposal I mentioned last time? Still on the table」
「You mean marrying a male hunter extends a hunter's lifespan?」
「Changed your mind yet?」
「Like I said, no time for a girlfriend or fiancée right now」
「Figured you'd say that」
「But I appreciate the offer」
「I'll be waiting for your heart to turn my way someday」
「Good night, Seong-cheol」
「Yeah. Night, Si-hee」
We exchanged final goodnights, and this time I closed the app and shut my eyes for real.
Praying I'd hold onto this vibe and sink into deep sleep.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ And another hour later.
"...This is driving me insane."
Still wide awake, I checked my phone: 1:30 a.m.
Over an hour focused on sleep after chatting with Si-hee, and my cursed body refused to get sleepy.
'If I don't sleep soon, it'll screw up tomorrow's date with Hye-eun for sure.'
I cursed my past self for casually layering level 3 heals.
Sticking to level 2 would've been less brutal.
"......"
Bored, my hand drifted back to the phone. The KakaoTalk icon sparked another face.
"I wonder if Min-ah got that contraception spell okay."
Last time, I'd helped with her heat and filled her womb twice. Without proper precautions, that could've been risky.
It was during her heat cycle, so unprotected meant 100% pregnancy odds. I'd have to take responsibility.
I couldn't imagine how embarrassing it was for a woman to get a contraception spell, but even in this advanced world, plenty chose pregnancy instead—must be a reason.
Better check if she'd followed through. I opened KakaoTalk and messaged her one-on-one.
「Hey, Han Min-ah」
「You asleep?」
「Don't call me that」
Summon spell effect worked from school days to now.
Most busy hunter I knew, still up this late? Surprising, but nice to have someone to chat with at night.
「Not asleep?」
「Under the covers right now」
「What about Jin-ah and Sun-ah?」
「Sleeping next to me under theirs」
Good, no interruptions from the twins. She knew everything anyway, but contraception was private—no need to broadcast.
「Why KakaoTalk this late」
「Nothing big. Just checking if you got that contraception spell from Cha Yu-ri last time」
A brief pause, like she was hesitating.
「What, you didn't?」
「...I did」
「Just remembered it and froze. Super embarrassing and soul-crushing, but it's done, so relax」
「That bad?」
「Guys wouldn't get it」
「Spreading your legs in front of another woman, getting your lower belly massaged—that weird feeling? Guys will never know」
Her frustration bled through the text, like it zapped over the airwaves. Not perfect, but I got a sense of the humiliation.
Exposing yourself to same-sex, womb massage? Not something I'd wanna imagine.
Brave of her to ask an acquaintance like Yu-ri. Her people skills were impressive. Next time, tell her no need for repeats.
「Yu-ri say anything?」
「Just glad I came before it was too late. Said to hit her up anytime, no worries」
「Classic Yu-ri」
「Ugh, I've known Yu-ri unnie longer than you, but you talk like you're closer?」
「Well, I slept with her, so yeah, we're closer now」
「Still can't wrap my head around your mindset」
Her reaction made sense. If a female friend back home acted like me, I'd feel the same.
Hell, even now, imagining Hye-eun or Min-ah doing my thing made my stomach turn.
「No clue how Hye-eun or Yu-ri unnie will react when they find out what you've been up to」
「You're an accomplice now, why rain on it」
「Fair point, but...」
「Sigh, I don't even know」
「Might mess up the party if it leaks, force me to find a new one」
「Sorry. I'll handle it so you don't get hit」
「...Nah, you didn't wrong me or anything」
「Anyway, it was my heat making me jump you, so...」
「True」
She still firmly believed she'd pounced first.
Better keep it hidden. With her temper, truth would spark fireworks.
「Kinda wondering now... did I really jump you first?」
「Why? No memory, wanna pretend it didn't happen?」
「Not like that」
「Sorry, won't ask again」
Sorry to her, but her guilt was handy. Had to milk it a bit.
Technically true—she lunged first in heat. I just steered it my way.
「Anyway, don't forget what I said. Manage your heats well」
「What?!」
「Told you, I'll never ask you to help with that again?!」
「You treat your body like that constantly?!」
「Huh?」
「I meant don't forget the recommendation letter I promised for B-rank」
Another pause.
「You actually took my heat relief offer seriously?」
「What」
「Never mind」
I could picture her blushing through the screen.
Short replies meant she was flustered.
「Anyway, might need that rec letter soon, so prep it」
「Cocky much? Did the guild bump you to D-rank already?」
「You newbie, don't know— even guild hunters struggle from D to C. Male hunter? Brutal」
「Promised the rec for my B-rank for that reason. Don't push too hard」
Figured as much. She didn't know I'd snagged C-rank ages ago—never seen my cert.
Her face when I flash B-rank insignia? Priceless.
「Thanks for worrying」
「Not worried about you—if you vanish, Hye-eun and Yu-ri unnie will be sad」
「Stuck playing coy between them lately. They gush about you like boyfriends, and I know it's the same guy—awkward as hell」
「I'll fix that soon. Prep the rec」
「...Got a draft going. Probably won't need it」
「Cool. Late, night」
「Night」
「Next time, timing for your heat—visiting your place again」
「Don't come」
「Try it and see...」
Chat ended with her angry cat emoticon.
Talking dragged on, but fatigue finally hit. Clock hit 2 a.m.
'Now I can sleep.'
I lay back, seizing the chance for some rest. Drowsiness washed over, consciousness fading. Last memory: lights out.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ And the next day.
"...Damn."
I shook off the exhaustion and woke up past 3 p.m.