Interlocking Gears (3)

Han Mina, an animal awakening hunter, possessed exceptional crisis detection abilities. This animalistic intuition was something most animal awakening hunters had, but among them, she was one of the best at wielding it. And the field she specialized in most was none other than killing intent detection. Thanks to this ability, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it had saved her life—and the lives of her Sky Blue Shield party—countless times. It was this killing intent detection that had elevated her rank from what might have been B-level to A-rank.

That ability suddenly prickled at the nape of her neck right now.

The problem was that it wasn't activating inside a dungeon, but on her way to the office.

"Wh-what...? Something feels off..."

Her killing intent detection had always triggered only after entering a dungeon before. For it to suddenly activate on her commute today made her sense something profoundly wrong, a chill utterly unlike her usual experiences.

"Is it telling me not to go to work...?"

How many modern people actually enjoyed going to the office? Still, this was the first time she'd felt such intense rejection toward work itself. An indescribable unease washed over Han Mina. Her body wasn't even tired—it had been in great shape for days. Holidays were practically nonexistent for her unless she was on the verge of collapse from exhaustion. She couldn't just skip because she felt a bit off. Besides, today was the regular meeting day when the entire ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠party gathered. As the scout, missing it would inconvenience everyone, so she couldn't delay heading in.

If the anxiety doesn't fade once I'm at the office, I'll report it to party leader Kang Hyeun then.

With that thought, Han Mina resumed her halted steps toward the company. And soon enough, she pinpointed the source of the killing intent directed at her.

"Hmm."

After seeing Hyeun off as she changed into her work uniform—also called awakening gear—and left through our front door, I opened the system window one last time before heading to work. I needed to tally the points and achievements I'd gained over the past two days.

Not only had I earned nearly 400 points from two rounds of sex, but I also had to check the system alerts I'd dismissed the night before last.

The moment I summoned the Hunter Libido Manager System with that in mind, three system windows popped up first and foremost.

These must be the alerts that appeared right after sex with Hyeun the night before last, popping up again. Normal point notifications disappear once dismissed and don't reappear. The fact that these did meant they were that important.

Still, it wasn't so urgent that it shattered the afterglow of lovemaking with Hyeun. After committing the contents to memory and swiping past, today's Hunter Libido Manager System window sparkled with an unusual number of NEW! tags.

I hesitated for a moment on where to start, but first headed to the fourth item: Current Libido Management Hunter List. With three alerts related to Hyeun, it made sense to check her profile there.

Her avatar in work uniform—also known as awakening gear—floated on the left side of the window. Her profile details stretched down the right. My eyes paused at the favorability section as I scrolled slowly.

"...80?"

Last time I'd checked, it was around 60. This jump to 80 ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was a leap so massive it was hard to believe. Recalling the system's explanation: favorability maxed at 100, min at -100. 80 was definitely top-tier.

But the only recent interaction was confessing my past sins to her—something I'd braced for a favorability drop over. So where did this surge come from?

Suspecting a glitch, I checked the others, but they showed expected values.

Cha Yuri had ticked up slightly since our first meeting. The other two were first checks. Notably, Do Sihee—who had the shortest connection—had the highest after Hyeun. It really hit home how obsessed the Do Kyung Group's heiress was with me. She must be desperate; no matter how much money she threw at searches, I was the only man worldwide who could satisfy her needs and match her standards.

What if I'm suddenly kidnapped in a van like a Hiace? Nah...

With no real leverage against a chaebol, I could only hope it didn't happen. Her ladylike demeanor last time suggested she wouldn't resort to rough tactics, but people change.

Oh, right—there was that special reward for Hyeun. What was it?

"Whoa, that's a huge influx all at once?"

Hyeun was the first to hit max favorability, so over half the rewards were brand new. Following the system's guidance, I reviewed each.

First, 200 awakening points—the ones from right after sex with Hyeun. That explained the sudden spike over 300 from one session; it was bundled with this.

Next, the Summon Target Hunter function. I'd wondered about the new Summon button next to Check Location on her profile. This was it.

Basically a one-use teleport to pull her to me—not vice versa. Tempting to test immediately, but 100 points was steep, and summoning Hyeun back from work to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my room felt rude. I'd note it for now; might come in handy partying together later. The month-long cooldown meant using it wisely.

Last was the awakening ability unlock related to her. Probably in the sparkling Skill Unlock menu.

I cleared the Current Libido Management Hunter List and selected Skill Unlock at the top. What appeared was so unexpected I couldn't hide my shock.

The same moment.

Silver and Jade Co. Gangdong Branch.

"Mina."

"H-Hyeun? Wh-what's up so suddenly? You're scaring me with that vibe..."

"Do you have something to tell me?"

"......"

A-rank hunter Han Mina now faced the source of the morning's killing intent head-on.

She regretted ignoring her intuition's warning not to come to work.