Black Imugi (2)
I sat there blankly for a moment before stepping outside. Even if Yoo Dahui had declared we were separating, there were still things that needed to be done. I had to tell her about the conditions for reaching 3-Star and then go hunt the Black Imugi. It was only right that Yoo Dahui became a 3-Star first.
In the distance, I spotted Yoo Dahui and Elena chatting in front of the shop, their hands clasped together. Anyone who saw them might mistake them for a lesbian couple. I approached quietly and called out to Yoo Dahui. She flinched in surprise and turned to look at me, as if I had shown up somewhere I wasn't supposed to be.
"Yoo Dahui."
"Ah, Jinwoo. Perfect timing. I had something to tell you."
Something to tell me? Was she taking back the separation? My happiness circuits fired up instantly. I forced down the rising corners of my mouth and asked, pretending not to care.
"Something to tell me? What is it?"
"You know, the 3-Star thing."
My expectations crashed straight down.
"I asked Elena about it."
"Ah, you did?"
"Yeah. She said you have to defeat the Black Imugi alone to awaken."
Elena had told her the truth.
"So I'm heading out to hunt it. Want to come with me?"
Only one person could touch the Imugi. Yoo Dahui would probably be the one to kill it. At my current level, beating the Black Imugi was impossible. Still, it made sense to go along.
"Let's go. I'll come with you."
The words came out sharper than I intended. Yoo Dahui looked startled, then sidled up beside me. She spoke in a coaxing, soothing tone that only irritated me more.
"...What's wrong with you? Are you mad because I said we should sleep separately?"
"No? Not at all?"
"Hey, Kim Jinwoo. If you keep acting cute like that, I'm going to gobble you up."
Her smug expression made my pride crumple. I could lose a hundred, a thousand times in the morning, but not in bed. It was time to reveal my Sex Techniques.
"...Heh, you'll regret it if you do. That's not a joke."
"Can I look forward to it?"
Words alone wouldn't cut it. I had to show her with action. Yoo Dahui grinned, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Isilia!"
I called for Isilia, who had wandered off somewhere. Mixing in a command, she came running from afar, her white dress clearly getting in the way.
"Why! Why are you calling me!"
"We're going to hunt the Imugi. Hurry up and transform."
Isilia frowned and grumbled.
"I'll give you a shop point. One point."
"...Wow."
She forced a smile, her eyes trembling while the corners of her mouth twitched upward awkwardly.
This is kind of fun.
The meaning of shop points had faded quite a bit.
Flap-!
Yoo Dahui, Elena, Isilia, and I rode Isilia toward the Eastern Cliff Cave. Elite monsters on each floor, like boss monsters, respawned every day. The stone statue of the Sea Dragon on the 1st floor was an exception. Since it wasn't an awakening material, I wasn't sure if it respawned or not.
We landed at the cliff cave and entered the desolate cavern. As I said, it was more like a massive cavern than a simple cave.
— You rat-like bastards.... How dare you set foot in this place.
The Black Imugi uncoiled its body. The pressure it gave off was immense. Without regression, I might have pissed myself.
"I heard snake soup is good for stamina."
"First time hearing that. Besides, I don't have any problems with stamina, do I?"
"That's the problem. You've got too much."
Yoo Dahui drew her sword and approached the Black Imugi. She didn't even consider the possibility of losing. She was confident—in the stats, skills, and blessings she had built up.
— I'll swallow you in one bite!
The Black Imugi opened its jaws wide, trying to devour Yoo Dahui instantly. She dodged its reckless charge with a light leap, then drove a sword aura straight into its scales.
Thud-!
— Kyaaaaak!
To Yoo Dahui, the Black Imugi was nothing more than easy prey. Its massive size was just a big target. All she had to do was swing her sword.
Slash-!
Yoo Dahui sliced through the Black Imugi. Though the proportions were off, the creature was cleanly cut in half.
— Kraaaah!
The Black Imugi's scream was like a death cry, filled with terror. But fear like that wouldn't work on us.
— Melt away and disappear!
The Black Imugi opened its jaws and inhaled deeply. Its snout swelled powerfully before it exhaled a breath of brilliant green poison. It engulfed Yoo Dahui in an instant.
Inside the green mist, a single human figure moved nimbly. Her movements hadn't slowed at all. Yoo Dahui was completely unharmed.
"Whoa.... When did she learn that?"
Through mana manipulation, she had wrapped her entire body in a protective aura that perfectly blocked the Black Imugi's breath. She must have learned it from Elena—so was it Mana Armor instead of a protective aura? Her skill was overwhelming. When she fought Wang Gohan's group last time, Yoo Dahui hadn't shown her full power. It was surprising she still had strength worth hiding.
I'm also hiding my Sex Techniques. I haven't revealed everything either.
Thinking that made me feel better.
— Human, you're quite capable....
Thud-!
Before I knew it, Yoo Dahui had finished off the Black Imugi. She had split its head open. Looking at the clean cross-section made me feel a visceral disgust, and I nearly gagged. Even if I was used to it, some things were just disgusting.
"Oh...."
Two stars appeared above Yoo Dahui's head, sparkling brightly. The Black Imugi's corpse was enveloped in white light and absorbed into her stars. Then it split, becoming three stars. She had completed her awakening.
The light faded, and Yoo Dahui slowly opened her eyes. The 2-Star Yoo Dahui and the 3-Star Yoo Dahui felt slightly different.
"Feels pretty good."
Stars weren't usually useful, but when facing boss monsters, they were more valuable than anything. Now that Yoo Dahui was 3-Star, she would be able to handle the Giant Lava Worm much more easily.
After watching Yoo Dahui's solo play, there was only one thing I realized.
"I'm.... going to take a while, huh?"
The Black Imugi hadn't seemed that strong. It lacked presence. The Sea Dragon stone statue had been scarier. Still, it would probably take a long time. If I had to defeat it without anyone's help, I'd need at least a month of training....
Training, training, training again.
My progress was faster than in the novel, but no matter how far I got, the boredom was the same. The repetitive daily life was too dull and uninteresting.
"Let's head back."
Yoo Dahui sheathed her sword in her inventory. There was nothing left to do here. The only reason I had followed was to watch her solo play. Now that I'd seen everything, it was time to go back.
We rode Isilia back to the shop. Looking into the crater, I saw the Giant Lava Worm sleeping peacefully. Yoo Dahui pointed toward the shop.
"There are people gathered over there?"
— Ever since I drove out Wang Gohan's group, they've been coming every day. Begging to use the shop.
"Ah...."
The villain who monopolized the shop was gone. Since Isilia had driven them out, the shop naturally became hers. If the owner changed, the rules had to change too. In the novel, Isilia had given usage rights to the players who fought alongside her. Instead, she turned the shop into her own lair and stationed those players like guardians.
— I don't get it. Why are they talking to me like I'm the one at fault?
"Who's talking to you like that?"
— All the ones who come here. They don't seem to have lost their fear, but they're all acting arrogant in front of me.
Isilia didn't seem pleased with how the other players were behaving.
— Everything that belonged to Wang Gohan is mine now. I was the one who killed him, so I should have it.
"That's logical."
— But those guys argue with me. They ask why I won't share. They say Wang Gohan used to sell goods to the village chiefs.
"Hoo, is that so...?"
— I almost killed them all, but I held back. I figured if I caused trouble, it would be a mess by the time you guys arrived.
"You're kind, Isilia. Five shop points."
— ....
She didn't even look happy anymore.
"At this rate, being the shop owner isn't fun."
— Wow, thanks. I'll work hard!
"Good."
The people gathered at the shop looked up at us. Under the dragon's majesty, they couldn't even think of running and stood frozen like stakes in the ground.
"Dahui! Elena, the captain!"
In front of the shop stood Elysha, Eloin, and Elbaren. They seemed to be facing off against the village chief players.
"Hey, tell Lady Isilia. I have no say in the shop anyway."
Elysha waved her hands dismissively at the village chiefs standing before her. The chiefs frowned and approached us. Players of all different races.
"Shhh-. Dragon, please allow us to use the shop."
"Kuuik! It's too hard to get food. Other players are starving. Just this once, have mercy, kuuik!"
"We'll follow whatever conditions you set!"
The village chiefs begged before Isilia. It didn't feel like they were throwing a tantrum. If anything, it was pitiful. To confirm, I asked Isilia.
"Is it always like this?"
"Worse than yesterday. Annoying."
"...This is?"
This was worse than yesterday. Then yesterday must not have been them throwing tantrums either. It was absurd. Maybe because she was a dragon, her tyranny was truly artistic.
"Just let them use it."
"Let them use it? These guys?"
"Yeah."
There was no reason to stop them. Managing the shop with authority was a hassle, and I didn't want to cause a big scene. The village chiefs looked at Isilia with hopeful eyes. How desperate must they have been to make faces like that?
"...You guys can take what you need."
"Thank you! Lady Dragon!"
The village chiefs dashed off. The shop became lively again.
"The items will refill anyway."
Considering all the management and attention it would require, letting them use it was the right call. My mind needed to focus only on Sex Techniques training, so I had no time to worry about minor villages.
Elysha came running over and linked arms with Yoo Dahui. It was so natural that it clearly wasn't her first time doing it.
"Dahui! I found a house. Want to go see it?"
"Sure. Sounds good. Let's go check it out."
Yoo Dahui was led away by Elysha to look at the house. It was the cabin across from Safe Zone #215. Now only Elena, Isilia, and I remained. Yoo Dahui was gone, and only the offerings were left. This was the perfect situation for Sex Techniques training.
"You two, follow me."
I led them into Safe Zone #215. I manipulated the system so no one except the three of us could enter.
Sex Techniques. It was only Level 6, but it was already proving quite effective. Still, I couldn't help feeling it wasn't enough.
"Strip."
"Strip? No. Why should I?"
Since I didn't use a command, Isilia strongly refused. Elena, on the other hand, stripped without hesitation, becoming completely naked.
"Isilia, twenty penalty points."
"Penalty points? Ha. Those don't mean anything. I already know that."
"The meaning is whatever I decide. Elena? Strip Isilia."
"...Elf. Don't touch my body. I said don't touch me!"
Isilia struggled, trying to avoid Elena's hands. Rip-! Her white dress tore apart like paper. Isilia covered her breasts and crotch with both arms. There was no way her slender arms could fully hide her ample chest. Her overflowing femininity was on full display.
"Y-you! Elf! You were like this in my memories too. Because of this elf...!"
"Just obey quietly. You know resistance is pointless."
"Pointless my ass! The important thing is that I haven't submitted! G-get away!"
As I approached, Isilia recoiled in shock. With both arms occupied covering herself, she was completely defenseless.
"Elena, go grab her."
"Let go! Let go of me!"
Isilia was pinned down by Elena. Her hips were raised as if waiting to be taken from behind. Her pale, plump buttocks glowed invitingly.
"Whoa.... White dragons even have white pubic hair? That's something."
"Don't look! I said don't look!"
"Hey, aren't you being way too unfamiliar right now? You said you'd have my kid, so why are you acting like this?"
"That's that! And this is this!"
I didn't understand, but it seemed she needed some kind of resolve.
"Anyway, it's time for fun Sex Techniques training. Let's see how long you can last."
Sex Techniques
A pink aura swirled around my fingers. Gulp. Elena swallowed as she stared at them. A strange heat, anticipation, and her reddened ears twitched. Like Pavlov's dog, Elena's crotch was probably already dripping.
"Hnnk!"
I ignored Elena and gently stroked Isilia's crotch. She tensed up completely and let out a sharp moan.