Chapter 55
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: If This Isn't a Hypnosis App, Then What Is It?
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A massive fist came crashing down toward Sia.
It was so heavy and sluggish that dodging it wasn't difficult at all.
-Boom!
-Thud!
Every time the rock-composed body attacked, a tremendous vibration echoed through the air.
'They said the other monsters would come one by one while I'm dealing with the first one, right?'
Upon entering the gate, she encountered one of the four monsters inside, and combat began immediately.
A colossal rock golem, a plant-type monster covered in tentacles, a six-legged beast that let light pass through it, and a massive acidic slime crawling up from the underground waterway.
These were the monsters guarding what appeared to be some kind of research facility.
Gates were natural phenomena.
Environments and magic from other worlds projected like mirages onto this one.
That was why, even though they looked connected to another world, they were actually just small spaces containing a mere four monsters.
Of course, thanks to returners like Sia, it had been revealed that some gates truly connected to other worlds—but those were different from places like this that required "clearing."
'Just like the reports said, there are exactly four big clumps of mana here.'
Prior reconnaissance had shown no research data worth investigating or resources worth harvesting.
It was a headache of a gate: high difficulty, no rewards, failed several times, and left abandoned ever since.
'Perfect for my training, though.'
The golem's attack flipped the dirt floor as if an earthquake had hit.
Sia slipped through the dust cloud and circled behind the golem.
Missing her, the golem paused briefly, then subtly shifted the angles of the rocks forming its body.
It was like unfolding a paper doll printed on both sides—or bending it the other way.
Facing Sia head-on again, the golem swung both arms down with enough force to shatter the ground.
Sia leaped into the air to evade, letting out a small laugh.
"Not bad."
The attacks looked as heavy as they seemed and could hurt even her if taken head-on... but they were too slow to land.
Assuming the other three were on this level, though... if they all came at once, it'd make for solid training.
With a grin tugging at her lips, Sia focused on dodging the golem's strikes.
She used her scabbard to smash its joints, dragging out the fight.
She vaguely sensed massive mana signatures approaching.
"Come on, hurry up already."
Sia muttered in an excited tone.
After returning to Earth, she'd made time for sex, gate clears, hospital visits, and sporadic training.
It was ingrained in her body.
Just like how she got antsy after a few days without sex, she felt stiff and restless if she didn't sweat it out regularly.
She was addicted to sex—and to training, too.
But her only real spar had been that first clash with Haran.
Solo practice had its limits.
Now, finally, she could do some proper training.
'Excluding Mom, sparring with Yesol unnie was pretty good...'
Her instant pressure with weapons pulled from subspace showcased not just talent, but consistent effort.
It was lacking against colossal beasts like these... but perfect for fighting awakeners or humanoid monsters.
'She should just keep pushing forward without hesitation...'
True to the rumors, she had the talent to become a superhuman.
The problem was...
She seemed to have lost confidence after their spar, which made Sia feel a bit guilty.
'Maybe I should lure her into training together later.'
She didn't seem the type to crumble from jealousy or inferiority.
With a good training partner, she'd overcome it.
Besides, lately Sia had been training not just Jiyu, but Iseo too.
The skill gap between the three was wide, but they could stimulate each other.
'And while I'm at it, maybe seduce her into some sex...'
Thinking of her overwhelming physical beauty sent blood rushing between Sia's legs.
Jiyu and Iseo specialized in close combat too, but relied more on skills.
Yesol focused on her body and technique over skills, so her dedicated physical training made her body incredible in every sense.
Especially those thigh muscle lines—irresistibly alluring.
The succubus issue had kept Sia too busy to approach her, but every glance filled her with the urge to claim her.
"Oh, they're all here."
While lost in thought mid-fight, the other three monsters arrived where the golem was.
A sludgy green liquid rapidly filled the cracked fissures.
Sia took to the air to evade the slime blobs rising from all sides.
In that instant, the beast growled and snatched her from the sky.
"Ugh...!"
The beast bit her arm and slammed her to the ground.
The waiting slime engulfed her in its body.
She thrashed to escape, but massive plant tendrils like tentacles wrapped around her.
The golem swung its fist at the restrained Sia.
Even as the tendrils choked her and slime poison seeped in, Sia calmly summoned her holy power.
She tore free of the plant stems and crossed her arms in front of her face amid the disgusting slime.
-Boom—!!
The impact sent her crashing into the wall, embedding her there.
"Nngh... Their teamwork's pretty good, huh?"
Anyone short of superhuman level would struggle.
If you didn't dispatch the first monster instantly, the others swarmed—and even if you did, combat noise would draw them eventually.
You had to face almost all of them at once.
Her joints throbbed, her insides itching like hundreds of bugs crawling around.
Healing minor fractures and torn skin with holy power, she surveyed her body.
"Ugh... My clothes are melting a bit?"
Sia spat out dirt and slime from her mouth, grimacing.
"What do I do when I get out?"
She'd only heard it was a neurotoxic slime—didn't know it was acidic too.
Visible underwear was no big deal... but if it melted further and exposed her dick, that'd be a disaster.
As Sia grumbled, the transparent beast and plant tendrils lunged.
She sliced the stems with her sword and precisely kicked the beast's abdomen, charging into the midst of the four monsters.
'I'll worry about it after they're all dead!'
She could just borrow Jiyu's body to cover up or something.
"Let's see..."
Her healing worked on the beast and giant plant.
Not on the golem or slime, probably.
"Don't break too fast, okay?"
Otherwise, it wouldn't be good training.
...
...
...
Two days after clearing her first gate, Sia's second gate clear wrapped up smoothly.
The gate's color shifted.
The murky swirl settled into a clear, transparent blue.
Gates normally dissipated like mist after clearing.
But one retaining such vivid color meant...
"It's a persistent gate!"
"Whoa! It's been ages since a gate this rank got persistent status, right? This'll fetch a fortune..."
The original difficulty was brutal, but as a persistent gate, it was now easier to clear—perfect for training.
Private guilds would kill for it.
It was worth whatever the market bore.
Reporters gathered at the gate finished prepping their cameras.
The gate rippled, and Sia stepped out.
In her hands were several massive mana stones dense with power.
Fortunately, her clothes were intact this time.
The reporters sighed in relief upon confirming it.
No one wanted a repeat of two days ago.
Flashes popped as they snapped photos.
'Jiyu didn't come after all, huh?'
Makes sense—she'd kissed her without asking before entering yesterday, and used Jiyu's body as a panty cover on the way out. No wonder she was mad.
"Yu Sia! How was this gate?"
"We hear you received it from the Management Bureau—are you planning to sell it, or use it yourself?"
This was a far cry from their bored demeanor before her first clear.
They bombarded her with questions.
No one was dumb enough to doubt the woman who'd solo-cleared a gate that stumped major guild raid teams.
"Rumor has it you have intimate relationships with over ten women close to you—is that true?"
"It is!"
Sia boldly pointed at the reporter who'd asked last and declared it.
A few reporters stared in stunned silence before frantically jotting notes—still a scoop.
A new superhuman was big news, but for sheer buzz and shock value, this was spicier.
Especially if one was the only daughter of Cheongrin Guild's master, one of Korea's few superhumans...
The Management Bureau or Cheongrin might suppress it, but after yesterday's bold kiss with the guild master's daughter, scandal control seemed unlikely.
"Were you close with them before returning?"
"No! After I returned!"
"...But it's only been under three months since you returned?"
"Yep!"
"Ah..."
A few reporters let out exclamations.
Impressive... but, impressive though it was...
'Something... something feels off!'
From there, questions veered more toward Sia's love life than the gate.
Young awakeners gathered in the Management Bureau's audiovisual room.
None had over two years of experience.
They'd applied to join Sia's high-difficulty gate raid party.
Among them were Han Iseo and Jung Sina, who'd been analyzing succubus mana waves.
Nearly twenty people filled the quiet room.
They'd started with greetings and chatter, but one showed a news article about Sia, and conversation died.
"Th-that... that's our party leader, right? Not some villain or anything."
Someone muttered dazedly while staring at the article.
Girlfriend(s)... over ten...?
In three months...?
"If this isn't a hypnosis app, then what is it?"