Chapter 24

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 24

Chapter Title: Sex is the Only Way to Survive

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I tried calling two more times, but it was the same. It was like she'd deliberately turned her phone off.

"...What the hell."

She'd clearly said she wouldn't take any money, so what was this? I glared at my phone before finally letting out a sigh.

'Maybe she meant it as a thank-you gesture or something.'

Being jerked around like this by someone wasn't something I was used to—it felt awkward, even a little irritating.

Damn, she was one inscrutable woman. As I grumbled to myself, it suddenly hit me that I'd overlooked something obvious.

'...Isn't it weirder that she knows me at all?'

The first time I'd met Jeong Se-hee was around 8 a.m. Less than 24 hours had passed since then.

Things had just snowballed like this by accident. Normally, we'd have cleared the dungeon, maybe grabbed a meal, and gone our separate ways.

'Come to think of it, do I even have a reason to feel bad...'

...Nope?

I'd joined a solid party, aced my first dungeon without a hitch, and gained tons of experience in supporter roles and skill usage.

Hell, I'd even been invited to the home of a knockout beauty and taken her virginity.

She was a B-Rank veteran hunter, and the granddaughter of the Se-seong Group chairman, no less.

We'd called it a transaction, but on the big picture, it was a massive connection. Narrow it down, and I'd just gained a new fuck buddy.

Just moments ago, I'd felt screwed over, but laying it all out? This was a jackpot if there ever was one.

Hell, if shit hit the fan, would Jeong Se-hee really turn her back on me? If she wanted her research to go smoothly, she'd help me out at least once.

"Life's all about perspective."

In that sense, maybe I should gratefully snatch up this 100 million won... Nah, not quite. I figured I'd call Jeong Se-hee again tomorrow and hear what she had to say.

Part of me wanted to take the cash and pump it into coins right away, but it was such a huge sum that I had to be cautious. At this amount, gift taxes would definitely apply, and that was a headache in itself.

"...I'm starving."

Had racking my brain right after getting home worn me out? A wave of hunger hit me hard, so I chugged some water. At this hour, ramen was the answer.

'Oh, right. Status window.'

I'd checked most of the messages after clearing the dungeon, but maybe there was more. I tore open the ramen packet and opened my status window.

"...What kind of achievements are these? All fucking retarded."

The names were bad ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠enough, but the commentary? Straight out of some third-rate variety show subtitle.

These had to be achievements unique to me. They were hidden ones, and the virility boosts confirmed it—not your standard fare.

'Saves me stat points, at least.'

Unlike other hunters, I had to invest stats in virility beyond just Geon Min-ji. Point allocation was a constant concern.

Sure, copying stat points gave extras, but dumping them all into virility would've been dumb anyway.

The moment I checked the last message, a cheer burst from my lips unbidden.

"Yes! That's what I'm talking about!"

"Sex is the answer! Fuck yeah!"

I was so thrilled I jumped around yelling at the top of my lungs—until my eyes landed on the clock on the wall.

"...Ah."

1:47 a.m. The dead of night when everyone else was asleep.

A villa packed wall-to-wall with no vacancies above, below, or next door.

And the word I'd shouted in "admiration"? Sex, of all things.

Gurgle.

My stomach growled like it was yelling at me to hurry up and cook the damn ramen instead of screwing around. Perfect recipe for maximum embarrassment.

Luckily, no one knocked, but if anyone heard? They'd peg me as a lunatic. Not just any nutjob—a pervert lost to his libido.

Whatever. Copy hit level 3!

Ramen could wait. I turned off the gas and checked the skill tooltip in my status window.

"...I'm set for life, fuck."

No comparison to the old level 2 grind. Core mechanics stayed the same, but a few number tweaks turned it into a whole new beast.

I'd expected more copies per level, but three extras? Plus two permanent slots? Huge win.

And the weight limit up to 1kg meant on-the-fly item copies were viable now.

'Potions won't be an issue anymore.'

Not just potions—any consumable, I could mass-produce. Half effect? Double up and call it even.

"Then points first... Nah."

With stat inflation this easy, why burn points in a rush? I could level before the next dungeon.

I pulled up Jeong Se-hee's status window. Five creampies meant the marking duration was overflowing.

"Flashy as hell."

I'd peeked during the dungeon raid, but that intelligence over 200 and near-2,000 mana? Overwhelming. I skipped confirming the skill list.

'Considering my role, her status window suits me better.'

Yu-ra Noona's was still active, but the level 2 copy only gave 30% buffs.

'Refresh it after sex with her next time.'

To see the stat changes, I canceled Yu-ra Noona's status copy. Then I copied Jeong Se-hee's.

"...Do I even need to level up now?"

My stats ballooned instantly. Felt good, but I couldn't help a wry chuckle.

Geon Min-ji total was 368. Copying Yu-ra Noona's barely scraped C-Rank territory. Now? Straight to B-Rank.

Thanks to the 50% buffs, not just strength and agility—even my intelligence topped Jeong Se-hee's. Stats alone, I could sub as a mage DPS, not just support.

Add copied unallocated points for +75 more, pump 'em all in, and Geon Min-ji hits 443.

'Tack on Sin Ju-yeon's stats too...!'

Hers total over 400. Roughly +200 makes 643. Just two permanent copies, and I'm overkill for A-Rank specs.

"Whew."

Calm down. I was a total newbie who'd bus'd one dungeon.

No matter how high the stats, what could a guy who couldn't cast attacks or even throw a proper punch do solo? I never even went to taekwondo like every other kid.

Switching to DPS? Table it after more combat experience. Still tons to learn.

'...Can I use magic?'

Like copying Sin Ju-yeon's status for Lance Mastery and Assault Charge, magic could make me a ranged dealer.

But checking Jeong Se-hee's skill tooltips left me disappointed.

No attack skills in sight. Hoped otherwise, but nope.

Magic Mastery and Spell Mastery just granted aptitude for casting and spell handling—not offensive on their own.

The spells she'd used in the dungeon? Pure fruits of her research and training.

'Magic's a no-go.'

Unless I acquired those skills myself—which I wouldn't—perma-copying her status was pointless. Better swing a baseball bat in that time.

The rest were useful, though. Multitasking for smooth multitasking, Meditation for mana regen.

And finally, Serene Insight. That one was tempting.

For my role—detection, rear support, escape if needed—it was essential. Optimal tactics and efficiency in any situation.

...Wait. Normally too? Upon activation?

"Jeong Se-hee, you sneaky bitch... Unreal."

Now it clicked. Why she'd been so composed from the second round on.

Given her curiosity, she'd probably skipped it for her first time—memorable milestone and all.

A huge roadblock for my plans to utterly dominate her someday. Maybe slip her an aphrodisiac on the sly.

"Tch, whatever."

Why go that far for some goal? Clicking my tongue, I checked the new skill last.

"...So it's a defense skill, huh."

Name sounded promising, but this? Kinda off.

Options were solid, sure, but it felt like it was nudging me to raw-dog any girl I grabbed.

"Fine, whatever. Sigh."

Good is good. Reading the tooltip even made me cringe at how recklessly I'd been fucking so far.

Jeong Se-hee today, Yu-ra Noona before—neither ever mentioned contraception once.

Sure, they were older, but still... Kinda lacking consideration. Time for some self-reflection.

'Just do better from now on.'

Vague what "it" was, but anyway.

I relit the gas, closed the status window. Deal with the rest later—eat this ramen and crash first.

I slept in a bit, scarfed a half-assed breakfast, when my phone rang. Jeong Se-hee.

"Hello."

[You up? Sleep well?]

"...Yeah, sure."

She'd ignored my calls earlier, but now she was calling first? Threw me off completely. I'd planned to chew her out too.

Still, questions first.

"What the hell's with the money?"

[Contract deposit.]

"...Contract deposit?"