Chapter 229
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 229
Chapter Title: Squad Leader Song Dan-pung (3)
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I'd asked Uni for help, but I didn't immediately sexually harass Song Dan-pung.
From the atmosphere, it seemed like Squad 1 and Squad 2 had already entered the sinkhole.
Now it was almost Squad 4's turn, the one I was in.
The hunters who had been scattered around exchanging greetings were closing ranks and gathering together.
Even for me, suddenly dropping sexual harassment in a situation like this felt a bit burdensome.
'With all these people gathered, you'd expect it to be noisy, but it's completely quiet.'
I might be tense since this was my first large-scale operation,
but from the veterans who looked like they'd done this dozens of times to the ones who seemed barely twenty, everyone was calmly on edge, waiting for the commander's orders.
Even though people from various guilds were mixed in, they moved with perfect coordination, like they'd trained together for years.
Is this what veteran hunters are like?
"You don't need to be so tense. I'm right here next to you."
Ya Hye-jeong took my hand and smiled.
She was speaking softly, just loud enough for the people nearby to hear.
"Jeong Ji-ham the hunter, right? Looks like you're more than just friends with the Saintess?"
"Haven't you heard the rumors? That thing floating around online. Maybe that's... "
"Hey. Shut up. There are ears everywhere... You wanna die? You'll get murdered by Ya Hye-jeong's fan club."
"Can't even talk about it? I'm just saying there's a rumor. Didn't you see that video?"
"Nope."
"Liar."
"To live long, you say you didn't see it even if you did. Hey, you wanna deal with this first thing in the morning?"
"Not jealous or anything. Our squad's all guys... That guy's surrounded by beauties."
Whispers from those around us reached my ears.
It wasn't just those two guys.
Here and there, people glanced my way and murmured to those around them.
What was my relationship with Hunter Ya Hye-jeong?
Was I really someone who'd just awakened?
I didn't look that strong; maybe the rumors were exaggerated.
Or was I a secret weapon some other guild had been hiding and training?
What if I was the one who'd fucked Hye-jeong and posted lewd photos online?
Such talk swirled around us.
"Hunter Jeong Ji-ham."
A sharp sting shot through my fingertips at Song Dan-pung's call.
Was this PTSD?
"Do you happen to know about TimeStop?"
"Time Stop? Ah... You mean time stop stuff?"
"Pardon?"
"I like that kind of porn too... But asking about AV tastes so suddenly in a public place like this is a bit much."
"Ah... N-no! That's not what I meant!"
"Then? What did you mean?"
"......"
Song Dan-pung flinched and shut her mouth.
In the quiet, her raised voice drew everyone's eyes our way.
Just moments ago, it had been a murmur of casual chatter,
but now they were all spectators, silently watching us.
"Oh, maybe not AV, but illegal porn uploaded online?"
"......"
"Doesn't match your looks, Squad Leader, but you have hardcore tastes. I like that stuff too."
"Th-that's not... "
I could guess what she wanted to ask.
You're the one who uploaded those videos of the female hunters online, right?
That's what she wanted to throw out.
But asking that meant admitting she'd seen the lewd videos uploaded online under the nickname TimeStop.
It meant she'd personally viewed the naked bodies of Hye-jeong and the others around me: Shirobara Ryo, Seol Isseom, Hanna Bi, Jeon Lime, and more.
Squad 4 had about 150 people.
In front of all of them, it'd be like confessing, 'I've watched those videos.'
At that moment, Hye-jeong stepped slightly forward and spoke.
"Squad Leader. I'm not the one in those videos."
"Ah......"
"I think I know what you were about to say. I understand suspecting Hunter Jeong Ji-ham. But he's innocent. Please refrain from words or actions that could cause misunderstandings in front of so many people. And honestly, I don't love being brought up like this."
"S-sorry. I was short-sighted."
"Shouldn't you apologize to Hunter Jeong Ji-ham, not me?"
"......"
Hye-jeong's words twisted Song Dan-pung's expression.
But reading the mood, she quickly apologized to me too.
"I got a bit excited. Sorry."
"No worries. Lots of women get excited just looking at me."
"......"
"I like that. Women who get excited easily."
I slipped in a remark that could pass for sexual harassment, but the mission didn't complete.
The mission required sexually harassing her and getting cursed out. Just harassing wasn't enough.
"Your jokes... are pretty lame."
"That's a shame. In many ways."
......
I let out a deep internal sigh.
I didn't know what he'd done to Hunter Ya Hye-jeong, but that guy was definitely it.
That man was TimeStop.
'No one else could do something like that to me.'
An attack that forcibly injected pleasure.
As far as I knew, no existing hunter had a skill like that.
It was common in time stop hentai or porn.
Stimulate a woman in stopped time, and when time resumes, the sensations hit all at once...
Such a skill shouldn't exist in this world, but among the videos TimeStop uploaded online, some showed reactions similar to what I'd experienced.
The women working at that Japanese maid cafe.
They too collapsed or fell over, unable to withstand the sudden flood of pleasure.
If that man and this one were the same, it all fit perfectly. The evidence and circumstances matched.
'Having to stick with a guy like this for over a month...'
If he could really stop time, it was a huge problem.
The most dangerous thing was me.
'But I can't run or avoid it... I have to navigate this situation somehow...'
This wasn't training; it was real combat.
I couldn't say I didn't like a squad member and ask to swap.
The moment I said that, I'd be criticized for lacking qualities as a commander.
I'd fall behind in the power struggle with my siblings.
'Let's do this. I can control even a pervert like him. This is all experience.'
Once inside the sinkhole, we split off by squad to move separately.
Squad 4's assigned area was the island's south side, and specifically, Squad 4's zone bordered Squad 3's in the southeast.
Today's goal was to search the area, set up a base camp, eliminate all nearby monsters, and secure a safe zone.
"Squad Leader."
"......"
"What cup size are your breasts?"
"......"
"Feels like at least F when I grope them."
"......"
"Honestly, anything bigger and it's hard to tell even when touching."
......
Can I really do this?
My resolve was crumbling already.
What the hell was I supposed to do with this guy?
I wanted to beat some sense into him, but the women protecting him made that impossible.
If it was just Hunter Ya Hye-jeong, maybe I could handle it, but...
That sparkling woman was way beyond my level.
"Hunter Jeong Ji-ham. Scout the surroundings for a suitable base camp spot while staying alert."
"Hmm... This is tricky..."
Tricky for me.
This was inside a sinkhole.
An A-rank one at that.
Anything could happen at any moment.
Even with Hunter Ya Hye-jeong here, one mistake and we'd be done for.
"Squad Leader. Sorry, but could you curse me out a bit?"
"Pardon...?"
"When I sexually harass you, just vent that feeling straight into some curses."
"......"
This guy.
Why the hell did he even come here?
"Hey, you. Doesn't my order make sense? Stay alert around us."
"Oh, that feels good."
"......"
"Alright, sexual harassment incoming. I've been curious since we met: are you a virgin?"
Yeah.
I'd held back a lot already.
"What the fuck do you care."
"I'm pretty good, you know. Like big ones? I'm packing."
"......"
"What do you say? Wanna try it? You'll love it for sure."
"...You crazy bastard."
"Oh! Yes! Got it!"
Jeong Ji-ham was grinning at the air like that was the best thing ever.
Was he really just a pure lunatic?
Such thoughts flickered through my mind.
......
[Mission Success!]
[Sexually harass Song Dan-pung and get cursed out!]
[Success Reward!] [Time Stop Duration +1 minute]
Song Dan-pung's low curse cleared the mission.
Now I could stop time for a full 10 minutes at once.
"Thanks. You granted my one request, so I'll grant one of yours. You said to stay alert and find a base camp spot, right?"
I set Miho, Silly, and Lime down on the ground first.
"Alright, everyone, shift to human form."
No sooner had I spoken than they all began transforming into human shapes.
Miho, with her gray tail tipped in red swishing.
Silly, still shy about being naked, covering her chest and between her legs.
And Lime, still mimicking Ji-su's figure.
My strong, beautiful pets had arrived to help in my place.
"Wh-what... the... Why is everyone naked?!"