What Was That?
'What.' Yeonwoo flinched.
But she quickly regained her composure. Or at least, she tried to.
'It could happen, right...?'
It was just her letting go of my arm. The height difference made it slide down like that.
"No big deal."
Yeonwoo muttered to herself. But it kept nagging at her, pulling her into thought.
"No matter how strong you are, you think you can take on three at once and come out unscathed?!"
"This is fun. Two was boring earlier—perfect."
Noisy commotion erupted right away, but Yeonwoo ignored it. It wasn't her business.
This inexplicable skinship mattered more.
'Maybe she just let go.' Or was she overreacting from the start? Even if she'd deliberately stroked my arm...
'Does it really mean that much?'
Thinking about it, no. It wasn't much different from guys patting each other's shoulders saying "good work."
'Girls are always touchy anyway.'
Just look at the streets—women linking arms everywhere.
"Ugh, fuck! Why the hell are you so strong?!"
"Hand it over. The stuff you took."
"That's what I'm saying! I don't even know what you want!"
"Just give it. Fucking now."
"H-Here you go!"
Sounds of brutal beatings echoed through the ruins, but Yeonwoo stayed lost in thought.
'Yeonseo was like that too.'
Come to think of it, her little sister had been the same. When they'd gone shopping for underwear, Yeonseo had casually groped, squeezed, and stuffed her chest without a care...
'Damn it.'
Just recalling it made her face heat up.
Anyway, that was normal. It had only been two days since becoming a woman.
So there was no need to read into a simple arm stroke.
Her mind must've been rattled from that earlier unpleasant incident.
Anyway, sorted.
"Alright. All sorted."
Just then, Shin Gaon's cheerful voice rang out. Looked like her side was done too.
The hunters had all vanished. Shin Gaon stood alone, dusting off her hands.
Three weapons lay before her—one from each guy, apparently.
"So, cutie. Which one's yours?"
"...Cutie?"
"What? You are."
Yeonwoo's face crumpled at the unexpected nickname.
"That face works too."
Shin Gaon just grinned down at her, unbothered. She even winked one eye, framing Yeonwoo's figure with her thumb and forefinger like a camera snap.
"...Yeonwoo."
No choice—she gave her name. That pose was annoying enough, but "cutie" felt like it eroded her dignity even more.
"Shin Gaon."
She spat out the short reply curtly, but Shin Gaon showed no reaction—just tossed her own name back casually.
Shockingly oblivious.
"So, which one? This? This?"
Shin Gaon squatted by the weapons, picking them up one by one and waving them blatantly in front of Yeonwoo's eyes.
Three weapons total. A plain staff, a cracked marble sword, and a bow with a scope attached.
"Hm."
Yeonwoo stepped closer and leaned in.
'All three look solid.'
She had to be careful. Of course she wanted all three, but that was greedy.
Hunters developed a concept naturally over time. Consistency in weapons or combat range was key—using all three would scream "fake" to anyone watching.
"Hmmm."
The deliberation dragged on. Her focus dove straight into the weapons.
Her body naturally tilted forward toward them.
"Ho ho."
Then a meaningful hum escaped from Shin Gaon, who was also crouched low.
The more Yeonwoo's body leaned, the looser her shirt collar gaped, her twin peaks thrusting into increasingly obscene prominence.
Shin Gaon didn't hold back her desire—she lowered the weapon further, dipping her own head.
The moment that deep cleavage peeked through the open shirt...
"Tch."
Shin Gaon clicked her tongue outright.
Not the view she'd hoped for. A drab gray sports bra cradled the bounty too securely, killing the vibe.
"So, this one? Or this?"
Was she calling it a bust? Shin Gaon shook the weapons to hurry her.
Yeonwoo's gaze swayed along with them.
'I want them all.'
How to snag every one? As Yeonwoo's brain revved at full speed...
'Ah. Wait.'
A fairy tale popped into her head. The one where the honest boy who said none were his got the gold axe, silver axe, and the fairy.
Yeonwoo nodded.
◈ Mid-tier Cutting Power
"This sword?"
"Yes!"
Yeonwoo answered brightly.
'Shit.'
But there were circumstances she had to consider.
Mid-tier Cutting Power. She couldn't resist the versatility.
A mid-tier option gave about 20% efficiency. Pair it with low-tier Cutting Power? A whopping 32%.
"Good, full of energy. Here, take it."
"Yep."
Even if the other was a lunatic.
When handed a weapon, politeness flowed out automatically.
"Hm. But what about this? Isn't this our Yeonwoo's too?"
Shin Gaon waved the bow right under her nose.
She'd only given her two-syllable name, but the familiarity was overkill.
Yeonwoo's eyes narrowed naturally.
◈ Low-tier Acceleration
◈ Special: Trajectory Display
"Y-Yeah... it's Yeonwoo's..."
But her body was honest. She couldn't resist snatching the bow dangling right in her face.
'B-But!'
This special option.
'Trajectory Display' was something she absolutely couldn't pass up.
It did exactly what it said—displayed trajectories.
Originally a training weapon. Too weak for real combat.
But for Yeonwoo? Perfect.
For arrows. Even for throwing swords.
Trajectories displayed? A literal dream come true.
She could swallow her pride for that.
"Ahaha. Yeah, take 'em all."
Shin Gaon shoved the remaining staff into Yeonwoo's hand, gripping her palm firmly over the back of it.
◈ Mana Lv. 2
◈ Special: Mana Transfer
Whatever. Yeonwoo just inspected the weapon.
"Oh..."
A shy admiration slipped out.
Even as a Weapon Expert, she'd had no ties to mana weapons.
Made sense. They only worked if your Stigma matched.
'But this might work.'
Mana Transfer. Transferred her mana to a target of choice.
She couldn't use mana herself, but she could boost someone else's.
'Definitely feels like it's clicking into place.'
Unlike the basics of the Ant Nest.
She'd barely glimpsed it due to the scary people, and now dealing with a maniac, but...
The haul made it worth it.
'Oh yeah, events are two-person teams.'
No partner decided yet, but Mana Transfer might come in handy.
Plus, weapons weren't just these three.
◈ Mid-tier Penetration
Including the dagger from just before.
Four solid weapons in a flash.
'Nice.'
A grin spread automatically. A capitalist, greedy one.
"Ho ho."
To others, it looked different. Giggling pitifully, weapons in both hands—like someone rediscovering hope in life. Heartwarming.
"Fun."
Shin Gaon stared hard at Yeonwoo's face.
That beautiful face was intriguing, sure—but her gaze held something sharper, like peering deeper.
But staring right in her face...
Yeonwoo noticed the blatant look and lifted her head.
"...Hm."
Meeting Shin Gaon's eyes head-on.
What to say? Her actions screamed crazy woman, but it hadn't tainted her face.
Tanned skin brimmed with healthy vigor. Sharp, firm lines over soft ones created androgynous beauty.
"Handsome" fit better than "pretty."
Especially those eyes. Narrow, elongated, fiercely sharp. Deep, dark irises added weight.
'What to make of this.'
A complicated feeling.
In the past, the only beauty she'd chatted with eye-to-eye was her sister Yeonseo.
Shin Gaon—and Mikael—were unreachable back then. But now, as a woman facing her... weird vibe.
Not romantically drawn. But not petrified either.
Somewhere in between. Her body was still unfamiliar, but this one packed too much punch in every way.
"Thanks."
"No problem. My pleasure."
Shin Gaon grinned at Yeonwoo's thanks.
Incomprehensible reaction, but things had gone well. Time to part ways.
Please.
"Well then."
Yeonwoo bowed lightly and stood first.
"Yeah."
Shin Gaon nodded readily.
Yeonwoo relaxed and started to leave.
Finally free from this exhausting mess.
"......"
"......"
Thud. Thud.
But clear footsteps followed.
'Whatever. Only one path.'
A bit awkward, but no choice.
After a short walk, the path split blatantly into two.
Yeonwoo sighed in relief and took the right.
Now truly goodbye.
"......"
"......"
Thud. Thud.
Still following. Bouncy, powerful steps.
No attempt to hide.
"Why are you following?"
"What can I do? Path goes this way."
Shin Gaon answered like she'd been waiting, striding up boldly.
"Might as well go together."
Her arm shot out naturally again.
Clearly aiming for the shoulder drape.
Not happening twice. Yeonwoo stopped, crouching low instead.
If she kept following, just let her pass ahead.
"Thanks for the help, but I wanna go solo, ngh...!"
But a sudden demonic hand cut her words, forcing out a sweet gasp.
Shin Gaon had thrust her arm down instead, wrapping that firm grip powerfully around her waist.
'This crazy bitch for real!'
Definitely deliberate with the forearm too.