Coward
Coward
The next morning, Lee Yul was waiting at the gate as usual.
She smiled brightly and handed me a paper bag.
"Good morning, Yunha-ssi."
"Morning."
"I thought you might be tired of kimbap. Today it's sandwiches."
"...Thanks."
I took the now-familiar bag. The self-loathing remained, but hunger won out. The sandwich tasted delicious as it entered my mouth.
***
We began hunting immediately.
"Grrrr...!"
A wolf tried to flank us.
As I swung my arm—
Light wrapped around my body.
"Yunha-ssi!"
The wolf's head exploded like a watermelon.
What's this?
"...You can activate buffs and healing separately now?"
"Yes! I practiced during our break yesterday. I think I can use my trait more efficiently this way too."
...While I was wasting time, she's been improving.
Ignoring my complicated gaze, Yul extracted the core from the wolf's remains. She no longer froze up or closed her eyes.
"Yul."
"Yes?"
"It's time to get used to the boss."
Yul's face stiffened. Until now, she'd only hidden in corners during boss fights. But today, I decided to push her forward.
***
We walked side by side toward the giant boar. The massive boss slowly raised its head. All color drained from Yul's face.
—SQUEEEE!!
The boss noticed us and noisily scraped its hind legs. The ground shook as its enormous mass charged.
I kicked off the ground and grabbed both tusks with my hands.
"Grrk...!"
My feet dug deep into the earth from the tremendous friction.
"Yul! Buff!"
No response came from behind me.
"What's wrong?!"
Glancing back, Yul was in terrible shape.
"Haa... haa...!"
Empty eyes. She hyperventilated as convulsions wracked her body. Her staff clattered to the ground.
"Yul! Snap out of it!!"
The boss suddenly jerked its head upward.
"Shit?!"
I was helplessly flung into the air. The boss rammed me with its massive body.
CRACK.
A sickening snap as my left arm bent unnaturally. My body flew through the air before slamming into a wall. The boss immediately turned toward defenseless Yul.
No!
I forced myself up. My left arm hung limp. The taste of blood filled my mouth.
Yet—
I stood before Yul.
THUD—!
The boss's charge hit me head-on. I spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Fucking hurts like hell!"
Why am I doing this? I can barely take care of myself.
***
In Yul's blurred vision—
Red droplets splattered. Not her blood. Yunha's.
At that moment, unwanted memories resurfaced.
—Red. Screams.
Again.
—Familiar hands pushing her into hiding.
Because of me again.
—Those always-warm hands turning cold as they fell to the ground.
I can't let someone die again.
The fear didn't vanish. Breathing remained difficult. But now, something stronger than fear gripped Yul's chest.
"Ah, aaaaah!"
No time to pick up her staff. She stretched out trembling hands.
The massive boss snorted before her, but she no longer cared. Only Yunha's back filled her vision.
Light gathered at her fingertips. Then vanished.
"Come out... come out..."
Once.
Twice.
"Please...!"
Yul bit her lip and screamed. Finally, brilliant light erupted from her hands, enveloping Yunha.
***
CRACK. POP.
Brief agony as shattered bones realigned, then complete relief. I examined my fully healed left arm.
Then turned my head. Yul stood there, tears streaming, desperately maintaining the light with bare hands.
"...Think you can do it?"
"Yes... *sob* I'm sorry. Because of me again..."
"Don't apologize. I let my guard down."
The words escaped before I realized. Why am I saying this?
But they were already spoken.
"Let's go again. Keep up!"
Yul wiped her tears and picked up her staff.
"Yes...!"
While blocking the boss, I grabbed its tusks again. Light poured into me once more.
"Raaaaaah!!"
Explosive power surged through me. I poured insane strength into my grip.
—SNAP! CRUNCH!
The boar's tusks shattered. It thrashed and shrieked. I grabbed a sharp tusk fragment and jammed it into the boss's throat.
***
After defeating the boss, we cleared the remaining First Layer monsters before heading out. Yul seemed to have shed a layer of hesitation, seamlessly alternating between healing and buffs. Her latent talent was surfacing.
This girl... definitely has potential.
At the Settlement Office, I couldn't believe my eyes when exchanging cores.
"...1.28 million won?"
Including the boss core, our highest earnings yet.
"Split in half..."
"640,000 won."
"Ah, thanks."
At this rate... I won't starve.
I summoned my Status Window. The Sun had reduced to slightly more than half its size.
At this pace... maybe within a week. Just barely.
Hope began to appear.
"Let's... keep it up tomorrow too!"
Yul smiled radiantly against the sunset, pushing back sweat-damp hair. Her smile was so dazzling I could only nod.
But that brilliant light returned to haunt me terribly that night.
***
The air in my room felt bitterly cold that night. Out of habit, I turned on Lee Suyeon's stream. On screen, she danced in a maid outfit.
"Haa... ngh..."
Mechanically clicking donation buttons while stroking my erection.
50,000 won.
100,000 won.
But something felt off.
Though my eyes watched Suyeon's bouncing chest, my mind kept recalling Yul's face from earlier.
Her tearful expression as she healed me. Her beaming smile at sunset superimposed over Suyeon's face.
My heart raced wildly.
"Haa..."
I came.
"This isn't right. Seriously..."
Suyeon smiled on screen. But what I saw—
"Fuck."
Second time.
'Yunha-ssi'
Third time.
'I'll definitely help Yunha-ssi.'
Fourth time.
That girl smiling at me.
"Oppa's faster than usual today? Did you earn a lot?"
[Suyeon's Fan: Can you change outfits?]
"Huh? What outfit?"
[Suyeon's Fan: Anything white would be nice]
"Ah, wait..."
Suyeon disappeared off-camera, returning in a white mini dress.
"How is it? Does it suit me?"
[Suyeon's Fan: Yeah]
'Let's keep it up tomorrow!'
Fifth time.
"Haa... ngh..."
No more.
I tightly gripped the base to suppress ejaculation.
But Yul perfectly superimposed over white-dressed Suyeon. Disgusted by imagining her face as I came, yet the forbidden pleasure outweighed it.
Finally, white fluid leaked out.
Squelch.
Endless pleasure bloomed amidst self-loathing.
***
[Arin - Oppa, what dance should I do today?]
"Kyaa! Our Gom Oppa is the best! Only you matter~"
Arin flirted while dancing as fanfare played.
[Keunson Gom gifted 5,000 balloons!]
[Keunson Gom gifted 3,000 balloons!]
She winked at the camera.
That bitch Wolha hasn't streamed lately.
"Oppa, you'll never leave me again, right? Mwah!"
Thanks to that, this gullible whale returned to me.
Arin shook her ass while dancing. "I'm in such a good mood today!"
How much advance did that bitch get? I only got 500 from Park Haneul.
"Hmm, cosplay? Should I...?"
Hope she skips the next collab, gets slapped with penalties, and crashes completely.
"Wait, I'll change outfits."
She cheerfully left to change.
Ah~ So satisfying!
***
[Dungeon Forum]
Title: No news about the caveman and Pingchang's party
Any updates?
ㅇㅇ: Why are these guys still on 1st Floor?
ㅇㅇ: Fr just move to 2nd Floor already
ㅇㅇ: Pingchang's healing trait seems OP though
ㅇㅇ: Then why'd she run during the boss fight?
ㅇㅇ: Why form a party instead of joining a guild anyway?
ㅇㅇ: Did Pingchang really run though?
ㅇㅇ: There were witnesses.
ㅇㅇ: Maybe they screwed up and blamed her?
[Streamer Forum]
Title: Holding my breath until Wolha streams again
Huff
ㅇㅇ: She's dead dude
ㅇㅇ: Not even posting notices now lol
ㅇㅇ: When's Haneul Company's next stream? Will she be on?
ㅇㅇ: Probably? They'll hit her with massive penalties
ㅇㅇ: 300mil debt plus penalties means life's over right? lol
ㅇㅇ: What? Wolha's appearing on next Haneul Company stream?
ㅇㅇ: The story continues Sasuke
***
[Lee Yul: I'm really sorry about today.]
[Lee Yul: I promise I won't do that again.]
[Lee Yul: I swear.]
[Kang Yunha: Got it.]
[Kang Yunha: But let me ask you something.]
[Lee Yul: Yes?]
[Kang Yunha: Why do you follow my lead so much?]
[Lee Yul: Just because hehe.]
[Lee Yul: I just trust Yunha-ssi.]
[Kang Yunha: Why though?]
[Lee Yul: Do I need a reason?]
Yul set down her phone and lay on the bed.
"...Reason."
His face surfaced in her mind. That first encounter when he charged the boss with glowing red eyes.
"Is this the suspension bridge effect?"
I don't know.
But since that day, her heart raced whenever she saw him. Just his face made her happy. She wanted to do anything for him.
"...But why won't he upgrade his gear?"
He's earned enough by now.
Yul suddenly sat up.
"Could he be in debt somewhere?"
If I helped...
"No, Yunha-ssi might take it as pity."
Yul frowned.
"If I gift him equipment..."
Fortunately, her dungeon earnings remained untouched in her account.
"Yunha-ssi... wouldn't refuse, right?"