Chapter 117
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: The Team Leader's Visit
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From a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 10. The Work System had implemented the employees' abilities like game stats.
At first, he couldn't believe it, but before long, Hyunwoo realized that the numbers for himself and the other employees were quite—no, extremely objective and accurate.
And by raising his own stats directly, he learned there was a huge difference between bumping his [Stamina], which had been at 3, up to 4, and raising his [Virility], which had been at 5, to 6.
It was like having 5 right in the center as the baseline—with "high" above it and "low" below.
The change from 3 to 4 in [Stamina] was barely noticeable, just enough to ease some shoulder stiffness. But crossing the baseline of 5 and raising [Virility] brought an enormous shift. Not only did his size increase, but he gained insane stamina that let him keep going no matter how many times he finished.
[Charm] worked the same way. Kim Ji-young, the first one he'd targeted with the Work System, had a [Charm] of 5. She was the epitome of average—not ugly, but not pretty either.
But the moment it went above 5, she became like Seo Jin-ah, Eun Seol, or Kim Hye-ri: the kind of woman any man would find attractive.
In the end, the key was crossing that baseline of 5. Improvements below it didn't bring much change, but surpassing 5 triggered something close to a miracle.
'Then wouldn't it be better to invest in even one extra point of Stamina?'
Hyunwoo had dumped his initial points into Stamina without a second thought. Thanks to that, it was subtly one step higher than his [Charm]. If he poured points in all the way to 8...
'I'd be stronger than Choi Hyun-min.'
Raising [Stamina] would mean he'd never lose a physical matchup anywhere. No more getting helplessly grabbed by the collar and dangled like a ragdoll by Choi Hyun-min.
'Ah, but [Charm] is tempting too...'
[Charm]: the power to draw people in. Staring at his pathetic [Charm] brought back all the indifference and disdain he'd faced.
Even doing the same work, charming guys like Lee Byung-joo got all the attention, and the same words landed completely differently based on reputation or favorability.
What treatment had he gotten for quietly grinding away? "Good job." "You worked hard." No real recognition—just more work piled on. That miserable reality still stung Hyunwoo.
Even at 7, he'd get a slick, appealing look—maybe on par with Choi Hyun-min's decent appearance. People's gazes would definitely change.
'Ah, but... do I even need [Charm] now?'
Hyunwoo already had four women with [Charm] at 8 under his thumb. Sure, it was thanks to the Work System's administrator privileges, but with no other female employees left to target, what did [Charm] matter?
'And it'd kinda be boring...'
Just flash a handsome smile, and women would be hearts-in-eyes, clinging to him. No real conquest—face would be a total cheat code.
Would that even be fun? Like cruising a smooth highway. Comfortable, sure, but none of the thrill of bouncing over a dirt road.
'Yeah, I'm definitely not normal...'
'And I want to try more positions too.'
His absolute lack of strength had kept certain positions out of reach so far. If he could effortlessly lift the female employees, those porn-only fantasies would become reality.
'Yeah, full circle back to [Stamina]. Stamina is national power.'
After agonizing deliberation, Hyunwoo decided to go with [Stamina].
Just as his finger hovered over [Stamina]...
'Oh right. This might hurt a ton at first?'
Raising [Virility] had come with excruciating pain. Better to do it lying in bed.
"Let's call it for today. Wait for my call."
Hyunwoo—no, Hye-ri's Master now—finished speaking and left the rooftop.
"Ah... uh..."
Even after he was gone, Hye-ri sat slumped on the dark rooftop for a while. Her disheveled blouse fluttered in the wind, exposing her now B-cup pale bare chest, boosted by her raised [Charm].
Only when the semen dripping from her thighs had dried into white streaks did she carefully stand and leave the rooftop.
"Hah!"
Her legs still weak, her gait was unsteady. With her tousled hair and wrinkled clothes—despite her attempts to fix them—she boarded a taxi, looking like she'd inspire lewd imaginings.
"Alright then..."
Lying comfortably on his studio apartment bed, Hyunwoo cautiously raised his [Stamina] by one in the Work System's [Status Window].
"Eut!"
- Crack
A lifetime of slouched posture had hunched his back, but it straightened in an instant. More refreshing than painful, like after physical therapy.
"What the?"
"Nothing much? I got scared for nothing."
If he'd known, he could've done it right there on the rooftop. Reveling in the fresh straightness of his back, Hyunwoo...
- Tap tap
...hit [Stamina] repeatedly.
"——!"
"Gahk!"
His breath caught. From fingertips to toes, his whole body ignited like it was burning in a blaze, heating up in seconds.
He knew big changes hit every jump starting from the baseline of 5, but no pain from 4 to 5 made him foolishly crank two levels at once.
And the price for that stupidity was brutal.
"Kuhuk!"
- Crack crack pop crack crack
His joints churned with a spine-chilling intensity beyond anything before.
'Sh...shit... I should've... gone one by one slow...'
Hyunwoo regretted his carelessness, but it was too late. All he could do was curse his own idiocy.
"Kuh... kgh..."
Writhing in endless agony, Hyunwoo soon lost consciousness entirely. If only there was an [Intelligence] stat... That was his last thought.
- Bzzz bzzz bzzz
"Ugh..."
How much time had passed? Hyunwoo woke to his phone's relentless vibration.
"Kuh!"
He tried raising his hand for the phone, but lightning-bolt pain surged with every movement. His hand trembled violently from the torment.
"H...hello."
Finally grabbing the phone, Hyunwoo answered.
- Deputy Lee. What are you doing right now?
A husky voice, stripped of emotion and all the more chilling for it. It was his direct superior, Choi Go-eun.
"T...Team Leader?"
- You're not about to say you just woke up, are you, Deputy Lee?
A staunch stickler for rules. The epitome of a workaholic. Choi Go-eun despised anyone slacking on the basics of attendance. Her tone suggested 9 AM had long passed.
"S...sorry. Team Leader, I'm not feeling well..."
Pure truth—no faking it. Even moving his mouth to speak brought excruciating pain.
- ...Where does it hurt?
Choi Go-eun's icy tone softened instantly. She'd noticed his voice wasn't normal.
"My whole body's burning up... like the flu. Sorry, Team Leader..."
- Oh... no, it's fine. I'll process it as sick leave, so rest today, Deputy Lee.
"Thank you... Team Leader."
- Are you alone at home?
"Yes. Renting near the office."
- I... I see. Got it. Rest up, Deputy Lee.
- Click
Her voice had sounded flustered at the end.
'What was that?'
But with his body still aching everywhere, Hyunwoo passed out back into sleep.
- Ding dong ding dong
"Kuh... what now..."
Hyunwoo's studio had just one small window, shrouded by thick blackout curtains, leaving the room pitch dark—no clue what time it was.
- Ding dong ding dong
"Wh...who is it..."
Morning... no, afternoon? Either way, no one visited his place on a weekday. The persistent doorbell irritated him.
'Delivery guy?'
If so, just leave it at the door.
"Kuh..."
Every bone felt shattered as he rose; the pain was immense, beading sweat on his forehead.
- Creeak
"Who is it?"
His voice carried a hint of annoyance as he opened the front door.
"D...Deputy Lee, are you okay?"
And there, dominating his view with an overwhelming presence, was an enormous bust.
"Uh?"
Her hair neatly combed back and tied up without a strand out of place, thick black horn-rimmed glasses. A prim skirt to the knees matched her jacket.
"Team Leader?"
Choi Go-eun, who should be at the office, stood before him.
"Uh... Team Leader. Come in."
Stunned, Hyunwoo welcomed her. Was it the bachelor pad vibe? A thick masculine scent hit her nose.
'This is where Deputy Lee lives...'
"I'm not feeling well, so I'll lie down. Sorry, Team Leader."
"Yeah, lie down quick, Deputy Lee."
'Sweat on his face just from that...'
A brief movement had left his face drenched in pain-sweat. Far worse than she'd thought—her heart twinged unexpectedly.
"Did you... take any medicine?"
"No... anyway, Team Leader, how'd you know my address?"
Hyunwoo had never brought Choi Go-eun here, never shared it. How'd she find him?
"Team Leaders can access team members' personal info. For emergencies like this. N...not that I'd looked at yours before."
"Ah, I see..."
Alone in a man's place—or embarrassed about digging his info?—she looked uncharacteristically flustered.
"Uh... anyway, you haven't eaten, right? Figured, so I got some porridge. Nothing fancy, but eat this."
Choi Go-eun handed him a still-hot container of veggie porridge. Thinking flu, she'd grabbed fever meds too.
"Thanks for caring... Team Leader."
Having passed out in bed since yesterday, Hyunwoo hadn't eaten—the smell hit his hunger hard.
"Krut..."
But the lingering pain made even lifting a spoon impossible.
"Too rough right now... I'll eat later when I feel better."
"You haven't eaten since morning..."
After a moment's thought, Choi Go-eun...
- Click
...opened the lid herself and scooped some porridge.
"Hoo hoo..."
"Here, eat up quick..."
Her face flushed with embarrassment, but worried for him, Choi Go-eun blew on it and fed him directly.
Hyunwoo was slightly shocked by this unexpected side. Nothing like her usual office demeanor.
"Then... thanks, I'll dig in."
Not refusing, he accepted the spoonfuls she offered. Their distance naturally closed.
A faint fabric softener scent wafted from her.
'Deputy Lee's scent...'
Choi Go-eun was inhaling his too.
"Haa... ahh..."
Regardless of her will, her ripe, hormone-rich body heated up reacting to his scent. Unbidden, memories of a steamy night in this very studio flooded back.
'Visiting a subordinate's sickbed... what am I thinking...'
- Squeeze
She pinched her plush thigh to snap out of it, but his sweat-perfume filled the room, constantly teasing her.
"Team Leader? Team Leader?"
"Uh... ah... did you call me?"
Her unfocused eyes and flushed cheeks. Hyunwoo, mid-bite, noticed and silently stared.
"..."
"..."
Awkward silence stretched. After a beat, Hyunwoo gently pulled her toward his bed.