Chapter 9: The Trap of Temptation

"Hey, Chanyoung. You really not going?"

"Nah, I'm good."

Blanc François. The guy talking to me, and my roommate for the day. French-born, 22 years old, as his name suggests.

"You're seriously thinking of going?"

"Fortune favors the bold! Famous saying you can hear anywhere in the world."

"If you're set on it... good luck, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠then."

"Heh heh heh... I got a real good feeling about tonight."

That feeling? Best not to put too much stock in it. Hiding my inner thoughts, I gave Blanc—who was eagerly awaiting the night—a pitiful look. No point trying to talk him out of it. Guess I'd just console him come morning. So where was Blanc headed with such enthusiasm? Obviously, Gwangnyeon-i's room.

Gwangnyeon-i's shocking actions and words from earlier were still shaking the guys in the training camp to their core. Even I, knowing full well it was a trap, had been tempted—so yeah, that says it all.

That's right. Gwangnyeon-i's temptation was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a trap. Exactly what kind? Save that revelation for tomorrow morning's fun.

"By the way, Blanc, we're friends, right?"

"What? You guys in Korea ask that kinda stuff to butter people up? But yeah, obviously we're friends!"

A satisfied smile crept over me at the quick quest clear. Lucky Blanc was a big-hearted guy with no racial or looks-based biases.

Hmm... Should I try talking him out of it as thanks? Nah. No way his ears are open right now. I'd just piss him off. It's not like he's gonna die or anything... just pick up a trauma or two.

Ah... but damn, it is tempting. Can't back out now...

Cold logic aside, my dick was still proudly healthy down there. Nearly an hour since the incident, and...

This body must have some insane libido. Not that I hate sex or anything. My mind and body were putting on a maddening collab, leaving me desperate to cool the heat inside.

Damn, can't Natural Healing handle this shit? Apparently not. An hour in, and still raging.

I glanced around. As expected, guys bunked with guys, girls with girls. Just five dudes in this room. The other four were in a heated debate about hitting up Gwangnyeon-i's room or not. No one'd notice if I muttered to myself.

Perfect.

"Status window."

Seeing '130 Karma' made me feel secure. Just rewards from two early quests—not game-changing, but hey, good start is half the battle!

First things first: shop window. Better ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to grab cheap elixirs or whatever before dumping straight into stats.

Following the system's advice, I filtered, then hit shop again. Still scrolled forever.

"So many categories..." Scrolling through, nothing great jumped out. Cheap stuff was obviously flawed. Skills especially...

Stuff like that killed any buyer's urge. Not even "reduces"—it's "might reduce." Waste of 10 Karma. Better save for something good.

"Whoa!" No real hopes, just browsing consumables, when one item caught my eye.

Height Growth Potion! Mesmerized, I tapped for details.

"Gasp!" My finger instinctively went for buy, but I stopped. Only a day in this body, but short height was a huge pain. Looking up at everyone chipped away at my pride. Coming from tall life made it worse, maybe...

Don't rush. What do I need right now... Stats lacking across the board, useless flab, short stature... Wanna fix looks first, but can't afford it. This world's no joke—gotta prioritize survival. Strength and vitality for tomorrow's training make sense. But...

"Gotta fix height first."

Benefits were huge. Taller frame leverages same muscle better—pure efficiency. Plus, flab'd distribute better on taller build. 155cm 150kg vs. 185cm 150kg? Night and day.

Checked Appearance Edit for instant height cost, just in case. System might be cheaper than potion.

"100 Karma per cm... Potion's twice as efficient."

Edit let me just lengthen legs, instant effect—no waiting. Not compelling enough. With Karma tight, 2cm extra mattered more. No hesitation—bought the potion.

Snap! A small glass vial appeared in my hand. Startled, I scanned around—no witnesses, good.

"So that's the signal, right? You going or what?"

"What're we gonna do, all rush in? Think we're the only ones? At least ten guys'll show..."

"Ten dudes with one girl... Urk... I'd rather die."

"In this world, when else you gonna get a shot at pussy? Seize the chance!"

"I ain't that desperate. Can't wrap my head around group stuff."

"Agreed. If you go, Blanc, go solo."

Luckily, no eyes on me. All engrossed in debate. Sighing relief, I quickly uncorked and downed the potion. No splash.

Apple juice taste... Swallowed silently, pocketed the vial. Glass ain't common here—gotta hide it.

No immediate change felt. No worries—system wouldn't lie. Karma down to 30. Tried stats?

"Tch..." Save this Karma. Never know.

Wonder when next quest drops? Wanna grind 'em fast. Speak of the devil—

"..." Too easy. Just sleep early. Clears let me buy another potion! Smiling, prepped for bed. My "bed"—a rickety wooden frame. Creak!

"What? Already crashing?"

"Yeah. So you're going solo?"

Heavy body made it scream. Blanc turned—eye contact. Unlike others, he was fussing solo: dusting clothes, fixing hair, bustling.

"Yup. Suits me fine. Hate locking eyes with dudes mid-group. Fewer the better."

Thanks for the unwanted mental image. Just one going? Surprisingly low. Earlier, seemed like most guys would rush. Guess cooldown set in. Fewer victims? Good news. Blanc among 'em? Sad.

"Well... good luck. Don't get down if shit happens."

"Haha! Fear rejection, never get the girl?"

"Wasn't talking rejection..."

Shrugged, dodged, pulled covers over. Early sleep for quest. Afternoon march left me drowsy—lights out easy.

*

"Yawn..."

Sun not up—room dark, lights off. Other three slept.

"Blanc... didn't come back."

Tsk tsk... His bed empty. Yawning, checked quests. Cleared, new one popped. Perfect—planned to head out anyway.

Creak! Up and out. Crisp dawn air cleared my head. Trait woke me ages ago, but still refreshing. Strolled dark grounds, rebought and downed potion. 100 Karma gone—not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a regret. Total 4cm growth this month.

"Somewhere out of sight..." Found spot: dense trees, perpetual shade. Dug hole with branch—small pit. Dropped two vials, smashed with rock. Crunch! Crunch! Glass dust, buried clean. No traces, no suspicions.

Mission smooth.

"Nice... back inside..."

"Huh? What? A person? Thought it was wildlife."

Shit! Voice from 1m away. Confirmed empty! No footsteps. Whirled—Gwangnyeon-i grinning down at me.

"Whatcha doing here?"