Chapter 47
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: The Thief's Main Stat Isn't Luck (2)
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Monday morning. Maybe because of the hour, the park was quieter than expected.
The park, about a ten-minute walk from Yang Jihee's place, hugged an unnamed little river. Sitting there blankly on the bench, the only sounds drifting in faintly were people laughing and chatting, along with the gentle trickle of water.
"Here. Press this against your eyes."
I took the cold cola can Oroji thrust out at me and rubbed it over my still slightly puffy eyelids.
Crying my eyes out at twenty because the house was empty. Maybe it'd be less embarrassing if I just dove straight into the river. With that thought, I let out a heavy sigh.
Oroji plopped her ass down next to me on the bench and giggled. She crossed her long legs, wrapped tight in her rider suit, and shook her coffee can.
"So, you get in touch with everyone?"
"Yeah. For now..."
Chae Seoah and Yang Jihee were tied up with clan business. Moon Hayeon had stepped out to sort through her stuff at her old place. And Oroji, who was supposed to pass that along, had just gone to the bathroom. In the end, it was no big deal.
I cooled my flushed face with the chilly cola can. Wiping the condensation roughly on the back of my hand, I let out another deep sigh, like the ground might swallow me up.
"Don't sweat it too much. In our generation, crap like this is pretty common."
Oroji tapped her temple with her index finger as she spoke.
From mid-teens to thirties. Way too broad a group to lump together, but pretty much everyone who'd hit adolescence during the Millennium Shock carried some kind of baggage.
No kidding—even after hunter systems and gate clears got standardized and society stabilized, the hottest job out there was psychiatrist.
I told myself I was just mildly affected too, as I glanced sideways at Oroji.
She was still keeping her distance from me. Staring straight ahead. She hadn't said a proper word the whole walk to the park.
Well, who'd blame her after seeing that? A full-grown man suddenly bawling "waaah mommy." Feeling distant was the sane reaction.
I cracked open the cola can and scooted carefully closer to Oroji's side.
"Feels better now. Thanks..."
She was the one who'd dragged me out here and planted me on this bench. Got me some fresh air. Gratitude was in order first.
Oroji looked down at me quietly, then backed away exactly as much as I'd closed the gap.
Lips pressed tight like she was holding something in, she whipped her gaze toward the river. Even let out a sigh. Looked like she'd lost any fondness she might've had.
Not that there was much between us to begin with. But for me, who'd started seeing her in a good light after surviving that near-death mess together, it stung.
"Ah..."
As I mulled over the inexplicable bitterness, a translucent message window suddenly popped up in front of my eyes.
Current Remaining Space: 30% (Major Drop Applied)
Right, about time. My head felt foggy, like it was shrouded in mist, and I furrowed my brow just a bit.
Were the tears draining my stamina more than I thought? Or was that damn post-nut clarity debuff hitting harder? Either way, my mind was more scattered than usual.
I glanced at Oroji. She'd uncrossed her legs and was trembling faintly, still showing me her back.
Asking her to give me space right when she was repulsed by me would be a dick move. Better head home and handle it solo somehow.
I let out a thin sigh and reached out to pat her back.
"Uh, I kinda wanna head out now."
"...Huh?"
...Wait. Foot in mouth. My mind snapped back. I hurriedly tacked on the missing words.
"I mean, wanna go home. It's getting late, and my head's cooled off..."
"...You wanna go?"
No dice. She's not hearing it. Not in talk mode.
First time seeing Oroji on the verge of exploding like this, but thanks to Moon Hayeon, I'd learned the hard way: run. I scrambled to stand.
"Anyway, I'll head back first."
As I pushed off the bench, Oroji suddenly clamped down on my wrist. Her grip was brutal.
"I... seriously, no matter what, this feels wrong, been trying to hold back somehow..."
"W-Wait..."
Haaa. She exhaled a hot, humid sigh as she spoke. Still vise-gripping my wrist. Head bowed, she slowly rose from her seat.
Hold back? On what? So earlier wasn't her losing interest—it was her holding something else back?
"No, for real. Fucking a crying guy is straight-up pathetic. That's why I was holding back? But..."
"No, that's not what I meant! I was just saying I wanna go home! Come on, at least listen...!"
The cold cola can slipped from my hand and clattered loudly on the ground. Her grip tightened. I let out a low whimper of pain.
Hearing that, Oroji smirked. Her lip curled up in a wicked grin.
"You said you wanna go first...?"
"Home, home, fuck, my home..."
Smirk. The whites of her eyes faintly bloodshot. She stared me down. Doom sensed—I'd tried everything. No point; words weren't landing.
Far from snapping out of it, she shuddered at the sight of me sniffling pathetically.
She yanked my wrist hard, dragging me toward the park's corner. Into the thick bushes.
Riverside bushes. A secluded park corner, out of most sightlines. The kind of spot couples might sneak off to late at night—but no one else around, unfortunately.
Still clutching my wrist tight, she half-tossed me away by letting go. My head was a mess. No clue how to stop her.
"What're you staring at like that? You said you wanna go. I'm doing what you asked—got a problem?"
One corner of her mouth twisted up as she spoke. She sauntered over slowly. Long fingers snaked between my legs.
"Hng...!!"
Over my pants. Oroji seized my balls in a vise grip. Like toying with a kid's plaything, she squeezed and kneaded teasingly.
Pain hit before any pleasure. Every time I squirmed to break free, her grip crushed harder. I gave up resisting.
"Hk, hng..."
"What? Gonna cry again? Think that'll make me baby you?"
She giggled, looming over me. Her curled lip quivered. Her pitch-black eyes, backlighted by the sun, bored into me like they could pierce right through.
"Even picked this spot thinking of you—not on the bench. Shouldn't you be thanking me?"
She bunched her fingers, stroking my cock like she was inspecting its shape. As pleasure welled up and I tilted my chin back, shuddering, she licked her parched lips, released her hand, and stepped back a pace.
Ziiip...
Oroji yanked the zipper from her chest straight down to her crotch. She slipped her arms out, lifted an ankle—and with that, the bulky outer layer flopped to the ground.
Under the sunlight, Oroji's porcelain-pale body came into view. Full breasts contrasting a cinched waist. Hips clinging tight, thighs sleek and toned. Even the black panties hugging her pelvis.
I stared blankly for a second before jerking my head up.
"N-No, not here. Someone might see..."
"It's fine. Got Stealth. Well, works perfect for me—you might still show up, though?"
She let out a thin giggle as she spoke. Kicking aside pebbles and stones, she spread her clothes roughly on the ground.
She jerked her chin downward.
"Get down."
A tone ice-cold, more suited to a dog than a person.
Fists clenched tight, I shook my head furiously. Even if I was tossing dignity aside, broad daylight outdoors was a whole other level.
Oroji's eyes narrowed as she stared. Tsk of her tongue, then she jabbed her index finger at the spread-out clothes, enunciating each word heavily.
"I said, get down."
...I slowly lowered myself. Hands and knees propping me up. Like a dog, sprawled on the grass.
"Who said all fours?"
She kicked off her sneakers and pinned my waist with her bare foot. With a small yelp, I flattened to the ground like a frog.
"Thought it over. Don't really feel like giving it to you straight-up right now."
Her toes dug into my tailbone as she spoke. She squatted, grabbed my waistband, and yanked—pants and underwear slid down, baring my lower half.
Head turned away from her. Trembling with shame. Oroji watched, looking utterly delighted.
"So, not me..."
Long fingers caressed my ass—then slammed it down against the ground.
My half-hard cock mashed into the dirt. The crushing pressure nearly pulled a groan from me; I bit my lip hard to stifle it.
"I'll let you have a go at my clothes instead. Sound good?"
I twisted my head to look, face pale with fear. She stared fixedly at my ass. Lip twisted up like a bank teller. Smirking with raw lust.