*
"So, this is where those two disappeared? That Choi Tae-soo? He's the one who stirred things up?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Hmm... Why would the Academy's vice president do something like that?"
Kang Chae-rin examined the area around the Gate, muttering with a puzzled expression.
A guy with nothing to lose kills the guards around here, opens a Gate, and goes through.
Judging from the black energy left in the video, that must be the power those Villains, who are the talk of the town these days, use.
It felt strangely unpleasant since it looked similar to her own power.
"The ones who went in... Kim Si-woo and Park Hye-ji?"
"That's what the video analysis shows..."
"Such an explosion occurred around here, and no one nearby noticed..."
No matter how oblivious people are, it's strange they didn't notice with this much evidence left. It's probably safe to assume some special ability was at play.
I blocked them from coming in from the outside, and now an incident breaks out from the inside.
It's not just anyone, but the vice president who betrayed them; she already felt dizzy.
"Alright, thanks for your hard work investigating."
"Ah... No! It's just my job!"
Kang Chae-rin casually waved her hand at the man who was reacting intensely to her every word, telling him to leave.
The old man and Peanut were staring at the other side of the Gate with serious expressions.
It's understandable for the old man since his granddaughter suddenly went missing, but why is Peanut acting like that over there?
Since those two are so serious, the people around them don't know what to do.
People shouldn't gather at the scene of an incident, but aren't those two quite famous figures?
"Hey, old man. I know how you feel, but let the kids clean up, will you?"
"Chae-rin? Is there any more news?"
"What more could there be? It's the same as what you know, old man."
"I see..."
"She's your granddaughter, old man. She'll be alive. And the guy who went in with her is trustworthy, right?"
"Hehe... That's not wrong, but..."
For that fearsome old man to make such an expression; he was human after all, doting on his family.
That Kim Choi Tae-soo or whatever his name is, will probably turn into mush if Choi Tae-soo catches him.
"Hey, Peanut."
"..."
"I can understand the old man, but why are you acting like that?"
"Don't shout."
"Ha. Still acting all serious. Stop it already. Nothing will change. Even my power doesn't react, so what can you do?"
"..."
I wonder why that girl is acting like that; her face, hidden by the robe, seemed full of murderous intent. It felt like that exact atmosphere when Yoon Seo-ah was in danger in the past.
Could it be because of that Si-woo or whatever his name is?
'Nah... Could it be?'
Maybe she's just angry that the guy she had her eye on suddenly disappeared; after all, she invested in him and couldn't get a return.
She's quite decisive in those matters, so it could be that.
If not, well, could it be?
'Seeing that girl acting like that makes me curious for no reason.'
As more and more people started gathering, Choi Tae-soo and Yoon Seung-ah, who let out a deep sigh, finally started moving.
"So, what are you planning to do about the friendly match?"
"Friendly match... You mean the friendly match?"
"..."
Wasn't the timing deliberately moved up to show that the Hunter Association is still strong?
But if they cancel it midway because of this incident, they wouldn't achieve the original purpose and might even instill more anxiety.
From the Academy's perspective, they've been hit again and again.
"It's right to continue."
"Good thinking. I'll make sure to deal with that Choi Tae-soo or whatever his name is..."
"No. I'll handle that guy."
She seemed too determined, so Kang Chae-rin could only nod silently.
Well, that's why the Villains don't touch Choi Tae-soo's people when he acts like that.
Because Choi Tae-soo will chase them to the end of the earth and smash their skulls.
"Hey, Peanut, what about you?"
"I get it. Just shut up for a bit."
"You agree to continue as well, right?"
"Yeah."
"What could go wrong? They're all top-notch guys, right?"
"..."
Kang Chae-rin scratched her head at Yoon Seung-ah's calm answer, which was different from usual.
She seemed like she would explode if touched even slightly, so I decided not to talk to her.
Choi Tae-soo is old, so he has some self-control, but Yoon Seung-ah lacks that a bit.
It's unlikely, but if she causes a ruckus, I'm the one who has to stop her.
'Ugh... Shit. Why did that bastard follow him in and make things troublesome?'
Kang Chae-rin now wanted to see Kim Si-woo's face for different reasons.
*
The sharply transformed water blade flew towards the large mushroom.
At first, she couldn't even control her body, but now Park Hye-ji was moving quite well.
Today, I received a request from the Adventurer's Guild and entered the forest. I was a Silver rank, and Park Hye-ji, who could control water, could start from Bronze.
Kim Choi Tae-soo wasn't anywhere to be seen, and we couldn't go back, so we needed money to live here.
"I won't forgive you!"
Park Hye-ji drew her sword in front of the King Mushroom, the target.
It looked like a mushroom to anyone, but a mushroom that was a whole 1M tall was hopping around.
Apparently, you roughly remove the head-like part and use it as an ingredient, and it tastes better than mushrooms.
I had eaten monsters before, so I wasn't too repulsed by the fact that some monsters are used as ingredients.
'That's beside the point, but is someone talking about me? Why does my ear keep itching?'
As I scratched my ear, Park Hye-ji, who had defeated the King Mushroom, looked at me with a triumphant expression.
Her power was somewhat diminished, but she was more than capable of doing her part among the adventurers, so taking down those small fries wasn't difficult.
"How was it?"
"Huh?"
"This much is nothing to me now."
"Yeah. Good job."
"Can't you put a little more sincerity into your words?"
"Wow. A.maz.ing."
"Hmph. It was my fault for expecting something like that from you!"
Park Hye-ji turned her head away, sulking at my reaction. Was she angry because I was just joking?
"You know I'm just kidding, right?"
When I tried to casually grab her shoulder, Park Hye-ji was startled and stepped back.
She had her head turned, but she reacted so quickly as if she had eyes in the back of her head.
"D..Don't to..touch me!"
"I'm hurt when you react like that."
"Y..You should be grateful that I'm letting you off this easily!"
"What did I even do?"
"D..Don't ask if you don't know!"
Ever since we started sharing a room, she's been reacting like that whenever I get closer than a certain distance.
She actively defends against my hands touching her body; I can't help but feel wronged.
Well, I have a guess.
'Min-ji seemed to say something about it too...'
Whenever I slept with Min-ji, I would habitually fondle her breasts before falling asleep.
How could I, as a man, resist Min-ji's soft and bouncy breasts? Plus, touching them was like a magic pocket that made all my worries disappear.
At first, Min-ji would say something and tell me to stop, but when I kept doing it, she would sigh and just let me touch them.
Anyway, I always fell asleep while fondling Min-ji's breasts, so I just assumed that it had become a sleep habit.
'Park Hye-ji also said something about a sleep habit... So, I guess I'm roughly right.'
Seeing her reaction, it felt like the puzzle pieces were roughly fitting together.
[ Name : Park Hye-ji ]
[ Favorability : 49 ]
[ Sex Drive : 42 ]
'Seeing her sex drive go up... I think I'm right?'
Park Hye-ji's sex drive was surprisingly low, but it had increased dramatically compared to the past.
Her sex drive couldn't have suddenly increased without any stimulation, so something must have happened.
'I feel a bit wronged. I don't remember touching her, but she touched my body?'
Park Hye-ji has flat breasts, but it would still be fun to tease her, which was a bit of a shame.
Well, if she knew what I was thinking, her favorability would plummet, right?
Even Kim Choi Tae-soo seemed to dislike being looked at in that way.
'Is it fortunate that it happened in her sleep?'
Could a pure action that comes out in her sleep be a way to lower Park Hye-ji's high guard?
Even if it's the same action, it feels different when a child does it versus when a grown adult does it.
Also, seeing that only her sex drive went up without any change in favorability, it wasn't an unbelievable story.
Park Hye-ji's walls are quite sturdy, so acting unintentionally might be more effective than approaching her in a clumsy way.
It would be strange to get angry at someone who doesn't know anything.
'Then it seems important to keep sharing a bed...'
We have no choice now because we're short on money, but things might be different later when the request fees go up.
"Aren't you going to help me collect the spoils?"
"Didn't you say you'd do it alone?"
"I..I only said I'd hunt alone!"
"Ah. I misunderstood. Give it to me; this is how you do it."
*
It was a historic day when she solved her first request with her own hands.
At first, she was worried because her body felt heavy, but after adapting, it seemed like she could move somehow.
Well, it's just a worthless mushroom-like monster, but it's important that she caught it.
'I don't know when I'll be able to go back, but I guess I should be happy for now.'
She had ordered food to commemorate today. Not long after, food was set up in front of Kim Si-woo and her.
A steak that felt more luxurious than yesterday, and a rock-like bread was placed in front of Kim Si-woo.
'...?'
She looked at Kim Si-woo with a question, and Kim Si-woo opened his mouth.
"They say it's an excellent level for a first-timer."
He said that and started eating the rock-like bread without a care.
"Why... is your food different from mine?"
"Ah. That? Sharing a room seemed uncomfortable, so I thought I'd save on food expenses and get my own room."
"Well... it is uncomfortable, but..."
Well, it was true that it was uncomfortable because of her sleep habits, but at this rate, only she would feel uncomfortable.
"Don't worry. I've always eaten anything. This is fine too."
"No..."
How hard could it be to make that sound while chewing bread?
No matter how short on money we are, this wasn't right. If we're going to save money, we should save together; why is only Kim Si-woo eating that kind of food?
"If we're going to save, we should save together. Did you think I'd like this?"
"You wouldn't be able to eat it, though?"
She had grown up without any shortages, but she knew that Hunters shouldn't be picky about food.
"Let's share! And I can eat it too!"
As if she was being seen as an immature rich daughter, she immediately snatched Kim Si-woo's bread and took a bite.
'...'
What should she call this taste? The outside was hard, but the inside felt like sand; her throat felt parched.
She wasn't in a position to be picky about food to survive, but this didn't seem like food she could eat.
"See? You can't eat it, right?"
What kind of life has he lived to eat something like this without a care?
"Don't... don't eat things like this; order your own!"
"Huh? Then there won't be money to rent a room..."
"W..We can just keep sharing a room!"
"Are you sure it's okay? It'll be uncomfortable..."
"It's okay!!"