Chapter 392: The Two People’s Secret Meeting (1)

After finishing the impromptu summoned Crystal Spider subjugation operation.

As discussed in the Crystal Spider cave, I first said goodbye to Hye-eun and Min-ah to meet Cheon Jihee Sunbae.

“I have something I need to do at the company, so you guys go home first today.”

“Huh? Suddenly?”

“Yeah, Taekyung-ah. Then Min-ah and I will leave first today. Don’t overdo it.”

“I know how to manage myself, so you don’t need to worry.”

“No, what is it you suddenly have to do at the company…?”

Hye-eun, without much suspicion at my words about having something to do at the company, took Min-ah and left.

Conversely, Han Min-ah muttered some lingering thoughts to herself with a curious expression about what I was going to do, but thanks to Hye-eun half-forcing her out, I was able to stay alone at the company without any hassle.

Cha Yuri, who was going in a different direction anyway, had already left earlier.

After sending off the other party members like that, I immediately took the elevator to the 3rd floor where the company’s amenities were located.

As I entered the company cafe there, Cheon Jihee Sunbae, who had arrived earlier, was waiting for me at the entrance.

“You’re early, Sunbaenim.”

“Sit down quickly. We have important things to discuss.”

Even though it’s a situation where we need to discuss something important, she’s quite impatient.

“I’m not going to run away halfway, so let’s take our time. Since the conversation seems like it’ll be long anyway, shall we buy a slice of cake and share it?”

“…If you’re going to eat, order one each. I have no intention of sharing.”

“Why? Are you the type who cares about things like indirect kisses?”

“…….”

I had said it lightly as a joke, but it seemed she really was the type to care.

She seemed willing to go as far as her first time if it was for her awakened ability, but drew a clear line in acts that felt like affection.

The impression that the process of raising her favorability wouldn’t be easy naturally crossed my mind.

“I’ll have a warm Americano and Tiramisu cake, what will you have, Sunbaenim?”

“…I’ll handle it myself, so go sit down first.”

“Oh, are you buying it for me?”

“Because this meeting was made at my request.”

“Then I’ll gratefully accept.”

As I had received a favor last time, and she seemed intent on paying this time, I also accepted her favor without much refusal.

After all, it was a meeting gathered because of her request, as Cheon Jihee Sunbae said, so it was only natural for her to buy the coffee.

Considering that Cheon Jihee Sunbae, who had blatantly shown her dislike towards me during our first meeting, and I have now reached a point where I can even get coffee from her, I guess we can say our relationship has really progressed a lot.

Of course, the expected acquisition points floating next to Cheon Jihee Sunbae’s face were telling me that we were still far from that level.

『Current Expected Acquisition Points: 20』

A pathetically low number of expected acquisition points, just like when I saw Eunbyul before her exhibitionist tendencies were discovered.

Even for a virgin with no prior experience, this low number meant she felt extreme repulsion towards the very idea of having sex with me.

After all, Cheon Jihee Sunbae’s unwavering love was for Kang Hye-eun, so it couldn’t be helped.

Truthfully, it might seem strange for me to say this, given that I rejected her first offer, but I was looking quite positively upon the act of having sex with Cheon Jihee Sunbae itself.

Objectively speaking, her body was undeniably attractive, and resolving a party member’s sexual desire meant an increase in the entire party’s combat power.

And if I, who had already become involved with others, crossed that line with Cheon Jihee Sunbae as well, our activities would become a bit smoother in various aspects.

For example, in an extreme case, there could be situations where the party becomes isolated from the outside world inside a dungeon due to unavoidable circumstances.

Since my awakened ability includes a point shop besides skill upgrades, overcoming crises with points is entirely possible.

In such situations, if I ran short on points needed to purchase necessary items, a situation where I’d have to earn points on the spot could arise.

In such cases, just being able to focus on earning points with others without worrying about Cheon Jihee Sunbae’s feelings was quite a significant advantage.

…Or, there was even the possibility of earning points by having sex with her directly.

Although the point values are pathetic right now, if our relationship develops, I could probably raise them to more common numbers, just like with Eunyoung Noona or Eunbyul.

Since she had a long history of unrequited love for Hye-eun, it obviously wouldn’t be easy.

“…I brought your drinks.”

“Ah, thank you, Sunbaenim.”

Taking the warm Americano and slice of Tiramisu cake that Cheon Jihee Sunbae handed me, I moistened my mouth slightly with the drink.

To prepare for a potentially long conversation, I replenished my blood sugar a bit with the slice of cake.

I hadn’t expected much since it was a company cafe, but the cake quality was surprisingly decent.

“…….”

Cheon Jihee Sunbae stared intently at me as I enjoyed my coffee and cake, as if trying to see right through me.

She looked like she couldn’t wait to get to the main point, her mouth practically itching to speak.

Although her favorability rating still hadn’t budged from 20 and showed no signs of increasing.

I thought it was about time to start the conversation, so after swallowing a gulp of coffee, I immediately met Cheon Jihee Sunbae’s eyes and asked.

“You mentioned earlier in the dungeon that you had something to discuss, right?”

“Yes.”

“Please tell me. Why is it impossible for you to form a relationship with the person you like, why your awakened ability is weakening, and what effect that has on your relationship with that person.”

“…….”

In truth, I had a general grasp of the situation even without her saying it directly.

Given that I already knew Cheon Jihee Sunbae liked Kang Hye-eun from the Lust Potion used last time, it was an obvious answer that didn’t even require asking.

First, since it was a relationship between two women, not only was satisfactory sexual release impossible, but entering a relationship intimate enough for sleeping together was much harder than a typical heterosexual relationship.

Especially since Hye-eun, whom she had a crush on, was already in a romantic relationship with me, it was virtually an impossible romance.

The weakening of her awakened ability being closely tied to the person she loved was likely for the same reason.

Currently, the only connection between Cheon Jihee Sunbae and Hye-eun was being part of the same party, Sky Blue Shield, within the company guild.

If her awakened ability weakened to the point she had to leave Sky Blue Shield, her chances of meeting Hye-eun would virtually disappear.

Rather than let that happen, acknowledging that her awakened ability was weakening and finding a way to rebound through sex with me to remain in Sky Blue Shield-I could understand this as the true meaning behind her initial proposal.

‘Becoming nothing to the person you love’ would be a far more unbearable fate than ‘not being able to have your first experience with the person you love’.

I fully understood her feelings, but the problem was that sex in this state seemed to offer no benefit to either of us.

This reason was naturally included in why I rejected Cheon Jihee Sunbae’s first offer.

Cheon Jihee Sunbae’s sexual desire, left unsatisfied by the sex, wouldn’t be fully resolved, and her awakened ability wouldn’t recover properly.

Even after going through the trouble of arranging a time and sleeping with her, there was a possibility it would end just like that, with me only seeing Cheon Jihee Sunbae’s displeased face throughout the encounter.

In that case, it had the high potential of becoming the worst sexual experience imaginable, leaving a lifelong scar for both her and me.

As the Hunter managing sexual desires, that was the future I least desired.

To move towards a physical relationship with her, I first needed to find a solution to address that issue.

Cheon Jihee Sunbae’s sexual desire needed to be satisfactorily resolved so she could regain her awakened ability, and I needed to ensure I wouldn’t have to see her displeased face during the act.

“…First, I think I need to tell you who the person I like is.”

“Yes.”

“It might be disrespectful to you. The person I like is someone very close to you.”

“…….”

“So promise me. You’ll never tell anyone else about the person I’m about to mention.”

“Including the person themself?”

“…….”

“Yes.”

…Seeing her say this much, it seems she really intends to hide her feelings until the very end.

Showing a slightly sympathetic expression, Cheon Jihee Sunbae continued her confession about the person she liked.

Since I already knew the content, I simply responded with a calm demeanor.

“The person I love… is Kang Hye-eun.”

“…….”

“I’ve loved her since the moment I first met Hye-eun in a dungeon two years ago. Her appearance, scattering her beautiful hair as she blocked my path, and her confident, spirited demeanor.”

“…….”

“…I’m sorry towards you, Hye-eun’s lover. But these feelings won’t change now or in the future. And if I weaken, I won’t be able to remain in Sky Blue Shield…”

“I knew, actually.”

“So I’m sorry, but I need your awakened ability… Wait, what did you say?”

“I knew. That Cheon Jihee Sunbae loved Hye-eun.”

Cheon Jihee Sunbae, who had been excitedly talking about Hye-eun, froze stiff.

Since she had taken a risk and revealed a layer of her secret, it was time for me to respond.

Regarding the method of having sex in a way that could restore Cheon Jihee Sunbae’s awakened ability.