Chapter 72: Sinful Man (1)

When I came outside after finishing all the work at the guild, the numbers on my smartphone clock were already pointing to 9 PM.

It was a time that could easily be called night, long past evening. Even though I rested a few times in between, it was practically the same as having spent a full day inside the dungeon, so by the time I came out after finishing the request, my mind was already exhausted to its limit.

The recovery magic I occasionally used during combat might have recovered my physical fatigue too, because I didn’t feel like I was going to collapse physically, but it couldn’t possibly fix the mental fatigue from being awake for over 30 hours.

‘Before going home, I should probably deposit today’s bonus pay at the ATM.’

If they tried to track my identity through my account or something, it would be a bit troublesome, so even though it was a hassle, I had to receive my pay entirely in cash.

And after that, when I get home, I need to get some deep sleep first. Tomorrow, I promised Kang Hye-eun we’d see a movie at VGC.

Meeting after a long time, I want to ease some of the feelings about what we talked about last time, and if I get the chance, even if we don’t date, I want to propose maintaining our current physical relationship.

While thinking that, I opened my smartphone and went into the KakaoTalk chat room with Kang Hye-eun, then had a brief conversation to confirm if she remembered tomorrow’s appointment.

「Hye-eun-ah」

「Yeah?」

「Don’t be late tomorrow.」

「Okay.」

「Taekyung, you be the one not to be late.」

「When have I ever been late for an appointment?」

「Well, you’re rarely late.」

「Still, don’t be late.」

「Got it.」

Honestly, she worries about the strangest things.

「What movie did you book?」

「Just the new zombie movie.」

「You like horror movies, don’t you?」

「…I don’t particularly like horror movies.」

「Huh?」

「It’s nothing, see you tomorrow.」

「Okay.」

Walking leisurely from the guild to home after finishing my KakaoTalk conversation with Kang Hye-eun, my steps had somehow arrived in front of my house.

---

That night, midnight.

As soon as I arrived home, after washing off the sweat in the shower, organizing the items I’d put in my subspace pocket, and thinking about tomorrow’s schedule, I had gone to bed a little early, which was an hour ago.

Lying in bed, doing nothing, even though a full hour had passed, my mind was still sharp.

“Haa… Why can’t I fall asleep like this.”

It must be a side effect of overusing the Level 3 recovery spell.

Unlike the Level 2 recovery spell, starting from the Level 3 recovery spell, an additional effect called ‘fatigue relief’ was included as a bonus, so thanks to that, my body, despite being awake for a day and a quarter, was still feeling perfectly fine. So perfectly fine that I couldn’t fall asleep like this.

My brain had been sending messages to my disobedient body to please sleep for a while now, but I couldn’t fall asleep. However, thinking about tomorrow’s schedule with my appointment, no matter how I thought about it, I had to fall asleep as soon as possible.

If it continued like this, it would undoubtedly have a negative impact on my meeting with Kang Hye-eun tomorrow. If I suddenly fell asleep during the movie, she would definitely get angry.

Thinking maybe I could fall asleep if I forcibly tired my eyes out, my hand naturally reached for the smartphone placed by my bedside, and as soon as I saw the KakaoTalk icon that appeared when I turned on the screen, the face of a certain person came to mind.

“Come to think of it, today was the day Do Sihee Hunter was taking her promotion test.”

The A-rank promotion test, I wonder if she did well.

Although we still hadn’t exchanged phone numbers, the KakaoTalk open chat room we used to make plans last time was still there, so I figured she’d read it tomorrow morning if I sent it, and sent a short message.

「Sihee-ssi, how did your promotion test go?」

And then, for the remaining time, I intended to pass the time by reading online news, but less than 3 minutes after I sent my message, a reply came back from her.

「What do you think?」

Her tone already seemed relaxed even in text, so even without asking for the results, I could roughly guess the answer. This reaction itself was one that anyone could see was asking me to inquire about the results, so I supposed I had to ask.

「I suppose you handled it well on your own.」

「Well, something like that. Thank you, Sungchul-ssi.」

「I didn’t do much, but I’m glad I could be of help.」

The relationship I had with Do Sihee had indeed made a significant contribution to her promotion to A-rank Hunter, but that wasn’t significantly different compared to what Do Sihee had done for me from her perspective. And in times like these, you have to pretend to be humble, even if it’s just lip service, to build a good impression. Since I already knew she was a pretty decent person from our two meetings, there was no harm in maintaining a good relationship.

「Thank you for contacting me and showing such concern. I’ll definitely repay this favor next time.」

「If it’s a favor, the gift and meal I received last time were more than enough, so you don’t need to worry about it.」

「What are you talking about? That was then, this is now.」

「And thanks to the sexual relations we had recently, I was able to take today’s test in much better condition, so consequently, it’s as if I owe you even more.」

「Is that so?」

「Yes.」

「Then, let’s just say you’ll repay it by preparing our next date, Sihee-ssi.」

「Are you really okay with that?」

「Yes, I’m fine with that.」

「If you tell me to prepare the next date right now, you might end up having a meal at a restaurant with a Thames River view instead of a Han River view this time?」

「You know that warp gates are well-developed these days, so round-trip travel to England only takes two hours, right?」

「…Please ask for something that isn’t too burdensome.」

If I went on round-trip dates to Western Europe starting from the second date, my psychological burden wouldn’t be bearable.

「Well, okay. Then look forward to the next time we meet.」

「Honestly, I’d like to arrange a meeting with you as soon as tomorrow, but I’ve become a bit busy lately due to my Hunter promotion. It seems like it will take at least a week to make time.」

「I’ll wait patiently.」

In this world, the children of famous corporations achieving high Hunter ranks also meant that the corporation’s power grew stronger. The children of companies that could usually be called ‘major corporations’ were mostly affiliated with foundations, and even within foundations where young ladies from prominent families gathered, their interactions ultimately involved Hunters of similar ranks. The social activities among the children of corporate families who were Hunters often influenced the social interactions of the corporations themselves, so hearing Do Sihee say she became busy right after rising from B-rank to A-rank, I could indirectly feel that she was indeed the daughter of a major corporate group.

「Ah, and about that proposal I mentioned last time, you know it’s still valid, right?」

「You mean the story about marrying a male Hunter increasing a Hunter’s lifespan?」

「Perhaps your mind has changed now?」

「As I mentioned last time, I don’t have the luxury to make a boyfriend or fiancée right now.」

「I expected you to say that.」

「Still, I am grateful for the proposal itself.」

「I’ll be waiting for the day your heart eventually leans towards me.」

「Sleep well, Sungchul-ssi.」

「Yes. Sleep well, Sihee-ssi.」

After sharing the final message signaling the end of our conversation with her, this time for sure, I closed my smartphone and quietly closed my eyes. Praying that I could fall into a deep sleep this time, cherishing this feeling.

---

And then, another hour later.

“…This is driving me crazy, seriously.”

Still wide awake, I checked the time on my smartphone, and it showed 1:30 AM. After talking with Do Sihee and focusing on sleep for over an hour, my cursed body still couldn’t feel any sleepiness.

‘If I don’t fall asleep quickly now, there will definitely be problems during my date with Kang Hye-eun tomorrow.’

I cursed my past self for carelessly casting the Level 3 recovery spell on myself. If I had stuck to just Level 2 spells as much as possible, it wouldn’t have been this difficult.

“……”

My bored hand naturally reached again for the smartphone by my bedside, and as soon as I saw the KakaoTalk icon that appeared when I turned on the screen, this time, a different person’s face came to mind.

“Did Han Min-ah get the contraception magic properly?”

I clearly remember relieving Han Min-ah’s heat last time, filling her womb twice with internal ejaculation, so if she hadn’t used contraception properly, it would have been a slightly dangerous situation. It was a relationship that occurred during Han Min-ah’s heat period, no less, meaning if no other measures were taken, it would lead to pregnancy 100%, and if that happened, I would undoubtedly have to take responsibility too.

I couldn’t quite grasp how embarrassing it was for women to receive contraception magic, but anyway, even in this world where such contraception magic was well-developed, the fact that many women chose pregnancy instead must be for a reason.

Just in case, I felt the need to ask if she had taken proper measures, so after opening KakaoTalk, I sent a message to the one-on-one chat room with Han Min-ah.

「Hey Min-ah」

「Sleeping?」

「I told you not to call me that.」

The effect of the call spell is definitely reliable, just like back in school. Among the Hunters I know, the one who lives the busiest life being awake at this hour was a bit surprising, but anyway, having someone to talk to at this late hour wasn’t bad news.

「You’re not sleeping?」

「In bed right now.」

「What about Jin-ah and Seon-ah?」

「They’re sleeping in the blankets next to me.」

At least it seemed like the conversation wouldn’t be interrupted by the twins. Although they were at an age where they knew quite a lot, contraception was still a somewhat personal topic, so there was no need to inform them.

「Why are you KakaoToking at this hour?」

「It’s nothing else. I was just wondering if you properly received the contraception magic from Cha Yuri-ssi last time.」

A brief silence, as if hesitating whether to reply or not.

「What, did you not get it?」

「…I got it.」

「It’s just that the memory of that time came back, so my hands wouldn’t move.」

「It was a truly mortifying and self-loathing experience, but I did get it, so you can rest assured.」

「That bad?」

「Men wouldn’t know.」

「Men will never know what it feels like to spread your legs shamefully and have your lower abdomen massaged in front of another woman.」

Han Min-ah’s indignant feelings, felt through the text, seemed to travel through the electromagnetic waves to me, so even if not perfectly, I could roughly guess what the sensation was like when she received the contraception magic. The sensation of showing one’s genitals to someone of the same gender and having their uterine area massaged. As for me, it’s an act I’d rather not imagine. It was enough to pay respect to Han Min-ah’s sociability for bravely asking an acquaintance for contraception magic, not a stranger. I should tell her next time that she doesn’t need to receive contraception magic individually every time.

「Did Cha Yuri-ssi say anything?」

「She just said it was fortunate I came before it was too late. She also said I could ask without hesitation if I needed it again next time.」

「That’s just like Cha Yuri-ssi.」

「Hmph, I’ve known Yuri Unnie longer than you have, yet you talk as if you’re closer to Yuri Unnie than I am?」

「Well, since I’ve even shared bodies with Cha Yuri-ssi, of course, I’d naturally become closer.」

「I still can’t understand your psychology.」

Han Min-ah’s reaction wasn’t something I couldn’t understand. If it were me, I probably would have felt similarly if I had a female friend in my previous world who acted as recklessly with her body as I do now. No, not even thinking about my previous world; just imagining Hye-eun or Min-ah doing similar things right now made me feel sick.

「I don’t know how Hye-eun and Yuri Unnie will react when they find out what you’ve done later.」

「Now you’re an accomplice too, why are you acting like this?」

「If you put it that way, I have nothing to say…」

「Sigh, I really don’t know either.」

「Because of you, if things go wrong, our current party might become awkward, and I might have to find another party.」

「I’m sorry about that. I’ll do my best to handle it so it doesn’t harm you.」

「…No, well, it’s not like you did anything wrong to me specifically…」

「Anyway, the problem with me having sex with you was that I pounced on you during my heat…」

「That’s true.」

Han Min-ah still firmly believed that she had pounced on me during our first encounter. If possible, I should make sure she never finds out about this going forward. Given her personality, it was obvious she would fly into a rage the moment she learned the truth of this incident.

「It’s a question that just occurred to me now, but did I really pounce on you first back then…?」

「Why? Do you want to pretend it didn’t happen because you don’t remember?」

「It’s not like that.」

「…Sorry, I won’t ask about this again.」

I felt sorry for Han Min-ah, but the guilt she felt towards me was quite helpful, so I had no choice but to use this situation for now. And strictly speaking about the order of events, it was an objective fact that Han Min-ah had pounced first. Controlling her during her heat and turning it into the situation I wanted was entirely my own ability.

「Anyway, don’t forget what I told you last time. Manage your heat well.」

「What are you saying?!」

「Like I said last time, I will absolutely never ask you to relieve my heat?!」

「Are you seriously treating your body so carelessly for a guy?!」

「Huh?」

「I was reminding you not to forget the letter of recommendation you promised to write once I become a B-rank Hunter.」

Again, a brief silence.

「Still, you were seriously considering my words about helping relieve my heat, weren’t you?」

「What are you talking about.」

「No, I wasn’t.」

I could easily imagine Han Min-ah’s blushing face on the other end of the line. The sudden brevity of her texts meant she wasn’t in a state to elaborate.

「Anyway, I might need your letter of recommendation soon, so have it ready.」

「Seeing how arrogant you are, did you perhaps just get a D-rank Hunter title from the Union recently?」

「You probably don’t know because you’re just starting out in this field, but even for a Union Hunter, climbing from D-rank to C-rank is incredibly difficult? Especially with the background of being a male Hunter, it’s really not easy?」

「The reason I said I’d write you a letter of recommendation when I become B-rank was actually meant in that sense. So don’t push yourself too hard.」

Well, I had expected she meant it in that sense. Han Min-ah, who had never actually seen my Hunter license, seemed completely unaware that I had already obtained my C-rank Hunter license long ago. It would be quite amusing to see the look on her face when I eventually shove the B-rank Hunter insignia right in front of her.

「Thanks for worrying about me.」

「I’m not worried about you; I’m worried about Hye-eun and Yuri Unnie, who would be sad if you disappeared one day.」

「Anyway, lately, I’m so stressed trying to navigate between those two, my stomach hurts. They keep bringing you up as if talking about their own boyfriends, and knowing you’re the same person, I feel incredibly awkward.」

「I’ll make it so you don’t have to feel awkward soon. Just get the letter of recommendation ready.」

「…I did write the initial part. Though I doubt you’ll need it.」

「Okay, it’s late, so sleep well.」

「You too, sleep well.」

「Next time, I’ll come over to your place again, timed for your heat.」

「Don’t you dare.」

「Just you try coming over…」

Finally, with an angry cat emoticon sent from Han Min-ah, the conversation with her ended. Perhaps thanks to chatting for a while, I finally started feeling fatigue in my body, and my smartphone’s clock was just showing 2 AM.

‘Now, I think I can somehow fall asleep.’

Thinking this was my chance to catch up on even a little bit of sleep, I quietly lay down in bed again. Amidst the oncoming drowsiness, my consciousness gradually became hazy, and my last memory ended right there in that state.

---

And then, the next day.

“…….”

I, having shaken off the oncoming fatigue, woke up at a time that was well past 3 PM.