"Hnn..."
Ten minutes into using Activating heightened sensitivity, Han Harin occasionally let out soft moans.
I never would have imagined hearing such sounds from her lips. My arousal surged, my member already half-erect.
I knew this would happen, so I wore the loosest clothes possible. Still, given my size, I need to be careful...
After massaging her arms and the back of her neck, I withdrew my hands.
My breathing grew ragged, and my face glistened with sweat. Maintaining heightened sensitivity and Mana Awakening continuously was naturally exhausting.
And this is exactly what I'm aiming for.
The Special Mana Massage I described to Han Harin essentially involves stimulating the entire body with mana and oil to encourage Mana Awakening.
I explained that the oil was simply a blend I had prepared and that the Mana Massage required careful control, so I needed to pace myself rather than force it. If I were to perform the massage tirelessly and flawlessly, Han Harin would undoubtedly grow suspicious.
I can't give her even the slightest reason to doubt me.
The massage is only just beginning. I can't afford any missteps now.
"Senior, please lie face down."
Han Harin's response came a beat later.
"...Alright."
Han Harin sat up and lay back in a proper posture.
Her face was flushed crimson, damp with sweat. She was breathing through her mouth instead of her nose, a clear sign that heightened sensitivity had fully activated, triggering sexual arousal and pleasure.
What kind of skill is heightened sensitivity? Even you can't resist getting turned on.
Han Harin glanced at my face. I was drenched in sweat, my breathing ragged anyone could tell I was exhausted.
I shifted my stance slightly, angling my body to hide my partial erection from her view.
This is the kind of performance that will make her see me as a true expert.
Adopting an expression of pure innocence, I reached out again toward Han Harin's feet.
I touched between her toes, never encountering any unpleasant odors. Instead, her body emanated a fragrant scent, suggesting she had showered before coming to my place.
"Senior, how does it feel? Do you feel anything?"
"...Well..."
Her ambiguous response suited me perfectly. The Mana Massage and heightened sensitivity were blending together, leaving her flushed and unusually sensitive.
"Don't you feel a bit warmer or more sensitive?"
"That's right. I do feel a bit warmer."
"That means the massage is working properly. There's no need to feel burdened or uncomfortable. If anything feels wrong, tell me right away. Closing your eyes and focusing on understanding the warmth within your body might help."
I ran my mouth, but to summarize my true feelings: just close your eyes.
It made me uncomfortable when Han Harin stared at me with her eyes wide open. Everything else was fine, but I couldn't risk her noticing my erection.
"Okay," she replied.
Contrary to her answer, Han Harin didn't close her eyes. I clicked my tongue inwardly and reached for her thigh.
Ah, damn it. I really want to touch her bare skin...
The shorts covering her thigh felt like a curse.
"Wait. Isn't your hand going a little too high?"
"...Ah. Sorry. I got too focused. Special Mana Massage requires touching the entire body... My apologies."
"Be more careful in the future."
"Yes."
Han Harin seemed to have a sixth sense for my hand's movements. The moment it drifted even slightly upward, she immediately stopped me.
I didn't even get close to her hips... That's harsh.
To soothe my disappointment, I grasped her waist. Her sweat-soaked T-shirt clung to her skin. Though I couldn't touch her bare flesh, I could still admire her well-defined abs.
Ugh. That S-line... That S-line.
Desperately suppressing the urge to let my attention wander, I moved toward her armpit.
I had to keep my hands exactly where she'd allowed them.
To steady myself, I began massaging her armpit with extra care.
"Haa..."
"What was that?"
"...It's nothing. Haa..."
Han Harin's breathing was unusually ragged.
My instincts began to stir, but I forced myself to focus on the massage and on the point where her body seemed most responsive.
"Haa, why are you only massaging my armpits?"
"They're reacting strongly. If it's too intense or uncomfortable, tell me right away and I'll stop."
"...Ugh. It's intense, but keep going."
Han Harin bit her lower lip, her body tensing. Her hips arched slightly, and her toes curled. Her hands gripped the edges of the bed tightly.
Then, her body began to tremble faintly.
The sustained stimulation of heightened sensitivity had brought her to climax.
"Haa... haa..."
I massaged Han Harin's forearms, carefully pretending not to make a big deal of it.
I couldn't embarrass Han Harin by pointing out her climax. That would make things awkward, and she might not want to continue the massage.
After kneading her fingers, I said, "Senior."
"...Hmm?"
Han Harin looked utterly languid, her voice drowsy. She seemed to be lingering in the afterglow of her climax.
"Just a moment, please bring your arms and legs together."
"...Why?"
"For the massage. A slightly different position will make it more effective."
It wasn't entirely false. Changing her posture would let me see how the mana flow shifted.
Han Harin began to draw her arms and legs together.
"Place both hands above your navel. Oh, and keep your forearms pressed tightly against your body."
Han Harin's full breasts naturally became more prominent. As I massaged her shoulders, I stole glances at her chest, pretending not to notice.
"Now, please lie face down and assume the cat pose. You know the cat pose, right?"
"I do."
The cat pose is a yoga posture where you lower your upper body and waist while arching your hips upward.
It's basically the doggy-style position.
I massaged her calves, secretly drooling as I gazed at her large, round buttocks. They were firm and full, like a perfect full moon.
And then my gaze fixed on the center of her hips that area between her vulva and anus. I couldn't tear my eyes away.
...She's wet.
There was a small, pinky-sized stain on the crotch of her blue workout shorts. I hadn't touched her there with wet hands, nor had I spilled any water.
There was only one reason for that wetness: arousal fluid from her vagina.
If she's getting this wet from just one orgasm... Han Harin must be quite moist.
Beneath those workout pants, she's wearing panties. Which means her panties are completely soaked.
I shifted my gaze to Han Harin's head. Still lost in the afterglow of her climax, she lay motionless, breathing evenly. I deliberately kept my distance and focused on calming myself.
Argh! Fuck! I need to get myself under control right now!
But I couldn't afford to lose focus. Sweat beading on my forehead, I resumed the massage.
"I'm going to massage your head now. Is that okay?"
"Why my head?"
"The Special Mana Massage covers the entire body, from head to toe."
"Does that include the face?"
"Yes. Facial massages are quite common. If you're comfortable with it, I can also guide a brief mana massage inside your mouth, but we can skip it entirely. Is that okay?"
"The inside of my mouth?"
Han Harin's face scrunched up. To be fair, even I would find it strange to have my mouth massaged.
It is strange.
I had only considered it because the tongue and inner cheeks can react sensitively to mana, but hearing it aloud, even I knew it sounded excessive. If she was uncomfortable, I needed to drop it immediately.
"Since it's a Special Mana Massage, stimulating the inside with mana might be beneficial. You know mana can strengthen teeth and the tongue, right?"
"I know. It can even strengthen hair. But still, no massaging the inside of my mouth."
"Yes," I replied, forcing myself to hide my disappointment as I reached out to touch Han Harin's flushed face.
Through my palm, I could feel the perfect contours of her face. Even without seeing her, I could sense her beauty through touch alone.
I lingered over her body for a few more moments before ending the massage.
"...Phew. All done," I said, gripping the edge of the bed with both hands and bowing my head. Sweat dripped from my chin, splattering onto the floor.
A metallic taste filled my mouth. This wasn't just acting I was genuinely exhausted. The mana within me had been depleted twenty minutes ago, and my body felt heavy and sluggish as the price for recklessly using heightened sensitivity.
"Are you okay?" Han Harin asked.
"I'm fine," I replied. "Special Mana Massages require intense concentration, so my body feels drained afterward. I'll be fine after a short rest."
I wanted to use Full Recovery, but I resisted. The sweat dripping from my body was proof of my hard work.
Even a Hunter who uses Mana was this exhausted. If Han Harin had any sense, she'd realize I was giving her a professional massage.
She needed to see me as someone safe to work with if we were going to continue this.
Right now, Han Harin was wary of me. If anything more intimate ever happened between us, it had to come from mutual trust and her clear consent.
I needed to earn that trust first.
We'd somehow established a massage relationship, but this was just the beginning.
"I'll be going now."
"Yes, Senior."
I staggered as I saw Han Harin off.
The staggering was an act.
Han Harin, Eun Sangmin, and I gathered in front of the D-Rank Dungeon.
Dungeon Survival Reforged required team participation and survival within a dungeon, making teamwork essential. Regardless of my relationship with Eun Sangmin, we needed to coordinate our efforts.
"Please take care of me, Leader," Eun Sangmin said.
"...Yes. Please take care of me too, Senior," I replied.
As he'd mentioned before, Eun Sangmin seemed determined to treat me as the team leader.
His previous flirtatious behavior toward Han Harin had vanished, replaced by a more serious demeanor. Of course, I remained wary of him.
He might try to backstab me when Han Harin isn't watching in the dungeon.
But that never happened.
The hunt proceeded smoothly.
Our team doesn't have a tank.
Eun Sangmin wasn't a tank. He was a damage dealer who wielded a sword as his primary weapon, occupying the same role as me.
Han Harin was also a damage dealer, specifically a ranged DPS who attacked from the rear. With skillful manipulation of gravity, she could restrict enemy movement or lighten the gravity affecting her teammates, providing crucial support.
Our teamwork might be lacking, but the team composition is well-balanced.
Eun Sangmin and I could both use Mana, allowing us to take on tank roles, albeit to a limited extent.
Dungeon Survival is ultimately a competition among rookie Hunters. How many of them can even use Mana?
Our team had two Mana users: Eun Sangmin and myself. Objectively speaking, we were the frontrunners for victory.
We shared dinner together before parting ways. Han Harin joined us as well. Even someone as cold as her maintained a minimum level of social interaction.
"Senior, should we go straight to my place for the massage?"
"...No. I'll stop by my place first."
Today marked the fifth day of the massage sessions.
Han Harin seemed to have lowered her guard slightly, wearing shorts that revealed half her thighs shorter than what she wore during our first session.
Still, I can't touch her hips or chest.
I was satisfied that she was accepting my touch more readily than before. Progress had been made.
But it's still a bit behind schedule. According to my plan, she should be more comfortable with the massage by now, breathing easier under my hands...
I sensed the need for a catalyst. Pressing firmly on Han Harin's lower back with both hands, I spoke.
"Senior."
"...Hmm?"
"I've been thinking... how about we spar separately sometime?"
"..."
Han Harin stared intently at me, likely weighing her options in her mind.
She soon nodded.
"Alright. Let's spar."
From Han Harin's perspective, sparring with me wasn't a loss; it was a gain.
After all, I was stronger than her. Sparring with a stronger opponent is a common method for honing one's skills, a strategy even ordinary people, not just Hunters, would consider.
"Stop."
"Huh?"
"Your hand was moving toward your chest."
"Oh, really? I-I'm sorry. I got so focused, I didn't even realize..."
Tsk.
Isn't it about time I stopped making mistakes like that?"