Chapter 14 - Chapter 14

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 14

Chapter Title: Reunion

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Shin Seo-yeon was charging toward them from far off, her eyes blazing with fury.

"Dickhead! You fucking bastard! You finally showed up!"

I looked at her, utterly dumbfounded, and muttered to myself.

"What the hell is she doing here?"

"Min-jun, do you know her?"

"Uh, yeah, sort of."

I almost said, She's a woman who'll do anything for money, but clamped my mouth shut to protect our saintess's innocence.

In the meantime, Shin Seo-yeon had sprinted right up to the group of men and was grinding her teeth as she bellowed.

"You're dead meat. How dare you send me a text like that?"

"...."

This was a headache.

Of all places, running into her here.

It was completely outside my plans—literally a future I hadn't anticipated. But there were people even more distressed than me...

"Blanket bitch?!"

"Why the hell is that psycho here? No way you two know each other, right?"

The leader of the pack stared at me with eyes bulging like saucers. I started to answer, but his underlings grabbed him and yelled.

"B-Bro! Let's get outta here! If that bitch catches us, we'll end up like Jin-gu—charcoal briquettes!"

"Eek! She's right on our asses!"

"Damn it! Run for it! Unless you wanna die to that maniac, haul ass!"

The men bolted in a chaotic stampede.

And moments later, in the spot where they'd kicked up dust and vanished stood none other than that maniac herself, glaring ferociously.

I raised a hand and waved.

"Long time no see, Seo-yeon. You're pretty popular, huh?"

"What bullshit is that? You trying to get your jaw broken right now?"

Whoa, our Seo-yeon had killer instincts.

"Those guys just called you 'blanket bitch' and 'psycho' and all that."

"Those fucking pricks? What, 'blanket bitch'? I told them they'd all die if I heard it one more time, and they're still calling me that?!"

She unleashed her mana as she spoke. Whoa. I couldn't help but gasp in admiration.

The crimson primordial flames rising around Shin Seo-yeon's body were so overwhelming it made me question if this was truly her at her peak.

Whoosh!

The fireball coalescing in her palm and roaring to life was stronger than what most level 5 mages could muster.

And she'd only just awakened—no bonus stats yet. Already this powerful.

I immediately activated Full Appraisal to check her stats.

'Holy shit, Magic Power at 30 right from the start?'

Her mana stat was higher than our S-Rank saintess's.

But the real shocker was her unique ability.

All fire-attribute effects boosted by 100%.

That meant more than we might think.

Damage, range, duration, buffs—every aspect amplified by 100%, effectively multiplying efficiency by 500% or even 1,000% in some cases.

'And that's headache enough, but the real terror is the unquenchable flame.'

It burned until mana ran dry or the caster recalled it—an eternal blaze.

That was why Shin Seo-yeon reigned supreme over all mages as the S-Rank Crimson Flame Witch.

"...I'll deal with those bastards later."

And now that impressive woman was baring her teeth at me, vivid crimson flames dancing in her hand.

"Dickhead, we've got a lot to settle, don't we? You just left that shitty text and vanished—do you know how much that hurt me?"

"Calm down, Seo-yeon."

"Calm down? Do I look fucking calm right now?"

I leaned in close to the advancing Shin Seo-yeon and whispered in her ear.

"Gotta stay calm if you want me hooking you up again."

As I said it, I grabbed her ass out of the saintess's line of sight and gave it a squeeze. She smacked my hand away, her eyes cooling instantly.

"...What the hell does that mean?"

Her expression said she'd hear me out.

I shrugged and continued.

"We'll talk details later. First, tell me—how are you here?"

"You dumbass? I joined the Selection Process, obviously."

"Not that... How did you know I'd come here and wait for me?"

"Oh."

Shin Seo-yeon crossed her arms with her signature smug grin.

"You ghosted me, so I called your sunbae. He said you weren't home—just your smartphone?"

She must've smashed through the front door after all.

"Went over and saw your busted phone on the floor. Put two and two together—you entered here."

"Okay, fine. But how'd you know where to find me? No guarantee we'd end up in the same trial area."

"That? Finished the Tutorial, chilling in the Rest Area smoking. Overhear some guys trash-talking someone."

Trash-talking?

"Some psycho in the Tutorial hunting only foxes. Barely-twenty college kid? And get this—wearing winter gear."

"...."

"Matched the maker and design from your place perfectly."

Apparently, my Tutorial antics had become quite the hot topic.

People kept gossiping: Was he an NPC? Missed some special event? All sorts.

"Clicked immediately. Heaven's on my side."

"...."

Shin Seo-yeon grinned ear to ear like a mischievous imp—the same wicked look from college right before fleecing me.

She sauntered over casually, groping my ass as she chuckled.

"Well, well. Look at you. Got yourself a new girlfriend while sis was away?"

"Huh? New girlfriend?"

Our saintess's eyes went wide.

"Don't spread misunderstandings. We never even dated—what new girlfriend?"

"True, we never officially dated."

I heard the saintess sigh in relief. Shin Seo-yeon whispered hot in my ear.

"But you took my first, didn't you?"

Lecherous smile.

Her dangling hand signaled: Pay up to shut me up.

'Same old her.'

Just what I wanted.

I turned to the saintess.

"Ha-na, we ate. Let's head back to the lodging."

"Huh? What about shopping?"

"Rest up today. Meet at the lodging entrance 7 AM tomorrow. Pack all your stuff when you come out. We'll shop then. Oh, and this is a gift."

I pressed a wind-up watch from Earth into her hand. Her cheeks flushed pink as she nodded.

"Got it. 7 AM."

"Dickhead, what about me?"

I ignored Shin Seo-yeon, headed back toward the lodging building, and sent the saintess to her room.

"Don't come out early. It's dangerous."

"Okay, okay."

With that, the saintess vanished into her private room.

I turned to Shin Seo-yeon. Hands on hips, one foot tapping impatiently—she was even more stunning than the saintess.

Men and women alike stealing glances proved her raw beauty.

'Awakening to Primordial Flame purges impurities, improving skin and complexion. Yeah, she's positively glowing compared to Earth.'

"Hey, quit staring. I'll burn your eyes out."

But her temper was fiercer than ever.

Like a young tiger maturing, realizing no one in the jungle could beat it, claiming its spot as apex predator.

"Tch."

Shin Seo-yeon snarled menacingly at the gawkers, who quickly averted their eyes—her notoriety already legendary here.

I pulled her into a one-armed hug and tucked her against my side.

"...What're you doing?"

"Talking at your room."

"Why bother? We can talk out here."

"Suit yourself."

I groped her ass. She glared daggers, snorted, and stomped toward the building entrance.

"...Better not be bullshit. Or you're really dead."

Shin Seo-yeon's room was no different from mine.

Except for the panties and bra drying by the bed.

Cute panties, though. Oh, animal print.

"Hey, don't look!"

"What're you hiding for? We've already done the deed."

"That's that, this is this. And FYI, this is all they sell here."

"Sure, sure."

"I'm seriously gonna kill you. Wipe that look off your face before I do."

She snatched her underwear and hid it behind her pillow.

Pointless, but none of my business.

"So, how're you planning to buy my silence?"

Pillow propped over the panties, she spun to me with a sly grin.

I pulled out items from my inventory.

"Huh? What's that? Necklace? Earrings and rings too?"

Snowfield accessories. She picked up a ring, eyes widening.

"This drops from foxes, right?"

"Yep."

"How many you got?"

"Enough for a full set for you."

"Nice. Hand 'em over."

I pocketed them back into inventory. Items materialized and vanished in thin air. She smirked.

"Ah, gotcha. Inventory ability? Porter class?"

"Not important right now."

I sat on the bed and nodded at it.

"Seo-yeon, want 'em? You know what you gotta do."

I pointed at the tent in my pants. She scowled.

"You joking? Think I'd spread my legs for trash like this?"

"Full set activates bonuses."

"What?"

"All stats +1."

In the Selection Process, it was all about snowballing.

How perfectly you prepped for each trial.

Snowfield accessories were top-tier early game.

Boosted magic resistance, and full set gave +4 stats total.

Effectively starting with 14 bonus stats versus the usual 10 from the first trial.

'She might not know the nitty-gritty, but sharp-as-nails Seo-yeon won't miss this.'

Sure enough, greed flickered in her eyes. Her grip tightened on the ring.

But she snorted dismissively.

"Hmph. Tutorial trash—what's so great? Think I'd throw a tantrum for junk like this? Dream on."

"Better than nothing, right?"

"Please. You think we're equals? I'm Shin Seo-yeon. Chosen one with a Transcendent ability—not some lowly porter like you. That crap? Pfft. Useless to me."

Oh, coming on strong.

Ten days in the Rest Area, and she'd gauged her unique ability's worth.

I sighed dramatically and stood.

"If you don't want it, oh well."

"Huh?"

"Keep the ring—use it well. I'm out."

I turned to leave.

"W-Wait."

She blocked me, frowning deeply—clearly unhappy with the turn.

"Ugh, déjà vu much?"

"What?"

"Whatever. Before you go, hand over the rest."

"Said you didn't need 'em."

"I'll decide that. Nicely now—give me everything. Keep pushing, and I'll just kill you and take it."

"...."

She glared murderously.

She'd burned plenty alive in the first round.

Not sure if she'd kill now, but her eyes screamed Crimson Flame Witch.

"Hurry."

She waved impatiently. I stared at her hand, then spread my arms wide.

"Do your worst, Seo-yeon."

Whoosh! Flames erupted in her palm without hesitation.

Just as expected. I continued.

"But you might not wanna kill me."

"Why?"

"Take it."

I fired the skill at her.

A new unique ability absent in round one, but acquirable this time.

"Huh?"

She gawked at empty air.

"Binding...?"

"St-Status window!"

She shouted into the air. Her eyes widened further.

Her stats had jumped 3-4 across the board.

Mine rose too.

"Whoa."

Checking her status, Shin Seo-yeon beamed.

"Dickhead, you sneaky fuck. Thought you were useless, but you're a supporter? Inventory and stat sharing? Not bad."

She eyed me greedily, snuffing her flames. With a crescent smile, she pinched my cheek.

"Fine. 20% is plenty useful for me."

Note: Skill details were visible only to the recipient.

Targets couldn't see; only curses/buffs revealed limited info.

Thanks to Full Appraisal, I saw everything of hers.

She had no clue what skill I used or its details.

She might even think it only boosted her—smug grin and upturned chin screamed it.

"Dickhead, no distance limit or anything, right?"

"Nope."

"Oh, seriously useful."

Utterly pleased. I turned to leave again.

"Anyway, I'm out."

"Huh? Where to?"

"Deal's done. Heading back."

"Who said? Gimme the accessories first. Hurry up before I kill you."

Thrilled, she held out her hand impatiently.

I met her gaze squarely.

"Nah."

"What? You crazy?"

"Kill me if you want."

"You lost it. Think I won't...?"

But as flames reignited, realization dawned.

Yeah. She couldn't kill me now.

Killing me would break the Binding.

"You little shit..."

"Talk's over? I'm gone."

I headed for the door. She lunged and grabbed me.

"?"

"W-Wait. Just wait."

Clutching my shoulder, glaring—but different vibe.

Hesitant. Troubled.

"Um..."

Fiddling with the ring I'd given her on her left ring finger, she looked up at me.

Face full of unspoken words.

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