43 – 43.
After officially joining Korea, the Inferno Agency began to face negative public opinion in their previous country, the United States.
In response, the American Association immediately issued a statement, asserting that they could not infringe upon personal circumstances.
Naturally, voices criticizing Mercury, who was both the Inferno Agency and someone who had grown up in the United States, began to grow louder.
[Mercury expresses full support for the Inferno Agency. K-Fool?]
Mercury firmly declared his support for the Inferno Agency and made a bold statement that he would actively invest in promising talent in Korea.
Thanks to that, the festive atmosphere has continued in Korea for days on end.
Even the Maze Clan was caught up in the momentum and leapt up to the tower.
“We will depart.”
An endless expanse of vast grassland.
The strategy team, ambitiously launched with the goal of breaking through the 9th floor, was currently passing through the 7th floor of the tower.
‘…When on earth are they going to start?’
Class A Awakened, Jo Jaesang, sneakily glanced at the Maze Clan, who were leisurely walking at the center of the group.
In their expensive equipment without a single scratch, they looked as if they had come to take a photo shoot.
‘Where did they go to play?’
Jo Jaesang had never really liked someone like her.
As one of the main dealers, he had been in charge of battles since the 5th floor, where the dimensional teleporter was installed.
But the Maze Clan, who were said to be S-class, had yet to participate in any battles.
No matter how much they were saving their strength for important moments, their attitude, as if they were just bystanders, was quite irritating.
“Just see if you can do it properly.”
It was at that moment when the strategy team was heading towards the next floor through the shortest route possible.
Just before encountering the final boss guarding the 8th floor portal, the grassland abruptly ended, and the ground without a single blade of grass began to appear.
It was the notorious “7th Floor Hidden Stage” section.
“Please don’t show up today…!”
The reason why this section was famous was none other than the rare appearance of monsters.
Because it was the place where the monster from the 9th floor, which was the best record of the Korean strategy team, would appear.
To reach the 8th floor, there was no choice but to pass through this section…
Having encountered the creature multiple times before and inevitably giving up the attack, Jo Jaesang silently prayed to the goddess as he cautiously took a step forward.
“Oh! It’s the 7-H boulder! We’re almost there!”
“Okay! Let’s increase our speed and break through like this!”
Fortunately, the expedition team spotted the boulder that marked the end of the section, and they were able to pass through without any problems.
“Lucky us.”
Everyone was undoubtedly thinking the same thing.
Thump thump thump thump thump…!
Until suddenly, the ground began to shake.
“?!”
“T-This is…!”
“He’s coming!!! Prepare for battle!”
“No wonder we were so damn lucky!”
Quickly distancing themselves, the expedition team prepared for the imminent appearance of the creature.
And then.
Whoosh───!
In an instant, something massive emerged from the ground, revealing its true form.
“It appeared!”
A body with a circumference of dozens of meters.
And a massive jaw, larger than a person’s, lined with hundreds of sharp teeth.
A-class monster, Death Worm. It was a monstrous creature that embodied a fierce giant worm.
“Ah…! Gives me the chills…!”
“It really looks like something out of a nightmare!”
With the appearance of the Death Worm, tension began to spread among the members of the expedition team.
Without hesitation, Jo Jaewon, who stood at the forefront with his weapon raised, raised his voice to give combat instructions.
“Death Worm is weak against fire! Don’t get too close, stay far away…!”
At that moment.
“Step aside.”
Mayeonseo stepped forward.
Finally, she had taken action.
“…!”
Startled, the members of the expedition team looked at Mayeonseo’s back with various reactions.
Would she really possess the incredible skills rumored about her?
Or was it just inflated hype due to the American elite expedition team known as the ‘Dream Team’?
There was no doubt that this was a chance to truly confirm the skills of someone whose abilities were only spoken of in rumors.
“Ragma.”
With Mayeonseo’s short command, a massive magic circle was engraved.
Twist─!
Feeling the ominous magic power, the Death Worm immediately opened its mouth wide and charged towards Mayeonseo.
Quagaga──!
“Uh…!”
“It’s dangerous…?!”
The members of the expeditionary force, who were far away, watched the battle in the abyss with anxious expressions…
Shaaark────!
The Death Worm, raising its long body high, momentarily spread its vicious jaws and tried to strike down the abyss in one fell swoop.
Kwaaang────!!!
Suddenly, something huge appeared and punched the charging Death Worm.
“W-What is that?”
“This is insane….”
“The, the Beast of Fire!!! It’s the Beast of Fire!!!”
A massive fire elemental, clad in jet-black armor on its flame-filled body.
One of the Four Elemental Kings, the Beast of Fire, Ragmar.
He is the high-ranking summon that the abyss contracted third.
“Set it on fire.”
Following the command, Ragmar immediately exhaled a fierce breath towards the writhing Death Worm.
At that moment, the area was completely engulfed in blue flames and began to burn.
As if it wanted to burn everything on the ground.
────!
Kwoong─! Kwoong─! Kwoong─!
The fully emerged Death Worm, burned all over, began to resist the flames, writhing its massive body.
“……”
As she casually observed that scene, Mayeonseo turned back to the frozen strike team after sending Ragnar off.
“Let’s go again.”
From that moment on, not a single person in the strike team doubted her.
“To defeat an A-rank monster in just one try…?”
Of course, Jo Jaesang felt the same way.
*
[Breaking News) Mayeonseo Strike Team, clears the 8th floor in record time.]
On the way down to Busan with Hanyeo-won.
I was receiving news about Mayeonseo that had just come up.
From Noble mtl dot com
“Ugh, that damn woman.”
Despite being a good journalist, negative words slipped out.
…It was an unavoidable situation.
“Hello. Long time no see.”
“Hello.”
As soon as we arrived in Busan, we headed straight to the research center.
Just like last time, the director of the research center personally greeted us warmly, but he suddenly apologized, saying that he had to change the inspection schedule.
“Something was found in the inspection results, so I had no choice. I’m really sorry for affecting your schedule.”
“No problem. It happens.”
“hahahahaha! I’m glad you understand.”
The director of the research institute informed me that we would proceed with several reaction tests and magic power measurements as planned.
There were no issues with the reaction tests, but…
There was a problem with the magic power measurement.
“Um… I’m sorry, but I have one question.”
“Yes?”
While we were in the midst of conducting the magic power measurement test, I lowered my voice and cautiously asked the researcher.
“Um… Will we be collecting semen samples again this time…?”
Upon hearing that, she nodded and replied.
“Yes. It’s the most accurate method for male subjects.”
“Ah… I see.”
I felt my heart sink.
“Then, what if, um, it’s difficult to collect the sample… What should we do?”
“Ah…”
In that moment, a look of pity appeared on the researcher’s face.
It was a reaction that seemed to sympathize with a man who had his head bowed, as if there was a great misunderstanding.
“This is driving me crazy.”
Strictly speaking, her reaction wasn’t wrong.
In fact, about half of her thoughts were correct.
How could I deny the person who was holding an object enchanted with “that kind of magic”?
“Damn it! The Demon Book!!!”
Just before leaving the house to conquer the tower in the Mysterious Realm,
She suddenly brought me a pair of underwear and urged me to try it on.
“Try this on.”
“Suddenly? Haven’t seen you wearing this before?”
“I think it’ll suit you, so I bought one.”
As I was trying to please her, I took the underwear without much thought and put it on.
“Huh… Why isn’t this coming off?”
“That’s how it is. It works well.”
“Huh…?”
Only then did I realize the true nature of the underwear she had given me.
It was a state-of-the-art chastity belt enchanted with “abstinence magic.”
“Hey! I have to go get it checked! Take it off quickly!”
“I’ll take it off when I come back.”
“Hey…! How am I supposed to do my business? Don’t I have to take a shower too?!”
“If you wear that, you don’t have to. Isn’t it convenient? From now on, wear it whenever I leave the house.”
“This, this is ridiculous! Hey! Mysterious Realm!”
And just like that, she suddenly flew off to the tower.
I don’t know if she really knows everything or if it’s just a preventive measure.
Either way, my plans were completely ruined.
She really was like a ghost.
“I will proceed with the reaction test.”
In the end, I explained the situation, enduring the embarrassment. After that, we conducted a magic reaction test.
“Um… Mr. Kang Yoo-chan, I sense a different magic coming from your pants. Is there something inside?”
“…Yes.”
And before long, all the researchers in the laboratory became aware of my embarrassing situation.
“Damn it.”
My face was so hot that I almost bit my tongue and died.
“It’s okay. It can happen.”
Fortunately, Hanyeo-won understood my situation.
At first, she showed a bewildered reaction, but seeing how much I was suffering, she sincerely comforted me.
“I’m really sorry… for making you go through the procedure…”
“To be honest, I’m a little disappointed, but it’s not like today is the only day… Anyway, I’m satisfied that we can still be together like this.”
“Lyowon-ah…!”
Hanyeo-won truly was an angel.
“No one understands my heart like you do!”
“hehehe. Do you love me?”
“I do. I really do!!”
“More than Ma Yeon-seo?”
“Of course!”
Unable to contain my boiling emotions, I embraced her and kissed her cheeks and lips all over.
“Kyaa…! Don’t…!”
“Who’s so sweet? Huh? You should get scolded more!”
Chirp chirp chirp. With a delighted expression, she grabbed my face with both hands and gently locked eyes with me.
“……”
It felt like honey was dripping from her large, affectionate eyes.
“Kang Yoo-chan.”
“Yeah.”
“You… are mine, right?”
“Of course.”
“You won’t go to Ma Yeon-seo?”
“Never.”
“Don’t spend too much time with her in the future. And if you do, make sure to report to me. I’ll do more than that for you.”
“Got it.”
Han Rye-won raised the corners of her mouth, clearly satisfied with my obedient response.
Then, as if she was going to devour me, she covered my lips while wrapping her arms around my neck.
“Hmm… smooch… chu… smooch…”
It was a passionate kiss filled with a thick possessiveness.
“So adorable.”
As I accepted Han Rye-won’s kiss, I secretly placed my hand on her waist.
Even though I couldn’t truly reciprocate the intensity.
But it was enough to relieve her anger.
*
At the same time, a middle-aged woman in an old apartment in Gyeonggi Province looked worriedly at a young woman and asked,
“Miss, is it really okay to live here? I’m worried because it’s so old.”
In response, the young woman, called “Miss,” tapped the wall with her gloved hand.
“It has to be here.”
She spoke with a confident voice, confirming that the soundproofing was not good.
“Oh my. The light over there is flickering again.”
While inspecting every nook and cranny of the house, the middle-aged woman pointed to the porch light.
“Should I ask someone to fix it?”
However, the young woman, who was staring intently at the deteriorating light, shook her head with a face that seemed to have realized something.
“Just leave it.”
“Just leave it?”
“We’ll need it too.”
“Oh… I understand.”
The middle-aged woman, who didn’t know the way, nodded in agreement.
The young woman looked around the small house with an interested expression.
Now all that was left for her was to wait.