Chapter 15

15.

The King Eros gimmick battle is simple.

Just act as the 『Emergency Quest』 desires.

Lee Seong-han thought it was fortunate that things were going smoothly.

“Really, they just keep coming endlessly.”

“But we can still handle them, right?!”

“True. Ugh, I might have leveled up.”

Kang Mi-young, who had figured out the countermeasures, dodged the attacks while speaking.

Lee Seong-han teased Kang Jin-young, wagging his tail, barely avoiding capture, buying time.

Their coordination was seamless.

“Seong-han! I’m going to attack! You better dodge!”

[‘Kang Jin-young’s’ attack intent detected.]

[Target area: ‘Neck’]

[Immediate response implemented in conjunction with Automatic Combat.]

He prepared a perfect defensive stance.

Then, clang───!

Kang Jin-young, who was trying to thrust her blade, was blocked and bounced back.

｢As expected, she’s amazing talent. Look at her, showing off her muscles, practically begging to be taken down. So damn adorable. She’d collapse after a few hits from a woman, but resisting like that is cute. I’m hooked. She’s the best.｣

“Can you stop now?!”

Lee Seong-han stretched his shoulders as if they were stiff.

“If you sign a pledge to join the National Intelligence Service and become my direct subordinate, I’ll consider it. Oh, and swear you’ll never meet my sister.”

Kang Mi-young’s voice clearly shouted, “Bullshit.”

“Lifetime position?”

“Of course, a lifetime position. Until your hair turns gray. You weren’t planning to just run away, were you? Even the kids going to deep-sea fishing boats don’t do that.”

······Provocative gestures and expressions.

Lee Seong-han judged that this was ‘real.’

“Here comes the magic!”

[Fireball], [Frost Bomb] flew consecutively at Lee Seong-han.

He quickly dodged the barrage-type magic, which had an extremely low mana consumption rate.

[Double Magic] spread attack.

Magic condensed into a single strike.

It’s no wonder she became a section chief at the National Intelligence Service at such a young age.

Lee Seong-han wiped his mouth with his arm.

“Is my [Regeneration] ability weakening? Damn.”

The mark of Eros gnawing at his flesh and soul.

He’s holding on like a sandbag with [Regeneration] and [Mental Barrier], but enduring for a long time is still tough.

“Sir!”

“Yes, Major.”

“It seems there are no more monsters reinforcing. I’ll join you there!”

“Underst──”

His words were abruptly cut off.

Purely, no voice came out.

As if a cork had blocked his airway.

Because ‘King Eros’ was acting.

Although they hadn’t directly engaged, he periodically sent in monsters.

[‘King Eros’ glares at Kang Mi-young’s presence.]

[‘King Eros’ shows signs of discomfort.]

[Recruits a Pure Succubus and Eros Knight.]

“Kehehehehe.”

“I’m alive again!”

Tap.

He flicks his hand.

A translucent pink barrier rises.

[All communication with targets other than the designated one (Kang Jin-young) is blocked.]

[This condition will be maintained until 『Emergency Quest ⓹』 is completed.]

“Damn.”

“Seong-han! Don’t look away! I’m going to attack. Dodge!”

Flick!

Sparks flying everywhere.

“Not bad, huh?!”

Kang Jin-young’s sword.

The mana forming the blade scattered and recombined.

“Don’t look at my sister, look at me. Look at me, please!”

She pleaded with a terrifying smile.

Goosebumps rose, even her fine hairs stood on end.

This crazy woman is doing everything to kidnap me.

Of course, it’s scary.

｢Jump. Move to handle it.｣

Kang Jin-young stepped back.

She lowered her head and dashed forward, swiftly leaping.

‘She’s coming.’

Lee Seong-han calmly accepted the sudden situation, listening carefully to Kang Jin-young’s voice in his ear.

｢Head.｣

｢Right arm.｣

｢Chest near the heart.｣

Once the positions were specified, immediate countermeasures came to mind.

[Automatic Combat activated.]

[Information processed instantly.]

[……Counter strategy construction complete.]

[Initiating movement!]

The spot where Lee Seong-han was standing just moments ago.

A vicious bluish downward slash.

A crater formed on the ground, and large concrete fragments scattered everywhere.

‘Kang Jin-young must be running out of stamina. Not much left.’

The final phase of the quest.

Just 10 more seconds to endure.

He had already cleared 『Emergency Quest』 1·2·3.

This was the 4th one.

As rewards for Emergency Quests 1·2·3, Kang Jin-young’s abnormal stats were reduced from 6x to 2x.

Conversely, Lee Seong-han gained additional stats.

Now it was manageable.

This was the last quest, and no matter what, he had to succeed.

Ding!

The quest window refreshed as if it had been waiting.

[『Emergency Quest ⓸』]

[Endure the target (Kang Jin-young)’s attacks for 15 minutes. (15:00)]

[Quest complete.]

[‘King Eros’ smiles brightly at the satisfactory result.]

[‘Kang Jin-young’s’ increased stats are removed.]

[Stats increased.]

Kang Jin-young returned to having normal human-level strength.

Her abnormally high magic power remained, though.

‘This is really the last one. Please, let’s just go to the barracks! Okay?!’

The final emergency quest.

Once that’s done, the mark will be removed.

[『Emergency Quest ⓹』]

[…]

[Paused]

“What.”

The quest window suddenly stopped mid-refresh.

Kang Jin-young had raised her arm.

“Wait a second.”

[‘King Eros’ directs his gaze to the speaker.]

“This is the last one, so you’ll do as I want, right?”

[‘King Eros’ confirms the request.]

[Opens a private channel.]

[……‘King Eros’ nods after confirming the request.]

[The conditions for 『Emergency Quest ⓹』 are updated.]

Lee Seong-han was startled.

“What.”

The information window didn’t mention that “quests can be modified upon suggestion.”

“How does she even know that kind of information?”

The newly updated emergency quest began.

[『Emergency Quest ⓹』]

[Hug the target (Kang Jin-young). (0/1)]

At first glance, it seemed like an easy task.

Just hug her, and it’s over.

[‘Kang Jin-young’ has found a way to break through ‘Mental Barrier’.]

It wouldn’t end so easily.

* * *

The space cut off by the barrier.

Lee Seong-han and Kang Jin-young stood awkwardly.

The space had changed.

It was more like an operating room than a hospital.

Pink mist settled on the ground, floating around.

“■■! ■■!”

Kang Mi-young’s voice banging on the barrier.

It was muffled, as if underwater.

“I surrender.”

“What are you talking about.”

“I surrender, okay? I lost this game. Look, I’m just skin and bones now. How can I win?”

Kang Jin-young answered calmly.

Instinctively, he hesitated to approach.

She had just unleashed all sorts of magic and attacks on him.

Kang Jin-young smiled brightly. [Perception Alteration] seemed heavily applied, her pupils cloudy.

Even as she tilted her head to one side, her gaze remained fixed. Only on him.

“I won’t do anything this quest. Let’s just get through it comfortably, okay? Honestly, I’m tired of it too. Hehe.”

Lee Seong-han paused.

She was currently under the overlapping marks of ‘Eros’ and ‘Succubus.’

As if emphasizing that ‘she’s harmless.’

She spread her arms from a distance.

All he had to do was hug her.

Hug her, and everything would be resolved.

That was the problem.

“This woman is giving up so easily.”

Lee Seong-han muttered to himself.

He felt something was off.

A narcissistic woman like her wouldn’t just surrender.

Though he couldn’t read her thoughts, he doubted her intentions were good.

“Really?”

“A prince a thousand times cooler and handsomer than any celebrity is going to hug me······ Do I really need to resist? Hehe. I’ve only seen guys hugging girls in dramas······ Hehehe.”

Kang Jin-young laughed brightly.

｢Tie her up with chains, smash her head with a hammer, mess her up completely.｣

｢Lock her up at home, do paperwork together, go for walks, and even at night······ Uhehehehe.｣

｢Really, really just a little more. If you come closer, the opportunity will come.｣

‘Recon. Did you confirm?’

[No information to break through the target’s Mental Barrier has been found.]

‘Damn.’

No choice.

He had to go for it.

“Stay still. I don’t want to get blood on you.”

“Come on, just a little closer~ Really just a little!”

Lee Seong-han moved forward, senses heightened.

It felt strangely familiar.

The atmosphere, the tone, the lowered tension.

This wasn’t something Kang Jin-young would normally do.

Lee Seong-han stopped.

Just a few more steps.

There must be a reason the space was altered.

Zapzapzap───!

Zapzapzap───!

Zapzapzap───!

Consecutive flashes of light.

[Mental Barrier] was fiercely resisting something. Lee Seong-han glared at Kang Jin-young.

“Turn around.”

“Turn around?”

“Turn around, I said. What, feeling guilty?”

“Suddenly?”

Kang Jin-young, with her arms spread, smiled brightly.

It wasn’t her eyes, but. Ah, she’s caught. Exactly that look.

Lee Seong-han could be sure. “That’s not a human.”

Moreover, was he even sane right now? Seeing [Mental Barrier] activate, probably not.

‘Recon. Am I charmed right now?’

[Detecting signs of mental abnormality.]

Zzzzzzap.

A wave spread around.

[……‘Charm’ confirmed.]

[Cooperation with ‘Mental Barrier’.]

[Convert all mana to internal firewall.]

Zapzapzap───!

Like thunder, his vision brightened.

The space returned to normal.

“Uh, uhhh?”

As if shedding a shell, the world changed.

Lee Seong-han realized that Kang Jin-young, who was spreading her arms, was actually a Succubus.

The one he had stabbed with a dagger.

Then where did the real Kang Jin-young go?

‘Ambush?!’

He turned around.

Kang Jin-young, who had been creeping up, suddenly stopped.

Yeah, something felt off.

“Eh.”

｢Eh.｣

Caught, Kang Jin-young was startled and fell.

“Got, got caught.”

“Ah, ahahaha. Hello?”

She was wearing pure white gloves.

Lee Seong-han glared at the cotton gloves.

[Eros’ Blessing (A)]

– An item once used by Eros.

– When touching a beloved target while wearing the gloves, it grants the target ‘heat’, ‘mental confusion’, and ‘sexual addiction’ effects.

Kang Jin-young’s pink eyes trembled violently.

“I, I lost, so you’ll do as you please, right? Touch my body all over. And even that kind of stuff.”

“…….”

[Requesting instructions.]

‘Put her to sleep.’

[Instructions confirmed.]

[Executing wrestling technique ‘Bear Hug’.]

Lee Seong-han coldly charged at Kang Jin-young.

“Eh.”

He hugged her waist with both arms.

Lifted her up with his large frame.

The gloved hands teased her entire body.

As if waiting for the right moment.

“Why, why isn’t it working.”

Kang Jin-young’s flustered remark.

[‘■■■■ Eye (EX)’ says low-level tricks don’t work.]

“I’m going to slam you.”

“Ugh.”

In a wrestling stance, he slammed Kang Jin-young to the ground.

Crash!

“Hi, hick. Oh. Ooohhh.”

With a loud noise, Kang Jin-young’s eyes rolled back.

She seemed to have fainted. Kang Jin-young’s body trembled like a leaf.

“Ugh…… Seong-han, that’s my…”

[‘King Eros’ judges it as self-defense.]

[All quests have been satisfied.]

[‘Charm+’ on the target has been removed.]

[『Favorability Quest』]

[‘Kang Jin-young’ is currently under ‘King Eros’ control. Clear this floor to free Kang Jin-young. (1/1)]

[Reward: Escape, Favorability Lv. 5 increase]

[『Emergency Quest』]

[‘Kang Jin-young’ has found a way to break through ‘Mental Barrier’. Endure it. (1/1)]

[Reward: Permanent acquisition of ‘Mental Barrier’]

[1.5th floor (Gate: ‘National Army Capital Hospital’) cleared.]

[Calculating rewards.]

[New target’s favorability begins to accumulate.]

Damn.

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