Chapter 596

〈 Chapter 596 〉 Part 2, Chapter 1, Section 26

“Hohoho!”

As the young man <NurivillageHangoverSoup>—hereafter HangoverSoup—watched the broadcast, he twisted his lips upon seeing Cheongnyeon running towards Kim Gaon.

“Wow, if she’s gonna get caught, why by that thing?”

His absolute favorite heroine was Kim Nori, and after the DLC update, he couldn’t stop sneering at the random events that kept happening.

“What am I gonna do? Looks like I won’t be seeing Nori anymore.”

Thinking it was Kim Nori, he approached only to find out it was actually Kim Nori’s older sister, Kim Gaon.

A Rank water-element hero known as <Undine>, a 21-year-old member of the Russian guild <Matryoshka>.

She was set to further complicate Kim Nori’s tragic family history while also serving as the trigger for her emotional and physical maturation in the Nori route.

‘If a sex video involving drugs gets leaked…’

Despite being only one year apart, their appearances were so identical that no matter how hard you tried to distinguish them with your eyes, it was impossible. This was true even within the game itself, causing the world to mistakenly believe Kim Nori had engaged in drug-fueled sex when they saw the leaked footage, leading to massive confusion.

This was the doing of some villain who sought Kim Nori’s downfall, but eventually, thanks to the protagonist and Kim Nori’s efforts, the situation was resolved. Throughout this process, Kim Gaon ended up being a thoroughly sacrificed character.

“Heh, let’s see if we can seduce her, huh? Are you gonna show me?”

So strictly speaking, Kim Gaon wasn’t even the main heroine—or even a secondary one. The developers seemed aware of her pitiful state, allowing her to appear during early events where Kim Nori might meet her.

Of course, most people would be driven away by her violent tendencies and irritability, fleeing immediately.

No matter what job or path you chose, Kim Gaon would always drunkenly berate the protagonist, forcing them to retreat. After dodging her multiple times without resolution, Kim Gaon herself began to think of it as a dead-end event.

“If you insult her sister while talking to Nori, you’ll instantly gain favor.”

One step back to take two steps forward. He smirked as he watched Cheongnyeon dodge a beer can.

“Is throwing empty cans really a joke?”

An A-Rank special ability user hurling beer cans in a drunken rage is nothing to laugh about. If your luck runs out, you could end up lying flat on your back in the park and waking up in the hospital, effectively losing an entire day.

“I should give him some candy~”

Tak, tak. As Cheongnyeon looked down on Kim Gaon disdainfully, he threw a coin.

<NurivillageHangoverSoup>: Have sex with Kim Gaon, and I’ll give you 50,000! Recruit her into the squad, and it’s 100,000!

“My stocks are down.”

Both successes would net 150,000. While unlikely, if it did happen, it’d still be profitable for him. For 150,000, he could share a bed with a woman who looked just like Nori…

“Maybe if things go well, we’ll have a double helping of sisters…”

Gulp.

As Kim Gaon’s expression hardened on-screen, his own face began to stiffen.

“Shit, damn it.”

He cursed under his breath, reading the tension in Kim Gaon’s face.

“No recharge yet…”

Even though the conversation was just beginning, for some reason, he felt the need to top up his balance.

* * *

“Name.”

“Kim Gaon.”

“Age.”

“21 years old.”

“Occupation.”

“…I’m a hunter affiliated with the Esquire Guild <Matryoshka> under Russia’s Round Table <Rasputin>. My alias is <Undine>.”

“Three sizes.”

“74-56… Excuse me?”

“Three sizes.”

“…80. Why do you want to know my three sizes?”

“Just curious.”

“…”

Kim Gaon looked at me with a complicated expression. Due to the significant height difference—even with a ruler placed above her head—I sat on a swing to talk to her.

“Here, drink your favorite dark beer.”

“You don’t have to be so formal with me.”

“I’m already being informal.”

“…”

It only made her more uncomfortable. I placed the beer can on Gaon’s hand, knowing full well that refusing would make her even more uneasy.

“Why are you here?”

“…I have a younger sister. I got a week off and came home, but…the…”

“The?”

“…Right after arriving in Korea, my guild issued a recall order…”

“Don’t go. That’s an order.”

I cut off Gaon mid-sentence and gave a direct command.

“What? But…”

“I’ll handle things with Rasputin. I’ll tell him we need local support for this mission.”

Of course, I wouldn’t relay that message. Everyone knows the notorious reputation of the Paragon <Rasputin>, and once Gaon returns to Russia, she’ll lose her mind.

‘Is catching Kim Gaon now really a stroke of luck?’

While it’s true that the mental anguish caused by her sister’s sex video will significantly impact Nori’s growth, there’s no real need to intentionally subject her to such misfortune.

‘Since I had to defuse that bomb anyway, this works out.’

Encountering Kim Gaon instead of Kim Nori could actually be a good omen. A-Rank special ability users aren’t exactly common, and Gaon’s specs are undoubtedly impressive.

‘She’s related to the heroine, so I’ll let it slide.’

Though I initially aimed to build a squad purely of heroines, perhaps having the heroine’s older sister counts as a close enough exception.

I paused the game for a moment to open the system window and think.

“Why is Kim Gaon appearing here?”

“It’s for the <YunaPantiesPurple> DLC! Hahaha!”

“Damn.”

Somehow creating a scenario where someone destined to die as a monster due to drug addiction enters Korea temporarily. It feels like all the spicy elements I knew are slowly getting diluted, making my head spin slightly.

– Why is Kim Gaon being so submissive??

– Even I’d get pissed if someone called me during vacation hahaha

– Do you not know what happens if you scam the Round Table?!

I’m confused about Kim Gaon’s presence, and naturally, so are those around me. They each started sharing their own thoughts. Though I didn’t feel obligated to address everyone’s confusion, I did clarify one point.

“If things go well, Kim Gaon might join the squad.”

– ???

“I revealed her connection to the Round Table. Mentioning the SS-Rank secret code should make it clear she’s a commander, right?”

Esquire.

A guild created to support Round Table heroes operating domestically; most are subordinate organizations to the Round Table. <Matryoshka>, where <Undine> Kim Gaon operates, serves the same purpose.

‘It’s all because Rasputin screwed everything up.’

The promising heroes turned into monsters due to Rasputin. His influence transformed them into beings consumed solely by lust.

“Wouldn’t it be better if I kept her here instead of sending her back to Russia where she’d lose her uterus?”

– That’s true

– Lose her uterus hahaha

– Did Brother Cheongnyeon lose his uterus too?!

“Shut up. Until we gather seven heroines, let’s make her a temporary squad member?”

Do as you please.

He respected my choice. Even if I messed around with a non-heroine woman, he seemed understanding.

“So, I’ll consider recruiting Kim Gaon. Hmm…Sex plus squad recruitment equals 150,000, right? Thank you. Please deposit in advance.”

<NurivillageHangoverSoup>: Didn’t you say you wouldn’t recruit anyone outside of heroines? Haha…

– Chief, you’re breaking your own rules

– You set a 100,000 squad mission hahaha

– Suddenly high-risk assets hahaha

“Hmm…”

They do have a point. Regardless of Kim Gaon’s unfortunate circumstances, there was no real necessity to include her in my squad.

“But for 150,000, that’s five strawberry cream cakes. Definitely worth it.”

Permission granted. Honestly, there wasn’t much reason to meddle, but I must admit I was slightly intrigued by the alias <Undine> attached to her.

“Ah, but eating it plain would be boring…hehehe.”

I restarted the game.

“Hmph. Miss Kim Gaon, why do I need a local support agent?”

“Erm, maybe for something like S-Rank monster extermination?”

“Let me show you who I am.”

I handed Gaon a business card. Upon receiving the pink card, her expression froze.

“Oracle Studio? Surely not?”

“With your terminology, you could say we’re part of the crystal ball brigade. We support the activities of Round Table heroes.”

“T-That’s incorrect. Brigade? Erm, uh, Agent, you’re certainly an Esquire—”

“Being a former Round Table Esquire doesn’t mean much. Ah, I’m just softening the blow a bit. Think of it as buildup.”

I grabbed the beer can in Gaon’s hand. Then, quietly enough that no one else could hear, I wrote small letters on the back of her hand.

C-O-M-M-A-N-D-E-R.

“??!??!?”

“Now, bottoms up.”

Before she could scream, I forced the beer can into her mouth. Gaon’s eyes widened as she gulped down the cold liquid filling her mouth.

“I knew you’d react like this, so I opened the can beforehand. Feeling any better?”

“…gulp.”

Gaon quickly swallowed the cold dark beer in one gulp. Thanks to that, she avoided screaming “COMMANDERRRRRR!” Doing so would’ve been game over.

“Shall we find a quiet place to talk? Is that okay with you? Over here? Miss Gaon?”

“A-ah.”

Gaon replied with a pale face.

“I’m sorry.”

“Pardon?”

“Ugh.”

“……!!”

I quickly stepped back. The number of empty cans scattered on the floor totaled eight. If she drank 500ml cans, that meant she consumed roughly 4 liters of various canned beers—

UUURGH.

Kim Gaon’s first meeting with me was an absolute disaster.

* * *

“Haa.”

Alone in her bed, Kim Nori stared at the ceiling. Despite living in a spacious house large enough for a family of four, she was entirely alone.

“Mom and dad went to earn money.”

Ever since she was little, Kim Nori’s parents earned quite a lot. Thanks to that, they could afford a chic four-story apartment building in New Seoul, allowing Nori to live safely away from monster threats in a relatively wealthy household.

However, since their money-making venture involved being hunters, they often left home. Thus, until she reached her final year of high school, Nori frequently lived with her one-year-older sister.

“Kim Gaon went out drinking.”

Now, even Kim Gaon was gone. When she nagged the drunk Gaon lying on the couch, her sister snapped and stormed out. She muttered apologies in a slurred voice before cutting off all communication through magical gear.

“What should I do now….”

Kim Nori closed her eyes quietly. Being enveloped in peaceful darkness, free from others’ gazes, always felt good. In these moments of solitude, no one could criticize her.

I wish I could just disappear. Just as Kim Nori closed her eyes,

Click. Drarrk.

The front door opened. Expecting some kind of scolding, Kim Nori hesitated before opening the door.

“Hey, Kim Gaon. What time is i-it….”

“Excuse me, Lady.”

Instead of her sister, a man stood at the doorway. Seeing a complete stranger enter her home sent a chill down Kim Nori’s spine, but observing the state of Kim Gaon being supported by the man and his disheveled clothing, she quickly understood the situation.

“I apologize. Your sister made a mistake—”

“Not at all. I gave her too much to drink. Could I come in for a moment?”

“Yes, yes! Please come in. Um, um…”

“This is who I am.”

The blond foreigner politely extended a business card.

“Oracle Studio?”

“We were at a business dinner that got a little out of hand. Which room does Miss Gaon sleep in?”

“T-this way.”

Nuri led the man to Gaon’s room. Despite the shock of having a stranger in her home, the overwhelming smell of alcohol emanating from Gaon and the man’s condition spoke volumes.

“Er, ugh…”

Normally, Nuri would’ve helped Gaon inside. However, she didn’t dare touch her. Smiling gently, the man entered Gaon’s room.

Creeeak.

The door closed. Recalling past memories, Nuri filled a cup with hot water from the water purifier. As the water poured out with a gurgling sound, she opened the kitchen cabinet.

“Since we don’t have honey, sugar will work, right?”

After all, both are sweet, so it shouldn’t matter much. Flustered, Nuri added two spoonfuls of sugar to the cup and stirred it vigorously. Though it was uncertain whether the unconscious Gaon would even drink it, she didn’t want to change the bed sheets in the morning.

Murmurs.

Through the slightly ajar door, snippets of their conversation drifted in. With her tongue loosened by alcohol, Gaon clung to the man’s hand and spoke.

“…please have sex with me.”

“……!!”

In that moment, a world far beyond the reach of Nuri—a soon-to-be high school graduate—unfolded before her very eyes.