120 – The Dream of Girls is Well Known by the Nymphs # 1
“Haildo…!”
A T-rank rift opened in Haeundae, Busan.
From that sandy beach, the S-rank Awakened Tsukki waved at me.
“Over here! Over here!”
Bzzz-.
Tsukki’s appearance stood out.
Even though there were more people with colorful hair since the Awakened generation, Tsukki’s hair, which was close to silver, reflected the sunlight in Busan dazzlingly.
She was tall, similar to me, and her outfit was a neat black suit, giving her a look reminiscent of a model in a photo shoot.
“Who is that?”
“She seems to be an Awakened from Japan?”
It wasn’t surprising that a crowd naturally formed around her.
In that situation, as I approached, the eyes of the people instantly turned to me.
“Look! It’s Kkungkkungi!”
“So cute!”
No-.
All the attention was directed toward Kkungkkungi.
Kkungkkungi was more famous and popular than I was.
━ Kkungkkung…!
Anyway.
In that sense, we entered T-rank rift T-781.
Since T-781 was relatively small among T-rank rifts, it was said that Tsukki, who was an upper-ranking S-rank, could handle it alone.
“This is my first T-rank. Ugh, I’m a bit nervous.”
Lee Jin-A, who had just become B-rank, was quite tense about entering a T-rank dungeon.
She wore gauntlets and was dressed in black leather like a rider suit, and she looked quite impressive.
When it came to equipment, she was a proper veteran.
“I heard that A-rank demons basically pop up in T-rank, right? What can we do?”
Lee Jin-A seemed to wonder if our presence would be helpful in the T-rank rift.
I had thought the same when I first went into a T-rank rift.
Back then, I was with Seo Ye-rim and Cha Yura.
To be honest, I didn’t really help back then.
Zwooong-.
In that manner, we entered T-rank rift T-778.
I felt my insides shake as a wave of hot air rushed to my face.
As I looked around, I saw a landscape filled with volcanoes and bubbling rivers of magma.
Since the T-rank rift in Korea is connected to a place called “Land of Flames – Muspelheim,” it generally looks like a red and hot hell.
“Is this Korea’s T-rank rift? It’s hotter compared to Japan’s T-rank.”
Pat-.
Tsukki took off her jacket, which was draped over her shoulders, and tied it around her waist. As far as I know, that jacket was also made of special material.
I felt a bit worried if it was okay to take it off like that.
“Wow, Haildo. Look at that body. Incredible.”
Tsukki’s physique was impressive for an S-rank Awakened, enough to make Lee Jin-A admire it.
Thanks to the white sleeveless shirt under her jacket, her armpits and arms were clearly visible, but she didn’t look weak or lacking in defense.
Her arms were strong, and her skin, as a reinforcement-type, would boast hardness beyond regular steel.
Bzzz-.
Tsukki stretched her body lightly.
At that moment, it seemed like volcanic rocks and stones on the ground began to merge, forming a human-like shape about 2 meters tall.
It was the appearance of the A-rank demon “Lava Soldier.”
Among A-rank demons, it was on the lower end, but it was undoubtedly a powerful demon as an A-rank.
“Is that guy the demon in this T-rank dungeon? Everyone, don’t interfere! I want to take it down solo to warm up. First, just a light hit!”
Tsukki slowly walked toward the A-rank demon “Lava Soldier” and struck its jaw with a powerful punch.
Bang-!
It was a clean uppercut.
━ Awoooo….
Pashuush-!
The A-rank demon made of solidified lava shattered in an instant like a snowman collapsing, which looked surreal in many ways.
If I had to face that guy, I would have had to unleash Kkungkkungi, Ahn Ahn, and Bang Bang.
“Hey, Haildo. It seems like we don’t have much to do, huh? That person is crushing the rift without any weapons or gear. What should we do now?”
With Tsukki overpowering the A-rank demon with a single punch, Lee Jin-A seemed slightly overwhelmed.
To be honest, so did I.
“That’s the beauty of reinforcement types. Now our job is to collect materials. Can you see the fragments scattered on the ground? We should take these.”
The demons that appear in T-rank rifts are powerful, but their byproducts also make excellent materials.
The fragments of the “Lava Soldier” are called “Volcanic Rocks.”
These are reportedly great for use as charcoal, and in very expensive charcoal grilling restaurants, they use these volcanic rocks to start fires and grill meat.
Swoosh-.
As I stuffed the volcanic rocks into a specially made pouch, Lee Jin-A stopped abruptly.
With one eyebrow raised, she spoke softly enough for only me to hear.
“This, isn’t this totally us getting carried? Like getting a bus. We’re getting a bus here.”
Lee Jin-A was a girl who knew games well, as she had run away every time she fought with her sister and stayed in a PC room. She seemed to understand the concept of getting carried and being a bus.
And Lee Jin-A’s words were true!
“Originally, this is a small rift for a T-rank, and Tsukki isn’t clearly defined, but she’s a single-number ranker.”
“Single-number ranker?”
I was very interested in S-rank Awakened individuals.
Their rankings and skills were always hotly discussed on the internet, and in Korea, the mudslinging battle of “Cha Yura vs. Seo Ye-rim” was famous.
Whenever I had nothing to do, I would dive into these discussions online, spending countless days engaged in heated debates.
I was a complete neutral party, as I didn’t take sides—whether Seo or Cha, it depended purely on the day’s condition and location, I thought.
Anyway.
Having specialized knowledge of S-rank Awakened and having memorized their internet uploads, social media, and quotes, I thought Tsukki must be a single-number ranker in the S-rank, between 1 to 9.
“So it’s natural that we have nothing to do in battles since Tsukki is incredibly strong. We just need to gather materials and manage our gear.”
“Still, isn’t this a bit too easy? Is this why people are so eager to befriend high-ranking Awakened?”
# # #
The rift was easily shattered by Tsukki’s punches.
The last remaining A-rank mid-level demon “Lava Knight.”
Facing the Lava Knight holding a flaming sword, Tsukki spoke.
“It seems there’s no leader in this rift…. This guy seems to be the last demon. I’ve hogged all the heat. Do you want to take this one on?”
Tsukki offered us the last remaining A-rank demon.
With a loud crack, Lee Jin-A loosened her shoulders and neck.
“Alright, I came into a T-rank after a long time, so I should give it a try. Even if it’s a humanoid demon with a rocky body, it probably shares weaknesses with human forms!”
Pat-!
Lee Jin-A charged toward the knight that stood about 3 meters tall.
With a swift movement, she dodged the sword as it swung and aimed a strong punch to the Lava Knight’s abdomen.
“Jin Seung-ryong Kwon!”
It was a magnificent attack, jumping high into the air and delivering a fist.
Was that taken from a game character’s move?
This was a classic move for someone like Lee Jin-A, who spent so much time in arcades and PC rooms.
Bash-.
The Lava Knight staggered, dropping fragments.
“Tch-. It’s so tough. My B-rank attack isn’t even causing a significant injury? Hey! Haildo! You need to help me!”
“I was already planning to help.”
Inhale-.
I exhaled calmly as I released the unique magic of the manipulation type.
Then I spoke to the hidden Bang Bang.
“Bang Bang…! It’s ‘Singing’…!”
━ Hiiioooonnn…!
Hiiioooonnn, Hiiioooonnn- Bang Bang began to sing.
I was told that the cute song from Bang Bang, infused with my magic, had the effect of regulating the tension of animals.
Ari told me, so it had to be effective.
Proving that effect, the Squirrel Beast Kkungkkungi let out a brave roar, ━ Krrroooonnn…! and charged fiercely toward the Lava Knight.
“Kkungkkungi! ‘Gale Kkungkkung Strike’!”
━ Krrroooonnn…!
Kkungkkungi bit its own tail and used the momentum to spin and finally struck the Lava Knight with its tail.
Due to the centrifugal force of the spin and the friction of the tail strike, Kkungkkungi’s tail skills reached an A-rank level.
Bangggg-!
━ Wooooh…!
The Lava Knight staggered heavily after taking a strong hit to its chest.
Its guard had been broken.
I didn’t settle for that situation and took the opportunity while the demon was exposed and shouted.
“Ahn Ahn! It’s ‘Zzi Zzi Cutting’!”
Fwoooooom-.
Reinforced by magic, Ahn Ahn flapped its wings and soared up toward the Lava Knight with great vigor.
━ Zzi Zzi…!
Shashak-!
Ahn Ahn’s sharp horn rushed toward the Lava Knight in an X-shape and finally cleaved its torso in two, causing it to crumble to the ground with a loud thud.
“Phew, that was an intense battle.”
I wiped the sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand.
I was relieved that no one got hurt.
Watching that, Lee Jin-A furrowed her brow and poked me in the side.
“That was intense? Haildo, all you did was issue commands from the back, right?”
That was a fair point.
But this was an efficient and realistic way to fight.
When Kkungkkungi, Ahn Ahn, and Bang Bang formed a combination, they were significantly stronger than I was.
“You all did great!”
Swoosh-.
I affectionately patted the tired animals after the battle.
And so, we safely broke through the T-rank rift.
Tsukki laughed, looking at her thoroughly drenched body.
“I’m soaked with sweat. I want to wash up first. Now that I’m in Busan, I want to go to a bathhouse with a view of the sea! Let’s go! There’s a place I used to visit often whenever I came to Korea!”
Tsukki led us to a bathhouse overlooking the sea.
I felt tense in various ways, but Tsukki casually entered the women’s bath.
I checked again, but it seemed Tsukki was indeed a woman after all.
# # #
“This place is always quiet and nice to come to.”
Tsukki submerged herself in the tub.
A quiet bathhouse.
The view of the sea beyond the window was also pleasant.
However, Tsukki’s gaze frequently drifted toward Lee Jin-A sitting across from her, rather than the sea.
“What are you staring at?”
Tsukki replied directly to Lee Jin-A’s blunt question.
“Just, I think you have a beautiful body.”
Tsukki thought Lee Jin-A’s body was slim and lovely.
It was sufficiently toned, and the delicate features made it beautiful even in Tsukki’s eyes.
However, Lee Jin-A felt a slight chill.
“Tsukki, didn’t you say you were engaged to Seo Ye-rim? I heard you like women, so don’t get any weird ideas about me. I don’t have that kind of preference!”
Snapping-.
Lee Jin-A covered her body with her hands.
Tsukki flared up a bit.
“I don’t like women! I just like beautiful things! And I like men too!”
Tsukki’s white face turned slightly red as she spoke.
I thought it was fortunate that there weren’t many people in the bathhouse.
“But men prefer women who are a bit more delicate and quiet, right? They like someone who cooks well and is modestly feminine.”
Splash-.
Tsukki submerged herself completely in the water.
Seeing Tsukki doing that, Lee Jin-A crossed her arms.
“If you’re talking about Haildo’s ideal type, I don’t think that fits either. Haildo’s tastes….”
Lee Jin-A sometimes read Haildo’s emotions.
However, she decided not to mention that preference.
Those with sensory abilities who gossip about others tend to easily become disliked.
Moreover, Tsukki was splashing around, leaving no time to speak.
“How did you know? That I like Haildo…! This feeling is new to me…! My heart races, and my body feels like it’s floating… is this what ordinary girls feel like…?”
