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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Affection Gauge (2)
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Chime! ♬
As Jin Yuha put the ring on his finger,
a clear bell chime echoed in everyone's minds.
Then, a translucent blue window appeared before Kang Dohee's eyes.
" [Jin Yuha] has equipped the 「Ring of Affection and Obsession」. "
Hum—
Next, an unfamiliar sensation on her finger.
A streamlined silver band with a captivating pink glow was now on her finger.
Kang Dohee's eyebrows twitched as she stared at the ring that had suddenly appeared on her hand.
'What is this ring…? Did the Mutt get it?'
Jin Yuha had just shouted that he found it, so it must be true.
She didn't know why he got the item and something like this appeared on her,
but what concerned her more was…
「Ring of Affection and Obsession」
…the item's ominous name.
Usually, the name of an artifact reveals its identity and effect.
And it also aligns with the concept of the dungeon from which it was obtained.
Having cleared numerous dungeons, Kang Dohee habitually began to analyze it.
'The theme of this dungeon was clearly nightmares. Mental attacks were the main traps… So, is it a mind-control type item…? Affection and obsession, surely not, I'm going to be forcibly subjugated to the Mutt—!?'
Such a hypothesis flashed through her mind, but Kang Dohee quickly shook her head.
Using such an artifact to forcibly subjugate, control, and manipulate herself and other party members?
Jin Yuha?
No way.
Jin Yuha wasn't that kind of man.
He would never do anything that would harm himself or other party members.
Her unwavering trust in the man named Jin Yuha, deeply rooted in her heart.
Suddenly, Kang Dohee let out a hollow laugh.
'I can't believe I've come to trust that Mutt so much.'
She was accustomed to not trusting others easily and preferred to overcome challenges alone rather than relying on anyone.
This feeling was quite novel to her.
'Anyway, the fact that it appeared on my finger and an alert came up on my status window… means it's going to affect me somehow…'
Just as she was about to open her status window to check the changes.
" Due to the item's effect, Kang Dohee's stats will increase based on [Jin Yuha]'s affection for [Kang Dohee]. "
'…What, what did it say!? Af-affection!?'
At the unexpected word, Kang Dohee's pupils quivered as if an earthquake had struck them.
'S-so, my stats increase based on how much the Mutt… likes me…!?'
That such a thing was possible with an artifact was an effect she had never heard of.
Flick! Flick!
Her eyes moved rapidly at a speed beyond comprehension.
It was to check how much the stats written on her status window had increased.
And her mouth fell open without her realizing it.
"…4%? All stats!? Wait, is this high?"
It was certainly high.
A 4% increase in all stats was enough to consider her an entirely different person.
It was clear that there would be a significant difference in her future performance.
Nevertheless, the reason she wondered if this was a 'high number' was none other than this:
Her gaze swept—
When Kang Dohee turned her gaze to the other party members,
they, too, seemed to have finished checking, wearing the same expression as Kang Dohee.
Their eyes were all fixed on each other's fingers.
Lee Yuri, Im Gaeul, Sophia, Kang Dohee, and even Ichika.
A pink gem was shining on each of their fingers.
'…They're all wearing it. Even this woman who isn't even a formal party member yet.'
This meant that the stat increase due to Jin Yuha's item equip applied to all Utopia members.
If viewed purely from the perspective of increasing the party's strength, it couldn't be better.
But at this moment, there was no room for such naive thoughts in their minds.
Just.
'…How much did hers go up?'
She didn't want to reveal her own increase.
But she was desperate to know everyone else's.
She wanted to know, madly.
Like gunslingers in the Old West glaring at each other in a standoff.
A tense atmosphere flowed among the party members.
As everyone's minds raced,
"Oh."
Suddenly, a faint voice came from below.
"…My stats went up. 3%. Hmm, is that high?"
It was Ichika, who was lying among them.
Fortunately, her increase was lower than 4%.
At least all the Utopia party members had a higher increase than the woman who had just joined today.
Just as they secretly let out a sigh of relief,
"Hmmmm. Stats go up based on affection… So, if I get closer to my benefactor, it might go up even more, right?"
Ichika dropped a bombshell in a calm voice.
"!"
* * *
Meanwhile,
At Utopia's hideout.
The large table was cluttered with papers and empty coffee cups.
Rustle, rustle—
Shin Sehee was busy organizing documents when she picked up a coffee cup.
Slurp—
"Hmm, well, the reputation work is mostly done… And there doesn't seem to be any movement from others to jump in on the American monster subjugation request… Hmm, we should be able to get it smoothly. Rather than taking it immediately, we should probably take about a week to recharge after returning from this current request…"
As Shin Sehee rehearsed her upcoming schedule, she abruptly leaned her head back against the chair and
cast her gaze towards the window.
"Phew… Mr. Jin Yuha is late… It feels like it's about time for him to return…"
Outside the window, the red sunset cast its glow as the sun slowly set.
As the operator, supporting Utopia from behind the scenes,
Shin Sehee took pride and responsibility in her work.
However, she found the time she spent waiting alone, while the Utopia party was thrown into dangerous situations, unbearably tedious.
According to Jin Yuha, they were supposed to clear the dungeon and return today.
That is, if nothing unusual happened.
But the problem was if an accident occurred.
No matter how much Utopia was anticipated and lauded by the world, they were not invincible.
Though she hated to think about it,
clearing dungeons and subjugating monsters inevitably involved casualties or serious injuries.
Such things were bound to happen frequently.
There were all sorts of bizarre monsters and numerous ability users in the world. And not all of them were good people.
'If someone were to pull a trick… I'd stake everything I have, dig them up from the roots, and utterly destroy them.'
Lost in thought, imagining pulverizing her hypothetical enemies, Shin Sehee muttered to herself without realizing it.
"Maybe I should have asked to join as a combatant too…"
If she were to tell Jin Yuha that she wanted to be a combatant, he would probably be very flustered but would ultimately grant her wish.
Their relationship was no longer one of mutual aversion, and they now trusted each other.
"…No, I can't. This is what I do best, and it's the job Mr. Jin Yuha trusted me with. I can't disappoint him."
Besides, a special-position individual probably already existed in Jin Yuha's mind.
"Hmm, still, thinking that person should be a little less capable than me is probably just my own greed, isn't it?"
Just then.
Chime! ♬
Suddenly, a clear bell chime rang in her mind.
And a ring appeared on her slender finger.
"…Oh, what's this?"
* * *
Meanwhile,
Slice— Slice—
"Aaaaargh!!!"
"Kyaaaaargh!!!"
Horrific screams echoed in the dark underground.
"R-run!!! That crazy bitch broke in here!!!"
A group of people were desperately fleeing, tears and snot, and blood from their limbs, scattering everywhere.
Tap—
A woman walked into the underground space.
Black bobbed hair and deep-set black eyes.
A cold, hardened face.
It was Baek Seolhee.
"Everyone, draw your swords."
As she gave the short command,
Shing—
The black-clad figures wearing animal masks, members of the Demon Extermination Squad, behind her simultaneously drew their swords.
"Pursue and kill them all. Don't let a single rat escape this place."
Whoosh—
With that, Baek Seolhee lunged forward, drawing her sword.
Chime! ♬
It was just a light swing to flick off the blood that had adhered to her blade.
But suddenly, sword energy erupted from it.
Swoosh—!!!
The launched sword energy shot towards a pillar supporting the underground space.
Snick.
One of the pillars supporting the underground space was cleanly cut with a smooth cross-section.
Rumble—!!
"Whoa!! C-Captain!!!"
"The pillar! The pillar! The pillar's collapsing!! Hey, you idiots! If you don't want to end up like jerky, get out of here!"
Thump, thump, thump!!
*
Gasp
Gasp
Gasp
The Demon Extermination Squad members, who had barely evacuated to the surface from the collapsing underground,
were breathing heavily.
"Captain… your strength control…"
Among them, a woman in a rabbit mask glared at Baek Seolhee and spoke in a slow, drawn-out voice.
And the others wearing animal masks, not to be outdone, added:
"Captain! Are you trying to kill us all!?"
"You did this last time too! If we miss a few because of this, we'll have to bust our butts again!"
"Do we have to dig up all these demon bastards who got crushed…?"
However, Baek Seolhee remained silent, not uttering a word.
The bell chime that suddenly rang in her mind.
And she simply stared blankly at the ring that had appeared on her hand.
'…My power increased. Suddenly?'
The emotion she felt was beyond mere astonishment.
These were stats she had thought could no longer be increased through training or elixirs.
An unbreakable wall of growth.
'I vaguely thought I couldn't get any stronger than this…'
That limit was broken today without any warning.
And by a full 4% at that.
'Why on earth…?'
Then, she understood the reason.
" Due to the item's effect, Baek Seolhee's stats will increase based on [Jin Yuha]'s affection for [Baek Seolhee]. "
Ha. My goodness.
It seemed her disciple had done something utterly ridiculous somewhere else again.
A smirk.
Having received such an unexpectedly grand gift, Baek Seolhee curled her lips into a wide smile.
"C-Captain, she's s-smiling!?"
"Crazy, who was the one who swore just now! Come out and apologize immediately!"
The surrounding Demon Extermination Squad members fussed about her smile, but.
'Hmm, stats increase based on affection, huh… This means I'll need to strengthen our master-disciple relationship even further.'
Realizing that a new path for growth had opened, Baek Seolhee thought of her disciple and traced her lips.