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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Former World Star Idol, Current Blockbuster Actress's Pregnancy Dilemma
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Lee Soo-ah barely managed to stop Im Hyeji, who was dead drunk at dawn insisting she had to go pick up some semen and trying to hail a taxi. After putting her back to bed, Lee Soo-ah poured herself another drink to calm her jumbled thoughts and sort them out.
"...Should I believe this?"
The surest way was to try it herself.
If she actually got pregnant, she could confirm whether Im Hyeji was telling the truth or not.
But this wasn't like falling for a voice phishing scam where the stakes were low. What she stood to lose was far too great.
If Lee Soo-ah had dated guys casually since she was young, sleeping around based on looks alone, maybe her current dilemma wouldn't feel so heavy.
If it was easy to just go to bed with someone after getting swept up in the mood and their face, then spreading her legs for a once-in-a-lifetime chance at awakening her abilities wouldn't seem like such a big deal.
She could always report it as a scam or get revenge later—she had plenty of power for that.
But this was about risking the virginity she'd kept all these years.
"...I wanted my first time to be with the man I marry, and to have kids with him."
She had no idea why she'd developed such an outdated conviction.
Lee Soo-ah wasn't that conservative.
She'd been an idol, unafraid to wear revealing outfits that showed off her figure.
The entertainment industry was a marketplace for looks, after all.
Beauty was a good product, but a great body on top of that? Premium price tag.
Hiding it could be a strategy, but how you revealed it created the image that drove fans wild.
That might be why she'd succeeded as an actress too.
With fame, looks, and a killer body already in her corner, decent acting skills made her rise effortless.
The pure-glam actress. Former world-star idol.
Perfect character acting in every role.
Claiming it was just luck felt too humble to be true.
That perfection was probably why she'd held out.
She didn't want to tarnish the flawless image she'd built.
It wasn't like she had no sex drive.
Lee Soo-ah's heart raced for handsome men too.
A buff guy made her want to melt into his arms.
At 28, still a virgin—it embarrassed her sometimes.
Especially with all the hot, successful guys flirting her way. It boosted her confidence as a woman.
It had just piled up like that, somehow.
Now that it had, she figured she'd hold out for the highest value.
Something like that.
So her hesitation hit in the weirdest places.
"...Haa."
But she couldn't exactly confide in anyone else.
Lee Soo-ah wasn't an idiot.
The moment word spread that Im Hyeji said something like this, it wouldn't end as just personal worries.
"In the end... do I have to go through with it?"
She reached one conclusion.
Before even questioning if it worked, she had to decide if she wanted to become a hunter badly enough to give up her virginity.
Memories of her trauma in America surfaced.
So did Im Hyeji shining in the dungeon yesterday.
What if Lee Soo-ah had been there?
If she had the power to stand tall amid monsters, protecting others instead of trembling?
Liquid courage kicked in.
[2_SuA: Kang Jik, can we meet tomorrow?]
Even after deciding, her resolve wasn't rock-solid, so better to commit while buzzed.
It was past 1 a.m., but the reply came quick.
[GangJik: Who's this?]
[2_SuA: It's Lee Soo-ah, from the dungeon...]
[GangJik: Oh!! Yeah... why tomorrow?]
"..."
His unexpected response gave her pause.
Why?
As far as she could tell, no guy had ever asked that.
Not to toot her own horn, but he'd heard her in the dungeon, and he'd probably guessed when she brought Im Hyeji along.
[2_SuA: I have something personal I want to ask. Could you spare some time? I can work around your schedule if not.]
[GangJik: When and where?]
Her heart started pounding.
She sent the time and place.
Alone together—okay?
The vivid sounds from inside that tent echoed, making her shiver, but Lee Soo-ah faced reality.
Nothing worth doing came without risk.
She steeled herself.
Lee Soo-ah's place was spacious.
Im Hyeji's apartment was plenty big and nice for one person too, spotless and all, but Lee Soo-ah's high-rise overlooking the Han River screamed luxury from the entrance. Top-tier materials, soaring ceilings, sunlight flooding every corner, massive windows framing the river view.
'How much does a place like this cost?'—the question nearly burst out.
"Hyeji left a bit ago."
"Oh... yeah."
No one else was home.
Lee Soo-ah, in comfy thin silk loungewear topped with a cardigan, brewed some tea.
In the dungeon, she looked too youthful for late twenties, all idol-light vibe. But here, in this upscale home, wavy hair framing a serious expression—that actress aura hit hard, untouchable.
Her smile couldn't hide the deep worry etched on her face, evidence of heavy deliberation.
The long silence showed she was at a loss for where to start.
I sipped my tea and waited.
This was a transaction.
No need for the seller to kick things off with a customer eyeing my exclusive product—especially when the price wasn't set, risking devaluing it.
"Um... I heard yesterday, from Hyeji."
"Pardon?"
"About the pregnancy... and awakening abilities..."
"Ah... Figured you'd caught on, but you heard the details."
"Sorry."
"No big deal. It's not some lifelong secret anyway. I've even thought about monetizing it..."
"Really?"
I eased her guilt with her apology first.
While signaling I had zero interest in her body—just treating this ability as a product for strict sale.
Not sure how credible it sounded with my eyes glued to her slightly exposed cleavage.
"Not sure how much you heard, but honestly, my power's more about benefiting others. Hyeji wasn't top-tier among S-rank healers, but she hit SS. For me, it's barely enough to tag along as a porter and make pocket change... Unless I get pregnant myself—which I'm not—best to knock up as many as possible and cash in. Oh, but it's not like I can impregnate just anyone willy-nilly."
"So you really have to have sex for the pregnancy to happen?"
"...?"
Sensing the conversation veering business-like, she asked bluntly.
I blinked back, puzzled.
"Semen has to enter the womb for pregnancy, right?"
"I thought of it as impregnating skills..."
"Exactly. But the mechanics are the same. Skills implant instead of a baby. Manage well till 'birth' for good ones, but even then, feed them steady nutrients up to a level to grow them into top-tier skills. Hyeji's hit level 5 before mine stopped needing more input to use independently. Without other samples, I'm not sure on the exacts."
Her face clouded at the sex confirmation.
But she'd come resolved, so she pressed on with determination.
"Could it work for me too?"
"...You're serious?"
"Yes."
I skipped repeating the obvious—like, do you need to awaken right here?
Straight to work.
"Like I said, I'm new to this too. First time knocking up anyone else, first awakening period. Gotta test it. You sure? Once we start, no backing out."
"Yes. I want it. I want to awaken too. Not some F- or E-rank trash—I want real power."
Lee Soo-ah spilled her raw truth.
No one craving awakening just wanted 'awakening.' Might as well aim high: minimum C-rank to shine in dungeons, ideally B, A, or better—not the 85% F/E trash.
I stood and approached her on the opposite couch.
She avoided my eyes, downing her tea to hide the trembling.
Even as I circled behind, no reaction.
Like she was ready to surrender her body no matter what came.
Suddenly. Arms slipping under hers from behind, kneading her breasts.
No warning, no heads-up.
Like a plastic surgeon casually checking a patient's chest—clinical.
But nothing clinical about it.
My touch had intent.
Not mere mass measurement—I explored the bare skin peeking through thin silk, cupping from below, gathering them.
Not satisfied even then, I slipped the straps off her shoulders, exposing them fully, then massaged the raw flesh.
Kneading like dough, her breathing grew ragged.
I buried my nose in her fragrant wavy hair, lips to her ear.
Soft. Small.
Nibbling her dainty earlobe lightly.
"...Right now?"
The moment her voice turned husky, I pulled away and sat back down.
Her silk slip was rumpled. By the time I returned, she'd hiked the straps up, covering again—but the dishevelment was tantalizing.
My saliva glistened faintly on her flushed face and ears.
I said casually.
"It's possible."
Doubt lingering in her expression brightened.
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