Chapter 51

EP.51

Bang!

I lightly slammed the table to draw Lee Sooah’s attention.

“Ms. Sooah!”

“Yes!!!”

She quickly snapped back to reality.

“Let’s start our meal.”

“Yes!!!”

Her enthusiastic reply came, but it felt like her mind was elsewhere.

‘What’s going on? Was that a really important question?’

It was the first time I had seen Sooah completely spaced out like this. She looked as if she were lost in thought about the mention of a white dress.

“How is it? I rushed to prepare everything, so it might be lacking a bit.”

“Uh… um… ah… yes… it’s delicious…”

I couldn’t tell if her reaction was due to shock or if she was just distracted.

‘Hmm. This isn’t good. There’s definitely something off.’

She seemed completely zoned out, as if stuck in lag.

‘I didn’t say anything wrong, did I?’

Sooah tilted her head slightly and appeared to be deep in thought.

‘When she was acting up during dinner, how did she get so spaced out now?’

There was no choice. The mood was such that I felt I had to do something to snap Sooah back to her senses.

If not now, I might lose the chance.

“Um, Ms. Sooah?”

“Yeeees…”

Her response felt lackluster and drained of energy.

“Do you perhaps like me?”

I shot straight for the heart with this direct question. A bold move from a man.

“Yes… huh? What? Huh??”

It was as if a patient on the verge of death had momentarily regained their senses after receiving medication; her mind came rushing back.

At first, she seemed confused before suddenly jolting back to reality, looking flustered.

“Ah… no! What do you mean? Do I like Jihoon? No? What is that supposed to mean? Wait. Baek Jihoon? Please don’t misunderstand. As the leader of Team A, I’m just trying to manage my team members. Absolutely, absolutely do not misunderstand. Don’t you know me? I’m Lee Sooah. Ah, this is ridiculous. Baek Jihoon? Just because I asked about looks, you think I like you? I’m not that easy or frivolous! Wow. This is completely absurd. I’ve never heard anything like this. That I like you? Ha.”

She seemed to spew out words in a frenzy.

‘She does like me. Just look at that reaction.’

I had barely nudged her, and yet her response was explosively volatile.

I felt I was doing a great job at this little tête-à-tête.

“Oh? Is that so? I was just wondering if you might have had feelings for me. Seems I got ahead of myself.”

I scratched my head awkwardly with a sheepish expression.

“Oh dear. Hohoho. Well, that could happen. After all, I do have a striking appearance. It seems many men tend to misunderstand me. I’ve heard that a few times. Hahaha. Don’t misunderstand, please! My following you around is just the worry of a mother bird for her chick. I care deeply for my team. I absolutely hate to see them getting hurt or ignored by others. Hahaha. Baek Jihoon, you’re really funny! Hohoho!”

She was clearly overreacting, as if she’d been caught with a secret and was embarrassed.

‘Hmm, it seems pretty clear now.’

For some reason, I found myself smiling inside.

‘Does Sooah really like me? For real?’

Never before in my life had I ever considered this possibility—let alone imagined it.

Life can be truly unpredictable.

*

“Thank you for today.”

Sooah gave a polite bow.

Her expression was one of utter confusion.

Standing vacantly by the shoe rack, she seemed lost in thought.

“Yes. Uh, aren’t you leaving?”

“Ah, yes.”

She stood still for a moment before responding to my words and hurriedly stepping out.

“Yes. Then I’ll see you tomorrow~”

“Yes, yes!!!”

And with that, she dashed off.

‘What’s going on, Sooah? For real?’

‘Could it be because of her incubi traits?’

It was a confusing day indeed.

If Sooah really had feelings for me, this would be a huge event.

At this rate, I could charm nearly every woman around.

Wasn’t this the crazy trait that every man dreamed of?

*

“Hah… Hah… What’s going on…”

Sooah was entirely in a state of confusion.

The series of events that transpired today were overwhelming for her mind.

‘Why? Don’t I like Yoo Hana more? This is absurd. A white dress? I got pushed aside for something so trivial? Hah, just wait. I’ll prepare my own white dress too.’

‘And then, do I like him? That’s ridiculous! Really?? Baek Jihoon, aren’t you too full of yourself? I, an E-rank Hunter? No, I just happened to be concerned about my team! Ugh. Drinking kimchi soup without reason is just too much.’

She shook her head vigorously, denying her strange feelings.

This chaotic situation seemed almost unbearable for her.

*

“Hmm? What’s this?”

After parting ways with Sooah, I decided to open her status window.

In the process, I noticed a word I had never seen before.

[ Enchantment Resistance ]

This term caught my eye, especially given the high regard I held for Sooah.

[ Enchantment Resistance: Very, very high ]
EP.52

It was written in a very bold red color.

‘What the… Did such a stat exist?’

Naturally, I couldn’t help but be curious about my own status.

[ Enchantment Resistance: Very, very low ]

‘F*ck.’

My enchantment resistance was indeed very low. It was a light green color. It seemed that I would follow any attractive woman around without hesitation.

‘No wonder Cha Suhyeon got to me.’

I felt foolish for myself.

‘Hmm. So, does that mean Sooah has a high enchantment resistance…? Is that what’s going on?’

It was obvious that Sooah liked me. However, on the surface, she kept denying it.

‘Hmm. It feels like a battle between a spear and a shield.’

As an incubus, I cast enchantments, and there was Sooah, resisting them.

‘Ah. I never thought a situation like this would arise…’

‘Hmm, then what about Yoo Hana…?’

Naturally, I grew curious about her too.

[ Enchantment Resistance: Very, very high ]

‘As expected.’

Somehow, it felt right.

Since both were S-rank hunters, it made sense that they had high resistance.

‘This isn’t going to be easy, is it?’

When I thought about my incubus trait, I felt confident that I could charm just about anyone.

But seeing that there was something like enchantment resistance made it feel like it wouldn’t be so simple after all.

‘Nah, it’s fine. Actually, it’s kind of fun. If the game were too easy, it wouldn’t be enjoyable, right?’

This stat rather fueled my competitive spirit.

‘Yeah. I’ll try to charm both Sooah and Yoo Hana. Let’s see if I can breach that enchantment resistance.’

I couldn’t help but smile subtly.

My life was gradually beginning to piece itself together.

I would charm Yoo Hana and bring her back to our guild. That would surely catch the guild master’s attention.

Then, I’d charm Sooah to make her completely mine.

That way, A Team would be in my hands.

Even just dominating the guild master and Sooah would likely secure me a high position in the enormous Blue Guild.

‘Right. Let’s take it easy and steady.’

*

The next morning.

“Ugh… Huh???”

Everyone in A Team jumped to their feet, staring at a single spot.

In front of the elevator.

There stood Sooah, slowly walking in, dressed in a white dress.

“Um… Ms. Sooah, the Hunter?”

“Yes.”

“What’s the occasion today?”

“Nothing?”

“Then why are you dressed like that?”

“Just because.”

Sooah walked in with an air of arrogance.

If she had been in her usual office attire, she would have walked briskly with a clack of her heels, but the dress floated lightly as she moved.

“Huh? Why is Sooah, the Hunter, like this…?”

Naturally, Hunter Class 6 couldn’t help but be puzzled.

“Hey, Manager. Have you ever seen Ms. Sooah dressed like that before?”

“Huh? No? I don’t think she ever has in the past five years. Why would she wear something like that to the office?”

“W-wait, what’s going on? Can we wear something other than office attire?”

“Uhh… I’m not sure? Is there a regulation…?”

Manager Cha also seemed taken aback.

“Shouldn’t someone tell Ms. Sooah that this is a bit strange? Who wears a dress in the office? It’s odd, isn’t it?”

“Now, now, Assistant Manager Kim. Tread carefully. I think it looks nice. Look at that fluttering skirt!”

“Sigh…”

Manager Cha couldn’t take his eyes off Sooah.

Meanwhile, Hunter Class 6 shook their heads in disbelief.

“Uh, Ms. Sooah?”

“Yes, Manager Cha?”

Just as Sooah sauntered past Class 6, Manager Cha called out to her.

“I’m just curious… Are you going on a picnic today? I didn’t hear about any schedule.”

Given her outfit, it was understandable for such a question to arise.

“Um, no?”

“Then why are you dressed like that?”

“Just because. Why?”

“Why not? Who wears a dress in the office?”

“There’s no specific regulation against it, is there? We’re hunters, so it’s essentially casual attire, right? As long as it doesn’t affect combat. I wear office attire when I go to raid dungeons, don’t I? That makes sense, right?”

“Ahh… yes, I suppose that’s true.”

Manager Cha had nothing more to say, so he returned to his seat.

“What’s going on?”

“Oh, it seems like she just wore it for employee welfare~”

“Employee welfare? What do you mean?”

“Maybe it’s to boost morale among male employees? Ms. Sooah also planned to actively participate in dungeon raids, right? Something along those lines, perhaps? To incentivize hard work?”

“That doesn’t make any sense…”

“Isn’t it kind of like a morale-boosting event for the military?”

“Ugh… Manager…”

Everyone appeared completely confused.

However, it seemed no one had the courage to approach Sooah and speak to her.

‘Hmph~ I wonder what time Baek Jihoon will finish work today~ Hurry up!’

Sooah hummed a tune as she entered her office.