Chapter 15: Accident

At last, the hand stopped precisely at the top of her thigh...

The web between his thumb and forefinger ended up pressing right against—

Time seemed to freeze.

Every drop of blood in May’s body rushed to her head, leaving her mind completely blank.

She could clearly feel the heat radiating from Ace’s palm, along with the faint roughness of the calluses he’d developed over years of handling explosives.

...

The truck fell deathly silent.

Only the steady rumble of the engine remained, along with the suddenly uneven breathing of the two people.

Ace froze as well.

His hand seemed stuck where it had landed. He knew he should move it immediately, yet the astonishing softness and warmth beneath his fingertips seemed to possess some inexplicable pull, leaving him momentarily unable to react.

...

His breathing grew heavier.

May’s heartbeat was pounding so hard she felt it might leap straight out of her throat. She didn’t dare move, her cheeks burning fiercely.

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

Dude, are you planning to let your hand live there permanently? Because if you don’t move it soon, it’s going to start paying rent!

The truck continued to sway gently.

Every movement caused his hand to shift slightly...

Just as May thought the bizarre tension was going to drive her insane, several previously steady breaths in the darkness suddenly changed.

Mitch, who had been sleeping on the opposite side, had opened his eyes at some point. His gaze was fixed like a spotlight on Ace’s wandering hand.

Beside him, Jack actually sat upright.

His huge eyes were wide in the darkness, his mouth slightly open, looking as though he’d just been struck by lightning.

Even Ray, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them.

The temperature inside the truck seemed to rise instantly.

Several pairs of eyes focused heavily on Ace’s hand.

Ace’s back went rigid.

He yanked his hand away as though he’d been burned, moving so quickly that it stirred the air.

But it was already too late. Everyone had seen it.

"Ahem."

Alex lazily rolled over, rubbing his eyes as he sat up, putting on an innocent expression as though he’d just awakened.

"Hey, what were you doing to May’s leg?"

He tilted his head, smiling with exaggerated innocence.

"Some kind of leg massage? Your technique looked pretty professional. Though... wasn’t your hand getting a little too high?"

Ace’s hand immediately withdrew completely.

His face still wore that mild, harmless smile as he straightened and casually brushed nonexistent dust from his knee.

His peach-blossom eyes curved gently as he looked at May apologetically.

"Sorry. The truck jolted and I lost my balance. Did I hurt you?"

But the hand he’d pulled away curled slightly at his side where no one else could see, as though his fingers were involuntarily remembering that brief sensation.

May’s inner monologue was screaming.

Outwardly, however, she still looked embarrassed and shaken. She hugged her knees and gave a tiny shake of her head.

"N-no. I’m fine."

"You call that fine?"

The angry voice belonged to Mitch.

"Dude, where the hell were you putting your hand?"

"Was that really an accident?"

"Really, what are you doing?"

Ace didn’t resist when Mitch grabbed him. His smile didn’t even falter.

"I was trying to help May treat her injury. It was an accident."

His gaze remained calm.

"You’re reacting rather strongly, though. Are you worried about her?"

That casual remark only fanned the flames.

"Worried? Me? This is called having a strong sense of justice!"

"Enough. Everyone sit down."

Ray had somehow straightened up.

His uninjured arm rested across his knee, his expression stern.

Mitch glared at Ace one last time before turning away and returning to his corner.

Silence once again settled over the truck.

May buried her face in her knees, wishing she could simply disappear.

What kind of situation is this?

She felt like a piece of meat that had somehow fallen into a den of wolves.

The wolves weren’t eating her.

They were just circling her, baring their teeth at one another and competing to see who could get closest first.

Then a cold mechanical voice suddenly sounded inside her head.

Ding.

[Deep physical contact detected with Strategy Target No. 3, "Ace."]

[Ambiguous Tension Rating: Excellent.]

[Reward: +50 points.]ℯ

[Current Total: 50 points.]

May’s body went rigid.

Then, slowly, she lifted those watery eyes from behind her knees. Something about her expression had changed.

A moment ago, she’d been looking at these rough, battle-hardened men as walking bundles of hormones and human weapons.

Now...

She was looking at them like—

Walking, sparkling point dispensers.

Jack was sitting in the corner, visibly conflicted, when he suddenly met May’s gaze.

There was something strange shining in her clear eyes.

He jolted. His face immediately turned red again, and he hurriedly looked away, his heartbeat pounding like a drum.

Mitch was still sulking when he felt her gaze on him too.

He glanced over and found May staring at him with wide, expectant eyes.

Half the irritation inside him instantly vanished, leaving only a faint, restless warmth.

He awkwardly turned away. "What are you looking at?"

One accidental touch... fifty points. Then what if I touched a man’s chest muscles? Or maybe, like this morning, accidentally grabbed someone’s big, hard...

Wouldn’t that mean I’d make a fortune?

A bold and rather embarrassing plan quietly began taking shape in her mind.

But why didn’t the system give me points before?

Could it have... updated?

Night deepened. The truck continued steadily along the abandoned highway.

Aside from Theo, who was keeping watch, everyone else had fallen asleep.

Although Ray’s wound had been treated, the cold night air had taken its toll.

His condition was worsening. A low fever had begun to develop. His forehead was burning hot, while his lips had grown dry from dehydration.

"His condition isn’t good."

Theo crouched beside Ray and pressed the back of his hand against the man’s forehead.

His brow immediately tightened.

"The necrotic infection is progressing faster than expected. He’s running a fever. We need strong antibiotics immediately." He paused. "Otherwise..."

"We’ll have no choice but to cut away the infected flesh along with the surrounding tissue."

Cut it away.

Those words struck May straight in the heart.

She jolted fully awake from her feigned sleep, her heart clenching as though an invisible hand had seized it.

"Then... what do we do? We don’t have any medicine."

Her voice trembled almost imperceptibly.

System. System, come out.

Do you have fever medicine in the shop? Anti-inflammatory drugs would work too.

A pale-blue holographic screen appeared before her eyes, visible only to her.

Rows upon rows of dazzling items filled the virtual marketplace.

Then she spotted something glowing with a brilliant golden light.