Chapter 70 : Level Up: A Thumb’s Evolution

<Back, let me see your back> has advanced further.

<Back, let me see your back> LV.9 has become <Back, let me see your back> LV.10.

I’ve touched way too many backs.

I think I’ve come to understand a bit of how the world works.

When looking at things, I can now grasp more information.

“What does that mean? More information? Let’s see…?”

Iris scanned the public restroom.

Her eyes landed on the door—needlessly ornate with a flamboyant painting.

As she glared at it, scan results popped up.

[Scan Results]

Door of the Public Restroom in Rugang Park

[Condition]

This is the door of a public restroom built three years ago.

Rugang Park has a total of 22 public restrooms.

An extravagant budget was wasted painting billion-won artworks on each door.

This one has been opened and closed 2,345 times in the past three months.

[Current Value]

₩100,000

However, it cannot be sold.

[Durability]

200

May break if hit by a storm.

“The scan results are more detailed now, and there’s even a current value section. This’ll be handy when selling used items on Chilk Market. Other than that, hmm… no, actually…”

It would likely be useful during missions—before entering dungeons or raiding villain hideouts, she’d be able to examine interior conditions more thoroughly.

Also useful for checking suspicious items.

She checked the rest of the messages.

All her existing skills like , , and others had leveled up, and even the new ones she had tried, like , had improved in proficiency and effectiveness.

“Everything seems normal… huh?”

You’ve used skill skillfully.

LV.5 has become LV.6.

The skill evolves.

A thumb sprouts from both pincers.

“A thumb sprouts from both pincers? Let’s see.”

Curious, Iris looked around and decided to test the skill.

Given the chaos earlier, no one was likely to barge in.

She narrowed her eyes as she pulled out both pincers from between her legs.

Sure enough, just as the message said, a thumb had sprouted on each pincer, looking eerily human.

She focused, and the thumbs popped up.

“I can do a double thumbs-up now. It’s a useless feature for now… but if the skill levels up more, these might fully turn into human hands. That would open up endless possibilities…”

If her pincers turned into human hands, she could grab things more precisely.

She could tickle, pick up small items using thumb and index finger… and taunt enemies—give the middle finger, wag her finger in disapproval, or beckon them closer.

Unfortunately, skills that she didn’t use in the last battle didn’t level up.

Iris resolved to use her skills more evenly and stowed her pincers.

Then she checked her status window.

LV.22 Chastity Belt Girl

[Skills]

Alarm LV.18

Light-Speed Dash LV.2

Stealth LV.3

Pincer Attack LV.6

Hair Shed Through Shield Gap LV.4

Pocket Slip-In LV.3

Light-Speed Spring LV.2

Back, Show Me That Back LV.10

Sturdy Spider Web LV.4

Burning Crotch LV.2

Whip Lash LV.9

Back, Show Me That Back LV.10

[Passive Skills]

Rainbow Gratitude Sprayer LV.2

Cursed Light Sprayer LV.2

[Special Skills]

Skull Bash

Insight

[Status]

Tired / Proud / Calm

“Phew, I feel proud.”

Already LV.22.

At first, she had worried about how long it would take to grow stronger, but after taking down that giant villain, she had gained confidence.

She might not be able to beat Laika in a fight yet, but she could definitely take on the smaller fry.

With a shrug, Iris looked into the mirror again.

She was debating whether or not to enter the black market.

It’d be safer to do it from home, but she wanted to check her fame score—only visible through that mirror.

“It’d be nice if I could just check my fame directly.”

Surprisingly, the mirror shimmered as soon as she thought that—and displayed her fame score.

Chastity Belt Girl’s current fame: 2550

“Ooh, I could buy something decent with this.”

Her brown eyes sparkled with anticipation.

She decided to drop by the black market from home.

After checking everything, she stepped out of the restroom.

The police had already arrived where the villain was tied up.

There was a portable cage made of iron bars—reminiscent of the wooden cages used to transport criminals in Joseon Dynasty times.

Inside, the villain she had defeated was still unconscious.

“Usually they just cuff regular criminals. I’ve never seen that..Must be a special villain cage.”

Not wanting to be seen, Iris began walking quietly, using the terrain to conceal herself.

Just like Laika had fled to avoid the cops, Iris didn’t want to be identified either.

It’d be hard to explain why she hadn’t fled the park yet.

But stealth has its limits—no matter how careful she was, it was impossible to sneak past the entrance unnoticed.

One of the investigating officers spotted her creeping around and called out.

“Ma’am! Please stop for a moment!”

“M-Me?”

“Yes. Did you happen to witness anything?”

“Um… I was just hiding in the public restroom, so I didn’t see anything…”

Feigning nervousness, Iris replied.

The officer paused mid-writing, his eyes under the cap gleaming sharply.

“The public restroom?”

“Yes. I got kicked out of a convenience store, and I panicked and just ended up there…”

“You were kicked out of a convenience store?”

Iris nodded shyly.

She glanced toward the store and saw its shutter had been opened.

Thankfully, her powers had kept her safe—things could’ve gone terribly wrong otherwise.

She still felt annoyed at the store manager, so her voice trembled slightly as she continued.

Even if it didn’t amount to much, she hoped the officer would get angry on her behalf.

“Yes. When the villain appeared, the manager told the clerk to kick me out, saying we weren’t paying protection fees. It wasn’t the clerk’s fault. And well, in Gyodam City, the motto is ‘every man for himself,’ right? Ha ha…”

She laughed humbly and watched the officer’s expression.

As expected, his face turned red.

But it seemed he was more upset from a systemic point of view.

“What? The shops in this park receive government support every year—to prepare for situations like this. For the manager to tell an employee to kick someone out for not paying protection fees?! Even non-subsidized stores don’t behave so heartlessly!”

“Oh my, really? How terrible…”

Iris covered her mouth and lowered her eyebrows in fake pity—though her lips behind the hand curled upward.

Things were turning out far more satisfying than she had hoped.

She had just wanted someone to be mad for her, but this might actually get that sleazy manager in trouble.

Receiving city support and still acting that shameless?

Unbelievable.

“Serves him right for ignoring someone in distress.”

The officer glared at both Iris and the convenience store.

Then he adjusted his cap and looked straight at her.

“So, you’re saying you didn’t see anything else?”

“As I said, I hid in the restroom right after getting kicked out..I was lucky the villain didn’t notice me.”

She dabbed at her eyes and looked up at the sky.

Then subtly glanced around the park—checking for any security cameras she might’ve missed.

Even if she had transformed, if footage showed her entering the restroom, her identity might be exposed.

“Phew… It’s a little unfair. I did something good, but instead of a reward, I have to keep my identity hidden. But better safe than sorry.”