Kang Hyeok's End
"What a shame, such a shame."
I stared blankly at the spot where Kang Nabi had left.
Would it have worked if I'd taken it slower?
I wondered if I'd pushed too hard, too fast.
At least I confirmed what stage she's at. That's something.
She seemed angry, but...
She's not really mad.
Kang Nabi had hidden her expression. And the hand that pushed me away lacked any real strength. From those two facts, I concluded she wasn't truly upset.
What mattered was that she'd allowed me access to her chest in the end. She'd rejected my advances lower down, but with time, that too would yield. No—with time, I'd make it yield.
Still, I'm curious.
I wouldn't get to see Kang Hyeok's reaction this time since I'd called Kang Nabi to my place. I'd gained something, but that little detail left me a bit unsatisfied.
Why did she suddenly change the time?
Kang Nabi had sent a single tick-mark reply to my text.
She'd always been punctual about our meetings, so I worried something might have happened.
She didn't get caught, did she?
The thought flashed through my mind, but I dismissed it. She'd burglarized countless homes, many with heavy security. Worrying about her was a luxury I couldn't afford.
Probably just personal business.
I shoved the needless concern aside and waited until the appointed time.
"You're here."
Kang Nabi entered the café where we always met. She'd usually arrive first and wait, but today I was the one already there.
It was nothing major, but it rubbed me the wrong way. And her disheveled clothes and hair...
Logically, I could chalk it up to her rushing to avoid being late. But my instincts said otherwise.
Why does she look so damn pretty today?
I'd had zero interest in any woman besides Choi Rin, but right now, Kang Nabi was captivating, stealing my gaze.
Calm down.
I'm a pure, devoted lover who only has eyes for Choi Rin. No other women.
Hoo...
I took a deep breath to steady myself.
"You brought the info, right?"
I spoke coldly on purpose.
"Of course."
Kang Nabi replied with eyes as cold as ice. As she sat, a faint scent of sweat wafted from her.
I should have been annoyed, but...
What's wrong with me?
My heart raced.
She's off today. Way off.
Probably worn out from lack of sleep over those Park Kiyong photos. Body and mind exhausted.
That's when weaknesses emerge.
Better wrap this up quick and head home.
Kang Nabi pulled a stack of photos from her bag.
Twitch—!
The nightmare of the last photos made my body shudder.
"Photos of Park Kiyong with the women he's slept with."
Thank God, no Choi Rin this time.
This many photos, all of women?
Not just one or two. Even accounting for duplicates, it was an insane amount.
As I flipped through them...
Throb—!
My lower body reacted.
I'm a man too—nude women like that? Impossible not to respond.
Proof I'm healthy, right?
I justified it to myself and checked every last one.
"Good intel."
Show these to Rin, and her feelings for me would surely cool.
"You look tired. Go home and rest."
I snatched the photos and bolted from the café. Lingering would only expose more weaknesses—no gains there.
"Delivered them."
Short and simple. But the implications were juicy.
"She didn't show it, but she seemed pleased."
Now Kang Hyeok would be grinning ear-to-ear as he rushed to Choi Rin.
I'd already planted the seeds with her. That Kang Hyeok had been acting strange lately. She'd agreed after seeing those photos of us together— she'd noticed it too.
From now on, whatever Kang Hyeok said, she'd believe me over him.
Even if he shows her the photos and throws a fit, she won't buy it.
The sheer number of women in them didn't add up. Sure, if I were unemployed, maybe. But in this world, I'm a hero. My job hunts villains day and night—how could I rack up that many?
I was so excited for what came next that I couldn't focus on anything else. Then, a call from Choi Rin.
"My gut's telling me something's wrong."
Kang Hyeok had contacted her. Said he had something to tell her about me—my secrets.
She'd called to suggest we go together.
"Yeah, let's go."
I accepted her proposal without hesitation.
We arrived at a quiet café following Choi Rin.
"This is one of Kang Hyeok's regulars."
Few people around, private rooms available—that's why he liked it.
"Rin, first..."
Kang Hyeok opened the private room door and froze, face twisting at the sight of me.
"Why the hell is that guy here?"
He pointed accusingly, glaring daggers.
"Calm down and sit."
"..."
Scrape—!
Kang Hyeok obeyed Choi Rin's words to a T, no matter how harsh. He sat and shot her a look demanding she hurry up and explain.
"I was anxious, so I brought him. You've been off lately."
Choi Rin gazed at him with worry. As a friend, it pained her to see him falling apart.
But Kang Hyeok didn't pick up on it.
Bam—!
He slammed the table.
"Haa—!"
He let out a heavy sigh and spoke.
"Fine. If it's ending anyway, better rip the band-aid off quick. Easier that way."
With that, Kang Hyeok pulled the photos from his bag—the ones from Kang Nabi.
Choi Rin gasped at the explicit nudes. And among them, body parts she recognized.
Having seen my dick before, she set the photo down.
"This confirms it."
Disappointment in Choi Rin's voice.
"Yeah, it's confirmed."
Misreading it as a good sign, Kang Hyeok's face lit up, lips curling to his ears.
"How could you...?"
Choi Rin's words sent that smile crashing to the floor.
"Not content with upskirting? Now photoshopping too?"
"What are you talking about?"
Kang Hyeok tried to stay composed, but his hands trembled.
"Where'd you get these photos?"
Choi Rin demanded the source.
But Kang Hyeok clammed up.
He can't say.
A hero admitting he used a criminal to dig up dirt on me? No way.
"Can't reveal the source. But trust me—these aren't fakes."
Now he was pleading. And with every word, Choi Rin's expression darkened.
"Look at this! How's this photoshopped?!"
Kang Hyeok snatched a photo with shaking hands.
"Hoo... Fine, Hyeok. Let's say it's true."
"Yes! It is!"
His eyes lit up again.
"So what?"
Kang Hyeok blanked at Choi Rin's response.
"Huh...?"
"What does it matter if our little bro dated around in the past?"
The past is the past. Don't drag it into the present—that was her message.
Speechless, Kang Hyeok stared as Choi Rin delivered the finisher.
"I'm disappointed. I don't know why you hate him, but... resorting to crimes like this?"
Kang Hyeok's eyes went vacant.
"For old times' sake, I won't report you or hunt you down myself. Unless he does."
Choi Rin gathered the photos from the table.
Riiip—!
She tore them to shreds, unrecognizable scraps.
Looking glum, she brushed past Kang Hyeok.
"Clean up at the Hero Office and get out. My final courtesy."
Tears streamed from Kang Hyeok's eyes as the ultimatum hit.
Before he could follow Choi Rin out...
"Serves you right for acting up."
I whispered in his ear.
He rolled his eyes to glare at me.
"Choi Rin's pussy was fucking delicious."
I provoked him, but he didn't bite.
No fight left in him, huh.
Getting dumped by her must've crushed him hard. He didn't move until I left.
"Sorry."
Outside, Choi Rin apologized.
"Why are you sorry, Rin?"
"It's my fault for not managing Hyeok better."
"He's the one who screwed up. You did nothing wrong."
I stroked her head, comforting her.
"By the way, were you serious about that?"
Her claim that my past flings didn't matter. Was it just to brush off Kang Hyeok, or real?
I had to ask.
"Dead serious. Past is past. You love me now, right?!"
She answered like it was the dumbest question ever.
"Then... if I love you but also love other women, could you accept that?"
Questions like this were off-limits normally, but with the past brought up, I ventured carefully.
"Huh? What? Of course."
An unexpected reply.
I'd braced for "Absolutely not!" or "I dunno."
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
We stared, both baffled.
"I'm your main wife, obviously. Side wives? Hmm... up to three, I could handle."
My brain couldn't process it.
Sounds like polygamy...
Did this world allow polygamy?
The question lingered.
So.
"Wanna call it a day?"
I made an excuse about needing to sort my rattled thoughts alone and sent her home.
Normally, she'd cling, begging not to part. But the emotional wound was deep—she thanked me quietly and left.
I headed straight home and investigated.
Polygamy and polyandry—both legal here. Exclusive to heroes.
After discovering superhuman DNA inheritance, it went global. Thirty years running.
Hoo, no need to hide from Choi Rin then?
No more agonizing over Kang Nabi.
Not just her. Back in my original world, no hiding Cream or future conquests either.
Choi Rin's off the worry list.
With her issue resolved, only Kang Nabi's conquest remained.
Thanks to polygamy, I could plan even more aggressively.