Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Kanzaki Rie (1)
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"Ab-so-lute-ly not!!"
Immersed in the joy of claiming first place in the midterm evaluation for the very first time, Kanzaki turned her head at the sudden outburst laced with humiliation echoing around her.
What she saw was... the owner of that voice, Cheon So-yul. Backing away from Lee Hyun-jin, she crossed her arms in an X with resolute determination.
Her face was flushed beet red from sheer anger. Or perhaps there was a hint of embarrassment or shame mixed in?
Kanzaki observed that intriguingly complex expression for a moment before approaching them with quick little steps.
"Come on, can't you at least think about it?"
"I said no...!"
What were they talking about? Kanzaki could guess, and sure enough, their conversation topic matched her expectations exactly.
In other words, the orgy proposal (?), tossed out casually with about eighty percent sincerity by Kanzaki just before they left Mt. Geryong to return to the academy.
As expected from a vigorous young man in his prime, Lee Hyun-jin hadn't even pretended to refuse and had shown clear interest in the suggestion.
He'd first made a sour face like it was absurd, but soon thought, 'That could work.'
On the bus ride back, he'd apparently tried a bit of conversation to persuade her...
But naturally, Cheon So-yul had shot it down flat.
Of course, what woman would want to share her lover with someone else?
Kanzaki wasn't particularly disappointed. She'd roughly expected as much.
'Hyun-jin-kun's unexpectedly enthusiastic attitude is the real surprise. I figured they weren't officially dating, but maybe their relationship is even more open than that?'
Like, say, a casual partners-with-benefits setup focused purely on physical pleasure.
For a fleeting moment, Kanzaki's amethyst eyes gleamed with a seductive light.
It felt like she'd found a faint opening in a place she hadn't even hoped for.
"Ahem..."
Clutching this sliver of hope, Kanzaki stealthily sidled up to Cheon So-yul and tapped her shoulder.
The moment Cheon So-yul turned with a stiff expression, Kanzaki mustered her courage and blurted it out forcefully!
"If So-yul doesn't like it, I won't even ask for full penetration..."
"Shut your mouth, Kanzaki Rie."
"Yes."
And just like that, she got shut down hard and shrank back. Apologizing with a bow, Kanzaki swiftly retreated three steps.
At her lightning-quick reaction, Cheon So-yul let out a heavy sigh with an incredulous look.
Her lips twitched like she had more to say... but for now, she set Kanzaki aside and shot Lee Hyun-jin another fierce glare.
"...Ahem."
Maybe he realized he'd said something way out of line. Lee Hyun-jin looked a bit guilty and awkwardly cleared his throat.
Grind. The sound of teeth clenching rang out. It came from Cheon So-yul, unmistakably.
"Lee Hyun-jin, you."
The golden sparks flickering around her eyes intensified another level.
The gaze she fixed on him was beyond intimidating—it was terrifying.
"Lately, you've been getting way too bold... You don't seriously think I'm some devoted woman who'd indulge even that insane request, do you? I'll zap you with lightning."
This was no idle threat—she raised her dainty hand, veins bulging, and formed a crackling blue orb of electricity.
It was a clear declaration that she'd barbecue him right here if he slipped up.
In the end, Lee Hyun-jin had no choice but to raise the white flag. With a slightly sheepish nod, he apologized in a solemn, subdued voice.
"Sorry if I upset you. I wasn't that oblivious to how inappropriate it was."
"...Huh?"
It was an unusually heavy tone from him. Ironically, it was Cheon So-yul who got flustered.
"...Well, no. It's not like I was super upset or anything. You know, just... yeah. Right..."
She fumbled for words, rambling incoherently, then flushed her cheeks bright red, refusing to say she felt "disturbed" even on her deathbed.
Seeing Lee Hyun-jin tilt his head, Cheon So-yul raised her voice defensively, as if caught off guard.
"W-what are you looking at! Anyway, you get it. If, uh, you really wanna try it with the three of us, I need time to prepare myself..."
Her voice trailed off to a near-whisper at the end. Worried if he'd heard, she glanced at him with equal parts anxiety and curiosity.
"Yeah, yeah, got it. You and Kanzaki do your thing separately, and I won't bring it up again, so calm down."
Lee Hyun-jin just brushed it off without trying to decode her womanly language.
A bit annoyed but what could she do? Just as she started calming down with some relief...
"...Wait, what? Hold on, what did you just say? Separately?"
Her expression turned baffled as she stared at him.
Did she hear that right?
What did Lee Hyun-jin just say?
'Separately...?'
So, in other words, he was ultimately going to "do it" with Kanzaki Rie after all?
...Without her this time?
'What the hell.'
Hoping against hope it wasn't true, Cheon So-yul looked up at him anxiously, but he just innocently cocked his head.
Genuine confusion, no deceit.
"Ah, uh."
At that point, Cheon So-yul realized something was off. Come to think of it, she wasn't in a position to complain even if he had a secret rendezvous with Kanzaki right now.
...She'd forgotten, acting so couple-like all this time. But originally, she had zero claim to tie him down.
No, she'd been the one to let him loose in the first place.
After kicking away her own chance, what right did she have to cling now?
Cheon So-yul felt a quiet despair settle in. Her mind finally reassembled the current situation, her position, and their relationship.
That day, her pointless pride had led her to permit him to other women—how many now?
'...This isn't right...'
Deeply unsettled, she bowed her head, clutching one wrist tightly.
Something felt wrong. But she couldn't even voice a complaint.
She had words she wanted to say, but shame held them back. Just as this unpleasant sensation was turning her miserable...
Lee Hyun-jin easily picked up on her oddly peculiar, out-of-character reaction.
A beat late, he grasped the reason too.
"...What."
Chuckling softly, he leaned his face toward her, and she flinched away, avoiding his gaze.
Of course, he kept staring steadily without backing down.
Lee Hyun-jin asked her.
"You're jealous again, aren't you."
"... "
"You did the same with A-yun. Every time I fool around with another girl, you pull this."
Silence. Cheon So-yul averted her eyes, exercising her right to remain silent. But sometimes, that reaction was the clearest answer.
Sensing his heart softening a bit, Lee Hyun-jin casually raised his sleeve to hide a sly smile.
"...You know."
The mood turned awkwardly playful, his ears faintly heating up.
He cleared his throat pointlessly and tossed out a maximally casual joke.
"If you wanted to make me yours, you should've accepted back then. Hey, I straight-up said I'd take responsibility."
"...Ugh."
She had no retort for that. It hit right at what she regretted and obsessed over most.
Feeling awkwardly exposed, she grumbled in a forced sulky tone.
"W-who'd marry a guy like you just for one night together..."
Even as she said it, she sneaked a peek at his reaction, worried.
Her words weren't sincere.
Deep down, she hoped he'd catch the tsundere implication...
"Right, right, gotcha."
But Lee Hyun-jin was an idiot beyond expectations when it came to girls' hearts.
Shrugging playfully, he agreed without hesitation.
"Marriage isn't something you decide lightly anyway... and your feelings for me as a romantic partner probably aren't strong enough to promise a future."
"... "
"I get that, so no worries. Just kidding."
Pout...
Cheon So-yul's lips puffed out prominently.
She wanted to correct him—"That's not it..."—but pride grabbed her ankle again.
'I should've just said let's date right then, you oblivious, low-IQ idiot...'
Marriage was burdensome or whatever, but responsibility didn't have to mean that.
She might've pretended to think if he'd even once suggested starting as girlfriend again.
Sure, she'd pushed him away multiple times herself, but still, she hadn't expected him to move on so seamlessly to other girls.
Cheon So-yul wanted to whimper inwardly, but oblivious as ever, Lee Hyun-jin stretched with a clueless expression.
"Anyway, should we head back? I need some rest..."
He meant it with consideration for the fatigue from hunting monsters during the rare midterm evaluation.
His thing with Kanzaki wasn't so urgent it needed doing right away either.
"... "
But Cheon So-yul sensed crisis in his words instead.
If she let him go like this, it'd really be over.
Until now, she'd always learned about his flings after the fact, a step behind.
This time was different. Nothing had started yet, and it was happening right in front of her.
Suddenly imagining him in bed with another woman made her chest throb painfully.
And it wasn't just her imagination.
Grit...
"...Go."
So Cheon So-yul impulsively spoke up, regretting it the instant the word left her mouth.
But spilled water couldn't go back in the cup—her voice had already reached him fully.
He blinked questioningly. A somewhat carefree reaction.
His attitude irked her to no end.
How could he be so dense? Had he banged his head hard once?
Like eating mustard through tears, Cheon So-yul strode forward and thrust her hand out with lightning speed—fitting her magic attribute.
Grip!
"...?!"
Her hand seized his collar fiercely once more. His body jerked forward reflexively.
They locked eyes—he with surprise, she with compromise.
"...Let's go."
Then, squeezing her eyes shut, she muttered fiercely through gritted teeth.
A reluctant acceptance, delivered choppily.
"To your room, the three of us here, together."
"...What?"
Lee Hyun-jin's face twisted weirdly. Or more accurately, he'd heard something utterly ridiculous.
But Cheon So-yul ignored him, lost in her own thoughts.
Yes. It was her compromise solution.
If she couldn't stop this playboy, at least keep it where she could see.
That way, her heart would at least be at ease.
Well, not 100%... but no more fretting in anxiety over losing him.
"...Haa."
Finally giving in, she released his collar.
Instead, she rose slightly on tiptoe.
Wrapping her arms carefully around his neck, she stole a simple kiss from his lips, wearing the world's dumbest expression.
Their lips met softly, briefly, then parted.
"...Well."
She wiped her mouth with her sleeve. Blushing furiously with embarrassment, she murmured very quietly.
"Fulfilling your husband's sex fantasy is a good wife's duty too. Yeah."
"... "
"...So, just once. I'll do the orgy."
Without realizing, she maxed out Lee Hyun-jin's arousal.
He blushed with mixed emotions, rubbing his forehead.
They exchanged heated gazes, then pulled each other into a deep, intense kiss.
'Hawt, hawawa.'
A short distance away, Kanzaki stood with hands dramatically covering her eyes like watching a romance movie.
Of course, peeking through her fingers was a given.
Gulp!
'Popcorn...! I need popcorn...!'
Even as a bystander, her heart pounded as she swallowed dryly, craving something to munch on. Popcorn was essential right now.
Clunk—
Dormitory third floor. I open the door to my room and step into the entryway.
Today was a day with lots of guests.
'...I threw out the idea without thinking, but now that it's happening, I'm weirdly nervous.'
I licked my lips from the tension. Felt like they were drying out in real time.
How did things escalate so fast? Geez.
I'd gotten hooked on Kanzaki's words and shouted "Come on, come on," but even I felt belated complex emotions at this rapid development.
Once fired up, though, no one could stop Cheon So-yul.
The moment she entered the living room, she stripped off her top and bottoms, shot me a sharp glance, then approached in her underwear for a kiss before heading to the bathroom.
"I came out all fresh from a shower, so if I catch you two starting without me, you're both dead."
...Leaving behind that rather threatening line.
Bang!
"... "
"... "
The bathroom door shut. Kanzaki and I exchanged awkward glances.
"Mm."
Soon, the soft sound of the shower echoed from beyond... and Kanzaki subtly leaned against me.
Bonus: her pale hand slipping into my pants for some delicate fingering.
I let out a hollow laugh and told her.
"She said she'll kill us if she catches us first. Didn't hear?"
"Ahem..."
Kanzaki coughed awkwardly.
Turning to me, she said.
"Of course I heard. But..."
"What."
"If we don't get caught, isn't that fine?"
She delivered the line like a habitual city thief, utterly nonchalant.
In case you'd forgotten, she's the sole Yamato Nadeshiko of the 9th class.
I looked down at her with a slightly dumbfounded expression, then let out a sigh while narrowing my eyes, enjoying her naughty touch.
If we don't get caught, that's that.
'Hm.'
Makes sense.