Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Loser's Rebellion? (2)
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I used Target Status Reveal on Pomi, and a flurry of messages scrolled past my eyes.
For a split second, I thought the skill hadn't worked, but after a brief wait, I could finally see her stats.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ [Target] Mia (Succubus, Lv. 18(??), 23 years old) 139cm (??), 34kg (??) HP 19/20 (??) [Stats] ⚡ Strength: 20(??) 💨 Agility: 18(??) ✨ Intelligence: 17(??) 🧠 Mental Strength: 20(??) 🍀 Luck: ?? [Talents] Profanity D, Cuteness C(??), Charm C(??), (??), (??)... It said viewing was restricted, so these must be her weakened current stats that are visible.
The values in parentheses are probably from before she shrank.
Plus, since Pomi didn't use her 'Eyes' on me, things like Chastity or Fantasia aren't shown either.
-Still, she's only one level above me.
-If it had been my original Mental Strength, do you think your Essence Absorption would've worked on me?
-But you liked it, didn't you?
-...
-Wanna do it again after work? In warm water, yeah? Sweat it out first, then cool off with some ice cream.
-Ah, no way! I'm not doing it anymore!
The little one hesitated for a moment before shaking her head vigorously.
-Then I'll do it to you. You just stay still. Okay?
-I said no!
A little more prodding and she'd cave, but now was time for work. I pushed aside my regrets and headed into the kitchen.
A kindly looking auntie was chopping vegetables at breakneck speed.
"Myeong-sook Auntie, I'm here."
"Jun-young's here?"
Myeong-sook Auntie beamed at me.
"I'm glad you're happy to see me, but be careful with that knife. It's dangerous."
I spoke to her as she kept her eyes on me without stopping her blade.
"It's the same old thing every day. What's to worry about?"
She chuckled softly, then dropped her gaze back to the cutting board.
"Has Du-na not arrived yet?"
"Yeah."
-Who's Du-na?
Pomi, who'd been quietly listening to our conversation, asked.
-Ah, the last member of the kitchen crew for today. She should be here any minute.
Sure enough, by the time I came back from changing into my uniform in the locker room, Du-na had already clocked in.
"Ah, bro! Come here for a sec."
She'd been smiling and greeting Myeong-sook Auntie, but the moment she saw me, her face soured, and she dragged me back into the locker room we'd just left.
She looked young enough to pass for a high schooler. Her name was Yeon Du-na.
She was twenty-four, six years younger than me—an absolute baby face. And pretty petite too.
-Jun-young, what's with her? She's grabbing your hand... Weren't you a total loner with girls?
-Heh. See my popularity?
-...
I frantically started explaining to Pomi, who was puffing out her cheeks in silence.
-Hey, Du-na's not like that. She's a friend's little sister.
Wait, she'd watched me have sex with another woman yesterday, and now she's jealous? Why do I feel like a cheating husband making excuses to her?
"Bro, did you go to that interview at the other company the day before yesterday?"
She finally let go of my hand once we were in a slightly secluded spot, crossed her arms, and looked up at me.
"Ah, Du-na. I heard from Hong-seop..."
"Waaah... Bro, I'm really disappointed. Why didn't you tell me? We work together in the kitchen."
-Didn't you say her name was Du-na?
-She hates it 'cause it sounds tacky, so close friends call her Yeon Du. Lately she's been bummed thinking it's turned into a seasoning name... But why's she so mad?
-I think I know why. You player. Those whispers of love to me were lies!
Did she watch some morning soap while I was asleep?
-You going for that jealous girlfriend act? Anyway, not her. I've known her since she was in kindergarten...
"Bro? You're spacing out right now, aren't you?"
"Huh? No. Du-na, and about not telling you—the thing is, I wasn't sure if I'd get it, so it felt awkward to mention."
"But you told my bro?"
"Hey, you don't tell the boss? If I suddenly bail after getting it, he needs time to find a replacement."
"Everyone he'd rush to hire for the kitchen is his friend's anyway?"
Yeon Du, cheeks puffed, asked urgently.
"So? How'd the interview go?"
I let out a deep sigh.
"If it'd gone well, your bro would've told you the day before yesterday, right?"
"It went badly? Don't results come later?"
"Not at that level... I got into it with the interviewer. No chance."
"Really? Ah... Bro, what a shame."
"...But why are you smiling?"
"Eep! You must've seen wrong. I smile a lot. Hehe. Smile! But bro, you can't keep working here forever, right?"
"Yeah. Hong-seop would notice."
"Tch. Since when has that mattered?"
"That's how the world works."
I patted her shoulder, and she relaxed her expression into a cute smile as we headed back to the kitchen together.
Mia, who'd been quiet during my chat with Yeon Du, finally spoke up.
-Yeon Du, you little vixen. Flirting with my Jun-young? But why not check her stats?
-Sigh... She wasn't like this with Yu-ra. Why so prickly with Du-na? Both tiny, so rivalry...
-Grrrowl!
-Ahem. Yeah, peeking at close friends' stats feels awkward. Like snooping on secrets.
-You peeked at mine!
I was about to say it was only day two since we met, but glossed over it so she wouldn't get hurt.
-We're not just friends? We're partners in body and soul!
-...Hmph! From what I heard, the shop owner's Jun-young's friend?
Jun-young's—what was that, possessive?
-Owner's name is Yeon Hong-seop. The Yeon from 'Loveism.' Yeon Du's real big bro, friends since elementary school.
-Place seems pretty big, and renting means business is good like you said?
I chuckled at her words.
-This building's their dad's.
-Ah, I heard about that. 'Rich kid,' right?
At the mention that the pub building belonged to Hong-seop's dad, Pomi uttered 'rich kid'—wonder where she picked that up.
-Demon Realm has that term too? Strictly speaking, not quite. We became friends in sixth grade, and his family was poor till college. They had some farmland that suddenly skyrocketed in value, making them overnight millionaires.
-Jealous?
-I was a few days ago. Not anymore.
Mia hugged my waist tightly, expectant of what I'd say next.
-Why? 'Cause you met Mia?
It was true, but admitting it would inflate her ego sky-high, so I hesitated.
Aw, whatever! Mood!
-Yup! Meeting you is the luckiest thing in my life. Total lucky charm, lucky charm!
-Heh heh! Jun-young knows gratitude!
After the lip service, I focused on kitchen work.
"Auntie, where's the meat you took out?"
"Over there. No, not there."
Rummage, rummage.
"Bro, she means the ones underneath. How many? Twenty?"
"Yeah. Let's start with that."
As I answered, I mixed ground pork with the onions, carrots, and other veggies Auntie had prepped. Add beaten eggs, breadcrumbs, a bit of salt and pepper.
-Whatcha making?
-Airy Cats. Basically cheese tonkatsu, easy terms. For pretty plating, I make french fries into a nest and top it with egg-shaped tonkatsu. 'Airy' means nest. One of our signature dishes. Stuff the veggie-meat batter full of cheese and...
Pomi smacked her lips listening to my endless explanation.
-Jun-young makes the signature menu too?
-Not 'cause I'm a great chef. I suggested adding this dish.
Hands busy, I slipped into memories.
My ugly looks were a complex since childhood, so eventually I grew scared of expanding my social circle.
I kept in touch with close friends up through high school, but romantic ties and college friends? Total bust.
Naturally, I hung with childhood buddies. In college, I'd invite available friends over on no-class or early-end days.
I'd make snacks, they'd bring booze—we'd drink cheap and full. Way better than bars. My cooking wasn't bad.
Hong-seop, the shop owner, was one such friend. His mom was ill, so to save on hospital bills, he ate poorly—I pitied him and invited him often.
His little sister Yeon Du, I'd known since her kindergarten days, so I'd invite her too.
Hong-seop refused as a bother, middle-school Du-na was shy, but I'd insist, and we'd eat together.
Curious how cute little Du-na acted drunk, I'd give her sips too...
Looking back, that was messed up. Giving booze to a middle schooler.
But back then, I thought booze was learned from adults—told them sneaking drinks on school trips was bad habit, poured like a grown-up. Maybe two sips of beer.
"Heh..."
"Bro, what're you thinking that has you grinning?"
Yeon Du, checking spice containers nearby, asked at my laugh.
"Huh? Oh, just remembering how you turned beet red after two sips at our place."
"Ah, O-bbang! Gonna bring that up forever? So embarrassing."
-Jun-young, hear that? Calling you 'O-bbang' all cutesy. Total homewrecker.
-Why? It's cute.
-O-bbang!
"Pfft!"
-Hey, don't make me laugh on the job.
Internally replying to Mia, my mouth opened to Yeon Du.
"You were red till you went home, then your dad called—me and your bro got chewed out. Couldn't come over for a while."
"I promised Dad no booze till college, that's how I got to come back?"
Thinking of that middle-school kid rolling on our couch, red-faced and aegyo-ing, made me burst out laughing.
"You were so tiny back then..."
"Hehe. Grown a lot, huh?"
"How you still so tiny? Didn't grow at all?"
"Wh-what! I grew plenty! See?"
Face flushing crimson in an instant, Yeon Du slapped hands on her waist and thrust out her chest.
"Hey! Grown girl's not doing that anywhere! And I meant height. When'd your growth spurt stop?"
"...End of middle school three."
"150cm?"
"Over that!"
"151?"
"..."
"Sorry, bro."
"You jerk!"
Yeon Du huffed off, stomping like I should admire her.
I smiled fondly at her retreating back, then locked eyes with beaming Myeong-sook Auntie.
"When're you two getting married?"
"It's not like that."
"It's not like that!"
Yeon Du and I shrieked in unison.