Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Loser's Rebellion? (5)
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After that, it was like a morning soap opera had broken out.
Yeon Du emerged from the kitchen with a stern expression and started arguing with Na-young. I'd never seen her make such a scary face before.
Lee So-eun was the one who'd been late, but no one was taking Joo Na-young's side after she'd spewed those insults at me.
In the end, the commotion wrapped up when Na-young stormed out of the shop, muttering, "This is fucking infuriating."
The shop was about to open soon, so no one bothered chasing after her.
"The floor's gonna be slammed today. Good luck, everyone."
Yeon Du summed up the situation with that cold remark and headed back to the kitchen.
I was cleaning up the awkward vibe and turning to leave when I caught Lee So-eun flashing Huh Bong-gwan a bright smile.
She noticed my gaze and turned to look at me.
She winked.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Lee So-eun's favorability has increased by 10.] +20 (Acquaintance) → +30 (Favor) What the hell? What did I do to deserve a wink?
-Haaah... Slept like a baby! Jun-young, what's up? Careful with those wrinkles, careful... You'll end up even uglier!
Pomi, floating in the air, pointed at me and rubbed my furrowed brow where she'd caught the wink from So-eun.
This bitch barely slept a few minutes, and now that the crisis is over, she wakes up? Were you faking it?
-Useless Pomi. Yeon Du's the only one who matters.
-What did you say?!
I got smacked on the back of the head as I headed to the kitchen, and there in the hallway stood Yeon Du, still fuming.
"Whoa, Yeon Du! You were scary when you got mad."
"...Oppa, are you an idiot? Why do you put up with being treated like that?!"
I was teasing her gratefully for taking my side, but she suddenly snapped.
"Hey, what do you mean 'put up with'? Didn't you see Na-young shaking from my slick tongue-lashing earlier?"
"You always let it slide, so she thinks you're a pushover! Ugh, it pisses me off."
Suddenly, her eyes welled up, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
I heard the ugly comment, so why are you crying?!
Standing there awkwardly next to Yeon Du as she wiped her tears, Pomi chimed in.
-Whoa, look at this fox playing cute. Don't you dare hug her shoulder.
-Everything you say, I just do the opposite.
I gently wrapped an arm around Yeon Du's shoulder.
Her tiny frame flinched for a second, then leaned into my chest.
-Jun-young, what the hell are you doing? She's like a little sister!
-Do you just leave a little sister crying?
-That's exactly what you do with real sisters!
I ignored Pomi's freakout and patted Yeon Du's shoulder when a deep voice boomed from behind.
"Whoa! What's with the shop vibe today? What happe—"
"Eek!"
"Kyaa!"
I yanked my arm off Yeon Du's shoulder like lightning, and she bolted forward, plastering herself against the wall with her head down.
"Huh? What? Why so jumpy? What were you two up to, Yeon Du?"
I turned to see a short guy with a bushy beard and a friendly face.
Yep, that was Yeon Hong-seop, the source of the sudden voice—owner of Loveism, my ball-busting buddy, and Yeon Du-na's big brother, who'd been nestled in my arms just moments ago.
"What? Why'd you freak out like that?"
Hong-seop smirked at our reactions.
"Uh? Haha. You startled us popping up like that. Right, Yeon Du?"
"Y-Yeah? Oh, yeah, Oppa."
I shot her an awkward smile, and she played along.
Her eyes went wide as she nodded, then she glared daggers at Hong-seop and yelled.
"Oppa, how can you sneak up like that?!"
"I just walked normally..."
"No! You were tiptoeing all quiet!"
"Yeah, Hong-seop. It was super quiet from where I stood."
"...You two are acting suspicious today. Were you making out or something?"
"Oppa!"
Yeon Du shrieked, and Hong-seop pretended to cover his ears before leaning in and whispering to me loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Jun-young, please take Yeon Du off my hands. You have no idea how much grief she gives me with my wife."
"What?! Then go make money and get your own place! You set up your honeymoon suite in the house I used to live in with you, and now you tell me to leave? And yeah, when Mom offered to get you a new—"
As Yeon Du's voice rose, Hong-seop backed down and changed the subject.
"No, but seriously, what happened? The floor felt off."
I sent the fired-up Yeon Du back to the kitchen and explained the earlier mess.
"...So that's what went down."
"...So-eun was in the wrong?"
"That fucking bitch? Fine with your friend getting called ugly? Tell Na-young she was wrong too, quick."
"So you're hot shit now? Where does some employee punk call the boss a fucking bitch?"
"Sorry, boss. Hey, why'd you tell Yeon Du I interviewed here?"
"Huh? Was I not supposed to? You didn't say keep it quiet."
"Sigh... How'd a clueless idiot like you even get married?"
"Dumbass, you don't marry with street smarts. It's this and this."
He pointed to his face with one hand and made a money sign with the other.
"Bullshit, you short fuck."
"Says the ugly fuck."
With that final complex-prodding jab—we could only say that stuff because we're tight—he switched back to business.
"Jun-young, you're the oldest after Auntie when I'm gone, so lead the kids properly."
"You handing me the shop? Feels like successor talk. And why exclude Chae-yeon Sis?"
"She doesn't come in much."
"You do it, man! Kitchen part-timer telling off staff won't land like the boss."
"Still, it hits different coming from the employer."
"Dunno about the others, but those two from earlier won't listen to me. Whatever, later. For now, hustle on the floor today."
With boss Hong-seop pitching in on the floor, the day dragged on. For some reason, the customers were endless, and by closing, everyone was wiped out.
After hours, the floor team finished up first and was about to head out when Myeong-sook Auntie called everyone together.
"Tough day, huh?"
"Yeah~."
Obvious she wanted to say something, but the two guys answered without a clue.
"Right? Short-staffed makes it brutal."
Auntie eyed them with a smile, and finally their brains caught up—they shut up.
"So-eun."
"Yes."
Lee So-eun, head slightly bowed like she was sorry already.
Foxy bitch. Faking sad to get off lighter.
"You do show up late a lot, right? Come in earlier from now on."
"Yes, Auntie. I'll be careful."
"And no more fighting."
Huh Bong-gwan fidgeted elsewhere, and Yeon Du answered, "Yes."
"And boss, Jun-young."
"Yes?"
Me and boss Yeon, who'd been watching the kids get chewed out, jumped.
"What do I know? It'll just sound like nagging from an old lady. You two are the elders—handle it."
"Yesss..."
We mumbled weakly.
Soon after, everyone finished up and trickled out, leaving just me and the Yeon siblings.
"Oppa, drive safe. See you Tuesday! Wait, should I come tomorrow too? Na-young's in—I'll fight for you?"
"Rest, kid. Didn't you hear Auntie? See you day after."
"You. Show your big bro some respect."
I tried not to show it, but working under a friend was starting to bruise my pride as I got older.
I worried the growing inferiority complex might sour our long friendship, which led me to job-hunt.
But tonight's walk home felt free of that recent bitterness. And the reason was probably...
-Huh? Hehe.
Mia beamed back at my gaze.
'Yeah, probably thanks to this one.'
This succubus toddling beside me and the powers she'd given.
With my stash full, my heart had opened up—gaining abilities no one could dream of mellowed me out.
As I looked at her gratefully, she piped up like it'd just hit her.
-Jun-young, you really not into Yeon Du?
Not this again in my touching moment!
-Argh, no. Even if I was, I'd hold back. Drop it. I won't pursue her even if you sing about it!
-For real? Not even if I sing?
-Yeah, no. No!
She actually started singing at my answer!
-Yeon Du, Yeon Du. Next time, sex with Yeon Du!
-...You little shit, you kept bringing her up just to drop this line, huh?
She blinked innocently and tilted her head.
-Busted?
-Be real. Not your first time in the human world, right?
-Whoa! Jun-young, molester mark (medium) just passed! Hurry!
Dododo
-Hey, you cute little thing!
Pomi's words weren't bullshit to dodge—she really had molester appeal.
A woman with it was walking the night street.
Pomi flew around in spirit form, scouting blind alleys without CCTV, and I picked one, activating Invisibility.
A few days ago as a noob, hiding my clothes would've been tough, but who cares!
⚔ SKILL ⚔ Invisibility (N, Active/Inactive) - Turns the body transparent. Lv. 1: Consumes stamina (50 per hour). Can make any desired area within 10cm from the skin, including the body, transparent.
That's right. I used [Target Status Reveal, R] and spent the remaining 600 points to level up Invisibility!
Now I didn't need to go bare-assed to Yu-ra's like before.
-Ugh, you get clothes, but I have to stay naked! Jun-young's a perv!
-Oh yeah, you've been naked the whole time? Got so used to it I forgot.
-What?!
-Anyway, no time today. Tonight at home, let's browse cute clothes online together.
-Yay!
Seeing Pomi nod excitedly lifted my mood.
-What's this dad vibe? Hey, you switched from potty mouth to cutie pie full-time?
Her foul mouth from the start had mellowed. She was doing more adorable stuff too.
-Figured you'd like this!
Right after contracting, she was wild... Was this full-power Pomi charm?
-Whoa, touching. So, what do you think I'd like? Super cutesy girls?
-Nah? Shorty grabber.
Huh? What?
-Shorty grabber! Nailed it, huh?
-Whoa, gonna miss the target. Let's move!
-Loli-con's running!
While we bantered, the target got farther ahead.
I carefully approached the two women walking, avoiding stray pedestrians.
-Right one's the one?
-Left, dummy. Hot pants girl!
-Status!
⚔ TARGET STATUS ⚔ Seo Jeong-min (Human Female, Lv. 19, 22 years old) 167cm, 54kg, B81 W63 H81 Difficulty: Easy | Non-virgin | Pregnancy risk: Safe day HP 10/24 | Arousal 0/100 | Favor +0 (Neutral) | Submission +0 (Free) | Lewdness +27 (Open) ⚡ Strength: 16 💨 Agility: 18 ✨ Intelligence: 24 🧠 Mental: 18 🍀 Luck: 28 Talents: Dance D, Focus F
Kinks: Acrophilia (Heights, Mild) | Coreophilia (Dance, Mild) | Haphephilia (Touch, Medium) | Xenophilia (Foreigners, Mild) | Molester Appeal (Medium)
Sensitive Spots: Butt, Breasts, Clitoris
Sexual Fantasy: Intense sex in a club bathroom.
-Wh-what the hell!
I was about to try Essence Absorption, mainly because of 'Molester Appeal,' but 'Xenophilia' jumped out even more.
-Ugh, dissing local dick? We had a pure-blood pride thing!
-Right! Jun-young's is huge too!
I wanted to instill some patriotism right there, but sadly, we're in the middle of the street.
Even with her kink, full sex is pushing it. And eyes everywhere—mess up, and it's chaos.
Seducing visible is out— I know my face.
Her friend might snitch... Damn looks bias. Time to finger-tentacle it!
I wiggled my ten fingers like tentacles as I closed in on them.