Well, Yeah... Having a Cute Little Sister Isn't So Bad.
“……Hmm. Am I supposed to like this?”
At Na Ho-guk's dumb question, Choi Jisoo pondered for a moment before letting out a hollow laugh.
“Well, from my perspective, it's definitely... a lot better. We've got way more supplies now.”
Choi Jisoo, who handled the shelter's internal affairs and managed all the logistics, said that, and Na Ho-guk nodded as if entranced. Then, suddenly snapping out of it, he raised his voice.
“No! Even so...!”
“Why are you getting all worked up again? It's not like we were that close. It was barely a week.”
Thinking of Shin Da-hee, who had entered the Apocalypse Hotel three days ago, Choi Jisoo coldly summarized the situation. Na Ho-guk let out a deep sigh and replied in a quieter voice.
“……Yeah. I guess you're right... But still, it's a bit disappointing.”
“What's there to be disappointed about? Oh... Yeah, Da-hee was definitely pretty. Really pretty.”
“That's not what I meant... Ah, forget it. Yeah. It's good for Da-hee too.”
The news delivered through Lee Soyeon's emergency messenger bird from inside the hotel. And the reports from several external team members who had gone out today and checked the hotel's outer wall.
The hotel's outer wall had updated with news of another jackpot, and the business days had extended from 10 to 20 days.
Before the team member who had rushed back to report it in shock upon returning to the shelter could even speak, Na Ho-guk and Choi Jisoo had already learned of it in advance via Soyeon's emergency bird.
“At least Soyeon's inside, so that's reassuring. Looks like she met Da-hee and is taking good care of her...”
Choi Jisoo skimmed over the contents of the handwritten letters from Soyeon and Da-hee once more. Na Ho-guk nodded in agreement.
“Yeah. They're both good, kind girls...”
“Hmph, but you must be disappointed? First Soyeon hits the jackpot, now Da-hee too?”
“......Hey, stop saying that. What's your deal lately?”
At Na Ho-guk's grumbling reaction, Choi Jisoo inwardly sighed with relief but played it cool on the surface.
“What? Da-hee was as pretty as Soyeon. Right?”
“No, it's just... The kid went through something tragic, so I felt protective like a big brother. And it wasn't even that long. Right after, I went out hunting again. The next day was the hotel's business day...!”
“......Yeah. It was. Sorry. Shelter management is getting tougher lately, so I was just venting a bit.”
At Choi Jisoo's suddenly deflated tone, Na Ho-guk got even more flustered.
“Y-yeah. No one in our shelter works harder than you... Sorry. My bad.”
“......No, it's fine. I just... Ah, forget it. I was being petty. Soyeon and Da-hee are both too pretty. Tch...”
“What are you talking about? You're always so attentive to everyone else...!! Don't say that. It pisses me off more.”
At that, Choi Jisoo—who had been half-seriously whining to her childhood friend—felt that nagging discomfort rising from deep inside once again.
'Annoying. Why does it have to be childhood friend, childhood friend...'
When would this blockhead finally see her as a woman?
She thought she'd gained a slight advantage with her biggest rival temporarily out of the picture. But Na Ho-guk casually tossed out those heart-tickling remarks without a care, even now, alone with her in her room—a man and woman together—yet unable to imagine any pink atmosphere, his oblivious form right in front of her.
Choi Jisoo could only feel frustrated, so frustratingly.
“......Anyway, it's good news for Da-hee. Perfect timing too—three days later, today she turns 20, legally 19 and an adult...”
“True. Ah, maybe that's why she hit the jackpot. Adult birthday celebration? Hahaha.”
Na Ho-guk laughed heartily at Choi Jisoo's relaxed mood. Soon, the two began pondering how to explain the source of the doubled supplies to the shelter members, and when and how to announce Soyeon and Da-hee's jackpots.
They spent the late night hours complicating poor Choi Jisoo's heart even further.
“Oppa! Give me a massage. Massage!”
Kim Gayeon, lounging on one of the luxury round bed sunbeds by the hotel's massive outdoor pool, shook a bottle of oil and shouted loudly.
“Da-hee, you hear that? Looks like oppa's gotta step out for a bit... Haha.”
“Ah...... Yeah, yeah. Hurry back. I'll play with Soyeon unnie!”
Shin Da-hee hopped off my back with a face full of regret and headed toward Lee Soyeon, who was lying on a long rectangular pool float, drifting freely with the water current.
“Yup! Hehe, unni~”
“Kyaa! W-what? Da-hee, you...!”
Lee Soyeon yelped in surprise at Da-hee's sudden attack, tumbling off the float. Soon, the two started splashing and playing in the water. I watched them fondly, a smile on my lips.
'...Well, at least they're getting along quick. Da-hee's seemed brighter these past three days too.'
With that, I activated my top-tier Observation skill to check Shin Da-hee's status window again.
'......Ahem. Well, yeah. She's a full adult now, an adult...'
Even so, with the past three days of that seductive Kim Gayeon nagging me to add Da-hee to the harem no matter what...
My heart just wasn't in it. Anyone might call me a hypocrite bastard for this, but human feelings are like that sometimes.
“Fuck it. Fine. Yeah, I'm half a trash harem guy, sure. But even so, how could I go after my friend's little sister—especially one who just lost her big bro...”
Shaking my head as I headed to Gayeon, I reaffirmed my resolve about Da-hee.
Even if it made me a shameless hypocrite, this was unavoidable. For Da-hee, I'd be the sturdy big brother replacing Cheol-su.
Of course, the cute little thing had beauty that didn't pale next to my women, Soyeon and Gayeon. But that didn't mean I had to do something that'd leave a bad taste.
Soyeon and Gayeon were more than enough to satisfy me. And more women would join my harem soon enough.
No need to touch Da-hee. Absolutely not.
“Well, yeah... Having a cute little sister around isn't so bad.”
With that self-justification, I reached the sunbed where Gayeon lay and told the seductive slut firmly.
“Gayeon, give up on Da-hee. She's never joining my harem.”
“Uh, okay...? No, why!? She's so pretty and cute!”
“Sure, that's true, but...”
I trailed off with a sigh, then explained my earlier rationalization, toned down a bit.
“......Tch. Fine, I guess from oppa's side, that makes sense.”
“We don't have to fuck her. Treat her like a cute little sis from pre-apocalypse days... Spoil her normally like that.”
“Hmm, wellll...... Dang. Still a shame.”
To this slut who still wouldn't quit, I tossed in a carrot.
“Tsk! And more women will definitely join my harem soon. If I hadn't started already, maybe, but now that I've committed to building one, I'm not settling for just you two.”
Of course, the method wouldn't be normal pre-apocalypse style. But in this fucked apocalypse world, it was reasonable enough—no guilt there.
I only proposed marriage, respecting consent. This slut in front of me started with rape, but that was... a special case, so exclude it. And since joining my harem, she'd become even more proactive. Not bad at all.
Yeah. Actually good.
With my stance on Da-hee and future harem plans solidified once more, unshakable, I sat beside Gayeon on the sunbed, took the massage oil bottle, and uncapped it.
“Where first? Front? Back?”
The seductive slut—wearing a skimpy black micro bikini that barely covered her nipples and pussy—brushed off her regretful expression, undid her bikini top straps, and said in an excited voice.
“Front first, nice and slow!”