Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: 2. Teaching the Apprentice Witch (5)
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Option 1.
Ring Neria's doorbell firmly, even though I was just kicked out.
This option took about two seconds to discard.
Even if I was completely drunk right now, seeing this option would sober me up instantly—it was that stupid.
Then Option 2.
Even now that I've been kicked out, apologize to Neria and beg for forgiveness.
This one took about ten seconds to discard.
Apologies are best made quickly, but only when the situation calls for it.
Recalling Neria's cautious demeanor from the first day, doing that in front of her house would only pile up bad impressions.
Judging it best to postpone the apology, I moved on.
Thus, already Option 3.
Tactical retreat.
"Ugh... Already got some results?"
Back at the Seoul City Hall's 14th floor, in the Apprentice Witch Rehabilitation Support Department office, I explained the full story to the Team Leader as she stretched languidly.
For reference, she'd just been napping soundly until moments ago.
The sleep mask still winking from her bangs was proof.
"I see... So you at least got to touch her breasts. Hmm."
"Maybe my attitude was a bit off, because now I'm kicked out."
"No injuries?"
"Ah, no. None. She just told me to leave."
"Then you're good. She looks like total WWE material."
"Well... That's a relief, I guess."
"She could tough it out while it was happening, but once it ended and she calmed down, she got embarrassed and went 'Kyaa—' and kicked you out. Total high school girl. High school girl."
"......"
"Oh, you're thinking something rude right now, aren't you?"
"...No, ma'am."
"Pfft. Yeah, right..."
I didn't bother asking if the witch world had an education system like elementary, middle, and high school.
It felt odd at first, but it seemed like the Team Leader was choosing words I'd relate to.
Or maybe there really was a witch school.
...Anyway, it wasn't info I needed right now, so I stayed quiet.
"By the way, Dowon, I didn't expect you to grope her breasts already. You're doing better than I predicted. The previous hires barely made any progress, so I was starting to think my judgment was off."
"Th-thank you. I'll keep at it."
But when a superior praises you, your back bends flexibly.
I bowed deeply enough to show the top of my head, and the Team Leader giggled delightedly.
Then she scooted her chair slightly toward me and added,
"See, it was right to hire someone who takes good care of his girlfriends over some male prostitute type~ Plus, you're super young, Dowon."
I had no idea how deep her background check went—stuff that definitely wasn't in my personnel file.
I just kept bowing gracefully.
"Hope for even better news next time. Fighting!"
"...I'll do my best."
Like my personal info is that big a deal.
Hmm.
The next day passed, and I headed to Neria's place as usual.
Going empty-handed felt wrong, so I bought a fruit basket— the popular get-well gift.
She'd said she lived on frozen fried rice every meal, so she probably hadn't had fruit in ages.
Fruit was always last on my list when I skimped on food, too.
Praying I wouldn't get turned away at the door, I pressed the doorbell firmly.
"Neria? Are you home?"
- ...I'm home, so just ring the bell. Don't shout my name in the hallway.
Thankfully, Neria didn't seem the type to hold a grudge forever.
A faint presence crept closer from beyond the firmly shut door.
...Up to here, it was normal. Just like the past few days.
The problem came next.
"......"
"......"
Before describing Neria, who peeked out from the slightly open front door.
The current date was late October.
People outside were mostly in cardigans, thin coats, parkas, or the occasional mysterious short-sleeve villain.
It was a season of big temperature swings, and cold tolerance varied.
So, all sorts of outfits were the norm.
But.
"...What're you doing? Come in."
The girl who'd been in just a T-shirt and sweats yesterday was suddenly in a thick puffer parka inside her home.
Even the hood pulled all the way down.
Wasn't that too obvious?
"...Pardon the intrusion."
"......"
But if I said something like 'That cold?' or 'You must feel the chill more than I thought,' a waterfall of water would crash on my head.
No hobby of getting soaked in chilly late fall, so I repeated yesterday's line and shut the door.
Obviously, the house wasn't that cold.
"......"
"......"
Anyway, I'd made it inside somehow. Good. Good.
Separately, though, Neria's words had dwindled overnight.
Normally, mornings started with 'Hey, male prostitute—' and some chatter.
Last time, she'd even sent me on a bread shuttle for triangle kimbap and sandwiches from the convenience store.
But today, we just exchanged silence.
"......"
"......"
...I knew the unpleasant incident yesterday made it unavoidable.
But total silence was problematic too.
After gauging the mood, I finally spoke.
"Ah, I bought some fruit on the way."
"......Fruit?"
"Do you like fruit?"
"...Apples. I'll eat those."
Thankfully, there were a few apples in the basket.
She didn't care about the rest, but scoring even apples was something to be grateful for.
After slipping off my shoes, I passed the jail cell room naturally and asked,
"Perfect, we have apples. Shall I peel one right now?"
"......Not now.... It's almost mealtime..."
Current time: 10 a.m.
A bit early for normal lunch, but brunch worked.
"Then I'll peel some in advance for after your meal...?"
I was planning cute bunny-shaped apples to mend fences with Neria.
But she tapped my arm as we walked side by side, so I turned.
"...Nam Dowon, do something else first."
"Huh? Something else?"
"That..., ...the fried rice from before."
"......"
"...There's ingredients left in the fridge."
Today, more words stayed swallowed in my mind.
This time's star: 'Didn't you order eight sets of frozen fried rice in front of me to kill time?'
Sensibly not checking the freezer, I put even more effort into the fried rice than last time. As the meal wound down uneventfully...
"...Here."
I received a mysterious piece of paper from Neria, still in winter gear with a grain of rice on her lip.
"What's this?"
"...Can't you read it with your own eyes first, then ask?"
"...Sorry."
Never played a visual novel, but is this how bad choices feel?
Points dropping in real time.
Reading Neria's paper amid that:
●○○○○
○○○○○
Not much of a story, really.
A palm-sized A4 sheet, neatly cut, with "Praise Coupon" handwritten on it. (Side note: her handwriting was gorgeous.)
Below that, ten circles, the first one pre-filled light blue.
Simple, but I got the gist.
"If I do something praiseworthy, you stamp it?"
"Yeah. More like I color it in with a marker, but."
"Then once all ten are filled..."
Between us, the only reward worth mentioning was that one thing.
But I'd crossed a line yesterday, creating this awkward vibe.
Would that be okay?
No sooner had I thought it than Neria answered.
"......I'll let you do naughty stuff. The kind you pervert civil servant loves most."
"Naughty..."
"But only up to what we did yesterday. No sex, absolutely."
"...Ah."
...In that full winter getup I'd just seen.
Hood pulled down tight.
"No sex, absolutely..."
"Wh-what? I told you. You'll never creampie me."
"Still, I'm officially with the Apprentice Witch Rehabilitation Support Department. I'd appreciate considering sex positively too..."
"Nope, absolutely not. I made this praise coupon to use you."
"......"
"Yesterday, you loved my b... ahem, b-breasts so much? So if I dangle this as a reward, I can make you my slave. Right?"
Wrong.
Even without the praise coupon, Neria had me leashed—I'd be at her beck and call.
No reward? I'd grumble behind her back but not complain outright.
Like grinding gacha with no pity timer for decimal odds.
So this coupon was like adding a pity system.
No downside, pure gain.
In that sense, honestly.
This praise coupon was a pretty dumb reward if it was just to exploit me.
"Fried rice gets you 1 point. Ten times, and one day of breast groping. Even an orangutan gets that, right?"
"...Got it for now."
"Good. Whew...... So, peel an apple now?"
"Sure, that makes 2 points..."
"No? Apples are easy, so 0.5 points."
"...Pardon?"
"Whether it's 1 point, 5, or 0.5, I decide the points, don't I?"
"......"
...No.
Maybe the dumb one
was me...?