Chapter 444: Ordinary Time
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 444: Ordinary Time
“You want to grab a drink?”
I hesitated for a moment at the sudden phone call.
I stole a glance at the three girls nearby to gauge their reactions, but they were too busy talking amongst themselves to pay me any mind.
“I’m telling you, just ask for sex first! He’ll go crazy for it! That’s what Woo-jini did!”
“He’s not that kind of guy, you moron!”
“Isn’t that just being a pervert?”
The three of them were huddled around my laptop, playing the AI simulation game I had been on earlier.
Looking closer, it wasn't just military-related stuff; there were plenty of other options. Right now, they were trying to romance a werewolf.
A werewolf, of all things.
He looked like the kind of pretty boy you’d see in a 90s internet novel, except he was a werewolf.
They seemed to be hitting a snag because their opinions on how to woo him were completely different.
“I’m saying if you just ask for sex, he’ll come running! That’s how I seduced Woo-jini!”
“Sigh, that’s only because it was him. You have to talk to him like a normal person first.”
“You’re not treating him like a werewolf; you’re treating him like a beast.”
My reputation was starting to take a weird hit here.
Though, to be fair, the first time Seo Ye-rin and I actually did it was after the festival in front of her house, and it did start with her saying something like that.
Hey, what are you going to do?
I pondered Ahn Hyun-ho’s question over the phone for a moment.
He mentioned Jeong Chan-woo was coming too. Since we were all headed to the military soon, I did want to have a heart-to-heart over some drinks.
Besides, those two were heading in earlier than me.
Those damn traitors.
Enlisting together and leaving me behind.
“I’ll text you in a bit. I need to ask first.”
Wow, you really are whipped, aren’t you? Like a total loser.
“Look who’s talking.”
I didn't know where he got the nerve to say that when he couldn't even breathe without Lee Gyu-a’s permission.
After hanging up, I looked at the three of them.
Surprisingly, Seo Ye-rin’s strategy seemed to be working.
“Bwahaha! Look at this! This punk! He’s a male after all—look at him go into heat immediately!”
“...Why do I suddenly feel like I don't want to promote this?”
“Is it because he’s a werewolf? I guess if he’s half-animal, this kind of reaction is somewhat rational.”
There was Seo Ye-rin looking triumphant, Yoo Ah-rin frowning, and Choi I-seo muttering to herself about how it was 'rational.'
The three of them were actually having a lot of fun with it.
Forgetting for a moment that I needed to ask permission to go drinking, I watched to see how they’d handle the werewolf.
[The werewolf is embarrassed by your confession, but he is also turned on!]
[A little more, and his instincts might drive him to pounce on you!]
Then, quite surprisingly, an illustration popped up.
It was a naked werewolf!
“What?! Was this 19-rated?”
Seo Ye-rin looked shocked.
“Huh? It shouldn't be?”
Yoo Ah-rin checked, flustered.
“Ah, it is 19-rated. The tag was right here.”
Choi I-seo pointed at the laptop screen, noting that they’d missed it.
None of the three seemed particularly shocked by the nudity, though.
I suppose they’d all become quite accustomed to erotic things by now.
While the other two were debating, Seo Ye-rin quickly typed into the chat.
[Seo-Choi-Yoo: He’s quite a bit smaller than Woo-jini, isn’t he?]
Is the name 'Seo-Choi-Yoo'?
Seo Ye-rin, Choi I-seo, and Yoo Ah-rin?
More importantly, why was she dragging me into this?
[The werewolf is flustered.]
[Werewolf: Woo-jini? Who is that?]
[The werewolf is feeling anxious.]
“Hey, why are you talking to the kid about Kim Woo-jin?”
“Ugh, look at the chest hair. His face looks like an idol, but his body is a bit much.”
Yoo Ah-rin and Choi I-seo grumbled together, but Seo Ye-rin’s shoulders were already shaking as she continued typing.
[Seo-Choi-Yoo: Woo-jini is Kim Woo-jin, my boyfriend. His dick is twice the size of yours! He’s amazing at sex, too! He’s super cool and handsome! But I’m sad because he’s going to the military soon.]
[Werewolf: B-boyfriend? Are you... are you talking about your ex-boyfriend?]
[The werewolf is extremely confused. Having felt a romantic attraction to you, he begins to back away.]
[Seo-Choi-Yoo: You want to die? What do you mean 'ex'? He’s my current boyfriend. We just had intense sex a moment ago.]
“Ye-rin, tell him to shave that hair.”
Choi I-seo even added her own input from behind.
[Seo-Choi-Yoo: And shave your hair. I bet it smells. There’s too much chest hair.]
[Seo-Choi-Yoo: Why is your lower half like a kid’s while your upper body is an adult’s?]
[Werewolf: The hair is because I’m a wolf...]
[The werewolf’s feelings were hurt, and he ran away.]
[GAME OVER.]
“Ah, he ran away.”
“Of course he ran away after you said all that.”
“I feel a bit bad, like we actually hurt his feelings.”
The three of them commented as they looked for something else to play.
“Man, I thought he’d be a bit like Woo-jini since he’s a werewolf, but not at all.”
“Isn’t that because he is a werewolf? Kim Woo-jin is a beast, so he lacks the human qualities a werewolf has.”
“It’s a bit sad that he loses to a werewolf in terms of common sense.”
“Why are you guys attacking me all of a sudden?”
They were doing this even though they knew I was watching.
“Can I just play my game now?”
“What’s a Bronze-tier scrub saying?”
“If you played, you’d be lower than me!”
As Seo Ye-rin and Yoo Ah-rin started bickering, Choi I-seo stepped back and looked at me.
“Are you going out for drinks?”
“You heard that?”
“How could I not? Was it Hyun-ho and Chan-woo?”
“What, you could hear their voices too?”
I was worried I’d had the volume up too high, but Choi I-seo replied with a slight smile.
“Is there anyone else who would call you first to go drinking?”
“That kind of hurts my pride.”
“Whatever. Don't stay out too late with them. You guys always get into trouble when you hang out for too long.”
“That’s—”
I couldn't deny it because it was true.
“Call me if you drink too much. I’ll come pick you up.”
“Hey, I won't drink that much.”
“Since when did you ever plan on drinking that much?”
Choi I-seo crossed her arms, pressing me for an answer.
Again, she wasn't wrong, so I kept my mouth shut.
“Call me. I’ll come get you. Got it?”
As I nodded at Choi I-seo’s words, Yoo Ah-rin, who was already back to staring at the laptop, added without even looking my way.
“Be back before 11:00. Unless you want to die.”
“I have a curfew?”
I looked at her in shock, but Yoo Ah-rin just glared back as if to say, 'What are you going to do about it?'
Being managed like this didn't feel bad, but it wasn't exactly great either.
Is this what it’s like to be married?
I could already see a future where I was plagued by my wives...
Actually, looking at what was right in front of me, I was already being plagued.
I didn't need to look to the future; I just had to look at the present.
“Woo-jina, go without panties! That way you won't go to a hotel with another girl!”
“That is definitely not it! Do you seriously think I’d go to a hotel with another girl when I have you guys?!”
I shouted in disbelief, and Seo Ye-rin covered her mouth, snickering.
“No, actually, just imagining Woo-jini walking around outside without panties gets me turned on.”
“Honestly, isn't Seo Ye-rin more of a beast than I am?”
I spoke out of exasperation, but Yoo Ah-rin was already busy studying the AI simulation for the promotion, and Choi I-seo had gone back to the dining table to prepare for her certification exam.
“Woo-jina, don't drink too much!”
At least Seo Ye-rin, the only one left, showed some concern for me, so I nodded.
“Yeah, I got it.”
“Because when you drink, your breath smells like alcohol when we kiss, and I don't like that.”
“You really are consistent.”
It was almost nice to see.
* * *
When evening came and I headed out for drinks, I took a moment to look around.
People were passing by, their breath turning into white mist in the cold air.
I found myself staring at them blankly, suddenly feeling sentimental under a streetlight.
I won't be able to see scenes like this for a while.
What would I be doing at this time once I was in the military?
Since I’d never been, everything felt daunting and fearful.
When I was a kid, I thought the country would be reunified by now.
Back in elementary school, I was sure I wouldn't have to go to the army.
But as time passed, reunification was nowhere in sight, and the country was calling me to fulfill my duty of national defense.
There was no need to be depressed.
Every South Korean man goes through this.
So it was fine.
Everyone feels this way, right?
“...I miss the girls already.”
I’d just stepped out, and I already missed them.
I sniffled and checked my phone.
I headed to the location they’d sent me, which turned out to be in front of a movie theater.
“What the...”
I wondered if they were planning to eat nearby and called them. It was incredibly noisy on the other end.
— Ah, Woo-jin? Is that you?
— I shall let her gooo! Then buy me a drink lateeer!
“Are you at a karaoke bar?”
— Yeah! Coin karaoke! In the basement here! Come on down!
“What do you mean karaoke? I thought we were drinking.”
— Hey, we need to release our stress periodically right now.
— Woo-jin, hurry up!
“Sigh.”
I hated going with just guys because they’d only sing ballads or rap the whole time.
But then again, seeing how I’d gotten all sentimental after just a few minutes of walking alone, their idea didn't seem entirely wrong.
I headed down to the coin karaoke in the basement.
As soon as I walked in, Jeong Chan-woo handed me a microphone as if he’d been waiting.
“Sing a song.”
“Sigh, you know when guys come here, it’s just ballads and rap.”
“We sing girl idol songs too.”
I didn't want to hear that.
After a brief moment of thought, I selected a song.
“Look at this guy. He complains and then picks a rap song himself.”
“What is this? How old is this song?”
I ignored the two of them talking shit and closed my eyes to get into the mood.
This was the song I could relate to most right now.
“I answered the call of my country with pride, though it is a precious duty—!”
“Ugh, you piece of shit. You’re ruining the mood.”
“Why are you singing that now?”
Shut up, you bastards.
This is the 'soul' that only a man at this specific time can possess—!
Vrrr! Vrrr! Vrrr!
“Ah.”
The mood was ruined.
I grumbled and checked my phone; it was Bong-geun calling.
“Hello? Where are you? You want to come too?”
— Where are you right now!
Bong-geun’s voice sounded urgent. While I was wondering what was going on, I saw a man I’d never seen before through the window, pointing toward me.
He looked to be about our age, but he was decked out in luxury brands from head to toe.
— You, right now...!
Bong-geun was shouting something, but only one thought came to my mind.
Is that guy going to the military?
If he’s draped in luxury brands like that, he’s definitely going to the military, right?