Wrong Choice #2
Reading Yuria’s message, I tapped the edge of my phone against my temple.
The Doctor was currently interrogating criminals and reorganizing the international organization. Or rather, she had said she was in the middle of doing so. There was no danger involved—she wasn’t even meeting face-to-face with anyone from the organization—so why would she need help? And why ask for it in secret?
There’s something going on.
The Doctor was hiding something from me. It had to be connected to that “matter to look into” she had mentioned on the phone yesterday. Safe to assume there was something she felt guilty about. And that guilty little secret probably included me. After all, she wouldn’t even tell the person she loved most.
Haah… Jenny… Why are you like this, seriously…
Why create unnecessary trouble for herself? She could just finish the reorganization, execute a few people as examples, and come home. If she kept this up, I would… No. Better to wait for Yuria’s report before deciding anything. I still didn’t know what the Doctor was investigating, but the moment she called Yuria in as her assistant, everything she did fell under my control.
The Doctor had made the wrong choice.
Smack!
Exactly like Silvia, who had crept up behind me and delivered an affectionate slap to my backside, her special feelings for me on full display.
Without even turning my head, I said, “Stop hitting me.”
Silvia, who had announced her arrival with a kick, scratched the back of her head in embarrassment.
“Someone walks up and you don’t even look? You’re supposed to acknowledge a greeting.”
“Greeting? Oh, right.”
I tried to lightly tap Silvia’s rear with my shin. The instant I lifted one foot, however, my supporting leg slipped.
A dull thud later, I was flat on my back. Silvia exploded with laughter, pointing at me as I scrambled up and looked around. She mocked me without mercy.
“Are you actually stupid? How can someone so big be this clumsy? You’re built like a mountain but everything you do is so awkward…”
I had done it on purpose, but my face still burned red. “Stop laughing. People are staring.”
“How can I not laugh?”
Still grinning, Silvia came closer and brushed the dirt off my back. “Doesn’t look like you hit your head. Shame.”
“Shame…? Is that really what you should be saying? Whose fault do you think this is…?”
“Fine, I’m sorry. So can you stop sulking now?”
She dusted off my backside and thighs without hesitation, then gave my back a firm pat. “All done. Let’s go.”
“Yes…”
“Don’t look so defeated. It happens.”
I let out a deep sigh like someone utterly humiliated and followed Silvia into the mart. We bought snacks for the trip, ate at the food court, and before I knew it a good amount of time had passed. Once we finished shopping we carried one box each to the underground parking garage, chatting comfortably the whole way.
After setting the box inside the car, I told her, “Get in. I’ll drive you.”
“Just drop me off at the neighborhood entrance.”
She must have been afraid Adele would catch her.
“Is it really necessary to go that far?”
“Yes. It has to be.”
“Well… understood.”
I started the engine. Silvia, now buckled in, suddenly spoke. “And you’ve been sneaking in casual speech with me, haven’t you? Back in the day a four-year age gap meant you couldn’t even sit at the same table. I’m only letting it slide because it’s you… Watch yourself from now on.”
“Couldn’t sit at the same table? What is this, the Joseon dynasty? And are you seriously bragging about being older?”
“I was just joking. Isn’t your reaction a little too strong?”
“Haah… Talking with you, Ms. Silvia, drains every last drop of energy I have. We really don’t match at all.”
“I think we match incredibly well, actually.”
She had grown comfortable enough to say it outright. A very good sign.
I gave a vague nod and stepped on the accelerator. As we headed toward Uijeongbu, Silvia asked cautiously, “How far along is my Device?”
“Quite far.”
“Really…? I expected you to say there’d been no progress.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re always out on dates with Adele. I figured you’d dropped it completely.”
“I carry the production kit with me whenever I visit the company or before bed. I work on it whenever I have a spare moment.”
Silvia’s face filled with guilt. I caught her expression in the rear-view mirror and smiled softly.
“I’ll have good news for you soon, so don’t worry.”
“Who said I was worried…? I was joking. Don’t take everything so seriously.”
“That was a joke too?”
“Yes. Didn’t you notice? Is it my fault for joking with someone as dense as you?”
The light turned red. I hit the brake and leaned toward her.
“You’re pretty dense yourself, Ms. Silvia… Did you know that?”
Our faces were suddenly very close. She panicked exactly like she had in the lab, stretching her neck to put distance between us.
“Look at you. Your face turns bright red the moment I lean in. Maybe you’re not dense—you’re just hopelessly shy.”
“J-just drive properly. The light’s green.”
She tried to act tough and indifferent, but she was an open book. At this rate, how was she supposed to keep up with me?
I lifted one corner of my mouth and returned my gaze to the road ahead.
“Understood.”
**
After dropping Silvia off, I stopped by the officetel for the first time in a while. I exchanged sweet, affectionate gestures with Sehwa, then asked her in an extremely careful tone.
“Starting tomorrow, could you let Adele stay over for two or three days?”
“Adele? Sure, why not.”
She agreed so readily… She had decided to endure it for the greater good. I loved how this Demon King was steadily acquiring the dignity of a queen.
“I thought you’d get angry…”
“Adele’s cute. She listens to me well, so I like her.”
Her voice was warm with goodwill. The difference from their first meeting—when Sehwa had been openly irritated—was night and day.
Yet… she had only met Adele a few times. Had she really grown fond of her? Was Sehwa being influenced by Adele’s innocence and holy power?
Those thoughts were running through my mind when Sehwa’s next words made me breathe a sigh of relief.
“And since Yuria isn’t here, it’ll be fun to play with her.”
Good. She hadn’t changed at all.
“Well… as long as you have fun…”
“Should I go somewhere far? Maybe Jeju Island?”
Jeju Island… That place brought back all kinds of old memories.
“Jeju Island sounds perfect. Invite Silvia too.”
“Why? Weren’t you planning to seduce her?”
“I was. She’ll definitely refuse.”
“So you want me to invite her out of politeness. Got it. But there’s something more important. It looks like the Doctor has noticed something suspicious. How are you going to handle her?”
“I don’t have a concrete plan yet. Yuria will keep an eye on the Doctor. Once everything’s over I’ll listen to her report and decide then.”
Sehwa stared straight at my face, wearing a meaningful little smile.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You say you have no plan, but it looks like your mind’s already made up.”
“Me?”
“Yes. The Doctor has too many unstable elements to leave her alone. This incident pretty much confirmed it, didn’t it?”
“Well… that’s true. Let’s drop the subject and go inside. It’s been a while since we slept together.”
I scooped Sehwa up and carried her to the bedroom. Since it had been so long, I intended to love her thoroughly.
**
“Jihyeok, I’m afraid I have some bad news.”
Adele let out an adorable sigh. I closed the Bible, adjusted my glasses, and asked, “What is it?”
“Sehwa invited me. She wants us to eat delicious food together at her Jeju Island villa and play in the water. We’re meeting at the airport this evening. So I might not be able to see you for a few days.”
“If you had plans like that you should have told me sooner… I already made all the arrangements… And water play in this freezing weather?”
I frowned deeply and made my disappointment obvious. Adele came over and gently stroked the back of my head.
“I’m sorry. But Sehwa said she’s going to be very busy from now on and we might not see each other often, so I couldn’t refuse.”
“Then I’ll come too.”
“That won’t work. We’re planning to have secret girl talk.”
“Girl talk? So Ms. Silvia and Yuria are going as well?”
“Yuria is overseas, apparently. Silvia was invited but turned it down because she has a martial arts competition.”
I let out a hollow laugh. “It’s not even all four of you… Let’s just postpone it.”
“Didn’t I tell you Sehwa is going to be busy? If not now, I don’t know when we’ll get another chance to bond. I’ll only be gone two or three days. You can endure missing me that long, can’t you?”
I could endure it perfectly well while playing with Silvia. Absolutely.
“Just stay and play with me. Cancel the trip.”
“Jihyeok. Sehwa is a fellow Beast Slayer. Shouldn’t we build friendship in case we have to fight together? Besides, you’ve been with me every single day until now. You shouldn’t try to tie me down too tightly.”
Watching Adele soothe me in that gentle, teacher-like voice as if I were a child was so funny I thought I would lose my mind. I also felt a twinge of guilt for deceiving her.
“Still, leaving me out completely…”
“Here, say ‘ah.’”
“This is too much…”
I grumbled but opened my mouth wide. Adele popped a mint candy inside. While I crunched on it she watched me with a bright smile, then hugged me. Because of her petite frame it ended up looking like I was the one embracing her.
“When I come back from this trip I’ll give you a reward.”
“…A reward?”
“Yes. You waited so patiently, so of course I have to give you one. The details are a secret, so don’t ask what kind.”
It sounded like it would be something naughty… I answered as if reluctant.
“Understood…”
“Since your heart seems troubled, we’ll stop studying here for today.”
“Yes…”
Adele spent a long time comforting me afterward. She seemed genuinely delighted by how obsessed I was with her. Pretending to sulk like this wasn’t bad at all. I would have to use it more often.
After eating with Adele, helping her pack, and driving her to the airport, I got back in the car and immediately called Silvia.
— What.
— I heard. She’s probably already left.
— Tomorrow…? They said it hasn’t rained at the Grand Canyon in a while…
— That cave…?
— I remember… See you tomorrow.
— You make sure not to be late. I’m hanging up.
“Where are you right now?”
“Adele said she’s going on a trip with Sehwa… You heard, right?”
“I just dropped her off at the airport. Let’s leave tomorrow too. I’ll prepare all the camping gear, so just pack some extra clothes.”
“We’re meeting at the lab at five in the morning tomorrow.”
“Considering the time difference, it’ll be evening in the States when we arrive.”
“Why would we set up a tent? We have our… cave.”
I deliberately lowered my voice on the last word, giving it a secretive edge—poking at Silvia’s conscience while inflating her anticipation. The effect was immediate; I heard her swallow thickly over the line.
“We originally planned to play there, remember?”
I tossed the phone onto the passenger seat and started the engine. Preparations were perfect. Now all that remained was to enjoy our secret rendezvous and nurture Silvia’s feelings for me until they swelled beyond control.