Chapter 154
Chapter 154
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: Living Together (2)
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1.
The living room, which rarely saw any guests, was pretty cluttered.
It wasn't outright filthy since he ran the vacuum diligently, but small odds and ends had piled up here and there.
After tidying it up roughly, Siwoo sprawled out on the living room sofa and sipped from a can of beer.
-Shwooooosh!
"Hmmm..."
The place was so quiet that he could hear Sharon washing up perfectly clearly.
His mood felt all muddled.
He hadn't let her in harboring any ulterior motives, but as a man, he couldn't help the slight thrill of wondering what might happen next.
-Click!
The bathroom door right next to the entrance creaked open, and Sharon peeked out cautiously.
He'd been careful about where to look in case she hadn't dressed properly, but she headed straight for the living room, so that wasn't it.
"Um, thanks."
"Nah, it was nothing."
One of the basics for a witch was using magic to dry her hair fluffy after a shower.
Witches were women to begin with, and it was excellent training for controlling mana down to the finest points of the body—one of the recommended drills even for apprentices.
Thanks to that, Sharon's hair was bone-dry, as if she'd never showered at all.
But she couldn't do much about her cheeks and neck, flushed like a ripe peach.
Sharon rubbed her cheeks slowly with her palms as she expressed her thanks, then pointed to the spot next to Siwoo with her fingertip.
"Mind if I sit?"
"Go ahead. Want a beer?"
"Sure."
Sharon plopped down languidly right beside Siwoo.
In that moment, her swaying hair wafted the same shampoo scent as his, followed by her own natural body fragrance tickling his nose.
"Beer after a shower... It's been ages since I last had this."
Sharon cast a bit of magic on the beer Siwoo had set out beforehand to chill it even more.
Then she chugged it down.
"Ahhh...! So good!"
But wasn't this a bit too close?
The living room sofa was a four-seater.
A luxury model with a footrest, perfect for stretching out and watching TV.
Yet Sharon had plopped down right next to Siwoo, close enough that the slightest movement would have their elbows brushing.
Siwoo pondered seriously whether this meant something or not.
"What're you thinking so hard about?"
"Nothing. You gonna keep your clothes on?"
"Oh, I'll change! I brought pajamas."
Sharon started to get up with a groan but melted back onto the sofa like her muscles had turned to jelly.
She looked utterly lazy.
"Ugh... I don't wanna move a muscle."
Having washed away her worries with the hot water, Sharon's face gleamed as she let out a hollow chuckle.
It wasn't hyperbole—Sharon was a witch and a beauty, every bit as captivating as Amelia, hard to stare at for long.
With Siwoo silent, Sharon glanced at him sidelong, still facing forward.
"What?"
He had no idea why his heart was fluttering like this over something so small.
Was it the fresh scent of a budding flirtation, or just his overactive imagination...?
"Oh, no. Was thinking of ordering some late-night grub—what do you wanna eat?"
"Late-night food?"
Sharon whipped around to face him.
Even though he bought for her every time, she reacted like she'd just won the lottery each time.
Her cuteness nearly made him grin, and he had to fight it down.
"Uh, what was it you said you wanted last time?"
"I... I'll eat whatever you wanna eat."
She perked up, but she still seemed uncomfortable just receiving from Siwoo.
That said, refusing outright wasn't her style—instead, she let him pick, which was so very Sharon.
"Just pick a type, and I'll order from a good spot I know. Korean, Japanese, Western, Chinese. Your call."
Sharon furrowed her brows at the four options, pondering like it was the decision of a lifetime, counting on her fingers.
What she settled on was...
"Th-then... Chinese?"
"Chinese? How about mala tang?"
"Mala tang? Never tried it."
"Mala tang it is."
It must be all the rage with college girls lately—mala tang spots were popping up everywhere in the busy districts.
From his observations, Sharon's tastes had localized surprisingly well, so he'd bet she'd like it.
To hedge his bets in case she didn't, he ordered plenty of kung pao chicken too.
Sharon couldn't hide her excitement, like a kid waiting for Santa.
"Wonder what it tastes like? Spicy? I heard it's spicy."
"Ordered the mildest one."
"Korea has so much tasty stuff. Feels like I'm discovering it all thanks to you. Thanks."
"Hey, quit with the thanks already. It's embarrassing."
"How else am I supposed to say thanks if not 'thanks'?"
Sharon was one who smiled easily.
She'd laughed three times already in this short chat.
And then, a brief silence.
You know those moments, right?
When the conversation timing slips just a bit, and both go quiet at once.
But Siwoo was the only one feeling awkward—Sharon stretched casually and got up.
"I'll just take my suitcase to the room and change."
"Already? You said you were beat. Do it after we eat."
"Nah, the beer's giving me energy."
She flexed her modest bicep playfully, then sauntered off to the bedroom dragging her suitcase.
2.
While Sharon rustled around in the bedroom, Siwoo unpacked the delivered mala tang on the dining table.
With all the extra toppings, the containers were overflowing, so he transferred it all to a big bowl.
Just then, Sharon opened the bedroom door and stepped out.
"Uh..."
Siwoo froze solid at the sight of her outfit.
It was just too much bare skin on display.
If Sharon had a signature color, it'd be mint—she suited bright turquoise perfectly.
Her eyes shimmered mysteriously like she'd popped in color contacts for a Halloween party, and the hints of color woven into her deep green hair.
It all fit without feeling forced.
And now she was wearing mint dolphin pants.
With a white tank top on top.
Her long legs gleamed bare, the top clung to her torso like yoga wear, and he had no clue where to look.
Especially her breasts, which asserted themselves fiercely even under the loose boxy tee—they jiggled subtly with every approach, leaving him flustered.
What do you even call an outfit like that?
Girlfriend-at-home chic?
"What? Did something not come?"
Oblivious to Siwoo's reaction, Sharon strode over and rummaged through the receipt.
That's when it hit him.
Unlike Siwoo, too aware to even change into pajamas, Sharon could act this freely because she wasn't mindful of him at all.
In other words, she didn't see him as a man.
Otherwise, no way she'd prance around like that, even in loungewear.
"Nah, let's eat."
People's hearts are fickle—he'd sworn he had no ulterior motives, but her nonchalance left a bitter taste.
And Siwoo's suspicion hardened into certainty as Sharon sat across from him.
Pulled right up to the table, her breasts stood out prominently.
Two faint bumps showed through the thin white fabric.
In short, no bra.
"Cough cough! Whew... This chili oil is..."
Regardless of Siwoo's gaping shock, Sharon wrinkled her nose at the mala tang scent like she might sneeze.
No-bra was normal in the West, but Siwoo's sensibilities weren't that progressive yet.
But what could he even say?
Your nipples are poking through and drawing my eyes—could you put on a bra? No way.
Just keep quiet till she notices.
Or maybe she already knew and was doing it on purpose.
3.
Sharon devoured the massive eight-person portion of mala tang, clearly delighted with her first taste.
Of course, for Siwoo, it was torture—every time she reached for food, that alluring pair jiggled temptingly, demanding his gaze, and he struggled to look away.
Stuffed full, the two took Siwoo's suggestion and sprawled side by side on the sofa to watch a movie.
Setup.
Draw the blackout curtains in the living room and kill the lights.
Grab popcorn fresh from the microwave and beer, then recline on the sofa.
With the 146-inch TV and booming surround sound, it rivaled any theater.
"First movie for me."
Once again sticking close to Siwoo, Sharon fidgeted her hips even before the film kicked off proper.
Each time, a fresh fragrance wafted like fluttering perfumed paper.
At this point, her innocence struck him more as pitiable than cute.
"You really just lived to earn money, huh?"
"Gotta hunt homunculi quick to sell the remains and make bank."
"How much do those go for usually?"
"Auction 'em through Waypoints, but first dibs go to Gehenna witches.
They bid extra high too. Depends on type, but... research docs go for ten million won to a billion. Artifacts double or triple that. Gnosis eggs? Way more, depending on the kind."
That explained why she clung to the convenience store gig.
Her real income came from homunculus hunting, not hourly wages.
"Only snagged scraps so far, but who knows? A Gnosis egg could wipe my debt in one go."
Even as she said it, her tone lacked conviction.
Siwoo realized anew just how immense the value of the Shadow Rule the twins had handed him was.
Anyway, tonight's pick: Notebook.
Number one movie where the guy cries more than the girl thanks to his girlfriend.
The protagonist, who truly loved his wife, tells their long, turbulent love story to his elderly wife with dementia to help her remember.
But Siwoo found observing Sharon's reactions more entertaining than the plot.
Was it the thrill of first experiences making her so expressive?
"Is that romantic? Why's she acting like that?"
"Are they falling in love? But why?"
"Oh man... How could she..."
"No, sigh... But still, she shouldn't have left like that!"
"They're so frustrating! Engaged and now this?! Leave the protagonist alone, you witch!"
Sharon fumed like a middle-aged auntie chomping popcorn through a soap opera, griping till midway.
But as it hit the climax, her hand stopped midway to the popcorn.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she stared unblinkingly at the screen.
Yet her reddened eyes refused to miss a single frame.
The tale of the man and woman ended with the protagonist passing alongside his beloved wife.
"........."
"Ahem."
Siwoo grabbed the remote and turned on the lights.
Sharon stayed lost in the afterglow, staring blankly at the screen as tears dripped steadily.
Now he noticed the popcorn clutched in her hand.
She'd been like that for maybe thirty minutes.
Like a statue frozen in place.
Seeing her cry for no reason, Siwoo felt a twinge of regret.
Should've picked a light Hollywood flick or action movie?
He'd gone with romance figuring girls like that stuff, but maybe it'd just bummed her out more.
"Sniff."
Sharon finally popped the long-held popcorn into her mouth and wiped her tears with her wrist.
"So... good, but so sad... To stir emotions like this in just two hours... Humans are amazing."
Sharon murmured in a daze, awestruck.
"Shouldn't have picked this? Let's do fun ones next time."
"Huh? No, I loved it—it was touching. Wanna watch more next time. But... could we do one more tonight? I think I like romance movies."
"Well..."
Like a thief who learns late but pulls all-nighters anyway.
That night, Sharon and Siwoo watched three romance films till dawn broke.