Chapter 774
Chapter 774
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 774
Chapter Title: Seoul and the Witch
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The light novel section at Kyobo Bookstore's Gwanghwamun flagship store.
Two men headed to the bookstore to pick up the latest light novels.
In this day and age, you could buy a single book just by tapping away on your smartphone from home.
Nosy meddling in others' tastes and the contempt and disdain heaped on subculture had turned otakus wandering offline bookstores into something akin to living national treasures.
These days, it was a bleak world where you wouldn't spot a single 'comrade' unless it was a massive event on the scale of Seoul Comics.
Man A, a guy in his twenties with long bangs draped over his eyes, muttered to himself.
"Indeed, it takes no small amount of courage for a girl to bring a book with a scantily clad cover up to the checkout counter. Even more so if she's using discount coupons and racking up points on top of that."
"Ah, but that's because there are two of them, right?"
B smiled at A's soliloquy.
In his hand was the light novel that was both their absolute favorite.
"Still, it's an offline promo handing out bromides and limited-edition figures, and there's barely anyone here."
"Doesn't that just prove there are more and more trash out there who care about prying eyes over love? What a pathetic bunch. If someone gave me divine powers, I'd smash this whole world to pieces."
As usual, A muttered away, waiting for a response from his best friend and fellow comrade, B.
B always chimed in perfectly, even to such pointless ramblings.
"B?"
"……."
But B stood frozen, mouth agape, utterly speechless.
The light novel slipped powerlessly from his hand and fell to the floor.
"What, did you suddenly remember your past life or something?"
A chuckled, figuring it was just another lame joke.
But B's voice trembled in a way that made it hard to dismiss as a gag.
"She's... she's insanely pretty."
"What?"
A scowled at B's reply.
"Hey, B, are you trying to bail on us for the real world now? What happened to our resolve?"
"…You should look too."
"No thanks. I can't understand getting hung up on 3D girls at this point."
"Come on, drop the act and just take one peek, for real?"
"What's so special? That hot?"
Prodded by B, A reluctantly glanced over.
But no matter where he looked, he couldn't spot the beauty his friend was raving about.
"Don't see her? Where?"
"You see those twins over there?"
Only when he focused sharply where B pointed did A grasp why his friend was so shocked.
Two women of mysterious age browsing the economics section.
They possessed beauty that was literally otherworldly.
Black hair styled in elegant waves, eyes gleaming like amethysts.
And their features were so strikingly identical that it amplified their ethereal aura.
Their outfits were plain enough.
Navy skirts, white shirts, black cardigans.
Yet every gesture exuded such refined grace that it felt like you should kneel in reverence, like they were nobility.
"Insane. What is it... cutely aristocratic?"
"Right? Thank god they're twins. A beauty like that only once in the world would be too heartbreaking."
"No way they're ordinary people, right?"
"Nobility or royalty? Some countries still have that."
A and B watched them, utterly entranced.
The twins were flipping through books, chatting animatedly.
Too far to catch the words, but their gestures mixed in gave off palpable passion.
"They're debating something."
"Probably books they've already read. Exchanging high-level critiques from different angles, for sure."
"Wanna say hi?"
"I'd die happy shaking their hands."
But despite their cuteness, neither dared approach.
Just eye contact would shrink you.
The noble aura draped around them like a shawl screamed they inhabited a different world.
Not something super-timid guys who'd sworn off 3D girls this lifetime could handle.
Then someone slipped naturally between the twins.
Astonishingly, this woman was just as stunning, rivaling the twins.
Her deep navy eyes sparkled like jewels glowing under the abyssal sea.
Her long hair cascading to her waist rippled like gentle waves with every movement.
Both men shared the same thought.
"Empress... there's an empress."
"Kinda scary..."
Unlike the twins' cute petite vibe, she had sharp eye corners and dignified, pursed lips.
Her knit dress subtly revealing her figure felt like a queen's gown.
The white headband contrasting her dark hair evoked a crown's charisma.
It obliterated any 'let's talk to them' notions.
Standing before Her Majesty would freeze you solid with a mere glance.
Her arrival flipped the conversation dynamic.
The twins teamed up against the queen, who scoffed and shook her head.
The debate intensified.
"What's going on there?"
"They're together, at least. Reading lips... something about the limits of behavioral economics, I'd guess."
"Couldn't agree more."
And then another ultra-top-tier beauty appeared.
Bright green hair that rarely suited anyone, mint-green eyes refreshing down to your chest.
She appeared with a bright smile, wedging between the opposing twins and queen.
"Elf...?"
"Fairy."
"Hey, hey, isn't that outfit cheating?"
"Calm down, B. That's just normal coord. The cheat is her body."
Her look: leggings highlighting her round hips, pelvis, and legs.
An oversized hoodie barely covering her Y-zone teased the imagination.
The baggy hood she pulled up fully was way too generous for her slender frame.
Stunning looks like the others, but a different vibe.
A hint of feistiness, yet somehow approachable?
She'd answer any question earnestly, you felt.
"Isn't this our chance?"
"Yeah."
Her inclusive vibe—no contemptuous glares—rekindled their courage. They nodded.
"Fortune favors the bold."
"Let's go, buddy."
Talking to beauties like that?
Worth risking your life for.
Squeezing out their last drop of courage.
They fist-bumped as always and advanced toward their goal.
"U-um, ex-excuse m-me..."
"Yes?"
"H-h-hi, h-hello?"
"Yes? What is it?"
"Sis, looks like they can see us."
"Orgel isn't omnipotent, after all."
Maybe because they were all girls together?
The moment he spoke, four pairs of wary eyes fixed on A.
For A, who hadn't chatted with women outside part-timers or his mom in over a decade, it was suffocating.
His temperature rose, heart pounded, palms sweated.
B stepped up to save his struggling friend.
Given his favorite genres, B was more used to this.
He'd devoured thousands of rom-coms.
Standing out as unique would leave the deepest impression.
"It's like running into an adorable kitten—we just had to follow you."
But silence, cold as ice.
Fairy sis with slightly parted lips, nonchalant queen, twins tilting heads in unison.
Even his cheering buddy wore a 'is this guy nuts?' face. B felt the gap between reality and fantasy.
But the dice were cast.
Ignoring crushing fear, refusing to kneel, B spat out the rest.
Not some lame excuse for talking, but the impulse from first sight, consequences be damned.
"Your number...! It'd be an honor if I could have it."
Maybe mockery.
Maybe scornful stares.
A half-remembered line surfaced: real girls feel dejected if a guy 'beneath them' asks for their number, like 'do I look that easy?'
"Oh? Pickup artistry, is it."
"Wow... just like you said, Sharon sis. Guys in this world really ask like that."
Unexpectedly warm atmosphere. The queen stepped forward.
"A fairly romantic line, but alas, I must decline."
Truly regal speech.
The elf sis up front covered her mouth, chuckling.
"We're all taken, you see."
"Ah... Y-yes! Of course you are!"
"Sorry. Hope we meet someone better suited next time."
"No, sorry for bothering you!"
"Bye!"
"See ya!"
With that bizarre send-off, B grabbed A's wrist and retreated on shaky legs.
Truth be told, beauties like them without boyfriends would be the oddity.
And even if single, they were leagues above—no chance.
But why this refreshing relief despite rejection?
"You nuts? Man, you actually asked. I was shaking just watching."
Failure, yet felt like triumph.
B pressed his still-racing heart, shelving his light novel.
"A, I think I'm done being an otaku."
"What... yeah, I get the feeling."
"Ahh, this is it..."
Surpassing self-imposed limits.
Facing head-on what you'd always avoided.
The ugly world you'd shunned held beauties no deformed art could capture.
The epiphany hit: time to evolve from boy to man.
"Coming with, A?"
"Naturally, B."
"Thinking of hitting the gym first. Join me?"
"Ah, yeah. Bro's been nagging me to work out together."
The two men left their boyhood treasures at the bookstore, striding forward without looking back.
Such was the transformative power of a witch's beauty—it could reshape worldviews.