Chapter 197
Chapter 197
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 197
Chapter Title: Alcohol and Sex. Trees. (1)
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The humid heat made it feel like summer was closing in.
Lee Se-young's arm wrapped tightly around my neck.
One hand tickled my chin, her cheek pressed against the spot below my ear.
A bit of sweat.
A faint scent of Emperor Oak wafted from her.
"Star noona's been in touch. She says the teacher's heading this way."
"Hm."
-Click.
The light from the streetlamp below the utility pole illuminated us both.
Summer night's insects buzzed nearby. The sweltering air added heat between us.
"You don't seem surprised."
Lee Se-young whispered softly. Her voice was always alluring, no matter how many times I heard it.
"Coming without a word?"
"...Not okay?"
"No reason it shouldn't be. Come here."
I turned off my phone, pocketed it, then reached back with my right hand to wrap around Se-young's waist.
I pulled her body, which nestled perfectly into my arm without resistance, forward.
"...Huh."
Se-young's back-hug stance loosened.
I pushed her against the wall beside the utility pole and brought my face close.
Our lips didn't quite touch.
-Huff.
Her breathing reached me. A dizzyingly sweet scent teased my nose.
The closest distance where we could peer into each other's eyes.
A suffocating closeness where we exchanged breaths.
Se-young's surprised exhale tickled my nose.
"...What's this, all of a sudden."
"Isn't this what you came for?"
Se-young bent her knees slightly, and I loomed completely over her.
Wall slam. Or whatever they called it.
Her eyes, looking up at me, darted sideways, avoiding my gaze as much as possible.
From her massively swollen chest came the sound of her heartbeat.
-Thump, thump.
Se-young's eyes glistened with a hint of moisture.
How long had it been since I'd seen her? Why did she look so beautiful?
I felt an urge to lick her long eyelashes with my tongue.
I brought my face even closer, pressing my cheek to hers.
"What about dinner?"
"...Haven't eaten."
"Then why'd you come?"
"Just... thought we could grab a meal."
She flew all this way on a plane just for a single meal.
"...Liquor?"
-Nod.
I grinned and pulled my face away.
Se-young's face, shadowed, glimmered in the streetlamp's light.
A flushed, dramatic expression.
"...You're so damn corny now."
"Aw, come on. Get up."
Se-young took my hand and stood, fanning her face furiously with her hands.
I hooked my arm through hers, and she let out a small "Eup" but accepted the affection without resistance.
The kind of affection Star noona showered on me.
'...Implant certainty, huh.'
How to do that?
For now, I'd go my own way.
We weren't some epic fated pair or anything.
"...Hey."
Walking arm-in-arm, Se-young spoke up from beside me.
The height difference had grown a bit, so she looked up at me now.
"So, you did it with her?"
"Azalea?"
"Yeah."
"Why ask about that? Teacher, are you jealous? ...Oof!"
-Thwack!
I teased, and retaliation came instantly.
"Wanna die?"
Two fingers dug into my side.
Yeah... this was Lee Se-young.
She'd been too gentle lately; I'd almost mistaken her for someone soft.
I unlinked our arms, clutched my waist, and feigned pain. She looked at me pitifully.
"Somehow... you seem more serious, but you haven't changed at all."
"Think of it as a virtue."
"If even your asshole side is a virtue, sure."
"Oof."
"...Why's a guy like you so popular? Decent build, so girls just flock. So, did you sleep with her?"
Why did she keep probing about Azalea? She was the one nagging about it at the training camp.
I nodded without answering, and Se-young replied bluntly, "I see."
"Was it good?"
"...Of course. I'm a guy."
"Sigh, brain swapped for dick."
"If you'd accepted my confession back then, none of this would've happened."
I asked with a hint of resentment.
Se-young seemed to recall that time too, her face tinged with regretful self-mockery.
"Yeah. If I'd known it'd derail the plan, I should've just shacked up with you all lovey-dovey."
"Lovey-dovey?"
"...Should I say sloppy and wet?"
"Kuhuhu."
Not a bad idea, honestly.
Meeting secretly, me doing my thing, her doing hers.
Graduate the academy, then live as lovers.
Se-young was relatively free from family constraints, so picking a marriage partner wouldn't be hard.
And after overcoming all trials.
Wedding and finale.
Have a few kids including Shiba, and by then Shiba would be grown, able to care for our eldest daughter well.
Pure novel happy ending.
"Hey."
Se-young murmured.
"You think my idea was stupid too?"
"Which one?"
"When you chewed me out at the training camp. Honestly, I was kinda shocked."
"Oh... that."
Not saying a word to the person I liked, arbitrarily antagonizing Flower.
I stayed silent for a long while.
Se-young's eyes looked anxious.
I slowly opened my mouth.
"...Honestly, there's a lot I don't get."
No point sugarcoating; I gave my real opinion.
"I always say this whenever the topic comes up, but we haven't known each other long."
"...True. And even that was the worst."
"Rape to fuckbuddies. Then love and lovers... Not even an American movie. Wild. Doesn't make sense to me. Suddenly dying in my place? Not a fairy tale."
I slipped in a bit of truth.
"And I heard from Star noona."
"...What?"
"About your past. Stuff like that?"
"That bitch Star..."
"Don't get mad. We're talking now. You told Star noona everything about me."
"......"
Se-young shut her mouth. She knew her own fault well enough.
Darkened shops.
And far off, only a late-night bar's sign glowed lonely.
We headed there, continuing our talk.
"How much did you hear?"
"From your childhood to meeting Star noona at the academy and graduating."
"That bitch spilled everything."
Se-young ground her teeth.
Her words were rough, but she cared for Star.
Someone who'd nearly die for a few months' bond surely treasured her relationship with Star.
"So you've been hiding it from me all this time? I told you everything."
"Not hiding... but hearing it from her feels unfair."
"Yeah?"
Then hear it straight from the source.
I stopped in front of the bar and pointed at the door.
"Let's hear it again in detail there."
"Huh?"
Time to raise a glass and define our relationship.
*****
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "...What, is this a big deal?"
We got a room and ordered heaps of liquor and food.
Seemed like it'd drag on, so I messaged Azalea first.
Teacher's here after ages, catching up, won't be home tonight.
-[Azalea]: (Flower-puffing-cheeks emoticon)
-[Azalea]: ...Just this once.
Announcement made.
I poured Se-young a few shots of soju first.
"Hey. You really need me to say it? You heard it all."
"Hearing it direct is different. Down it all. Go on."
-Gulp.
Four shots of straight soju, one go.
She stuck out her tongue, mouth and throat burning.
Too heavy for serious talk right away. Start casual.
I downed a few shots too and brought up Star's story from earlier.
"Speaking of... I said I'd grant Star noona wishes for helping me. She's going to some reunion? Class reunion or whatever."
"Reunion? Yeah... she's weird. Knows it'll stress her out but forces herself."
"Really?"
"Back in middle school, who knew she'd meet her fated one! Now... no need with you around. Just wants to brag. Your face turned decent."
I knew that much.
No other reason to call her to a reunion suddenly.
Star admitted it outright.
"Not hiding her intentions is Star noona's charm."
"Mm. True."
Se-young agreed.
Then, curiosity piqued—or maybe long-held doubt—she shot me a glare.
"...So. What've you been doing behind my back?"
"What you were planning."
She furrowed her brow and sighed at my words.
"You know how dangerous it is?"
"Not if I avoid the executives."
"Fought any?"
"Yeah."
First were pathetic zealots.
Second groveled in the entrance.
From the third... I could beat sub-executives.
But Se-young had no clue.
-Thud.
Se-young downed her soju, popped a pineapple slice in her mouth.
Chewed aggressively.
"...Too dangerous."
"Dangerous how."
"Flower, not some amateurs or dime-a-dozen dungeon clearers... They treat lives like slaughterhouse cattle."
She stopped there.
Suddenly realized she'd gone too far, shut her mouth.
"Ah... sorry. Meant to just drink, but this got too heavy."
I got it.
Like how I worried for her.
I filled her glass to the brim.
"I won't die. Focus on your stuff."
"...Okay."
Not convinced.
Looked like she had more to say but held back.
Still, long time no see. Seemed to nod, preferring to enjoy the moment over bitter talk.
Left like this, she'd overdo it again someday.
How to handle her...
'One way, but sneaky.'
Effective, perfect for now.
Though it'd burden her with responsibility.
...Better than her charging off to fight Flower without me.
-Gulp.
After emptying two bottles each, drunkenness tinted Se-young's face.
How've you been. Fine. Whatever. Same as always.
No danger? As if my work isn't.
Chatting daily life, I subtly shifted topics.
"Shall we hear the old stories now?"
"...You really need that?"
Se-young pouted, reluctant, face troubled.
Booze loosened her up a bit more than before.
Had to.
Short time together meant learning more.
Thought we knew enough, but not all.
"Mm..."
Se-young hesitated long, then slowly unpacked her tales.
Her life story.
Treatment received, wandering odd jobs alone—all of it.
Star spilled details, so it didn't stray much from what I knew.
Just Se-young's emotions in each event.
I empathized throughout.
Sounds tough.
The world. What the hell.
The flow added emotion to Star's dry recount, like a melodrama scene.
Sob story.
One word for Se-young's life: that fit.
"...That's all."
Rough, potty-mouthed. Thick bark like a tree, but soft inner layer.
So once someone touched her heart, she never let go.
'Lucky, then.'
If not Star's kindness back then, or betrayed by another...
By our meeting, she'd be a villain.
Come to think, pre-rape she tried stealing my Tree Pill—villainous.
"No omissions?"
"You see my face and still ask?"
Eyes moist, shame or sorrow.
Nothing sadder than recounting one's wretched life.
"Kukuku. Still, rough life."
"...Pitying me? Ew."
She tapped my shin with her toes.
I laughed and added,
"You don't go ripping Tree Pills from other kids anymore, right? No defense there. Even from me."
"Hey, that... Haven't since meeting you."
"Do good from now on."
Se-young sighed.
Recalling narrow-minded past.
Wrong, yes.
Crime, too.
Couldn't judge; I'd done it.
We were both shadows.
I brushed her bangs aside.
Familiar green hair. Now I belonged here too.
The color felt normal.
Se-young accepted my touch silently.
Even leaned closer, like inviting more.
One touch to her soft cheek, then withdrew.
"Enough dark talk."
That sufficed.
Hearing her story firsthand gave insight.
Understood her motives for me.
Heart eased a bit.
Retrospectively, trying to understand wasn't wrong.
True empathy impossible. So they say.
Agreed.
Received love without reason; repay it.
"Cheers."
I raised my glass.
Se-young stared, sighed, then lifted hers.
"...Cheers."
The two soju glasses clinked in the air.