Chapter 204
Chapter 204
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 204
Chapter Title: Let's Eat Byul (4)
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"Was it really okay to leave in the middle?"
Turning the steering wheel, I rounded the corner.
The car headed toward a remote area.
-Bump, bump.
The vehicle jolted along the unpaved road.
Our destination wasn't Byul's house.
I simply pressed the pedal silently toward the place she'd suddenly said she wanted to go.
-Vroom!
The engine roared. Being an expensive car made it sound so much better.
'But where the hell is she trying to take me?'
The weather and surroundings grew increasingly secluded.
Mountains and fields stretched out everywhere around us.
"If I'd stayed there any longer, it would've cut into our time together."
Byul, sitting in the passenger seat, spoke in an unusually serious tone.
She started fiddling with the car's audio system.
"There was a place I wanted to go with you."
"Oh. Should I be touched?"
"Hehe."
Byul grinned at my teasing response.
Before long, the base of the mountain came into view.
"Let's get out here."
No parking lot—just the natural landscape.
Sparse grass grew here and there, with a narrow entrance barely wide enough for people.
I pulled the car over in a suitable spot and got out.
The moment I opened the door, a mix of oil and grass scents hit me.
"Ooooh! Aren't you curious where this is?"
Byul stepped out, stretching her arms so high her armpits were fully exposed, then walked over to me.
Having shed her cardigan, her outfit felt much lighter.
Thank goodness there were no people around.
Byul took the lead, grabbing my hand and pulling me along.
"Hurry up. Let's go."
Innocent cuteness masking her pure charm.
Byul's face looked relieved now that the reunion was over.
-Step, step.
She led me, half-dragging me up the mountain.
Where the heck was this place?
She wasn't planning to lock me away in some mountain cabin to monopolize me, was she?
Harboring such half-joking thoughts, a foggy, hill-like mound came into view ahead.
"I asked why we're here."
Byul skipped lightly ahead, then wrapped her arm around mine.
Our elbows interlocked as she leaned her face against my shoulder.
The sky glowed with sunset hues.
Was her hair sky-blue, or was the sky her hair color?
I matched my steps to Byul's light, refreshing stride.
"Get it now?"
Two graves and tombstones.
As she stopped there, I immediately realized what they were.
"Came to see Mom."
It hadn't been the original plan.
Byul muttered to herself, squatting down to gaze at the stone.
I couldn't quite make out her parents' names from my side.
"Siheon-ah."
"Yeah."
Her serious tone made me drop the formal speech too.
Se-young was the same way—she always wanted casual talk in atmospheres like this.
"I've been thinking."
"About what?"
"Got a boyfriend, snagged the vice president badge... feels like I can hold my head high now?"
Yeah, true. Hoped she'd shed that foolish image today.
As for boyfriend... our way of getting together was less fateful and more sleazy.
No need to say it and ruin the mood.
"Ah, but... we drank, you pounced on me, forced us to date... maybe not quite?"
I'd tried to be considerate, and she was the one wrecking the vibe.
"......Tch."
"Uhihi. Still... brought you 'cause I'm dead sure I like you."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Usually only come on holidays, but suddenly wanted to today. No idea why."
Byul stroked the grass growing on the grave.
"Mom would've been thrilled her daughter finally got a boyfriend. Nagged me every day to date someone. Fulfilled her dream today."
"Today?"
"Yeah, today. Thinking about it, we just stumbled into this—no proper talk about dating or anything."
Byul stretched out her bent legs and looked up at me.
Quite the height difference.
I tilted my head down a bit.
Byul smiled, nestled in my shadow.
"Introduced you to my parents. No take-backs later, got it?"
A cute confession.
Starfruit's flower language? Unfortunately, it doesn't exist.
But if it did, it'd have to be something related to cuteness, at least.
"Gonna be busy awhile, won't get to meet them."
"Argh. Way to kill the mood. I'm not asking for a pumpkin carriage—just say 'Yeah! Got it' here."
"Like I'd ever ditch you... unless you ditch me first."
My life was pathetic.
Even as a joke—if whoever cut ties with me one day.
It'd probably be up to the girls, not me.
Thanks to that dog-like trauma from Peach Blossom Land.
"Do this and then make another girl. Just you wait."
"...Can't promise that."
"Tch!"
Byul swore in English, raising both arms and lunging at me.
She charged like a wild beast and went poof right into my arms.
Hugging my waist tight, she took a deep breath.
"Snuuup... haa. Siheona. You know?"
"Yeah?"
"Dad's secretly a total daughter-con... if you don't take responsibility properly, he might get pissed and come down from heaven."
"Oh... duly noted."
I could feel her lips twitching into a smile against me.
"...Siheon-ah."
Then came Byul's request, right in front of the grave.
I lowered my head to hear her out.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Aaaah! Fucking jungle bastard!"
Byul slammed the keyboard keys.
I stared blankly at the minimap on the monitor.
Her character was getting utterly wrecked by the ever-ganking jungle and top laner.
"Gank gank gank..."
"Coming right away."
"Not 'right away'—now! Or I'm dead! Gankgankgankgank."
In the PC bang, we'd each ordered ramen and lemonade, and were grinding League.
Dating this, make me happy that...
Introduced to parents, so you're stuck with me forever.
We'd chatted sweetly about the future.
Was it all just a fleeting dream?
"If Siheon goes to eat that toad and comes back, I'm dying for real..."
"...I'll handle the revenge. Die however you want."
-An ally has been slain.
"Argh!!!!!!"
Byul clutched her head like she had a migraine and screamed.
A bit noisy—might be bothering people. But looking around, this PC bang seemed used to it.
-Byul-ri (Darius): Byul-ri BF (Zac) - [Survived]
-Byul-ri (Darius): Byul-ri BF (Zac) - [Survived]
-Byul-ri (Darius): Enemy missing ping
-Byul-ri (Darius): gj
-Byul-ri BF (Zac): thx
...Girls gaming?
Nothing like what I wanted.
-Hing. Oppa, take the grab for me~
-Even if you get hit, it's fine—oppa will kill them all~
Maybe expecting that was overkill, but hoping for a harmonious game wasn't asking too much.
Isn't that what gaming with a lover is supposed to be like? Usually.
Not generalizing—just my romantic ideal.
But Byul was like this.
-Body slam.
-...U-uhh.
-Gotcha!
I thought today was a melodrama, but nope—pure sitcom.
With nicknames like that, I figured it was a fun gaming date.
Reality? Ten straight rounds of rage-inducing hell.
-Victory!
"...Ughhh."
I slumped into the PC bang chair and yawned.
Tired from the concentration-demanding game after so long?
Or maybe just keeping up with Byul's energy.
"Hehe, that was fun."
Byul took off her headset and beamed at me innocently.
Her face glowed like it was coated in honey. Not a shred of regret in her eyes.
Skin care via gaming?
"Siheonaang~"
She dragged her chair over and plastered herself against my side.
Envious stares poured in from around us.
'...This girl's scary.'
Sweet as dripping honey, but recalling earlier... terrifying.
Where'd that top-lane monster, pro-gamer-rival Byul go?
No gamer girl here.
Why act all pretty now?
"Tired?"
"...Yeah. A bit."
"Then let's head home early."
Byul hung her headset on the side and dragged my exhausted body along.
"Hmm~ I prepared tons for an all-nighter with Siheon."
Prepaid, so we just said bye and left the PC bang.
"Today was su~per fun. Right, Siheon?"
"Ahyo, totally."
"Heehing."
Byul hugged my limp, spinach-like body lovingly and dragged me to her place.
She'd picked a PC bang near her house on purpose, so we arrived quick.
Just a little rest...
-Beep beep beep. Click!
The door lock opened, and Byul's scent filled the room.
Her little home nook that came into view was...
"...Ah, right. Haven't cleaned."
Panties—probably from this morning—laid blatantly on the floor, inside out.
I picked them up, and Byul yanked my arm.
"Hey... hey! Don't."
"Clean first?"
Yellow.
Curtains too—everything blindingly yellow.
Intentional theme-matching room, looked cute.
I reached out, starting to tidy with magic.
Doing it by hand has its charm, but mages prefer this.
"Ooh. Academy cadet?"
"What does the vice president even do?"
"...Boyfriend tour?"
Yeah, not tough.
Dishes done, laundry sorted and running—room spotless quick.
Byul, super satisfied, circled the room and thumbs-upped.
"So cool... wanna be a full-time housewife?"
After all this, maybe.
By then, I'd have earned plenty.
Just collect monthly cash, lounge at home.
"Not bad."
"Heehee, looking forward to marriage then. Hold on?"
Byul, all smiles, went to her room and hauled out a big box.
"What we're doing today!"
Box packed with console games.
Games for pulling an all-nighter with her.
Just looking made me dizzy, recalling that scene.
"Snacks too! Oh yeah... anime all downloaded. Comics on the shelf, not tons but all there!"
Shrimp crackers, corn chips, etc. Cola aplenty.
Convenience store raid—perfect setup.
Her long-honed gamer life etched into every corner.
"Yeah, all good, but can we rest a bit?"
"Tired...?"
At my words, Byul turned gloomy like a kid whose toy got snatched.
Puss in Boots movie face.
I stayed silent, then threw up my hands in surrender.
"...Let's do it."
"Yas."
Byul dove straight onto the bed the moment we entered the room.
Pulled out the console from the box, slotted a game into the big screen, and fired it up.
A Japanese racing game.
Super Plumber, Link's Adventure, etc.—various characters racing karts for top spots.
-Crunch!
Byul tore open a snack bag on the bed like a pro and patted the spot beside her.
Bed huge—room for four or five adults easy.
"Crumb everywhere?"
"Huh? Just change the sheets."
Munching shrimp crackers mouth-full, gripped controllers in both hands.
Fine, vice president level.
Shed the prejudice, and her room was gamer nirvana.
Figures everywhere, tons of comics.
Boys would lose their minds here.
"One race first."
No choice, I lay on the bed and grabbed a controller.
'...Keep gaming like this, she'll suck my soul dry.'
Instinct screamed for a break.
One-on-one kart.
Controls simple—easy to pick up.
-3, 2, 1, GO!
Byul prone on pillows, mashing buttons.
Her turtle character shoved my plumber aside right from the start.
"First time, so I'll go easy."
Smug, one-handing snacks while gaming.
-Thud!
Going casual, my focus slipped.
My character couldn't catch up and veered into the dirt.
'Lose a few on purpose, call it quits?'
No way.
Better—bet. Winner gets a wish. Suits gamer her.
"Nuna."
"Hm?"
"Winner's wish granted?"
"...I always win though?"
Mouth stuffed with snacks.
"Doesn't matter."
"Hug hug."
Sucker bet.
Byul smirked and resumed driving. I asked again.
"Bet then?"
-Gulp.
"Yeah."
Swallowed snacks, voice thrilled.
Moment bet dropped, I moved my foot.
Can't win on skill? Go external.
Slid foot between her thighs, poked inside.
"Hik!"
Startled, botched the corner.
Tumbled down, wasting ages.
"......"
Byul puffed her cheeks, glaring.
Bring it?
Her eyes said.
Done. Time to rest.
Playful mischief ramped up the torment.