Chapter 342
Chapter 342
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 342
Chapter Title: Poisonously Sweet
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A narrow bar, thick with the bittersweet, poisonous scent of alcohol.
-Pour.
Half-filling a wine glass with liquor.
Staring piercingly at the black martial robe draped over a chair.
A threadbare garment that's been slung over someone's shoulder for at least a decade.
It had been quite some time since her attachment to those increasingly forgotten clothes had faded.
She thought she'd forgotten.
Thought she'd devote herself entirely to revenge from now on.
"No matter what... I got cocky. Dowon-ah. It seems human affections don't fade so easily."
Hongyeon rested her arm on the table, propped her chin on it, and stared fixedly at the clothes on the chair.
"Thank you."
The man's clothes, still bearing bloodstains.
Without them, she probably wouldn't be sitting here right now.
-Gulp.
Hongyeon held the liquor in her mouth, fought back the rising nausea, and smiled bitterly.
"...Hoping the day comes when you sit in that seat."
The poisonous yet sweet scent lingered pleasantly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Pip!"
Shiba, stuffing her face with rice, shoved in some finely chopped kimchi and chomped away.
The branches on her head had grown quite a bit compared to before. She must be around eight years old now.
At this growth rate, I worried she might not wander off before winter ended.
"Shiba, tasty?"
"Pip!... Eating with Daddy makes it even tastier!"
"Aaaah!"
Her cuteness was scream-worthy.
"Daddy's sorry. For not taking care of our Shiba. Peck for Shiba."
"Pip嘻嘻. Peck!"
-Smack.
Now she even understood my words and pecked my cheek.
I finally got why fathers in this world—or any world—took all kinds of crap at work and drowned in booze they hated, chained to the grind.
The pathos of dads striving for a better home anywhere brought tears to my eyes.
"Does it suit your taste?"
Azalea, untying her apron, offered me a bowl of richly simmered soup.
Clear green broth of sea mustard soup that drew gasps of admiration.
And every time I stirred, two big oysters rolled out.
She said no favorites, so Azalea, Shiba's mom, had laid out a feast fit for breaking the table.
"Sea mustard's good for relieving stress and anemia. Figured you'd come back banged up, so I prepared it... Is it okay?"
Grateful for what she'd done, she even asked timidly.
I widened my eyes and looked at Azalea.
"......"
"W-what? Don't you like it?"
"No, just reminded me of when we first met."
Amazing, I thought.
Not that much time had passed, yet bonds between people could deepen like this.
The Azalea in my memory was still all prickles.
-Do you have something to say to me?
-No. Just surprised to see someone from the papers.
-Ah, okay?
I remembered the cold glance after our eyes first met during the entrance exam.
"Who'd have thought it'd turn out like this, just thinking back then?"
"......"
Azalea bowed her head as if ashamed of that day, mumbling an excuse in a crawling voice.
"Back then... I didn't really know..."
"Yeah, I didn't see this coming either."
I chuckled, picking up the soju bottle on the table.
Not booze—sesame oil. Same in my old world or this one.
Pop the shiny lid, and a nutty aroma bursts forth.
A sprinkle in the soup, inhale—nutty, delicious sea mustard soup complete. This step is essential.
First, I scooped a thumb-sized fat oyster onto a spoon, blew on it, and fed it to Shiba.
"Shiba, ahh~"
"Piii~"
-Chomp chomp.
She hates bibimbap but loves seafood—our daughter's eyes sparkled.
Azalea, watching her teeth, scooped an oyster and held it out to me.
"Ahh~"
"Am I a baby?"
"In my eyes, you both look equally adorable."
Every word so sweetly spoken.
Makes me wonder if she took a snail bride class somewhere.
I opened up and ate; Azalea's face bloomed into a full happy smile.
Fuel-efficient happiness. Enviable.
"Come on, Shiba's daddy, eat up quick."
"Look at you, all mommy now."
"Hehe."
Azalea stroked her neck and started eating.
Kiss marks and handprints from our intense night lingered as proof.
Faint scars dotted from inner thighs everywhere.
I ate breakfast now and then feeding Shiba.
Normally Azalea would, but Shiba's tantrum decided otherwise. No way I'd refuse our girl clinging.
Even after eating, Shiba wouldn't detach, so I lay back on the bed for a rest.
"Lying down right after eating? Bad for your health."
Azalea finished dishes, came to the bedroom, saw us father-daughter, and giggled.
"It's fine today. It's the day Daddy came back. Right~~? Our girl!"
"Daddy~!"
Shiba excitedly raised both arms high, bouncing on my belly with little impacts.
"Shiba... Daddy ouchie, ouch."
"Ouchie?"
Tired but I could take it anytime.
Still, thinking of Shiba's habits? I chuckled seeing Azalea tilt her brow slightly.
"Aigoo."
"Pip!?"
Pretending pain to play along, Shiba startled off my belly.
She burrowed under the blanket, then meekly draped arms and legs over me, sticking close.
"No need to fix her habits, huh?"
"......Pip."
"Really..."
Watching father and daughter, some thought crossed Azalea's mind.
She hung the dish towel on the bedpost and lay beside Shiba.
Shiba nestled between me and Azalea. Somehow, we faced each other.
The bed was huge—room for four or five easily.
"Always wanted to try this."
She spread her arms wide, pulling me into a hug.
Naturally, Shiba got hugged by both. She rubbed her head happily on Azalea's breast cushion.
In the warm room, not yet too hot.
Soft morning sunlight leaked through window cracks.
Perfect nap time, so we pressed foreheads together and closed eyes.
'Haa.'
Fatigue washed away from my whole body.
I understood all fathers' hearts now.
All the more, a forest of resolve bloomed in my mind.
Work harder.
Somehow tear apart that damned future.
"What're you thinking?"
"Huh?"
"Your face suddenly scrunched up. We're a couple. Share the tough stuff."
"...Hm. Not quite married yet? Still lovers?"
Azalea slyly smiled, half-lidded eyes fox-like.
"Who knows... married or not?"
The once timid, affection-starved Azalea approaching so boldly.
I chuckled, leaving a mark on her lips for a moment.
"Pip?! Pwah. Shiba peck too!"
Shiba's jealousy from watching brought belly laughs filling the family room.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 📱 MISSED NOTIFICATIONS 📱 [Blue Cat] - 2 [Acorn] - 14 [Peach Sisters] - 7 [Genuine Gamer Kid] - 11 [Jeong Siwoo] - 2 ... "This is bad."
I'd turned off my phone, and now battery dropped 20% from the flood of missed calls and messages.
Back at dawn, breakfast and rest till morning—inevitable, really.
Even academy friends I barely knew contacted me, so the incident must've been big.
My advisor professor too.
Anyone I'd ever crossed paths with got in touch.
'Yeah, technically I'm MIA.'
Too lost in sweet daily life, no fixing thoughts.
[Bao] - 61.
[Hey. Pick up.]
[Not answering?]
[I helped. Heading there, give address.]
"Whoa... crazy bitch."
Overwhelmed by the sheer volume, I instinctively long-pressed block.
Of course, sent one contact first.
[Me: You win. Leaving last Do-won Village location I heard, and your bro Bao's number. Handle it.]
Send, then block hard.
One down.
"Lemme see... Notify academy return too. Don't want dead paperwork. Jeong Siwoo, Seyoung..."
"Talking about other girls?"
-Pinch!
Waist tweaked. Not hard, but hurt for some reason; I eased back gingerly.
"Stop... stop."
The never-sleeping duo vowed to see my sleeping face, didn't nap a wink.
Still, rested enough, fatigue eased.
Self-destruct aftereffects lingered, but a slow week heals it.
"Still gotta call."
Decided, I dialed Master right away.
Rang once, picked up instantly. Voice boomed.
[What?]
White Path.
"Ah.... Why her."
[Wanna die?]
"No, Second Master. Disciple back from hell, why gripe about late call? Eh? Kept you waiting. Should've shown worry..."
White Path ground teeth in exhaustion.
Chest-thumping echoed through the phone.
[Who'd do 3-shift waiting for a disciple I don't even like? Nearly died waiting.]
"Ack."
[And one measly message till morning, now calling? Should've said 'Sorry for late, issue cropped up.' What? Why her? Happy to die?]
Rapid-fire curses; I slyly pulled phone from ear.
[Ears open, listen! That's always your problem!! How much me and Imperial Path... Sigh!]
Caught immediately.
Anyone fine, but strangely White Path links make my body react.
Lying Azalea, wide-eyed, giggled.
"You're in trouble~"
"Daddy trouble?"
Not trouble—unfair hounding.
Mother-daughter teasing me, I smirked.
[Anyway. Heavenly Path says come in a week. Book hotel, clear schedule. Hanging up! Damn...]
-Click.
Machine-gun delivery of message, then cut.
I rubbed dazed ear, asked Azalea.
"...Hey, blood from my ear?"
"Nope. Should've sweet-talked the ladies around you."
How much of this must I endure?
Trying to wreck trees nearly ruined my fate.
Hesitated, then called next person.
-Click.
[Where are you.]
"Yeah, Seyoung-ah..."
[Where now. Condition?]
"Fine. At El Academy?"
[Stay put. Coming now.]
Her forceful tone made me quiver like a scared pup.
Suddenly Azalea and Shiba petted my head.
[Call on arrival.]
Click-
Silence after hang-up. Beside me, Azalea grinned thoughtfully.
"You."
"Yeah."
"Let's go together. This time."
"Huh?"
"All love Siheon equally. Should meet, right? With your daughter too."
Something's happening.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Cafe. Perfect spot for couples to chat cozily.
"Teacher-nim. Long time no see."
"Aha.... Azalea?"
Byul's eyes quaked violently.
"...Hieeek!"
A scary person met scary people.
Clearly, she was terrified of the young, just-turned-20 junior.
Byul remembered.
Lee Seyoung and Azalea. Who they resembled.
The scary delinquents who pawed her comics, sneering 'Why read this crap?' with disdainful eyes!
Slap uniforms on them, perfect match.
-Shiver shiver shiver.
Her body reacted.
Loser nerd reflexes etched in flesh, no, DNA.
Women are scary.
They power-trip over weird stuff, always vying for top dog.
Not sure about these two. Seyoung's a bit different, but this Azalea kid?
'Beta girls can't even compete.'
Byul, innocently tagging along to play the new game together, just huddled like a baby rabbit, trembling.
"Crack."
Not the only one crushed in the aura clash.