Chapter 223: Welcoming the New Year (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 223: Welcoming the New Year (2)
The night was quiet. The excitement of welcoming the New Year usually only lasts through the first day; after that, people quickly return to their daily routines.
The world was in an uproar over the embezzlement case, but in the park late at night, the most prominent sound was the distant hum of cars.
It wasn't that there were no people at all, but rather that there were only a few scattered couples—hardly enough to be called a crowd.
Perhaps because it hadn't been long since we stepped out of the house, a rosy flush lingered on Eunha’s face.
Her light green hair caught my eye above the long padded coat she had bundled herself in to ward off the chilly winter wind. Had I been staring too intently? Sensing my gaze, Eunha turned her head to look at me without letting go of my hand, her face turning even redder in the cold air.
“I-Is something wrong?”
“No. It just feels like it’s been a long time since we’ve been out like this, just the two of us.”
Even before Eunha and Yura moved in, we had been gradually returning to our busy daily lives. Around the time they moved, I was working, and now everyone was preoccupied with the embezzlement case, so it was inevitable that it had been a while since we’d gone out together.
“It’s a bit hectic, isn't it?”
“It is, but the others are even busier than I am.”
Checking what’s happening every day and listening to my girlfriends' stories when they return from work might seem like nothing, but it’s much more draining than it looks.
Above all, I was the one who had escalated this embezzlement case. Since my girlfriends had no intention of letting this matter slide quietly either, they had intentionally used more provocative language in their accusations, which seemed to have drawn even more public attention than expected.
Whatever the reason, I was the one who had made their lives so chaotic. I couldn't just watch this unfold like an uninvolved third party.
As a member of Spacetro, the best I could do for them now was to check for updates on the case constantly and listen to their stories every single day.
“Still, I think we’ll be okay soon.”
“You think so?”
“Yes. We’re the victims of the case, after all, and the investigation is mostly focused on the internal affairs of Headquarters.”
No matter how much they interrogated Team Hunter Killer, the victims, nothing would come of it. The reason they were so busy now was that public opinion was divided, leading to a barrage of questions that they had to answer one by one.
Regardless, those who refuse to believe will never believe. However, if they turned a blind eye to all the talk, people would eventually come to believe the lies as truth.
It was necessary to actively state that what wasn't true was, in fact, false. As long as Team Hunter Killer continued to voice their position and the investigation proceeded further, my girlfriends wouldn't have to suffer for long.
“I can’t help but feel like things got too busy because of me.”
Even though they said they had no intention of letting it go quietly, the fact remained that the situation had grown this large by my hand, so I couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt.
White breath scattered into the empty air. Meeting Eunha’s gaze as she continued to look up at me, I lowered my eyes back to her.
“Please don’t say that. If it weren’t for you, Oppa, we would still be stuck in the same place.”
Seeing Eunha speak her mind so clearly despite her blushing face, I smiled, realizing once again how much she had changed for the better.
“Thanks.”
I should have been the one encouraging my girlfriends who were struggling with the busy situation, but instead, it felt like I was the one receiving encouragement. I squeezed Eunha’s hand and kissed her flushed cheek, prompting a small giggle from her.
“I hope the matter gets resolved quickly so we can all cook together and have fun.”
Now that she was living with the people she loved, Eunha was looking forward to a peaceful daily life where everyone could enjoy themselves.
Since I hadn't been able to take proper care of them after the two moved into Su-ah’s place, I felt the same way—I wanted those peaceful days to arrive soon.
“I agree. It’d be great if the Superhuman investigation wrapped up quickly and everything turned out well.”
Though we didn't know what the results would be yet, the major goal of the Superhuman investigation still remained. Although some people had found out about our current relationship, it wasn't something we could openly announce to the world, so we still had to be careful of our surroundings.
Even in this park, which was practically deserted, I kept my guard up, wondering if anyone might be watching.
Perhaps as an aftereffect of being tailed by Team Guerrilla, I had become more sensitive to the presence of others. Fortunately, no one was paying any attention to us right now.
Maybe I was being overconfident. If it were revealed that a member of Spacetro—the enemy of Earth—was with a member of Team Hunter Killer, who was currently the center of social attention, it would undoubtedly spawn countless conspiracy theories.
Even thinking this might be self-important, but I couldn't help it, and there was no harm in being this cautious.
“It’ll be okay, right?”
I wasn't the one feeling anxious about the upcoming Superhuman investigation. Initially, the investigation started because I had doubts about the public's reaction. And as I got to know my girlfriends better, I continued the investigation with the thought that I absolutely had to find out the truth.
From the moment I had Superhumans as girlfriends, I was getting closer to the category of 'Superhuman,' but that didn't mean I was becoming one myself.
No matter what results came from the Superhuman investigation, it might be a story close to me, but it could never be my story.
But for Team Hunter Killer—for my girlfriends—it was different. As the Superhumans themselves, it was only natural for them to feel anxious about the investigation.
“It’ll be fine. If there’s a problem, I’ll help you then.”
To be honest, there wasn't much I could do with my abilities. At most, the limit of my current capability was looking into data that was difficult for them to grasp.
Even so, I couldn't tell my anxious girlfriend that there wasn't much I could do.
We had come this far together, and even bigger things were bound to come our way. If we didn't help each other here, we surely wouldn't be able to endure it.
“I’ll be working on other things until this matter is settled, so you don’t have to be too anxious. We have plenty of time.”
There was plenty of time. There was no need to be impatient just because we had secured the data.
Even if my prediction about the Superhumans' lifespan being an issue was correct, considering the recent active periods of Superhumans, it wasn't something to be desperate about yet.
That didn't mean I could just relax, either. That was why I had started the investigation into Gainsborough’s whereabouts.
“It feels like it’s been a while since I’ve talked with you like this, Eunha.”
“Lately, we’ve mostly been together in groups.”
When everyone was together, Eunha tended to be quiet. I had once mentioned this in passing to Yubin, and apparently, Eunha usually spoke normally when it was just the two of them, but became quiet when everyone was present.
It seemed that because the personalities of the other Team Hunter Killer members were so prominent, she naturally spoke less.
“Then I guess I’ll have to take you out like this if I want to talk?”
“I’m happy whenever. I’m so glad you asked to go for a walk today, Oppa.”
“You’re not tired?”
“It would be a lie to say I’m not, but I still like being with you, even if it’s just for a little while.”
I was certain that this wasn't just Eunha, but the other girlfriends as well. There was no grand reason for my certainty. I also felt more energized when I saw them, even briefly, when I was tired.
Because we loved each other, we could know and be sure of it.
“Shall we walk a bit more before heading back?”
“Yes. I’d like that.”
The hands we held were so warm that I couldn't even feel the cold January wind.
“Oppa. I heard from Yellow…”
“Yeah?”
Did she hear something while talking to Su-ah after moving in?
As soon as I wondered what kind of story Eunha might have newly discovered, one thing immediately came to mind.
Before I could bring it up, Eunha spoke first.
“That Blue and Yellow said they want to join Spacetro.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
So far, they had only expressed their intent, and no preparations had been made to bring them into Spacetro, so we had kept it as a conversation just between us.
It wasn't that I intended to keep it a secret, though. I just didn't think it was something I needed to explain to everyone individually, but if someone knew and brought it up, I was more than willing to tell the truth.
“I think they made that decision because you’re in Spacetro, Oppa.”
Su-ah had added the reason that she was sick and tired of protecting the Earth, but regardless, the reason she and Hayoung wanted to come to Spacetro was because I was there.
“I-I also…”
“You want to join Spacetro too, Eunha?”
When Eunha, who had started speaking cautiously, couldn't finish her sentence, I finished it for her. Eunha, who had been standing still with her head lowered, eventually nodded.
“I understand.”
From my perspective, there was absolutely no reason to stop her. I intended to stay in Spacetro, and if my girlfriends wanted to come to Spacetro to be with me, I had no reason to say no.
“Did Pink say she was joining too?”
“Huh? Yura hasn't said anything like that.”
Actually, even though she hadn't said it directly, I felt like Yura would come to Spacetro the moment I asked. She had given me control over her suit, and I didn't think she did that solely for provocative sex.
No, on second thought, if it was Yura, she might have given me suit control purely for the sake of sex.
“I’ll try talking to her when we get home.”
With Eunha expressing her opinion, more than half of Team Hunter Killer now wanted to join Spacetro.
Since things had turned out this way, I needed to talk to Yura and Yubin, who hadn't brought up the topic of joining Spacetro yet.
I had a feeling Yura might join, but I couldn't predict Yubin at all.
It was certain that Yubin liked me. Even without checking every detail, the time I had spent with her so far proved it.
It was also true that she had been a great help in hacking the PC of the Earth Defense Union Director, but I couldn't say for sure that Yubin would join Spacetro.
I had no intention of discriminating among my girlfriends. However, if I looked at them not as my girlfriends but solely as members of Team Hunter Killer, there was a slight difference.
Yubin was the leader of Team Hunter Killer.
Though she was the youngest in age, she held the position of the team leader and felt a corresponding sense of responsibility. The reason she helped with the hacking was also that she wanted to know about Superhumans as the team leader.
When I got home, I thought I should talk to Yura first and then have a separate conversation with Yubin.
“Pink even gave you suit authorization, Oppa.”
On the day I was intimate with Yura while she was in her suit, Eunha, who had come to the house, ended up seeing me having sex with Yura along with Su-ah.
In the process, she had seen me manipulating Yura’s suit, so she definitely knew that the authorization had been handed over.
And because Yura had given me suit authorization, it seemed Eunha also thought Yura would be joining Spacetro.
“Still, I haven't talked to her about it yet.”
“I want to give you authorization for my suit too, Oppa.”
I was momentarily lost for words at Eunha’s offer to give me suit authorization, following my comment that I couldn't be sure since I hadn't talked to Yura.
I had already received authorization for one person’s suit, but I still wasn't used to the idea of having control over them.
“Really?”
“Yes. Because I belong to you, Oppa.”
As we walked and talked, we eventually reached a secluded spot with few lights.
Eunha let go of the hand she had been holding tightly and lowered the zipper of her long padded coat, which had been pulled all the way up.
“That’s why I wore my suit out today.”
I thought she was just waiting for me while I was on the phone with Hayoung and Yubin in the room, but it seemed she had changed into her suit in the meantime.
“Here.”
“!”
Unzipping her coat, Eunha spread the garment slightly to reveal her green suit only to me.
And the moment I saw her in the suit, my eyes couldn't help but widen.
Inside the long padded coat, Eunha was wearing her suit, but she was exposing her wet private parts without a single thread covering them.
When I looked up, my eyes met hers, and her face was flushed deep red.