Chapter 43: Date (3)
Chapter 43: Date (3)
“Oppa, what’s wrong?”
My eyes trembled slightly. Anyone could see I was flustered, but I couldn't find the words to answer.
I couldn't exactly tell her that a quest had just popped up telling me to plant a kiss on my younger sister. No matter how much of a bastard I was for sleeping with my two older sisters, even I had a line I wouldn't cross.
It was a line of self-satisfaction that only I knew about.
That sounds noble, but in my case, it just meant I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt at the thought of harboring such feelings for a younger sister I’d doted on and watched grow up since she was a child.
Regardless, I didn't have much of a choice. I closed my eyes and shoved my smartphone into my pocket.
“It’s nothing.”
“Really? Who was the message from?”
Yu-ri’s eyes were strangely sharp. Since she was the type to constantly peek at and pry into my phone, her suspicion was perfectly reasonable.
And playing along was likely the only way to avoid further suspicion right now.
“Just, you know, a friend from high school?”
“Another girl, I bet.”
“N-no, it’s not. It’s really not.”
That was a lie. I hadn't received a message at all. But in my sister's eyes, the only thing visible was the fact that I was lying.
“Hmph.” The sound she let out was chilly. I felt a sense of relief even as I sensed her mood rapidly souring.
At least I’d put out the immediate fire. Though, since I’d used a backfire to do it, I was currently the one being scorched in real-time.
But that is the role of a man. Even if his own body catches fire, he must protect the storehouse full of grain, the home where his family lives…
…Actually, that’s probably not the best metaphor for a situation involving the risk of stealing my sister’s chastity, but anyway.
Having extinguished the urgent blaze, I acted as if I’d only just noticed her foul mood.
“I’m sorry. I just happened to check it.”
“Yeah, I know. You were trying to look at the map.”
“Right. My sister really is the best. So understanding.”
She wasn't actually being understanding, but perhaps she felt she couldn't just let it go when I put it that way.
The irritation that had flickered in Yu-ri’s eyes vanished quickly. With a deep sigh, she walked on with her arms crossed.
Good, that’s settled. Or so I thought, as my mind quickly pivoted to something else.
[Reward: Explosive increase in user Kang Yu-jin’s stamina (10x current level)]
It was the quest reward.
It was, perhaps, the exact type of reward I had been desperately craving.
Stamina.
Whether it was during the previous cruise trip or after returning home, I had been acutely aware of my lack of it.
Of course, I’d never thought my stamina was lacking in my daily life.
If anything, thanks to years of consistent exercise, my physical fitness was well above average.
However, the difference between men and women in that regard was not something that could be ignored.
When it came to endurance and stamina in the bedroom, it was only natural for women to be superior to men.
And since I was dealing with Kang Yu-min and Da-mi Noona—both of whom had incredibly high sex drives—my stamina was naturally being drained. I was constantly tired, my body felt heavy, and I often had to coax a dissatisfied Da-mi Noona or Yu-min to go back to their rooms.
I knew immediately that this wasn't a problem exercise could solve. A person’s physical improvement is only remarkably noticeable at the beginning; after that, progress becomes so gradual it’s practically negligible.
So, I had secretly been thinking that I would perform any quest, no matter how lewd, if it granted me a stamina boost.
The problem was the timing and the content of the quest.
[Kiss your younger sister, Kang Yu-ri. 0/10]
To be precise, the problem was the target. I barely swallowed a groan as I walked.
A single kiss might be fine. I could excuse it as a simple expression of familial affection.
But ten times?
That was already entering dangerous territory. The first kiss is risky enough, but the second one takes it a step further.
It creates a sense of ease. Ease breeds thought, and thought inevitably leads to change.
And that change would likely be a permanent shift in our relationship—a possibility that grows exponentially with every additional kiss.
It was like Russian roulette. I could practically see the cylinder clicking as it spun, loaded with bullets labeled 'Incest,' 'Inappropriate Relationship with Sister,' and 'Total Catastrophe.'
And I had to pull the trigger ten times.
In Russian roulette, you’re guaranteed to die if you pull the trigger six times. With ten shots, isn't death the only possible outcome?
Beyond simple probability, my intuition was screaming the same thing.
My self-control, my reason, my walls and lines—they had all crumbled long ago. All that remained was a line drawn in faint white chalk to save face, a hazy boundary established by a non-verbal agreement between me and my sister.
I wouldn't be able to hold back. I didn't know about her, but I certainly wouldn't.
Even if I could hold back, it was still a problem.
Would my sister ever look at me the same way again?
Would she despise me?
Or would things just become unbearably awkward?
The mere thought was horrifying. My mind began to race.
I realized it was impossible to explain why I needed 10x stamina in the first place.
I wasn't even sure how much 'ten times' actually was. If my overall physical abilities increased tenfold along with my stamina, I’d be Captain America… no, since this is Korea, maybe something like a modern-day Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
If that were the case, I could at least make up some nonsense about wanting to become a superhero.
The problem was that it was limited to stamina. If someone asked what on earth I needed all that stamina for, I wouldn't have a decent answer.
“Oppa?”
“…Yeah?”
“You look troubled…”
“Oh, no. It’s just… something came up.”
“Because of that message earlier?”
“…Well, yeah.”
“Is it a religious cult? Or someone asking for money?”
I shook my head as she looked at me with concern. I wasn't exactly lying.
It wasn't a cult or a loan request, but it was close to an 'incest recruitment' that offered a reward.
As for who was behind it… well, I didn't know.
I’d just assume it was that white-haired woman I saw back then. I imagined myself giving her a piece of my mind as I walked.
“Let’s just eat for now. Don’t worry about me too much.”
“Mmm, when you tell me not to worry, it makes me worry more.”
“No, really, I’m fine. I’ll probably forget about it after a good night’s sleep.”
“Don’t you usually remember things? Like that time you stayed in your room for a month…”
“Could you please stop trying to humiliate me?”
“Okay.”
Seriously, both Yu-ri and Da-mi Noona had no hesitation when it came to poking at a person’s wounds.
They were merciless. Yu-min would have understood. Thinking of my dorky older sister, I shook my head and entered the restaurant.
“Let’s just eat. My treat.”
In that sense, delicious food served as an excellent distraction.
Both for myself and for my sister.
“Hehe, this is delicious.”
“Right? I came here with a friend before, and it was great.”
“…A girl?”
“No, a guy. You know I can’t eat well when I’m with girls.”
“…I guess I’m not a girl to you?”
“No, no. Before you’re a girl, Yu-ri, you’re family. The comfort factor is much bigger. If you add and subtract everything, you’re a net plus.”
“Really? That’s a relief.”
Yu-ri was surprisingly picky about things like that. Sometimes I’d get the wrong idea, but it was probably just something she was sensitive about as an influencer with 80,000 subscribers.
Then again, for an influencer, appearance is their competitive edge. It wasn't hard to understand.
So, I ordered more of the pulled pork she was enjoying, along with some salad to cleanse the palate, while I munched on some bread.
That was when my sister, who was busy stuffing pulled pork into a sliced bun, suddenly spoke up.
“You’re really strange, Oppa.”
“Hmm? Me?”
“Yeah. You’re so popular, but your personality is…”
“…What’s wrong with my personality? I think I’m pretty decent.”
“Mmm, there’s just something. Anyway.”
Chewing her food with her small mouth, she massaged her jaw as if it were sore and continued.
“You could afford to have more confidence, but you’re… passive, I guess?”
“…Am I?”
I wasn't sure. If we were talking about that, I felt Kang Yu-min was much worse, but I decided to keep my mouth shut for the sake of Yu-min’s honor.
“Even right now.”
Right now? I wondered if there was something wrong with my behavior at this moment, but I couldn't think of anything.
If anything, I thought I was being quite pleasant.
I knew well enough that my personality was the reason I hadn't been able to date until now.
But I always thought that if I could talk to others the way I talked to my family, I would have been in a relationship long ago.
I tilted my head in confusion, and Yu-ri stared at me intently.
It was a look that seemed to be trying to gauge if I was being sincere. Did I do something wrong?
I swallowed the food I was chewing and took a sip of cola.
“The quest.”
My body froze. Clink. The sound of my fork hitting the plate echoed.
Feeling as if someone were physically pulling my gaze, I slowly raised my eyes to look at my sister.
“…What ques—”
“Oppa.”
Her voice was low. I swallowed hard.
“It’s so obvious when you’re lying.”
I froze, unable to even breathe. My sister stared at me for a moment before her lips curled into a smile.
“It’s exhausting trying to pretend I don’t notice.”
“…That’s.”
So that’s why she was acting like I’d done something wrong. But why?
Does she have no mercy for her brother? I squeezed my eyes shut and set my fork down.
She must have caught a glimpse of it. I’d suspected as much.
But why reveal it now instead of continuing to play dumb?
I didn't know the reason. I managed to calm my trembling eyes and faced her.
“Yu-ri, we’re family…”
“Yeah, we are.”
“So.”
“So, doesn't that mean it doesn't matter?”
I blinked.
Yu-ri gave a bright smile.
It was an expression that neither Kang Yu-min nor Da-mi Noona could ever make.
“Family members can kiss. In the West, people kiss each other on the cheek as a greeting all the time.”
“Is… is that so?”
“Yeah. So there shouldn't be any problem, right?”
Resting her chin on her hand, my sister gazed at me. Her half-lidded eyes were aimed right at me.
A literal sword or gun would have felt less piercing. I looked down at the food on the table.
Sure enough, we were almost finished.
“…Should we order more?”
“I’m full, Oppa.”
“Then, something to drink…”
“Mmm, I’m okay. I’m not thirsty.”
“Dessert—”
“Oppa.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and then opened them again. My sister was still staring at me.
“Oppa, do you like karaoke?”
“Karaoke?”
“Mhm. I want to go to a karaoke room with you.”
When I closed my eyes and turned my head away, she laughed. Amidst her giggles was a hint of finding me unbearably cute.
It was uncomfortable. It reminded me of my school days, making it hard to even speak freely.
Back then, too, I used to get dragged along to karaoke rooms. When I opened my eyes again, my sister had returned to her usual cute expression.
“Pleeeease? Let’s go to karaoke.”
Pure aegyo. And yet, there was a dark, sticky energy beneath it.
Caught in a whirlwind of contradictory emotions, I had no choice but to nod.