Chapter 283: Before the Dungeon
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 283: Before the Dungeon
“Why can’t that woman make eye contact with you? And why is her face so red?”
That was the first thing Choi Seulgi said to me after seeing Park Ahjeong in the morning.
“Who knows…”
I looked at Choi Seulgi and smirked. Considering what happened last night, there was no way she’d be able to look me in the eye. I remembered how she’d let out a bizarre shriek—something like “Hee-hee-huh-eh?”—before scrambling back to her camp. Now, seeing her putting on makeup and muttering to herself in the mirror, she looked for all the world like a girl who had fallen in love.
I had customized myself to be a bit more handsome, but I never imagined a side effect like this. It made me feel like some kind of heartbreaker. I could understand her wanting to look good, to the point of trying to bridge the gap between our species, but the real problem was what would happen when Choi Seulgi found out.
Either she would come after me, or she would go after that female knight. It would be one or the other. I had no intention of doing anything with my tail or horns like the knight had suggested, but seeing Seulgi’s reaction, I figured it was best to keep it a secret.
I followed Seulgi’s gaze to Park Ahjeong. For some reason, she was surrounded by the women of her clan, her head bowed as tears streamed down her face. The knight who had trembled but still raised her sword when we first met was nowhere to be seen.
Tsk.
“Hey. Kim Taesung, now she’s crying. Did you really do something to her last night? What’s wrong with her?”
“I don’t know… And what do you mean, ‘do something’? All I did was patrol with Goff and Black Spear before going into my tent. You know that better than anyone. I didn’t do anything.”
Perhaps because of our past, Choi Seulgi was extremely sensitive about these things and didn’t let go of her suspicion. I spoke up again, wanting to clear up any misunderstanding.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing. The only thing that’s certain is that I’m a man of many sins, I guess.”
I lifted my chin slightly, and a palm immediately flew into my back. It didn’t hurt, but the slap was loud enough to make a sharp smack.
“What? Why’d you hit me?”
“Because you’re being a pain in the ass. The look on your face right now is so damn punchable.”
I rubbed my back once and looked forward again. My eyes met Park Ahjeong’s, and she quickly lowered her head, her face flushed. Seeing this, Choi Seulgi ground her teeth. Anyone could tell she was furious.
“You. You fucking bastard. Don’t get cocky just because you’re doing well these days. The only reason I allowed those other women was because I wasn’t around back then. Got it? How dare you let your eyes wander? While I’m standing right here, watching you…”
She’d figured it out. But I just raised the corner of my mouth.
“I don’t think I’m the one whose eyes are wandering.”
“I have plenty of guys who are into me, too. Just remember that, Kim Taesung… I’m letting it slide in this life, so. Huh? He knows he’s handsome… In our past life, his face didn’t do him any favors… but in this life, he’s living up to his looks. Fuck.”
Objectively speaking, the Kim Taesung of my past life was not handsome. Choi Seulgi’s eyes widened as if she’d realized her slip-up.
“Past life?”
“Shut up. Don’t ask. I know I made a mistake.”
Seeing Choi Seulgi blush made me wonder if maybe I hadn’t been so bad in my past life after all.
“Anyway, this is so irritating. Fuck, I’m suddenly so pissed off. I wasn’t like this before, maybe it’s because Kim Taesung’s face is so annoying…”
“How about giving her a little warning?”
Choi Eunju, who had appeared out of nowhere, spoke up quietly. It wasn’t a method I would recommend, so I shook my head, but Choi Seulgi nodded vigorously.
“You’re right, Eunju. A word of warning would be good, right?”
“Don’t cause a scene right before we explore the dungeon. She already seems anxious about having to go in with us…”
“Are you protecting her now? Huh? Thinking of bringing in a new one?”
“You know that’s not it.”
My eyes fell on Park Ahjeong, who looked a bit like a clumsy farmhand. She was already a wounded person; rubbing salt in that wound felt like a cruel thing to do.
“...........................”
Choi Seulgi stared at me with suspicion, but I swear to the heavens, I had no interest in that woman.
For one, she wasn’t my type, and as Seulgi said, with her watching me like a hawk, I had no intention of making a move on anyone.
I sighed and began to look around again.
The Green Skins had almost no luggage besides food and tents, but the same couldn’t be said for the humans. There was still plenty of time before our departure, so I found a spot to sit with Choi Seulgi and Choi Eunju.
The camp, with its fifty or so members, was a hive of human activity. They were anxious about making us wait. A clan master would normally just give orders, but this female knight was at the forefront, working herself. It was a good look, in its own way.
As we sat there watching the humans, Park Ahjeong walked past where I was sitting. I could see her making a conscious effort not to look in our direction.
That’s when Choi Seulgi, unable to hold back, let a comment slip.
“Looks like we have someone here whose inside doesn’t match their outside.”
“................”
“They say the quiet cat is the first to climb onto the hearth… acting like she doesn’t know a thing about men… This is the problem. I bet when she was on Earth, she read tons of comics about falling in love with a vampire or becoming the Demon King’s wife… right, Eunju? Reality and fantasy are usually different, aren’t they? The whole setup of a female knight getting involved with a demon is just so childish.”
“Y-Yes.”
She wasn’t speaking directly to Park Ahjeong, but there was no doubt the words were meant for her. And there was no doubt Park Ahjeong heard them. I could see her, face red and head down, trying her best to keep working.
She looked like she wanted to make some kind of excuse, but it wouldn’t be that easy. I thought it would have been better if they had just confronted her directly.
“Maybe things would have worked out better if she’d chosen to be a thief instead of a knight. People often don’t know which class suits them best, right? To me, she seems like a perfect thief. I mean, to be bold enough to attempt a theft right in front of the owner. Right, Eunju?”
“Y-Yes.”
Choi Eunju kept glancing at me, unable to speak freely, but Choi Seulgi was being quite scathing.
“Th-That’s not it…”
Finally, a voice as small as an ant’s came from Park Ahjeong. It was a tiny voice, more of a mumble to herself, but there was no way Choi Seulgi wouldn’t have heard it.
“If it’s not that, then what is it… when your face is all red…”
Her face was indeed red. It wasn’t just a simple blush; she was so flushed I worried she might actually die. In the end, Park Ahjeong ran off in the complete opposite direction. Choi Seulgi watched her go, looking dumbfounded.
“....................”
“Ha… I was just poking, but I guess it was true. How absurd. They haven’t even known each other that long. Did she really fall in love at first sight?”
“Don’t be too harsh. I feel bad for her.”
The moment I said that, Choi Seulgi’s eyes glared at me again.
“You watch how you act. Behave yourself… and stop wagging your tail at everyone…”
“..............?”
“And isn’t your armor a little too revealing? If you think about it, you’re practically naked. I didn’t really care before, but now that I’m looking, that’s how it seems. And why are you only wearing a pauldron on one shoulder?”
“Green Skins don’t bundle up in armor like humans do. Besides, I don’t really need armor. And what do you mean, naked? I’m wearing pants. Only my upper body is a little exposed. Is it hard for you to look?”
“Shut up. Die.”
Choi Seulgi’s face turned red, so I glanced over at Choi Eunju, and she was blushing too.
“Stop flaunting yourself, you bastard. Got it? A-And don’t walk around with your tail sticking up.”
“If I don’t, it drags on the ground. It’s uncomfortable and gets dirty.”
“F-Fuck, just don’t stick it up if I tell you not to. Or at least do it in moderation. Don’t hold it so stiffly. Just… keep it at a reasonable level. I’m warning you. Eunju, do you have a robe?”
“Ah… Yes.”
Choi Eunju nodded at Seulgi’s question. I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t supposed to raise my tail, but it seemed I’d have to wear a robe over my armor for this expedition, which felt like it would be a pain.
“I thought it was fine since you’re not human, but…”
Still, this kind of possessiveness from Choi Seulgi and Choi Eunju was something I’d never experienced before, including in my past life, so it didn’t feel entirely bad. No, actually, thinking back, there were a few instances with Seulgi in my past life.
‘Hey. Don’t wear things like tank tops.’
‘It’s hot.’
‘Can’t you see how other people are looking at you?’
‘They’re probably looking at me like I’m a beggar.’
‘Anyway, if I tell you not to wear it, don’t wear it. Kim Taesung.’
Things like that.
‘Why do you spill water all over yourself when you drink?’
‘Mind your own business.’
‘You’re not trying to be seductive, are you?’
‘..................’
I remembered many situations like that. The most ridiculous one was when we were eating grilled clams at a restaurant, using money we got from selling a dungeon’s location.
‘Hey. Do you really have to lick the shell with your tongue like that, making all that noise?’
‘It’s been so long since we’ve eaten at a place like this. The sauce is delicious.’
‘That’s not the point, fuck… All the other women are staring.’
‘What are they going to do about it? We’re paying customers, too. We’re allowed to slurp a little, right?’
‘............’
‘Forget it. Fuck… This bastard’s a natural. Let’s just eat quickly and go.’
I remember we had an incredibly passionate night after that. The look in Choi Seulgi’s eyes, who had been complaining of fatigue, was like that of a wild beast. At the time, I was just baffled by what she was saying, but thinking about it now, I found myself nodding in understanding.
Maybe I was a little handsome in my past life, too? The thought began to surface. I never paid much attention to how others saw me, but now I wondered if I had misinterpreted the expressions of the citizens who I thought were looking at me with disgust or contempt.
It would be one thing if it was just Choi Seulgi seeing me through rose-tinted glasses, but Park Ahjeong’s and Choi Eunju’s reactions were also positive, so my ego began to swell. Come to think of it, after being reincarnated as a goblin, in this life I’d lived without Seulgi, I had formed deep relationships with quite a few beautiful women.
Mev had called me handsome from the beginning, even when I was a goblin. I met Jung Hayeon and Baek Ahyeon when I was an Orc, but that wasn’t the case with Jang Ye Ri. No, actually, when I met Jang Ye Ri, Kim Taesung’s face was long gone, so my appearance was much better, but her reaction after I changed was also good.
Lost in various thoughts, I ended up putting on the large, wizard-like robe that Choi Eunju brought me. Around that time, the camp was finally packed up, and we were ready to enter the dungeon.
Despite a few pointless incidents, we were finally about to go in.