Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Let's Clear Up the Misunderstanding
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Yeah, this just wasn't going to happen.
Ian's looks were idol-level perfection, but my mind was entirely filled with thoughts of Seorin.
'Missing out on a chance with someone like her is a shame, but for the first time...'
Sure, in a world full of women like this, I could indulge my ideals as much as I wanted, but maybe I'd grown attached.
No matter how I thought about it, I wanted my first time in this world to be with Seorin.
Of course, whether she wanted to do it with me was another question entirely.
Either way, that's how I felt, so I wanted to escape this situation.
But Ian had already stripped off all her clothes and was climbing on top of me.
"Huh? Why are you shaking like this?"
In this unwanted situation, my body just trembled uncontrollably.
It wasn't because the air was cold or anything like that.
Tension? Maybe something like it.
But the most primal emotion was definitely revulsion.
I desperately wanted to push her away, but my body still wouldn't move.
"Don't be nervous. I've got plenty of experience, but I'm still pretty tight. You can look forward to it. And for someone shaking this much, isn't your lower half being way too honest?"
She was right—despite the revulsion, my lower body was standing at full attention.
But this was just an unavoidable physiological reaction.
There was no helping it.
"Anyway, I'll enjoy my meal. I'm looking forward to it too? A guy this big is a first for me."
The moment she started to straddle me...
-Craaaack
"What the—?"
Cracks began spreading through the air.
It was a scene that felt utterly disconnected from reality.
Not cracks in the wall, but the space itself tearing apart.
Describing this sight I'd never seen before in my life wasn't easy.
"Hey... you... get off him right now?"
It was Seorin's voice.
The tear grew larger, and soon Seorin's figure became visible.
She was forcefully ripping it open with both hands.
It looked like it took tremendous strength.
"Already? You're forcibly tearing through Space Separation like this?"
Ian seemed genuinely shocked.
From her reaction, it was clear this wasn't something that happened normally.
"Guard, are you oka—"
Seorin emerged through the torn gap and stared at Ian.
Her eyes were terrifying as she glared fiercely at both of us.
Her face flushed bright red.
The black aura surrounding her grew darker and thicker.
"Hey... hey... calm down a sec..."
Even Ian looked pretty flustered by her demeanor.
-Crack
-Shatter
"This bitch dares try to cut in?!"
With her shout, the space tore completely open.
'Wind...'
Only now did my dizzy head start to clear a little.
Cool wind began flowing back in from the hallway, and the small ambient noises returned.
"Just calm down a bit!"
Ian, who had been on top of me, stood up at some point and prepared to face off against Seorin.
"Calm down my ass. Didn't you expect something like this when you started this crap?"
Her chains completely encircled Ian from all sides.
They were positioned threateningly, ready to strike at the slightest movement.
"No, I just don't get why you're overreacting like this."
"What?"
"If you want to do it with him, just do it with me. What's the problem? I'm not saying I'm gonna monopolize the guy or anything."
Honestly, Ian had a point.
I couldn't understand why Seorin was reacting so strongly either.
'Has she gotten attached to me too?'
"You think that's something you can just say...?"
"Then say it yourself. Why are you being so aggressive?"
At Ian's question, Seorin clamped her mouth shut.
"What... do you like this guy or something?"
"What...?"
-Clink
Her chains slowly retracted back into her body.
Her already flushed face looked like it might explode.
She covered it with one porcelain hand and completely withdrew her aura.
"It's not like that? I just don't like you doing that stuff in the space where I am..."
She couldn't even look at us anymore.
"That's why I used Space Separation."
"Shut up."
With those final words, Seorin returned to her bed.
"What the hell is with her? She's always just saying whatever and leaving it at that."
At least the situation seemed somewhat resolved, so I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"Ha... fine. My mood's totally killed now too."
Ian looked down at me from where she stood.
"What are you? Why's that bitch looking out for you like this?"
As if I knew.
I was just as curious.
"I don't really..."
"Whatever. I'll just erase your memory for now."
She brought her hand close to my head.
"Wait... hold on a sec."
"What now?"
"I'm fine, so could you not erase my memory? I'll keep it a secret."
"Why the hell should I trust you? Stay still."
I tried to stop her, but it was no use.
Still, it was such a precious memory that the thought of it being wiped away filled me with regret.
"It won't hurt. Don't worry too mu— what?!"
The moment she touched my head, a black aura from my head repelled her hand.
"Are you a mage? Or a sword user? Or maybe in the Transcendent Realm?"
I couldn't understand her sudden question.
"I'm a mage, but just 1st Circle."
"What nonsense is that? How's a 1st Circle blocking my memory manipulation?"
"Huh?"
"Just stay still for a sec."
This time, she placed both hands over my head and focused.
Her actions only raised more questions.
"What the— hey!!!"
'Ugh.'
Suddenly, she yelled loudly toward Seorin in the next room.
"What did you do to this guy?!"
Seorin sat up on her bed at the shout.
"Ha... this is getting annoying..."
Seorin approached us with an irritated expression.
'Someone please explain what's going on!'
To explain the situation, the three of us huddled together.
It was a bit funny.
I was the only one outside the bars, while they were on the other side of the wall, yet here we were, gathered like this for a talk.
"Fine. Explain yourself, Park Seorin. What did you do to this guy's body?"
"I didn't do anything to him. He wanted to learn magic, so I just helped him out."
"That's what I'm asking—what does that even mean?"
Their words still didn't make sense, so I decided to butt in a little.
"Um, what do you mean 'did something to my body'?"
Ian turned her head toward me and glared fiercely.
"Oh, really? And the person involved knows nothing? What gives, Park. Seorin?"
"Ha... I was going to explain. But before I could properly do it, that thing happened with you, so I didn't have time."
"I still don't get what you're talking about... Could you explain in detail?"
Only then did Seorin sigh and tell me about the secret she hadn't shared before.
Her explanation went like this.
Adults really do have a hard time learning magic, so she'd forcibly shared her mana with me to create a circle.
"I get that part... but doesn't that mean you helped me? Why are you so mad, Ian?"
"Hey, guard. Take a look at your arm."
At Ian's words, I rolled up my sleeve to check my arm.
"Huh? What's this?"
There was a black X Mark on my arm that I'd never noticed before.
"You probably didn't know until now. It only reacts to mana."
"It's a protective mark on your body. It blocks external attacks, you could say. Even a 6th Circle Mage like Park Seorin can fend off most magic with it."
"Then isn't that a good thing? Why are you so angry?"
"Ha... it's annoying to even say it myself. That mark doesn't just protect, it also..."
"Stop."
It happened in an instant.
Seorin's chains sealed Ian's mouth.
"I'll explain the rest someday, so stop talking."
"Hey. You think it's okay to not tell him?"
The atmosphere grew heavy again.
"Should we fight like old times? You confident you can win without getting hurt?"
She drew out a massive number of chains from behind her back.
No fewer than ten strands.
It was the most intimidating sight I'd seen from her yet.
"Ha... fine, whatever. So what about his memory? We just sending him home like this?"
Ian pounded her chest in frustration.
I felt like the criminal here for no reason.
"I don't know if you'll believe me, but I won't say anything. Really."
"That's why I can't trust you..."
"You can trust him."
"What?"
"I attacked him before too. But back then, nothing happened—he got over it fine."
"Really?"
Seorin's words were true.
When her chains had choked me, I hadn't reported it to the warden.
'Come to think of it, that's weird. In my old world, I would've reported a prisoner attacking me right away.'
Back then, not only did I not report it—I'd even wanted to see Park Seorin again.
'That's strange... Was I just too out of it at the time?'
"Ha... alright, fine. If you're saying that much, I'll play along."
Ian seemed resigned, offering no more questions or protests.
"So, we're good to let it slide like this?"
"Yeah, whatever. Got a problem? Want me to smash your head in again?"
"No..."