Chapter 191
Chapter 191
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: Unwanted Date
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“Uh, hello.”
“……”
In front of the villa on Glass Street.
After waiting about five minutes, Ophelia emerged from the villa and cautiously greeted me.
The alien pulsation from the tattoo on her chest.
I could already feel disgust spreading from my heart throughout my body, but my expression didn’t change.
“Please take care of me today.”
“Yes, please take care of me too.”
The agreed-upon time.
In the end, since Ophelia had no one she loved right now, I had no choice but to step in, as unpleasant as that was.
She was aware of it too and said she’d do her best to see me in a good light today.
We could worry about cooling emotions later, and it wouldn’t be that hard anyway.
“Where are you staying?”
I figured she’d be at some external lodging or a friend’s place since her home had become a crime scene.
“At home.”
Ophelia asked back with a completely puzzled expression, as if she saw no issue. There were several things I wanted to point out, but I held my tongue and we set off.
We had a reservation at a place for lunch. It was a spot Erika recommended—normally impossible to book, but she pulled strings with a connection.
‘She reacted more calmly than expected.’
In the end, I’d explained the situation to the women who kept prying into the reason for my question.
In other words, that I had to woo Ophelia.
They showed some displeasure at first, but they agreed to cooperate for the sake of Ophelia, the men who died because of her, and her daughter.
“Come on in.”
The moment she saw the restaurant’s sign, Ophelia’s eyes widened.
“H-Here? This is the most expensive place in Robern……”
“It doesn’t matter.”
As I escorted her inside, the restaurant’s head chef and other cooks were already lined up waiting.
“Necromancer, it’s an honor to serve you today.”
The head chef made a fuss and offered a handshake, so I took it and nodded.
“Take care of it.”
“You’ll have a satisfying time!”
After their bold declaration, the cooks headed straight to the kitchen. Following the guidance, we sat in a spot as secluded from prying eyes as possible, and Ophelia’s expression across from me was clear as day.
Flustered, yet her lips curved up ever so slightly.
Her reaction dripped with anticipation for the day ahead.
‘Looks like this approach will work.’
Ophelia was what you’d call a bar girl. Not exactly a brothel worker, but my investigations confirmed she’d do that and more for extra cash without hesitation.
No way sweet talk or gestures would win over someone with her experience with men.
She’d just laugh it off as childish antics.
So, what I could do was give her a lavish time she’d never experienced before.
The classic cliché from old dramas or movies: the chaebol heir falling for the commoner girl.
That was the plan for spending the day with her uncomfortably.
* * *
“……”
Slice. Slice.
Erika cut into the steak that came out and popped a piece into her mouth, chewing away vigorously.
For some reason, her jaw worked harder than usual, and the uneven chunks showed how roughly she’d sliced it.
“Wow, seriously. Is he cutting the meat and feeding it to her right now?”
Seeing Deus slice his steak and hand it to Ophelia, Pindenai let out a hollow laugh from across the table.
She craved a cigarette badly, her mouth going dry and sticky, but it was a non-smoking restaurant—not to mention Deus would spot it right away.
Pindenai summoned the waiter like she was venting frustration.
“Booze. Something strong and expensive.”
Overwhelmed by her menacing aura, the waiter paled and nodded before scurrying off.
Soon, he brought a hefty, blunt bottle of liquor and set it down with a wine glass.
“Sip.”
Pindenai filled the glass immediately. Her eyes stayed fixed on the pair far off.
“It’s overflowing.”
At Erika’s warning, Pindenai shoved the filled glass toward Erika.
“Drink.”
Then she started chugging straight from the bottle. She’d long forgotten telling Deus she’d be a beast if she drank again.
“No, I’m fine……”
Erika tried to refuse, having no intention of drinking, but then she saw Deus’s back as he wiped sauce from Ophelia’s mouth, and without thinking, her hand reached for the glass.
Whoosh.
As Pindenai thrust the bottle forward, Erika extended her glass too.
With a heavy clink, both tossed back their drinks at once.
* * *
‘Told them not to follow.’
As we left the restaurant, I glanced at where Erika and Pindenai sat and sighed.
I’d slipped out quietly without even mentioning I was spending time with Ophelia, so why were they here?
Plus, they’d drunk a ton—enough bottles on the table to play dominoes.
“Phew, take good care of those two.”
“Yes, sir.”
I’d even tipped extra to ensure they were looked after.
But as I stepped out with Ophelia, my feet stopped short. I looked down at her briefly, felt a throbbing headache, and shook my head.
“I have something to take care of. Head to Owl and pick out something. Mention my name—they’ll throw in a gift.”
“O-Owl?! You mean that luxury shop?!”
“Yeah, the owner owes me. Wait there and I’ll join you.”
“Yes!”
I watched Ophelia’s back as she practically ran off, eyes glazed with greed.
It would’ve been nice if the other women were that easy to handle too.
Back inside the restaurant, Erika was already passed out with her head on the table, while Pindenai staggered around, rummaging through Erika’s pockets to pay the bill.
“Ah, the Necromancer already settled everything before leaving.”
The waiter explained to Pindenai, but she was too engrossed in frisking Erika’s pockets like it was a game.
Pushing past the unsure waiter, I stood before the two.
“Sorry for going back on my word. I’ll handle it.”
“Ah, y-yes……”
Worried I might demand the tip back, the waiter backed away cautiously.
I had no such intention anyway, so I sighed at Erika and Pindenai.
“Why’d you follow?”
I’d said it with some scolding because I didn’t want them seeing my time with Ophelia, but Pindenai snapped her head up and grinned vacantly.
“No reason. Date over?”
“Phew.”
“You loooved it, huh? Did he cut the meat and feed it to you toooo?”
“……”
They’d seen everything.
If I’d known they were there from the start, I wouldn’t have done any of that.
My actions flashed by like a montage, and my heart sank.
“Deus?!”
Hearing my voice, Erika jerked her head up from the table. Come to think of it, this was the first time I’d seen her drunk.
Her cheeks flushed red like a blush. She scooped sauce from an empty plate with her finger and smeared it on her mouth.
“Wipe mine too.”
“You’ll regret it.”
Pindenai had done the same last time—why did they always do things they’d regret once sober?
“Do it.”
“Sigh.”
I roughly wiped her mouth with the napkin in front of me, then hoisted the unable-to-stand Erika onto my back.
Pindenai, who could at least walk, I guided along with my arm over her shoulder.
‘Without magic, this would’ve been tough.’
Carrying one woman was doable with effort, but two required magic.
With the restaurant staff seeing us off, we headed to the academy.
Good thing it was vacation with few students around. Couldn’t let them see Erika like this.
“Call someoneee.”
Pindenai waved at the air. It was just past lunch, and seeing her drunk antics irritated me.
She was right—calling someone would end it.
I needed to spend time with Ophelia, and didn’t have to escort Pindenai and Erika myself.
But for some reason, I didn’t like that.
“I’ll take you back myself.”
There was a part of me that didn’t want to hand over these two drunk women to someone else.
“……Be a little nicer to us.”
Erika whispered.
Unclear what dissatisfied or不安 her, she clung to my neck with both arms.
Her signature fresh perfume mixed with the sweet booze scent tickled my nose, her warm breath brushing my ear.
“You’ve never done it for me.”
Cutting meat for her.
Wiping sauce from her mouth.
Those caring, considerate acts.
Did I need to explain? But suddenly, I wondered if they felt the same as what I’d just sensed.
Not wanting to hand them over to someone else while drunk.
“Hey, Deus. Don’t treat us like crap just ’cause we like you!”
“Phew, Pindenai. Ease up.”
Pindenai yelled, perhaps annoyed at Erika clinging tight like she wouldn’t let go.
“Call me by name!”
“……It’s been ages since I wanted to curse.”
What was I supposed to do with this?
I’d lost count of the sighs, but then a bone-chilling line slipped from Pindenai’s mouth.
“Don’t make us feel pathetic!”
“……!”
She wasn’t wrong.
I realized I’d been toying with their affection.
And I started getting angry at myself for making them act this way.
‘Ignorance is just an excuse.’
Because my emotions were faint.
Because I’d never loved anyone.
“I’m sorry.”
As an explorer of emotions, I kept pushing through the underbrush, but that didn’t excuse hurting others.
“The reason I could act like that.”
So.
Hoping it’d comfort them even a little, I voiced what I felt now honestly.
“It was possible because it was that woman.”
At my words, Pindenai and Erika flinched and pulled back slightly. Their breaths were ragged, but otherwise, no noise interrupted me.
“Because she stirred no feelings in me, I could act without a care.”
Before saying it, I thought it reasonable, but afterward, it hit me: it was no different from an elementary boy grumbling at his crush.
No emotions meant I could act casually.
I didn’t voice the opposite scenario.
Maybe my feelings got through clearly.
Until we reached the academy, they said nothing.
But the hands gripping me felt a bit tighter.