Chapter 139

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 139

Chapter Title: Can I Eat It?

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I unwittingly reached out my hand.

- Swish.

My thumb gently wiped the red bean paste from the corner of Lee Seo-ryeong's mouth.

A warm heat transmitted to my fingertips.

"Ah…."

Lee Seo-ryeong's face flushed as she panicked.

Hot steam leaked from between her slightly parted lips.

"You had some on your face."

"Thank you…."

Lee Seo-ryeong hurriedly bowed her head. She mumbled as she buried her face in the collar of her puffer jacket.

A strange tension hung in the air.

But there was something more important right now.

I cleared my throat to lighten the mood and slowly opened my mouth.

What happened with Seol Yu-wol earlier today.

And her current situation—I explained it all without omission.

"So… is there any way to address this through the contract…."

My long explanation came to an end.

Lee Seo-ryeong had been listening blankly before letting out a soft sigh.

"So that's what happened…."

She nodded slowly.

"Yu-wol looked down today. That must've been why."

"I see…."

She must've been in a bad mood.

Thinking of Yu-wol moping since morning made one corner of my heart feel unsettled.

Reading the emotion flickering across my face, Lee Seo-ryeong smiled gently.

"Fortunately, there seem to be a ton—a ton—of ways to handle this contract-wise."

Good news.

Strength entered Lee Seo-ryeong's voice.

She was undoubtedly far more of an expert than me.

As the head of Korea's top guild, she'd handled this sort of thing countless times.

"There are plenty of openings to exploit."

She slid toward me smoothly, like melting.

As the physical distance closed, a wave of heat hit me.

- Swish….

Her pale hand glided softly up my forearm.

A touch too warm to be mere comfort.

- Swish… swish….

Lee Seo-ryeong stroked me as if to reassure.

"So you don't need to worry about a thing, Doctor."

She locked eyes with me and whispered softly.

"I'll take care of everything neatly."

In response to her confident words….

"…Thank you."

I could only nod.

As expected of the Alliance Leader—such charisma.

That settled Yu-wol's issue for now.

She'd handle it perfectly on her own.

Better than I ever could.

Now….

It was time to part ways.

From what I knew, the distance from here to Shin Jungwon HQ wasn't far.

She lived in the dorms there, no separate lodging.

It was close, but I didn't like sending her alone down a night path.

'…….'

Who was I kidding worrying like this.

She was an S-rank hunter.

Just a feeling, that's all.

I spoke up.

"Let me walk you back."

I offered politely.

Lee Seo-ryeong's eyes widened round.

She waved her hands like a shy girl and smiled bashfully.

"Oh, you don't have to…."

But even as she said it, her feet were already heading toward Shin Jungwon.

A courtesy refusal, then.

She took the lead with quick steps, not waiting for me.

Sorry, but those "quick steps" were a real chore to keep up with.

I huffed and puffed, barely matching her stride.

The physical distance was short, but it felt like a marathon to the Shin Jungwon grounds.

She finally stopped at the main gate.

"Thank you for seeing me back, Doctor."

She stared at me without going in.

I gestured for her to hurry inside.

Lee Seo-ryeong took a step.

She kept looking back, then suddenly whipped around.

"?"

The distance closed in an instant. Caught off guard by her momentum right in my face, I flinched.

What the—.

"What's wro—."

"Today…!"

- Grab.

Lee Seo-ryeong seized my wrist.

Her trembling eyes looked up at me.

"…was fun…."

With that, Lee Seo-ryeong….

- Whoosh.

kicked off the ground and leaped into the air.

The hem of her black puffer jacket sliced through the night sky before vanishing neatly into an open high-rise window.

"……."

I stared blankly into the sky, then slowly raised my hand.

And touched my cheek.

"…It's hot."

It burned.

I got home.

Plopped straight onto the sofa.

I stared at the ceiling, reviewing the day.

Today's summary.

Lazybones incarnate.

Plenty had happened, sure.

From resolving Seol Yu-wol's issue to this and that….

But something felt off.

All I remembered was hanging out and chatting with women.

And that's pretty much what it was.

"How'd it end up like this."

"……."

I didn't know about the happiness index skyrocketing.

But it hadn't been a bad day.

Compared to the sticky start that morning, the end felt refreshingly clean.

You're spot on as always.

Never wrong.

I sprang up from my seat.

I dashed to the bed, ignoring the system window's shriek.

Then thrust my hand into the rippling hole.

My flailing fingertips gripped something large and round—heavy.

A volume that wouldn't fit in one hand.

Such a big melon head.

Figuring that was the head, I snapped my fingers.

- Snap!

I flicked her forehead.

Probably around the crown.

Recalling earlier, I smirked.

"What do you mean 'hold tight'."

I really thought I was gonna lose it back then.

Almost grabbed….

Incorrigible—another flick.

This time, aiming lower center.

So… forehead.

- Snap!

Huh?

The sensation on my fingertips felt odd this time. Something springy bounced back….

Not the crown.

Did I hit her nose by mistake?

"Did I just hit your nose?"

The message lagged a beat behind usual.

Ah, not what I meant to do.

Good thing I didn't hit hard.

Just a light tap.

I pulled my hand out.

"…Sorry."

Suddenly felt bad.

Meant it as a joke, but without seeing, I messed up.

"Sorry, really. Won't hit anymore."

Thought she was sulking, but good she's not.

I haven't spanked before—what's that about.

Anyone'd think I beat her.

"Enough. Can't do much without seeing your face."

Yeah.

Suddenly curious.

"So when will you show your face?"

Mention of face, and her messages cut off.

I crossed my arms and stared at the hole.

"Hmm…."

Always let it slide before, but not this time.

I'll press till I get an answer.

"Aren't you hungry?"

I've been feeding her all meals lately.

Wonder how she survived before.

"No answer, no food."

A threat—not quite a threat.

Petty, but oh well.

"So when?"

Honestly speaking.

I want to see you too.

Closest friend and companion—natural, right?

We click so well.

I shoved my face right up to the hole.

"Huh?"

For real?

Didn't see that coming.

"What's the benchmark?"

Curious about the context.

Didn't seem like just time passing would do it.

Felt like some condition needed fulfilling.

Pretty unfamiliar term.

Isolation…?

Her explanation continued.

I blankly stared at the hole.

Yeah.

From mass transfers to over-transfer phenomena in Korea and beyond.

Hit critical mass?

I waited for the next line.

Swallowing dryly—then.

"Hey!"

I yelled reflexively and stumbled back.

The squirming emoticon cheekily shook its hips.

So to sum up….

More transfers create cracks, thin the walls, and we meet?

"Sounds fun."

No empty words.

Given recent transfer trends, "not long" felt real.

Couldn't help the anticipation building.

"What'll you do when we meet?"

Wondered if she had requests.

First time in this world, after all.

She answered without hesitation.

"Got it."

I chuckled wryly and nodded.

Comes all this way just to eat.

So modest.

Glutton.

Her double-check looked desperate.

"Yeah, whatever—tell me, I'll feed you."

Start with tonight's meal.

Pasta for reconciliation.

I stood up.

I brushed it off casually and headed to the kitchen.

"I know~"

Stretched to loosen my stiff body.

A system window popped up behind me.

A sly, lecherous expression.

I chuckled wryly at it.