Chapter 153
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: A Lucky Day
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- Flash!
[System Algorithm #3: Client L's playback has ended.]
[ROOT #Family 2 (Family) streaming complete.]
[Searching for data packets from parallel worlds for the next scenario.]
Today, the playback has ended once again.
This is such a pity.
It's a shame there's no more to it.
It seemed like it would have been really interesting.
Anyway, leaving the darkened screen behind...
"......"
I turned my gaze to the real world.
Yi Seo-ryeong and Jahwa-yeon are still facing off.
Would it be too early to say that reality is also nearing its end, much like the video's content?
That's how it looks to me.
Let me talk a bit more about that parallel world.
The truly amazing part is how Yi Seo-ryeong fell head over heels for you after such a short meeting.
There must have been something special about it.
In a normal case—meaning if it hadn't been you—the outcome would have been horrific.
[CASE 1] [If it hadn't been Yoo Seon-woo]
[100% → Summary execution. Cervical vertebrae and skull connection severed before conversation attempt.]
"......"
In short, her head would have been ripped off, killing her instantly.
No mercy at all.
But what about in your case?
[CASE 2] [If it had been Yoo Seon-woo]
[50% → To the counseling room]
[50% → Straight to the bedroom]
In the end, it was the counseling room, but...
Since the final destination was the latter anyway, it amounts to the same thing.
Looking at this extreme difference,
Yi Seo-ryeong's loftiness and her standards for treating men are practically on the level of wild beasts.
She doesn't even consider men as people to begin with.
But with you alone, it was different.
The one and only exception.
Probably because your appearance and aura matched her subconscious ideal type...
And the scent of intimacy with Seol Yu-wol lingering in the air stimulated her.
And crucially, the major premise is:
If it hadn't been you, in that situation, Yi Seo-ryeong might have been torn apart and killed by her client Seol Yu-wol first.
The very premise doesn't even hold up!
"Ugh..."
I stretched and got up from my seat.
Rubbing my stiff back, I looked at you.
Honestly...
If things were as usual, I might have rummaged for the next file, found nothing, and bawled my eyes out.
I'd have whined for more kindling fuel.
But now,
I don't have a reason for that anymore.
To be frank, I'm far more excited about the reality ahead than that parallel world.
Want to see?
[IF Seol Yu-wol ▶ Seol Yu-wol (Reality)]
Intelligence:80.1 ▶ 91.1
[IF Yi Seo-ryeong ▶ Yi Seo-ryeong (Reality)]
Submissiveness:86.6 → 98.0
Latent Desire:10.0 → 80.0
As you can see,
Seol Yu-wol and Yi Seo-ryeong,
have become far...
more intense than in that parallel world.
Like how food aged over time tastes better than something just made, right?
Now, reality is approaching.
You...
I have a question.
"Ahem."
Have you done your back stretches?
Yi Seo-ryeong and Jahwa-yeon insisted on escorting me all the way home.
I firmly refused and shook them off before heading home.
It's protection duty starting tomorrow anyway—what's the point of doing it today?
On the way back, leaving behind their eyes brimming with regret,
I pondered the earlier situation.
Yi Seo-ryeong clearly hadn't considered even a tiny bit that Jahwa-yeon would join the protection detail.
But hearing Jahwa-yeon's side...
'It does make sense.'
There wasn't really a situation to block it.
Both Jahwa-yeon and Yi Seo-ryeong are Sinjung-won's top forces.
I don't care who protects me anyway.
In the end, Yi Seo-ryeong let out a deep sigh, saying it was fine as long as I was okay.
Personally, I just hope I never need protection.
I walked across a bridge over the Han River.
The night air is cold.
Whenever I take a solitary walk like this, there's always one chatty companion by my side.
[Ahem!]
[☆(> ω)v]
She somehow knows when I'm calling and slips right out.
"You didn't answer when I called earlier."
No matter what I asked, it said unavailable.
And now you pop up.
[I was a teensy bit... busy earlier!]
[An essential process for system maintenance, you could say?]
[It's all done now~]
She acts like she snuck some tasty snack.
When I get home, the chewy cookies I made will probably all be gone.
I let out a hollow chuckle and changed the subject.
"Anyway, System. Dimensional transfers are getting more frequent. Are we still far off?"
Lately, they seem to happen every other day.
I heard the Otherworlder adaptation facilities in each region are packed.
Fortunately, no S-rank transfers on Seol Yu-wol's level have occurred, so I haven't had to step in.
Not just Seoul, but cracks are increasing worldwide.
[Hmm... Well, it feels like it's almost cracked open.]
She delivers a chilling diagnosis in her flat tone.
[Like a dam leaking water before it bursts, maybe?]
"...... What? For real?"
I stopped walking.
I hadn't expected it to be that imminent.
I racked my brain, thinking if she'd ever been wrong before.
"......"
Never.
Her words were always spot on.
"What happens if the dam bursts?"
[More water comes flooding in.]
[Gush gush.]
"Water meaning people?"
[Could be...]
[Or even permanent dimensional transfers of terrain beyond mere erosion.]
I furrowed my brow.
When Seol Yu-wol fell here, a portion of Kunlun Mountain eroded reality.
We climbed that mountain and pulled her out of the cave, and over time, the terrain naturally faded.
But if it persists?
[Just a possibility. I'd have to see the dam burst to know!]
"What are you, really?"
The words slipped out earnestly.
How does she know all this...?
[I'm the system.]
[An eternal, unchanging fact.]
"Yeah. Sure."
I wasn't really asking for an answer.
If she's right, we'll see soon enough.
I'm planning to mess with her properly then.
"How old are you?"
If she's older than me, it'll be awkward to tease her.
[... Client Yi Seo-ryeong is 29, and Jahwa-yeon is 21.]
...... Yi Seo-ryeong is the same age as me.
Actually, I prefer same-age over younger.
And Jahwa-yeon is one year older than Seol Yu-wol...
No.
"No, not them. How old are you?"
Almost fell for it.
[......]
She went silent.
She usually answers promptly when asked.
What is this?
[There's a saying that asking a lady's age is rude.]
Look at this.
"Are you a lady?"
She's a woman, sure.
But a lady? Doubtful.
Never seen a lady devour 500g of pasta.
Hope I never do.
[I don't know!! I'll tell you when we meet in person later!!]
"Wow..."
She's really going off the rails now.
Refusing to answer like this is refreshingly new.
I was about to pry more, but by the time she finished, I was already at my door.
She slyly added an excuse.
[It's actually a bit tricky to calculate...]
[Different from Earth's time system...]
What's tricky about calculating age?
Is System a leap year baby?
I don't like that sort of thing much.
"Yes. I see."
I nodded perfunctorily and opened the door.
Fine.
Arguing would just tire my mouth.
I'll ask when we meet.
I'm usually pretty gentlemanly...
But I have a feeling I won't be with her.
I'll tease her real good.
The next morning.
"Haa..."
I yawned on my way to the counseling room.
My eyelids weigh a ton.
I should have just slept quietly last night.
[... But User, do you prefer older or younger women?]
But then she brought up that weird topic...
I ended up chatting with the system until dawn and couldn't sleep.
So I overslept, and skipped breakfast.
Thanks to a hunter's physiology, my energy metabolism is higher than a normal person's, so skipping meals drains me fast.
- Grumble...
"Gotta eat something."
There should be cup ramen at least.
[Me too.]
"......"
Want to smack her, but no energy, so I hold back.
- Creak.
I opened the door to the counseling room.
"......?"
What hit my nose wasn't the crisp winter morning air, but the fresh, fluffy scent of steamed rice.
I rubbed my eyes and peered inside.
There were already guests seated there.
On the table was a lavish spread that rivaled a royal banquet—12 courses? 13? Anyway, magnificent.
And on either side,
"...... Lady Baekju?"
Yi Seo-ryeong, neatly dressed in a white suit, was setting the tableware.
"Heavenly Demon...?"
Jahwa-yeon, draped in a dark red robe, rested her chin on her hand, waiting for me.
No... how did you get the key?
They're today's protection personnel, but only if something happens.
No need to come in the morning.
The problem is, this kind of intrusion? I'm always welcome.
Catering with 12 courses.
"Welcome."
Yi Seo-ryeong brightened at my footsteps and pulled out a chair.
"I heard you usually just have cereal for breakfast... It bothered me."
Yi Seo-ryeong placed utensils at my spot first and shyly bowed her head.
It was a casual remark before, but she remembered and took care of it.
"This Sovereign has permitted it. Hmph."
Jahwa-yeon, slouched across from her, chimed in.
"I tasted everything—no poison. Even checked for blemishes, so sit and eat well."
So she took a bite of each.
I held back a laugh and sat down.
Pretending to be prim with arms crossed, but her eyes are fixed on the braised ribs.
I heard her swallow.
"Ah, yes. Thank you for tasting it all."
I bowed slightly.
Then looked at Yi Seo-ryeong standing before me and bowed again.
"I'll... dig in."
"... Yes. I hope it suits your taste."
Yi Seo-ryeong sighed in relief and smiled brightly.
- Chomp chomp.
From the side, Jahwa-yeon abandoned all decorum and shoved braised ribs into her mouth.
Lucky day.
Didn't expect this fortune after skipping breakfast.
A truly perfect,
peaceful morning start.
- WEEEEEEEEEN-!!!
Until,
the siren signaling an S-rank or higher disaster alarm...
went off.