Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: EP.20
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I pushed aside my unease and headed into the office.
The commute was the same as always, but the atmosphere in the company office was markedly different from usual.
"Hey, it's Kim the assistant manager."
"What's the real deal between Kim and Min Seola?"
"He said it was because he got kidnapped by villains."
The aftermath of Min Seola personally showing up with a homemade lunchbox was bigger than I'd expected.
My colleagues kept stealing glances at me like I was a monkey in a zoo, and my name was constantly coming up near the break room.
"Min Seola's so busy, though."
"Yeah, it does feel kinda off."
"You think there's really something there?"
Things like me being a parachuted-in hire, or a chaebol heir.
Or maybe Min Seola's secret boyfriend.
All sorts of wild stories were being spun.
"Kim Seonghwa-ssi. Come see me for a sec."
Even before work officially started, a summons came from Team Leader Choi Yura.
I swallowed a sigh inwardly and followed her.
But once we stepped into the meeting room, Choi Yura's demeanor was surprisingly straightforward.
"Sit."
She leaned against the desk with her arms crossed, looking down at me.
The snake-like sharpness in her eyes was strangely softened today.
"Honestly, after Min Seola left yesterday, I figured you'd be strutting around all smug."
"...Pardon?"
"Not that it's some huge connection, but if you've got ties like that, people tend to get cocky. You know, slacking off, talking back, relying on it."
Choi Yura let out a smirk.
"But you quietly stayed late yesterday and handled every single one of those task bombs I threw at you before leaving?"
Her gaze scanned me slowly.
"Wasn't planning to keep an eye on you, but seeing you working overtime caught me off guard a bit."
It wasn't sarcasm.
It was a reevaluation from her boss's perspective, based purely on the facts.
'Crazy bitch... She told me to wrap it up myself and leave...'
But if she was willing to see me in a good light, what was the point in arguing?
I bowed my head with a neutral expression.
"Thank you."
"Yeah. I like that attitude. Even if I praised you right now, you wouldn't let it go to your head."
Choi Yura waved her hand dismissively.
"Just keep it up like this. Then I won't bother you. I don't care about your personal life—as long as you do your job properly here, whatever connections you have with Min Seola or anyone else, I won't look at you through colored glasses."
She started to turn back to her seat.
"And leave on time today. You put in overtime after all that chaos yesterday. Don't worry about optics—just go home."
"Thank you, Team Leader."
My footsteps felt strangely light as I left the meeting room.
'Choi Yura. I thought she was just a total bitch, but she's surprisingly professional?'
At the very least, office life felt like it'd been downgraded from hellfire to a thorny path.
An ordinary company man—that was the simple daily life I wanted, so her acknowledgment meant quite a bit.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ On the way home.
I zoned out staring at the subway window when my pocket buzzed.
The name on the screen was a college classmate.
A guy I hadn't talked to much since graduation a few years back.
"Hello?"
-Hey, Kim Seonghwa! How've you been?
"Eh, same old. What's up?"
-Nothing much, just coordinating dates for the year-end class reunion. You free? Calling to tell you to block it off early.
A reunion, huh. Already that season?
I replied half-heartedly.
"Dunno. Work's busy, can't commit for sure."
-Come on, don't be like that. It's been ages—let's catch up.
-Oh, and you hear the news?
My friend's voice pitched up a notch.
It had that vibe of dropping some juicy gossip.
-You know Lee Yerin? The goddess from our department.
-Word is she awakened this time.
-Talk about a total winner in life. Isn't that too unfair?
"Yeah?"
-Yeah. She might show up to this gathering too.
-Aren't you curious? You don't run into Awakeners every day, right?
'I've got way too fucking many around me.'
I wanted to empathize with his excitement, but did he even know how exhausting Awakeners could be?
'Hell, I'm one too.'
But I had no intention of bragging about it.
"Not really. What does her awakening have to do with me?"
-Dude, aren't you a bit too dry?
-Makes sense, though. There'll be a truckload of guys showing up just to hit on her anyway. Better off without that.
Agreed.
Mingling with those types, clinking glasses, droning on about hating the company or dating woes.
It might be part of normal life for some, but to me right now, it was just an annoying event.
"Hearing about it just killed my interest even more. Not going. Anyway, busy—gotta hang up."
I ended the call and looked at the subway window.
My reflection stared back, looking drained.
'What a joke I am.'
Shouting that I want a normal life, yet unable to fit into the world of my ordinary friends—a contradiction.
I might have already crossed a river of no return.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ My body felt heavy as lead today.
Soon as I get home, crack open a canned beer and crash.
With that thought, I stepped inside—and froze.
"Haa..."
Was even that small comfort not allowed today?
'This is total bullshit.'
One person sitting on my sofa.
Black suit silhouette. Legs crossed, arms folded, staring at me without a twitch.
A woman.
"You're home a bit earlier than expected."
It was Seo Jubin.
She sat there as naturally as if it were her own place.
"I get that you know my off day, but is breaking into someone else's house like this okay?"
I kicked off my shoes with a hollow laugh.
"Is unauthorized home invasion legal for Hero aides?"
"If necessary."
"Guess I need to change the passcode, damn it."
Seo Jubin didn't even blink at my sarcasm.
"I waited because I have something to discuss."
"Not sure if it really has to be done this way."
"It does."
Seo Jubin replied with utter conviction.
"Straight to the point. That 'overload' you mentioned? It's a lie."
"......"
"You said it has a cooldown, and being reckless shortens your lifespan."
Seo Jubin adjusted her glasses and added,
"But get this. After rolling around with me all night, the next day when Seola-nim brought you lunch, and even now... your complexion isn't sickly at all—it's glowing."
Her gaze raked over my entire body.
"Seola-nim might be too worried to notice, but you can't fool my eyes."
Her eyes grew even colder.
"Your ability has no risks. Right?"
I kept my mouth shut.
No point denying it to her.
Seo Jubin took my silence as confirmation and lifted the corner of her mouth ever so slightly.
"What do you think would happen if I reported this to Seola-nim? You saw how she barged into your company without a care. This would make your life way more exhausting. You okay with that?"
It was blackmail.
Blackmail holding hostage the destruction of the everyday life I feared most.
"So I'll keep it a secret for you. I'll make up some excuse to keep her away."
"And your condition?"
"Simple. From now on, I'll inspect and manage Seonghwa-ssi's condition."
"What?"
She dressed it up nicely as inspection and management, but her real intent was obvious.
She didn't want to lose me to Min Seola. She wanted me all to herself.
And she was already addicted to the pleasure my body gave her.
"Pfft!"
I couldn't help but snort.
Unbelievable. Who the hell does she think she's threatening?
"Pretty words."
I closed in on Seo Jubin, who sat there with her haughty expression.
Caught off guard by my reaction, her eyes wavered slightly.
"You? Manage me? That's hilarious."
"...Watch your mouth. I'm suggesting this for your sake."
"For my sake?"
I scoffed and wrapped one arm around her waist.
With the other, I gripped her thigh peeking out from her short H-line skirt.
"Let's be real. Management? Inspection? Just admit you're going crazy for my cock."
"Wh-what...!"
"If you wanna watch, go ahead. But you really came here to threaten me?"
While she flustered, I wedged between her legs and forced her knees apart.
"Why are your legs crossed? Trying to hide the slutty scent of your dripping wet pussy vibrating with need?"
Seo Jubin's face flushed bright red.
"What? The smell's even stronger now?"
I slipped my hand between the buttons of her blouse.
It dove under her bra, pinching the hardened nipple atop her soft skin.
"Ahk!"
A stifled moan burst from Seo Jubin's lips.
"Look at this. You come to threaten me, and your nipples are rock hard?"
"Th-this... is just a physiological response!"
"Physiological? Oh yeah?"
I grinned wickedly and slid my hand under her skirt.
Hot heat seeped through her stockings.
And the wet cling of her panties.
"Haaah..."
Seo Jubin's body twitched.
Ignoring it, I pressed my fingers firmly against her soaked spot.
Squelch.
The lewd wet sound echoed through the quiet living room.
Seo Jubin's face burned crimson like a ripe persimmon in an instant.
"Pretty soaked for just a physiological thing, huh?"
I rubbed over her drenched panties, staring straight into her eyes.
This was the moment her rational, aloof mask shattered to pieces.
"Your pussy's gushing like this—what management? You came begging to be fucked."
"Haa... That's not... Hnngh!"
"It is. Your body's screaming for it. Begging for my cock."
I shoved her back onto the sofa.
Seo Jubin couldn't muster a rebuttal, panting as she looked up at me with her flushed face.
Her eyes were already glazed with pleasure and shame.
"Perverted bitch."
I was about to mount her right then.
Vrrr—vrrrr—
Seo Jubin's phone buzzed loudly.
The caller ID on the screen.
[Seola-nim]
Seo Jubin's eyes widened.
She reflexively reached for the phone, but I was faster.
I pinned her wrist down and grinned.
"Answer it."
"...Pardon?"
"Your loyal aide won't pick up, and she'll get suspicious."
Saying that, I unzipped my pants.
My rock-hard cockhead sprang out.
"Not gonna?"
I shoved her panties aside and pressed my glans against her slick hole.
"Might even put it in if you do."
Seo Jubin hesitated with trembling hands for a moment, then hit the call button.
"Y-yes, Seola-nim..."
Terror, depravity, and uncontrollable excitement twisted her face into something bizarre.
-Hey, Jubin-ah.
The moment Min Seola's voice came through, I gripped Seo Jubin's hips tight and thrust my cock in deep.
Splurt!!
"Hahk?!!"
Seo Jubin's back arched sharply.
She desperately clamped her hand over her mouth.