Princess Syndrome and the Sweet Love Quest

Seo Joo-hwan and Jeong Ha-yeon left the pocha, ignoring Lee Seok-chan's shouts behind them.

"Joo-hwan, you said you're living alone too, right?"

"Yeah. Right near the back gate."

"For real? Lucky. Those places are hard to snag."

The closer to school, the faster listings vanished. If Seo Joo-hwan had been hunting for a studio instead of a two-room, he wouldn't have scored anything that close either.

"Where do you live?"

"Pretty close too. Takes less than 15 minutes on foot."

"Seok-chan too?"

"Yeah. Same building."

Maybe because they already knew each other, they'd grabbed rooms in the same spot. Their building was about 10 minutes from his place.

By the time they reached the smoking booth, Seo Joo-hwan casually probed.

"Wanna smoke one before we go?"

"Sure… Wait, I don't smoke."

Jeong Ha-yeon nodded reflexively, then shook her head fast. Her reaction was so funny he couldn't help chuckling.

Why even hide it?

Seo Joo-hwan pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and said,

"Ha-yeon."

"Yeah?"

"You think I really wouldn't notice?"

"…Notice what?"

She was playing dumb to the end. Seo Joo-hwan snorted a laugh and held out a cigarette. Then he dropped the nickname he'd used for her.

"Princess Syndrome."

Jeong Ha-yeon's face stiffened at that. She scrunched up her nose and yelled,

"…I'm not Princess Syndrome! Ugh, seriously!"

Finally giving up, she snatched the cigarette with a defeated look.

Jeong Ha-yeon grumbled like she was wronged.

"Fuck. You're one to talk, Mr. Hunter."

"Pfft haha!"

"Hey, don't laugh. Ugh, I said don't laugh."

No way he could hold it in. Seo Joo-hwan snickered through his teeth. This weird coincidence was hilarious.

He couldn't stop laughing as he looked at Jeong Ha-yeon. The first place he'd met her in this life wasn't college. It was over three weeks earlier, right here in this smoking booth, when he'd lent her his lighter.

Her makeup had me second-guessing back then.

He'd just thought she was model-like. No way he'd guessed Jeong Ha-yeon.

And for good reason—her face back then was worlds apart from now.

Her makeup looked off, alright.

Jeong Ha-yeon's natural look was cool and aloof, almost frosty. Her cat-like eyes gave her a sharp edge. Ice beauty fit perfectly.

But right now, she was wearing clumsy makeup that didn't suit her at all. Her already pale skin was forced into a lively glow, and her eyeliner was pulled down to soften those fierce eyes. It made her seem gentler, sure—but mismatched enough to look like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠botched plastic surgery.

The funny part? This was exactly how he remembered her from before regression.

"You have no idea how baffled I was back then. I'd never hunted in my life."

"Ugh, embarrassing. Sorry about that."

Her voice went small, embarrassed at the Princess Syndrome jab. Her slight blush was cute.

He kept teasing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with giggles, so she pouted and grumbled back.

"You look like you'd be great at it."

"Wow, rude. Why keep ragging on my looks? What, having a place means I look the part?"

"Ugh. That was just an excuse! Did you know back then too?"

Her tsundere personality shone through, makeup or not, as she glared accusingly.

"Whoa, scary. Nah, I just had a hunch. Like, 'have I seen her somewhere?'"

"Really? Lie and drop dead."

She shook her fist threateningly. It didn't look like it'd hurt, but…

Wait, would it?

Jeong Ha-yeon's status window flashed in his mind. Her Athletics talent was currently B-grade, right?

Her status was shocking. No fetish was one thing, but that talent list was insane. Seven talents, all with A-grade potential or higher?

Life really is unfair. What kind of talent monster is she…

Not that he could complain with the Lust System.

Jeong Ha-yeon finished her cig in a flash and said,

"Whew. Holding back made it hit harder. One more okay?"

"Gonna charge you next time."

"Cheapskate. I'll pay you back later."

"Here."

"Thanks."

"Lighter too… pfft."

Seo Joo-hwan held out his lighter but burst out laughing. Instead of taking it, she lit up off the ember from her last butt. So practiced.

Curious, he asked,

"When'd you start smoking?"

"Me? First year of high school, maybe?"

"Seventeen? You were wild."

"What? No, not like that. Just… happened. I never bullied anyone."

Jeong Ha-yeon shook her head and hands furiously, denying it hard. It was just a joke, but she seemed touchy.

Too soon to pry?

Still curious, he pivoted.

"Why the bad makeup? You look prettier without."

"…Rude. That's kinda insulting to say to a girl."

No offense taken, though. She took a deep drag, eyeing him suspiciously.

"You sure you've never hunted? You say that stuff so smooth. Makes me feel singled out as Princess Syndrome."

"…Well, maybe once recently."

"Knew it! And you played innocent?"

"When I met you, it was legit zero."

"Anyway!"

She latched on like she'd scored a point. Clearly still salty about the nickname.

He shook his head, and she dropped it, changing subjects.

"The makeup… my face looks kinda fierce. People misunderstand, so I tried softening it."

"Misunderstand how?"

"Slutty, bitchy, barfly, bully."

She ticked them off on her fingers. Seo Joo-hwan freaked.

"No way. Who says that shit over a stern face?"

Slutty, maybe. But barfly? Bully? Just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for looks?

Jeong Ha-yeon snorted at his shock and switched topics again.

"Anyway, when'd you start? Fair's fair."

He wanted more dirt but shelved it. She clearly didn't want to go there.

"Me… 21?"

"Late starter. Rare for adults. Not army, right? You said you went."

She teased. He clammed up.

Her eyes went wide.

"No way, you really picked it up in the army?"

"…Yeah."

"Pfft! Kyahaha! Dude! They say smoking in the army's the dumbest shit!"

She cackled like she'd hit gold. Seo Joo-hwan exhaled a long plume, grumbling,

"That fucker Kim Byung-sik."

"Huh? Who's that?"

"Piece-of-shit senior who forced cigs on me."

"Pfft, sorry. Hehe."

"Funny?"

"Hahaha! Sorry, but it's hilarious. You don't look the type—total surprise."

What'd that mean? He thought his face looked easygoing, sharp eyes aside.

Oh yeah, my face changed a ton. Kinda thuggy now?

Curious, he asked,

"Don't look the type how?"

"Huh? You mad?"

She stopped laughing abruptly.

Mad? As if. He wasn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that petty.

"Nah, just curious."

"Phew, thought you were sulking. Kept ragging on your looks. Sorry."

"Hey, chill. I was joking too—no hard feelings."

Talking more, he sensed her hidden insecurity.

Relieved, she smiled and said,

"Your eyes are sharp, you're built, got some vibe. Thought you were like Seok-chan."

He perked up at "vibe." Like Seok-chan how?

Jeong Ha-yeon continued,

"But hanging out today? Nah."

"What now?"

"Sharp eyes, but soft gaze. Shyer than expected. What's the term? Oh!"

"What?"

"Kinda simp-y."

"…."

Too harsh. Seo Joo-hwan was stunned. Even after his body overhaul, she saw that?

Pre-regression remnants lingering?

"Joo-hwan, you mad?"

"…Yeah, so don't talk to me."

"Pfft! Ahaha, kyahaha!"

"You're laughing too hard…."

Ashes were gonna fly into his mouth. She patted his shoulder.

"Sorry~. Don't be mad. Not an insult."

"Simp-y?"

"Hehe. Means sweet. I like sweet guys. And I'm similar anyway."

His eyes widened. One phrase stuck.

"You like me?"

"Pfft! Dude, what? Not like that. I like tall guys."

"I'm pretty tall."

"Huh? Oh, yeah."

She sized him up, tilting her head.

"You grew? No insoles?"

"Insoles? Please."

"Hmm. Still under 180."

Apologize to every guy under 180 nationwide! He wanted to say it, but tastes were tastes.

Casually, he replied,

"I'll hit 180."

"Pfft. You're 23."

"Guys grow after adulthood."

Target: 183! His ideal. He'd hit it with items, no doubt.

Jeong Ha-yeon went on,

"Anyway, not just tall… I don't like super handsome guys."

"Huh? Why? Pretty and hot's ideal, right?"

He'd thought so even when fat and ugly.

"Hmm… guys who flirt everywhere? Players? Can't word it right."

"Me?"

"From what I've seen?"

"One day ain't enough…."

Guilty as charged post-regression. Harem-building spree, four lays already, no girlfriends.

Suddenly felt like trash.

But Jeong Ha-yeon looked apologetic.

"Just random talk. Not hating on you. Can't judge a day… Ugh, saying too much. How'd we get here?"

She rambled tsundere-style. Seo Joo-hwan chuckled, tapping her shoulder.

"Cigs done? Let's go. I'll walk you."

"Huh? Nah, it's close."

"You were wobbling drunk."

"I'm fine, really."

She waved him off. Pushing more might be too much. Guy she barely knew tailing her home? Creepy.

Seo Joo-hwan and Jeong Ha-yeon chatted idly as they walked. Mostly him convincing her to dress Jang Deok-hoon in drag.

Five minutes in, they split at a fork.

"See ya. Tomorrow."

"Yeah. Later."

"Get home safe."

Jeong Ha-yeon waved without looking back. Seo Joo-hwan watched her go.

"Pretty, alright."

Streetlight-glow silhouette was striking. She'd been staggering minutes ago, now striding straight. Like she was proving no need to worry. Prideful one.

He turned and headed home. Ten minutes away.

Crowded.

Past the busy strip, still lots of college-age kids. Eavesdropping, first-day house parties brewing.

Couples galore.

Couples or flings, three pairs holding hands sweetly already. Semester start: short-lived pairs sprout like weeds.

Jealous.

Buzzed, Seo Joo-hwan moon-gazed drunkenly. Bright moon pierced clouds.

Fewer people now.

Then—ding!

The fourth Lust Quest had popped. Reading it, Seo Joo-hwan let out a hollow laugh. Unusually peppy tone—like teasing.

"What the… Lucy?"

"Huh?"

"Streetlight?"

He followed her gaze.

"Wheeeek~!"

Some girl was face-planting a streetlight, puking her guts out. And he knew her.

"Yoo Ji-kyeong?"

The Publishing Content freshman from earlier, with Baek Jeong-gi.