Chapter 17
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Tail (2)
"Huff... huff..."
After eating ramen with Cha Ji-hyuk and returning home, I tossed my coat carelessly in the entryway and headed straight to the bathroom.
The moment I pulled the tissue I'd hidden in my pocket, I dropped it into the toilet and flushed without hesitation.
Clunk—
Only after confirming the water had completely swallowed it up did I relax.
"Phew..."
Finally, the tension pressing on my chest eased a little.
Even thinking back on it now made cold sweat break out.
I'd thought I'd perfectly wiped away my saliva, but then I went and dropped that tissue...
When I heard what Cha Ji-hyuk said, every possible thought raced through my mind.
What if he'd picked up that tissue?
What if he'd held it in his hand—even put it in his mouth for a moment?
I'd suppressed those anxieties and casually asked him, pretending nothing was wrong. Fortunately, he said he'd only looked at it and left it there.
He even added that no one normally bothers with something like "taking used tissues as courtesy," which I'd desperately thrown out as an excuse.
It really was a stroke of immense luck.
Thanks to his answer, I'd managed to cling to my sanity and make it home.
Of course, there was a chance he'd already obtained my bodily fluids and lied about it.
But I immediately shook my head inwardly.
If he'd really gotten my saliva, I'd be struggling right now with my body inexplicably heating up for no reason.
In the original story, the moment he got Ryu Ah-young's fluids, he'd blindly ramped up her lust.
And above all, if he were truly targeting my body and had collected my saliva, he wouldn't have brought it up to me first.
"Ughhh..."
Shaking off the worries, I left the bathroom, stripped down to my underwear, turned on the AC, and flopped onto the bed.
The heat built up all day from the disguise finally started to dissipate.
Honestly, doing this in this sweltering weather was annoying and such a hassle.
Still, today had driven home the importance of the disguise once again.
Cha Ji-hyuk was showing unusual interest in me, but he hadn't made any moves on my saliva—probably because I deliberately made myself look so plain.
"Does he just see me as a friend...?"
Mulling over his attitude toward me, that thought suddenly crossed my mind.
Even today, he had a chance to get my fluids but didn't take it.
A rational fondness, but wanting to get closer—no romantic interest.
Come to think of it, he'd called me fun but never said he liked me.
If he'd said something like that, I'd have ditched him on the spot and cut off hearing him out.
So then... maybe...
Being somewhat friendly wouldn't be so bad...?
He wasn't targeting my body right now, and I knew his abilities, so I could just be cautious.
At first, when he appointed himself my mentor, it felt sleazy and repulsive, but looking back now, there wasn't anyone better suited than Cha Ji-hyuk.
He'd kept his promise not to do anything stupid,
staked his pride to motivate me,
and above all, even with the bet on the line, he'd taught me diligently and actually improved my grades.
"As a girl friend... maybe it's fine..."
Sure, he was a sleazy trash when it came to girls he liked, but as a friend, he didn't seem half bad.
Though his massive ego was a bit irritating.
My body might be female, but my mind was male, after all.
If I treated him like a same-sex friend...
"Pushing away his goodwill entirely feels off too..."
He was the only one in class I could casually chat with anyway.
I'd have to see him throughout the break anyway, so being prickly wouldn't help.
Just... get along moderately.
"As long as I keep up the disguise..."
Yeah, summer would suck, but if I stuck to this look, it'd be okay.
If he ever started targeting my body, he'd get blatant about trying to get my fluids.
I could cut ties then.
In this world where I was all alone with no connections, having one person to hang out with wasn't bad.
I'd use him until the three years were up and I left this place.
"Mm-hmm!"
With my thoughts settled, sleepiness washed over me.
I must've partied too hard yesterday after passing math.
I entrusted my body to the soft bed and closed my eyes peacefully.
Back home, Ji-hyuk sank into thought.
Her, wary of an ability even he hadn't fully mastered.
More precisely, she seemed to know exactly the activation conditions.
"What should I do now..."
Originally, he'd planned to consume her fluids, alter her body subtly, and naturally take the spot by her side.
Make her, oblivious, recognize him as a man as her lust rose.
When she struggled with unquenchable desire, just being nearby would suffice.
Easily claim her body, then win her heart from there.
But if she knew about this ability, everything changed.
Even if he somehow got her fluids without her noticing, suddenly spiking her lust or sensitizing her body would tip her off.
What would she do if she realized he'd obtained her fluids?
'She'd run...'
She could drop out and vanish. The heightened lust could be relieved with another guy.
Unaware she was possessed, Ji-hyuk clenched his fist at the mere possibility.
Just imagining it sent disgust surging through him.
Kang Seo-ah—so close, yet so hard to grasp.
Why did it have to be her who knew his ability? Ji-hyuk resented the heavens.
"Phew..."
Ji-hyuk rubbed his dry face and steeled himself again.
This wasn't the time for complaints. He needed to replan.
For starters, no obvious ploys to get her fluids.
She was already this guarded; blatant moves would make her bolt.
He was glad he'd only recently realized his feelings.
Otherwise, he'd have wasted time on futile efforts, oblivious to her knowledge.
Ji-hyuk stayed up all night pondering.
And he reached one conclusion.
Adjust her stats so subtly she wouldn't notice, and slowly win her heart over time.
So that even if she figured everything out, her emotions would keep her from leaving.
It wouldn't be easy.
It'd take ages, and success wasn't guaranteed.
But it was the only way.
And not impossible.
Her knowing his ability was a huge hassle, but
conversely, despite knowing, hadn't she refused to annul the bet just to avoid distancing from him?
That choice might not be affection yet, but it had plenty of room to grow into it.
He'd maximize their break meetings...
First, secure her fluids without her noticing.
With that resolve, Ji-hyuk stayed awake till dawn,
rummaging through every possible method in his mind.
Mid-July, but the weather felt oddly cool for some reason.
Thanks to that, I entered the classroom feeling fresher than usual.
"So I picked up DeLirious yesterday..."
"Honestly, my carriage carried us at the end."
"So that guy said to me yesterday..."
"Kyaa! And then? What happened?!"
Right after exams ended, the classroom buzzed with none of yesterday's silence left.
Kids boasting their exploits in excited voices, others listening and enjoying.
The light, lively vibe even lifted my spirits.
The only downside? No one coming to talk to me.
I'd stuck to myself at the semester's start, then only hung with Cha Ji-hyuk after—so inevitable.
...Realizing this, it hit me anew: aside from Cha Ji-hyuk, I had zero real relationships here.
"Hey, Kang Seo-ah."
As if on cue, Cha Ji-hyuk called my name and plopped down in front of me.
"Did you take care of what you left behind yesterday?"
"Huh? Oh... that?"
I froze for a second, then nodded.
"Yeah, I took care of it."
What was this out of nowhere?
I almost blurted, 'Me?'
"Good. Oh, right. The professor said we don't have to do the mentor-mentee thing anymore. What do you think?"
"Think about what?"
"To prep for any fails next semester, we meet during break. Wondering if you want to start lessons now."
"...Exams just ended yesterday. Let's rest."
"Then let's hang out today."
"Scram."
I'd decided to get a bit friendlier with Cha Ji-hyuk, but this was too much.
What I wanted was to moderately mingle in unavoidable situations,
not carve out time to meet him.
"You said rest."
"At home."
"That's not resting."
"It's not working, so stop."
At my firm refusal, Cha Ji-hyuk shook his head with a weary look.
Then let out a short sigh.
"Too bad. That ramen place we went to yesterday has a discount today. Was gonna treat you."
He added with a sly grin.
"Still no?"
'Oh...'
That was tempting.
I'd held back yesterday watching him, unable to eat freely...
But going with him again? Pointless.
"Yeah, it was good... but going twice in a row feels off."
The hot broth flashed in my mind, but I shook my head, swallowing my regret.
"Tch... Yeah, now that you say it."
Cha Ji-hyuk nodded in agreement.
Reading his mood, I asked.
"Not going?"
"Nah, don't feel like eating alone outside."
"Such a drama queen."
I said that, but my mind raced.
If he wasn't going, today was my chance.
I wanted to try other menu items besides the tonkotsu ramen—and with a discount too.
"Really not going?"
"Not going."
After my second refusal, homeroom started, and Cha Ji-hyuk returned to his seat.
Watching his back, I resolved inwardly.
After school, straight to the ramen shop.