Chapter 85: Uninvited Guest
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 85: Uninvited Guest
This was back when I was a kid, but Seoul was once on the verge of annihilation.
As a result, even now, the outskirts of the city suffer from unstable security, and there are many underdeveloped neighborhoods.
Nevertheless, the fact that Seoul was the capital and number one city of the Republic of Korea remained unchanged. Having been destroyed and rebuilt, Seoul could hold its own against any other city in the world.
That's why, even on a weekday, the downtown area was so packed with people there was hardly room to set foot.
“...Why is some blessing so damn expensive?”
Of course, regardless of the bustling city, my steps were heavy as I made my way through the streets. And my bank account was lighter than ever.
[S Bank]
[Balance: What do you expect?]
“Hoo...”
My heart sank, and I couldn't tear my eyes away from my phone screen.
Honestly, I'd expected a blessing reserved for the rich to be expensive, but I never imagined it would be that expensive...
Still, considering the future, the 'Blessing of Infertility' was a necessity, not an option. It was a hassle to use a condom every time with Cheon Yeo-hwa, and frankly, I didn't want to. Sex without finishing inside isn't sex; it's just kids playing house.
A vasectomy was another option, but the idea of physically tying up my precious passage was off-putting. If anything went wrong, I'd end up blowing up the entire hospital, turning into a villain, and getting chased by heroes.
I'd much rather spend the money and get a guaranteed blessing. It was a hundred times better.
Besides, thanks to a high-ranking person being at the church at just the right time, the blessing process was over quickly.
“...I can always make more money.”
Trying to convince myself I was fine, I started walking again. Before long, I arrived in front of a massive building.
Hunter Square.
It was the largest department store in the country for all things Hunter-related, a place where you could buy various weapons, special equipment, and a wide range of magic tools.
It was so huge that even famous Hunters from major guilds often visited.
The chance to see these famous Hunters, who were as hard to meet as celebrities, and the novelty of browsing magic tools not easily accessible to the public, meant that Hunter Square always had a steady stream of ordinary visitors.
Of course, without a Hunter-related license or, in my case, a wizard registration card, it was impossible to purchase most of the items.
“It's pretty big.”
I'd only heard about it from others; this was my first time actually coming here. If I'd had a girlfriend, I might have come here once on a date, but I knew better than anyone that such a past didn't exist in any world line.
“Still, what's taking her so long?”
“Hey.”
As I was checking my watch, a familiar voice from behind made my head turn automatically.
“What did you just say?”
I'd seen her face countless times, but my eyes met Choi Hyena's, a sight I could never quite get used to.
“What? 'What's taking you so long?' The time you set was 4:30, and it's only 4:00 right now, you know?”
Seeing Choi Hyena after what was practically a week, she felt somewhat unfamiliar. Was it because she was so pretty?
Dressed in a dark brown blouse and a black pencil skirt, she reminded me of the heroine from an office drama I once enjoyed. Of course, compared to Choi Hyena, the actress who played that role felt like an ordinary person.
Choi Hyena, whom I hadn't seen in a while, was so stylish and beautiful that anyone would mistake her for a celebrity. Even now, the gazes of the men around us were fixed on her. It was no exception even for those with girlfriends right next to them.
Ignoring the men getting smacked by their girlfriends, I walked over to her.
“You're early.”
“I'm already late, you know?”
As she turned away coyly, I looked at her back and thought that it wasn't just her life I had saved.
When we first met, she had the personality of a train wreck, but now she seemed halfway human.
A satisfied smile crept onto my face, but I couldn't help feeling annoyed. I saved her life and even fixed her personality, and she dares to lie to me with a fake pregnancy?
“What are you spacing out for? If you're going to suddenly call someone out because you have somewhere to be, you should lead the... Eek?!”
Just as she was about to start nagging, I suddenly grabbed her hand, and a sharp cry echoed through the first-floor plaza.
Embarrassed by the sudden rush of attention, Choi Hyena quieted down, but the glare in her eyes didn't die.
“What do you think you're doing...!" she hissed in a whisper.
Even as she scolded me, her hand felt as smooth and soft as silk. It looked like she'd had them done, as her nails were adorned with more elaborate decorations than usual.
“What? Am I not allowed to hold your hand?”
“What...?”
Seeing her look up at me with a dumbfounded expression, the corners of my mouth lifted on their own.
“I'm just holding the hand of the person who's going to bear my child. Is there a problem?”
“Wh-what...?”
“You look pretty today. Did you get all dressed up to meet me?”
Choi Hyena didn't answer. With her eyes wide, unable to say a word, I led her toward our destination. If she wanted me to lead, I would.
Was it because our fingers were interlocked? Her palm was slick with sweat.
Judging by the way she was fidgeting, it didn't seem like she disliked it.
'Stop staring, you guys.'
Just for holding Choi Hyena's hand, I was being pierced by countless glares of jealousy and envy. If all the men staring had awakened their magic, I would have struggled to even walk under the pressure of their killing intent alone.
To escape the bothersome attention, I immediately stepped into an elevator that had just arrived. However, the crowd that followed pushed us naturally into a corner.
I stood with my back to the crowd to create some space and had Choi Hyena stand in the corner. I didn't want her to come into contact with anyone else.
With a faint resistance against gravity, the elevator began its ascent.
Despite the crowd, a heavy silence filled the space. Just as I could only hear the sound of people breathing, my eyes met Choi Hyena's as she quietly looked up at me.
Her face was flushed a brilliant red, as if it would burst at any moment, and she was busy avoiding my gaze. I took another step closer to her.
“Hn...”
Clearly flustered, Choi Hyena shot me a glare, but considering how she'd tormented me with her outrageous lies, I couldn't let her off easy.
Swoosh. My hand reached out and touched her lower abdomen.
“...Hik?!”
A sharp gasp escaped Choi Hyena's lips at the sudden physical contact, but thankfully, it was drowned out by the music playing from the speakers, and no one turned to look.
'Are-are you crazy...?!'
Choi Hyena pressed closer and whispered her accusation, but I didn't back down.
I blatantly caressed her smooth stomach, observing her reaction.
'They say massages are important in early pregnancy.'
'Wh-why are you doing that here!'
'Because it's what your god-like husband wants to do.'
Pregnancy and husband.
Hearing those two words, Choi Hyena seemed to fall under a spell. She bit her lip and just glared at me, offering no other resistance.
'Hah... haah...♡'
But as I continued to stroke her belly, it seemed to become too much for her to bear, and heated breaths escaped from between her crushed lips.
What? Why was she reacting like this just from me stroking her stomach?
Ting—
[The Sex Expert skill has been activated.]
[Sexual Intercourse Bonus +20%]
Just touching is no fun.
Of course, since it wasn't penetration or foreplay, the effect was significantly reduced.
Still, judging by her reaction, it wasn't entirely ineffective. I continued to rub her lower abdomen with my palm, then deliberately pressed down a little harder.
“Heugh...?!!♡”
A rather loud moan escaped her lips at the sudden stimulation. Startled, Choi Hyena immediately clamped a hand over her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut.
—The doors are opening.
To her relief, the elevator doors opened just in the nick of time, and people flooded out like an ebbing tide, so no one saw us.
A wave of relief washed over Choi Hyena's face, who thought she'd been caught, but at the same time, a murderous glint appeared in her eyes as she looked at me.
*
Thump, thump!
“You're crazy, you're crazy, you're crazy, you're crazy!”
“...That hurts.”
“I'm hitting you so it hurts!”
After we got off the elevator, Choi Hyena relentlessly punched my shoulder.
You might think her small fists wouldn't hurt much, but it's a case of 'many a little makes a mickle.' The continuous blows were starting to genuinely sting.
“I said I'm sorry.”
Unsatisfied with my perfunctory apology, Choi Hyena even shook off my hand and walked two steps ahead of me.
'...Should I take her to a cafe and buy her something sweet?'
I had plenty of experience with women now, but I had no experience with dating, so I had no idea what to do when a woman was angry.
I mean, I've been on a date in a forest.
Just as I was wondering if I should offer to do anything she wanted in exchange for forgiveness like last time...
“Choi Hyena!”
A shout, loud enough to instantly draw the attention of the few people around, made both my and Choi Hyena's heads turn.
Standing there was a man who looked strangely rich, his eyes burning with an expression that could kill.
“Tsk.”
It seemed Choi Hyena knew who he was.
“Who is that?”
“...It's no one. Let's just go.”
Choi Hyena suddenly grabbed my arm and tried to pull me in the opposite direction, but the man started striding toward us.
“Choi Hyena! Can't you hear me?!”
“Haaah...”
A heavy sigh of frustration escaped Choi Hyena's lips as she watched the man relentlessly pursue us.
“Hey, can't you take a hint? If you see someone pointedly ignoring you, shouldn't you just go on your way?”
“...What?”
Watching the man's face turn red in real-time, I felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
I felt like I'd experienced this somewhere before.
“You there.”
“...Me?”
Suddenly, the man's target shifted to me.
“Who the hell are you to be on a date with my girl?”
“...The hell?”
And what? His girl?
This guy, who looked like a typical rich young master, was about to make a series of irreversible mistakes.
When I looked at Choi Hyena with an expression that demanded an explanation, she let out another heavy sigh and whispered to me.
“You know the Yujin Group, right? He's the chairman's youngest son.”
“Ah.”
Yujin Group. I'd heard of them.
I remembered hearing they were a solid company that consistently ranked in the top 20 of Korea's business world. So he wasn't just a rich kid; he was basically a diamond-spoon kid.
“...There were marriage talks a while ago, but we never actually met. It was just a proposal from their family.”
Her voice grew faster, as if she were making an excuse.
“Really...”
Choi Hyena's eyes trembled slightly. Seeing a side of her I'd never seen before, I stroked her hair and smiled lightly.
“Of course, I believe you.”
My confident reply made her expression brighten considerably.
“I'm the one who took your virginity, so it'd be weird not to believe you.”
“...I'm seriously going to kill you.”
“If I die, our child will have to grow up without a father.”
“...”
Unable to find a retort, Choi Hyena's face was a mask of frustration.
Still, she must have liked the sound of 'our child,' because instead of letting go of my arm, she subtly pressed closer, rubbing her chest against me.
“Hey! Get your hands off her!”
Ha, there's always a clueless idiot trying to ruin a good mood.
“Were you born with a silver spoon in your mouth and threw away all your common sense?”
“...You're not talking about me, are you?”
“Of course not.”
I lightly kissed the pouting Choi Hyena on the forehead.
That seemed to be the trigger. The diamond-spoon kid's face twisted and reddened to a degree that I felt bad for being the only one to see it.
“Hey, I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let this slide. Just get lost.”
“...You son of a bitch—”
The man couldn't finish his sentence.
Four rings began to spin violently, unleashing a torrent of magic power.
Under the intense pressure of the magic, the guy's face turned pale.
Using this on a civilian was illegal, but I could feel a faint trace of magic from this diamond-spoon kid. Was he about 1st Circle?
“Don't you know your place?”
So what if he was the youngest son of a chaebol family? I was the prospective son-in-law of a family that even the number one company in the country couldn't mess with.
“You, you...!! Do you know who my dad is?!”
Pathetic. So pathetic.
A man should know how to solve his own problems. The moment things looked bad, he resorted to using his rich parents' influence to intimidate an innocent citizen.
Makes you wonder how an orphan is supposed to survive in this cruel world.
“Why? Didn't your mom tell you?”
“......What?”