Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Noise
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The next morning, we got up early and prepared to check out of the inn.
Having spent until dawn passionately entwining our bodies with the two women in the hot springs, my mind felt a bit hazy.
I wanted nothing more than to sleep in, but with the flight time looming, there was no room for slacking off.
As I dragged my heavy body through washing my face and changing clothes...
A sudden, intense pain struck my head.
"Kugh?!"
It felt just like getting smashed with a hammer.
Far more excruciating than the one I'd felt at home last time, deep wrinkles involuntarily creased my brow.
"Damn...! I turned off the self-hypnosis, so why again...!"
Truth be told, I wasn't certain that self-hypnosis was the direct cause of the headaches.
It was just a hunch.
Fortunately, the searing pain ebbed away like a wave receding just as quickly as it had come.
My blurry vision gradually regained focus and seemed to return to normal...
"Huh?"
Noise.
At the edge of my vision, faint static flickered like an old cathode-ray tube TV screen glitching for a split second.
A chill of foreboding dread crawled up my spine in that instant.
I steadied my wobbling legs and rushed to the bathroom mirror to check.
Contrary to my fears, my usual face stared back from the reflection.
The noise distorting my sight had vanished as if it had never been there.
"Phew."
Only after confirming it did a sigh of relief escape me.
'Just fatigue? Or...'
Maybe the act of hypnosis itself was causing some kind of strain.
I couldn't know for sure, but once I got back to Korea, I should consult with Child about it.
"Assistant Manager Lee, is something wrong? You look really pale."
As I splashed cold water on my face and headed back to the room to finish packing...
I ran into Joo-young coming from the opposite end of the hallway.
She too had been up all night enduring me, leaving faint dark circles under her eyes.
Even so, she was the first to notice my face and show concern.
"I'm fine, Team Leader. Probably just didn't sleep well."
Joo-young chuckled at my words.
Her smile carried a sultry allure I was now quite familiar with.
"Well, we did go a bit overboard last night, didn't we? Hehe. Mi-na was grumbling this morning about her back hurting too."
"Hahaha. I might've been a little too intense. All packed up?"
"Yeah. Just need to grab our stuff and head to the lobby."
She answered shyly, unable to tear her gaze from me, as if the passionate memories of last night still felt like a dream.
After that, we gathered our bags, checked out at the lobby.
The okami personally came out to greet us with a bow.
Unlike her poised and polite demeanor on check-in day, she seemed shy now, avoiding direct eye contact with me.
"Hyun-seong... I mean, Assistant Manager Lee. Please come visit again. Next time... I'll serve you even more devotedly than today."
Her voice brimmed with unmistakable anticipation.
She'd caught my eye the moment we met, but she exuded more sensuality than her appearance suggested.
And she was married, to boot.
Just one sexual desire amplification suggestion, and she'd fallen so easily.
I wasn't sure if I'd have another business trip to Japan...
But if the chance arose, stopping by again wouldn't be bad.
"Tsk."
A glance sideways showed Joo-young and Mi-na glaring at the okami with open hostility.
Mi-na especially clicked her tongue, blatantly showing her displeasure.
Joo-young prodded my side repeatedly, venting her silent complaint.
I ignored the two women's sharp stares and returned a perfunctory bow to the okami before leaving the ryokan.
In the car to the airport, I caught a quick nap, then messaged Lizetta before boarding.
[Hyun-seong: Lizetta, about to board the plane. Should arrive around noon.]
[Lizetta: Understood. I'll be waiting at the airport on time.]
Her reply was as prompt and precise as ever.
Come to think of it, now that I had Team Leader Kang Joo-young and Park Mi-na, my two rabbits, firmly in hand, it was about time to start thinking about possessing another game.
Heh heh.
These days truly left no room for boredom.
The flight was somewhat tedious, but teasing the two women beside me now and then made the time pass quickly enough.
Finally, upon landing at Incheon Airport and exiting customs, Lizetta was waiting just as promised, right outside arrivals.
But this time, she wasn't in casual clothes—she was in her maid outfit.
"Master Hyun-seong, you've returned safely."
"Yeah. But that outfit... Were you in the middle of housework and rushed out?"
"Yes. I was finishing up the house cleaning before your return."
"Ah."
I got it, but coming all the way from home to the airport in maid attire...
She was already drawing endless stares from passersby in the airport.
Joo-young and Mi-na, following behind me, spotted her and started whispering.
That's when Lizetta naturally sidled up close to me, making a subtle gesture as if to link arms.
It was similar to the scene when we'd departed last time.
[If you've built a harem, shouldn't you be prepared for this level of chaos?]
Child's sly voice rang in my ear. As expected, that was your doing.
No wonder it felt unnatural for Lizetta. But this time, the situation was a bit different from before.
"Assistant Manager Lee, you didn't introduce her last time. Since we're all here, introduce her properly."
Joo-young approached first, scanning Lizetta up and down with a sharp gaze.
Her voice dripped with barely concealed wariness and jealousy.
"Ah, this is Lizetta. She's... uh, temporarily staying with me due to some circumstances. A housemate..."
As I fumbled through the introduction, Lizetta cut in abruptly and stepped forward.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Lizetta, the maid who serves Master Hyun-seong at his side. I look forward to getting along."
She bowed politely, but a subtle provocative glint lingered in her expression.
"Maid...?"
Joo-young openly furrowed her brow and gave Lizetta another once-over.
Then she shot me a piercing look that said, 'You have this kind of weird fetish too?'
It might've ended there, but Mi-na jumped in without missing a beat.
"Oh, hi! I'm Park Mi-na, Assistant Manager Hyun-seong's junior colleague at work. I've heard so much about you, Lizetta."
Her tone was friendly with a smile, but thorns hid beneath the words.
Since when had I ever talked to her about Lizetta?
Mi-na ignored my questioning glance.
"Ah, yes. Master Hyun-seong has mentioned you often too, Miss Park Mi-na."
Lizetta stared straight back at Mi-na, holding her own.
Strangers sizing each other up like this, locked in a tense battle of nerves...
The invisible battlefield among the three women with me in the middle was quite the spectacle.
[How's that? A harem's real thrill is this precarious edge, right? Puhehe.]
Why are you more excited than me?
I was about to step in to mediate the three when a familiar voice called out to Joo-young from nearby.
It was Park Min-chul.
"Ah, Min-chul!"
"You must be exhausted, honey. How was the trip? Oh, Assistant Manager Lee, you worked hard too."
Min-chul greeted the weary-looking Joo-young with concern, then bowed lightly to us.
I smirked inwardly at him and nodded briefly.
"I told you not to come pick me up."
"I wanted to get out for a change after so long. Work go okay?"
"...Yeah."
Joo-young awkwardly smiled, flustered by her husband's appearance, and lightly clung to his arm.
No need to panic that much.
Unlike with Joo-young, the suggestions on Min-chul were still intact.
"Who's the lady next to you?"
Already overwhelmed with two women, now Min-chul was showing interest in Lizetta too.
I opened my mouth to brush it off vaguely...
"Huh?"
Mi-na, standing a half-step away, spotted something and let out a dazed sound.
At her voice, everyone turned to follow her gaze.
[Breaking] Massive unidentified tree appears in the heart of Yi-sang City, Gyeonggi Province! Partial building damage and communication disruptions reported...
The large monitors installed throughout the airport simultaneously switched to red-tickered breaking news.
The screen showed an unbelievable sight unfolding.
In my city, right in the familiar cityscape.
A colossal tree towered skyward.
It looked utterly surreal, as if it had just popped out of nowhere.
The anchor on the news, speaking in a frantic, trembling voice, reported that the tree had appeared right next to the Travel Wiz Yi-sang branch.
The shockwave had partially destroyed the branch building, and communications in the surrounding area were cut off.
"What... how...?"
In that moment, a chilling, intense unease similar to this morning's gripped my entire body.
It felt like a crack was forming in my peaceful daily life, the sound echoing in my mind.
Immersion Level 30% → Immersion Level 50%