Jealousy-Inducing Event
The moment I saw the magic circle appear in front of Sharl's hand, I dropped to my knees so hard that a thud echoed through the entire party room.
"Haa..."
Sharl shot me a slight glare and let out a long sigh, snuffing out the faint spark of mana she'd manifested. Her eyes weren't even glowing red right now, so the odds of her actually casting a spell were pretty much zero. If she really wanted to, she could blow up a whole building without any incantation or even letting the circle form first.
Back there, Sharl was always kind to ordinary humans, so she'd never hurt civilians. Unless she was in a mana rampage, anyway—but even that, she triggered on purpose to max out her firepower. No need to worry.
I wasn't seriously scared, of course. It was just our little skit. Definitely not because the memory of getting caught in her wide-area spell was still fresh and made me submit.
My body suddenly ached a bit. I got up from the floor and sat on the sofa.
"Let's sit and talk first."
Our grand mage shouldn't have sore legs. Sharl nodded slightly at my words and slowly walked over to the sofa, plopping down right next to me.
As she got close, her soft scent wafted over. I'd noticed it before, but Sharl's unique aroma drove people crazy. Not sure if it was just me, though. It wasn't like perfume—probably tied to her mana somehow...
And it wasn't just the scent. Up close, her skin was purer than mithril, practically glowing. Sitting down made her black knit dress ride up a little, revealing snow-white, plump thighs that looked so firm...
I swept killing intent over my whole body. A slight sting brought back my composure.
Seeing Sharl in such provocative clothes after so long was making it hard to focus. If I kept glancing, she'd notice. I fixed my gaze back on her face.
"There's a table and chairs right there."
My words implied: Why come all the way here to the sofa—and sit so close we could touch with a wiggle?
Sharl froze for a moment. A brief silence, then her reply.
"...This is a sofa."
"There's another one near the entrance?"
She bit her lip and punched my side hard with her fist.
No way a mage's punch could hurt me.
"Kuhk..."
Couldn't breathe. That damage—definitely mana-infused...
I'm no masochist, but even as I caught my breath, why was a faint smile creeping onto my face?
As I sat up from keeling over, Sharl murmured lowly.
"You're less startled than I thought."
"We're not easy to surprise anymore, Sharl."
Of course I was surprised. It just fell into one of the possibilities I'd left open. A very slim one now, with all the overlaps.
"Don't call me Sharl here."
"Yoo Seol-ah, then?"
Her eyes widened like How do you know? Then, after pondering, her mouth slowly dropped open.
"You... don't tell me you're in nursing?"
"Korea University Nursing, Class of '23, Baek Sion."
Yoo Seol-ah sighed deeply and hung her head. Her voice, usually not high-pitched, sank even lower as she hesitated.
"Wh-what'd my sister say...?"
"Nothing weird. Just 'She's drop-dead gorgeous, say hi if you see a tiny silver-haired girl around' or something."
"Haa..."
I heard her mutter softly, "Why the hell do you dress like that..."
After hearing Jia sunbae talk at freshman welcome, I'd suspected—but kept all possibilities open. Long silver hair, petite build, stunning looks—not common.
"But you're less surprised than I expected. You didn't seem to know until I said it back then."
"...Figured we'd meet eventually. Anyway, you didn't know till right before coming back either, so you get it. But once here, you sniffed out I'm from Earth?"
"Somewhat."
Back there, no clue at all. Made sense—right after summoning to Astasia, everyone's words came through as Korean. No translation magic vibe, but it all sounded Korean everywhere. So even meeting Yoo Seol-ah felt normal. She wore Earth-unseen clothes too, like me. Perfect silver hair, doll-like face, killer figure disproportionate to her height. How could I think she was originally from Korea—Earth?
Most crucially: Names. First meetings mean introductions. Hearing "Sharl"—who'd think Korean? In hindsight, it clicks. When I first got kidnapped to Astasia, my name "Baek Sion" got butchered by everyone despite clear speech. After failed corrections, I picked an anime character name: "Call me Naide." Stuck with it for three years. Yoo Seol-ah probably same.
"How'd you figure after returning?"
"...That's..."
Biggest hint was her wedding words—but saying that might piss her off.
"Why trail off? Suspicious."
Yoo Seol-ah grilled me. Screw it, just facts.
"Well, at the wedding."
"What about it."
No reaction yet—doesn't remember? Gotta specify.
"...Before the kiss. You said, 'It's the last, so just this much.'"
Thought it was a slip then. But considering she might be an Earth summon like me, it clicked. At first, figured "last" meant slaying the Demon King. But post-victory high for a kiss? She'd say "Last one, so special treat." Her "last, so just this" meant "We're parting, no more emotions." I did similar emotional control prepping to leave party after killing Magnus.
"......"
Yoo Seol-ah froze solid listening, face flushing beet red—brain overheating.
This reaction: Probably her first kiss too. How'd she choose that? Lips twitching like to speak, then closing—my bottled-up thought burst out.
"But 'just this much' with tongue? If time allowed, where were you planning—"
"Eut! Shut up! No, just forget it! Now!!"
Before I finished, she clapped a hand over my mouth. Other hand aimed, muttering.
"...What now? Selectively wiping memories is tricky... Erase the last two months flat?"
What dangerous talk. I made friends these months! And casually two months? Dunno if bluff, but in magic, she's near-divine. Felt her mana surging, losing reason—I ramped up killing intent to block spells.
But moments later, we both reined in mana and intent like on cue. Power beyond human norms pulsed from outside. We were both a bit excited, so detection lagged.
Strong divine power bloomed right at the party room entrance.
Wait—this divine power feels familiar...?
"Excuse me!"
As we both felt massive déjà vu, the door opened with a high-pitched voice.
Bright blonde hair. Huge chest making even tall Yoo Seol-ah look small. Exotic beauty tying it together.
"......"
"......"
We froze again—natural. New guest paused long at door, then dashed our way, tackling Yoo Seol-ah without hesitation.
No need to stop her, so I stayed put.
"Sharl!!!"
Yoo Seol-ah's face buried in the gap of her long-sleeved top's chest cutout, massive breasts squeezing.
"...Arishh... shtoo muh..."
I definitely didn't think I'd like to suffocate there too. Can't with wife right here.
After long hug, saintess Aris released and turned to me.
"Oh, Naide's here too?"
"Call me Baek Sion now."
Three years together—no awkwardness. Just huge shock.
After calming and re-explaining to Yoo Seol-ah, Aris grinned, short intro.
"Was gonna track you somehow, but meeting so soon is awesome... Food & Nutrition major, new admit. Here, Lee Seo-yeon."
But back there, three years of polite speech. All an act?
I couldn't hold curiosity—she burst laughing.
"Not 'act'—just in case divine power ran low killing that Magnus bastard. Peira's picky goddess, had to watch every move. Wore those stuffy clothes too."
Sounds like different person. Thought true saintess amid crumbling tropes—but Earthling origin explains. Surviving Korea's exam hell, suppressing personality three years? Impressive. No "Lady Peira" honorific now—pent-up much?
"Should I step out?"
"Why?"
"What?"
Lee Seo-yeon stood from beside Yoo Seol-ah.
"No, couple reuniting after ages—don't wanna interrupt. Sofa here's plush anyway."
"What the hell!!"
Yoo Seol-ah panicked, raising voice—Seo-yeon eyes sparkled.
Makes sense—she teased Yoo Seol-ah mercilessly back there, polite or not.
"What? You swore love oaths, I saw that deep kiss. Didn't care we watched."
Never teased this hard though. Divine power drop no issue now? Power totals similar anyway—like scooping ocean with bucket.
Yoo Seol-ah's face burned past beet to hellfire.
"...That was just... event! Yeah, event flow, oath pity pity, not real couple anyway!!"
"...She says so, hubby."
Yoo Seol-ah rapid-fired excuses. Incantations honed her diction—nice voice too.
Seo-yeon tossed to me—I feigned sad.
"...If she says not that serious... must be true."
I'm better actor than her. Eyes widening like idea hit, Seo-yeon hugged Yoo Seol-ah again.
"Then... can I take Seol-ah?"
"Wha hell keep saying!!"
"Eut!? Talking into my chest tickles..."
Voice too sultry? Saintess ditched dignity.
This the famous jealousy event? Reversed, but whatever.
Usually protagonist's imagination time. Long otaku life—confident there.
'What're you saying... we're both girls!' Yoo Seol-ah collapses on bed, tries rising—but blonde busty saintess pins wrists, fixes to bed.
That'd be...
"Hmm..."
"......"
"Hmmm..."
Me stroking chin thoughtfully—then Yoo Seol-ah escaped Seo-yeon's chest, yelling.
"What crazy perv thoughts!!"
For her dignity, didn't go deeper. Forgot—this otaku club gathering. She's otaku too, so imagined worst.
Maybe you're the perv, Seol-ah.
Seo-yeon gazed fondly at fuming middle Yoo Seol-ah, then stood, came to me.
"Hubby's pondering, so inversely—can I take Seol-ah?"
She pulled my arm to her chest—I quickly mana-coated arm. Past experience helped. Gap exists, but from her angle, looks touching.
Yoo Seol-ah gawked shocked, then bit lip, hand aimed our way.
Strong force flowed between us, forcing separation.
Seo-yeon smirked; Yoo Seol-ah tried speaking but clamped mouth, turned flushed face away.