Chapter 129
With those guys downstairs, that's as far as we go... Yoo Seol-ah, who had been wearing an apologetic expression just moments ago, now puffed out her cheeks in a pout. It couldn't have been the selfie request itself that upset her. If I had to guess another reason, it was probably that the photo I took wasn't quite what she had in mind.
After pondering for a bit, I came up with a plausible hypothesis. Considering the slightly shy look on her face earlier, she must have been imagining a cute couple selfie with the two of us together. That would explain her current mix of relief and disappointment.
...I'm not the type who's great at this stuff, but if it's what Yoo Seol-ah wanted, I should do it. I pulled out my phone from my pocket and approached her.
"...Okay."
"Wh-what...?"
The grand mage who could take on the Demon King one-on-one was nowhere to be seen—Yoo Seol-ah started trembling. As I got right up in her face, she squeezed her eyes shut tight.
"...Eek!..."
I had no idea why she was shaking so much, but I decided to go ahead with my plan anyway. Yoo Seol-ah's petite frame was undeniably small, but she still weighed over 50 kilos, so lifting her with one arm was a stretch—unless I boosted my strength a little, that is.
"...Kyaa!?"
I scooped her up in a princess carry, and sure enough, feeling unsteady in my single arm, she naturally wrapped her arms around my neck. Sure, there are all sorts of preparations for a good photo, but I'm not the type to fuss over that. Better to snap it right now for that natural vibe. Plus, her dazed, lovestruck expression was adorable as hell.
A series of shutter clicks later, dozens of perfect shots—us both perfectly framed—were saved to my camera roll.
"......?"
Yoo Seol-ah opened her eyes at the sound but still looked puzzled. Still holding her in my arms, I said,
"This what you had in mind?"
After a brief silence, her face flushed red again. My guess came from her phone wallpaper—a photo of us together—and all the MT pics of us that she had liked. She clung to my neck like she'd fall if she let go, but shyly kept her head down. No verbal answer, but with her ears turning pink and the faint upward curve of her lips, I figured I nailed it.
It took quite a while hugging her like that, but with my body enhanced, she didn't feel heavy at all. Once she seemed to calm down, she lifted her head—but avoided my eyes. Her gaze darted around like she was mulling something over, then she pulled herself up with her arms and planted a quick kiss on my cheek.
"...With those guys downstairs, that's as far as we go..."
...What would we do if they weren't? She buried her flushed face again. Her dealer instincts—honed for one-sided burst damage—were clearly at work here too. The soft sensation lingered on my cheek, and with it, the attic air grew noticeably hotter.
...But seriously, with those two downstairs, heading down in this mood would just give them ammo to tease us mercilessly. Savoring the pink haze in my mind, I said,
"...Getting kinda heavy, though."
"...Eek!..."
...Once I dropped the enhancement, yeah, it took both arms to hold her steady. Biting her lip at my words, she slid her hands from my neck to my shoulders and hopped down on her own.
Thankfully, the mood had lightened; now she met my eyes directly, though with a slight glare. But that level of stare was her default anyway—nothing new.
I'd said I'd bring her down, but staying up here too long might look suspicious.
"Time to head down."
"...You first."
She seemed over her embarrassment, so she'd follow soon. I headed down the stairs first. Mixed with the creak of the steps came her faint mutter.
"...Ha, guess I really was the only trash here..."
What was that about? Before I could puzzle it out, the intercom buzzed from the first-floor entrance. Peeking at the screen, it looked like the sofa delivery. I buzzed them in and headed to the bedroom.
"What is it?"
"Sofa, I think?"
"Where's Seol-ah?"
"Said she'll be down in a bit."
She must've heard the bell too. Anyway, she'd handled the interior alone so far—nothing would progress without her.
Moments later, her distinctive shuffling footsteps echoed, and Yoo Seol-ah reentered the bedroom. She smoothed her clothes casually and asked in her usual tone,
"...The sofa? They said they'd be here around now."
"Yeah. Should be coming up soon."
The bell rang again. I let them in, and there were the store manager from last time and some staff struggling with the massive sofa.
"Hello~ Wow, this place is brand new... Super clean."
"Oh, hi. Just to the living room, please."
Yoo Seol-ah switched to her polite stranger-mode voice. Maintaining that classic sales smile, she grabbed drinks from the kitchen table and handed them out. They'd gotten warm without a fridge, but the staff looked revived as they took them.
"Ah, thank you! Nice and cold."
"Figured you deserved drinks for the hard work."
...Nice and cold? In this spring weather, sweating buckets, the odds of them calling lukewarm drinks "cold" were slim. She must've chilled them on the quick walk over. Classic Yoo Seol-ah kindness. Not that I'd complain about casual magic like that. Baek Sia, running late herself, didn't bat an eye.
Honestly, after all we'd been through in Astasia, no need to deny ourselves these little joys.
"Right there is fine. Thank you!"
"Sure. Here's our catalog—take a look if you're interested."
"Sure~"
That polite-yet-awkward tone was kinda funny the more you heard it. Baek Sia smirking beside me—she was probably recalling Yoo Seol-ah's nervous vibes from their first meeting.
The staff left quickly, and Yoo Seol-ah let out a small sigh, reverting to normal. Watching it all, Baek Sia pointed at us.
"...You two really do look alike."
"Huh?"
"Oppa does it too, like when ordering at restaurants."
Pot calling the kettle? I usually let others order, but when I do, yeah, my voice shifts. Social mode, I guess.
"Guess it's true what they say—lovers start to resemble each other."
Lee Seo-yeon chimed in, already thick as thieves with Baek Sia despite similar personalities. Yoo Seol-ah flushed a bit but fired back unexpectedly competitive.
"...Then he takes after me."
"Nah, opposite."
"What? You were born later than me."
"Whoa, total kid logic? We were both born in February anyway."
"Still, earlier is earlier. Wanna call me noona?"
We'd talked birthdays before—Yoo Seol-ah edged me out by a bit, image be damned. From steamy vibes minutes ago to elementary-school bickering... wild. The other two watched like we were zoo animals.
"...They really do match."
"Totally. Perfect match."
"Perfect match" at this timing? Awkward. We paused the spat and tested the sofa.
"Ooh, pricey stuff feels nice..."
"So squishy."
Cat-owner approved too—minimal shedding worries. Yoo Seol-ah glanced around it, then turned to Lee Seo-yeon and Baek Sia.
"...Mind grabbing a few more drinks?"
"Yeah, we're short. Be right back."
No hesitation despite barely knowing them a day. Extroverts gonna extrovert.
Once the door shut, Yoo Seol-ah summoned her mana in a flash.
"That why you sent them out?"
"Kinda... Mine's way more precise."
No hands needed—the massive L-shaped sofa floated, swaying like in a furniture sim game. She even spun it for the perfect spot before gently setting it down.
"...How's this?"
"Looks good."
Same orientation as before, but seamlessly perfect. We sat to test as the two returned.
Baek Sia, uncharacteristically fidgety-eyed, sidled up to me while Lee Seo-yeon unpacked snacks on the table.
"...S-, Seo-yeon unnie... super rich or something?"
Right, she didn't know yet. Lee Seo-yeon wasn't just rich. Teasing Baek Sia's rare fluster, I grinned.
"Why, see a black card or what?"
"...Yeah."
...For real. She's got tight security on that stuff, even regular cards disguised. Guess family or liking her made her casual. Better hear it from the source, though.
"Ask her yourself."
Baek Sia pondered, then as Lee Seo-yeon plopped on the sofa with a drink, she ventured,
"...Unnie, you from a... rich family or something?"
Lee Seo-yeon gave an awkward smile and pointed to the drink label. Baek Sia looked baffled; we chuckled in sync. Kindly explaining,
"Our company's new one. Tastes great. Abalone sparkling zero."
Baek Sia froze for five seconds, mirroring our initial reaction.
"...Eek!"
Eyes darting again—probably replaying if she'd said something dumb earlier.