Chapter 302. Nam Da-eun
"Mm."
I'd mustered up the energy to handle Lumi and Lucy clinging to me, but it seemed I'd overdone it.
"Ugh... uhn... "
"Heh... hek... heeeek..."
Lucy and Lumi lay sprawled out on their stomachs, legs splayed, passed out like they'd fainted. After giving each of them two or three rounds, they could barely move by the end.
Slap-squeeze squeeze.
I kneaded the twins' heaving asses with both hands as they panted on the bed. The soft fullness filling my palms. Savoring the firm, taut texture—so different from their breasts—I finally got up from the bed.
'Clean.'
I freshened myself up and gathered my clothes. The twins were still trembling face-down on the bed; leaving them like that, they'd probably drift off to sleep.
'Did I go too far after all?'
I leaned down and brought my mouth to Lucy and Lumi's ears.
"Lucy, Lumi. That was amazing today, right?"
"Y-yes... "
"Yeah..."
"I love you. See you in a week. Take good care of yourselves. Text me lots."
Mwah- mwah- I kissed their dazed, exhausted foreheads.
"Yeah... text me for sure."
"I like you... Ho-yeon..."
"I like you too. I'll head out first."
Lucy and Lumi's eyes fluttered shut in fatigue, so I stroked their cheeks and slipped out.
It would've been nice to cuddle and roll around together, but I had an appointment.
"Thirty minutes late."
Sulin noona said she'd be done around five, but it was already 5:30 when I left the clubroom. Eh, this much should be fine.
I stepped out of the clubroom and sighed at the elevator. One floor up was the student council room.
This weird, thrilling feeling—having just fucked the twins on the second floor and now heading up to meet the student council president at the top—was oddly exhilarating.
I'd planned to meet all the heroines before leaving for a week, but no matter how I thought about it, that was a bad call. This was too exhausting.
Hoo.
Stretching, I pressed the elevator button.
If you can't dodge it, enjoy it. A date with a pretty noona sounded fun.
"This noona's gotten so cute."
Her vibe, her speech—definitely lighter now. Had I helped lift the weight off her mind?
Whenever I doubted if I was doing the right thing, I drew strength from the heroines' reactions. Sulin noona, Da-eun, the twins—they were always a source of gratitude.
"Maybe pick up souvenirs from France."
What do women like? Perfume? Tasty bread? Luxury goods?
"...Gotta think about it."
Can't give everyone the same thing—need to find ones that suit each person.
Ding-
Lost in thought, the elevator arrived. The doors opened, revealing familiar faces stepping out.
"Oh, seniors?"
"What? Heading to the student council?"
"Long time no see, junior."
Student council seniors. We weren't super close, but on good terms as acquaintances.
I glanced behind them, hoping to spot Sulin noona, but no sign.
"Where's the president?"
"Finishing up inside. Go say hi."
"Got it."
I greeted the seniors and boarded the elevator.
"Play with noona, then head home and pack. That'll do."
Just clothes and such. Ellis would cover travel expenses anyway—she was lending a plane too. If not, I'd ask for a massage advance.
Ding-
Daydreaming, the doors opened on the 17th floor. The student council room was dark, but light leaked from the slightly ajar president's office.
I walked over and peeked through the gap.
"Noona. I'm here."
"Oh? Already?"
Sulin noona, who was dusting the guest chair, smiled at me.
"What were you doing?"
I'd expected paperwork, not cleaning.
"Mm. Just prepping drinks before you came. Sit there."
"Aw, no need for th—huh?"
Sulin noona grabbed the nearby pitcher to prepare drinks. I plopped down thoughtlessly, and mana ropes hidden in the chair bound my arms and legs.
"What the? Huh?"
"Don't move, Ho-yeon. You might get hurt."
Confirming the mana holding me, I looked up at Sulin noona's face. She'd said she was getting drinks, but now she was right in front of me, smiling.
"...Noona. What's this?"
Moon Sulin emanated mana as she straddled my lap on the chair. Then she stroked the inside of my thigh with one hand.
"Don't move the mana, got it?"
I could snap these mana ropes in an instant, but not with Sulin noona right there. The silver lining? Her smile showed playfulness, not malice.
If she hadn't smiled like that, I wouldn't have fallen for it. Too careless around women.
"What's wrong, noona? I didn't do anything bad."
"Really? Where've you been till now?"
"Just meeting friends since I won't see them for a week..."
Oh right. I hadn't reported via message. Wait, was it that serious? A quick text would've sufficed.
"Just remembered, huh? Report."
"...Yes."
"You were with another girl."
"Saw friends. Won't see them for a week..."
"Just saw them?"
Sulin noona, straddling my thigh, climbed fully onto my lap. Her hands on my shoulders, body leaning in—a pretty lewd pose. Her scent wafted strongly.
"..."
"I was working hard, waiting for you..."
"...I came 'cause I missed you too, noona."
"Really?"
Sulin noona smiled and brought her face close; our lips met.
"Ho-yeon... ah, ahn... mm, hun..."
A long kiss with tongues entwining. Her hand on my cheek, soft tongue exploring my mouth. Rubbing her lower body against my thigh seductively, she made my cock harden.
"Ha, haa... noona."
It felt like she was devouring me. After sucking my tongue in her mouth, Sulin noona released me and slid her hand to my crotch.
"Talk after?"
"...Yes."
Sulin noona caressed me like she wanted to eat me alive. Maybe she wasn't consoling me, but my dick. Nah, probably not—but I seriously pondered it for a sec.
*
At the moment Lee Ho-yeon was caught by Moon Sulin.
'...People are extra chatty today.'
Nam Da-eun thought while eyeing Ellis in front of her. She'd just been heading to the market when Ellis suddenly blocked her path.
"Haa. Hey, Da-eun."
Another recruitment pitch? Or about Ho-yeon? She wanted to make snacks for him before he arrived, but now Ellis had her pinned.
Lucy and Lumi too—why was everyone approaching her today? Nam Da-eun couldn't guess.
"...Hey."
But they were all close to Lee Ho-yeon, so she kept talking. No need to be prickly.
"Heard you moved—right next door, huh?"
"Yeah."
"...Living with Ho-yeon for real?"
"Yeah."
"..."
Ellis took a deep breath at Nam Da-eun's curt replies. She knew she was like this, but today it felt extra frustrating.
"Hey, ever thought about joining Iris Guild? I can sweeten the deal from last time!"
"Sorry."
Nam Da-eun expressed her refusal—again. She didn't get the obsession, but she was too busy assisting Ho-yeon.
"No other guilds either?"
"No."
"...If Ho-yeon joins Iris, you'd come too?"
"Probably."
Ellis rubbed her forehead at the emotionless answer. Did this girl have no self? No, she was just weird. No desires at all. Anyone would think she was Ho-yeon's slave.
"...Da-eun. You could be the star at Iris. We'd make your talent bloom."
"I'm good."
"The world would know your name. Fame, fortune—you'd have it all. And you'd still stay by Ho-yeon? Holding that shopping basket?"
Ellis glared at Nam Da-eun's worn basket. It started as disbelief, but now irritation bubbled up.
She knew Nam Da-eun's strength well. Her ridiculous growth made even Ellis, once her rival, feel ashamed. Guild offers poured in sans affiliation, always politely declined.
Rejecting Iris stung a bit, but what irked her more was Nam Da-eun's waste. With that talent, she could've used it far more efficiently. Seeing it rot like this pissed her off.
"...Haa, sorry. Pretend you didn't hear that."
But the jealousy faded quickly. Ellis knew her own envy was greedy—she'd started with every advantage.
Ellis felt a mood swing and headache. Anything Ho-yeon-related triggered this.
Then, Nam Da-eun, quietly watching her expression, spoke.
"Not everyone needs to be the protagonist."
"...What?"
Ellis looked up.
"I don't know your definition of happiness. Money, fame—whatever you want."
"..."
"Same for me. I'll stay by Ho-yeon's side, make him happy however I can. That's my happiness."
Nam Da-eun finished and met Ellis's eyes. She didn't care how Ellis took it. If it helped Ho-yeon's happiness, fine. If not, she'd block it. That was enough.
"Gonna go."
With a curt goodbye, Nam Da-eun continued to the market. Had to catch the sale.
Ellis stared blankly at her retreating back. Still didn't get it, but "not everyone needs to be the protagonist" echoed.
Born into Iris Guild's privilege, Ellis felt the burden to succeed amid abundance.
"..."
She stood in the cool night air for a while.
*
After Ellis, Nam Da-eun headed to her usual market. Her worn basket hung on her arm—even with Scarlett's artifact offers, she stuck to it. Memories with Ho-yeon outside.
He'd bought heaps of snacks, making her sister smile.
'How did I survive back then?'
A hundred won short at checkout. Sister kidnapped by the guild—days blurred in agony. Barely clinging on. "Living 'cause I couldn't die" fit perfectly.
Now? No such thoughts. In months, her life flipped. This basket evoked those hard times.
"Kinda pretty, right...?"
Nam Da-eun fiddled with it. Ellis's "that basket" comment nagged. Now she saw the small tear at the bottom. Overload it, and it'd rip.
"...Last day, then."
Not bad. She'd shed her past for a new life—this basket could retire too.
Nam Da-eun smiled faintly, basket on arm, steps oddly light.