Chapter 70
Chapter 70
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Volunteer Work with Baek A-young! (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sunlight Orphanage was a place where children orphaned by dungeons or gates gathered.
Even so, the kids' faces were always lit up with smiles.
Whether it was thanks to the director's talent or the children's resilience, it was a good thing either way.
The childcare teachers worked in such a positive atmosphere, which made their bonds with the kids even stronger.
I was no different as a volunteer.
"Oppa! Pick me up too! Airplane!"
"Got it. Here we go... Hyah!"
"Hahaha! Higher!"
Man, this is exhausting.
The girls at the orphanage had lined up, waiting for their turn on my airplane ride.
Once I gave one a lift, she'd go straight to the back of the line, making it endless.
"Unnie, me, me too... airplane..."
"Come here."
"Y-Yes! Here I go..."
The little boy's face turned red as he waited for his airplane ride in front of Elise.
He squeezed his eyes shut tight, soaring through the air in Elise's arms. It pissed me off.
No, seriously—that kid's barely got blood rushing to his head, and he's already chasing girls...
I'm so damn jealous.
I want Elise to give me an airplane ride too.
"Okay! Great shot of the airplane scene!"
The photographer covering us flashed an okay sign, so we decided to wrap up the airplane rides.
"Alright, kids. Everyone's had a turn, so let's do something else. Big bro's gonna show you an 8-ball juggle."
"8-ball juggle...?"
Elise, listening nearby, turned her head in surprise.
Lately, with my Magic Power stat up and better control, I could juggle fireballs with my eyes closed.
"Here we go. This isn't something you see every day~."
Whoosh—!
"Whoa..."
As fireballs danced above my hands, every kid's eyes locked on me.
"Oppa, you're so cool!"
"Big bro! Teach me too!"
The kids showered me with admiring gazes.
Elise watched in fascination from the side.
"Wasting that kind of talent on juggling..."
How essential is juggling, anyway!
It's the fruit of my efforts to bond with the kids. Elise, who became the instant favorite sis the moment she arrived, wouldn't get it.
"Come on, kids. Over here."
While everyone was mesmerized by my juggling, Baek A-young approached with drinks for the children.
"Wow! Pokari!"
"That handsome big bro bought it, so make sure to thank him properly, okay?"
"Yes! Thank you, handsome big bro!"
"Thanks, oppa!"
"You're welcome. Enjoy."
Lilliana's been earning big, so my bank account's flush.
I always bring snacks when I visit, and that's why everyone at the orphanage likes me.
"As expected, Ho-yeon always thinks of the kids and brings treats every time."
"Right? And he grabs some for us too. What a good guy."
"Told ya. I knew he'd make it big someday."
The childcare teachers, who were a bit older and chatty, sidled up to praise me.
Hey, for just a few bucks, getting this much appreciation? You'd be an idiot not to do it.
"Aw, come on. It's just basic manners."
"In this world, so few people even bother with basic manners~."
While I bantered with the teachers, Baek A-young chatted with Elise.
"Elise, good work. You look beat—go rest. I'll take over."
"I won't say no. Thank you, Saintess."
"First time playing with kids, right? You looked so frazzled."
"...Yeah. I'm pretty tired, honestly."
Beautiful women's chatter is always a delight.
It just puts you in a good mood.
Elise headed to the limo we'd arrived in to rest for a bit.
Why does the car change every time I see it? That much money, huh.
"So, what should we do, noona?"
Baek A-young, fresh off her shift, was brimming with energy.
'Please let me switch too...'
I shot the director a pleading look, but she just beamed warmly at me, pleased.
Well, it was promo work for the student council. We needed at least one of us out there.
With Elise out, I'd have to step up.
"Noona! Let's play house! House!"
"House? Sure, why not?"
Baek A-young blended seamlessly with the kids.
Her long-time volunteering showed—her kid-handling skills were no joke.
Though I had no idea what her sidelong glances at me meant.
"Yeah! Unnie's the daddy, and that oppa over there's the mommy."
A cute blue-haired girl clung to Baek A-young.
"Opposite, dummy!"
"Oh, right? Then switch it!"
A few kids stuck especially close to us—the blue-haired girl and a red-headed boy.
Usually, kids with such unique hair colors were children of Awakeners.
"Got it. So noona's the mommy, and that big bro's the daddy, right?"
"Not big bro! Mommy calls daddy 'honey'!"
"H-Honey...?"
Baek A-young glanced at me, gauging my reaction.
💖 Heroine Status 💖 ❤️ Name: Baek A-young 💕 Favorability: 86 🔥 Lust: 72 🍽️ Appetite: 20 😴 Fatigue: 30 Current Status: C-Calling the guy who forcibly took my first time "honey"... It doesn't feel bad...? What if he gets mad about it and forces me to come with him? Hah... Crazy woman.
She's just lost to her lust.
"O-Okay. This is... just, y'know, a game. Right... honey?"
"Yeah. Honey."
"Hah..."
Baek A-young's face flushed red.
To others, it might look like embarrassment, but that was definitely arousal.
Click, click!
The photographer was snapping away excitedly, loving every moment.
Like last time, the guy's got insane work ethic.
I ignored him and focused on playing with the kids.
"Mommy, I'm home! Food please!"
"Mommy! Hug me! Hug me too!"
"Daddy! Airplane! High one!"
"Daddy, juggling!"
It was called house, but really, only the titles changed—nothing else.
Still, the kids seemed thrilled just with the new names, looking even happier.
I smiled bitterly at them.
Even without parents, they were growing up so strong. It tugged at my heart unexpectedly.
I shook my head to clear the negativity and was about to play more when I noticed Baek A-young staring at me.
What? Play with the kids. Why are you looking at me?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Y-Yes... today, right? Thank you.... No, we're not shooting together, but I had some time, so I thought I'd head over. Yeah, yeah. Don't worry. I'll handle it. Yes. Thank you."
Baek A-young had heard from her friend Min Ye-ji about the student council promo event.
Before she knew it, she was calling Sunlight Orphanage.
And she was already dressed to go.
"I'm just going to volunteer. Nothing else. Yeah."
She headed to the orphanage, hyping herself up.
After chatting with the director and hiding in her office, Baek A-young emerged at the sound she'd been waiting for.
Outside, Lee Ho-yeon was greeting the director.
"What, A-young? Why are you here?"
She'd nearly blown her cover of coming specifically to see Lee Ho-yeon, but quick improv saved her.
Even she thought that ad-lib was gold.
After watching Elise and Lee Ho-yeon play with the kids, she saw Elise tiring out and swooped in to take her spot.
But even with Baek A-young right next to him, Lee Ho-yeon barely paid attention.
He ignored her glances.
'Why... why is he ignoring me...?'
Baek A-young remembered Lee Ho-yeon's lust raging even beside a dead ogre.
She'd expected him to pounce with "Pussy! Pussy!" the moment they met. Now she was flustered.
He was too focused on the kids.
"No! Mommy has to call daddy 'honey'!"
"H-Honey...?"
Then house started, and Lee Ho-yeon finally turned attention her way.
"O-Okay. This is... just, y'know, a game. Right... honey?"
"Yeah. Honey."
"Hah..."
Baek A-young's underwear grew damp bit by bit.
Calling the man who'd forced her virginity away "honey"... was unexpectedly thrilling.
House continued.
The kids called her mommy and snuggled into her arms.
A pang hit her heart.
'What did these kids do wrong to deserve this trial?'
Life without parents wasn't impossible, but seeing kids miss out on what others took for granted hurt her.
Her innate desire to help and care for them welled up.
Then, in her peripheral vision, Lee Ho-yeon's face appeared.
He gazed at the children with a mix of emotions, wistfully.
His gentle eyes seemed lost in distant past memories.
"Ah..."
"Mommy, what's wrong?"
"N-Nothing, sweetie."
Baek A-young hugged the child tight, thinking.
'Lee Ho-yeon needs my help too.'
That kid must've had a tough life. His demeanor at their first meeting still burned in her mind.
'Yeah, he's definitely twisted from it. That's why he's so instinct-driven. I need to guide him. Can't let him unleash that on others...'
Baek A-young spun wild delusions about saving Lee Ho-yeon.
Plans to help him were already stacking up in her mind.
"Alright, kids. Snack time, then more play~."
The director announced snack time.
"Snack!"
Thud thud thud—!
The kids rushed off for snacks, followed by naps or indoor activities.
The director and teachers went inside with them, leaving just Baek A-young and Lee Ho-yeon in the yard.
Silence fell between them. She wanted to speak first but couldn't find the words.
Then Lee Ho-yeon broke it.
"A-young. So why'd you come?"
"C-Come? I was just volunteering like usual..."
"You think I'm an idiot? You came to see me."
'H-How'd he know?'
Baek A-young panicked but kept her best poker face.
"I-I need to talk to you. Follow me behind the building."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Baek A-young's eyes shook like a lost puppy's tail.
Her mouth and nose stayed still, making the expression oddly stiff.
Does she think that's a poker face?
"I-I need to talk to you. Follow me behind the building."
She left those words and headed around back.
No clue why, but she said follow, so whatever.
She's not gonna straight-up beg for rape, right?
...She wouldn't, would she?
💖 Heroine Status 💖 ❤️ Name: Baek A-young 💕 Favorability: 86 🔥 Lust: 72 🍽️ Appetite: 20 😴 Fatigue: 30 Current Status: I have to guide him right. Make sure he doesn't hurt others—I need to take responsibility. "...?"
What the hell.
Couldn't read her mind from the status, so I followed her.
Her hips swayed seductively, like she was tempting me.
"You... what's your game."
Finally, in the secluded spot behind the building, Baek A-young spoke.
"Why do you say that?"
"You take all those photos but no contact, no blackmail, no pouncing... What are you plotting?!"
"Uh..."
What did that mean? I pondered slowly.
Asking a rapist why no contact, no threats, no assault...
"So, you're saying to hurry up and blackmail and pounce, right?"
She's got a talent for beating around the bush.
"No! Just tell me straight what you're scheming!"
💖 Heroine Status 💖 ❤️ Name: Baek A-young 💕 Favorability: 86 🔥 Lust: 78 🍽️ Appetite: 20 😴 Fatigue: 30 Current Status: If he doesn't pounce even now, what do I do...? Should I beg him to delete the photos while stripping first... Hot intensity leaked from Baek A-young's fierce glare.
She was thinking something terrifying.
What if we both end up socially ruined? How desperate is she?
"Yeah, actually, I planned to pounce today..."
No choice but to play along.
Truth be told, with all the people around, I'd planned to hold back, but if she's this insistent, I'll make an effort.
Perfect chance to check how much favorability sex boosts, too.
"Knew it...! I figured! You beast...!"
Baek A-young finally relaxed, her fierce eyes softening again.
'Her acting sucks.'
I quietly swallowed those words.