Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Nightly Q&A (1)
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"……Intruder. Eliminate……"
"Don’t move."
"Guhk."
One of the hounds groaned, clutching its abdomen after Seol A-hyeon’s kick. Next to it, the other nineteen hounds stood in neat rows, like fish laid out for sale at a market.
Seol A-hyeon paced around them constantly, tapping and subduing any hound that tried to rise.
"These guys really don’t know the meaning of surrender. I’ve broken a limb on each one, and they still have energy to spare."
"Their speech is so slurred too. It’s like they’ve been brainwashed or something."
"Exactly. I don’t know who’s behind them, but it looks like Su-ho’s gotten tangled up with some pretty troublesome people."
"That guy’s always getting dragged into all sorts of messes anyway."
Ryu Tae-hyun shrugged and wiped the blood from his fist onto his hand. Seol A-hyeon glanced at him and casually asked,
"By the way, Tae-hyun… are you close with Su-ho…?"
"Me and hyung? Super close!"
It was an answer without a hint of hesitation. In truth, they weren’t that tight, but at least in Ryu Tae-hyun’s mind, they were. He was the optimistic type by nature.
"Then, could you tell me what kind of person Su-ho is?"
"Hyung’s a good guy, of course. Kind. Gentle. Full of a sense of duty. Can’t stand injustice. Oh, and he’s amazing in a fight too. Not like overwhelmingly strong or anything, but he learns fast, you know? If he were an academy student, my homeroom prof would’ve been drooling to teach him."
"I see."
"But why the sudden questions? Aren’t you close with Su-ho hyung too, A-hyeon? You said so yourselves during introductions."
"Just curious. Wondered how he comes across to others. Hmm. So that’s the kind of guy Su-ho is…."
Seol A-hyeon nodded to herself and smiled faintly. She’d been worried he might have some issues, but based on Ryu Tae-hyun’s description, he seemed fine.
‘But isn’t Su-ho pretty strong himself?’
There was something odd about it, but Seol A-hyeon brushed it off. What she cared about was his character, nothing more.
‘Still, a guy that kind changes that much in bed. Or maybe he suppresses his true self so much during the day that it bursts out then…?’
What kind of nonsense was this right after a battle? But to Seol A-hyeon, it was vitally important. Ahn Su-ho was the first man she’d ever seen as a romantic prospect in her 26 years—or 30-plus including her past life before regression.
It wasn’t just one precognition that made her fall for him.
But having seen that future, she couldn’t help but be aware of him.
"……Time. Buy……."
"I said don’t move?"
"Gurk."
Seol A-hyeon stomped down on another rising hound as her imagination wandered. It started sweetly—what if she dated Ahn Su-ho?—but devolved into something far more explicit.
"……Heung."
Her face flushed as she ground her heel into the enemy’s back.
Ryu Tae-hyun swallowed dryly watching her. A bead of cold sweat trickled down his spine.
‘……Hyung must be exhausted.’
Was it mere sympathy? Or shared suffering from a similar plight?
Ryu Tae-hyun glanced toward the mountain where Ahn Su-ho and Ji Ye-won had gone, beyond the warehouse wall, and let out a deep sigh.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Meanwhile, at that very moment.
Ji Ye-won and Ahn Su-ho descended the mountain path side by side. Kang Ha-neul, unconscious, was slung over Ji Ye-won’s back.
Ahn Su-ho’s wounds had healed almost completely thanks to the potion Ji Ye-won gave him. He still had some light anemia from blood loss and lingering pain, but it was bearable.
Ji Ye-won bombarded Ahn Su-ho with questions. Mostly about what happened after she chased down Kali. Ahn Su-ho hid nothing, telling her everything—from Na Eun-ju’s intervention to finally killing Kali.
Ji Ye-won didn’t comment much on him killing someone. But she was shocked about Na Eun-ju.
"That explains it. So that’s her ability…."
Having been exposed to Na Eun-ju’s power before, Ji Ye-won finally pieced it together. Though back then, it had only been a light suggestion, not full mind control.
After that, Ji Ye-won fell silent, lost in thought. Ahn Su-ho didn’t push the conversation either.
-Crunch, crunch.
Only the sound of footsteps crushing grass and twigs echoed softly.
"Ahn Su-ho."
Then, breaking the silence, Ji Ye-won spoke.
"Remember what I said the day I left for my mission?"
It was a sudden question.
Ahn Su-ho felt a twinge in his chest but managed to reply.
"……Yeah. I remember."
"It’s been less than a week, but since we’ve met like this, I’ll ask. Min Chae-ryeong’s mission will probably pause after this anyway. So, uh…."
Ji Ye-won spoke without slowing her pace, staying about five steps ahead, as if avoiding his gaze.
Was it consideration for him? Or a defense mechanism for herself?
Either way, without facing him, she posed her question.
"What are you going to do about Ha-neul?"
-Halt.
Ahn Su-ho stopped reflexively.
But he quickly resumed walking, as if hiding his turmoil. He was glad Ji Ye-won wasn’t looking back. He sorted his thoughts.
Ji Ye-won likes me.
Kang Ha-neul probably likes me too.
He’d agonized over this for a while now, stuck between them. But he hadn’t decided. And now, a new fact had been thrown at him.
Kang Ha-neul was a possessor.
In this fake world, she was the only real one.
Her bright smile like the sun.
Her pure gratitude for the smallest things.
Her kind heart that put others first, even at her own expense.
The innocent vulnerability she showed as a little sister figure.
Her resilient will to push through despite constant complaints.
The tears she shed when he was hurt or near death because of her.
The warm sigh of relief when the crisis passed.
And finally, the budding affection she developed for him through it all.
If she alone was real in this false world—if her love alone was real—then he ought to accept it above all else.
The old Ahn Su-ho surely would have thought that.
But now, this world wasn’t false to him. At least Ji Ye-won before his eyes—he accepted her as real, even if she was a novel character.
Even if she was just lines of text, he’d treat her as genuine.
That night they’d shared their bodies, he’d decided that.
So he thought:
If his selfish greed allowed, he wanted both.
To have them. What arrogance. But with both already offering their hearts, accepting meant just that.
So he wished: not to choose one, but to have both.
He didn’t want to give up either. That was his selfish truth.
But was it possible?
Cheating was socially condemned. Harems belonged in novels. Sure, this was a novel world, but for an interloper like him—not the protagonist Ryu Tae-hyun—the rules weren’t so convenient.
At least Ji Ye-won seemed amenable. She’d said it herself: choose her, Ha-neul, or both—just decide clearly and don’t hide it.
But that was only for her.
The other—Kang Ha-neul, a modern person from his original world like him—how would she take his selfishness? A normal person wouldn’t accept a harem like some novel protagonist.
Ahn Su-ho figured the odds were near zero. If she refused, he’d have to choose.
Ji Ye-won or Kang Ha-neul.
Or neither, out of fear of hurting the unchosen.
His choice would ultimately depend on hers. With that, he spoke softly.
"……Ji Ye-won, you’re precious to me. But Kang Ha-neul is too. Maybe as much as you."
"…………So?"
Her voice held no emotion, calm as a lakeside in the quiet night forest.
"So, I’m gonna be a little greedy."
"You’re really gonna go for both? You’re one greedy guy."
"Sorry."
"Why apologize? I don’t mind."
Ji Ye-won stopped and turned to him, Kang Ha-neul still on her back.
"Hey. Ahn Su-ho."
"Yeah."
"Am I precious to you?"
"I said so. You are."
"Then you like me?"
"Yeah."
"Then you love me?"
"……Well."
"I love you."
The embarrassing word made Ahn Su-ho’s lips twitch. He couldn’t say it.
"……Kik."
A man who’d fought villains and dueled over-rank dungeon bosses hesitated over ‘love.’ Ji Ye-won found it hilarious.
"No answer?"
"I love…… yeah. I do. Love you. For real."
"Really?"
A mischievous smile played on Ji Ye-won’s lips. She nodded toward Kang Ha-neul on her back.
"Advice: when confessing to her, say you love her confidently. Stumbling like that while declaring both won’t go over well."
"Thanks for the tip. But……."
"But what?"
"You’re really okay with it? Me, uh, going for both you and Ha-neul."
"I’m fine."
No woman’s happy hearing the man she loves declare he wants two. Yet Ji Ye-won said it.
"I love you."
Forcing a