Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Physical Embrace
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Physical Embrace
"S-Sophia?"
"Yeah."
Lee Seong-hoon called out her name in bewilderment. A response came back, but there was no further action. If anything, she seemed to press even closer.
He raised both arms upward. His mind was a complete blank right now.
In his 25 years of life, he'd never even held a woman's hand. Being suddenly enveloped like this left him clueless on how to respond.
With his hands up in surrender, his eyes darted around frantically, at a total loss.
He wanted to ask her to let go, but his mouth wouldn't cooperate. While Lee Seong-hoon froze in place, Sophia sensed her chance.
Opportunity.
For some reason, he was different from usual. The way his face had flushed bright red was proof enough.
So Sophia pressed her body closer. She wrapped her arms around his back and rested her face on his shoulder.
The standoff began. In this deadlock—him with hands raised in surrender and her burrowing in—Sophia spoke first.
"Why'd you come?"
"Huh...? Uh, talk in this situation?"
"Should I just rub my cheek against you, then?"
"Let's talk."
That's right. Sophia let out a thin smile. It was amusing. His reactions were usually so bland and uninteresting, but today was fun.
Maybe because she was hugging him, but the wild thumping of his heartbeat echoing through her was delightful.
"I came to say thanks."
"Thanks?"
"You lent your mana to Lily. Until you were totally drained."
Ah, that. Sophia recalled yesterday's events. She pressed her body even closer.
A soft spot had formed. He'd exhausted his mana, so wasn't it right to repay him like this?
"Thank you?"
"Yeah. Thanks to you, I survived."
"And everything worked out okay?"
"That's why I'm here, isn't it?"
"I see. Then stay like this a bit longer. My head's spinning from the mana exhaustion."
She planned to keep going even if he refused. Where else could you easily find pure dragon mana? No way. She had to pay the price.
That's what she thought.
But his response was affirmative. She felt him nod. Had he eaten something weird? This wasn't the Lee Seong-hoon she knew.
Lee Seong-hoon lowered his arms. Just like she had, he wrapped them around her back.
They ended up in a mutual embrace. Sophia was startled, but she didn't pull away.
She closed her eyes. With them shut, his heartbeat rang crystal clear.
And that wasn't all. Lee Seong-hoon started patting her back. It felt strangely comforting. Eyes closed, holding him tight, Sophia spoke up.
Her face burned hot. She'd grown used to pushing forward, but him taking the initiative like this was a first, leaving her quite flustered.
It felt like her face was hot enough to erupt like a volcano. At least it was hidden from view.
"Thank you."
"Suddenly? I came to thank you."
"Yeah. I am thankful for that. But I'm thankful too."
These were words she hadn't been able to say much, even when she wanted to. He always got annoyed and fidgety, so she'd held back on the embarrassing stuff.
She had so much she wanted to say.
Thanks for fighting for me. Thanks for saving me. Thanks for sticking around with a vampire like me. Thanks for letting me live as a human—
Thinking up to there, Sophia buried her head in his shoulder.
I've only been receiving.
She hadn't done anything in return. She'd racked up debts to Lee Seong-hoon she could never repay, and all she'd given back was a few packed lunches and risking her life yesterday.
"Just... thank you for everything."
So she had to say it. Using this atmosphere, she had to.
"Everything. All of it. Just... everything."
For some reason, the back he was patting felt warm.
"Did I do the right thing?"
On the way home, he wondered, but he wasn't sure. The only thing he'd hugged before was Levatein, so he'd patted her back on instinct, and it didn't seem like a mistake—thank goodness.
After that, he'd had to hold Sophia until she was satisfied. It was no light task.
"Still, I did well. Good job, me."
From now on, he'd mostly grant whatever his maids wanted. Employee welfare builds a company's future.
It wouldn't change much, but it was better than nothing.
He nodded and quickened his pace. He wanted to get home and rest soon. He'd rolled around all day yesterday. He should be exhausted after spending half of it at the hospital bedside.
"Gonna nap with Levatein when I get home."
Get up, play some games with Raphael, figure out somewhere to go since Maldives was off the table.
He needed to set a date for Shin Ga-yeon's place too. On top of that, departure schedules, lodging, travel plans. A mountain of tasks.
So he tried to bypass the bustling commercial district. Cutting through would make it a bit longer, but—
—Play with me today.
—If not, you'll get a physical embrace!!
—And bring some snacks. We've gotta decide what games in advance. You can bring Levatein too.
—Drinks too!! Almost forgot.
"Sigh."
This morning's conversation popped into his head. He could just go home and pretend he'd forgotten, but he didn't want that physical embrace.
No helping it. Her brute strength had gotten even stronger, so resistance was futile.
"Is this what it means to be owned?"
The meaning was a bit off, but he grumbled as he entered the convenience store.
What kind of place only had one convenience store in the whole commercial district? Dorm residents had to trek all the way here for anything.
It'd be great to have one right by the dorms with all that foot traffic. Why not?
No idea. He just picked out snacks. His bank balance was nearing zero, so he couldn't buy much.
Convenience stores were terrifying places.
"This is what Lachesis likes. Oh, Levatein really loves this one."
Once he started, his hands kept going. On their own. No stopping it. Buy this, spot that. Buy that, see this.
Lily had whined about no kitchen towels the other day.
Levatein's favorite snack. Raphael goes crazy for this food—
Before he knew it, the basket was overflowing. Inevitably so.
"Insufficient balance?"
"Yes?"
Wasn't our household balance too low?
Should he cancel the Sunbed?
"Ah, I'll put everything back except these two."
But he couldn't give up Levatein's favorite snack.
In the end, he maxed out his limit on snacks. What would the household eat starting tomorrow?
Beans? Some medieval stew of whatever thrown together?
That might bring tears.
Koreans run on rice power, after all.
"Aaaah~~~"
As he pondered how to scrape by until the monthly deposit, a voice rang out.
It was right in the middle of the crowded commercial district.
"Hm?"
What the heck? Who was interrupting his maid-to-servant rotation combo?
A quite pitiful voice. Listening closely, it had a dramatic tone. Like forced sadness, fake crying.
And strangely, despite the loud cry, no one paid attention.
He turned his gaze. There was a nun. A woman in a black habit. Not a single strand of hair escaped.
Her eyes gleamed emerald. Even veiled by the habit, her beauty shone through.
She sat on the street pavement in what you'd call the little mermaid pose.
"Is there no one to help~?"
She spoke pitifully, but then it clicked why no one had helped despite her being in the middle of the road.
She screamed suspicious. Who'd help? More importantly, why was she there?
Before their eyes met, he quickly looked away and recalled Yang Min-ji's words.
She'd definitely said this during hell training.
—Someone's coming this summer.
—They said the church is dispatching people when the barrier fades during summer break!
"Summer break, huh."
It hadn't even started yet. Still some time before break.
And the barrier should still be up, right? Ignoring the flood of question marks, he focused on the most urgent task.
Get out of here.
Why she was there and what she was doing didn't matter.
Quickly—
"Ah."
As he tried to slip away, their eyes met. The woman looked at him pitifully. He gave an awkward smile.
Normally, conscience would compel you to ask, "What's wrong?"
That's what decent people do. But what could he do?
No matter how many near-death experiences, human nature doesn't change that drastically.
No such dramatic shift for him.
He smiled sheepishly and bolted before she could speak.
It might look like coldly ignoring a nun in need, or cursing him as a jerk.
Fine by him. Right now, he was abandoning his humanity.
He walked briskly away. That woman wasn't really asking for help anyway.
If she was who he thought, she was probably hunting.
Hunting what? Well—
—Are you okay?
—Can we help?
He heard voices and glanced back. Two guys, looking like students, approached the nun.
"Idiots."
He bowed his head slightly in silent prayer. He could imagine their grim futures shuffling into the alley.
"Namu Amida Butsu."
Hoping they wouldn't even lose their clothes.
Good thing it wasn't him. He wasn't glad to see her. Hoped never to again.
"I'm home."
As he opened the door, something came rushing to the entryway. Lily wiping her hands with a towel and bowing her head.
Levatein charging with a 'Welcome back~'. Lachesis pretending not to care but coming out to the entryway before turning back.
This welcome felt nice. He picked up the rushing Levatein and hugged her.
"Were you good while I was gone?"
[Watched Mom play games.]
"Yeah?"
This damn blonde didn't even come out when someone arrived. As he slowly entered the living room, Raphael was looking his way.
Head turned, still not putting down the game console.
"You're back."
"Quit the game already."
"Just this one clear. Can't let go now."
Was that an angel of hugs? Or addiction? He sighed, set Levatein down, washed his hands, and sat on the sofa.
Levatein naturally came back for a hug. Common sense: don't touch kids without washing hands.
"Levatein, snacks."
[Snack?!]
"Yeah. Your favorite."
As he pulled out the bag, Levatein rubbed her face happily. He thought it was the usual rub, but she suddenly got serious and lifted her head.
Looked at him once. At his clothes once.
Then rubbed her face again. Wondering what she was up to, he kept watching—
[Daddy.]
"Yeah."
[No. Mom!!]
"Yesss~~ Hold on~~"
What the hell. As he panicked, Levatein hopped down from him.
She scurried straight to Raphael, sat between her legs. Hid behind Raphael's body, peeking only her face out at him.
[Mom.]
"What's wrong, suddenly? Hungry?"
[Daddy smells fragrant. Not Daddy's smell.]
Smack!!
He unwittingly slapped his forehead.
"Seong-hoon! It's adultery!!"
She's getting into it again. What morning drama was this? As he played the cheating husband skit, he resolved.
Time to cut the TV cord.