Chapter 214
Chapter 214
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 214
Chapter Title: Episode 70. Breath-Touching Distance, Seeping In (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Bom's breath brushed against his collarbone.
He couldn't get any closer than this. He had to hold the line.
He knew this child wanted to monopolize him. If he were her possession, he would gladly be hers as much as she desired.
But it had to stop there.
He couldn't allow any more emotions than that. The regressor decided once again to draw a clear line.
So even when the witch lightly embraced Clone No. 2, he didn't pull Bom into a full hug. He merely mimicked the witch's movements in kind.
The witch soon detached Clone No. 2 from her body. At the same time, Bom slowly pulled away from him.
Bom would usually laugh or tease him excitedly in moments like this. But her expression now was serious. Her eyes gazed warmly at her subject, offering comfort.
As the distance grew, the subtle atmosphere quickly settled. It meant she was treating this situation very businesslike as well.
"Child. You've said all sorts of things to me."
"Ah......"
"Don't ever hug me carelessly again. I didn't permit it, so it's awfully presumptuous. Understand?"
The smile had vanished from the witch's lips as she spoke.
What the hell? Weren't you the one pushing in earlier, saying it was fine? The witch's attitude was unpredictable. Clone No. 2 suddenly felt like Bom's skinship had been a mistake.
But Bom nodded nonchalantly and bowed her head. Clone No. 2 followed suit.
"I'm sorry."
"Good child."
The witch smiled and lifted Clone No. 2's chin with her finger.
"Now, your turn. Make your request."
"My request is to raise your residence by 40 floors."
"40 floors?"
It was double the 20 floors she'd demanded earlier.
In turn, the witch could now demand double in return.
"For the next month, stay within my reach."
"No."
"What?"
"40 floors only buys two weeks. And I have no intention of staying here longer than that."
The witch snorted derisively.
"I don't like that math at all. I give you 40 floors like his, and all I get is two weeks of your time?"
Her face soured with displeasure.
Clone No. 2 tensed up again. The air grew stifling. If this giant woman got angry, an indescribable pressure would crush down.
"Valentine. There's something you need to know."
"Speak."
"The 'anytime' and 'as much as I want' I mentioned earlier...... How long do you think that will last?"
Understanding Clone No. 2's implication, the witch let out a puff of laughter. Her face lit up with an expression of audacious cuteness.
This meant she could stroke his head freely for the next two weeks.
And simultaneously, whatever she requested next, she could have it freely for those two weeks.
"Valentine. Your power is only needed for a week. After that, you can return here and rest."
"Clever...... Have you ever bargained with yourself as merchandise?"
Clone No. 2 shyly shook his head.
"Fine. To match 40 floors, I'll have you for two weeks."
"Thank you. Now, Valentine, it's your turn to request."
"Let me hold you."
"Uh, holding...... What does that mean?"
Clone No. 2 asked back with a slightly flustered expression. The witch burst into loud laughter, opening her mouth wide. "Kyahahaha!"
"Why? Are you worried I'll devour you?"
"Isn't that what you wanted?"
"Then how many floors should I give you for that?"
"No. That's on the prohibited list......"
With that, Clone No. 2 crossed his arms over his chest.
To the witch, the gesture was utterly adorable, enough to drive her mad.
"You're really toying with me...... Fine. It just means a hug."
"If you give me 40 floors, sure."
"Expensive. That'll be 'anytime' and 'as much as I want' too, right?"
"Yes."
"Got it. Come here."
The witch spread her arms wide. Bom astutely leaned forward in response.
"Good."
The regressor realized this was a kind of crisis.
He'd just drawn the line with effort, but the witch was turning more aggressive than expected.
Now, he had to hug Bom.
While the witch embraced Clone No. 2, he stayed still. Bom's left eyebrow furrowed. Her eyes signaled, What are you doing?
Actually, her businesslike attitude made it possible for him to move. He cautiously extended his arms and hugged Bom. She remained stoic with a blank gaze. Even as he carefully wrapped his arms around her, there was no particular reaction.
The witch asked. Why so half-hearted?
"20 floors...... Is that okay?"
The witch sighed lightly. Then said. Fine.
Bom then cautiously extended her arms and hugged Yoo Ji-tae in return. It was a stiff motion. Perhaps because Clone No. 2 seemed uncomfortable with such antics, Bom was mimicking it.
So even though it was their first mutual hug, there was no particular tension between them. Yoo Ji-tae thought it a relief. If Bom had decided to tease him even a little here, the line he'd just drawn would have wavered.
But Bom was treating it strictly like a job.
Thanks to that, he could hold the line.
......That's what he thought, at least.
'I want to kiss your forehead.'
Yoo Ji-tae frowned at the witch's following words. Had the old hag lost all shame?
Bom replied in a cold voice.
"Valentine. Sorry, but it's my turn this time. Please respect the order."
I'll go up 40 floors.
"No. Isn't this part of our agreement?"
50 floors.
"I'm disappointed. Agreements aren't to be taken lightly."
60 floors. Or no deal.
"......But it doesn't feel that heavy......"
Bom's lips curved subtly, and the witch laughed brightly, finding it cute. Then she pulled Clone No. 2 into a tight embrace and brought her lips to his forehead. A gentle motion, like kissing a kitten.
Mwah― The witch kissed the clone's forehead.
In real time, the warm, soft touch of lips was felt.
Was this necessary? Yoo Ji-tae thought, staying still while holding Bom. Then Clone No. 2, losing his guideline, began to panic.
―Uh, uh! Sovereign! What do I do?! Wh-what should I......!?
Why? Can't handle it yourself?
―Ugh, uuh...... I'm about to lose my mind!
The regressor sighed.
In his view, the witch's goal was to seduce Clone No. 2.
Like making a haughty kitten bare its belly with treats after it hisses.
Until now, synchronized with Bom, the excitement had been suppressed. But without synchronization, Clone No. 2 was fully exposed to the sensual situation.
So he had no choice but to bring his face to Bom's forehead. Bom stayed calm. Her expression and demeanor soothed Clone No. 2.
However, he didn't kiss her forehead.
The regressor didn't cross the line.
That was when the witch smirked slyly.
"Child."
"Yes?"
Suddenly, she grabbed Clone No. 2's neck. Her large hand and fierce grip shoved his body back. Sharp nails dug shallowly into skin, drawing blood.
"Urk, kuhk...!"
The laughter faded from the witch's lips.
"What are you?"
In such moments, Clone No. 2 panicked. Yoo Ji-tae and Bom were slightly startled, their response delayed.
What do we do? he asked with his eyes.
What are you doing? Grab the neck. Hurry. Bom glanced downward. So Yoo Ji-tae reached out and gently gripped Bom's neck, who was sitting on his lap.
Bom pretended to mimic Clone No. 2, pressing his hand to grip harder.
"Wh-why are you doing this...!"
"I've felt something off since earlier. But when our lips touched your forehead, it felt even stranger."
"What...!?"
"Who are you?"
For an instant, Clone No. 2 felt chills run down his spine.
But Bom answered calmly. Regaining composure, Clone No. 2 decided to mimic her.
"What do you mean?"
"It doesn't feel like only you are inside there. Am I sensing wrong?"
"My neck hurts. Let go."
"Tell the truth. Before I tear your cute face apart."
As she spoke, the witch's right hand approached like a weapon. Long, red, sharpened nails came right up to Clone No. 2's nose.
Bom didn't answer.
So Clone No. 2 didn't either.
The witch stared straight into the clone's eyes.
The next moment, Clone No. 2 stuck out his tongue and slowly licked her nail, her finger.
Relaxed eyes.
A teasing expression.
Soon, the witch's stern face bloomed with amusement again.
"Well, what does it matter who you are. Or what's inside you. You're so cute......"
The grip on his neck loosened.
"You've put me in a bind. I was trying to drive you mad......"
The witch raised her knee. Clone No. 2 was drawn into her embrace by gravity.
The witch whispered into Clone No. 2's ear as she held him.
"......But you're driving me mad."
The witch said. Next request. Spend the night with me.
This naturally implied the full two weeks ahead.
So Bom countered. Go up 80 floors. That was all the remaining floors allotted to the witch.
Utterly defeated by Clone No. 2, the witch shook her head and said do as you please. She seemed almost resigned now.
An irresistibly charming and cute kitten, hard to possess. That was how the witch viewed Clone No. 2.
This seemed to wrap things up for now.
But the witch held Clone No. 2 for a long while without letting go, so Yoo Ji-tae had to hold Bom just as long.
Thump, thump...... He could hear Bom's heartbeat.
The child's gently closed eyes were visible.
"Bom. Enough now......"
"Shh. Not yet."
The whispering girl glanced up at him briefly, giving a knowing look.
"......"
So the two remained apart for quite some time.
About thirty minutes later, Clone No. 2 finally separated from the witch. Only then did Bom look up at him, sighing deeply with a grin.
"Wow. It's finally over."
He couldn't reply immediately.
Yoo Ji-tae felt something strange as he looked at Bom.
The way she fanned her face, saying it was hot.
The awkward smile.
The gesture wiping sweat from her forehead.
The lips pursing as she sighed.
His gaze lingered on her for a long time.
"......"
The regressor felt puzzled.
When had he started feeling this way?
When she licked his finger?
Or was it the heartbeat against his chest, still going on for nearly thirty minutes now?
Or just moments ago, when the young Green Dragon nuzzled into his embrace and wriggled?
He couldn't pinpoint the moment.
Across all the regressions he'd faced her, for the first time, the regressor felt an unfamiliar emotion rise.
After long years, he'd lost all interest in women. Beauty no longer stirred his heart.
But when had it changed?
In the time he'd desperately avoided under excuses of inconvenience. Always at breath-touching distance.
Little by little.
Very little by little.
Something had slowly seeped in, unbeknownst to him.
So for the emotion he felt today, he decided to think this:
Bom looks pretty today.