Chapter 240
Chapter 240
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 240
Chapter Title: Regarding Romantic Feelings (4)
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That day at lunch, Bom was alone with Winter.
Yeoreum had gone to training. Gaeul had headed out to an animal cafe with Ppivung.
"Winter."
In the quiet house, Bom called out to Winter.
Winter, who had been blankly staring at the fish tank in his room and the tropical fish inside it, turned his head.
"Wanna eat?"
"...Yeah. What about Uncle?"
"He must've gone to work."
Yoo Ji-tae wasn't in the dorm, but it wasn't a big deal. Bom was the only one in Room 301 who knew he had ties to the Federation. She also knew he was busy with Federation matters. And vaguely, she even knew about the existence of 'Evil'.
"...He's been gone a lot lately."
At times like this, Bom didn't care at all. She decided not to worry about where he was or how long he'd be gone.
Nothing had shown up in Providence either. He was probably just a bit busier these days.
"What do you want to eat with big sis today, Winter?"
"...Um, ramen?"
"We had that yesterday."
At times like that, she would just take over his role.
That was Bom's way of thinking.
He had once watched a movie where the protagonist was a regressor.
A story about returning from the future to the past and rebuilding his future.
But the actual regressor, Yoo Ji-tae, had a hard time immersing himself in such films. Whenever the protagonist influenced the world, the world's reactions were bizarrely convenient.
The movie protagonist didn't seem to have returned to the past so much as entered a world where everything went exactly as wished...
Real regression wasn't like that.
The 'flow of time' was like walking and continuously knocking over the starting point of a domino line. What fell one by one right in front would entangle complexly far ahead, toppling thousands at once.
A tiny element had upended the future, events, and key figures more than once or twice.
For example, in the 5th round, the 'Second World Great War' broke out exactly two years after Yoo Ji-tae started his activities.
Something that took 20 years in other rounds had been accelerated by his reckless actions.
The good news was that massive events like the 'Great War' had inevitability. Unless deliberately disrupted, they weren't easily shaken.
But smaller things like 'daily life' could be ruined in an instant.
To protect daily life, he had to strictly separate daily and non-daily.
'Daily life' had to be a life not much different from others'. Joyful. Happy. Sometimes angry, sad, or painful. A life anyone could have.
And adding a few extra spoonfuls of happiness and joy for the kids—that was the 7th round life he pursued.
Daily life had to feel like daily life. So the regressor didn't hoard unnecessary money. Didn't grasp unnecessary power. Didn't exert unnecessary influence on those around him.
He was cautious.
The 'daily life' he wanted needed plausibility. And he had to fit himself into that plausibility.
What if he didn't fit himself into daily plausibility?
If he got everything he wanted ridiculously easily like a deus ex machina, the kids' psychological reward system would break. They wouldn't find value in small joys anymore.
It wouldn't be 'daily life' anymore.
The most natural plausibility in such daily life was connections.
Connections that weren't too close. Not too distant. Just the right distance.
"Hanwoo omakase. You like beef, right?"
That was why Yoo Ji-tae was eating with this orange-haired woman.
Build a connection at the right distance through three meals. And have her add to Bom's happiness. Since it was special but not direct intervention, it fulfilled plausibility.
Bom would be pleased.
And see this situation as special.
"It's okay, I guess."
"Still, this place is pretty good. It's expensive."
Throughout the meal, the carrot girl just watched Yoo Ji-tae. The promised meals were three times.
Like enchanted by magic, she scrutinized his expressions, face, gestures, and listened to his voice.
And whenever something came to mind, she kept scribbling in her notebook with her pen.
"You. Military?"
"Ex-military."
"Which branch?"
When Yoo Ji-tae frowned, she hurriedly changed the subject.
"Ah, my mistake. Could be military secret about monsters. So, have you ever killed a monster?"
"Yeah."
"Killed a lot? What was it like? Your military life?"
"Fought a lot. Killed a lot. Nothing special. Just a soldier's duty."
A brief silence passed. Then she asked suspiciously.
"...What about non-monsters?"
The questions were getting annoying. His expression hardened.
"What do you think?"
"..."
Then she'd scribble something in her notebook again.
Through three such meetings, Yoo Ji-tae only gave brief Q&A answers. And she always went home visibly brightened.
Writers were an utterly incomprehensible species.
Meanwhile, as the meals continued a few times, Yoo Ji-tae felt a renewed strangeness.
There was no fun or enjoyment in these meetings.
It felt like eating across from a block of wood. This was exactly the feeling he always had when dealing with people up to the 6th round. Now it felt newly strange.
To him, meals had naturally become joyful times.
Why?
Following the thought, he realized it was because he always ate with the hatchlings.
"Here."
At the end of the third meal.
The carrot girl handed Yoo Ji-tae a business card. [Heenari Pictures. Vice President. Kang Yun-gu] It was from someone he'd never met.
"What's this?"
"Heenari Pictures. Don't know it? Korea's top horror film production company. They do distribution too."
"This is that place?"
"Yep. Two of my films have been released through them. I already gave them a heads-up in my name. Not confirmed yet, but they'll contact you around the end of the awards ceremony. Then you'll contract with our management and talk OSMU rights."
I see...
Nothing was set in stone yet.
"You broke my long slump. Thanks. When the film company confirms, I'll let you know again."
"Thank you."
His thanks seemed unexpected, as the carrot girl's eyes widened.
"See you when contract talks come up. I'll help out separately too."
It was evening when he returned to the dorm.
The kids gathered in the living room were eating chicken and chattering away.
"I'm back."
"Oong, hi Uncle. Come eat chicken...!"
Gaeul flapped her hands holding chicken, while Winter beamed beside her, welcoming Yoo Ji-tae.
"Where were you, coming back now?"
"Met someone."
Yeoreum nodded indifferently, biting into a breast piece.
Tomorrow was the awards ceremony.
Tomorrow. Bom would have her nearly year-long story recognized by others.
A party couldn't be missing from such a joyful time. The chicken and cola were ordered for that reason.
"Heehee."
As the kids laughed and chatted noisily.
Gaeul grinned brightly and said,
"Ah, right right. Uncle, you know?"
"What?"
"Bom unni prepared her awards speech, right? The content is...!"
"Gaeul!"
As Gaeul waved some paper, surprised Bom snatched it away.
Then Yeoreum and Gaeul, even Winter, burst out laughing.
"Why. What's up."
"Nothing. It's nothing."
Even as he grew curious, Bom showed no sign of telling.
But she seemed to find it funny herself, chuckling while hiding the paper.
The laughter in Room 301 continued late into the night.
Even in her room, Bom couldn't contain her joy. Just then, there was someone she wanted to share the good news with. Bom made a call.
— Yeah. Bom?
"Hello? Grandma."
— Oh my, what's this? Your voice sounds so bright. Something good happened?
"Yeah. I won a gold award."
— Huh? The novel?
"Yes."
— Oh my goodness...! Good job, you!
Bom chatted with Ri-hwa all sorts through the night until dawn broke.
But she wasn't tired.
Because she was a dragon?
Maybe, but she probably wouldn't have been tired even as a human.
She was that happy.
The day broke.
Three hours before the awards ceremony started.
Bom arrived alone at the waiting room. Wearing a pretty modified hanbok dress.
The horror association provided makeup and hair for the awardees, who gathered in the waiting room getting their hair and makeup done.
"Hello. Writers."
"Oh. Broccoli Writer, come on in!"
A few familiar writers welcomed Bom.
Under bright lights. Receiving touches from hair and makeup artists. The excited awardees chattered away. Talks of works, management, mutual congratulations naturally led to the one woman absent from the group.
"But you know, guys. Has Carrot Girl been super quiet lately?"
"That arrogant one?"
"She suddenly changed. No temper at all. All smiles and sweet... Hell, last time she greeted me first at the company."
"Oh my god, what a sight... Oh! Speaking of, I heard something too."
"What?"
"Carrot Girl writer's been meeting a guy lately."
"Huh? Always going on about inspiration... Guess that's why her romance novels are doing well."
"Right. Why else hang around horror. Romance ideas dried up, so switching genres to mooch."
"Well, good for both."
Bom nodded along in between, listening. No particular thoughts. Just 'I see...'.
After makeup, admirations burst around. Bom smiled shyly and nodded. Then she pulled out her prepared speech paper from sub-space, glanced at it, and put it back.
She had it memorized perfectly, but wanted to check anyway.
"Writers, please proceed to the venue!"
The staff voice rang out.
Thus, as the ceremony was about to start, Bom sat in the frontmost audience seat.
Then, click-clack... high heel sounds approached from over there. The carrot girl, perfectly made up and haired at a pro shop, naturally sat next to Bom.
As in the gossip, she looked in great spirits. Her sharp impression was filled with comfort.
Whatever.
Bom didn't pay much mind, but suddenly the carrot girl spoke to her.
"Writer."
Bom turned.
"You're really pretty today."
"Yes...?"
"Pretty, you. So cute even without makeup, but with it, you're adorable."
"Ah. Thank you. You're pretty too, Writer."
"Can I pinch your cheeks?"
Bom shook her head with a smile.
"Too bad. Should've dyed your hair green. Then carrot vs broccoli headline would've popped. Look at me? Carrot color."
She flicked her orange hair.
Bom smiled and replied.
"I'm fine. Just winning the award is an honor."
"Hmm. Really?"
Even smiling like that, Bom wondered why this woman was suddenly acting friendly.
No kidding, the other writers were glancing over in bewilderment too?
Her personality really changed completely?
"How's the mood?"
"Excited. First time for something like this."
"Nice. You know what's after the awards, right?"
"...Yes?"
"Not gonna say thanks? This unni put in some effort."
Bom closed her mouth briefly.
Because her words didn't make sense.
What after the ceremony?
Still, she kept her polite social smile.
"Saw your manuscript. Good story for a movie. Atmosphere descriptions were solid. First work, right? You've got talent?"
"Movie...?"
"Huh? Didn't know? Ji-tae didn't tell you?"
"...Ji-tae?"
The smile faded from Bom's eyes.
"Guess he hasn't said yet. Well, film company gave the OK this morning."
The carrot girl lacking romantic sentiments.
Lately meeting a man.
Yoo Ji-tae being busy recently.
Carrot girl's sudden personality change.
And... movie...?
Something ominous reared its head. Like a black rose. As Bom's smile vanished, the carrot girl asked puzzled.
"Why so stiff?"
"What do you mean."
"What...? Tone's off? Really heard nothing? Whatever. You'll learn from now on. After awards, come see me a bit. Meet our company people too—"
"No. Tell me from the start."
A voice like ice water poured.
As the carrot girl blinked, Bom asked.
"What did Ji-tae do?"