Chapter 304
Chapter 304
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 304
Chapter Title: 94. First Experience (5)
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"Let me check the schedule."
Why isn't she nervous?
At first, it was just a trivial question like that.
But as he kept thinking about it, there was something off in Bom's recent behavior.
Lately, Bom had grown close to the people in the Grade 5 Agent Office, with Kang A-jin at the center.
She started wandering around the Alliance, meeting people and learning the ropes.
Now she was even doing Je-gal Hae-yeon's makeup.
It was a stark contrast to how she'd been until now. Was she just getting used to life in the Alliance and finding things to do?
The more he thought about it, the bigger the doubt grew.
Bom was always methodical.
Bom didn't live reactively.
Bom always lived according to her plans.
Kang A-jin. Je-gal Hae-yeon.
And the Agent Office people she'd approached first and befriended: Isabella Kampavich, Wei Hongwei, Patricia Mosca, Greta Jenekamp, Yana Goradia...
What was the common thread among these people from different races and countries?
"......"
Yoo Ji-tae felt a vague unease.
Of all things, they were all women.
"It'll just take a minute."
"Do you have something to say, Season?"
"Get in the car."
"Okay, Oppa."
He took Bom to the underground parking lot and got her in the car.
"Bom. Is something going on with you lately?"
"No?"
"Why suddenly suggest going to a dinner party?"
"Do you need a reason to go to a dinner party?"
The fragments of things he'd found odd felt too distant now.
"Why have you been so outgoing lately?"
"Is that a problem?"
"Doesn't it seem weird? It's been months since you joined the Alliance. Until now, you've kept your distance from people to match the image of the prophet you imagined."
"Yeah. I think I was too indifferent to everyone around me."
Indifferent?
"What do you mean by that?"
"Hmm... The other day, it suddenly hit me. I've been living my life looking through a tube."
"A tube?"
"Yeah, like a toilet paper roll or a straw. It's good for focusing, but you can't see what's around you. When the thing you're looking at through the tube disappears, you don't see where it went."
Incomprehensible words.
But there was no need to continue the Zen-like exchange.
Because Bom's words, as revealed by Scales Eye (SS), were false.
When "false" appeared over a Zen koan, it meant the words weren't coming from the heart.
"Bom. Are you hiding something from me?"
"Not lately."
Truth.
"You're not planning something behind my back?"
"How could I do anything without you knowing, Oppa?"
Truth.
"Answer comfortably, without overthinking. Are you thinking of hurting someone?"
"No?"
Truth.
Then Bom's lower lip pouted slightly, her face turning sullen.
"Hurt who all of a sudden? That's a weird question..."
"Sorry if I upset you."
"I'm not some psycho..."
"I've never thought you were a psycho."
In any case, there was nothing she was hiding from Yoo Ji-tae, and no intent to harm anyone. So there was no issue.
He decided to let go of the unease.
"Are you coming to the dinner party later?"
"You asked me to come along. Of course I will."
Bom's tongue flicked over her lower lip again.
"Okay."
That evening.
The command staff dinner was held at one of the in-house wine bars.
It wasn't a formal affair—just people gathering in small groups to chat. More like an office party than a dinner.
Naturally, high-ranking figures like Kaliovan, the Five Transcendents, or the staff officers weren't there.
Which made Yoo Ji-tae, in his dress shirt and tie, swirling a wine glass in the corner, stand out uncomfortably.
Like a professor stuck among undergrads.
In fact, a few soldiers awkwardly greeted him and hurried away.
It was an era where death was commonplace, but even accounting for that, it was after a major incident. The mood wasn't rowdy.
They'd set aside work talk for a bit, sharing everyday stories.
And there, one person was drawing everyone's attention today.
Bom.
"Haru! Mind if I sit next to you?"
"Sure, go ahead, Unni."
"Prophet-nim. What you told me last time was a huge help."
"Wow, really?"
"Wanna grab some tteokbokki sometime?"
"That sounds amazing..."
It wasn't just the Grade 5 Agent Office.
There were people from other departments too. Naturally, Bom was surrounded by a crowd of women.
There's definitely something up with her.
Then, amid the brief swarm of people,
Yoo Ji-tae and Bom's eyes met.
Her hair tied up high. Flawless skin even under the lights. Meticulously applied makeup that looked effortless. A black choker crossing her neck.
And a pristine white baby doll dress.
She was dressed up more than usual.
"But Haru, you know how to dress up like this too?"
"Right? You look stunning today."
"Like a doll. Where'd you get the outfit?"
The crowd could have been overwhelming, but Bom gave each person a sincere gaze. Her conversations flowed naturally, like water.
A faint natural scent wafting around. A clear voice pleasant to listen to. Pretty eyes that drew you in.
Everyone she talked to fell under her spell.
As the party heated up,
Bom carefully stood from her seat.
"Excuse me for a bit."
"Huh? Where are you going?"
"I invited him, but he's been sitting alone..."
Those who spotted Season looked a bit surprised.
They wanted to follow Bom and chat more. But none dared to join a table with the "Prophet Season." Even Kang A-jin felt that way.
It was intimidating.
"How can you be alone on such a fine night?"
But there were many ears listening. Even alone with him, Bom kept up her mystical prophet persona.
"You seemed to be enjoying yourselves. Don't worry about me. I prefer being alone."
Yoo Ji-tae played along.
"Still, you came all this way. Want to have a drink with me?"
"Yes. Let's have one."
In the dim light, where it shattered against colored glass.
As the LP on the turntable played a heavy, slow melody.
Clink—
Yoo Ji-tae and Bom's glasses touched.
He thought she'd leave by now. But she didn't.
What the hell is she up to?
As he wondered that,
Bom rested her chin on both hands and gazed at Yoo Ji-tae.
It was the same eyes as always.
No, different from the ones she showed at the Alliance.
Her eyebrows curved gently like the number eight.
A gaze that peered deep into the soul.
And Bom said nothing.
"......"
That silence strangely felt like the start of something. It was the regressor's intuition. Whenever this girl, like a nine-tailed fox, started acting strangely—whether he knew it or not—there was always a reason.
In simple terms.
Something had just begun.
Bom tilted her head slightly. Her piercing gaze curved like a bow.
Her smiling lips parted.
Then closed.
Hesitated, then opened again.
"......Thank you. Always."
Bom said it out of the blue.
"You've made me happy."
"No need."
Just a simple thank you? Or was there intent?
He knew something had started, but not what.
Then Bom covered her mouth, as if surprised by her own words.
"Ah... Sorry. Did I mess up?"
For now, in the Alliance, Yoo Ji-tae had to treat Bom with respect.
For her authority.
"No. It's sudden, but it's fine."
"Must be the alcohol. But it's not nonsense. I've always wanted to say that..."
"I'm honored."
Then Bom exhaled deeply, huff huff.
"They say exhaling deeply like this sobers you up fast. Huff. Huff..."
"Probably a myth."
"Is it? Huff..."
He decided to drop a hint.
"You seem in great spirits. Did something good happen today? You've drunk way more than usual."
(Why are you acting so drunk?)
Normally, Bom would respond metaphorically.
"Plenty of good things. Hanging out with nice people is fun. And sitting here with you..."
But today's answer wasn't like that.
Like she was really drunk.
"If you're that drunk, maybe stop now?"
"Mmm... I'm fine. So what if I'm a little tipsy?"
"A drunk tongue speaks falsehoods, and the body makes a fool of itself. I'm worried it'll tarnish your dignity."
(If you're really drunk, rein it in.)
Bom, sharp as she was, couldn't miss the signal.
But she shook her head, swaying drunkenly.
"No? Your words don't even make sense. I'm not drunk."
"You seem a bit out of it."
"Hehe... I'm not a kid; I know my limits. I don't drink like this elsewhere. But tonight, a little tipsy should be okay, right?"
"Why tonight?"
"Because you're right here next to me..."
Sweet words, easy on the ears. And they strangely eased his mood. The earlier suspicion did fade a bit.
On the other hand, he still couldn't read Bom's true intentions.
Why is she acting like this?
But Bom gave him no time to think.
"Don't go alone."
"Of course not."
"Okay..."
At that moment, Yoo Ji-tae reconsidered briefly.
Maybe she really was drunk and just rambling.
For the dignity of her "prophet" role, it was time to wrap this up.
Clink—
The glasses touched.
He downed the wine roughly.
As he was about to say it was time to go,
Plop—Bom slipped something into his open mouth.
A canapé from the snacks.
A cracker topped with cheese, fruit bits, and cream.
He looked at Bom in slight surprise.
Bom was smiling.
Bom had always tried to feed him bits here and there.
But this was the Alliance. And he was Prophet Season.
Yet Bom had just treated him casually, like everyday life.
"How is it? I tried it, and it's delicious."
He chewed silently.
The stares from around intensified.
The sidelong glances from those pretending not to watch Bom and him—they'd just turned blatant.
He checked.
Kang A-jin. Je-gal Hae-yeon. The Grade 5 Agent Office crew. The women Bom had recently befriended. And now even a few men. All looking at Yoo Ji-tae and Bom with curiosity and interest.
No way, is she...
"It made me think of you right away. I wanted to feed it to you..."
Only then did Yoo Ji-tae realize.
It was like all his questions were answered.
Why Bom had suddenly approached Kang A-jin and Je-gal Hae-yeon.
Why she'd wagged her tail like a puppy to build a good image with so many others, to make those relationships natural.
And finally, why she'd pretended to be drunk and showered him with affection.
The scattered puzzle pieces fit together.
Some pack-hunting monsters gather their shared prey in one spot. To keep others from taking it, they coat it with sticky saliva—like putting a name tag on it. Called marking.
They also scatter byproducts to mark territory. "This is mine. Stay out of my spot." Viewing it that way, Yoo Ji-tae finally understood Bom's actions. Even coming to him as the mood ripened.
Bom was marking her territory on him.