Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: The Hovel
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She looked totally lost in the flavor, her face a picture of bliss.
Harumi had been elegantly savoring bite-sized portions of the ravioli, but the moment the duck confit arrived, she lost all control of her knife. At first, she was slicing the duck neatly, but soon she was hacking off bigger chunks, her fork darting wildly as she shoveled food into her mouth.
Nom nom nom!
Chomp chomp chomp!
Munch munch!!
"Looks like you're really loving that, Miss Rumi."
I tossed the comment her way, and Harumi's movements froze solid.
She stared at me wide-eyed, fork still dangling from her mouth with a fresh load of duck.
"Wh-whad? I-I'm nod!"
Chomp chomp.
Her mouth was stuffed full, so her words came out all garbled.
She gulped down some water, swallowed hastily, and her face flushed beet red in an instant.
"Phew...!"
"Pfft, don't worry, I won't steal any. Take your time."
"Hmph! Don't act so familiar."
Harumi grumbled, but she picked up her fork again anyway.
Her pace didn't slow a bit. Even though there was no way I'd snatch it, she kept shooting wary glances my way. It was downright adorable.
Still, why was she eating so frantically?
She couldn't actually be starving, could she?
The crowberry compote that came next was even more of a spectacle. Harumi scooped up a spoonful, popped it in her mouth, closed her eyes softly... and just stopped.
"Something wrong? Not to your liking?"
"...No."
Probably too delicious for words. Felt like she was telling me not to interrupt.
I tried a bite myself. It had this subtle bitterness mixed with something intriguing. I was more of a convenience store ice cream guy—why bother with this stuff...?
While I mulled over my ice cream critique in my head, Harumi was already going for spoonful number two. Bigger scoop this time.
"That good, huh?"
"Eh, it's decent. Barely worth eating, but whatever. You commoners wouldn't get it anyway."
"Oh nooo~ Poor ignorant me can't comprehend~."
I played along lightly, and Harumi puffed out her cheeks a little, clearly annoyed by my sarcasm.
A moment later.
Clink... clink...
"...I want more."
Harumi muttered under her breath, almost whining.
"Shall I order seconds?"
This must be what it feels like when a country grandpa watches his granddaughter eat. I just wanted to keep feeding her.
"No thanks! Then I'd look like a total glutton!"
You already do, I almost said, but held back.
I watched with a grin as she gazed longingly at her empty plate, gave the spoon one last slurp, and set it down.
Cute.
Damn, that hit the spot.
Feeding a heroine is peak content, no doubt.
I chuckled lightly, stood, and headed to the register.
"That'll be 36,000 yen."
?
"How much?"
36,000 yen? That's 18,000 per person—360,000 won for two?
"That'll be 36,000 yen."
The cashier repeated it politely, straight-faced, as if it were nothing.
Holy hell, that's pricey.
For that food? 360,000 won?
"Here."
Well... it wasn't like I couldn't afford it.
Since possessing this body, I'd already mapped out a perfect plan for financial freedom.
I had enough right now for fine dining like this, and once my investments and coins started skyrocketing in the future, I'd be swimming in cash—walking corporation levels.
I wasn't some investment genius or anything... just long-term holds on stocks I knew would explode. The downside was waiting it out.
But according to my memories, the first big one was right around the corner. By summer break, I'd be loaded.
Anyway, I pocketed my card and stepped outside.
"Enjoy your meal, Miss Rumi?"
The cool evening air brushed past soothingly.
"Eh... it was fine. Not bad taste for a commoner."
Harumi dabbed at her lips with delicate fingers as she walked. The dessert flavor must still be lingering.
"I'll take that as a compliment, miss."
"It is one."
Her tone was still prickly, but her expression had softened considerably.
Then Harumi paused abruptly and turned to me.
"And my name's not Rumi—it's Harumi. Harumi of the Kanemochiru family. Get it right from now on."
"Got it. I'm Yu Sanghyeon."
"Yu Sanghyeon...? You're Korean?"
"Yeah."
"I see... That explains why you're so tall..."
Guess Japanese girls just assume Korean guys are built big.
"Anyway, stop following me. I can get home from here."
Harumi folded her arms and jerked her chin the opposite way.
"What about that 100,000 yen?"
She'd seemed oddly obsessed with money, but after dinner and everything, no mention of it.
"...Forget it. You treated me to a decent meal... On second thought, it'd be a burden for a commoner like you. I'll graciously let it slide."
"Aw, but a promise is a promise."
"I said drop it. Don't make me repeat myself—go back to your hovel!"
Was this a sudden pride flare-up, or did she really not want to burden a "commoner"?
Either way, perfect. Gave me an excuse to keep things going.
"Tell you what. I basically owe you 100,000 yen now... So how about I treat you to meals worth that much down the line?"
"What!? F-for real!?"
Harumi hopped in place, eyes sparkling.
She must really love her food.
"Of course. Exchange messenger IDs?"
"O-okay..."
Maybe embarrassed by her excitement, she averted her gaze and just held out her smartphone.
"Honored to get the messenger of such a noble lady."
"You bet. Anyway, I'm heading home—I'm sleepy."
"Yes, miss. Take care."
Good enough for now.
Paparazzi jerk dealt with, ID swapped, long-term meetups lined up—not a bad haul.
Sigh...
Still, heading back felt off.
Dinner and her cuteness had melted my worries, but seeing that paparazzi scum hadn't fully faded. The anxiety and tension lingered.
What if—just maybe—something happened to her on the way home? Better tail her.
If caught, I'd be reported to the cops, but I couldn't shake the need to check thoroughly.
Feels like my paranoia’s worsening.
Can I even have a normal marriage like this someday?
Tch.
I'll heal up living happily with Ren, Harumi, and the others.
And so, I ducked into an alley corner, peeking out to track her.
Click-clack—click-clack—
Even in the empty alley, her walk screamed confidence. The stilettos on her petite frame clacked loudly, totally mismatched.
But then Harumi started changing.
From the Harumi I knew... to one I didn't.
Shamble... shamble...
The proud, haughty lady deflated like a punctured balloon.
Head drooping.
Shoulders hunching.
Uncertain gaze.
Feet dragging listlessly.
I'd started following out of crime worries, but now it was something else entirely.
Why?
Harumi was always so bold and bright.
Brimming with arrogance and pride worthy of a noble lady.
In the game art, she always held her head high.
So what was this slumped posture?
Not the NTR trauma trigger—this was pure heartache.
I didn't want to see Harumi like this.
...I just meant to watch till she got home safely, but now I had to see it through.
I crept after her, silent as a shadow.
Like a detective flick, using cover to tail her—nearly busted a few times.
My heavyweight athlete build didn't help,
but mostly, Harumi kept glancing around.
Like she desperately didn't want anyone knowing where she was headed.
The alleys grew darker.
Lights thinned out; new signs were rusted relics.
The street's vibrancy faded fast.
Concrete walls stained with old water marks and rust; potholes pooled with filthy water on poor asphalt.
Something felt wrong.
Why was I even here?
Her emotions seemed to infect me.
She looked like she was sinking into the unlit shadows, and more than once, I nearly bolted out to hug her.
Step... step...
Finally, Harumi stopped at a rundown building.
A two-story Japanese apartment block.
No fresh paint—just rust everywhere, like it'd been slathered in dark red to hide it. Iron stairs creaked.
Mailboxes dented; address plates blackened beyond recognition.
No upper-class person would set foot here. Hell, not even lower-middle. Worst slum vibes.
Yet Harumi climbed those stairs.
As I gawked from behind the wall,
she pulled keys from her pocket. Not ringing a bell—her keys. And the way she found the lock? Muscle memory.
Rattle—
Click.
Then, a faint sigh escaped.
"I'm home...."
The haughty miss from the restaurant? Gone.
Like a different person.
The small, pitiful Harumi vanished into the decrepit building.