Chapter 121: Inevitability (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 121: Inevitability (3)
The peaceful days continued.
A repetitive routine of attending classes, eating together, occasionally clearing a dungeon, and occasionally having sex.
Such days probably make up more than ninety percent of a person's life.
But whenever this unexplainable peace lasts too long, I sometimes find myself consumed by anxiety.
The calm before the storm.
Just as the weather is perfectly clear and calm right before a typhoon hits, a suspicion—one far from rational, bordering on paranoia—creeps into my mind: isn't this peace I've been given the same kind of thing?
Actually, it's less paranoia and more of an occupational hazard.
This is what happens when you spend decades as a Hunter, experiencing all sorts of incidents firsthand.
It’s as if my mind automatically injects me with something to keep me on edge whenever I relax for even a moment.
“Why the long face? Something on your mind?”
“No, it’s nothing like that…”
My mood must have shown on my face, because Yu-jeong asked in a genuinely concerned tone.
The thought that she could now make such an expression at me made the unsettling feeling subside a little.
“If there is, just tell me. Who knows? This big sis might just solve it for you in one go.”
The gesture of raising a clenched fist with a confident expression was just so typically Shin Yu-jeong.
Looking at her triumphant expression, I felt the suspicion in my mind dilute a little.
Yeah, honestly, it doesn't make any sense.
Back then, I was in a position where I had to be the first to act when something happened, but that's not the case now, is it?
Right now, I'm just a fresh-faced, twenty-year-old Hunter aspirant. What could possibly happen?
A part of the suspicion that had occupied my mind shifted to a different topic.
“Yu-jeong.”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s go on a date.”
“……”
It was about time to make things right.
Time to give her a second experience that would make her forget the absurd first one, which had ended with little more than putting it in and pulling it out.
Her head, which had been glued to her smartphone screen, snapped toward me.
My face was reflected in her dilated pupils.
A deep smile spread across her lips.
“Heheheh… Finally getting some ideas, are we?”
“What ideas?”
She glanced around at the people sitting nearby, then leaned in close and whispered to me.
“Ideas about fucking me.”
“……”
She’s really something else. A piece of work.
How could she say something like that, especially on a bus?
Of course, she did check her surroundings before saying it… but still, that’s not an easy thing to do.
“You’re going to plan the date, right?”
“I guess I should.”
It was better if I did it.
Who knew what would happen if I left it to someone with no dating experience.
“Then I guess all I have to do is show up wearing some sexy underwear.”
At this point, I had to assume she was enjoying my flustered reaction.
I couldn't just let her win, so I leaned in close and retorted.
“I’ll be looking forward to it, so make sure you wear your sexiest pair.”
Our lips were so close they were almost touching.
Her wide, round eyes were so cute that I leaned in a little more, letting our lips brush for a moment before pulling back.
Her face flushed red as she glared at me.
“You sly bastard…”
It seemed I’d flipped a switch.
We got off the bus and arrived home, but instead of going to her own room, she followed me to mine.
When I turned to ask why she’d followed me, she said with a pout, “Hey, kiss me.”
It seemed she wasn't satisfied with that tantalizing brush of our lips.
I started to lean in naturally, but then stopped.
Satisfying her desire right now felt like a waste in more ways than one.
Leaving her there, waiting for my lips with her eyes slightly closed, I quietly opened my door.
Then I quickly slipped inside and called out.
“Let’s do it on our date!”
“Hey!”
You can burn with anticipation until then, kiddo.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
A few days passed—incredibly sweet for me, and agonizingly slow for Shin Yu-jeong.
And then, Saturday finally arrived.
“Do-jin, try this too. The flesh on the grilled croaker is thick and delicious.”
“Okay.”
I was enjoying breakfast, with Jeong-hee diligently placing side dishes on my spoon every time I lifted it, when I noticed Shin Yu-jeong, sitting beside her, staring holes into me.
When I lifted my head and met her gaze, she mouthed a message to me.
‘You’re dead if you’re late.’
She’s really burning with impatience.
I’d set the time for our date for three in the afternoon.
Since it was our first date, Shin Yu-jeong wanted to hang out for a long time and suggested meeting early in the morning, but I refused.
…Because there’s nothing to do if we meet in the morning.
Anyway.
I was trying to figure out how to signal that she shouldn't worry, that I wouldn't be late, when I suddenly felt something squirming up my leg.
“……?”
Wondering what it was, I glanced down to see Jeong-hee's toes gently rubbing against my leg.
So bold, Seo Jeong-hee…!
Maybe it was because she’d gotten younger, or maybe it was in pursuit of her own happiness.
Lately, her actions had become incredibly bold.
She didn't hesitate to make subtle advances like this, even when Shin Yu-jeong was right there with us.
So, was it burdensome?
No, I actually liked it.
This situation, something I could never have imagined in the past, gave me an unparalleled thrill.
The thrilling tension of knowing it would all be over if we were caught seemed to double, even triple the pleasure.
I was surprised by my own changed mindset when I even found myself thinking it would be fun to try having sex in the master bedroom while Yu-jeong was asleep.
My desires had been boiling over at all hours lately, to the point where I wondered if this was my true nature, something I had been suppressing all my life.
“Ahem… That was a good meal.”
I barely managed to finish the meal, which was tangled with complicated gazes, actions, and emotions.
And there was a slight side effect.
Jeong-hee's foot had tickled my leg and groin, leaving me awkwardly aroused.
If I had my way, I would have taken her upstairs and tormented her right then and there… but unfortunately, today wasn't her turn.
“Phew…”
As soon as breakfast was over, I went straight up to my room without a second glance and soothed my body with every exercise I could do on the spot—squats, push-ups, burpees.
Drenching my body in sweat made me feel a bit better.
I took a shower a little early and got changed.
As the weather grew closer to winter, I put on a thicker, warm-colored knit sweater and pulled out a similarly thicker coat to wear over it.
Since I had nothing to do at home anyway, I left the house early.
I had always been the type to prefer being outside over staying at home.
After I gained the undeserved title of the 'Nation's Hunter,' people recognized me wherever I went, so I simply refrained from going out.
Now, with nothing like that to worry about, I could enjoy the outside air with much more freedom.
“Winter’s not far off now.”
The fallen leaves piled high on the streets and the bare branches, stripped of their flesh, reminded me that winter was near.
I felt like midterms had just ended, but now it looked like I'd have to start preparing for finals.
Still… once I get through that, it'll be winter break.
“Heh.”
A laugh escaped me.
“To think I’d ever experience a school break again…”
Who would have known? That I’d get a young body and become so preoccupied with fucking this woman and that, abandoning the wife and child I had loved so dearly.
The reason I could so brazenly do things I once condemned as trashy might be due to a desire to compensate myself for my past.
Honestly… I lived a hard life, didn't I?
I grew up without knowing a parent's love, started wringing monsters' necks for money as soon as I was old enough, and when I got a little stronger, everyone was clamoring for me to protect the country. And through all that, I was neglected by my wife and child…
“Ugh, I’m tearing up.”
I guess autumn really is the season for sentimentality.
Making a guy get all misty-eyed by digging up old stories.
Or could it be that puberty is trying to make a comeback because of my suddenly younger body…?
I boarded the bus with that ominous thought.
My destination was Yongsan.
The place I was supposed to meet Yu-jeong today.
The scenery of Hannam-dong and Itaewon flashed by outside the window.
Maybe because it was daytime, there didn't seem to be many people on the streets.
The entire course for my date with Yu-jeong today was here.
Starting in Yongsan, then to Itaewon, and finally Hannam-dong.
All three places have distinct characteristics but are close to each other, so there's plenty to enjoy.
“First, we’ll look at some gear in Yongsan, then head to Itaewon and…”
Just as I was mentally reviewing the date course I'd spent the last few days carefully planning, the message window, which had been quiet for a while, suddenly popped up and blocked my view.
[Everyone, you've waited long enough!]
[At last, your first trial has arrived.]
[The terrifying ‘Key Scramble’!]
First the face-to-face meeting, and now this.
I have no idea why these guys love dropping things on us so suddenly.
“……”
[The method is simple.]
[In a moment, rifts will open all over the world.]
[All you have to do is enter one of them, clear the dungeon, and find the key!]
[See? It's a piece of cake, right?]
Look at them talking so carelessly since it's not their problem.
Their tone makes me want to smack them square on the back of the head.
[Now, we will reveal the locations of the rifts that will soon appear.]
A small map appeared before my eyes.
On it were several black dots and a single red one.
The red dot, which moved along with the bus, seemed to be my location.
“Then these black dots must be the rift locations…”
Just then, I noticed a black dot over a place we had just passed.
“Hannam-dong.”
In the top right corner of the map, a number was written in small print.
[59:52]
It seemed to be the time remaining until the rifts appeared.
There was plenty of time. It was a distance I could easily reach in twenty minutes on foot.
But in another sense, I was short on time.
“…I’m fucked.”
If I go in there, I’m going to be late for my date… What should I do?