Chapter 126: A Genius at Pissing Men Off (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 126: A Genius at Pissing Men Off (1)
My mind went blank for about three seconds before it came back to me.
Then, I belatedly tried to resolve the situation, reaching out with my other hand to attempt an extraction.
“Spit it out right now, you crazy bastard!”
I dug my fingers into its completely defenseless body.
Squish.
The soft, squishy feeling was just like touching a soft breast, and it felt pretty goo—no, that’s not it.
“Where did it go!”
It had only swallowed the key a few seconds ago. I thought I could just retrieve it quickly and there’d be no problem… but I was wrong.
I wiggled my fingers around, searching its entire body, but I couldn't feel the key, or any other foreign object for that matter.
“N-No way.”
What kind of slime in this world can digest a key almost the size of its own body in three seconds—!
Fuck, right here, apparently.
From the moment we met, this damn slime had been extraordinary, so I had a feeling it was more than capable.
What were the odds of a normal slime being inside a treasure chest, anyway...?
“Ha, haha…”
I was so dumbfounded all I could do was laugh.
“My luck today is just insane…”
Some psycho interrupts my date, and then a slime eats the key I barely managed to get...
As I hung my head, feeling the energy drain from my body, the previously silent messages started arriving again.
[So you've obtained the key. Congratulations!]
[The key's purpose will be revealed soon, so please keep it safe until then!]
Yeah, about that~ The slime you guys put in the treasure chest gobbled it right up.
[Ah, and you can't expect any more special treatment, okay?]
[You'd be surprised if you knew how much power I had to overuse to help you today!]
[Because of that, it will be difficult for us to see each other for a while... but please, don't forget me!]
[I hope to see you again someday.]
[I will be watching from a step behind as you survive until the very end!]
[That's all for now!]
“……”
I thought something was strange, and it seems this really was special treatment that came from overusing personal power.
And it looked like they were about to pay the price for using that power.
“Well, not my problem.”
I never asked for help.
Before that, I had already agonized over the choice between the date and the key, and I made my decision.
I was fully prepared to take responsibility for that choice, and I had hoped today would be a perfectly enjoyable day. But thanks to someone who selfishly interfered, everything turned into a mess.
At this rate, I'm not sure I can even get Yu-jeong to Jeju Island, let alone send her to Hong Kong...
I shoved the slime, which would surely cause a misunderstanding if anyone saw it, into my pocket.
“Ugh.”
With a deep sigh, I started walking toward the exit.
* * *
From the moment Kim Do-jin was sucked into the rift, Shin Yu-jeong had been pacing nearby, stomping her feet in utter anxiety.
‘Why can't I go in? Why!’
She didn't have the slightest intention of waiting outside.
Right after he disappeared, she had immediately reached for the rift to follow him... but all she got in return was a cold message.
[Entry Capacity: 1/1]
“A dungeon with an entry capacity of one? Does that even make sense? Fuck…!”
Her path was blocked by a notice the likes of which she'd never seen or heard of.
Even as the Association's Hunters, who had arrived late after being notified, cleared the area, she stood there like a statue, waiting for Kim Do-jin to return.
“…He'll be fine.”
Shin Yu-jeong muttered to herself as if trying to hypnotize herself.
If she didn't, she felt like she would go crazy thinking about the terribly uncertain future.
“He's pretty well-built for a magician… and he's agile, so he's good at dodging attacks. Yeah.”
She chewed nervously on her fingernails.
She forced herself to think only of his positive traits, predicting his safe return. No, hoping for it.
Just as she managed to soothe the flames of anxiety spreading in her chest, her bitten thumbnail began to bleed.
A shout came from one of the Hunters standing guard around the rift.
“Abnormal reaction from the rift! We believe it's in the process of closing!”
Shin Yu-jeong whipped her head around.
Just as he'd said, the rift, which had been shimmering ominously as if to suck everything in, was now contracting and expanding repeatedly.
This was one of the typical phenomena that occurred as a rift closed.
In other words, it meant the dungeon had been successfully cleared from within.
The rift, which had been growing and shrinking at an ever-increasing speed, suddenly spat out something black.
What finally appeared was the man she had been waiting for so desperately: Kim Do-jin.
At the same time, the black rift that had scarred the air vanished without a trace.
“The rift has closed! The individual presumed to be the conqueror has also returned safely!”
Just as the Association's Hunters were about to approach him to check on his condition.
Shin Yu-jeong, who had been watching from a distance, sprinted with all her might and reached his side before they could.
“Hey, you crazy bastard!”
“Uh, um.”
As I stood there, bewildered by the ear-splitting curse the moment I opened my eyes, Shin Yu-jeong's fist flew at me.
Thwack!
Despite the powerful trajectory, the impact on my chest wasn't very strong.
“Are you fucking crazy? You want to die that badly?”
“That's not it…”
“Then why do you act so reckless? You're a magician, so why are you always jumping to the front lines? Why!”
“Uh, well.”
I was at a loss for words.
How could I explain in this situation? That my talent was so extraordinary I was good at not only magic but also close-quarters combat?
If I mindlessly blurted that out, I'd probably just make her even angrier.
“Fuck… 'Grab a coffee at a café,' my ass…! If you were me, could you do that?!”
“Uh… no, I guess not.”
Come to think of it, she was right.
I'd said it trying to put her mind at ease, even a little, but of course that was impossible.
Seeing her spew volcano-like rage with her reddened eyes was strangely touching.
“Were you that worried?”
“…Of course I was!”
Shin Yu-jeong shouted, her face flushing, and only then did she realize.
The worry she felt for him was heavier and more desperate than she had ever expected.
Her mind grew dizzy from the sudden cognitive dissonance.
‘It definitely wasn't like this at first…’
She had only wanted to use him.
Magicians, who, in terms of rarity, reigned alongside healers as one of the two great pillars.
When she heard Kim Do-jin had the potential to become such a magician, she saw his value.
He was an utterly hopeless human being, but she figured that if she managed him well, he could at least pull his own weight.
‘But since when…’
The more time they spent together, the more he exceeded her expectations.
It wasn't just that he'd shed the fat he'd carried his whole life; he also possessed outstanding skill as a magician.
Each time, she found herself becoming endlessly lenient with him without even realizing it.
Kisses, intense skinship, even sex.
Before she knew it, she had given him one thing after another.
And finally.
She realized she had given him her heart as well.
She was flustered and bewildered.
She had been so sure she was the one holding the leash in their relationship. When had it been passed over?
‘No, that's not it.’ She forcefully reined in her helplessly unraveling heart.
She didn't want to admit it.
And she hated the idea of him noticing her feelings even more.
A woman's intuition can sometimes be sharp enough to pick up on something.
And this time, it told her that he hadn't completely fallen for her yet.
She couldn't accept it. The fact that she had fallen for him when he hadn't yet fallen for her.
If she were to reveal these feelings, she first had to restore their now-lopsided relationship to at least an equal footing.
Fortunately, she still had one trump card left.
She crossed her arms, shifted her weight to one leg, and looked him up and down.
“So, are you hurt anywhere?”
“Nowhere hurts in particular.”
His clothes were dusty and torn here and there, but there were no visible injuries.
Though judging by his slightly heavy eyelids, he did look a little tired...
“Ahem! Then, our date…”
Just as she was about to continue, an Association Hunter who had been watching them blankly approached and cut her off.
“Excuse me, sorry to interrupt your conversation, but…”
Her important words cut off, Shin Yu-jeong glared at him.
“What is it?”
The Hunter flinched for a moment before answering with an awkward smile.
“Uh… we need to conduct an investigation regarding the clearing of the unidentified dungeon…”
“……”
Shin Yu-jeong hung her head.
It was truly a day where nothing went her way.
* * *
We moved to a nearby police station and were questioned by the Association.
Because it took place in a borrowed interrogation room, I felt a bit wronged, as if I'd committed a crime... but since there wasn't anything problematic, the investigation itself went smoothly.
The investigation ended after I meticulously filled out a dungeon clear report and handed it to the Association Hunter.
“Can we go now?”
“Ah, yes! Thanks to you stepping forward without hesitation, this was resolved safely. Thank you very much.”
“Don't mention it.”
Hearing words of thanks always gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling.
“Well, take care.”
After a final goodbye, I left the interrogation room.
Out in the hallway, Shin Yu-jeong was sitting on a chair with her legs crossed, an expression full of dissatisfaction on her face.
As soon as she saw me come out, she stood up and strode over.
“Is it all over?”
“Yeah, completely finished now.”
Her gaze shifted to the clock on the police station wall.
It was already well past ten at night.
“Huuu…” A deep sigh escaped Shin Yu-jeong's lips.
She had an expression that looked extremely displeased and annoyed.
I had a good idea why.
She had every right to be. Our long-awaited date had been stolen by a dungeon clear and an Association investigation.
She asked nonchalantly.
“So… are you tired?”
“Mm, I am a little tired.”
But our date wasn't over yet.
A very important moment was still to come.
“I see.” Shin Yu-jeong smiled bitterly.
Was she acting like that because she figured she couldn't keep a tired person out on a date?
I wrapped an arm around her shoulder and said.
“Let's go rest.”
“…Okay.” She nodded weakly.
I led the drooping girl through the now-quiet streets of Yongsan.
Perhaps because of the earlier commotion, the normally crowded streets were completely empty.
Most of the shops had also closed early for the day.
“Looks like all the stores closed early…”
“Yeah.”
But it didn't matter.
The place we were going was open 24/7, a place that would never close unless the building itself was destroyed.
As we walked, Shin Yu-jeong tilted her head in confusion.
“Hey, where are we going? If we're going home, we need to catch a cab over there.”
It seemed she thought that when I said "let's go rest," I meant let's go home.
“I have no intention of going home…?”
“…What are you talking about? You just said you were tired and we should go rest.”
“I said let's go rest. I never said let's go home.”
“Uh…” I could see the bewilderment in her darting eyes.
While she was still surprised, I quickened my pace, and we finally arrived at our destination.
The tall building before us emitted a brilliant, dazzling light.
The Goryeo Hotel.
The Yongsan branch of the hotel that represented Seoul.
It was a 5-star hotel, just like the main branch, and since it was newly built, it was so highly rated and famous that some people even preferred the Yongsan branch over the original.
Looking up at the towering hotel building, Shin Yu-jeong gulped and looked at me.
“Hey, the place you wanted to 'rest' isn't… don't tell me…”
“That's right. It's here.”
“……”
Shin Yu-jeong stared at me blankly, her lips pressed tightly together.
She must have realized how blatant my intentions were.
That my suggestion to "rest" didn't actually mean to just get some sleep and leave.
After a moment of seeming flustered, she appeared to make up her mind and nodded.
“Fine by me.”
Suddenly, Shin Yu-jeong's expression came alive.
A confident smile bloomed on her face as if she'd been waiting for this, and it was my turn to get nervous.
She always tries to surpass my imagination, which can be a problem sometimes.
“…Let's go in, then.”
“Okay.”
I led Yu-jeong, whose steps were now overflowing with confidence, into the hotel.
After confirming the reservation, we checked in, got the key card, and took the elevator to the 30th floor.
The moment we tapped the card and stepped into the room, she, who had entered first, suddenly stopped.
Then she turned around, blocking the narrow hallway, and with a sultry expression, licked her lips and asked me a blatant question.
“Should we wash up first, or get right to it?”
…Why is she being so scary all of a sudden?