Chapter 255: Secretly_From_My_Husband.avi (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 255: Secretly_From_My_Husband.avi (1)
The cleanup after the raid proceeded quickly.
The massive kraken’s carcass was immediately frozen by mages and moved to a research facility. The nearby evacuation order was also lifted, and the residents, who had been packed tightly in shelters, returned to their homes.
The reason all this could happen in just a few days was because the kraken was raided from the inside, allowing the situation to end without any damage to the nearby cities and territories.
As this fact became known, not only did the S-rank Hunters who participated in the raid gain recognition, but the reputation of Son Si-woo, who had proposed the strategy, soared as well.
Son Si-woo was already under attack with malicious comments from a minority of netizens for not participating in a national disaster-level raid, using his sabbatical as an excuse. This incident served as an opportunity for his public presence to skyrocket once more.
Everything was quickly returning to normal.
The Haenam Surveillance Team also seemed to be returning to their barracks to resume their duties immediately, but…
“A sudden vacation?”
They were unexpectedly given a reward vacation.
Something about being highly praised for their achievement of discovering the kraken early and activating the defensive barrier through their flawless vigilance.
The vacation they were given was a full week.
Most of the team members were delighted at the thought of getting a good rest for the first time in a while, but Shin Hyo-seop was preparing to go home with a less than pleased expression.
“Ugh… I’d rather just rest at the barracks.”
A life of his own, something he’d never been able to enjoy because he’d gotten married so young.
He felt like he was finally being compensated for it now, so the barracks were more comfortable than the home he shared with his wife and daughter.
It wasn't that the two of them made him do anything when he was home; it was just… uncomfortable.
Shin Hyo-seop was in denial, but it was because of his inferiority complex.
He felt a terrible inferiority complex toward his wife, a building owner, and the building itself, which spat out more money each month than he could have ever earned working two or three part-time jobs in his youth.
‘That’s not a place for me.’
The building earned the money they needed to live, and his capable wife managed everything perfectly well without him.
Even Yu-jeong, the one person who had needed him, was now an adult.
Whenever he was in that house, he would ask himself.
‘Am I even needed in this house?’
He wanted to be needed by someone.
He wanted his purpose as a person to be clear.
Here, that desire could be fulfilled.
As a member of the Haenam Surveillance Team.
And as a big-spending regular at the most popular bar in the area.
That's why he liked it here.
Not home, where he couldn't find any purpose, but this place, where his purpose was clear.
Normally, he would have just holed up in the barracks without telling anyone he was on vacation, but not this time.
A major incident had just happened, and besides, Kim Do-jin was down here.
He didn't want his wife to find out and have something to hold over his head.
“…Is she open today?”
The thought suddenly made him crave a drink.
Or more precisely, the image of the madam, Kim Ji-won, who would greet him warmly at the bar.
‘A whole week…’
If he left tomorrow, he wouldn't be able to see her for at least a week.
Wanting to see her before he left, Shin Hyo-seop found her number—one that others didn't have—on his smartphone and sent a message.
《Shin Hyo-seop: Are you open today?》
Not long after he sent it, the number next to the message disappeared, and a reply arrived.
《Miss Kim: Yes, of course! I was just feeling lonely with no customers. Would you like to come keep me company?》
He immediately grabbed his wallet and headed for her bar.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Not long after she sent the reply.
Cling!
The bar door opened, and a familiar face entered with a goofy grin.
“Haaah.”
A short sigh.
Then, with a very bright expression, she warmly greeted Shin Hyo-seop, who had rushed over breathlessly.
“Welcome, Mr. Shin! It hasn't been long since I replied… you got here fast, didn't you?”
“Ah… haha! I was just passing by.”
“Oh, is that so?”
She scoffed inwardly.
‘Passing by, my ass.’
She could tell just by looking at his clothes.
That he’d been lazing around at home, saw her reply, and came running at full speed.
Without showing a hint of it on the outside, she guided Shin Hyo-seop to a seat.
Then, a coincidence occurred.
“Oh, my.”
“Hm…? What's wrong, Miss Kim?”
“Ah, it's nothing.”
Of all places, the seat Shin Hyo-seop sat in was the very spot where she had spent a passionate night with Kim Do-jin.
The thought made her feel her body flush with heat.
‘I was so happy yesterday…’
The smile that naturally bloomed on her lips said it all.
Just how happy she had been last night.
When she accepted the absurd proposal to seduce Shin Hyo-seop, Kim Do-jin had taken her in his arms once more.
And this time, with a variety of positions and an intensity that couldn't even be compared to the first.
How many times had she passed out then?
‘Four times…? No, was it five?’
She couldn't recall the exact number, but it was a clear fact that she had been so happy she could have died without regrets.
Seeing her smile, a massive grin stretched across Shin Hyo-seop's face.
‘Is she this happy just because I came?’
He was getting way ahead of himself.
An assumption he had only considered a possibility until now, but could never be sure of, began to form in his mind.
‘Does Miss Kim really like me?’
Even though he had a wife and daughter, his heart began to pound wildly.
Just then, Kim Ji-won, snapping out of her thoughts, went into the kitchen and brought back a simple snack and a bottle of alcohol.
“The owner of the local distillery gave me this soju… is that okay with you?”
“Ah, of course!”
It was the same alcohol she had shared with Kim Do-jin last night.
She thought that if she drank the same liquor, she could picture Kim Do-jin in her mind and try harder.
“Here, have a glass.”
Glug, glug, glug…
“Let's have a toast.”
“Uh, yeah. Sounds good.”
Drinking the soju she poured for him, Shin Hyo-seop felt that the atmosphere today was unusual.
So much so that he wondered if they might leap past all the stagnant moments they'd had until now in one go.
“I was feeling so lonely, but now that you're here, Mr. Shin, that feeling is completely gone.”
“Haha… y-you were?”
His heart fluttered.
Shin Hyo-seop decided to use his wits and test the waters.
“So… ahem, it seems you think quite highly of me, Miss Kim, haha!”
The corner of her lip twitched.
Mustering superhuman patience to keep from losing her smile, she managed a nod.
“Of course. You have no idea how much I trust and look up to you, Mr. Shin.”
“Oho, ohohoho!”
Hearing the answer he wanted, Shin Hyo-seop couldn't hide his hearty laugh.
Confirming that the bait was working perfectly, she went in for the kill.
“A man like you, Mr. Shin… I feel like I could marry someone like that and live happily ever after. Could you introduce me to a good man?”
“Uh… w-well…”
He was visibly flustered.
A mix of emotions filled his head.
He was happy to hear her say she wanted a man like him, but jealous that she was asking to be introduced to someone.
“Ahem… If that's the case… isn't… isn't me better than a man like me?”
“Oh, my.”
Kim Ji-won feigned a surprised expression, covering her mouth.
“Was that… perhaps a confession?”
“Uh, well.”
Shin Hyo-seop was quite surprised by her serious expression.
He started to worry.
‘If I say I was just kidding…’
He might be able to nullify this conversation that had deepened so unexpectedly.
But, if he confessed to her for real…
His chest burning, Shin Hyo-seop, who had been sipping his drink, glanced at her from the corner of his eye.
Her face and expression, which looked especially vibrant today, kept catching his eye.
Maybe this was the signal she was sending him.
Having sorted out his thoughts, Shin Hyo-seop put down his glass and asked her.
“Miss Kim.”
“Yes, Mr. Shin.”
“If I were serious… what would you… what would you think, Miss Kim?”
“Hohoho… Well.”
Completely hiding her inner turmoil, she continued.
“I'd be happy. Like I said, I like men like you, Mr. Shin. But… we couldn't be together, could we.”
Startled by her answer, Shin Hyo-seop asked again in a bewildered voice.
“No… w-why not?”
Was he really asking because he didn't know?
Suppressing the irritation welling up inside her, she seduced him with a rather serious expression and tone.
“Mr. Shin.”
“Y-yeah.”
“I actually know. That you have some feelings for me.”
“What…”
“And I… though I haven't shown it, I have feelings for you too, Mr. Shin.”
Her long fingers lightly brushed against Shin Hyo-seop's cheek.
“But, Mr. Shin.”
“Y-yeah, Miss Kim…”
“Oh, come on. Please, call me Ji-won.”
“Huh? O-oh… r-right, Ji-won.”
Shin Hyo-seop was completely captivated by her small, playful protest.
Toward him, she put on the performance of a lifetime, feigning the utmost sincerity with a bright smile.
“I want real love. Not a one-night fling, but a love where I can trust and rely on someone.”
The meaning of her words was clear.
I like you, but I don't want to be in a fleeting relationship with you, a married man.
The situation had dug in deeper than he'd expected, and Shin Hyo-seop swallowed dryly.
Toward him, Kim Ji-won left her final words.
“If you dream of a serious future with me… then show me you have that kind of resolve.”
Her feelings were far more serious and heavy than he had imagined, and in his dazed mind…
“If you can do that for me… won't our relationship naturally move forward?”
Her softly spoken words spread continuously, like a droplet falling into a calm lake.
*
A new morning dawned.
The day had finally come.
The end of a journey that had been quite long, yet surprisingly short considering it was a raid on a disaster-class monster.
The car, which had held three people on the way here, now had four people sitting inside, two in the front and two in the back.
“To think I'd live to see the day I'd ride in an S-rank Hunter's car…”
The added person was none other than the Ajeossi.
Since he was heading home in the same direction anyway, I'd asked Ju-yeon to give him a ride.
But this guy, he was in a really weird state today.
“Hehehe…”
He'd close his eyes, then suddenly break into a goofy grin for no reason.
“Hooo…”
Then, as if he'd never smiled, he'd let out deep, worried sighs.
“Ajeossi, is something wrong?”
“Hmm…? Ah, no. Nothing's wrong.”
The Ajeossi mumbled, laughing awkwardly.
Seeing this, I quietly turned my head to look out the window and calmly collected my breath.
My face, faintly reflected in the clear glass, must have looked bizarre.
To be precise, I was struggling desperately to hold back a burst of laughter.
“Haaah.”
I thought I was going to die from laughter.
I knew exactly why that guy was alternating between heaven and hell.
It was probably because of what happened with Kim Ji-won last night.
It was a cycle: overjoyed by her confession that she was thinking about him seriously, yet despondent over the reality that he couldn't move forward without casting off the shackles binding him.
I orchestrated this entire situation.
The reason I set it all up?
Because it was time.
Time to make Jeong-hee completely mine.
And to do that, of course…
“I have to get rid of the old one first.”
I'm curious.
What choice will he make when he arrives home, burdened with such deep contemplation?
As we were each lost in our different thoughts.
Thanks to the wide-open road, we arrived home earlier than expected.
“Hooo.”
A face so deep in thought, it was hard to believe he was standing in front of his own home.
Finally, he mustered the strength to ring the doorbell, and the door opened from the inside.
The person who opened it was, of course, Jeong-hee.
Seeing her husband for the first time in a while, she gave an awkward smile and a word of welcome.
“…Welcome home, dear.”
A pang of jealousy hit me.
Just as the desire for those words of greeting to be directed at me began to swell…
The Ajeossi, seeing Jeong-hee welcoming him at the open door, spoke haltingly with a shocked expression.
“…Who are you?”
“……”
Ah.
I forgot.
This Ajeossi, he doesn't know Jeong-hee got younger, does he?
As I recalled the fact I had overlooked, a thought occurred to me.
“…I’m fucked.”
It looks like the plan is going to fail.