The Pervert Who Likes His Classmate's Scent
"Then I'll go do some training, so study hard!"
My voice came out in a higher pitch than usual, probably because I finally had a legitimate excuse to step out of the house alone. To avoid overlapping paths, Seung-ah had gone ahead first, and I was leaving a bit later. I could kind of understand why some married guys take a day off and end up at a PC bang playing games instead of going home.
Cheonha Yeon was cultivating the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, and Liera was still fast asleep after whatever she'd been up to all night. The only one seeing me off was Estelle, who narrowed her eyes at me, sensing how excited I was.
"Oppa... You seem really happy right now. Is it because... you're glad to be away from me?"
I swallowed hard, my dry saliva sliding down my throat.
This pattern... I'd fallen for it plenty of times back in Estelle's world. I'd even named it the "blunt instrument pattern." One slip-up with these kinds of questions, and her mace would come flying at my head. Sure, she didn't have her weapon or full strength right now, but once she regained her power, she might remember this and use my skull as a mace warmer.
"No way... I'm just excited thinking about sweating it out with some exercise after so long. It feels like my heart's being torn apart without you by my side..."
Her expression softened a little, but not completely.
"Then... should I come with you? You said your heart would tear without me."
'..!'
I was at a loss for words. I'd thrown out an empty promise to soothe her, but now it had backfired. I had no idea how to resolve this.
"Well... the training ground isn't mine..."
As I tried to make an excuse, Estelle cut me off.
"I'm kidding. I still have studying to do—where would I even go? But... reply sincerely if I text you about something I don't know?"
It sounded like she knew exactly what I was thinking but was pretending not to. After decades of married life, I'd gotten pretty good at reading these situations.
"Got it. I'll check my phone between sets and reply."
That was easy enough to manage while working out. Come to think of it, I'd bought smartphones for all three of them, and Estelle was using hers the best. She seemed to have figured out almost everything about the internet already. Liera was next, and Cheonha Yeon struggled the most. Made sense—there was no magic engineering in the Murim world, so smartphones and the net must feel pretty alien to her.
"Then have a good trip, oppa."
She closed her eyes, stood on tiptoe, and tilted her head up, lips parted invitingly. Our morning kiss ritual at the door whenever one of us headed out. I naturally bent at the waist, placed a hand on her lower back to steady her, and pressed my lips to hers. After hundreds of times, it flowed as smoothly as water.
Churp. Smack. The sound of our tongues mingling. The wet, sticky mix of saliva. Hers tasted like fresh apple—sweet and tangy. I remembered her scent being similar too.
We kissed for a few minutes until breathing got tough, then pulled apart, our tongues severing the long string of saliva.
"Haa... Don't come back too late."
Her face was much brighter now, her mood lifted.
"Yeah. I'll be back before dinner."
I stepped out the door. Even without my emotions, recreating these acts with them made faint echoes of old feelings stir. Could you do this without love? Was I just leeching off their hearts, deceiving them without my own? Unanswerable for now.
I cursed the cruel god who gave me the Five Lives trait, hoping my emotions would return someday.
If I didn't have Five Lives, I never would've met them.
My first life ended at 30 as a virgin loner. Without awakening, I might've died a celibate.
If emotions carried over...
I wouldn't have forgotten Cheonha Yeon, and maybe never connected with Estelle or Liera. My life might've been pure romance. Maybe losing emotions was part of that entity's design.
If I met it, I'd have questions. Why give me this power? What did it want from me?
It was suspicious now. After reincarnating, Cheonha Yeon, Estelle, and Liera just happened to be nearby? Top talents in their worlds? Three times in a row? Past me was dense not to question it. Someone probably orchestrated it.
If their pain after losing me was part of the plan too... I'd be furious. Beyond furious.
One more reason to grow stronger. Lost in those thoughts, I arrived at the alley near Seung-ah's house.
"You're here?"
Seung-ah waited outside, not even going in. I forced a smile, not wanting her to worry if she saw my mood.
"Yeah. Slipped out fine."
I'd smiled, but her reaction was off.
"Something wrong..?"
Guess you can't fool a 17-year best friend. Anyone else might miss it, but she read my subtle expression.
"Had some heavy thoughts on the way. Kinda brought me down."
"If... it's okay to tell me, wanna talk? Looks unresolved—maybe brainstorming helps."
I hadn't planned to share, but no reason to hide it if she asked. I don't reject kindness and try to repay it. If she listened to my vague worries, I'd be grateful. Solution? Even better.
"It's about..."
As we walked to her house, I shared my dilemma.
"The entity that gave us systems and traits... Ah..! Master might know!"
She'd vanished for four years training at some "training cave." Elevating her from E-rank to near A in four years? Impressive. Without that, she wouldn't aim for our school.
"But no way to meet her now, right?"
I'd heard details—no access to her master's place anymore.
"She said if I raise my realm and build enough karma to shed my shackles, we can meet again. No clue how... Useless for now."
She hung her head, dejected. I ruffled her hair vigorously.
"Nah. Super helpful. Better than chasing delusions—now I have a clear goal."
Me getting stronger. Helping her shed her shackles. New purpose.
Heard it a lot in Murim.
Zhang Sanfeng, Ye Dongbin—transcendents who broke shackles for new worlds. With superhuman feats and karma. With my 120 years of knowledge plus dungeon lit, maybe doable.
"Yeah... Let's work hard together."
Long-term, 10+ years. I'd seek other paths too.
Ruffling her hair, we reached her door. When I pulled away, her head followed like a magnet.
"Parents home?"
"Probably just Mom."
"Phew..."
Good. Her dad always glared at me like fire. Mom was intimidating too, though.
"Mom! I'm back!"
Seung-ah yelled entering. A voice replied from inside, footsteps approaching.
"Oh—my daughter who slept over at Yu-won's for days is back? Did Yu-won tuck you in good?"
'?'
Did I hear that right?
"Mom, seriously! It's not like that!"
Seung-ah raged at the extreme tease. Mom appeared, spotted me, and looked surprised.
"Oh... Yu-won came too?"
"Hello, ma'am."
I set aside the shock and greeted.
"When are you calling me mother-in-law?"
She flowed on like nothing happened. This was dizzying too. One parent was chaos; both? Nightmare.
Seung-ah grabbed my wrist.
"Stop teasing Yu-won. Anyway, we're going to train—don't come in!"
No reply needed—she dragged me inside.
"Sorry. Mom's a bit mischievous?"
"Nah, that's just fun."
I'm not one to endure discomfort silently. Friend's mom level teasing? Fine.
"Still, 'tuck in' and stuff... Ugh..."
She blushed, embarrassed. Cute, innocent girl vibe.
"This the training room?"
I pointed at the door she'd stopped at, diverting to spare her blush.
"Yeah. Wait inside. I'll change into workout clothes."
"Sure."
She touched the door; it scanned her fingerprint and opened.
'Whoa...'
Awakener-grade gear and tools everywhere.
"Seung-ah used all this alone?"
Rich kid perks.
'If only hers, same scent as her body?'
I sniffed a floor machine. Yup, her scent. But as I did, Seung-ah entered.
'Uh..?'
Total misunderstanding pose. Tried explaining, but...
"Why sniff that..?! Are you... a pervert?!"
Just like that, I became the pervert who likes his classmate's scent.