Chapter 206: Kkotbi and Heuksan
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 206: Kkotbi and Heuksan
“Are you that Kkotbi?”
To make matters worse, Heuksan asked her, her eyes narrowed slightly.
She looked as if she’d just caught the man dating her older sister meeting another woman.
To Kkotbi, however, Heuksan looked for all the world like a new rival sizing her up.
Come to think of it, the two of them had fought together in the United States, but they had never actually spoken.
They had returned quickly using Si-ho’s ability, after all.
And in Heuksan’s case, it seemed she didn’t even remember Kkotbi at all.
“Kkotbi.”
Seeing her frozen in place, I called her name. Kkotbi flinched and lifted her head.
Then, with a flustered expression, she waved the hand that wasn't holding her suitcase.
“Ha-Ha-chan-oppa, i-it’s okay! I know what your situation is. I wanted this even knowing that, so I don’t mind at all!”
“Hey, what is she talking about?”
As Heuksan turned to me with a look of utter confusion, I scratched my head.
“She’s probably getting the wrong idea, thinking you’re my girlfriend just like Seol-hyang.”
When I said that to Heuksan, she stood still for a moment before slowly starting to bristle.
“Wh-Why would I be with a guy like this!”
Heuksan shouted, pointing a finger at me, but then she seemed to realize her own attire and the situation. Her eyes slowly began to widen.
“It’s not true!”
She whipped her head toward Kkotbi and yelled.
“Uh, ye-yes.”
“It’s not! I said it’s not! These stupid clothes, right now!”
Heuksan tried to rip my clothes right off her, so I hurriedly grabbed her wrist.
“Your clothes are still in the wash.”
“Ugh, grrk!”
Gritting her teeth, Heuksan finally lowered her hand and glared at Kkotbi.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s absolutely not like that.”
Hearing Heuksan, Kkotbi blinked and then turned to look at me.
In response to her gaze, I shrugged, and Kkotbi let out a slightly dazed laugh.
“Both of you, come inside for now.”
If we made a scene in front of the door, the neighbors might come out.
I wouldn’t worry about Heuksan, but if they saw Kkotbi, it would cause a commotion nine times out of ten, so I ushered her inside.
Kkotbi, who had brought her suitcase, looked around my room with curiosity.
It was the same with Ahyu. I had no idea what was so fascinating about my room when there was nothing to see.
“…It smells like you, Ha-chan-oppa.”
“Oh, sorry. I’ll air the place out.”
It’s not that bachelor smell, is it?
I showered regularly, but even I worried about that.
“N-No! It’s not that I dislike it or anything.”
Hearing me, Kkotbi waved her hands in a panic before slowly lowering her head.
“I-I like it.”
What’s there to like about it?
“It feels like I’m in your arms, Ha-chan-oppa… and, well, yeah.”
Kkotbi looked like she was about to die of embarrassment, but she still said everything she wanted to say.
Just as I was starting to feel embarrassed myself, I saw Heuksan watching us with a bored expression.
“My food.”
The girl who had been embarrassed about being hungry earlier seemed to have disappeared.
“I’ll get it for you in a minute. Kkotbi, what about you?”
“Ah, I’m fine. I had a light meal before I came.”
Alright then.
Since I hadn’t eaten breakfast yet either, I prepared two bowls and placed them on the table.
As I dished out the fried rice, Heuksan sat down in the chair in front of it.
Meanwhile, Kkotbi sat on my bed.
Is my bed the designated seat for everyone who comes to my house?
While I was lost in that thought, I saw Heuksan finishing her fried rice at a rapid pace.
I always think this, but this girl really has a healthy appetite.
As if sensing my gaze, Heuksan swallowed her food and spoke with her spoon still holding some rice.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be out of your hair soon.”
I gave a bitter smile, seeing Heuksan speak as if she was being considerate.
That’s not really it, though.
Tiririring~
The moment Heuksan said that, the chime of the washing machine finishing its cycle sounded at just the right time.
“The dryer cycle is still left, though.”
Hearing me, she rolled her eyes and then went back to eating her rice.
She’s given up on replying.
Still, it was nice to see her eating well.
“I was planning to go see Eva noona anyway, so I’ll give you a ride.”
“Do whatever you want.”
Hearing her blunt reply, I looked over at Kkotbi.
“Kkotbi, what about you?”
“Ah, I’ll go with you. I brought something with me for going out.”
Kkotbi said, sounding somewhat proud.
I wasn’t sure what it was, but I said okay and decided to finish my own fried rice.
*
After that, I started driving with Kkotbi and Heuksan in the car.
Of course, it was the car Seol-hyang had given me.
Living in a studio apartment while driving a car like this, I’d started to feel like one of those “car poor” people lately.
Should I move?
Was it because more and more people had been visiting my place recently?
I started to think my place was too small.
My income from the company was more than enough. If I managed things right, I could probably afford a two-bedroom apartment.
Maybe I should talk to the people around me.
It wouldn’t hurt to ask if they knew any good places before I decided to move.
As I thought that, I suddenly forgot what the people around me were like.
If I mention moving…
Nine times out of ten, they’d probably find me a house beyond my wildest imagination.
…I should just keep this to myself.
Just the car alone was pushing my guilt to its limit.
With that thought, I turned my head and glanced to the side.
Sitting in the passenger seat next to me was Kkotbi, also known as Blackstar Yua.
Her hair was dyed jet black, different from usual, and under the beret she wore, the shape of her face also looked different.
If Kkotbi normally had a soft and gentle look, this version had a sharper feel to it.
It was an item Kkotbi had brought along that changed her appearance.
It was a component from some dimensional entity, an item that could change one’s appearance so perfectly that a normal person wouldn’t notice. Kkotbi said she’d paid a premium for it.
“Actually, quite a few celebrities use these.”
“That makes sense. It must be hard to get around when your face is so well-known.”
“Yes. I never really went out much unless it was for hunter work, so I never bought one, but I did this time.”
As she said that, Kkotbi covered her mouth and smiled shyly.
“Because I wanted to go out with you, Ha-chan-oppa.”
Seeing that smile, I let out a dry cough for some reason.
It was because I felt like Kkotbi’s advances were getting stronger and stronger.
She acts innocent and shy, but the way she occasionally comes at me so directly flusters me.
Kkotbi was clearly different from the other girls around me.
Especially since Ahyu, who was the same age, felt more like a mischievous and cheeky friend.
When I talk with Kkotbi, I become unusually soft.
Maybe that’s why I was so susceptible to her innocent but direct advances.
“Pathetic.”
Just then, Heuksan shot me a contemptuous look from the back seat.
From Heuksan’s perspective, it seemed there was no way she could see me—the guy dating her older sister—in a good light.
Am I destined to be hated by Heuksan for the rest of my life?
How bitter.
“When are we getting there?”
Heuksan asked, as if she was annoyed with listening to our conversation any longer.
“We’re here.”
I thought she’d go straight home or to the World Returnee Association, but Heuksan insisted on coming with us.
It seemed the dimensional gate to the Spirit World was on her mind as well.
She’s becoming more and more like Baeksan.
Seeing Heuksan slowly starting to want to protect the world, I smiled silently.
“Why are you smiling at my face?”
Even though all she did was act grumpy about it.
After parking, I entered the Beom building with Kkotbi and Heuksan.
As we entered the considerably large building, which spoke to Beom’s financial power, we saw a reception desk inside.
But there was a strange atmosphere around the reception desk.
Because just a slight turn of the head revealed several well-built, gangster-like men.
It was a sight that would make any ordinary person think they’d come to the wrong place and turn right back around.
As I was taking in the scene, the eyes of the men suddenly turned toward us.
They started whispering among themselves, and just as Heuksan was starting to frown, muttering that it was getting annoying…
Suddenly, they gathered in front of us.
“Kang Ha-chan-hyeong-nim, we offer our greetings!”
In that moment, the group gathered before me shouted as they bowed at a ninety-degree angle.
I flinched and took two steps back, but they kept their heads bowed, not straightening up until I said something.
Scary.
Scary in a different way.
There seemed to be a few other people around who looked like clients.
They were all staring as if they had witnessed something bizarre.
“Ah, c-could you all please straighten up?”
The moment I spoke, they straightened up immediately.
Their eyes, now meeting mine, held a mixture of emotions.
And the most dominant among them were none other than gratitude and respect.
“We heard everything about how you saved our Big Brother and Big Sister! We will serve you with the utmost devotion!”
I wish they’d lower their voices, for starters.
“What are you idiots doing at the entrance!”
As I stood there with a troubled expression in this incredibly overwhelming situation, someone broke through the crowd of burly men.
She was about a head shorter than me, with short hair tied back with a rubber band. She was kicking and pushing the large men out of the way.
“You’re being rude to our guests.”
“Little Sister, it’s because Kang Ha-chan-hyeong-nim is here.”
“I have eyes, you know.”
She shot the men an exasperated look before turning to me.
Her rather sharp eyes were directed at me for a moment, but she quickly broke into a bright smile.
“Hello. My name is Im Judy, and I work as Se-hee unni’s secretary.”
“Ah, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Kang Ha-chan.”
“Yep, hehe. I heard you were coming to see Se-hee unni. I’ll show you the way right now. Alright, everyone, move it.”
She gave me a cheerful smile, then turned and smacked the backs of the large men with her hand to clear a path.
Her hand must have been quite powerful, as the big men stumbled out of the way, unable to even regain their composure.
Thanks to her, I was able to get through without drawing any more attention.
I finally felt at ease once I followed Im Judy into the elevator.
I’d be fine if I were surrounded by dimensional entities.
But being surrounded by those huge guys was quite mentally taxing.
“Our guys are a bit much, aren’t they? They all look like gangsters.”
“…No. They all seemed very reliable.”
“It’s okay. This is actually a big improvement. It was really bad before. Ugh.”
“It seems you’ve worked at Beom for a long time, Judy-ssi.”
“Yes, I’ve been here pretty much since the beginning.”
Im Judy smiled confidently, as if she were quite proud of that fact.
Seeing this, I got the feeling that Eva noona and Hyeok-seo hyeong treated their subordinates well.
Is this a family-like company?
Though if I said that to them, they’d probably make a fuss, saying, “What family?”
But to an outsider, that’s exactly what the company looked like.