Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Falling into Dragon Romance -1
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As morning broke, the ceiling came into view.
Sweat drenched my body from the warm presences snuggled up on both sides.
"Yaaawn..."
I sat up, yawning.
Looking toward the bed, the two of them were still fast asleep.
Ellie was curled up under the blanket like a shrimp, while Prostia lay sprawled out starfish-style with her arms stretched wide.
My eyes were drawn to glimpses of smooth white skin, but strangely, no lust stirred within me.
Maybe it was because I'd already seen it all back in that other world.
'Guess I'll wash up.'
I quietly got up and headed to the bathroom.
After splashing water on my face and coming out, Ellie was rubbing her eyes and stirring awake.
"Master..."
"Yeah. Sleep well?"
"Yes... but where is this...?"
Still half-asleep, huh.
She looked around the room, then nodded as if suddenly remembering.
"Oh, right... last night..."
"Yeah. You remember?"
"Yes. Roughly."
Ellie scratched her head and got up.
Her movement woke Prostia as well.
"Mm..."
Prostia squinted at the ceiling.
"Grandma... what time is it?"
"I'm not Grandma."
"Oh, right."
Prostia scratched her disheveled hair and stood up.
"We drank last night and just crashed like that, huh."
"Yeah. You both slept soundly."
"I see... ugh... my head."
She must have a brutal hangover.
I pulled an ion drink from the fridge and handed it over.
"Drink this."
"Thanks."
She chugged it down in gulps.
"Phew... I feel alive again."
Ellie headed to the fridge too and grabbed some water to drink.
"My head hurts a little too."
"You too?"
"Yes. But not as bad as you, Prostia."
I glanced at the clock, leaving them to it.
10 a.m.
'Gotta head back to Seoul today.'
The original plan was to leave around lunchtime and arrive in the afternoon.
"Soulmate."
"Yeah?"
"We have to go back today, right?"
Prostia's voice carried a hint of dejection.
"Probably."
"I see. So this is goodbye."
"Well, it's not that far."
I studied Prostia's expression.
She looked visibly reluctant.
Ellie bit her lip as she gazed at Prostia too.
"Master."
"Yeah?"
"Um... could we stay just a little longer?"
I looked at Prostia.
She lifted her head to meet my eyes.
"It's fine. You two must have schedules."
"No. I'll stay one more day."
"Huh? Really?"
"No real rush anyway."
Of course, there was the matter of making money.
But honestly, that wasn't a big issue.
With Ellie around, money was something we could rake in anytime.
Right now, there were more important things to focus on.
"One day won't hurt."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Master's the best!"
Ellie let out a cheer.
Prostia stared at me intently before breaking into a soft smile.
"Thanks. But what are we gonna do?"
"Dunno."
"You said it without a plan?"
"Just wanted to hang out together."
It was the honest truth.
Prostia's cheeks flushed faintly.
"Idiot."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Forget it."
She turned her head away.
But the corners of her mouth had already curved upward.
"Anyway, let's head out. Nothing to do if we stay cooped up here."
We left the motel and strolled down the street.
No particular destination in mind.
Just walking.
"Nice weather."
Prostia said, gazing up at the sky.
It was a clear spring sky.
The sunlight felt warm and gentle.
"Prostia, there's a café over there!"
"Wanna grab some coffee?"
"Hm, not really feeling it."
Prostia shook her head.
Since today was all about her, Ellie nodded agreeably.
We kept on walking.
Through the bustling streets of Daejeon, where people came and went.
"This is that famous..."
"I know. Everyone's always talking about it."
We bought a few pastries from a super popular bakery and shared them casually as we went.
"What's this? Squid ink bread. Oh, garlic bread too—wanna try?"
"Garlic in bread?"
"Mashed up, mixed with honey, and spread on."
"Sounds delicious."
"Ellie—"
"Mmnyom."
She seemed to love the pollock roe-stuffed baguette, grinning as she tore into a whole one.
"So tasty!"
"Yeah, eat as much as you want."
I chuckled and munched on my own.
It was a sweet, soft soboro bun.
"Soulmate, try this one too. It's loaded with cream."
"Yeah?"
I took a bite.
Cream filled my mouth.
"Here, Ellie—have a bite."
"Ahm—"
"Tasty?"
"Super tasty, sis! What is it? Salty but sweet!"
Ellie went wild, devouring bread after bread in the grip of sweet-salty addiction.
We kept walking like that, sharing pastries along the way.
Eventually, we wandered into an alley.
"Is that a café too?"
Prostia looked up at one building.
It was three stories tall.
First floor was a convenience store; the second and third seemed to be something else.
Looking closer, there was a sign.
'Comic Café Comics.'
Written in colorful letters.
"Comic café?"
Ellie tilted her head.
"What's that?"
"A place where you can read comic books. Pay to get in, and you can read as long as you want."
"Comic books? Books with drawings in them?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
Prostia rested her chin on her hand, eyeing the sign.
"Fun?"
"No way to know till you try it yourself."
"Hm."
Then she nodded.
"Let's check it out. I'm curious."
We entered the building.
Climbed the stairs to the second floor.
Opening the door revealed a quiet space.
The walls were lined floor-to-ceiling with comic books.
"There are so many!"
The part-timer at the counter glanced our way.
"Welcome. How many?"
"Three."
"Maximum stay is 12 hours. Here's the fee."
I nodded at the clerk's explanation.
Pretty good value.
We headed inside.
Seats divided by partitions came into view.
Recliner chairs with small tables.
And those... kinda like Japanese capsule hotel pods?
Small private booths you could enter and use.
"How about over there."
Prostia pointed to a corner spot.
By the window.
"Sure, why not."
We sat down.
The sofa was plush and comfy.
"Shall I grab some comics first?"
"What's fun?"
"With this stuff, you just pick what catches your eye."
I paused to think.
"Prostia, check out over there. Sports comics."
"Sports, huh. Any baseball?"
"Bound to be. It's popular."
Prostia headed to the sports manga corner.
Her eyes sparkled.
She seemed pretty into it.
Now it was Ellie's turn to pick.
"Master, what should I look at?"
"What do you like, Ellie?"
"Um..."
She pondered, then said,
"Pretty pictures."
"Pretty pictures?"
I pointed to the shojo manga section.
"Try over there?"
"Yes!"
Ellie dashed to the shojo corner.
She oohed and aahed at the covers.
While she browsed, I picked one for myself.
Grabbed something at random. Fantasy manga.
Come to think of it, with actual fantasy folks right in front of me, do I really need this?
'Well, it's different, I guess.'
We returned to our seats.
Each opened our comics.
Quiet time flowed by.
Occasionally, Prostia's "Oh!" of admiration rang out.
"This is seriously fun. It's about the protagonists competing in a baseball academy to make the national team."
As she spoke, Prostia muttered under her breath,
"To me... baseball is murder."
I glanced at her.
"Cool, right?"
Prostia showed me the page.
The protagonist stood there with a serious expression.
"Yeah, pretty cool."
I turned back to my book.
Then, a weird noise came from the side.
"Uh... uhn..."
Ellie was staring at her book, face beet red.
Hand over her mouth, eyes glued to the page.
"Ellie?"
"Y-yes?"
She jumped and looked at me.
Her face got even redder.
"What's wrong?"
"N-nothing!"
She clutched the book to her chest.
Prostia peeked up slyly and eyed Ellie.
"Ellie. What scene are you on right now?"
"J-just... you know."
"Kiss scene, huh?"
"...!"
Ellie's face burned brighter.
"Knew it."
"U-uuu..."
Prostia chuckled mischievously and returned to her book.
Ellie kept reading with her flushed face for a while, then sneaked a glance at me.
"Master..."
"Yeah?"
"This..."
She pointed to a panel in her book.
The male and female leads holding hands.
Not just holding, either.
Their fingers were tightly interlocked, gripping firmly.
"Do this with me too."
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