Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Daytime Ward (3)
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I spoke in a dry, emotionless tone.
"Isn't it about time you realized? That guy's just toying with your feelings."
I stripped away any personal bias and adopted the most objective stance possible.
"That's not true! Si-hyeok...!"
"Think about it carefully. If you confessed, do you really think he'd accept you?"
"What...?"
"He'd definitely ask for time to think. Or tell you to wait until he graduates from the academy because he has no plans to date."
Yoo Harin, who had finally managed to pull on her pants, chewed on her lower lip.
Her clothes were still disheveled, and she didn't even have the spare time to fix her hair.
"It's obvious. He'd dangle just enough hope to keep you around while he fools around with other girls."
"Si-hyeok isn't that kind of guy...!"
"He is exactly that kind of guy. You've seen it up close—you should know better than anyone. If you can't see it, take off those rose-tinted glasses and look again."
"Ugh..."
Yoo Harin let out a low groan, unable to come up with a rebuttal.
"In this world, nothing's worse than hope torture—except maybe orgasm denial."
"What's orgasm denial...?"
"Oh, it's a thing."
"You pervert..."
She bowed her head and shot me a half-hearted glare.
"Anyway, don't say a word to Si-hyeok."
She continued.
"Not about what happened today, or anything involving you, Woo-chin."
At this point, she should've been fully on my side, but it seemed like anything short of actual sex just wasn't quite enough.
"Got it."
I nodded without pushing Harin any further.
Planting the seeds of anxiety and doubt was enough.
She'd realize it on her own soon enough.
And when she came crying to me, I'd slide right in nice and easy.
Ah, I could already picture it.
"I'm gonna go wash up now. If you have time, could you grab some underwear from the convenience store?"
"Why should I...?"
"You made it even wetter than before. And there's a bit of cum on it too. It's too sticky to wear like this."
"Haa."
Yoo Harin let out a long sigh and reluctantly stood up.
"In exchange, let me use the bathroom first. I can't go out like this anyway."
She said as she picked at the strands of hair matted with semen.
And a little while later.
We returned looking relatively presentable and had brunch at a café in front of Good Sam Hospital.
"How'd you know I like cheesecake?"
"I saw you enjoying it before."
"When?"
"That time you bought me coffee and asked me to pretend to be your boyfriend."
"Oh..."
"I noticed when you ordered cake but ended up eating it all yourself."
I'd skipped the hospital food and treated Yoo Harin to breakfast-slash-lunch.
She hadn't come to visit me specifically, but sending her away empty-handed felt off.
My conscience wasn't entirely clear.
After all, she'd sucked and licked me everywhere.
'We didn't have sex, so maybe it's not a full betrayal?'
Filming the real deal in the hospital sounded fun, but it felt a bit too soon, which was a shame.
For now, maybe have her try on a nurse outfit next time.
"This is good."
Watching her daintily eat the cheesecake made me think of my dick sliding in and out of that same mouth, and blood started rushing downstairs again.
I felt the urge to pounce on her right then, but I barely held myself back.
To avoid backlash, it was better to gradually ramp up the intensity and break down her psychological barriers step by step.
No point teaching differential equations to a kid who'd just learned basic relations.
'It'd just breed pointless resentment.'
Slowly adjusting the pressure to corrupt her bit by bit was my style—much like the standard NTR playbook used by guys like Choi Si-hyeok.
In fact, that's why I'd tested the waters earlier, using fatigue as an excuse.
'There are NTR guys who go for rape or brainwashing, but honestly, those carry way too much risk right now.'
I reminded myself that I was just a powerless academy student with no backing or influence, tapping the table with my index finger.
"You're not eating, Woo-chin?"
Yoo Harin suddenly stopped poking at her food and asked me.
"I'm good. Watching you eat fills me up."
"You sure know how to sweet-talk. Do you pull this on other girls too?"
"Huh?"
"Not that it matters now, but you're a real piece of shit, you know that?"
"I know."
"You're in no position to criticize Si-hyeok, Woo-chin."
She glared at me, pointing out my hypocrisy anew.
"Still, I'm not that bad."
This actually pissed me off a little.
No matter how trash I was, I didn't lend out my girl to show off or pass her around to friends like Choi Si-hyeok did.
Just imagining how Yoo Harin would be treated the moment she spread her legs for him was laughable.
"Anyway, take this."
Unable to mention her potential future—or one of them—I pulled out a small gift box.
"Si-hyeok wouldn't do something like this for you."
It was a gift purely for Yoo Harin.
"What's this?"
She opened the box with a slightly surprised look.
"A choker?"
She picked up the black band-style choker and examined it from all angles.
A gold star dangled from the side as decoration.
"You don't like it?"
It was payback for her hard work under the sink the other day.
She might brush it off, but I'd learned that these little gestures were what shook a girl's heart.
From the internet, of course.
"It's not bad, but your taste is unique. Perverted, maybe?"
"I've seen them a lot on SNS lately. Thought they were trendy, so I got one."
I shrugged off her jab lightly.
Truth be told, I couldn't care less about trends.
My interest was solely in attaching a leash.
After ripping off that star-shaped pendant, anyway.
What's the difference from Si-hyeok, then?
Well, better than turning her into public property, right?
'If not, oh well.'
I asked Yoo Harin, who was still fiddling with the choker.
"Doesn't suit you?"
"Hmm..."
She wore an oddly ambiguous expression.
"Woo-chin, do you like me or something?"
I let out a hollow chuckle at her question.
Fortunately, she hadn't caught on to its real purpose.
"What? Like you? Who, you?"
"No? You've been badmouthing Si-hyeok nonstop—it's suspicious enough."
"Are you crazy? It was just the other day you were tormenting me."
"Really?"
"I've been grateful for all your support so far. If you don't want it, give it back."
I held out my hand, and she quickly snatched the choker back.
"I'll take it. You went out of your way. And if it's not loaded with that meaning, no need to feel burdened."
She tsundere'd a bit, then flashed a bright smile and muttered softly.
"Thanks."
In a voice so quiet I could barely hear it.
* * *
A few days passed.
Lounging diagonally on the hospital bed in my casual clothes, I was on the phone with An Ji-ho.
"You already got it?" He'd called sooner than expected after I mentioned contacting him post-discharge.
"Yeah, got lucky. I'll bring it myself tomorrow or the day after." The mana suppression artifact I'd requested.
An Ji-ho, who had somehow procured it, spoke in an excited tone.
"Luckily, it was cheaper than expected. A guy retiring from the bureau's surveillance department sold it to me at a bargain." "So it's used, then." "Hey, hey, Woojin-ah. Name one artifact on the market that's brand new." From beyond my smartphone, An Ji-ho sounded incredulous.
"There are artisans who supply guilds directly. Can't you get new ones through them?" "They cost a fortune. Take forever, and you have to source some materials yourself. You really planning to sell your house?" "No, Ji-ho hyung. Just asking. Used is fine as long as it tastes good." "That phrasing sounds off." I chuckled and turned the phone volume down low, glancing downward.
Slurp, schluuurp, sluuuuurp.
There was Yoo Harin, diligently sucking my dick.
"Mmm, slurp, schluuuurp..."
Now fully accustomed to fellatio, she had the glans in her mouth and looked up at me questioningly.
"It's nothing. Keep going."
I pulled the phone away from my ear for a moment and told her.
It wasn't because she was "used."
By virgin theory standards, she might fail, but Yoo Harin was definitely still a virgin.
'A so-called experienced newbie?'
As her service built up my urge to cum, I signaled her with my eyes like before and continued the call without stopping her.
"Anyway, thanks, Ji-ho hyung." "No problem. It was a pain to get, so don't be too disappointed it's used." Disappointed? Hardly.
I was plenty grateful just to have an artifact at all—luxury enough for me.
"Alright, see you tomorrow or the next day." Thanks a ton, Ji-ho hyung.
I'll make sure not to touch Soo-jung noona.
If needed, I'll even peel off that Jung Il-hoon guy.
"Sounds good. Get well and stay healthy, Woojin-ah." With those well-wishes, I ended the call with An Ji-ho.
"Slurp. Who was that?"
Yoo Harin asked the moment I hung up.
She stroked my glistening cock, slick with saliva and precum.
Squelch. Squeak.
She added to her question.
"I heard something about mana and artifacts?"
I'd lowered the volume, but her ears were sharper than I'd thought.
"Nothing much."
"Sounds suspicious. Woo-chin, did you awaken or something?"
"No way."
"Hmm."
"If I had, bureau guys would've been in and out of here bugging me with mana tests and ability checks."
I replied casually while receiving her handjob.
"True, that makes sense."
"Actually, I'm prepping for the Hunter Management certification. Asked a hyung I know if I could borrow some books. No point buying new ones."
"Oh, that's what the used book talk was about."
"Yeah. Why were you eavesdropping on my call?"
"I could hear it! More importantly, why get the Hunter Management cert?"
"It's useful. Non-awakened can join hunter classes with it, and it counts as spec for college or jobs later."
It was just an excuse, but saying it out loud made getting certified sound like a good idea.
"Right, you were good at studying, Woo-chin."
"Eh, average."
"Stacking specs like that—what's your plan later?"
"Dunno. Haven't decided. Why the interrogation? That curious about me?"
"W-who's curious?!"
She flinched visibly, like I'd hit the mark, and dove back onto my dick.
"Just make me cum already..."
"Schluurp... sluuuurp... smack... schluuuurp."
She switched back to fellatio to change the subject, sucking with even more enthusiasm than before.
Bzzz.
Right then, my phone buzzed.
The caller was none other than Cynthia.
'Oh...'
She'd sent a photo, just like always.
[Saw this? Keep powering through today!] The cute message felt like Sia's voice right in my ear.
'So lewd, so lewd.'
She still wasn't showing the important bits, but her experimental poses were incredibly sexy.
I added the photo to my gallery and glanced at Yoo Harin anew.
The contrast between silver and gold intensified my impending climax.
"Almost..."
"Schluurp, slurp, go ahead."
With her permission, I unloaded generously into her mouth.
"...Mmph!"
Looks like gold takes the win this time.
Step it up, Sia.
Your spot as main wife—or first sex slave—is at risk.
Yoo Harin wiped her mouth and grumbled.
"Haa, you cum so damn much..."
"No need for lunch now? Diet-friendly—win-win, right?"
"You bastard. You're a fucking bastard."
"Thanks for the compliment."
After bantering idly with her, I finished some afternoon checkups and handled discharge procedures.
"Oh, right. Harin, what're you up to this weekend?"
As we left the hospital, she flinched at my question.
"Why the weekend?"
"You going to the bureau?"
"...?"
"Sia mentioned it. Newbie graduation party. Big shots from major guilds attending—you're not going?"
Yoo Harin belonged to the White Tiger Guild, one of Korea's Big Four.
More precisely, she was the daughter of guild leader Yoo Won-sik.
That made her a key figure too.
Even as an academy student without official hunter licensing yet.
No way an A-rank awakener like her would skip such an event.
"...Of course I'm going."
Her attendance was a given.
It was a prime networking opportunity at a hotel buzzing with business deals.
"Why ask?"
Of course, their circumstances and backstories had nothing to do with me.
"Mind sneaking me in too?"
What I needed to focus on was this trash game's first main event.