Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Main Event (5)
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This world's shitty NTR bastards could be broadly classified into two types.
One was the kind that started by shoving their dick in first through brainwashing, hypnosis, threats, or rape.
The other was the type that diligently(?) built up affection step by step before gradually getting physical.
In simple terms, it came down to whether they targeted the pussy first or the heart first.
And Choi Si-hyeok clearly fell into the latter category.
Of course, depending on the route in the original story, he sometimes resorted to high-pressure tactics too.
Like continuing to meet Cynthia in exchange for not bullying her childhood friend.
But that was just the original storyline.
Strictly speaking, it was something that would only happen in a future where certain conditions perfectly aligned.
The current Choi Si-hyeok was working tirelessly to win Sia's heart.
He kept throwing flirty lines at her nonstop, trying to seduce her.
'Fun. This is really fun.'
I quietly circulated my mana, keeping an eye on the situation outside while subtly manipulating Choi Si-hyeok's senses little by little.
"Urk?!"
Suddenly, Choi Si-hyeok started dry-heaving.
As if the flavor of the appetizer lingering in his mouth had intensified, his expression soured like overripe cheese.
"What's wrong, Si-hyeok?"
Kim So-yeon, sitting across from him, asked with a puzzled look.
"It's nothing... really."
Choi Si-hyeok forced down the stinky cheese and managed a strained smile.
He could have spat it out.
But after making such a fool of himself by spilling wine all over, he probably didn't want to look any more pathetic.
Unfortunately for his efforts, Sia didn't seem all that interested in his condition.
By nature, she was kind to a fault and wasn't the type to truly hate anyone.
The same went for Choi Si-hyeok.
Even though he'd bullied me, Cynthia's childhood friend, it didn't mean he'd completely earned her hatred.
She was foolishly, excessively fond of people.
But judging by her silence so far, there was still a massive wall between them.
"Anyway, so that's what happened..."
"...Oh my, really?"
Choi Si-hyeok and Kim So-yeon were leading the table's atmosphere and conversation.
Cynthia just sat there quietly sipping her drink, her face radiating discomfort and awkwardness, occasionally glancing at her phone.
Bzzz.
Then I sent her a message.
It was nothing special, just a casual text.
Tap tap tap!
But Cynthia perked up immediately, her fingers flying across her smartphone so fast they blurred.
[I'm still at the party. What have you been up to, Woojin? Why haven't you messaged all day?!]
She even meticulously added an angry emoji.
In reality, it'd been less than three hours since we'd last talked, but it must have felt like a whole day to her.
[Had to handle some work, couldn't check my phone.]
I replied while gazing at Sia from afar on the balcony.
[Work? How long ago did you get discharged, and you're already working?]
[It's not tough, don't worry. How's the party? Having fun?]
[The party's meh...]
[You drinking?]
[Yeah, a little wine.]
[With who?]
At my follow-up, Cynthia flinched and glanced around unnecessarily.
"......"
Specifically, at Choi Si-hyeok and Kim So-yeon.
[With a friend. So-yeon, the one I mentioned a few times before.]
She replied, conveniently omitting Choi Si-hyeok's name.
Probably to spare my feelings.
She knew I disliked Choi Si-hyeok and his bully crew.
She didn't want to make me uncomfortable by bringing him up.
'But.'
I appreciated her consideration, but she was missing the most crucial point.
'It's these little white lies that pile up and lead to NTR.'
I shook my head and pocketed my phone.
She could pay the price for that kind lie with her body later.
Just then, Cynthia set her phone down and showed some interest in what the other two were saying.
"I don't think you need to hold back your abilities."
Choi Si-hyeok, now casually dropping formalities with Kim So-yeon, addressed the two women as he expounded his philosophy.
"Power is just power, after all. What matters is how you use it. Deny it or fear it, and you'll never grow."
Like he was encouraging them, fresh off awakening their powers.
"The Management Bureau calls hunters humanity's guardians, but Awakeners are still human. No one's perfect, and mistakes are natural."
Choi Si-hyeok secretly circulated his mana and drew the flame from the candle stand on the table.
Whoosh.
As expected of a fire manipulator.
Fwoosh.
The flames dancing above and below his palm put on a graceful, mesmerizing display.
"Wow, so pretty..."
Amazed by his skill, Kim So-yeon nodded and chimed in.
"In other words, an Awakener's power depends on how you use it, right? Like what you just showed, Si-hyeok."
"Exactly."
Choi Si-hyeok grinned and nodded.
"Actually, my mom and dad always say stuff like that. They tell me to learn from mistakes and not fear them."
"I was scared at first too, but now I'm used to it. You two shouldn't be so afraid."
"But isn't this illegal?"
"It's fine. I'm not using it on anyone. Since this is a Management Bureau party, the surveillance hunters who detect the mana will just let it slide."
He was right.
Not only did no surveillance hunters barge in, but none of the people in the party hall called him out either.
They might just be too caught up in enjoying the party.
"The point is, use your powers wisely, picking the right time and place. Or whatever."
"You sounded like such a sly fox just now, Si-hyeok."
"Did I? Ahaha..."
Kim So-yeon and Cynthia chuckled along with his awkward laugh.
Before closing the distance with Cynthia, he was targeting Kim So-yeon first—a real sly fox.
'Tch, playing around.'
I felt a twinge of irritation, especially at Cynthia's reaction.
How many times had I warned her not to trust other guys?
Yet here she was, smiling so easily at some random dude.
To heal this wounded heart, she'd need to do fellatio and paizuri. Get ready, Sia.
'She drank, so she's mentally compromised—maybe just 20 rounds each.'
I glanced at Cynthia once more, then turned my ability on Choi Si-hyeok again, who'd left such a "good" impression.
"Ack?!"
This time, I cranked up his sense of touch—specifically, heat sensation.
"Hot?!"
Choi Si-hyeok shot up from his seat, frantically shaking his hand to shake off the flame.
He writhed as if he'd touched magma that could burn even fire.
The suave, stylish A-rank Awakener was nowhere to be seen.
After preaching his Awakener philosophy, he put on quite the shameful display.
'Jeez, I'm embarrassed just watching.'
It was especially humiliating for someone with fire powers.
Should've been more humble from the start, Si-hyeok.
"Wh-what the hell... suddenly..."
Choi Si-hyeok muttered under his breath, utterly flustered.
Something had gone terribly wrong.
But his humiliation didn't end there.
Ding. Ding—
As the party's mood heated up, drunk men and women started dancing one by one.
It wasn't some formal ballroom thing.
In one corner of the vast hall, there was only a tiny space set up for dancing, like an afterthought.
Still, a few people ignored the spot and swayed to the music impromptu.
Ding ding.
The musicians on stage shifted to jazz to match the vibe.
"...Shall we go dance a song together, Sia?"
Riding the atmosphere, Choi Si-hyeok offered his hand to Cynthia.
"No, I'm good... I don't know how to dance... and I've drunk too much..."
Cynthia, red-faced from all the wine, shook her head.
"Honestly, just going out there is embarrassing..."
A clean rejection. Disappointment and annoyance flashed in Choi Si-hyeok's eyes.
But he kept smiling, hiding it, and smoothly turned to Kim So-yeon with the same offer.
"Sure. I'm new to dancing too, but whatever, let's give it a shot."
Reduced to Cynthia's substitute in an instant, Kim So-yeon cheerfully stood up.
What a quick-change artist.
Especially after being so wary of him earlier.
Guess I'd have to help out this poor lamb.
Step.
While Kim So-yeon and Choi Si-hyeok danced, I snapped my ability into action again.
Choi Si-hyeok's eyes bulged.
"Aaaah, my eyes?!"
His vision hypersensitive, a flood of light from the fixtures overwhelmed him.
In simple terms, eye flashbang—he temporarily lost his sight.
Stagger—
His collapse was inevitable.
"Eek?!"
He stepped on Kim So-yeon's foot and tumbled, rolling pathetically on the floor.
Murmur murmur.
A commotion erupted around them.
"Si-hyeok, why have you been acting so weird all night?"
Under everyone's stares, Kim So-yeon furrowed her brow.
"Y-you okay? Si-hyeok? What's going on?"
Yoo Harin rushed over, worried.
"...I-I don't know. No, I just feel off today."
His vision clearing, Choi Si-hyeok sweated bullets and made excuses.
'Guess that's enough for today.'
After tormenting him thoroughly, I finally stepped out onto the balcony.
I wanted to test smell and hearing too, but there were too many eyes now.
Even with the artifact's great effect, better safe than sorry.
Step.
Circling the now even rowdier party hall, I approached Cynthia.
"Mmmph."
Drunk out of her mind, she was nodding off in a stupor.
"Time to head out, Sia."
"Mmm. Who...?"
Supporting her dilated eyes, I slowly led her out of the party hall.
"Gotta go home... Woojin'll worry..."
Arm slung around my neck, her legs wobbling, she mumbled softly.
That my name slipped from her drifting mind before her parents' eased my earlier twisted irritation a bit.
"This voice... Woojin's scent..."
Maybe cut the fellatio and paizuri down to 10 each?
"Don't wanna worry Woojin that much?"
"Mmm. Hate it..."
"Then why'd you drink so much? You know you're a lightweight."
"I didn't drink thaaat much...?"
I steadied her slurring self and piggybacked her.
And right then.
"Found you at last! You bastard, where were you hiding till now?!"
Jeong Dong-woo yelled from the end of the hall, storming over fuming.
"Forget that girl—whatever! Get to the casino upstairs now! We're short-staffed!"
Sweating from his frantic search, I couldn't help but smirk.
"Smirking?! You think this is funny, you fuck?!"
Sorry, but I was done with him.
"Yeah, kinda funny."
"What?!"
"I'm quitting."
"...?"
"Quitting this job. Being invisible doesn't suit me."
"What the hell are you..."
"Pay me for the five hours today. In. Cash."
"Hey, you punk!"
As he bellowed, I removed my name tag and shoved it into his hand.
"And watch your mouth, Jeong Dong-woo. I'm a guest too."
"Wh-what?"
He stood there dumbfounded.
Passing him, I headed to the suite with Sia, saying without looking back.
"Oh, right."
"......"
"Advice: Don't eye our Harin."
"......"
"I've got trauma from that shit. I really hate people touching what's mine."
With that, I released a bit of mana to pressure him silently.
It wouldn't work well on another Awakener, but on a normie? Devastating.
"Urgh..."
Crushed by the heavy air, he squeezed out the words.
"Good, you get it."
Satisfied, I withdrew the mana and flashed him a bright smile over my shoulder.
Moments later.
Another person came running as I waited for the elevator.
Thud thud!
What a pain.
"Hey, stop!"
One word, and I knew—it was Choi Si-hyeok.
"Put Sia down!"
Calling her by her nickname without permission, he clung on stubbornly.
I sighed lightly and gently set the sleeping Sia down.
In that brief moment, he caught his breath and asked.
"Hoo, who the hell are you?"
"None of your business."
"...?"
"More like you—what's the fire? Why'd you sprint over here?"
"To take Sia home, obviously—no, fuck. You're that server from earlier!"
"Busted."
Still masked, I tugged my lips into a grin.
"Then the wine spill was on purpose too?!"
"Good stuff should go to the skin. Check a mirror—your complexion's improved."
Suddenly, Choi Si-hyeok burst into rough laughter.
"Hahaha, you crazy bastard."
Then he stopped abruptly and pointed at Cynthia.
"You know who she is?"
Of course I did—better than anyone, even her "city wall" secrets.
But curious what he'd say, I played dumb.
"Who?"
"Someone a punk like you shouldn't touch."
"Hmm. Sounds like you're allowed, though?"
"You're not as dense as you look. That's right. Leave her and fuck off while I'm being nice."
"Nah."
His smug smile twisted into a scowl.
"Guess I'll have to make you understand with force."
Then he swung a fist.
We were similar in build, but he'd fought way more.
Enough to be confident, no surprise he picked a fight.
However.
Grab!
I caught his fist mid-swing and squeezed harder.
"Gaaaaah—!"
After screaming all night, this was on another level.
Because I'd amplified his pain receptors myself.
No matter his experience, the gap between us was insurmountable.
Not just ability, but he couldn't recklessly use mana on people.
"Grk!"
Hanging from my grip, he gritted his teeth and muttered.
"If the place were different..."
If this were a tower or gate where he could unleash mana freely.
If he didn't have to worry about the Bureau.
Then the outcome might've changed.
Ridiculous, to me.
Whoosh.
I yanked his fist, staring down close into his face.
"Different place, and you'd already be dead."
Cold and matter-of-fact.
"Wanna test it?"
Ripples of shock in his eyes, Choi Si-hyeok couldn't reply.