Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Let's Date! (3)
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Thump!
I was sitting side by side with three women, watching a movie.
Thump!
In my right hand, a shield; in my left, a sword. Cynthia sat to my right, Yoo Harin to my left, and Kang Eun-seol next to her.
Thump!
Honestly, the seating didn't matter much.
Not unless it was just two of us watching a movie.
There was no way four people could enjoy some naughty theater event.
The movie was a standard rom-com.
We'd picked something easygoing to watch, but instead of focusing on the plot, we munched on sweeter-than-the-movie caramel popcorn.
Thump! Thump!
But that didn't last long.
"Excuse me."
I turned my head to the row behind us, frowning at the repeated kicking.
"Could you be more careful? You've been kicking my seat nonstop. How many times is this now?"
I said it as quietly as possible, giving a warning to the rude moviegoer.
"What? If it bothers you, move seats. Plenty of empty ones. Why you bitching?"
The response was shockingly outrageous.
"What did you say?"
I stared at him in disbelief.
The rude guy with the buzz cut was what you'd call a tattooed pig—a bloated 20-something covered in irezumi tattoos, glaring at me with narrowed eyes.
"What."
"Don't you know basic manners? I'd let it slide once or twice, but you're still kicking the seatback."
Compared to Choi Si-hyeok or his crew, this tattooed pig was almost cute. I let out a light sigh.
"If your seat's too cramped, why don't you move?"
By the way, I wasn't big on tattoos.
I only liked two kinds.
A virgin beach turning fashion tats into sexy accents on the collarbone.
Or a sex slave marking her pussy or lower belly—where the womb sits—with lewd designs and my name.
Anything else? Not really my thing.
In other words, the irezumi in front of me was the worst kind.
"Hey, fuck, what'd you just say?"
Not just the tattoos—his personality was trash too. He rolled his eyes wildly.
"H-Hold on, honey. Okay?"
The woman next to him tried to calm things down, but his ego took over, making him snap even harder at her restraint.
"Wait, see? This fucker's the one talking shit first. Hey, how old are you? The fuck you think you are?"
Saying that, the thug—looking like he stepped out of a cartoon—kicked my seatback again.
Thud!
I was speechless at this movie theater villain straight out of the rumors.
How could he be so textbook?
"Huh? Say it again. What're you gonna do if I don't move?"
He kept provoking me, puffing up arrogantly.
Glance.
While sneaking peeks at my group, smirking slyly.
From his lecherous expression, he'd probably been targeting us from the start.
Top-tier looks, even in downtown Seoul or Tokyo?
Cynthia, Yoo Harin, and Kang Eun-seol were all stunning women. Seeing me with them must've pissed off this tattooed pig.
Just keep an eye on your one girl.
"Stop being a nuisance. You're old enough—why act like this without any manners?"
I sighed again, scolding him.
"No home training? What the hell have you been doing since earlier?"
Suddenly, Cynthia fixed him with a trash-stare, chiming in.
"Shut up and watch the movie quietly."
"Yeah. Why keep picking fights?"
Yoo Harin and Kang Eun-seol added their pieces too, of course.
Right then.
Splash.
The guy, under fire from the women, dumped the leftover ice water from his cola on my head.
No, fuck—in a dry-ass place like this?
Frowning, I reached up, grabbed the wrist of this communication-proof retard, and twisted.
"Aaaagh!"
He shot up from his seat, instinctively hunching his shoulders.
Twisting his arm inward to ease the pain.
Murmurs.
The theater got chaotic in seconds.
"Hey, keep it down."
"What the hell. Ridiculous."
"Can't see the screen. Sit or get out."
"He rent the place or what?"
"Fuck, total nuisance. Go to a DVD bang if you're gonna act up."
The 20-something tattooed pig-ego got roasted by the crowd who'd been watching.
"L-Let's go, honey."
His girl, embarrassed for him too, hurriedly grabbed her handbag.
"Fuck."
The guy bolted out the moment I released his wrist.
"Here, handkerchief. Woojin-ah..."
Cynthia wiped my face with a soft voice.
"You okay...?"
After her worried words, Yoo Harin and Kang Eun-seol glared at the exit sullenly.
"Still pisses me off thinking about it. Hey, Woo-chin. Want me to go say something?"
"How do people like that exist?"
I shook my head.
"Nah. Drop it. No more fuss—let's just watch quietly."
I soothed the three fuming women and slowly stood.
"Keep watching. I'll wipe this water off in the bathroom."
After fixing my hair and clothes in the mercifully quiet restroom, a guy leaning on the emergency stair fire door at the hall's end called me.
"Hey, you. Come here."
Right on cue, exactly as I'd predicted.
"Fuck, come here."
He jerked his head, growling with a fierce scowl.
"N-No, don't. Honey, please?"
His girlfriend tugged desperately, but no dice.
"Ah, let go. Fuck."
"Please, Yong-uk oppa. Let's just go home..."
Average-looking girl, but sweet. Tears welled up.
'Wait, Yong-uk?'
The name rang a bell. I approached slowly.
Whoosh!
I snatched his grabbing arm, snapping it clean.
"Gaaah?!"
"Y-Yong-uk oppa?!"
I looked at the clueless couple.
"Told you—your hands have been itchy all night."
After personally correcting his hand, I added to the girl stamping her feet.
"Overstepping, I know. But don't date guys like this. People rude to strangers end up rude at home too."
Lips pursed, she said nothing.
The stairwell echoed only with his screams.
* * *
Kang Woojin and the group somehow finished the movie and had an early dinner in a department store restaurant's private room.
"Wow, this is good."
Kang Eun-seol's eyes widened at the fancy food—first time for her.
"Can I order more? Oppa paying here too?"
Her big eyes sparkling at Kang Woojin across the table.
"When have I not? Eat as much as you want."
He replied flatly, casually forking his food.
"For real? Oppa's the best! Money makes people look different. I'll hold off nagging for a while!"
Capitalism-soaked Eun-seol flattered shamelessly, enjoying her meal.
No hypnosis this time.
The theater incident wiped from her mind, she ate happily, clinking utensils without a hint of annoyance.
Swish.
She never dreamed.
Swish.
What was happening under the round table.
"...".
"...".
Cynthia and Yoo Harin competed relentlessly, teasing and seducing Kang Woojin under the table.
Eun-seol oblivious, their hands and feet stroked his legs.
"Try this, Woojin-ah."
"This one's good too."
Pretending to feed him, of course.
And it escalated.
Their increasingly bold handiwork and footsie made him fake-cough.
"Ahem! Enough—let's go once we're done."
Even after eating, he stayed seated a while longer.
"Yeah, I'll hit the bathroom. Sia, wanna come?"
"No, I went earlier... fine."
"Don't be petty—come on."
Yoo Harin dragged Cynthia to the restroom.
Didn't want to leave her alone(?) with Kang Woojin.
Alone with Eun-seol now, he pulled out his card like it was perfect timing.
"Eun-seol, pay with this."
"This?"
"Yeah. Keep the card. Need broadcast gear too."
"...".
"Why the big eyes?"
"You're—wait, why so nice to me suddenly?"
She took it but squinted suspiciously.
"Something's fishy."
"Fishy? When have I ever been bad to you?"
"All the time! Always bullying me! Spill it—what's your scheme?"
She noticed his awkward posture.
Step!
Approaching, she yanked the long tablecloth down.
"What's hidden there?!"
Her eyes ballooned; she shrieked in shock.
"Eek?! F-Fuck?!"
Eun-seol clamped her mouth shut after that death-scream curse.
She spoke again only after grabbing the mic.
The four finished shopping simply(?) and headed to a noraebang.
Eun-seol finally opened her mouth, mic in hand, singing.
"Wow, Eun-seol, you sing great."
Yoo Harin praised genuinely at her smooth voice.
"She's an idol trainee."
Cynthia explained, impressed anew.
"What? For real? No wonder! So pretty, idol figure too! Debut? When?"
Yoo Harin poked Eun-seol's sore spot unwittingly.
Kang Woojin said calmly, skipping the debt mountain part.
"Can't debut yet. Issues with the agency."
"Agency? Oh, yeah, lots of idol contract drama lately..."
"Yep."
"Sorry, brought it up."
Behind busy singing Eun-seol, Kang Woojin chatted for her with Harin.
"Speaking of—can't use her as your guild's poster idol?"
As he said, some modern idols contracted with hunter guilds.
Guilds weren't just monster hunters.
Profit groups developing/selling mana crystal goods—like companies.
Not artifacts, though.
Some guilds specialized, but regular ones converted mana to power sources.
Idols promoted goods, made guilds/awakened approachable.
"Sorry. Hard for White Tiger Guild..."
Not anyone; low tier obvious.
"PR/marketing independent. Rule: use awakened celebs. Plus, I got no real power."
Eun-seol, finishing her song, replied.
"It's fine, Harin unnie. Separate work and personal. Parachute drop? Don't wanna debut like that."
She waved it off maturely, resetting the mood toward Woojin.
"No weird talk. Your turn to sing."
He nodded, grabbed the mic, and sang.
Modern setting meant familiar songs in the machine.
Artists changed, but titles easy to find.
Woojin pondered the world's creator while vocalizing.
Result: like sister, like brother.
—If... we...
Shared genes with idol-aspiring Eun-seol? Or new body?
Either way, better singer than pre-possession.
"...Voice."
Yoo Harin and Cynthia muttered blankly in unison.
"Huh, surprisingly good?"
Eun-seol similar.
Chills from his sweet voice; all three rubbed their arms.
Even the machine awed, full 100/100.
'Maybe I'm good?'
Discovering talent, he eyed Harin for next song.
"Your pick this time."
"Huh? Oh, yeah!"
Shocked Harin sang; Cynthia too. Done.
"Machine's broken!"
Harin griped at her score—dead last of four.
"Not the machine—you picked wrong."
Woojin wagged finger mockingly.
"What's wrong with my picks?!"
"Rock doesn't suit you—ballads do."
Harin's face twisted subtly.