Chapter 31

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 30

Chapter Title: Perfect Solution

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Thanks to the Baby Mode Pack for Cowards, the world of World of Doom had transformed from a simple yokai-extermination story into something like a dating sim.

With relationships with yokai now being so important, maintaining favorability was essential. Keeping it up properly would make it easier to get their help down the line.

So right now, how I soothed Sowol's mood would determine whether her favorability stayed the same or dropped. It was a critical crossroads.

While driving for a bit and pondering how to respond to Sowol's interrogation, three options roughly came to mind.

First, yell at her like usual to stop saying weird things.

Second, tease her slyly by asking if she was jealous right now.

Third, just turn the wheel and drive to the sea.

So, out of these, which one would Sowol like the most?

I glanced at Sowol to get some help from the system.

Become a powerful alpha male.

Testosterone bursting out—that was the way to win over the White-Faced Bride.

According to the strategy, picking option one and barking at Sowol to cut the nonsense was the right answer.

But the situation this time was a bit special.

Would yelling at her like usual really lift Sowol's mood? I didn't think so.

The kind of man Sowol wanted wasn't just an alpha male or a "stud," but not some jerk with a foul temper either.

A guy who only yelled and scolded unconditionally wasn't an alpha—he was just an asshole.

So option one wasn't right this time.

For the same reason, option two was out too. Slyly grinning and dodging the situation like a wimp was far from masculine.

No change in the favorability number.

But looking now, Sowol was gauging my mood too.

Unlike usual, she'd come on strong herself and was now watching my reaction nervously.

"D-Dear...?"

With me lost in thought and silent, Sowol spoke up first with a tense expression.

Just staying quiet without answering her question had somehow smoothed things over on its own.

Still, I couldn't just clam up and head back to the office like this.

Sulking and shutting down wasn't manly. Sometimes you had to show consideration and care.

Patriarchal authority only truly earned its respect when you took responsibility for the household and looked after its members.

"Sowol."

"Y-Yes... Um, that is... I just... I got jealous, so I spoke harshly... I know you're going through a lot, hubby... Sorry for throwing a tantrum..."

"What, over something like that? Forget it. Wanna go see the sea today?"

"The sea...?"

"Yeah. Let's go for a drive. Close up the Fixer Office. Just you and me cruising around. Sound good?"

"For real...?"

"Yeah. A few days ago, you said you wanted to go to the sea."

"You remembered that..."

"Of course. I care about you so much. Oh, I'll grab some sweets on the way too. You like macarons, right, Sowol?"

Realizing I remembered all these little details, Sowol nodded, too apologetic to even reply.

I already knew she'd developed a deep love for sweet snacks ever since trying the Lotus Sect's handmade hangwa.

Stopping by a decent café on the way for macarons and other treats would make her happy, right?

"Hubby... I really, really love you. Sorry for whining over nothing..."

"It's fine. Let's smile and go. It's a fun date day."

"Yes...!"

Sowol beamed, deeply touched.

Her favorability even went up.

Once favorability passes 90%, even a 1% increase gets tough.

Like how required EXP skyrockets at higher levels.

Yet it'd gone up another 1% this time.

Just 4% more, and we'd hit the marriage ending with Sowol. But oh well, couldn't be helped. She was definitely helpful, so better to raise it than let it drop.

Hit 100%, and I'd just accept it as fate and take responsibility.

'Wonder if heading to the West Sea now would be risky.'

I wasn't sure if everything from the West Sea had been cleaned up yet, but since it was just a drive, no big deal, right?

Plan was to head back to the office, wash up, and sleep. But now that we're at it, might as well enjoy the sea views and take it easy today.

After the drive date and spending some "quality time" together, Sowol became incredibly deferential toward me.

Definitely needed to offer a carrot now and then.

Only the stick deepens emotional rifts.

Especially since Sowol was positioned like a malicious spirit from the late Joseon era—she needed handling in that era's male style...

But push too hard nonstop, and she'd harbor resentment like those women did toward husbands. Needed proper balance.

"Hubby, here's breakfast."

"Oh... yeah. Thanks."

Thanks to that, I was even getting breakfast.

Her miso soup skills were improving day by day.

"Mm."

I turned on the TV while eating the meal Sowol prepared.

The usual news was playing.

Stories of mysterious disappearances, a serial killer on the loose in Daejeon, boring headache-inducing politics.

"Nothing major."

Good thing—issues the police or Anomaly Management ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Department could handle without me stepping in.

If it were serious, the news itself would feel off somehow. This level was peaceful.

"Thanks, that was good. Thanks, Sowol."

Sowol smiled and cleared the dishes.

Even the dishwashing was perfect. A yokai at 96% favorability became this obedient and sweet.

'Alright then...'

Time to claim the rewards I'd been putting off.

Exorcising the demon had cleared quests and challenges, and I'd leveled up once.

Mountain of rewards waiting.

Start with the quest reward.

It was definitely "Find the Coerced Bride."

As always, bundles of cash rained down.

Nice side income tax-free every quest clear. Pretty satisfying.

'This one's more than usual.'

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Probably because we resolved the dangerous request without casualties— a whopping 4 million won and a mysterious die dropped.

The die had three golden faces out of six, the rest pitch black.

Each color had numbers 1 to 3 inscribed—quite the unique die.

A 50/50 gamble item where misfortune or luck strikes.

Risky since you could lose big, but a potential reversal tool in desperate spots—nothing to lose mentality.

'Numbers represent luck/misfortune values, huh.'

Luck 3 is grand fortune; Misfortune 3 is grand disaster.

Pure gambling. Probably won't roll it lightly.

'But my luck's a whopping 70.'

Would my luck stat, which broke limits, affect this die?

Come to think, hadn't felt much from luck stat before. Or had I? At Cursed Mountain Lodge, I found all of Woo-hyeon Monk's clues alone—maybe not useless.

An item directly tied to luck should definitely be influenced.

Still, danger level "Incident-Class" for an item—better avoid using if possible.

'Next...'

Now for the challenge reward.

The one that popped after slaying the demon.

Achieved by helping Sister Shin Seo-hyeon exorcise Andromalius.

The dropped "Proof of Faith" was a worn, old cross covered in tiny scratches.

Like an immortality totem.

If my HP or mental strength hit zero, this cross probably breaks in my place.

No calamity-class yokai beyond disaster-class, so no dying anyway—but extra life was huge.

'Could use it as a weapon on nonbelievers.'

Liked the "torment" description.

No need to smash bodies—just press the cross for pain. Perfect against heretics or demon-possessed.

Dice of the Golden Rule was iffy, but Proof of Faith was great.

For me with poor strength control, ideal item. If I'd gotten it sooner, the Coerced Bride might not have ended up in ICU.

Now finally, level-up reward.

As described: pick one stat and one skill.

Boosting physical stats more would just inconvenience daily life, so invested in Vitality between Mental Strength and Vitality.

Now both Vitality and Mental Strength at 210. No dying anytime soon.

Last, the skill...

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The Fixer-exclusive skill this time was "Humanistic Literacy."

Mental Defense Boost was meaningless under Baby Mode Pack protection, and Poker Face wasn't crucial.

For case-solving and clue-hunting, Humanistic Literacy was best.

'Got the must-haves Ancient Text Deciphering and Humanistic Literacy quick...'

Now I could find most clues at scenes.

That wrapped up all rewards from this request.

Just collect the fee from the nun tomorrow, and done.

Nice cash pile-up. Could slack off eating well for a while?

-Kyaa!

"Oh no..."

The lazy thought of slacking hit just as a woman's scream echoed from downstairs.

Sounded like the part-timer from the first-floor coffee shop.

Some serious issue cropped up.

As building manager, time to head down and fix it.