No Cheating with Hypnosis or Drugs in NTR—Let's Compete Fairly as Males
Parents not being around never made me feel lonely. Cheolsu was what you'd call a dirt-poor genius. The adults around him pitied him whenever they saw him. They'd praise his tremendous talent as something extraordinary, but the moment they heard he was an orphan, they'd think it was such a shame.
On the other hand, there were people who envied him for it. "We don't have any talent, so aren't you satisfied with that level of swordsmanship? Isn't that enough on its own?" It was a fair point. Cheolsu himself had thought the same. After all, his life had been a happy one. He had a childhood friend he loved. And he had the strength to protect her. That alone was more than enough for him.
That is, until that man appeared.
"Kim Yujin…."
Cheolsu had never once doubted his own power. To say it again, he was a genius. He was confident he wouldn't lose to most heroes when it came to swordsmanship. Yet Kim Yujin had taken him down with ridiculous ease.
It made no sense. Why on earth did a human piece of trash like that have such strength? Hadn't they said great power came with great responsibility? What kind of responsibility was that spoiled brat even shouldering?
To you, Younghee's just one of the girls passing by, isn't she?
Younghee was undeniably pretty, kind, and charming. It was hard to find a girl as beautiful as her. At her age, she already shone so brightly—what would she be like once she grew up? But didn't Yujin have women surrounding him everywhere? He wasn't just anyone; he was the heir to Heukcheon. If he picked a girl he wanted to date right now, they'd line up around the block.
Yet you're trying to steal away my one and only Younghee?
Even if they handed him thousands of beauties, none could compare to Younghee. Did that guy love her or desire her anywhere near as much? No way in hell. He was just bored and wanted to toy with her for a bit. The very thought of such a shallow emotion tainting Younghee ignited an unbearable rage in him.
Rage alone is meaningless. The real issue is how to wield it.
Right. Brooding wouldn't change a thing. What mattered was the power to win Younghee back. At the very least, a force strong enough not to lose to Kim Yujin in a straight fight.
So how do I obtain that kind of power?
Cheolsu had been deep in such deliberations while throwing himself into training. He'd just finished his session and was heading back when his footsteps came to a halt.
What the hell... is that?
Cheolsu's eyes caught sight of Yujin. Entering a hotel in broad daylight? Outrageous. If that had been it, he would've just cursed under his breath and kept walking. The problem was that the bastard was carrying Younghee on his back. And she was unconscious, fast asleep.
"That fucking bastard!"
Cheolsu's eyes blazed with fury. Losing all reason, he charged straight toward the hotel.
…
Yujin was genuinely flustered. If they were going to advance the plot like this, couldn't they at least throw in some foreshadowing? Did I miss something in the middle? This is way too sudden. Did they write the plot with their feet?
"He suddenly burst into the hotel, caused quite a commotion."
At Park Secretary's words, the manager hurriedly replied.
"We're terribly sorry! We pride ourselves on maintaining the highest level of security at all times, but the intruder's skills were no joke. Over ten staff members went down."
Of course, the "staff" here were fighters who could hold their own even in a mafia outfit. Properly armed and trained, they could pass as active mercenaries. Cheolsu's feat of taking them down single-handedly was impressive, no doubt. But it was also true that they'd failed to provide proper service to a VVIP. The manager was on edge, terrified of even slightly irking Yujin.
Whatever. Yujin still couldn't wrap his head around the situation.
God, I have zero clue why Cheolsu came charging in here. What do I even do now?
Thinking coldly, Cheolsu was a criminal. No matter the circumstances, he'd invaded a business in operation using force. Normally, he'd have no grounds to complain if the cops dragged him off. Park Secretary had informed him specifically because Cheolsu was his friend. Naturally, the secretary was mistaking this for one of Yujin's genius schemes and inwardly marveling at it—but Yujin had no idea.
Even so, I can't just throw a friend in jail.
His past-life self couldn't have done a thing about it. But now? He was a chaebol heir. He could rent out an entire hotel just for a quick nap without batting an eye. If he set his mind to it, covering something like this was a breeze.
Our family's loaded. Money fixes everything!
Not skimping on cash for a friend—that was Yujin's flex. Even if those actions were unintentionally dragging the other guy deeper into ruin.
In any case, they came from good intentions.
"How many were injured?"
The manager jumped in surprise and looked up. Was he about to call out their incompetence?
If he demands we fire them, that'll be a huge blow.
They were valuable talent. Money was one thing, but good people were harder to come by. But this was Heukcheon. Excuses wouldn't fly.
"Ten serious injuries, about a dozen minor ones."
Yujin turned to Park Secretary.
"Make sure they get treatment costs and a fair settlement. See to it this never comes up again."
"Understood."
The manager's eyes went wide. Treatment and settlements? Even if Yujin was the root cause, security was unequivocally the hotel's duty once they'd accepted payment.
…!
And he was shouldering the responsibility instead? Heukcheon, of all groups?
I'd heard the current heir was a bit different, but I never imagined someone this magnanimous would emerge from that organization.
The manager mentally upgraded his assessment of Yujin. He'd heard the heir's position was shaky, but with a vessel this grand, he was no rotten apple.
"We're mortified to have caused such trouble! We'll ensure it never happens again and that no rumors spread. I swear it to you personally, Young Master Kim Yujin."
Swearing to Yujin rather than Heukcheon itself was his own show of loyalty.
Yujin nodded casually.
"Appreciate it. Now, I want to talk to this kid alone, so everyone else, please leave."
"Pardon? B-but…."
"No need to question the young master's words."
Park Secretary cut off the flustered manager.
"He thinks several moves ahead of us. Just do as he says."
"I understand, but this guy's no pushover. Even accounting for our shortcomings, he took down a bunch of our guards. I couldn't show my face if he so much as scratched the young master."
"Scratch our young master? Even if every guard you boast about piled on, that wouldn't happen. Don't worry."
A chuckle left no room for rebuttal. Was Heukcheon's heir really that strong? Strong enough for his personal secretary to vouch like this?
Heh heh, whatever the details, I need to grab this connection and hold on tight.
At the manager's signal, the guards released Cheolsu. Whether from injury sapping his strength or realizing an attack now was pointless, he didn't lunge immediately.
"Then we'll take our leave."
Once everyone was gone, only Yujin and Cheolsu remained in the hotel room. Yujin walked slowly to the sofa and sat.
"Sit down for now?"
Cheolsu glared daggers at Yujin before approaching. Why the hell was he looking at him like that? Yujin felt a twinge of injustice.
What the hell did I do that's so wrong!
At worst, he'd broken an arm or two, visited the hospital without a proper apology, promised to help in class but just fired off bullets. Okay, maybe it added up a bit. Yeah, I'd probably be pissed too. But I just covered for you, so call it even?
"Drink this first."
Yujin offered the mystery liquid he'd been about to sip himself. He'd been panting hard; he looked exhausted.
Cheolsu downed it in one go and slammed the glass down.
"Where's Younghee?"
Younghee? Why was he suddenly asking about her?
How'd he even know she was with me?
As Yujin pondered silently, the slime in his head piped up.
-You seriously don't know that?
Huh? Know what?
-It's obvious that male likes that female.
…Cheolsu likes Younghee?
Hmm, it wasn't impossible. Cheolsu was pretty handsome himself, and Younghee was a knockout. Plus, their names—Cheolsu and Younghee. There had to be some fated pull there.
Come to think of it, during the ogre incident, he did say something like leave me and take Younghee.
If that was the case, it explained the current mess. From Cheolsu's perspective, the girl he liked had shown up at a hotel. And what came next went without saying—especially since they couldn't depict it in all-ages detail.
Hmm, any hormonal teenage boy might lose it over that.
Who would've thought there was context like that. Though Yujin wasn't that much of a scumbag. Still, the moment you carry a girl into a hotel, trust goes out the window. Even a ten-year friendship wouldn't survive that entrance.
Yujin pointed toward the bedroom where Younghee was sleeping.
"If it's Younghee, she's sleeping in that room over there."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Cheolsu bolted.
Whew, talk about passion.
Younghee has no idea how he feels… right?
If she did, she never would've asked to meet me. Classic one-sided crush. Nothing was more childish than meddling in a friend's love life.
Yujin shrugged it off and started changing clothes. He couldn't just lounge around in a bathrobe forever.
He was about to down the bottled liquid—unaware it was an aphrodisiac—when it happened.
"Haa! Urghhh! Haat!"
"Ch-Cheolsu? W-wait a sec! Ahh!"
Weird noises suddenly erupted. Yujin walked over and doubted his own eyes.
What the actual fuck?
"Y-Younghee, sorry, I can't hold back anymore!"
"D-don't do this! Snap out of it, Cheolsu! Ahh…!"
That crazy son of a bitch! Hormonal teen or not, there were lines you didn't cross!
Yujin strode forward and smacked the back of Cheolsu's head hard.