Chapter 38
Chapter 38
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Bloody Tears of Consideration
-----------------------------------------------------------------
'Ah.'
Vitality coursed through my refreshed body, chasing away the last traces of sleep.
The moment I opened my eyes, there was Lee Seo-yeon, spread out beneath me like a rug.
Not in a sexual way—she was literally lying under me like a carpet.
'......Haa.'
A sigh escaped first at the memories of last night.
Starting from the awful things I'd done to her.
I'd shown tears as a grown man.
And worst of all, she'd been the one comforting me through sex.
'......I want to die.'
I rolled off her body with a thud and fell onto the bed.
I covered both her and myself with the blanket huddled sadly in the corner, then buried my face in it.
'Acting all high and mighty, and this is what I end up like?'
I'd thought I'd never commit a crime, no matter what.
Even with a skill like Hypnosis, perfect for perfect crimes, I'd lived normally and figured I always would.
But last night, I'd gone and done unspeakable things to Lee Seo-yeon.
'Ugh......'
And not only that—I hadn't even comforted her afterward. Instead, she'd comforted me.
Was there anything more embarrassing than this!
'......Seo-yeon? You asleep?'
I peeked my head out from under the blanket and looked at her sleeping face.
The pained expression from last night was gone, replaced by an adorably peaceful slumber.
'Hey.'
I cautiously pinched her cheek.
Just hours ago, I'd looked down on her, called her part of my collection—and I'd even said it out loud.
Maybe, without realizing it, I'd started seeing her as less than human, like a collectible or a trophy.
'So soft and fun to poke.'
But not anymore.
The memory of her holding and soothing me lingered in my chest, making my heart ache sweetly whenever I recalled it—a bittersweet sting that tormented me.
It was an emotion I couldn't simply define.
Something... something I couldn't put into words.
But one thing was certain: our relationship would never be the same.
I couldn't explain that either, and the more I thought about it, the hotter my face got, so I hid back under the blanket.
'Not as big as Yu-ra noona's, but she's got some size too.'
As I slipped under the covers, two massive mountain peaks greeted me.
Should I touch them? But in this reversed gender era, a guy groping a girl's chest wasn't a big deal, so I reached out.
My palm sank into the enormous mound, too big for one hand. Warmth heated my skin and stirred my lust, but something else overpowered it.
'I want to snuggle.'
I gave in to instinct and buried my face in her chest. My mind instantly calmed.
Is this how a baby feels in its mother's arms?
Embarrassing, but if it felt good, who cared.
'Hehe.'
I was about to drift off again when Seo-yeon, now awake, started stroking my head.
It felt so good, like I'd turned into a cat.
'Jun-hyuk, when did you wake up?'
'Just now. What about you, Seo-yeon?'
'When you started groping my chest.'
Ugh, she'd been awake since then?
Mortified, I buried my face even deeper into her chest.
'Ahat! That tickles!'
'S-Sorry.'
'You've been apologizing nonstop since last night. No need between us.'
Between us?
We weren't just friends anymore.
But calling us lovers didn't feel right either.
'......What should we call us?'
'......Y-Yeah, what?'
No, if you don't know, who does!
If I wasn't dating Yu-ra noona, I'd proudly call us lovers.
But even in a polygamy-friendly era, dating my first girlfriend for barely a month and already taking a second?
That had to be trashy, no matter the times.
'Don't worry about it, Jun-hyuk. It's because of Yu-ra, right?'
'......Yeah.'
'I'll handle that somehow!'
Her confident stance would've seemed like bravado before.
But now, it felt so reassuring.
'So, Jun-hyuk, can I ask again what I couldn't last night?'
'What?'
'Jun-hyuk.'
She gently pulled me from her embrace and met my eyes.
'Can I...... love you, Jun-hyuk?'
My past-life male ego was still there.
But in this moment, I felt like a shy girl from this era's standards.
'......Yeah.'
I couldn't lift my head, so I bowed it deeply as I answered.
Seo-yeon hugged me again.
'Hehe. So, should we drop the formalities now?'
'Sure.'
'Then...... Oppa, Jun-hyuk oppa?'
'Huh?'
O-Oppa?
'Seo-yeon, how old are you?'
'I'm twenty! You're twenty-two, right? So you're oppa!'
No way, she was younger than me?
I'd assumed she was older because of the height difference.
Come to think of it, most women were taller than me.
'Why?'
'Oh, nothing.'
For some reason, after last night, I'd wanted to call her noona.
But that was shot down, leaving me a bit unsatisfied!
I didn't have the guts to voice such a shady desire, so I just accepted it.
Gurgle-!
Just then, Seo-yeon's—no, Seo-yeon's stomach rumbled.
'Ah......'
The room, unlit by any light, was gradually brightening, her navel precisely signaling mealtime.
'Hungry?'
'A-A little?'
'Wait here. I'll make breakfast.'
Regretfully pulling away from her embrace—I wanted to stay snuggled—I headed for the bedroom door to go to the kitchen.
But I collided with something and stumbled back.
'Ugh!?'
What? I didn't leave anything outside the door.
Regaining my balance, I looked at what was in front of me.
And in that instant, my heart stopped.
'!?'
It was the person I'd steadily wanted to see.
But the one woman I couldn't face right now was standing there.
'Y-Yu-ra noona?'
Yu-ra noona, who should be in America.
Was at my house.
'......What the hell is this?'
But noona wasn't looking at me.
She was just staring at the bed with the coldest eyes I'd ever seen.
'Hiiik!'
Seo-yeon was just as shocked as me, hiccuping as she clutched the blanket.
But her earlier words weren't lies—she got off the bed with a resolute expression.
'Y-Yu-ra!'
She charged toward Yu-ra noona like she was ready for a fistfight.
And then......
'I'm sorry!'
Instead of fighting, she dropped into a dogeza, naked as she was.
＊＊＊
Three people sat at Jun-hyuk's dining table, conversing in a frosty atmosphere.
Jun-hyuk had already stepped up and explained the gist, so Choi Yu-ra had grasped the situation.
'This is why I told you never to drink!'
Grit-!
Choi Yu-ra ground her teeth.
She shot a quick glare at Yoo Jun-hyuk, but when he flinched in surprise, she softened her gaze.
'Haa, it's not Jun-hyuk's fault. The fault lies with......'
That girl who brought the rum cake or whatever.
Without moving her head, Choi Yu-ra rolled her eyes to glare at Lee Seo-yeon.
'Hup!'
Like a frog before a snake?
Gone was the bedroom promise to leave everything to her—she'd shriveled up.
But she had an excuse.
'No, why'd you come back so soon!'
Lee Seo-yeon's plan had been this:
Slowly win Choi Yu-ra's favor and build rapport.
Meanwhile, secretly live with Yoo Jun-hyuk as lovers, strengthening their bond.
Once everything was set, get official permission from primary wife Choi Yu-ra and proudly enter as the second!
In other words, the classic "boiling frog" strategy.
But with Choi Yu-ra catching them like this, her resolve had crumbled like a sandcastle long ago.
'I-I'm screwed!'
What would happen to me now?
Playing around with an EX-rank hunter's boyfriend—I'd get beaten to death, right?
It wasn't even after official dating approval; this was cheating while she was away on business. No excuses.
'Ugh, Yu-ra noona...... must be furious?'
Yoo Jun-hyuk sat trembling beside Lee Seo-yeon, anxious too.
'......'
Unlike their anxiety, Choi Yu-ra was busy sorting through the explosion of long-pent-up worries.
'If it's come to this......'
Her dilemma had started the day she officially started dating Jun-hyuk.
Like any high-rank hunter, she'd taken it for granted that he'd eventually take a second wife.
That's why she'd accepted Lee Seo-yeon's apology.
She couldn't accept just any woman as second, so she'd chosen the one with a unique connection to him.
'Haa......'
But after realizing she was an EX-rank hunter, her mind changed.
Why do high-rank hunters and heroes wish polygamy on their husbands?
It's consideration—wanting their husband to survive this harsh world if they die unexpectedly.
But now an EX-rank hunter with near-zero chance of death, of course Choi Yu-ra wanted to monopolize Jun-hyuk.
No death risk, so why share her husband?
Just as she was firming that resolve, the Shin Jeong-hwa incident happened.
Death was off the table, but she was still a high-rank hunter.
Gates aside, fame meant constant business trips.
In that situation, Jun-hyuk became a murder attempt victim, so she wished someone would protect him in her absence.
I want to monopolize Jun-hyuk.
I want someone to look after him when I'm away.
I want Jun-hyuk to love me more.
I want to lock Jun-hyuk in my house and keep him safe—not breed him, protect him.
Even without me, I want someone to care for him like a lover so he's not lonely.
I don't want Jun-hyuk to hate me.
A storm of emotions raged, and they fueled a debate in her head between angel and devil.
[Lee Seo-yeon? Take that floozy as second? No way! Turn back!]
[No, Yu-ra, think. She's decent enough. A bad girl, but you can crush her with power anytime! If you don't like her, find fault and kick her out. Where else will you find a better one?]
[Argh! Forgotten already? What she did to you? That pain!]
[But use it to stay on top forever! Leverage her guilt to keep her from eyeing primary wife status—pressure her regularly! Use her as you will, and you handle all the happy life with Jun-hyuk!]
......Who was angel or devil, unclear.
But their debate solidified Choi Yu-ra's decision.
'Yeah, talent like hers doesn't come easy.'
Manipulation skills to rule the cyber world with hacks.
Choi Yu-ra, who knew community dangers better than anyone from past events, couldn't let go of Lee Seo-yeon's power.
'Even as second, Jun-hyuk will love me more. Even if his heart sways, I can make him love me most. What do I have to kneel to? Nothing?'
Physical violence, she could handle.
Even if away for work, she could use another woman as second to protect him.
But cyber violence? Neither she nor future women could.
In that sense, Lee Seo-yeon was a top-tier gem equivalent to a cyber EX-rank hunter.
'......Jun-hyuk.'
All for Yoo Jun-hyuk.
For his safety in reality and cyberspace.
'Have you heard of polygamy?'
Shedding bloody tears inside.
She had no choice but this twisted act of consideration.