A Tearful Cousins' Reconciliation
I heard from Kim Seol-bi about what had happened while I was asleep. Honestly, the fault lay with her cousin. She'd sneaked into my house, knocked me out, and groped me. It might even qualify as attempted rape, considering she'd gone from assault to trying to penetrate me. If Kim Seol-bi hadn't shown up, I had no idea what might've become of me.
Still, I didn't hold any grudge against her cousin. On the contrary, when she'd caressed my half-conscious body, the pleasure had been intense. I couldn't tell Kim Seol-bi this, but that sensation had felt eerily similar to the one I'd experienced when she found me and pressed her body against mine. If I hadn't sensed the threat to my safety—and if I hadn't met Kim Seol-bi first—I probably would've gone along with her cousin without a fight. There was no way I could've resisted an adorable A-rank hunter who liked me that much.
In a way, this unfortunate incident felt like the whims of fate. If the woman by my side hadn't been Kim Seol-bi, her cousin never would've gone that far out of control. Sure, exposure to my Unreasonable Favor skill played a part, but her sense of betrayal toward Kim Seol-bi had clearly fueled her reckless actions.
"What's your cousin's name?" I asked Kim Seol-bi, who wore a heartbroken expression.
"Eun-bi. Kim Eun-bi."
"Sounds a lot like yours, Seol-bi. Like sisters."
"Yeah, our moms are close sisters, and they wanted us kids to grow up like siblings too. So they decided on our names in advance if they had daughters."
"Ah..."
Who could've guessed time would lead to this kind of conflict? Even if it wasn't my doing, having it revolve around me felt awkward.
"Should I talk to her?"
"Pardon?"
"If you do it, she'll just push back harder. Might be better coming from me."
"..."
Kim Seol-bi thought it over for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
"Would you...? Thank you."
We headed to the next room together. What unfolded there was beyond imagination. Kim Eun-bi lay on the bed, her limbs and neck bound by restraints. Was this really necessary? Then again, considering she was an A-rank hunter and not some ordinary person, it made sense. She'd gone completely berserk, after all. The look in her eyes when she'd straddled me had been downright dangerous.
"Unni! Untie me! Why are you doing this to me?!"
Kim Eun-bi snarled at Kim Seol-bi but couldn't physically resist. She couldn't even turn invisible like she'd done in my house, which told me those restraints were no ordinary gear. They seemed designed for binding criminal hunters or monsters.
"Eun-bi..."
Kim Seol-bi looked conflicted at her shouting cousin. Clearly, this wasn't something they could resolve between themselves.
"Eun-bi."
I stepped out from behind Kim Seol-bi and spoke. Kim Eun-bi startled, her face flushing bright red.
"Huh?"
"Unni, why's Sung-gi here? This is cheating!"
She squirmed, but the restraints held her fast.
Inappropriate as it was, the sight of this cute girl wriggling on the bed stirred something oddly stimulating.
"Don't blame your cousin too much. The situation left no choice."
"Ugh..."
She still avoided my eyes, glaring only at Kim Seol-bi.
"Unni! What the hell?!"
Her pitiful expression made me feel sorry for her, separate from what she'd done to me. I knew she harbored feelings for me, and showing this side to the guy in question must be mortifying.
To ease her backlash, I figured I needed to remind her of her actions.
"How'd you get into my house?"
She froze. I'd seen her ability already, so I had a rough idea, but I played dumb and pressed on.
"I was showering and coming out when stars exploded in my vision. Scared the hell out of me."
"Ah..."
Her pupils shook; she was at a loss.
"You probably didn't realize, but I know what you did. I was conscious—just kept my eyes shut because you looked so dangerous, and I didn't want to get caught."
"Aah..."
She glanced at Kim Seol-bi again, but the resentment was gone. Now it was a plea for help. The moment her deeds were laid bare, she'd instinctively turned to the cousin she'd always relied on.
"Even so, that's not okay. I'm just an E-rank hunter. Messing around with an A-rank could've gotten me killed."
"Uwaah..."
Bound and immobile on the bed, she scrunched her face and wiggled her toes. Her flexing toes and soles were oddly cute.
"What could your cousin have done in that situation?"
"..."
Kim Eun-bi fell silent—not deep in thought, but blank-faced, unsure what to say. This moment must feel like torture for her, stuck between her "traitor" cousin and me, the victim of her near-crime.
Kim Seol-bi spoke first.
"I'm sorry."
She bowed her head, genuinely ashamed.
"I didn't mean to hurt you. I just... I'm sorry, unni's sorry..."
Tears welled in her eyes. I wanted to hug her shoulders, but with Kim Eun-bi watching, I couldn't.
Kim Eun-bi blinked between us, then squeezed her eyes shut and shouted.
"I'm sorry!"
Her casual speech meant it was directed at me.
"I didn't mean to! It was just... I couldn't control myself..."
Tears streamed down her face too.
"That's not who I am normally."
Both cousins wept. I couldn't take sides.
I told Kim Eun-bi, "I get it. Don't beat yourself up."
"Sob sob, sorry... Sorry for hurting you, Sung-gi... Sob."
Seeing her cry like this, she really seemed like a young girl. Just turned twenty, so controlling her emotions must be tough. Though with my Unreasonable Favor skill in play, it wasn't something mere self-control could fix.
Kim Seol-bi pulled a small remote from her inventory and pressed a button. The restraints on Kim Eun-bi released.
"Hweeeeng!"
Kim Eun-bi covered her face with both hands and bawled. Now able to use her powers, she turned invisible on the spot. Though unseen, her presence lingered on the bed.
Feeling awkward lingering, I told Kim Seol-bi, "I'll head home now."
"No."
"Huh?"
"Your... house is..."
I recalled the earlier chaos—Kim Seol-bi blasting through my front door. Yeah, not habitable.
As I considered a motel, she said, "Stay at my place. Use that room from before."
"Okay..."
Fair enough; bailing solo felt off. And honestly? Things were spiraling beyond my control. What if another hunter ambushed me outside? After ten quiet years, my ability awakening had unleashed a chain of surprises. Staying put seemed safest to avoid bigger issues.
"Alright then..."
I backed out of the room.
"Good night."
Leaving the cousins to sort it out, I returned to the room where I'd slept.
Oh, right—I'd been wandering around shirtless. No point in embarrassment now.
Lying on the bed, I hoped to pick up that dream from earlier. Impossible with the current Kim Seol-bi and Kim Eun-bi, but in dreams? Totally doable. Lavished with love from both, no conflicts. Hell, even Kang A-jin showing up wouldn't ruin it—dreams were dreams, after all.
#
I figured the long nap would ruin my night, but no—I slept deeply and soundly in someone else's house. Disappointingly, no dreams.
Even after waking, my mind wasn't at ease. Thinking back to yesterday made facing both cousins awkward.
Still, holing up in the room wasn't an option, so I stepped out. Just then, the door to the room where Kim Eun-bi had been tied creaked open right on cue.
Out came Kim Eun-bi, face puffy and disheveled. Eyes swollen from yesterday's crying, hair a mess, half-lidded like she'd just woken.
"Oh?"
Spotting me, she blinked blankly, then bowed at the waist.
"Good morning. Sleep well?"