The Cheetahs Are Laughing (1)
The Cheetahs Are Laughing (1)
In Neon City, mercenary work naturally fell under the 3D job category.
Because they were only ever assigned Dirty, Difficult, and Dangerous work.
Sometimes they took on fixer work handling contracts, sometimes hacker missions plundering data from the virtual world, and sometimes they were hired as technicians to maintain specialized cyberware systems.
In short, they could be seen as 'freelancers' who took on every possible kind of request.
This was also why Neon City's most famous mercenary, the living legend Catherine, had saved her contact ID as 'Neon City's Top Freelancer.'
From white-elephant requests that mega-corps found too troublesome to handle themselves, to the bottom-tier cleanup jobs commissioned by a Pit Mac Burger franchise owner.
Mercenaries naturally ended up taking on all sorts of work.
Therefore, for the 'mercenary' system to function properly, their unyielding professional integrity, indomitable will, and some credits were absolutely essential.
Catherine recalled what Maya had said.
- 'There's something I need to confess to all of you....'
Maya, who had returned after getting her broken arm treated, had gathered everyone around and begun speaking that way.
- 'Actually, I also... had mucous membrane contact with Si-un this time. Yeah..., that's right.'
A flush of embarrassment rose to her face as she spoke.
It was a reaction as fresh and innocent as a young girl's.
Maya scratched her head and made a show of looking away.
- 'I really wasn't in my right mind back then either! I mean, it's not like I was trying to get ahead of anyone. ......Huh? How did I do it?'
At someone's question, Maya stopped mid-sentence.
As if recalling that memory, Maya stared blankly into space for a moment with a dazed expression.
- 'Well....... Umm..., I guess you could say I just waited for my chance. I kind of lunged at him without even realizing it.... Yeah, yeah.'
The lovesick look on her face was unmistakable.
With a flushed face, Maya continued explaining.
- '...What did it feel like? ......It was really good. I'd thought all the stories I saw on the net were lies, but the real experience was totally different...!'
In front of the excited women—whose average age was far from girlish—Maya recounted the memories of that day.
- 'I'm telling you, it was slightly bitter but also felt like lightning striking inside my head.'
On top of that, Maya was one step ahead of them.
No, several steps ahead, actually.
- 'I didn't know my tongue could move that well. It was my first kiss too, so....'
That was it.
There are usually several types of kisses.
From a bird kiss, which was little more than a light expression of affection.
All the way to a deep, passionate French kiss.
And the 'type of kiss' Maya had described was unmistakably the latter.
Recalling that description and explanation, Catherine let out a short groan.
"Keut."
Being outpaced by Eve was expected.
However, she hadn't known she'd be outpaced even by Maya.
This part had deviated significantly from the plan Catherine had in mind.
'...She said she lunged at him without even realizing it herself.'
If she'd known it would turn out like this.
Back on the rooftop when Si-un had shown her his magic, she should have just lunged at him and knocked him down.
But it was fine.
A professional mercenary always had to maintain her composure.
As long as she wasn't too late starting now.
In order not to miss the next opportunity, Catherine fixed her gaze on her 'target' with glinting eyes.
And that was exactly what the others were doing too.
31. The Cheetahs Are Laughing (1)
Hmm.
What the hell was going on?
I mused to myself while maintaining a poker face.
"......."
All of a sudden, Catherine's gaze was extremely sharp.
It was cold, flying at me like an icy blade.
If I had to explain it using my meager literary ability, it felt like a hungry lion eyeing a plump, well-fed deer.
That was how fierce Catherine's intensity was.
Even just looking at her now, it was obvious.
Normally, she would have just been lying on the sofa and lazing around like a well-fed lion.
But now, even while lounging, every bit of her attention was focused on me.
It was at a level where I couldn't pretend not to notice even if I tried.
Today of all days.
No, to be precise, her eyes had been strange ever since I returned from learning magic from Merlin yesterday.
To be honest, it felt a little frightening.
And it wasn't even just Catherine!
Aside from Catherine, Natasha and Andrea, and even the Chairman were all looking at me with some subtle, unreadable expression.
And today, as if none of them had any particular schedule, everyone was spending their time at home.
It felt like I'd wandered into the carnivore exhibit at a zoo.
At least it was a relief that not everyone was like that.
Eve, Julia, and Maya looked as relaxed and normal as usual.
What the hell was it, and why?
I clicked my tongue briefly while thinking that.
"Tseup."
And in that moment.
The gazes of everyone in the room converged on me.
Those gazes included Eve, Julia, and Maya, whom I'd thought were fine just moments ago.
"......."
I had to fully endure the stares of seven people.
I felt cold sweat running down my back.
Had I somehow walked into a horror movie?
I forced a smile and slowly opened my mouth.
"...So, um, is something going on with everyone?"
"......."
But soon, they exchanged glances with each other. Then they each went back to what they had been doing.
What the hell was this atmosphere?
Not knowing the reason made it genuinely unsettling.
Surely they weren't all three-year-old children.
There was no way they were acting like this over a mere kiss.
.......
Still, just in case.
As an experiment, I let out a short fake cough.
"Keum."
I shuffled my way toward the refrigerator.
And sure enough, everyone subtly sent their gazes my way again. Their heads didn't turn blatantly like before, but the air of them paying attention to me within discreet limits was unmistakable.
I took out a regular cola from the fridge.
There was still plenty of the mint-flavored cola I'd served Drex last time, but that was strictly for treating guests.
Like a true Korean from the land of heung, I muttered to myself and moved as naturally as I could.
"...Might as well have some cola~."
I poured the cola into a glass and started drinking.
"Keu."
The sharp sting of carbonation slid down my esophagus.
A trace of cola lingered on the corner of my lips. I used my thumb and tongue to wipe away the cola residue around my mouth.
"......."
Even then, they were still secretly watching me.
Especially when my Adam's apple moved, or when I clicked my tongue with my lips, the gazes intensified noticeably.
.......
Hmm.
Was this for real?
Watching their reactions, I instantly knew.
* * *
For now, I evacuated to the rooftop.
"So you're saying you don't know what to do."
[.......]
Beyond the hologram screen, Drex wore an expression just as puzzled as mine.
I'd tried to hold back as much as possible since I felt bad interrupting Drex while he was enjoying his newlywed life, but there was no other man around me I could ask for advice on personal matters like this besides Drex.
At best, it was either 'Tom' or 'Kozaka William.'
I wasn't close enough with them yet to ask for advice on something like this.
And so, I'd asked Drex for a consultation.
Beyond the screen, Drex pressed his massive palm to his brow.
[So..., what you're saying is.]
Drex briefly summarized my explanation.
[Recently, for various reasons, you kissed a few women—.]
"Mucous membrane contact."
[......Had mucous membrane contact with them. And that fact got out to everyone, and now the other women seem to want it too, is that what you're saying?]
"If I had to sum it up really simply..., yeah."
And then I made some excuses to Drex.
"Ah, of course, there's a chance I'm just imagining it."
The highest probability was that it was just plain old 'narcissism' on my part.
Drex stared at me blankly.
His expression carried a meaning along the lines of 'Are you an idiot?' but since there was no way Drex would actually think that in this situation, I dismissed it as my imagination.
After a brief silence, Drex continued.
[......So.]
"Yeah."
[What's the problem?]
"...Huh?"
Had I explained something wrong? Or had I just not understood what Drex said?
To my tilted head, Drex kindly continued with the explanation.
[I mean, think about it. It's a relationship between men and women anyway, and if you think so too, can't you just go for it?]
"...Well, no, that's."
[If I'm wrong, refute me with logic.]
Hmm.
"......Well, you're not wrong."
But there was a chance it wasn't the case, and there were parts that weren't so easy to resolve.
When I answered in a mutter, Drex thumped his own chest in frustration. Kung kung.
[Ugh, I thought you'd gotten a little better. Why doesn't your lack of confidence ever change? What's the problem, seriously. They like you, and you feel the same way too.]
In this city where polygamy had been legalized, there was nothing problematic about it.
Even if it were illegal, enough credits could make it legal.
But.
If there was a problem, it was me.
The 'unease' in my heart still remained.
Because it was true that someone like me, who had nothing, was standing next to people who shined on their own, all because of the single reason that I'd played a game.
Of course, I wasn't stuck in a swamp of depression like last time.
Drex and Drex's girlfriend—now his wife, Lorenda—had comforted me, and my thinking had changed a lot.
That this world wasn't just a simple game.
I'd also come to accept that it was my world.
.......
I said to Drex.
"No, but no matter what, seven people is way too many."
Some kind of emotional difficulty remained when it came to just readily accepting their hearts.
As if he'd picked up on how I felt.
Drex sighed and asked me.
[What about you.]
"...Huh?"
[How do you feel. Do you like it? Or hate it. Just tell me one or the other.]
"......."
To be truly honest.
As a man, I couldn't exactly hate this situation.
Even now, a big part of why I was agonizing was because I felt inadequate.
But since this was just a conversation between the two of us anyway.
I figured I needed to answer a bit more honestly.
"......Well, I do like all of them."
[All seven?]
"...Yeah."
That was the answer I gave Drex.
* * *
And at that exact moment.
In a place I didn't know about.
"'Si-un' said. 'I like all seven of them.'"
"......."
The housemates were having a conversation.