Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Any Oppa Who Buys Beef Is a Good Oppa!
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***
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Early evening at the Hero Union dormitory.
"Ji-woo! Wanna grab dinner later?"
"Huh? Dinner?"
Do-hwa asked Ji-woo while blow-drying her damp hair after a shower.
"Whatcha wanna eat?"
"There's a new barbecue joint right up the street. Let's go there."
Do-hwa suggested they hit up the newly opened spot with an excited grin.
Ji-woo's eyes lit up at the mention of meat, and she yanked off her headset.
"Let's go. Right now."
"You always get so hyped for meat."
She quickly changed into a loose hoodie and jean shorts, then bounced around slipping on her sneakers with eager steps.
"Whoa! Already?"
"Huh? Why? We gotta hurry or we'll lose our seats."
Do-hwa grabbed Ji-woo's hand as she tried to dash out, hesitating for a moment.
"Well... it's not just us. Another friend's coming along."
"A friend? Who? One of your friends, unnie?"
Ji-woo tossed out the somewhat heavy question about whether she had friends like it was nothing.
"What kinda question is that, Ji-woo?"
Do-hwa bit her lip hard and widened her eyes at the brutally honest remark.
It was true—she really didn't have any friends.
But she'd invited Ji-woo along despite saying she was going with a friend, not just because Ji-woo loved meat, but for another reason.
"A sunbae I knew from high school. We reconnected by chance recently."
"Oh? What time's the meetup?"
"Huh? We can head out in about thirty minutes."
Most girls might've teased if it was about meeting a guy—boyfriend? Fling?—but Ji-woo didn't bat an eye. She kicked off her sneakers and picked up her gaming console again.
It was just that the total gaming addict had zero interest in romance or love talk, and she probably never even considered Do-hwa dating anyone.
"Does he know you're a hero, unnie?"
"Of course not. Can't tell anyone."
Hiding their identities was a basic rule for heroes.
No matter how close a friend, you didn't spill.
"So I'll just play the part of your acquaintance's little sis?"
"Yeah. Just in case."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A barbecue restaurant near Hero Union headquarters.
It was just past 6 p.m., but the savory aroma of grilling meat already wafted through the air.
"What? He hasn't shown up yet?"
"Ah! There! Oppa!"
A man caught the eyes of Do-hwa and Ji-woo waiting out front.
"Hey. Long time no see!"
The guy Do-hwa called "oppa" was none other than Si-yoon.
She'd brought Ji-woo out on Si-yoon's orders, to introduce her—now his roommate and fellow operative—to him as "Dominator's spy."
She was offering up her roommate and comrade to her master.
"H... hi."
"Ah! So you're... her acquaintance's little sis."
Ji-woo greeted Si-yoon with a slightly uncomfortable glance up at him.
Si-yoon bowed back with a bright smile.
Ji-woo's height was 157 cm.
Not tiny for a girl, but next to Si-yoon's tall 184 cm frame, she was a full head shorter.
His gaze looking down at her like a kid didn't sit well with Ji-woo, who was sensitive about her short stature.
"I'm Ha Si-yoon... And you are...?"
"None of your business."
"Ji-woo! Her name's Ji-woo. She's two years younger than me."
Si-yoon introduced himself awkwardly first, but Ji-woo turned away with a whatever attitude and marched into the restaurant alone.
"Party of how many?"
"Three."
The trio sat at a table guided by staff.
Si-yoon held up the menu for the two.
"What do you want, Do-hwa? You too, Ji-woo."
"I like the lean cuts... hehe."
Do-hwa pointed at the pricey sirloin with a beaming smile.
Si-yoon blinked at the price tag but didn't show it.
"Uh... I'll have the same..."
Ji-woo picking the same as Do-hwa.
Si-yoon's head spun briefly at the sirloin's steep cost, but he couldn't let an A-Rank hero slip away over pocket change.
'Kids these days... insisting on beef. Fine. Been a while since I oiled the boss.'
"Boss! Three sirloins here. Stew and rice too."
"Just three servings? That's it?"
Ji-woo grumbled like it was insulting—150g per serving at 40,000 won a pop, and she griped?
Si-yoon wanted to flick that purple bobblehead.
"We can order more later! You don't eat much anyway, Ji-woo."
"Tch... Fine."
Even for an A-Rank hero raking in big bucks, it wasn't cheap, so Do-hwa awkwardly reined her in.
"Drinks? Tomorrow's a weekday—maybe skip booze?"
"One bottle? How about splitting a soju?"
"Unnie drinks?"
Ji-woo gawked at Do-hwa's soju suggestion—like, do you even drink?
It was natural for her to be shocked.
They'd lived together for years, and she'd never seen Do-hwa drink.
Even when fancy new highballs dropped and she suggested trying them, Do-hwa refused—heroes don't booze.
'She's been weird lately. Picking up gaming outta nowhere. Now suggesting drinks.'
Ji-woo wasn't fazed by the guy thing, but Do-hwa's recent odd vibes nagged at her suspicions.
"Meat's here! Don't overcook—grill light and eat quick."
"Ah! Thanks. Green Mist soju too—one bottle, three glasses."
"Whoa..."
But the marbling on arrival melted away her doubts in a flash.
"You really love meat, huh, Ji-woo."
"N... no?"
Si-yoon caught Ji-woo admiring the marbling with pure bliss.
She turned away, feigning nonchalance.
Ji-woo usually barely finished half a bowl of rice, but even she couldn't resist glistening beef.
-Sizzle-
The sirloin hit the hot plate, sizzling slowly.
The ticklish sound and rising smoke made mouths water.
"Beef toughens if overdone—eat it fresh."
Tongs flipped it lightly, evenly searing each side amid nutty, rich aromas.
Ji-woo forgot Si-yoon seemed condescending.
Do-hwa forgot she was playing spy.
They just watched the beef grill.
Moments later.
Perfectly grilled sirloin neatly plated before them.
"Dig in. You too, Ji-woo—enjoy."
"Thanks for the meal!"
"Th... thanks."
Ji-woo and Do-hwa popped the well-done pieces straight in, no sauce.
"Whoa! This is seriously good? Oppa, try it quick!"
"Oh...!!!"
Luxurious beef fat melted in their mouths, gone in seconds.
Eyes wide, they savored the nuttiness slowly amid gasps.
"Order more if it's not enough—take your time."
Si-yoon ate casually, no big reaction.
'Ha... expensive meat hits different. Mmm...'
...Internally thrilled.
"Um... Si-yoon oppa, what do you do?"
"Ah. I run a small shop nearby."
Si-yoon hid his identity, claiming a modest local business.
His hideout looked like a quiet bar, so not entirely false.
Of course, Ji-woo couldn't imagine what went on there—or that she'd end up there soon.
'She was so hostile earlier... what's with the sudden chattiness?'
Si-yoon blinked, surprised as Ji-woo initiated.
He didn't get how a few bites flipped her switch.
But her attitude shift stemmed from exactly that.
'Buying something this good... gotta be a nice guy. Hehe...'
Annoyed earlier by his tall gaze, now charmed by the beef treat.
Naive? Or just dumb-simple?
Si-yoon counted it as lucky.
"Whoa... oppa's hands are huge."
"Huh? My hands? Yeah, pretty big."
A few drinks in with the meat, Do-hwa fiddled with Si-yoon's hand, fascinated by the large, thick male palm.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Target: Applying Physical Control to 'Ignition' Yoon Do-hwa.] But this was all part of Si-yoon's premeditated plan, puppeteering Do-hwa.
To imprint his supernatural ability on Ji-woo, his hand needed direct contact with her body.
"Whoa... seriously big. Bigger than my dad's even."
"Haha... this is embarrassing. What's good about these rough paws?"
...While slyly fondling their hands in turn.
'Last time was accidental, so I wasn't sure... focus at the fingertips.'
Concentrating sensation in his fingers.
Recalling the soft chest give from imprinting Do-hwa days ago.
He gently stroked Ji-woo's palm.
-Shooo-
"Ah! Too much touching might be rude...?"
"Huh? No! It's fine. Touch all you want if it's interesting."
A small diamond-shaped imprint etched on Ji-woo's palm.
It glowed faint red, then vanished seamlessly.
Oblivious that his hand held the beef's "terrifying truth," Ji-woo just grinned, thinking him a kind beef-buying oppa.
Si-yoon smiled satisfied at her.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Status: Imprint Stage 1 (Corruption Level 0%)]