Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Hero Who Fell for the Villain (3)
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A Japanese restaurant across from the Hero Union headquarters.
It didn't look like an especially old place,
but it was a popular spot buzzing with customers even before noon.
A glance at the menu board on the wall showed familiar options for Koreans like pork cutlets and udon,
along with a variety of Japanese rice bowls and noodle soups such as gyudon and butadon.
"Hmm... This looks good. Cold udon with pork cutlet set.
What would you like, Miss Lumi?"
Si-yoon slowly scanned the kiosk tablet on the table, selected his meal,
then handed it to Lumi and asked.
"I... I'll have the same, please."
Lumi answered without properly looking at the menu.
She didn't have the luxury to pick something she wanted right now anyway.
'Haa... Why do I keep stuttering like this?
I need to show Si-yoon the proper side of me...!'
She tried her best to appear as the upright, righteous woman and hero she was,
but her flushing cheeks and stammering speech only embarrassed her more.
'Do-hwa definitely said she was like ice. But she's just cute.'
Of course, Si-yoon didn't particularly mind or even notice.
"Two pork cutlet cold udon sets... Payment button... Card."
As Si-yoon tapped payment and pulled out his card,
Lumi hurriedly fished out her wallet to cancel it.
"I... I said I'd treat you...!"
"It's fine. I called out a busy person for lunch, so I should cover it."
It wasn't some extravagant menu anyway,
and since he'd been the one to invite her, he'd planned to pay regardless.
"What kind of work do you do, Si-yoon?"
After ordering and paying, a brief silence settled in.
Lumi mustered her courage and asked first,
her tone soft and gentle, not her usual stiff, formal speech.
"Ah... I run a small cocktail bar."
Si-yoon hid that he was the head of a villain organization
and introduced himself as operating a modest cocktail lounge in downtown S City.
Utopia's hideout living room was actually styled like a modern bar,
since Si-yoon preferred that vibe.
"Are you... a supernatural ability user by any chance?"
The angle had been just right that other civilians and agents hadn't noticed,
but Lumi had clearly seen the axe spear embedded in the Executor's back.
"You could call me one, I suppose.
But it's nothing worth bragging about."
"That's not true...! You saved me."
"Your food is here!"
While Lumi was asking about his abilities,
the freshly prepared dishes arrived at the table.
Cold udon to refresh on a sweltering summer day,
and Japanese pork cutlets crispy outside, moist within.
A fresh lemon scent mingled with savory oil aromas wafting from the tsuyu broth.
"Thank you... I'll dig in."
"Enjoy! Feel free to order more if it's not enough."
Si-yoon smiled lightly, picked up his chopsticks, and started eating,
while Lumi still worked to steady her trembling heart.
'Calm down... It's just lunch with an acquaintance.
Si-yoon's just one of those people.'
Forcing herself to relax, she bit into the oily pork cutlet
and carefully savored the chewy noodles soaked in cool tsuyu broth.
'Delicious...'
Juices and oil dripped from the cutlet, rich and savory,
and the noodles' perfect chewiness transmitted straight to her teeth.
"This is amazing! Best thing I've eaten in days!"
She'd only heard from headquarters staff that it was good;
Lumi herself had never been before.
The fact that this random spot pleased not just her but Si-yoon too
finally eased her tension, loosening her facial muscles as she ate leisurely.
'Delicious...'
Lumi usually scarfed down simple meals amid busy missions and self-care routines.
Pork cutlets and udon were everyday fare,
but to her, this felt hearty and special.
"Ah! That was delicious."
Lumi and Si-yoon finished their quiet, relaxed lunch in companionable silence.
Both plates and bowls were spotless.
"Th-thank you... I enjoyed it too."
As they left the restaurant, Lumi bowed deeply to Si-yoon in thanks.
"No need for that! I got to eat something tasty thanks to you."
Si-yoon gently placed a hand on her shoulder, waving it off,
and said he'd enjoyed it thanks to her.
"Well... you should head back now? You're busy, right?"
"Ah...! No! I, uh, have a few more days off..."
"Oh! Really? Then how about hanging out more?"
"Hang out... more?"
Lumi looked puzzled at the idea of playing around.
She seemed unsure not why, but how.
"Yeah! We could grab coffee... hit karaoke, browse clothes,
or if you like games, there's PC bangs or arcades!"
'I've never been to any of those... What do I do?'
Her school days were all study,
and as a hero with powers, all work no rest.
She knew what those places were in theory,
but had no reason or time to visit personally.
Pondering the next plan, she slowly circled the area
and spotted a bustling street perfect for fun.
"That way looks lively! Bubble tea shops, all sorts of stuff. Let's go!"
"Whoa?! S-Si-yoon?!"
Si-yoon grabbed her hand and dashed toward the street,
Lumi startled by the contact but following his lead.
And so began Lumi and Si-yoon's date.
"Super chewy, right? Bet you'd gain a ton of weight chugging this."
"Totally...! So sweet... and tasty."
Lumi tried bubble tea for the first time,
"How's this? Hilariously goofy, huh."
"Yeah...? Ahaha... It suits you."
browsed clothes she always bought online,
and laughed at Si-yoon's silly accessory picks.
One protected the city as a hero,
the other hunted heroes and sowed chaos as a villain.
But to passersby, these two on the street
looked like a fresh couple with sparks flying.
"Whoa! It's this late already."
They'd enjoyed countless street games and snacks,
and now the sun dipped low.
"Not tired?"
"I'm good...! I go to way rougher places normally."
"As expected of a city guardian hero—different league!"
"And... being with you makes it fun, Si-yoon."
The Lumi he'd seen suppressing Chae-ryeong was coldly mechanical,
but the joyful one here was utterly lovable and cute.
"Are you tired, Si-yoon...?"
"Haha... Guess I spend most days chilling at the bar,
so yeah, a bit."
"I-is that so..."
His tired nuance wilted her, worried it was her fault.
"Then... shall we rest somewhere else a bit?"
"Rest... somewhere?"
They stood before a fancy-looking hotel.
The very one Si-yoon had visited with Do-hwa.
"Relax, watch a movie... It's almost dinner, so order delivery.
They call it 'hocance' now—hotel vacations!"
"Ah! I... I see."
'I thought hotels were just for staying over.
Guess they're for fun now too...'
Of course, Si-yoon had no intention of keeping it innocent,
but the clueless Lumi, ignorant of play and nightlife, took it at face value.
'Never imagined she'd be this naive...'
Si-yoon figured she'd refuse,
planning to drag her with body control if needed.
But after brief hesitation, her agreement confirmed her innocence outside hero matters.
"Welcome! How may I assist you?"
Hand in hand naturally now,
Lumi and Si-yoon entered like the perfect couple.