Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Mother and Chocolate
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"Ah… yes."
"Hello. I'm Angela Branzel, Selena's mother."
She said that and bowed her head politely.
It was completely different from Selena, who had bent at the waist in front of the class to mock me.
"Ah, hello. I'm Ian Drakhin."
Even though she already knew my name, I repeated it anyway because I was so nervous.
"I'm sorry for showing up out of the blue."
"No!"
Still, what could she possibly want with me?
Whatever the case, it wasn't polite to keep her standing outside, so I had to invite her in.
"Please, come in."
I sat across from Ms. Angela at the dining table.
My mouth was stiff from the awkward atmosphere, but my eyes were busy sneaking glances at her without getting caught.
...Seeing her in person, she was no joke.
Ms. Angela looked different from her glamorous TV appearances.
Her shining blonde hair was neatly tied back, and she wore a semi-formal suit.
This seemed to be her everyday look as the owner of a major corporation.
But no matter how prim her outfit, it couldn't hide her innate sex appeal.
Her skin was flawless, without a single wrinkle—hard to believe she had a twenty-year-old daughter.
Even the suit that revealed no skin couldn't conceal her curvaceous figure, making her seem like a woman above all else.
...Those breasts are insane.
I knew it was rude, but I couldn't tear my eyes away.
Until now, the biggest breasts I'd ever seen belonged to Selena.
But not anymore.
Ms. Angela took the top spot.
Her breasts were fascinating the more I looked.
An utterly illogical size.
Yet, blended with the maternal warmth and kindness she exuded without a word, they just felt beautiful.
...I misspoke.
They felt like massive milk bags designed to arouse any man.
As I was about to ask what brought her here, Ms. Angela spoke first.
"Actually, I came to apologize in person for what my daughter did."
"Ah, yes."
I never imagined a mother would step up to apologize for her daughter's mistake.
And coming to my place personally, not even at school—it felt sincere.
"Did you have to wait long?"
"About two hours..."
Two hours at my door?
"I'm sorry. I had some work today, so..."
Ms. Angela waved her hand dismissively at my words.
"Oh, no, it's my fault for not calling ahead. I only had time today because I'm usually so busy. Don't worry about it."
Every word and gesture showed consideration for the other person.
On the table sat the apple I'd peeled.
I had nothing proper to offer, so I'd put this out, but it made me self-conscious anyway.
Ms. Angela speared a piece with a fork, ate it, and smiled, saying it was delicious.
I could feel her kindness in not wanting to burden me.
"Did Selena apologize properly?"
"Pardon?"
"I think she doesn't even realize it was her fault, so I scolded her. I specifically told her to apologize to you sincerely..."
"Ah."
So that apology wasn't genuine—it was just forced by her mom?
I suppressed a hollow laugh in disbelief, especially in front of Ms. Angela.
"I accepted her apology. But..."
Still, I couldn't just let it slide completely.
I explained that I'd only asked for a handshake of reconciliation on the homeroom teacher's suggestion, but Selena had recoiled like I'd touched her with a bug.
And that it happened in front of the whole class, causing me great shock and hurt.
"That girl!"
Her furrowed brows and angry expression were cuter than most girls my age.
"I'm sorry. I'll give her a piece of my mind when I get home."
I worried Selena might take it out on me again after getting scolded by her mom, but then I realized she'd already apologized publicly, so it wouldn't be easy.
"She's been stubborn since she was little. I even prepared the gift myself, but when I told her to deliver it personally, she flat-out refused."
That rude bitch—I'll straighten her out someday.
"That's so like her."
"Ever since things soured with her father when she was young, she's been hostile toward men. He always said... Oh dear."
She seemed to realize sharing family matters wasn't appropriate and reached for the paper bag she'd brought.
"I didn't come here to talk about that. Anyway, I wasn't sure what someone your age might like, so I bought some snacks as a gift."
The box she placed on the table was no ordinary item at first glance.
It was a red paper box the size of a large bento, intricately and ornately patterned, tied with a gold ribbon.
A logo on the side suggested it was from a famous brand.
"I hope it suits your taste."
What emerged from Angela's hands was chocolate, neatly packed in individual compartments.
Each piece wrapped in its own paper, giving off a luxurious vibe.
Ms. Angela fidgeted with her pale white hands and unwrapped one, offering it to me.
"Try one. Here, ahh..."
Her unknowable tenderness healed my heart.
I nodded in thanks and took it into my mouth.
Mmm... mmm...
Delicious.
It melts smoothly... sweet... mmm... just delicious.
I wanted to describe it, but with only programming books and enchantment magic tomes in my reading history, my vocabulary fell short.
"How is it...?"
I'd forgotten to respond because it was so good.
I answered Ms. Angela, who asked tensely.
"It's amazing. I've never had chocolate this delicious before."
"I'm glad. I brought an extra box so you can enjoy it at your leisure."
"Thank you."
Honestly, it was delicious, but chocolate is still chocolate.
Was my plebeian palate just not refined enough?
Someone like Ms. Angela wouldn't bring cheap snacks.
"Ms. Angela, sorry, but where's this chocolate from? I'd like to buy some myself later."
"It's from Ruinfel Company. If I'd known you'd like it this much, I'd have brought more."
"No, too much would rot my teeth."
I tossed in a light joke while subtly searching on my phone under the table.
I couldn't contain my curiosity, even if it was rude.
"...Eight hundred!"
This box cost eight million won?
There were about twenty pieces inside, so the one bite I just took was worth four hundred thousand?
"My teeth?"
T, teeth...! No, my teeth hurt. Haha..."
I covered hastily, but even I knew it was a lame excuse.
But Ms. Angela startled and leaned toward me.
"Oh, really? What should we do... Let me give you a massage. Which side?"
"Huh? No, it's fine... This one."
Without thinking, I lied and offered my right arm.
Her soft hands massaged my arm soothingly.
Blissfully unaware she'd been tricked, Ms. Angela massaged with care.
One more thing she didn't know.
Leaning forward, her breasts now pressed against my arm.
...Ah. Pure healing.
Not just my body—the impurities weighing on my mind washed away.
How great would it be to have a mother-in-law like her.
An angelic one to comfort me after a tiring day.
Not that I wanted to marry Selena, of course.
No matter how amazing the mother-in-law, Selena as a wife would ruin my life.
"..."
Sorry to Ms. Angela, who massaged with pure intentions, but her touch and the feel of her breasts gave me an erection.
Feeling guilty, I quickly pulled my arm back.
"I-it's better now. Thank you."
She smiled relieved, but her face soon darkened.
"I'm truly sorry, Ian. You almost died unjustly because of my daughter. I have no words, even if I had ten mouths. Please forgive us."
Her humble attitude sobered me automatically.
"No, it's okay. I was angry, sure, but it was a mistake."
"Thank you for saying that. But you don't need to. I know she framed you on purpose."
I'd assumed she'd think it was an accident like the other students, but this was unexpected.
Selena wouldn't have confessed, so she must have investigated separately.
"I won't ask you to forgive her. It'd be shameless even to say it, given how grave her wrong was. I just hope your suffering eases a little."
"Ah... yes."
Shouldn't this woman run a religion or a counseling center instead of a company?
"I'll make sure Selena doesn't do anything bad again."
"Please do that much."
My true feelings slipped out unbidden.
At least until I got my revenge, I'd like her to stay quiet.
"You must have suffered so much..."
Tears welled in Angela's eyes.
"Leave it to me."
She squeezed my hand tight, then checked her watch and said,
"Oh, time flew... I should go. My secretary's waiting outside. I've kept her too long."
A limo had been parked in front of the building with her secretary inside, probably.
As Ms. Angela stood, she clapped her hands with an "Oh!" and handed me a business-card-sized paper.
"This is my secretary's number. As a further apology, I'd like to treat you to a meal anytime. I'll make time unless it's urgent."
"Oh... thank you."
Dinner with a corporate magnate.
An unexpected gift.
"Then I'll be off. Take care."
After Ms. Angela left, I was alone.
I unwrapped a chocolate and popped it in my mouth.
...Insanely good.
Worth every bit of that forty thousand won per piece!
Everything in this room combined was cheaper than the two eight-million-won boxes on the table.
But no matter how sweet the chocolate, it couldn't erase Angela from my mind.
Her warmth made me want to hug her and call her mom right then.
How could such a woman produce a villain like Selena?
I recalled Ms. Angela bowing her head.
Who could resist such a sincere apology?
...Me.
I knew she was a good person.
I appreciated her heartfelt apology.
But it wasn't Selena apologizing, was it?
Would that crazy bitch be genuinely grateful if I forgave her out of admiration for her mother?
Would her dog-like personality change even a grain of sand?
No way.
The only way to soothe my heart was revenge on Selena.
So, sorry to Ms. Angela, but I couldn't drop my revenge plan.
"..."
I pulled out the paper from my pocket.
A chance to dine with Ms. Angela.
Valuable in itself, but I had a feeling it'd prove useful at a key moment.
I transferred the number to my phone while eating another chocolate.
In that short time, one point two million won melted in my stomach.
The next day, during morning homeroom at school.
Michelle stood before the students, diligently announcing notices.
"For that reason, please try not to run in the hallways. And..."
She looked like a reliable teacher anyone could depend on.
Though when we were alone, she clung like a kid.
"There will be a test."
The students despaired at the homeroom teacher's words.
Unlike regular schools, Scarlet University skipped midterms and finals.
Instead, faculty held surprise tests at their discretion.
To prevent cramming and evaluate daily performance.
Unlike the complaining others, I stayed quiet.
Complaining wouldn't change it, and as first-years, the surprise tests weren't that hard.
I'd passed several even with my stats halved by a deadly debuff.
"Previous tests were just written, but this one will be split: first round written, second practical."
Huh?
Written tests were why I'd passed so easily before, but now a practical?
Suddenly, anxiety hit.
This school expelled anyone failing the minimum standard without mercy.
Of course, the risk was high, but so was the bar low.
Basically, if you couldn't meet it, you didn't belong here.
I was confident in written tests, but the debuff made practicals risky.
"Each has its own minimum. Pass one, and you're good. Fail both, and it's expulsion—but it won't be too hard, so don't worry."
Phew, relief.
I'll pass with the written and bomb the practical.
To keep attending, I needed to fix this damn debuff somehow...
Time to think of a way.
"First round written is tomorrow; practical date TBA."
Sudden, but a review at home should clear the minimum easily.
Homeroom ended, and I stood.
First period was a mobile class.
Walking the hall alone as usual, I glanced back and saw Anna trailing alone, like me.
I fell back to walk beside her, but Anna said nothing despite noticing.
The quietest girl in class wouldn't initiate with the school's only guy, drawing stares.
She was always cautious around others out of fear.
But this was too much.
We were last, no one behind, and those ahead looked forward or sideways.
"..."
Walking side by side, my eyes drifted to Anna's chest unconsciously.
The voluptuous lines over her tight uniform were alluring.
Sensing my gaze, she peeked up.
Our eyes met, and she turned away like a girl with a crush.
But that wasn't the end.
Knowing my eyes lingered, she subtly pressed her arms together.
Her full breasts emphasized naturally, swaying temptingly with each step.
Tempting me again...
Without hesitation, I grabbed Anna's wrist.