Chapter 73

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 73

Chapter Title: This Is How You Fish

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They say that if a man and a woman hug for a long time, some kind of hormone gets released and makes you healthier.

It didn't feel wrong at all. I could swear I was feeling incredibly invigorated.

"...How strange."

A sensation welled up inside me, one too embarrassing to put into words.

I'd never realized that holding someone like this for so long could have this kind of effect.

From my first life all the way to the first regression, this was the first time I'd ever felt another person's warmth so deeply.

Usually, moments like these would stir up a fierce urge to make up for all the lost intimacy by getting physical.

Now I finally understood why movies often end with a deep embrace in the final moments of farewell.

"You're so warm."

"...You always spout nothing but pervy stuff, so I figured you were some kind of idiot who couldn't feel anything like this. Guess that's not true after all."

"What the hell do you even think I am?"

"A pervert."

Heila looked up at me with her big, sparkling eyes, locking gazes with mine.

How could such a haughty face pull off that bubbly, giggling vibe?

It really hit me how much an expression could dramatically transform a person.

"You always come on so strong, so you probably don't get stuff like this."

"..."

I had nothing to say back to Heila, so I just clamped my mouth shut.

The deep warmth of another person that had come to me for the first time in what felt like my third life, counting my past one.

I wouldn't get addicted or let it sway me, but I'd probably think about it often.

"So, how does the sexy lingerie look?"

"It suits you perfectly."

It was flawless—the best there could be.

Just in her underwear, yet the incredible design made it feel like she was wearing a gown. I was speechless.

Especially with those delicate lace trims—every time she moved, her chest swayed gently, teasing beyond mere lust.

It fueled a desire for marriage, for possession, that grew uncontrollably.

And that urge even spilled over into a deeper longing: not just to be a protagonist candidate, but the protagonist himself.

'But are the other protagonist candidates... all regressors like me?'

What if there were others besides me who had regressed?

That would explain why they were candidates and not the main deal.

Did it even know stuff like that? The thought crossed my mind briefly.

But of course it did. This privilege came from an unprecedented existence in the first place.

"You're not spacing out thinking about something else while I'm right here, are you?"

"Was it that obvious?"

"How could you think about anything else with me here? Don't tell me... another woman?"

"No, just pondering where our newlywed home should be..."

"...You're such a smooth talker."

Heila shot me a sharp glare, then softened her eyes as she started seriously mulling over our future home.

"...Hmm, personally, I think somewhere near the academy would be best. Even if it's late, we'll probably get married around next year anyway... And besides..."

It'd also let me make it crystal clear to everyone around who your wife is and whose husband you are.

'The ones around are definitely Marren and Airi.'

For the Radmos family, who never cared about others' opinions, there were only two people worth minding.

Still, it felt great that Heila was now putting those two on the same level instead of ignoring them.

Not that she could've ignored their sheer presence anyway.

But having everyone get along would complete the perfect harem, which was nothing but good news for me.

"You sleepy?"

"Huh?"

"I thought you were ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lost in thought, but you're just tired, huh."

Was the battle fatigue really settling into my body?

If even I hadn't noticed and suddenly felt exhausted, that said it all.

Smoothly.

"Then sleep like this."

Plop.

Heila turned her body, cradled my head with both hands, and gently laid me on her thigh.

*Sniff.*

"Eek! You're insane! Don't shove your nose between my thighs and sniff!"

Smack!

Heila smacked my back as if to say stop it, but I just couldn't pull away.

The soft, sweet, sugary scent wafted straight into my nose.

It was unmistakably the smell of flesh, but if all flesh smelled this good, I could bury myself in it forever.

Stroke... stroke...

How long had it been since someone stroked my hair while I closed my eyes?

'Guess I'll just sleep today.'

Forcing things on our first night felt contrived anyway.

Besides, this wasn't our "real" first night.

'Her thighs are so soft... On our actual wedding night, I gotta give them a good suck.'

With that thought, I slowly drifted off.

And so, my amusement park date with Heila drew to a close.

Three days after the date ended.

The video platform Witube was flooded with footage of the monster appearing at the amusement park.

Normally, this kind of heat would spill over from cyber leaks into full-blown news articles.

But with not a single article in sight—only Witube blowing up—people smelled something fishy.

And the spark that ignited wild imaginations about that "something" was the very first video title uploaded.

Tiger.

It could pass as just an animal name, but no one saw it that way.

There was only one "tiger" in the entire world with the power to take down a monster solo.

Mountain Lords.

A group that proudly ranked on the global conglomerate list, straight out of some early-2000s web novel setup.

A connection between them—and the corporation always name-dropped in national pride rants—and the amusement park monster?

Impossible not to pay attention.

And the story didn't end there.

"Bros! Got legendary news! Right now! Super super super! Legendary! The tiger fought the monster, took massive damage, and lost its power, they sa— Who the hell are you guys?!"

An internet streamer brought "tiger" news, claiming the tiger that clashed with the monster had been weakened.

Then, mid-update, intruders burst in and forcibly ended the stream.

This video racked up 2 million views in under 30 minutes.

But it didn't even last an hour before being marked deleted for policy violations.

As events unfolded, people naturally drew one conclusion.

'...Someone from Mountain Lords fought the monster at the amusement park and lost their power?'

A shocking tale.

At first, dismissed as nonsense gossip.

But Mountain Lords' response was too razor-sharp to ignore.

Raid the streamer's home, yank the video—acting like there was definitely something to hide.

And zero articles despite it all? Media control on a spine-chilling level.

In Korea, only Mountain Lords could pull that off.

Empire and Rags-to-Riches didn't flex like this.

The news spread nationwide, naturally reaching Hero Academy too.

"Heard about it? Reason Kim Geon-ho hasn't shown up..."

"Wasn't there talk of an engagement? That didn't happen either..."

"With just Heila showing up, something's definitely up."

"Maybe they did the engagement quietly? Could be why he ghosted."

"You idiot, think two families merging happens on the down-low? Who said that?"

"Ugh, dumbasses who know shit about Mountain Lords should just die."

Every hallway chat was the same.

Mountain Lords, amusement park, engagement—endless fodder.

Cadets inflated rumors like it was prime entertainment.

Turning internet whispers into seeming fact.

When everyone believes, you can't help but follow.

"...Is it really true?"

Hero Academy's traitor, who first denied the rumors outright.

Pendam was starting to buy the floating stories.

'Did that plan really work?'

He'd thought it stupid at first, and when the monster died, it confirmed it.

But weakening it instead? That's why Kim Geon-ho skipped school?

"...Then now's the time to strike."

If he could just lure Kim Geon-ho to the academy somehow.

All plans would succeed, and he'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠claim a high seat.

Pendam dreamed of that, pondering how to summon him.

"...It's handling itself perfectly."

"Tch... Huh? Geon-ho, what'd you say?"

"Nah, keep sucking. You're good."

"Mmm! Got it!"

Kim Geon-ho lounged at home, casually getting updates on academy drama while rolling around happily with Marren.