Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Why So Awkward?
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Young Master brought a woman to the Mountain Lords!
This news spread throughout the entire Mountain Lords in an instant.
"Clean! Clean! Clean no matter what! Even if you did it yesterday, do it again! Is today's dust not dust or something?"
"Who said to cut corners on toothpaste? Just do it thoroughly! Can't you understand when I say it straight?"
It wasn't strange at all to see a scene unfold like when the division commander was visiting the unit.
Of course, Marren had often come over to Kim Geon-ho's house to play, but that had always been unofficial.
This time, Kim Geon-ho had announced he was bringing her himself, so it was an official visit together.
Calling a woman over and coming home with that woman were on completely different levels.
Naturally, from the servants' perspective, it was like fire on their feet—no, like a massive magma flow pouring down.
"Prepare the ingredients! The Young Master said he'd eat something simple, but last time he said the same and cleared out the buffet!"
"Absolutely no rude words or actions! The best is not to speak first, not to act first!"
"Don't do anything unless asked! I've never seen anyone come out looking good after stepping up unnecessarily!"
"Don't think getting noticed once will change anything! I've seen too many people get kicked out of the Mountain Lords for that!"
Unlike Kim Geon-ho's relaxed expression as he leisurely entered through the main gate from afar.
The servants were polishing the house with a tension rivaling wartime, cleaning endlessly.
Dozens of servants in a mansion that would put any major estate to shame.
Most of them were well-honed blades meant to protect the lady of the house.
Who wouldn't complain that these rigorously trained people were stuck doing chores like cleaning?
"If the lady's mood sours, it's death! Don't let any discord reach the Mountain Lord's ears!"
As long as everything was under Mountain Lord Kim Jang-seok's control, no complaints could arise.
Besides, the Mountain Lords paid fair wages for the work, so there were no issues anyway.
However.
'The Mountain Lord's wrath is too terrifying.'
If only Kim Jang-seok frowned, it might end with just discipline.
But if the lady of the house, Baek Na-eun, got sad, it wouldn't stop at discipline.
Baek Na-eun was the one who melted the heart of Kim Jang-seok, known as cold-blooded.
If she got hurt? Kim Jang-seok would never let that slide easily.
That thought was etched in the servants' minds, so they truly gave their all.
"Scrub hard! Hard! Scrub it like it's gold!"
The servants were cleaning the marble floors until they shone.
The moment they spotted one servant rushing over while they cleaned, they swiftly packed up their tools.
They could guess what he'd say just from his expression.
"Th-they're... here..."
"Okay! Everyone, retreat! Go stealth mode now! Act like you're not there! Block your eyes and ears, and don't react unless called!"
"Any fools pulling stunts, I'll kill you all right now and bury you myself."
From Kim Geon-ho and Airi's position.
The moment they heard the news, the servants quickly cleared out.
"Oh my, you all don't have to do this... But thank you anyway."
Baek Na-eun expressed her gratitude at the sight and welcomed Kim Geon-ho and Airi with a bright smile.
"My son grew up so well that he's even introducing his girlfriend... Mom is just overjoyed."
An energy booster that made you smile just looking at her.
Kim Geon-ho scratched his cheek awkwardly at the smile of Baek Na-eun, a walking vitality bomb herself.
But that was only from Kim Geon-ho's position as her son.
For Airi, who might become his mother-in-law someday, the meaning of that smile was on another level.
"Ah, h-hello, ma'am. I-I'm..."
"No need to be nervous. Take your time introducing yourself. I'm not here to pressure you... I just wanted to see who my son brought home. This is the first time he's ever introduced anyone he brought home to me, hehe."
"No, um... Mom, we'll just head in."
"Oh, am I bothering you? Sorry then, have fun. I really won't mind. I was planning to step out anyway... I'll go for a walk nearby, might not come back today. Seeing you two all cozy like lovers makes me want to spend some time with your dad after so long..."
"Got it, go ahead."
Kim Geon-ho hurriedly cut off the conversation and grabbed Airi's hand, heading to his room.
He'd learned from experience that letting her conversation flow would drag on for at least two hours.
This was why he'd tried to delay a formal introduction.
Coming in secretly right after school felt weird, so they entered together, but the picture it painted was way off.
'...Hic!'
In truth, Airi was flustered, unable to adapt to the scene.
First off, the overwhelming exterior of the mansion as soon as they entered was beyond any noble house.
'Now I get why the Mountain Lords can rule the world...'
Lavish was an understatement, but the most surprising part was how this huge mansion had no servant presences detectable.
In a space that could easily house dozens, only four presences were felt.
Kim Geon-ho and herself, the prospective mother-in-law, and her servant.
No other presences whatsoever besides those four.
'It means they're hidden so well I can't sense them.'
Unknown numbers of people concealing their presence, on standby.
That meant they could turn into blades at any moment and kill intruders instantly.
Maybe it was discovering a new side to Kim Geon-ho, who usually wandered around with a 19+ sticker on his eyes.
The class president and heir to a conglomerate—he exuded perfect reversal charm.
Airi stared at Kim Geon-ho's profile, which somehow looked different, then quickly turned her head away.
'Almost fell for him again.'
Love had no antidote, and the rose-tinted glasses wouldn't come off.
If her emotions spread further here, her reason might blur and cause problems.
'Don't forget today's purpose.'
Even trying to keep her cool, seeing Kim Geon-ho's face automatically drew a smile.
Squeeze.
'No, maybe forget just a little...'
Airi cautiously took Kim Geon-ho's hand and bowed her head deeply.
Visiting her boyfriend's house was exciting enough, but getting acknowledged as his girlfriend by his mom?
She was too happy.
+++++++
In this situation where everyone seemed fine or happy, Kim Geon-ho felt a bit awkward.
'Hm...'
To be precise, he didn't know how to react.
When he'd had sex with Marren before, nothing like this happened.
He wasn't used to the world expanding as their relationship deepened.
In his previous life, he'd lived like a commoner, and in the first round, he'd rolled at the bottom like a dog.
Now in the second round, suddenly becoming the young master and getting recognition from those around him—it felt strange.
Having a relationship officially acknowledged.
For Kim Geon-ho, it was something entirely new.
'Ugh...'
Embarrassing, maybe?
It was hard to pinpoint the emotion.
It felt similar to love but strangely different, a sense of unfamiliarity.
More complex than the craving for recognition after his first formal sparring win.
Kim Geon-ho didn't know his own feelings well, but that was what people called 'happiness.'
Something not far away, yet hard to grasp properly when close.
Maybe that's why people say 'those were the good times'—because the past was happy, but they didn't realize it then.
Kim Geon-ho had spent long years in solitude and loneliness, with no time to properly grasp emotions.
Only now could he approach happiness, but since it had been so long, he didn't recognize it.
Not just stripping naked, inserting, and mixing flesh.
A happy ending welcomed amid the smiles of those around him.
Kim Geon-ho, feeling awkward about it, gripped Airi's hand tighter.
'Feels like I suddenly became a bachelor again.'
After all the sex he'd had, why did inviting his girlfriend home and setting the mood to mix feel so awkward?
Today, his own house didn't feel like home.
Kim Geon-ho scratched his head, thinking he needed to eat something to shake off the awkwardness.
"Prepare some simple refreshments... a few things?"
No need to look anywhere specific—just speak to the air, and it was done.
"Understood."
The fully prepared servants moved immediately.
"Th-that, um... She won't think weirdly of us, right?"
"Y-yeah?"
Thud.
But would the sudden awkwardness vanish just from ordering refreshments?
At Airi's words, Kim Geon-ho reacted robotically.
'Ma'am?'
Right, I was planning a harem marriage.
Once that thought hit, uncontrollable excitement surged.
Slide.
Unconsciously, his hand reached for the inside of Airi's thigh.
Slap!
He got smacked across the cheek right away.
"S-set the... mood... first...!"
Setting the mood first means it's okay to slip my hand inside her thigh and touch?
'Fuck, that's insanely hot.'
Erection-inducing words.
Kim Geon-ho regretted ordering the refreshments for nothing.