Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: The Girls Earning Their Keep (1)
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"Now that we've made semiconductors, it's time to make memory next, right?"
The blackboard was densely packed with the basics of semiconductors and more. Yuseong's words continued, urging them to prepare to turn their entire bodies into one giant computer.
"Semiconductors are just the beginning. They're the catalyst for your power and a secondary storage device with memory functions—what you'd call an 'HDD.' The difference between having one and not? Not quite heaven and earth, but more like the gap between a house cat and a lion."
Even among beasts, there's a world of difference between a mere animal and the king of all hundred beasts!
Listening to him made it feel like something they absolutely had to create. His words demanded their full attention.
But...
"...Luke, you're going on a blind date?"
"......"
...it seemed these idiots weren't focusing on the lecture at all. They were distracted by something else entirely.
"You guys...! I'm teaching you all this with my blood, sweat, and tears, and you're talking about side stuff? Screw this!"
"Screw it if you want, but tell us about the blind date anyway."
"......"
"I can't wait to see what kind of girl Luke's meeting~."
"......"
What was this? Why did it feel like he was being interrogated?
Yuseong couldn't hide his exasperation, furrowing his brow.
Luxy was the only one raising a silent protest, desperate for more lecture, but public opinion didn't sway.
Regrettably, this country prided itself on democracy, and the six men and women—now fully patched with 100% democratic firmware—were polling 5-1. All five votes eagerly awaited Yuseong's love story.
"It's not dating, just a blind date."
"Still meeting a girl, right?"
"This is a good thing. You've shown some instability at times, Luke. Starting a family could stabilize you. If it leads to marriage, I'd happily bless it in Mother's name."
"W-will you come to our wedding?"
"Dream on, Leon. You probably won't even get in the door."
"I hear weddings come with buffets.... Sounds tasty."
"...Glutton."
"...You guys aren't even listening to me, are you?"
Not a single one of them was paying attention.
He'd rather be locked alone in a white room—it'd be far more peaceful. As he massaged his stiff neck with those thoughts, Aram chimed in.
"Ah, good work."
"L-Luke!? Y-you investigated your blind date?!"
"...Isn't that standard?"
"N-no, even so..."
"Come on. Why act all high and mighty? Background checks are your church's specialty."
"......"
Everyone knew the church had the information guilds and thieves' guilds in a chokehold under the guise of operating expenses—even two-year-olds.
Sylvia sank like a torpedoed ship, the pushover goddess frantically comforting her, both vanishing together. Yuseong turned to his next target.
"You, no interest? Go read a book over there."
"Aaaah!"
He tossed her a paper on computer semiconductors, and Luxy dove right in. Alicia, uninterested in human affairs, soon wandered off on her own.
Leon and Valian, without big-sis Sylvia, slowly drifted to their own tasks. Now left was...
"Why are you sticking around?"
"Just curious."
"...Curious about everything, huh."
The ringleader behind this, Mirni, approached with a sweet smile, but Yuseong was just exasperated.
Since when was she so nosy about others' business...?
"Haa... Fine. Ask whatever you want."
Cats won't leave if their curiosity isn't sated—better to spill and be free.
Permission granted, Mirni unleashed her questions.
"Why go on a blind date? You said you weren't interested."
"...To avoid embarrassing my dad? I'm not that much of a shitty son."
The origin of the blind date was simple.
Dad was drinking cheap booze with a buddy, and it turned into a kids-bragging parade. Midway, comparing whose was better...
—Oh yeah? Your boy's that great?
That's when Dad's friend brought up the blind date.
—My cousin's kid lives in Seoul. Real sweet, upstanding girl. Runs a shopping mall or something—doing great. Wanna meet her?
Things escalate fast among acquaintances. Somehow, "wanna meet?" ballooned into "let's do it!"
"No way such a thing happens?"
"Korean guys do that."
Starting as a joke, but pride and face turn it into life-or-death. Korean men excel at it.
Especially the older generation—kings of face.
"Anyway, meeting doesn't mean marriage. Just meet lightly, part cleanly. Stop fussing over nothing."
"...Luke, you don't want to get married?"
"You think?"
"...Ah."
She didn't know all of Yuseong's Midgard romances, but heard they all ended badly.
Seemed she thought that made him wary of women now.
"Got it? Now scram. Let me rest."
"Okay..."
Mirni felt uneasy but couldn't push further.
"...Noisy girl."
Yuseong tore his eyes from the attention-grabbing pink head and checked the blind date profile.
Photos and history scraped from her SNS, school databases. He nodded.
'Elite track girl.'
Seems diligent and decent.
Last, the photos...
"Yeah, not bad..."
"Why are you such a perceptive AI?"
"It's not about liking or not..."
She's not ugly.
Objectively, she's pretty...
But
'Fuck, my standards are sky-high now...'
Beyond past trauma, even decent beauties barely registered anymore. Seeing his son immune to most looks, Yuseong sank into depression.
'...Am I fucking impotent...?'
Involuntary impotence...
Tragic.
Under the usual fine dust-shrouded sky.
Women strolling downtown square cast subtle glances at one man.
Objectively, not strikingly handsome or delicate.
But his masculine charisma drew eyes irresistibly...
A raw aura that crushed all specs with presence alone.
'Whoa, suit looks killer on him...'
'Face is okay? But the vibe slays~.'
'Totally my type!'
'That guy's got a fighter's build from back in the day? Broad back...! Whoa, eye contact!'
Like a tiger lounging calmly in the city center.
That was the scene.
Growing sidelong glances ignored, he stood ramrod straight like a soldier, staring at his notepad.
Anyone watching would think he was productively handling work in spare time.
'Number 17... Great patriot and independence activist who comes to mind for the March 1st Movement? Wrong answer means traitor!'
Passing time with old-school quiz games.
"...Han, Yuseong?"
"...Jang Hana, right?"
"Ah, yes! Jang Hana. Sorry I'm late! Traffic..."
"You're not late. Safe arrival is what matters. You look tired—let's catch our breath first."
"Ah, sure."
As Jang Hana arrived, countless women eyed Yuseong regretfully.
Jackpot snatched—taken.
And receiving those looks, Jang Hana thought:
'Jackpot... Worth coming out~?'
Yuseong earned points from first impressions.
Yuseong was considerate toward Jang Hana.
Reserved a private terrace seat at the cafe, pulled out her chair—basic escort!
A gentlemanly demeanor that would shock anyone who knew Yuseong!
Even Aram in his smartwatch was stunned.
'One-day thing anyway. No need to leave a bad taste.'
'Don't overdo it...'
Yuseong grumbled at the backtalk.
'You told me to!'
Aram's advice: Good first impressions, basic courtesy only.
Do that, and half the battle's won, she said. But Yuseong thought it excessive.
His looks weren't harsh. Unique charisma blended with subtle charm.
Casual-simple suit highlighted his wild side.
Thug vibe, but first impressions couldn't help but be positive.
Plus, "basic courtesy only" was hardest—requires sharp intuition. Yuseong was maxed on that.
'Were you always this snarky?'
As Yuseong inwardly sighed, his mouth kept moving.
"So, you're in business, Yuseong?"
"Nothing big, just small stuff. Dad exaggerates a bit..."
"Huhu, parents are like that. My 'shopping mall' has barely ten staff, but they brag like it's hundreds. Jeez..."
Conversation skewed to work.
First meetings, especially awkward ones, favor business over personal talk.
Luckily, shared business kept it flowing.
"Models are hard to book lately. Even non-celebs with some SNS fame charge premium. Ugh."
"I get it. Once contracted a model—negotiations dragged a month."
"Right?! Acting like she's some ten-million-fan actress...! Hilarious!"
"...Haha."
'Yeah.'
Yuseong's game firm's two-year exclusive model? Actress with two ten-million-gross films.
Couldn't say it—laughed it off.
Flinch!
"Hm?"
"What's wrong?"
"Ah, nothing... Just..."
Felt someone watching...
'Hallucination?'
Overthinking—he shook it off.
.........
.........
"H-hey! Not even beastkin, how's her senses that sharp?"
"Mirni, quiet! You're bothering people!"
"Then you go!"
"......"
On a rooftop two-plus buildings from Yuseong's cafe.
Two girls, binoculars bought with all their pocket money, peeped on his blind date.