Chapter 10

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Translator: ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠MadScientist

Chapter: 10

Chapter Title: Until Calling Her "Unnie"

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Beep—.

The thick front door slid open with an electronic chime.

The air rushing in from the hallway was completely different.

A woman's scent.

And a comfortable warmth, properly dehumidified.

'Cozy.'

Ten minutes by car from the Association. Jin Su-bin's place was a luxury officetel right in the heart of Gangnam.

The marble floor gleamed under the lights.

I hesitated as I took off my shoes.

Next to her shiny designer heels, my one pair of mud-caked sneakers.

It was a mismatch that made me wonder if I'd accidentally thrown out trash instead.

"..."

Was I really allowed in here?

"Come on in. What are you doing?"

Jin Su-bin led the way. But I couldn't cross the threshold.

It wasn't just embarrassment.

A more fundamental doubt.

"Um... Didn't you say you'd buy me chicken?"

"Yes, I did."

"Then why come to your house instead of the shop...?"

Kidnapping?

Was she finally showing her true colors?

Clearly planning to lock me up, dress me like a doll, and keep me as a pet.

Danger signals flashed in my head.

Jin Su-bin turned back, her lips curving up.

Her finger pointed at my clothes.

"Seo-ah, look at yourself. You think you can go to a shop like that?"

I glanced down.

Gate mud.

Half-dried sweat.

Mysterious grass stains.

Tattered pant hems and sneakers with frayed laces on the verge of snapping.

'Just standard gatherer gear.'

Jin Su-bin continued.

"Even if you showered, your clothes are still filthy. If we went to a restaurant like that, people would think I'm an abuser and call the cops."

"...Fair point."

"Plus, it's more comfortable eating at home. No prying eyes."

"And chicken delivers easy anyway."

"So, ready to come in now?"

No words to argue.

The image of silver-haired me and a suited beauty at a chicken joint.

The stares alone sounded exhausting.

I slunk into the living room like a defeated soldier, shoulders slumped.

"Whoa..."

A sigh of awe slipped out.

Spacious.

Three times the size of my studio apartment.

Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, Gangnam's nightscape unfolded like a panorama.

Skyscrapers and car lights twinkled like stars.

So this was the life of a successful career woman.

'Association salary that good? Or backroom deals?'

My stomach twisted at capitalism's gaps.

Right then.

"Here, wear this."

Jin Su-bin brought over some clothes.

A white short-sleeved T-shirt and gray training shorts.

"Mine, so they might be big on you, Seo-ah. But better than your dirty ones."

"Thank you..."

I changed in the bathroom.

Pulling the T-shirt over my head filled my nose with fabric softener.

Lavender scent.

Jin Su-bin's smell.

'Huge.'

Bigger than expected.

Neckline sagged to below my collarbone.

Sleeves dangled past my hands.

Shorts hung to my knees like capris.

The mirror showed a kid who'd stolen dad's clothes.

"Haa... Self-esteem killer."

I rolled up the sleeves and stepped out.

A hum came from the laundry room.

"Hey? I can wash that myself!"

"Already running. It'll be fresh and dry by morning."

"I could've just brushed it off..."

"Already running. I'm the one uncomfortable."

"...Sorry."

"Sorry? Then pick the chicken. Here."

She handed over her smartphone.

Screen full of chicken brand logos.

Guilt was tissue paper against hunger.

'Looks delicious.'

I tapped the screen like I was enchanted.

My scrolling finger trembled faintly.

For this moment, I was more cautious than fleeing goblins.

"Fried's too plain. Seasoned risks sogginess..."

"Half-and-half?"

"No. Today... Supreme."

I declared firmly.

Artistic blend of white and red sauce.

Stimulating flavor that'd clog arteries.

To recover today's calories, this bomb was polite.

"Supreme seasoned chicken? Hmm, Seo-ah's tastes are pure kid stuff."

"It's tasty, that's why! Tongues don't age!"

"Got it, got it. Boneless for you. Peeling bones is a hassle."

Jin Su-bin giggled and hit order.

50 minutes. An eternity.

I curled up in the sofa corner.

Leather's chill touched my thighs.

Relaxing? Or awkward in someone else's home?

My body kept shrinking.

"Cold?"

Jin Su-bin was suddenly close. Bare face without glasses, too near.

"No, not really."

"Liar. Your lips are trembling."

'That's from awkwardness.'

Saying it would make it worse. I shut up.

"Clothes are thin. Should've turned up the heat."

"I'm fine. Really."

"Don't look fine."

Her eyes curved playfully.

'Bad vibes...!'

That faint madness from when she washed my hair in the bath.

"Stand up."

"Huh?"

"To the bed. Warmer there."

"Sofa’s fine... Whoa?!"

Before I finished.

Vision flipped.

Weightless float.

I came to in midair.

Jin Su-bin had scooped me up.

One arm under my back, one under my thighs.

Princess carry.

"Kyaa!! What are you doing?!"

"Stay still. Fall and your butt breaks."

"Put me down! I have legs! I can walk!"

I flailed. Useless.

My body was subdued lighter than a rice sack.

Worse, her heartbeat throbbed clearly through her chest.

"Hey now. Treating you like a patient today. Don't like the service?"

"This is punishment, not service!"

My face burned.

A man's soul, princess-carried by a woman.

Dignity issue. But resistance ignored.

"Here we ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠are~."

Poof.

Body tossed onto the bed. Mattress cradled softly.

"Now, blanket on."

I was a blanket burrito in seconds. Trapped.

"...What is this."

"Body warmth maintenance. Hunter basics, right?"

She smiled brightly, perching on the bed's edge.

Finally took in the room.

"..."

Speechless.

If the living room was a model home, this was a toy store.

Pastel pink wallpaper.

Mountains of plushies.

Life-sized bear dominating the bed center.

'Isn't that the limited-edition Bebe Bear Season 3?'

Famous even to me, a gal-game addict. Premium markup, hard to get.

'This woman's for real.'

This was Admin Jin Su-bin's secret hobby dungeon.

F-Rank hunter thrown into high-risk gate!

"Your tastes are... uniquely firm."

"Cute things save the world."

Jin Su-bin was proud.

Even toyed with the bear's ear like a trophy.

"And today, we added one more here."

"Huh?"

Her gaze pierced.

Pupils deep and sunken.

Plushie eyes. No, stickier something.

Hand reached. No time to dodge.

Blanket-bound body defenseless. Warm palm covered my crown.

"Pat pat."

"Eep..."

"Fluff fluff~"

Even sound effects from her mouth.

Steady rhythm.

Gentle pressure.

Hair slipping through fingers.

"Urk..."

Should resist.

Yell not to treat me like a kid.

But only groans escaped.

'Feels good...'

Can't fight.

Brain melted.

Against reason, Han Seo-ah's body craved Jin Su-bin's touch.

"Good job today, Seo-ah."

Her voice echoed softly.

"Scared when I brought you here suddenly? Must've been shocked."

"...Not really."

"Liar again. You could barely meet my eyes earlier. How'd someone like you enter gates?"

Thumb stroked my forehead.

Bangs swept up, vision cleared. Eyes met.

Not pity or sympathy.

Pure affection.

Relief that I was safe.

"You did great today. Running away, coming to report."

"..."

"Thanks for coming back alive. For real."

Heart thudded. Solar plexus stung.

"I'm grateful to you, Seo-ah."

'...Weird.'

Each touch eroded reason.

Body sank into bed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like waterlogged cotton.

Where wariness fled, unfamiliar peace nested uninvited.

Incomprehensible.

Just a few formal meetings.

Why this absolute comfort?

Needed analysis.

Then what variable remained? If neither past life nor current body...

'...No way.'

Thought circuits halted. Process of elimination left one answer.

Most illogical, most unwanted conclusion.

Damn...

I've become an S-rank damsel. Yuri edition.