Chapter 116. A Married Woman Means a Proven Woman
Chapter 116. A Married Woman Means a Proven Woman
─ Chirp chirp...
Morning dawned to the sound of birds chirping.
But that sound was quite irritating.
An unpleasant noise that dragged my exhausted body from sleep.
"Uuughh..."
"Hero, it's almost check-out time, you know?"
─ Smooch♥
Laila, her face radiant with delight, smiled and gave me a kiss.
"You know, today is the last day of the event~"
'Today was the last...'
I lifted my stiff body and sat up, looking around.
All the evidence of our passionate night that had been scattered across the hotel room had been cleaned up completely.
'...'
We did it on the table, on the chair, even against the window.
'She said it was really the end... but we ended up doing it in the bathtub too...'
With that thought, I lay down on the bed, feeling refreshed, and fell asleep.
Of course, Laila kept playing with my junior until then...
"..."
"Hmm? Hero~ Why are you staring at me like that~?"
I narrowed my eyes as I looked at her.
Next time I make love with her, I was going to have to bind her holy power.
─ Streeetch...
Annoyed by her giggling, I tugged her cheek for no reason.
"Hwae...?"
"You're practically a succubus..."
"Hehe, I even have a succubus costume♥"
"..."
"The tail connects to the other side, you know?"
"...!!!"
Laila's suggestive input made my mind produce a very specific image.
"Ah, it got bigger again♥"
---
We barely made it, using every last second of check-out time.
On our way to the front desk, we saw many other couples.
But most of the men's faces were haggard.
"..."
─ Nod nod...
While waiting for our girlfriends to check out, we men exchanged glances and nodded at each other.
"Hero, we have to go!"
─ Bow.
"...Is he someone you know, Hero?"
"No... I just felt a sense of camaraderie..."
"Huh?"
We got into the car to head to the event venue.
The event venue we returned to was already buzzing with heat.
Perhaps because the previous day had made such a splash, the second day drew even larger crowds.
Everywhere, cosplayers and fans were taking photos and lining up, radiating a bustling energy.
'This game was incredibly popular to begin with...'
There were many costumes from the game we had advertised.
"Hello. Thank you for coming again today... but..."
The manager was already waiting at the entrance.
But as soon as he saw my face, his expression turned ambiguous.
"Did yesterday's events leave you very tired...?"
"...Pardon?"
"No, it's just... it's funny to say this to the Unknown Hunter... but you looked oddly tired..."
"Ah, that's not it..."
The manager tilted his head quizzically.
To change the subject, I looked around and asked.
"Where did Max and Emir go?"
"Ah, they both said they wanted to participate again today. They've gone to get makeup done now. And Max Hunter's wife has been resting in there since yesterday."
"Ah, really?"
Since the manager said we still had some time, we headed to the office where Emilia was resting.
─ Knock knock.
"Yes~"
When we arrived at the quiet rest area, we found Emilia seated on the sofa.
The image of a haughty, perfect career woman had disappeared, and now she was a pregnant woman with a warm, serene smile.
"Oh my, you came?"
Emilia, who had been fiddling with a tablet, smiled coyly and welcomed us.
"Are you okay? Feeling any discomfort?"
"Yes, they've been taking good care of me here. Thanks to that, I'm resting comfortably."
Just then, the tablet Emilia was fiddling with caught my eye.
"But... that's..."
"Hehe, it's because the master and I are both away from our desks."
It seemed the career woman side of her hadn't completely disappeared yet.
Laila smiled at those words and quietly sat down.
"But still, since you came to have fun, don't just work. The baby will want Mom to rest well too~"
"Oh my, you think so?"
Emilia gave a lovely smile and stroked her belly with her hand.
---
Laila returned after finishing her makeup for the photoshoot.
That character who had exploded in popularity during yesterday's first part of the event.
She had already changed into her costume and was walking around to promote the venue.
"How is it? Pretty again today, right?"
Laila twirled slightly and lifted the hem of her skirt to show it.
"Really... when did the shy Saintess become so bold..."
"Heehee."
We walked around the event venue.
We took photos with fans, gave autographs, and passed the time.
Everywhere we went, we drew attention, and the surroundings naturally buzzed.
"E-excuse me...!"
"Hmm?"
I turned at the voice.
A young man in an unusual outfit stood hesitantly.
'A soldier?'
"Oh, you're a soldier?"
"Yes, that's correct!"
"On leave? Off-base pass?"
"I'm out on an off-base pass!"
The young man approached with his face flushed.
"Um... excuse me... I'm a fan of the Saintess! May I ask for just one photo, please!?"
At his booming voice, my eyes instinctively went to his rank insignia.
'Private First Class... so that's why he's still so intense about military discipline?'
"Thank you for your service defending the country."
The soldier, flustered but nodding, acknowledged the words.
While we were taking a photo with him and chatting, Max and Emir approached.
"Oh! A soldier? Cool."
"Oh... soldier..."
The soldier, flustered by their sudden arrival, stood in front of the camera with a confused expression.
"Ah... ah... l-loyalty!"
Even after taking the photo, it seemed he still had some time, so I asked casually.
"Do you have some time?"
"Yes, that's right! I still have a little time before I have to return!"
"Then how about we go to a café and have a cup of coffee instead of taking up space here?"
Over coffee at the café, conversation flowed easily.
Then, out of curiosity, I asked offhandedly.
"But... since I haven't completed my military service, how much is the salary?"
"Hmm... a Sergeant receives about 400,000 won."
"400... what? 4 million won?"
I knew military pay had increased a lot, but they give this much?
"No! It's 400,000 won!"
"...?"
At my dumbfounded expression, Max and Emir, who had been listening, raised their heads in unison.
"Ah, is the annual salary 400,000 dollars?"
"Don't tell me the monthly salary is 400,000 dollars?"
"N-no! It's 400,000 won in Korean money...! That's about 300 dollars...!"
Instantly, Max's face, which had the appearance of a berserker(?), crumpled.
And then he stared at the soldier with blazing eyes.
"What!?"
"I-I'll correct myself!"
'Why was he scaring the kid...'
As the cheerful atmosphere continued, the soldier kept hesitating as if he had something more to say.
"Why? Do you have something you want to say?"
"Actually, my senior and juniors are also fans of the Saintess... so a few autographs..."
Hearing that, Laila smiled brightly and nodded.
"Autographs? A video call would be fine too?"
"Yes, understood!"
As if worried it might be canceled, he quickly grabbed his phone and started contacting someone somewhere.
"But... is it allowed to use the camera?"
"Huh? Laila, why?"
"Well, I heard that camera use is restricted in the military through apps and such..."
"That's nonsense..."
Then the soldier, who had been making a call, explained with a smile.
"Ah, it's fine! When you're outside the base on leave or an off-base pass, camera use is allowed!"
In the end, he made a video call to his senior and juniors.
Regrettably, we couldn't see their appearance, but...
"Wow!!! Is this real?"
"Big sis!!! She's really pretty!!!"
Laila smiled, looked at the camera, and brought her hand to her mouth.
─ Smooch.
At such perfect fan service, the café erupted.
The shouts of the unit members could be heard through the phone's speaker.
"Shall we get going now?"
As the event time approached, we stood up from our seats.
Laila smiled warmly and waved her hand.
"Stay safe during the rest of your military life, and be discharged in good health~"
"Yes, ma'am! Please take care!"
He finished his proper greeting and turned around.
'Come to think of it, we had talked about doing something for soldiers...'
I thought an event giving coupons or gift certificates to discharged soldiers might be nice too.
---
"...So... now... soon..."
"Oh my, really... Lucia..."
"...Illa... jealousy... so cute..."
"Hmm?"
The office located behind the stage.
Inside, the sound of several people laughing could be heard.
'Lucia and Nudungji definitely said they were coming, right?'
─ Creak.
I opened the door and went in.
Then everyone's gaze landed on me.
"Uh, huh?"
Inside, Lucia and several cosplayers were already there.
The cosplayers spotted me and immediately moved toward me.
'B-but, the outfit...!?'
It was an incredible cosplay, clearly designed to seduce.
It dangerously toed the line between all-ages and adult-only.
"Oh my, so you're a younger friend of Lucia's?"
"Hehe... you seem to work out a lot?"
"Nice to meet you~ We're Lucia's coworkers~"
"Uh, uh... w-why are you all doing this...!?"
Flirtatious touching that stayed just barely within bounds.
Beside me, someone(?) was staring with a murderous expression.
"Hoon~ don't worry. They're all married women anyway."
"???"
No, married women or not, we're meeting for the first time?
Laila's eyes grew cold.
'If I get squeezed again today, I'll really die!'
Despite my bewilderment, Lucia simply crossed her arms and nodded.
"Mmhm, a married woman means a proven woman."
What did that even mean...