Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Rental
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Suddenly pretending to be her boyfriend?
Ian realized today that when something was too ridiculous, even a hollow laugh wouldn't come out.
He pressed his throbbing forehead with his fingers and let out a long breath.
"Ah, ah!"
From his sigh, Yu-na realized her explanation had been insufficient and hurriedly added more.
"Th-that! It's almost Lunar New Year, right?! So my sister is coming home for the holidays?!"
"...."
"B-but my sister worries a lot. She keeps asking if I've been bewitched by some weird guy."
"....So."
"So! To tell her not to worry, I-I lied and said I have a great boyfriend and that I'm happy now!"
"....Haa."
Ian rolled a cigarette between his fingers and sighed deeply.
Yu-na flinched at the sound but cautiously spoke up again.
"My sister wants to see my boyfriend's face this time. So I was going to ask you...."
"....No one else to ask besides me?"
"Th-the only guy I know is you...."
With that answer, Ian had nothing more to say. He fell silent for a moment and roughly wedged the unlit cigarette between his lips.
Honestly, it wasn't a burdensome request. Pretending to be lovers? Doing it briefly was no big deal.
The problem was that Ian wasn't used to such things at all, and he had zero dating experience to boot.
Come to think of it, it made perfect sense. In school, he'd been shunned for being an orphan, and as an adult, he'd slaved away nonstop just to make ends meet.
Dating? Where the hell would he have found the spare time for that?
He'd gotten confessions before, but he'd turned them all down because life was too damn hard.
He didn't regret it. Everything was about survival; he couldn't go mooning over romance while starving.
Anyway.
Leaving aside the difficulty, the request itself felt pretty off-putting. He could do it, no problem, but agreeing for free felt awkwardly embarrassing. At minimum, there needed to be something in it for him to even consider it positively.
"W-wish!"
Maybe she'd reached the same conclusion, because before Ian could speak, Yu-na blurted it out. The soft rustle of sheets slipped between her words.
"If you do this favor for me, I'll grant one of your wishes for free too!"
"....How do you know what I'll ask for?"
"....Wh-what are you gonna ask for?"
Her voice carried a hint of anxiety, embarrassment, and resolve. Ian let out a deep sigh and set the cigarette from between his fingers down on the table.
"Forget the wish. Just tag along with me twice when I ask you to on future jobs. That squares it."
"Th-that's really okay?"
"A little monetary compensation wouldn't hurt."
"I'll wire it right now!"
"What? No, I was joking—"
Ding.
Before Ian could finish, one million won hit his account.
"N-no refunds. Earn every penny....!"
"...."
Rather than reply, Ian just wore a subtle expression.
Paid to pretend to be her boyfriend. Wasn't this straight-up rental boyfriend territory?
...Better not dwell on it or he'd feel pathetic, so Ian shut down the thought.
*
Yu-na's sister was due on the second day of the Lunar New Year break. The day before, Ian and Yu-na met up ahead of time for what wasn't quite a meeting.
"M-my sister has a totally different personality from me. Super outgoing, no shyness at all."
Lunchtime in a small cafe.
Surrounded by office workers grabbing a break, the two sipped their drinks and talked.
Of course, Han Yu-na's was a strawberry yogurt smoothie. Stirring the straw sent the pale pink liquid swirling softly inside the glass.
"The type people call a social butterfly."
"The total opposite of you."
"I-I already said that. No need to repeat....?"
"You get a lot of skepticism?"
"Pr-prolly...."
Han Yu-na trailed off and slurped her smoothie. Sweetness flooding her mouth softened her expression a touch.
"Anyway, the important part is fooling her that you and I are the perfect couple. Think you can pull it off...?"
"But doesn't that mean we gotta act like one first?"
Ian glanced sidelong at Yu-na.
"You up for some skinship with me?"
"....D-do we have to...?"
"No clue. Depends on your sister."
He sighed deeply and leaned back into the chair.
"At least hand-holding minimum...."
"Eeeek...."
Han Yu-na stared at Ian's pale white hand, cheeks flushing. Just picturing it made her face burn.
Ian wasn't all that different. Acting chill on the outside, but inside it itched.
He knew she was a mage. Intellectually got that her mage identity trumped her being a woman. If she were some total stranger, he'd shrug it off like with Kim Yul.
But they were building something ongoing. Couldn't help getting self-conscious.
'Best to brainwash myself it's pure business.'
Ian stared at Yu-na with that in mind. Gloomy face or not, she had solid looks. He tried seeing her like some random rock on the street.
It worked decently. The finesse from handling Outer God grimoires lingered; he felt more relaxed than before and spoke up.
"No preemptive practice. Would look too weird."
"Mm...."
"Meeting wrapped for now. Wanna talk the request?"
Ian's eyes sharpened as he showed Yu-na his phone screen. She licked smoothie residue off her lips and leaned in.
[High-Rank Vampire Disposal Request]
[This request is led and funded by the Cartel, not vampire hunters.]
[Cartel intel says three high-rank vampires have infiltrated the Korean peninsula. One location confirmed: hiding in a small village on Gyeonggi outskirts. Disguised as ordinary girl. Looks human on the surface.]
[Vampire ability per intel: mind-reading. Defensible with strong mental barriers, but good luck with that.]
[Goal: Capture or kill the target. If killed, secure the body.]
[Reward: 300 mil capture, 100 mil body.]
[Reward splits N ways in a party. Heads up.]
Yu-na finished the long request and groaned, tilting her head.
"Vampire? V-vampire, yeah?"
"Right. You know about the ghoul surge lately. These are the ringleaders."
"Oh, kinda heard...."
Yu-na nodded, fiddling with her straw.
"Hmm.... Pay's solid, all good. Difficulty?"
"Dunno. No high-rank vamp experience. But vets along, so shouldn't be as bad as I feared."
Ian pocketed his phone, checking contacts.
Albert and Benjamin.
Pro hunters from that first vampire hunt glowed on the screen. Cecilia's name sat below.
"Two vampire hunters, one Vatican nun. You and me makes five."
"Isn't that a crowd...?"
"Better than chasing extra cash solo."
Ian replied, phone away. Gulping half-melted iced Americano sent a chill ghosting through him.
"And nothing set in stone. They'll come if called, but if not, just us."
"Eeeek.... V-vampires first time...."
"Won't be tough."
Ian brushed it off, setting his drained Americano cup down. Yu-na slurped her last smoothie drops.
"No exact date yet. Post-New Year earliest, no conflicts. Won't drag past February, so clear your schedule."
"I-I got time to burn.... Hehe.... No worries...."
Ian snorted a laugh at her reddening ears.
Talks done, they hit a nearby restaurant for late lunch. Cafe-to-eatery oddity aside, food hit the spot and filled 'em up—no complaints.
"Split here? Where tomorrow?"
Post-bill, hands pocketed, Ian asked. Yu-na said "hold on" and checked her sister's text.
"Uh.... Cafe by 11 AM. Time good?"
"11.... Fine. Shoot the address."
"Y-yeah!"
Ian toyed with his cig pack in his pocket but held off with Yu-na there.
"Tomorrow."
"O-okay. Th-thanks for going along."
"No sweat. Got good pay. Forget it."
"Th-then I will."
Ian chuckled at her pivot and turned heel.
"Out first. Safe trip home."
"Yeah. S-see ya tomorrow...."
Next day post-greetings.
Ian beat the time by 10 minutes, cafe seat taken, waiting. Door chimed soon after; similar-faced sisters strolled in.
One: Han Yu-na. Makeup on—unusual for her—gave her face extra glow vs. yesterday. Barefaced daily, probs.
Other: same features, vibe worlds apart.
"Ah."
Pleased smile fading, she clocked solo Ian, whispering furiously to Yu-na. Nod from Yu-na, then she grinned sulky-surprised.
"Heh heh, lil sis got game."
"S-sis....!"
Faint voices telegraphed it. Ian grinned inwardly: tough day ahead.
"Honey~."
"....Hiyaaak!"
Yu-na beet-red at Ian's ad-lib.
[Bzzzzz!!]
Hand of Recreation, meek till now, buzzed like it couldn't stand it.