Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Rental
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“Hello! I've heard so much about you!”
“Ah, yes. I'm Shin Ian. It's an honor to meet you.”
“Oh come on, you're being too formal! This isn't some parental meet-and-greet. Just relax, make yourself comfortable. Oh, I'm Han Yuri.”
Han Yuri said that as she shot a glance at Ian and Yuna, who were seated across from her.
Ian was relatively composed, but Yuna was not. She couldn't keep her fingers still for even a moment, and her eyes trembled faintly. The sidelong glances she kept stealing at Ian were filled with unmistakable anxiety.
It was far too tense for someone sitting next to her lover. Yuri let out a soft “hmm” and fixed Ian with a suspicious look.
“How long did you say you and our Yuna have been together, Ian?”
It was a probing question. But for Ian, who had memorized all 52 items of the lies Yuna had fed him, answering wasn't all that difficult.
“It's been about three years as of today.”
“Hmm.”
“On our first meeting, I was the one who asked her out. Ahaha, it's a bit embarrassing to say this in front of her sister, but I fell for her at first sight. She was totally my type...”
“Is that so?”
Han Yuri smiled brightly and turned to Yuna. Yuna flinched at the look in her eyes but quickly took a sip of her smoothie and forced an awkward smile.
“Th-that time... it was so weird! I never expected to meet him at a convenience store!”
“Convenience store? Didn't you say it was the library?”
“D-did I say convenience store? It was the library!”
“No, it was the convenience store.”
“......”
Han Yuna you idiot.
Ian ground his teeth inwardly and pinched Yuna's thigh with his fingers.
“Hic!”
She let out a yelp like she'd been shocked, but Ian ignored it.
It would be better to just seal her mouth shut here. How could he trust her to stay quiet when she couldn't even stick to her own lies? It was far better for him to take control of the conversation than risk unnecessary suspicion.
Ian tapped the table with his fingers as he thought that. Yuri's eyes naturally turned toward him.
“How about we go grab some food? Lunchtime's coming up soon.”
“Oh, right. I've already got a place reserved, so let's head there. I'll cover the bill, of course.”
Yuri smiled brightly and stood from her seat. Ian and Yuna followed behind her.
As they stepped out of the café, warm sunlight greeted the three of them. It wasn't exactly balmy yet since winter hadn't fully passed, but it definitely felt milder than January. In just a few more weeks, the temperatures would shoot up.
'I hope this summer's shorter than usual.'
Every year, it felt like summer and winter were dragging on longer.
It didn't make any logical sense. Maybe some anomaly was messing with the global climate.
Damn anomalies. I'll track them all down and kill them.
“The restaurant's nearby, so let's walk. That okay?”
“Yes, that's fine.”
He pushed the stray thoughts aside and started walking. Yuri walked slightly ahead of Ian, asking him this and that. Ian answered by mixing lies and truths just right.
Since it was all an act anyway, he was careful not to reveal too much information. Fortunately, blending in the fabrications made his words flow smoothly.
Just like on the cruise ship, he seemed to have a knack for acting. It was ironic how becoming a mage kept uncovering talents he never knew he had.
“Hmm, so your parents are down in the countryside right now?”
“Yes. They're probably working at this hour. They wouldn't pick up even if I called.”
“I see. Then pass on my regards for me.”
“Will do.”
Ian silently passed on some unkind regards to his nonexistent parents.
Just then, Han Yuri, who had been leading the way, turned her head toward Yuna, who was fidgeting right up against Ian's side.
“......Hmm.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Yuna.”
“......! Wh-what? What's up...?”
Yuna, caught off guard that the conversation had swung back to her, looked up at Han Yuri in surprise. Han Yuri alternated her gaze between Yuna's fidgeting hands in front of her navel and Ian's hand hanging plainly at his side before tossing out a single remark.
“You're supposed to be lovers, but you're not holding hands or anything?”
“......Wh-what? What'd you say?”
“Nothing, just... it's cold out, but no hand-holding? After three years together, I figured it'd be natural, but I guess not?”
Han Yuri grinned slyly and shoved her hands into her pockets.
“Are you two still awkward with each other...?”
“N-no! It's just 'cause you're here, sis! Normally we hold hands, hug, even k-kiss!”
Yuna shouted, her face flushing red. Ian awkwardly scratched his cheek with a shy boyfriend smile, but his inner thoughts were entirely different.
'What? Hugs? Kisses? What the hell is this bullshit?'
There were limits to skinship. Sure, for a couple of three years, seeing everything there was to see was normal—but Ian and Yuna weren't like that. They were a three-year couple on paper, but in reality, just business partners and acquaintances.
Did it make sense for them to be kissing whenever in a relationship like that?
Hugs? Fine, those could happen depending on the situation—like celebrating survival after a tough job or narrow escape from death, patting each other's backs with no emotions involved.
But kisses? Kisses??
“......”
Ian plastered on a smile while glaring daggers at Yuna. Never mind the grimoire in his coat pocket vibrating like a massager—the real issue was what if Han Yuri demanded a kiss right here after that bombshell?
“Eep!”
Yuna finally realized what she'd said and went wide-eyed, but the water was already spilled.
“Reaaally?”
Han Yuri's eyes curved slyly. If left alone, she'd definitely demand proof.
Better to take the initiative first. Ian snatched Yuna's fidgeting hand.
“Hyaaak!”
Yuna shrieked at the sudden contact. People around glanced over, but Ian gripped her hand crushingly tight, signaling her to play along.
“Eek.”
Even spoiled fish had some good parts—thankfully, Yuna had the street smarts of a mage. She quickly gripped his hand back, her lips quivering. Her face and ears had long since turned beet red. Whether it was from the cold, embarrassment, or some fluttering she didn't even recognize herself, even Yuna wasn't sure.
Whatever it was, it wasn't Ian's business. He interlaced his fingers with hers, her resistance gone.
The classic lovers' hand-hold. It was a bit uncomfortable and painful, but for show, this bold move was better.
“Haha, Yuna's a bit shy like that.”
Ian said, raising their joined hands.
“Last night on the phone, she said it'd be embarrassing in front of you, so we should hold back on the PDA around Han Yuri.”
“Oh, really? I was wondering. You should've just said so.”
Han Yuri covered her mouth with her hand, smiling warmly.
“Still, seeing you hold hands is nice. Keep it like that all the way to the restaurant. Warmer that way, right?”
“......Well, yeah, it is.”
Ian forced the most natural smile he could while slipping their joined hands into his coat pocket. Yuna's eyes trembled, but she didn't resist. If anything, she gripped tighter.
He had no idea why. It didn't matter anyway.
“L-let's go! I'm hungry!”
Yuna replied, feeling some vibration she couldn't tell was hers or his. The grimoire thrashed harder at the invasion of its territory, but it couldn't pierce the fog in Yuna's head.
“Yeah, let's go.”
And so the three walked down the street into a rather upscale restaurant. Only then could Ian and Yuna finally let go of each other's hands. Ian was relatively unfazed, but Yuna swallowed hard, feeling the lingering warmth in her palm.
It even carried a faintly pleasant scent.
“Our reserved table's over there.”
The place was a buffet. The per-person price matched the luxurious interior and was insanely high, but the food quality looked worth it.
Ian headed to the table Han Yuri had reserved and casually tried to take off his coat to hang it on the chair. But spotting the grimoire vibrating wildly in the inner pocket, he quickly put it back on.
“Ian? Wouldn't it be better to take off your coat?”
“Ah, I'm a bit cold. I'll take it off if it gets too warm.”
“Really? The heat's cranked up pretty high here... You must feel the cold a lot. More importantly, what's that vibrating noise? It's been going on since earlier...?”
“Probably just your imagination? I don't hear anything.”
“Hmm... Is that so? Well, if you say so. Let's get some food.”
He'd successfully brushed it off. Ian let out a deep sigh of relief and secretly tapped the grimoire's cover.
“Behave yourself. What's with you today?”
[Wuuuuuuum!!!!!!!!!]
“......You're really pissed off, huh. I'll tune you up tomorrow, so just stay quiet today. Sorry.”
[Wuuuuuum!!!]
“Fine, fine. I'll even kiss the cover. I'll sleep with you right beside me tonight, so calm down.”
[Wuuum!]
“Got it. No women for a while. Happy now?”
[Wum.]
The vibrations stopped. Ian sighed deeply and ran a hand through his hair.
He felt exhausted today more than ever......
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