Chapter 86
Chapter 86
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Rental
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Even at the restaurant, Han Yu-ri's not-quite-a-test test continued. Thanks to that, Ian had to keep eating in a fairly uncomfortable situation. He'd anticipated it to some extent, but that didn't make it any less awkward.
The acting on the cruise had been similar yet different. Back then, it was a masquerade ball with a whole group, but now it was just an act to fool one person. The difficulty was easier here, but the mental fatigue was far worse than on the cruise.
That made sense. The victims on the cruise had been enthralled by the anomaly and turned into NPCs from a game, whereas Han Yu-ri was perfectly compos mentis.
Fooling a normal person was always harder than fooling an idiot. Because of that, Ian had to keep putting in effort.
"You've got something on your mouth."
"Eek."
Ian wiped the sauce from Yu-na's lips with a napkin. She, who had been devouring her meat with her face practically buried in the plate, blushed slightly and resumed eating the food she'd fetched. Ian gazed at her with the look of someone watching an adorable creature.
"Ugh, look at that gaze. I'm jealous of Yu-na."
"Ah... haha, the affection hasn't cooled even after time. It's surprising to me too."
Fortunately, the facial acting had landed perfectly. Ian stroked Yu-na's hair once, said he was stepping out to the restroom, and rose from his seat.
The restroom was mostly empty. He entered the stall in the farthest corner and caught his breath.
"This is suffocating... driving me insane...."
His solitary mutter rose and dissipated.
Ironically, this tiny enclosed space offered a faint sense of stability. He'd never liked cramped areas in his life, but today, the restroom felt oddly comforting.
Was this how people who ate sitting on the toilet felt? He couldn't know for sure, but a strange sense of kinship washed over him.
"Hoo...."
Ian exhaled deeply and pulled out the grimoire tucked inside his coat, stroking it. It wasn't particularly meaningful—just petting it like a cat made him feel at ease.
In truth, there wasn't much difference between the grimoire and a cat. Both had prickly personalities and were standoffish to anyone but their owner. It was like a cosmic cat through and through.
'Come to think of it, didn't the Cthulhu Mythos have space cats too? What do they even look like?'
Lost in pointless thoughts, he stroked the cover—swish, swish. The grimoire, enjoying the touch obediently, vibrated as if pleased, and Ian put the cigarette from his pocket between his lips, bobbing it idly.
He wanted to light one up, but he couldn't return smelling like smoke. The restroom was nonsmoking anyway.
"...Time to head back."
This breather had been enough. Ian pocketed the cigarette again, stowed the grimoire, and exited the restroom. As he approached the table, Han Yu-ri, who was sipping her drink, waved happily.
"You're late?"
"Things just dragged on. Where's Yu-na?"
"She went to get dessert. Over there."
Following Han Yu-ri's gaze, Yu-na was piling a plate high with little cakes, jellies, chocolates, and the like. Her lips were slightly upturned—she seemed to have relaxed a bit. Or maybe she just loved food that much.
Either way, her absence right now eased his mind a little. Ian nodded and plopped down in his seat.
He dipped a few pieces of pre-prepared sushi into soy sauce and popped them into his mouth. They were a bit cold, but still pretty tasty. No wonder they charged so much.
"By the way, Mr. Shin Ian."
"...? Yes. Go ahead."
Ian set down his water glass at the sudden address. Han Yu-ri glanced toward Yu-na, still loading up on food in the distance, let out a small chuckle.
"You're a good actor. If Yu-na had any talent for it too, I might've been fooled."
"...."
Ian's mouth shut. He stared at Han Yu-ri with a cold expression, then realized this had nothing to do with anomalies and cracked a wry smile.
No need for overreaction. It wasn't life-or-death.
There was plenty of evidence anyway. Yu-na's constantly shifting statements, the overly chaste physical contact for a couple, the excessive shyness—it was glaringly obvious to anyone with eyes. She'd probably caught on since the café.
"Yu-na's always been terrible at acting."
Han Yu-ri said.
"She'd steal my pudding and deny it, but her eyes would twitch every time. She's brutally honest like that."
"...Is that so?"
"Yeah. You seem like a proper pro this time, but it doesn't matter—Yu-na's still Yu-na. I saw through it from the start."
She continued, then turned to Ian with a slightly subdued voice.
"...You're not, like, a rental boyfriend or anything, right?"
"...Haa."
In the end, Ian had no choice but to recount the prior events to her. Naturally, he omitted how they met and anything anomaly-related. He didn't know the full story of how Han Yu-na became a mage, but Han Yu-ri didn't seem involved with that world.
It wasn't that her family was special—Yu-na had just stumbled into it uniquely. No need to reveal the world's underbelly to someone without the power to protect herself. Knowing too much would only attract trouble.
"I see...."
After hearing the abbreviated tale.
Han Yu-ri trailed off, smiling wryly as she watched Yu-na totter back with her loaded plate.
"Thanks. For going along with this silly charade."
"No big deal. I got paid, after all. Don't worry about it."
"Still... Haa... Why'd she have to lie and tire everyone out?"
"Haha...."
Ian let out a dry laugh, and Han Yu-ri took a sip of her cola before turning to him.
"It's a bit much saying this with her right here, but you don't seem like a bad guy, so I'm relieved. Friends, right? Met by chance?"
"Hmm... You could say that."
"Then keep being friends with our Yu-na. You're the only close friend she's had in her life—she's probably thrilled about you deep down."
"...."
"I know Yu-na has this one secret that's different from others. One day she suddenly claimed to grasp the world's truths and started eating dirt like a weirdo."
Dirt eating.
One of the most basic steps to becoming a mage. It felt like ancient history now, but Ian had once bought dirt from a flower shop and shoveled it down too. Yu-na had probably done the same.
Back then, it was the only way, and the obsession that he'd go mad without becoming a mage had made him scarf it indiscriminately.
Looking back, he couldn't fathom how he'd done it. Hadn't the madness started then? Honestly, surviving was the real miracle.
Anyway.
No reason to refuse Han Yu-ri's request to stay friends with Yu-na. He planned to maintain the relationship anyway.
Magic that freely adjusted the strength of organic or inorganic matter had endless uses.
Sure, it consumed blood as a drawback, but even accounting for that, reasons to keep her around abounded. Why else drag her on vampire hunts?
The connection benefited Ian greatly. His answer was a given.
Ian sidelong glanced at Yu-na, now close by, chuckled softly, and nodded. At the clear affirmation, Han Yu-ri smiled back.
"...?"
Yu-na, who hadn't heard the exchange, tilted her head, but sadly, no one would tell her the truth.
*
The meal ended without incident.
Just past 1 p.m., the three left the buffet and took a light stroll through the park.
Winter's park hadn't bloomed yet, but ice crystals lay beautifully, reflecting sunlight. Rainbows trapped in tiny ice prisms scattered halos everywhere. Flowers that bloomed only in winter.
No encounters with anomalies during the walk. With two mages, he'd been wary, but nothing seemed amiss. A relief.
After the stroll, they wandered the city lightly. Once evening came and dinner was sorted, Han Yu-ri headed to the station for her train south. The other two followed to see her off.
"Well, I'll be off then. Let's meet again sometime."
Standing before the KTX to Daegu, Han Yu-ri smiled and waved. Ian smiled back and bowed his head.
"Have a safe trip."
"Yeah. You too, Ian. Yu-na, eat properly, go to the doctor if you're sick, okay?"
"Ah, I know...."
Yu-na grumbled in response. Han Yu-ri hugged her tightly once, then boarded, taking her seat.
Moments later, the train departed. Accelerating swiftly along the tracks, it soon vanished from sight. Yu-na, waving through the window, exhaled deeply once Han Yu-ri was gone.
"Hoo...! She's finally, finally gone!"
"Aren't you too happy? She might feel snubbed."
"I-I'm more snubbed! From now on, tell her to give a month's notice before visiting...."
Ian looked down at mumbling Yu-na and let out a chuckle.
He didn't tell her Han Yu-ri had seen through the act.
Why burst her bubble when she thought they'd fooled her perfectly? Better to preserve innocence.
'It's over.'
Ian left the grinning Yu-na behind and exhaled into the air. White breath trailed upward.
The long day was done. The thought loosened every muscle. He wanted to crash into bed and burrow under the covers.
No hesitation. Ian patted Yu-na's shoulder.
"Let's go home."
"Ah, yeah. L-Let's go. Thanks for today...."
"Yeah, yeah."
The two promptly left the station, took a taxi, and headed to their respective homes.
No afterparty.
Instead, a chicken gift voucher arrived.
[Han Yu-na: Reward for your hard work today. Enjoy.]
[Han Yu-na: (Photo of a small beer can and a whole chicken)]
[Han Yu-na: (Awkwardly smiling, holding out the beer can like a toast)]
[Han Yu-na: Cheers!]
Ian burst into laughter at the endearingly cute messages. Without hesitation, he ordered chicken, set it up upon arrival, snapped a photo with his beer, and sent it.
[Me: Cheers.]
The reply came instantly.
[Han Yu-na: Cheeeers!]
Obviously drunk.
Ian smiled wryly, set his phone down, and chugged his beer.
Well, the good mood outweighed the fatigue.