How to Persuade Your Lover (2)
Silver and Jade Co. Gangdong Branch.
The four-person party centered around the black-haired shield warrior wrapped up the day's work as usual. Before parting ways at the intersection in front of the company, they exchanged final goodbyes.
"Everyone worked hard today."
"...You too."
"Great job, Jihee unnie, and Yuri unnie!"
"Hehe, you all did great too."
With their own expressions of thanks to their party members after finishing the dungeon raid, Sky Blue Shield called it a day.
"Hyeun must've had it the toughest today, huh. Aww~."
"It's not like one person's suffering more or less than others. We all worked equally hard."
"But Hyeun was the one who got covered in that giant slime's mucus all by herself again today... It breaks my heart every time I see my Hyeun struggling like that~."
"I'm used to it. And thanks to my defensive gear ability, it doesn't even hurt."
"Hiiing~. Still~."
Kang Hyeun felt a moderate sense of gratitude toward Cheon Jihee, who hugged her from behind in comfort.
...Lately, she'd vaguely sensed that Jihee was being unusually clingy only toward her.
It's probably just my imagination.
Dismissing it as nothing serious, she ignored Jihee's somewhat excessive physical contact. After all, with her relationship status as having a boyfriend already public knowledge within the party, she never imagined a fellow woman—non-romantic—harboring any strange feelings for her.
"See you tomorrow, unnies~!"
"Yeah, get home safe, you two~."
"......"
As always at the four-way intersection where they split, Sky Blue Shield divided into three paths. Han Mina, taking the left fork with her, spoke up.
"Hey, Kang Hyeun."
"What?"
"You really won't tell me? What's Sung Taekyung's awakening ability, anyway?"
"Just ask Taekyung yourself next time."
"Argh! You really!!"
It was the same question she'd asked a dozen times since yesterday, but Kang Hyeun's lips stayed sealed. Han Mina vented with a weak punch.
Kang Hyeun actually felt considerable satisfaction at Mina's attitude.
Her friend and lover Sung Taekyung had shared his awakening ability with her but not Mina. Excluding him, she was still the only one who knew the truth about his awakening—and that thrilled her most these days. She wanted to savor that exclusivity as long as possible.
"I already said it's fine. Whether you meet Taekyung without me or have sex, I don't mind."
"That's what I don't get! What the hell is his ability that you can say it so casually?!"
"Hear it from him directly."
"Yaaah, Kang Hyeun, you really!!"
Kang Hyeun savored maximum psychological superiority amid Mina's painless punches. It would end once Taekyung met Mina next week anyway. For now, she relished her advantage.
It was one of the few privileges as his first girlfriend.
"...But you're pretty impressive, you know."
"Huh?"
"How can you so easily let your boyfriend meet and hook up with other women? I could never..."
"It wasn't easy. And I'm not okay with just any woman."
"Huh?"
To the dumbstruck Mina, she replied.
"Taekyung trusted me enough to tell me about his ability, so I agreed. But I won't allow just anyone. I'll meet whoever he's seeing, and if they're no good, I'll make sure he never sees them again."
"R-Really?"
She hadn't pried into who he'd met or slept with, fearing she'd seem obsessively clingy. But if any future encounter dissatisfied her, Kang Hyeun planned to cut it off decisively.
This ability or not, he's not selling his body to just anyone. He only has sex with people he could truly love.
She trusted her childhood friend's judgment to an extent. Still, she needed to see for herself at least once to feel secure. She intended to meet each of his women at least once.
...Even if it meant aggressive measures if he resisted.
"......"
"W-Why the sudden serious glare?"
"...Huh? Was I?"
"D-Does it bother you after all? That I slept with Taekyung...?"
To the anxious Mina, she smiled reassuringly.
"No, you're fine, Mina."
"O-Oh..."
"You were one of the few in school who didn't bully Taekyung. Probably the only animal awakening hunter who never touched him."
"I-It just happened that way..."
"That's good enough. You're not bad. ...As one of Taekyung's concubines."
Mina bristled at the loaded words from her friend.
"Wh-Who're you calling a concubine!!"
"...Huh? Not satisfied as a concubine, so you're saying you'll push ahead to become my equal?"
"Th-That's not it...! Anyway, I'm no concubine! I have my pride as a woman too!!"
"So if you get another boyfriend later, you'll stop seeing Taekyung? Fine by me—fewer rivals for him."
"......"
As if this hopeless girl has the guts to date someone else.
Kang Hyeun continued matter-of-factly.
"Anyway, that's for later. While you're seeing him, make sure to help him with your heat cycles properly. It's good for you too—earn some heat suppressant money, help his ability. Right?"
"W-Well, yeah..."
"And I'd rather he roll around with someone reliable like you or Yuri than some random. I know you two won't do anything stupid to him."
"...You knew about Yuri unnie too?"
"If you and Yuri stick close to Taekyung often, it'll reduce his meetings with strangers. So let's cooperate for now. Got it?"
"......Fine."
"Anyway, I'm off here. Taekyung texted to meet up today too."
"Yeah, okay..."
Bidding Mina farewell at their usual split, Kang Hyeun smiled inwardly.
Just days after such intense lovemaking, he was calling her over again. Despite his ability forcing him to meet other women, his favorite was undoubtedly her.
His attitude proved it.
She hadn't identified one of the other three yet, but the two she knew were close, trustworthy people—which eased her somewhat. Though sharing him now was inevitable, someday he'd be hers alone.
With excited steps, she headed to Sung Taekyung's place.
Incapable of imagining he'd suggest sex with her closest someone.
"...Are you serious?"
It was the first response from her after mentioning Eunyoung unnie post-Hyeun meeting.
"Hyeun, calm down first. Me sleeping with Eunyoung unnie isn't just for the ability..."
"E-Eunyoung unnie? You're not right in the head. Even if she's my mom, calling a 40-something auntie 'unnie'? People might think you're into original sin stuff with my mother!"
"Hyeun, please just hear me out..."
Honestly, I owed her apologies from ten mouths and still fell short.
But I had to clarify it wasn't solely my choice.
First, calm her enough to listen.
"A-And your mom looks young anyway, so calling her Eunyoung unnie doesn't scream cradle-robbing or anything..."
"......What?"
"N-Nothing! I misspoke!"
"Unbelievable..."
First time. In over ten years knowing my childhood friend, she'd never looked at me so cynically.
Even I'd feel the same if roles reversed. If my first love hooked up with others out of necessity, then later my dad...
Probably end things fast before ugly words flew—even my past self would.
I was asking her what I couldn't do. No right to quibble; I knew that.
147:32:42
With only about six days left, the deadline forced my mouth open even now.
If Hyeun flatly refused, I'd still sleep with Eunyoung unnie to save her life.
To keep our relationship post-that, I had to beg humbly.
Call me selfish, disgusting—I didn't care. I refused to lose anything in my arms.
Not my romance with Hyeun.
Not the Hunter Libido Manager System.
Not Eunyoung unnie's life, who'd raised me this far.
One helpless parental loss was enough agony.
"I can explain properly, Hyeun. Really."
"......"
"If you're still mad after, hit me, slam me into the wall—whatever! But this is crucial for you too. You have to hear it."
"......"
My repeated pleas on my knees before her finally worked. Her icy expression softened slightly.
"...Give me one reason I won't understand."
Another chance to persuade her.