Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Inciting Incident
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Deeply settled night is driven away by artificial light, cold hunks of metal are launched to the moon, and humans—who infuse their lives with self-determination under the ethics and norms they've set for themselves—seem truly grand at first glance.
But tear back the layers, and they're just another mammal.
Someday that lofty future might arrive, but for now, modern humans remain utterly enslaved to their primal urges.
Kang Nari was no exception, bound by those same deficiencies as any human.
It had been four days since she'd formally hired Yoo Seo-ha.
She'd eaten well and taken good care of business... but sleep? Not so much.
Every night, she was kept up until dawn for private lessons.
The words still echoed in her ears, as vivid as ever.
'Boss, do you really fall asleep with skills like that?' That impish little voice.
No wonder physiological needs topped Maslow's hierarchy.
Days of barely four hours of sleep had worn her down badly.
Dozing off became frequent, her voice grew hoarse mid-stream, and her body started creaking like an old door.
(The last bit might just be aging.)
"Yaaawn! Finally got a solid night's sleep!"
Anyway, with fatigue tanking her energy and bleeding into her main gig—streaming—Kang Nari declared today an official off day, steeling her resolve.
No opening the shop, either.
Today was for pure freedom. Uninterrupted rest that no one could touch.
Roll, roll.
She didn't get out of bed, just rolled around until she fished her phone from under the sheets.
Her ample chest got in the way a few times, but she maneuvered like a pro, body twisting with practiced ease.
Success. Phone in hand.
Time check: 10 a.m.
She should've opened shop hours ago.
A wicked grin spread across her face—pure guilty pleasure.
Bzzz—.
Perfect timing. Incoming call.
Rubbing sleep from her eyes, she focused on the screen. Caller ID came into view.
Reflex kicked in. She dropped the phone and scrambled backward.
"Wh-what? It's still morning! Why now?!"
Trakwi. The one calling Kang Nari at 10 a.m. sharp.
The past four days had conditioned all sorts of reactions in her.
Like flinching at the mere sound of that voice over the phone. Or changing the contact name from "Seo-ha" to something more... pointed.
Yoo Seo-ha was undeniably an excellent Triachia teacher.
But being an excellent teacher didn't always make for a pleasant one.
That calm, measured tone picking apart every mistake in her last game...
It wasn't even scolding, but she'd shrink like a criminal anyway.
Overreacting?
Try getting called out on 47 mistakes in a single 10-minute game. Every. Single. Night. At least 10 games per session.
If you stayed chill through that, you'd be a saint.
"...Should I just ignore it?"
The temptation hit hard, but she couldn't actually do it.
Instinct screamed tyrant, but Yoo Seo-ha was no monster.
Even repeating the same mistake over and over, that voice never wavered. Pure benevolence. Or peak professionalism.
Plus, they had stuff to discuss.
Today was her scheduled rest day. Skipping practice made perfect sense.
Gulp. She steeled herself, scooped up the phone, and held it to her ear.
"Seo-ha? Calling this early?"
- Oh. Boss.
It sounded curt at first, but she knew better now. Total softie underneath.
Her eyes went wide when startled—adorably so.
Pretended not to like sweets but clearly did.
Turned chatty the second Triachia came up.
Four days of voice chats only, and they'd grown noticeably closer. No denying it.
- I swung by the shop for a new vape coil, but you weren't there.
"Ahh..."
Of course this happens on shop-closed day.
Kang Nari scratched her head with a wry chuckle.
"It's my day off. That's why it's closed."
- Oh no. Disaster.
"...You already burned through it? You bought a week's worth."
- Well... I kept reaching for it whenever I got bored.
"I get you like sweets, but vaping too much isn't healthy."
- Sweets aren't really my thing...
Liar.
During game breaks, they'd chat idly. Hobbies, tastes—the usual.
Yoo Seo-ha always lied so obviously.
Cute little wallet, but "not into girly stuff."
Always grabbed sweet vape juice, but "not a fan of sugary foods."
Four days in, Kang Nari spotted the pattern.
Yoo Seo-ha rejected anything tied to "girly" stereotypes.
Even if she secretly loved it.
"Hmm. Anyway, no plans to open today... What now?"
Not clueless enough to pry directly, so she let it slide.
Seo-ha had mentioned avoiding people before, right?
No need to poke the bear and hurt her.
- I need that vape...
"Seo-ha, you that hooked on nicotine?"
- Other reasons too. Like... comfort meds or something.
"Sounds worse. Gotta lean on smokes?"
- Figured it out four days ago: deposit notifications hit the spot even better. Especially easy money.
First lesson pay, right after class.
Kang Nari facepalmed.
"Talking to you just makes you more of a mystery..."
- Hehe. ...So, what do we do?
"Just grab it somewhere else today. Our shop isn't the only game in town."
- I thought of that, but... you'd get mad if I bought elsewhere.
She gets it.
Warmed her heart, though. Time to see that face again anyway. She'd open up...
Except today she really didn't want to leave.
Swallowing vague jealousy, she suggested another shop.
"Wait. Better idea."
- Huh?
"Seo-ha. Wanna swing by my place? I'll hook you up with a coil."
Just hit her: invite her over, problem solved.
Impromptu, but solid.
Kang Nari wheedled gently.
- Uh... that feels like too much trouble. Awkward for your family too.
"Live alone! No issue. Free coil for you—win-win?"
- True, but... umm... uhh...
"...That big a no?"
- No! Not you. Just... first time going to anyone's house. Not mentally ready?
"What? Don't people crash at friends' places?"
- I don't have friends.
Oof.
Cold sweat down her back.
Brain kicked into overdrive, hunting the perfect response.
"Ahem. No friends? What am I, chopped liver? I'd be hurt if it's one-sided."
- Gasp! We're friends?
"Late-night Triachia sessions? That's friend territory. Money changed hands, sure, but close enough."
- Friends do this, huh...
Planted some weird ideas, but crisis averted.
Accidentally befriended someone younger.
- Making my first friend ever.
"Y-yeah. Honored...?"
- Wild. Thought I'd be solo forever.
Guilt stabbed deep.
Too late to back out—she was dead serious.
Cracking wise now? Disaster.
Look on the bright side.
Triachia, smoking—plenty in common.
Clicked well enough. Not hating this.
"If it's too awkward, no pressure. Think it over."
- I'll come. Always wanted to visit a friend's house.
Every word reddened her eyes.
She looked so put-together. What kind of life...?
- Usually bring a gift, right? What should I get...?
"Stop! Just come casual? It's... heavy otherwise."
- Huh? Your weight?
"Wanna die?"
- No, not that. Just remembered your... chest situation. Not harassment.
"Disclaimer doesn't make it not harassment..."
- Aha. Sorry.
"Got it—you're coming. Text when you're here!"
Texted the address, quick wash-up, and ding-dong.
Yoo Seo-ha at the door, face screaming nerves. Had to stifle a laugh.
So damn pure.
"Pardon the intrusion..."
"Just me here. Come on in. Eaten?"
"Not yet."
Lunchtime. Ordered chicken.
Two mouths, so a two-bird deal from a famous combo spot.
Broke her one-brand habit to accommodate.
Pointless, in the end.
Kang Nari portion-controlled for her figure.
Yoo Seo-ha naturally ate light.
Combined? Barely one bird down.
Leftovers to the fridge.
She'd come wanting the friend experience but couldn't relax once there.
Short chat post-meal, grabbed coil, bounced.
"No lesson today, like I said! Safe trip!"
"Thanks. Chicken was great, boss."
Waved her off with a bow.
Finally, total rest. Straight to bed.
Full belly amplified the bliss.
But Kang Nari didn't know.
How that one visit would snowball into a monster during tomorrow's stream.
"Phew. Barely won! Gonna grab some food, guys."
"Leftovers from yesterday. Hyah!"
"No, leftovers! And even if I gain, the girls cover it."
Chicken-focused, Kang Nari missed the chat veering weird.
Left alone, it snowballed down the hill.
Slowly.
But surely.
Threads connecting.
"Ugh. Gotta stop eating... Been hearing I'm heavy lately. Really gonna pack it on."
Post-meal, she finally glanced at chat.
Too late. Past the point of no return.
"Uh... shit's hit the fan."
Kang Nari blanked, cursing under her breath as reality sank in.