Chapter 209
Chapter 209
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 209
Chapter Title: The Yandere Fairy's Gaze is Strange
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The atmosphere inside the bar was growing increasingly intimate.
Once the stage performance ended, quiet music flowed from the speakers again, but amid the people's chatter and laughter, it felt buried like mere background noise.
Within that ambiance, Isia and Junseok sat side by side, tilting their glasses as they chatted.
"Ah, the cooking academy?"
"I was just curious how you ended up enrolling there, Junseok."
"Haha! I suddenly got interested, so I decided to sign up right away."
"That's impressive. It's rare for guys to actually attend a cooking class even if they're into it... especially as a hobby."
Junseok scratched the back of his head at Isia's soft, calm voice.
"Guys cook these days too. Can't fall behind the times, right?"
"So, if you get married, could you cook for your wife every day?"
"Every day might be tough, but weekends should be doable, don't you think?"
"Wow... The woman who marries you in the future must be so lucky."
"Y-Yeah?"
Junseok let out a gentle chuckle, occasionally glancing my way.
His eyes seemed to plead for a quick verdict on whether Isia was a ghost or human.
I appeared uninvolved in the conversation on the surface, but in reality, it was the opposite.
I was meticulously observing her every action and word.
'...Fuck, I have no idea.'
Fairies possessed physical abilities incomparable to humans.
The problem was that I couldn't gauge if Isia was powerful or not.
Suggesting an arm-wrestling match right from our first meeting to test her strength would make me look insane, and even if we did, she could just let me win on purpose.
Smooth.
Even amid that, Junseok subtly turned his head now and then, shooting me glances.
With Isia's looks, anyone would be captivated and fully focused on the conversation, but getting burned by Sowol the fairy must have left a mark—he kept seeking confirmation.
I stifled a laugh inwardly.
'How big of a trauma was it to make this player so damn cautious?'
Then, suddenly, Isia shifted her gaze from Junseok to me.
She raised her glass, as if proposing a toast.
"Haeseong, right?"
"Ah... Yeah."
"Care for a drink?"
"Sure."
Clink—
"But are you always this quiet?"
"You're talking about stuff I don't know about."
At that, Isia flinched in surprise and bowed her head.
"Oh, sorry. It's my first time meeting Junseok outside, so..."
"It's fine. I like listening anyway."
"Really...? I thought you might have something on your mind."
Isia's eyes were crystal clear, almost unsettlingly so.
They seemed to pierce right through you, yet carried a relaxed ease that lured you into lowering your guard. Something like that.
I blinked for a moment, then smiled very naturally.
"Haha... I get that misunderstanding a lot."
"Is the live bar making you uncomfortable?"
"No, not at all. It's different from what I expected, but it's pretty good in its own way. Nice to the ears too."
"Glad to hear that. I'll step away to the restroom for a bit—keep chatting."
"Got it."
Isia flashed a bright smile as she rose from her seat.
The hem of her skirt brushed against the chair, sending a faint tickle to my ears for a moment.
As she turned and navigated between the tables, a subtle fragrance lingered from her clothes.
'Too perfect, that's the issue.'
A few tables away, men lifted their heads or shot glances as she passed, while one woman crossed her arms and eyed her with jealous envy.
She was undeniably captivating.
"Haeseong."
The moment Isia disappeared down the hallway toward the restrooms, Junseok leaned in eagerly and spoke to me.
He cupped his mouth with the back of his hand and whispered quietly.
"Why aren't you answering?"
"Huh?"
"Tell me if she's a ghost or human."
I set my glass down on the table, wearing a troubled expression.
"...She feels off, but I'm not sure."
"Your divine power weakened or something?"
"It's frustrating the hell out of me too."
Junseok let out a deep sigh, glanced once more toward the restrooms, and spoke up.
"...Her face is fucking gorgeous, though."
"Yeah, I was pretty shocked when I first saw her."
"How hasn't she gone into acting with that face? She sings here, so she's not uninterested in showbiz..."
"And like you said, her figure's killer too."
"That's not all. Personality's great too. Doesn't make sense unless she's not a ghost."
"Ghosts aren't always nice, but her looks really don't add up."
Junseok bit his lip and nodded.
"Talking to her just now, I kept forgetting what I was saying because of her face."
"...You're insane."
"Try locking eyes and chatting with Isia yourself! You'll get what I mean right away."
I took another sip of the liquor left in my glass.
The alcohol's aroma spread through my mouth, sharpening my hazy mind.
I set the glass down and tapped the table surface with my fingers as I continued.
"By the way, you mentioned some students from the cooking academy stopped showing up recently?"
"The three guys I told you about earlier?"
"Might be quickest to investigate them first."
At that, Junseok's eyes sharpened.
"You're right. Figuring out why those guys quit the academy should give us answers. But who's gonna do the investigating?"
"I'll ask Detective Yoo Seongjae for a favor."
As we dove into serious talk, Isia appeared in the distance, smoothing her hair as she walked back toward us.
She approached the table and quietly took her seat.
"I'm back."
No sooner had Isia sat than Junseok shot up from his chair.
"Uh... I need the restroom too."
He clutched his stomach as if on cue and hurried off.
With that, an odd silence settled over the table.
"Do you have any hobbies, Haeseong?"
"...Pardon?"
"I was thinking if you don't, maybe learn cooking with Junseok."
"I can cook enough."
"Really!? How good are you?"
"Enough to make my own meals at home."
At my words, Isia smiled, revealing her pink gums.
"That's all you need. Anyway... how'd you meet Junseok?"
"We went to college together. It's been about eight years now."
"Wow... you must be really close."
"Yeah. He's the friend who stuck by me during my dad's funeral."
Isia grinned broadly, then slowly opened her clutch bag.
She pulled out her phone and turned her gaze to me.
"Could I get your number, by any chance?"
"...Sure?"
"No ulterior motives. I lived abroad for a long time, so I don't have many friends here."
"Ah... you lived overseas..."
"When I meet someone I click with, I just want to stay in touch."
What exactly clicked in this conversation?
Yet her words had a simple, oddly persuasive charm that melted away defenses.
I cleared my throat and held out my palm.
"Hand me your phone. I'll put it in."
"R-Really!?"
I entered my number quickly, handed the phone back with a soft smile.
"You won't text too often, right?"
"Of course not. Thank you so much."
Isia bowed her head repeatedly in gratitude.
I leaned back in my chair, tilting my head.
'Ha... this is weird.'
Just giving her my number—why's she so thankful?
With her looks, she could get any guy's number anytime.
Or am I seeing things through colored glasses because I suspect she's a fairy?
As my mind tangled in thoughts, Junseok's voice came from behind—I hadn't even noticed him return from the restroom.
"Isia, what fun stuff are you two talking about?"
At Junseok's question, Isia hastily tucked her phone back into her clutch and replied.
"J-Just asked about his hobbies."
No need to hide giving her my number from Junseok, so I set down my glass and spoke naturally.
"She said she's lived abroad a long time and doesn't have many friends in Korea yet, so I offered to exchange numbers first."
"Oh, yeah? Good call."
At that moment, Isia's head snapped up in surprise.
Her eyes held a hint of confusion.
I adjusted my posture and continued calmly.
"What's up?"
Isia stared at me intently, as if fascinated, without responding.
Then, with flushed cheeks, she shyly spoke.
"You're a good person, Haeseong."
...
Suddenly?
Is she just a girl with a screw loose?