Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: The Yandere Fairy's Gaze is Strange
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"Is the food to your liking?"
"...It's absolutely delicious."
Seo Geonchang's residence.
I'd successfully brought Junseok to the 70th birthday party as planned, but I couldn't hide my bewilderment.
Humans are imaginative creatures by nature, aren't they?
I'd figured the place would be packed to the gills with people—no room to breathe, let alone chat.
But no.
Only Seo Geonchang and Seo Yerim were there to greet us at the house.
What in the world was going on?
Smooth.
Meanwhile, Junseok sat there the whole meal with his shoulders twitching from betrayal and rage.
With Seo Geonchang and Seo Yerim waiting right at the front gate, Junseok—strapped in next to me—didn't even have time to bolt.
Which left me picking at my food while nervously eyeing both sides.
As the meal wrapped up, Seo Geonchang turned to me and cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry to put you in this position."
"...Pardon?"
"Truth be told, the 70th birthday bash happened years ago."
I just blinked in stunned silence until Junseok nudged my side with his elbow.
"You got played by Grandpa."
Of course, getting duped didn't sit well, but it made me wonder just how badly he'd wanted to see Junseok.
I set down my spoon and straightened up.
"It's fine. I'll just think of it as getting treated to a fine meal."
"Unlike Junseok, you've got a generous heart."
"Haha... That said, I'm worried Junseok might hold a grudge against me."
Junseok was still glaring daggers at me, huffing away.
Seo Geonchang watched him with a crinkled smile.
"Now that we're done eating, I'll have a quick word with Junseok."
"Of course."
After the meal, Seo Yerim and I headed side by side into the parlor.
The air felt even more stifling than when it had been the three of us with Seo Geonchang and Junseok.
To break the awkwardness, I forced out some words.
"Oh, right—thanks for the side dishes. I got them through Junseok."
"...No big deal."
Should've expected the curt reply from Seo Yerim.
With that, conversation ground to a halt.
The vast parlor fell quiet until a tray of fragrant tea arrived—and only then did Seo Yerim toss out a line.
"I heard you asked Grandpa for a favor?"
"Ah, there's this nice auntie from my hometown. She's got a daughter."
No real topic at hand, so I spilled all the details on the errands Jiwon-i's mom had asked me to run.
Seo Yerim's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"You really asked our grandpa for her?"
"Why?"
"I just... from what I overheard earlier, I figured you were into this Jiwon girl and pulled strings with Grandpa."
"Into her? Who, Jiwon-i? Nah, she's barely twenty."
"So? You're both adults."
I gave a soft chuckle, eyeing Seo Yerim's unexpectedly open-minded take on romance.
"Fair point, but Jiwon-i's like a little sister I've known forever. Tough to see her romantically."
"Didn't you say it had been ages? Bet she's grown into a woman since then."
"Jiwon-i's mom feels like family to me. She stuck around till the very end at my dad's funeral."
"...I see."
That aside.
I'd only started talking to fill the silence, but was Seo Yerim really this curious about me?
Or was it bugging her that I'd gone to her grandpa?
"I only asked Grandpa for the simple stuff, so no need to fret."
"...Huh?"
"I've got some pride—stuck to just the info on Jiwon-i's seniors."
"That's not..."
As she murmured softly, Junseok came stomping out of Seo Geonchang's study.
Ignoring Seo Yerim entirely, he jerked his chin at me.
"Let's head out."
"You okay?"
On the drive dropping Junseok home, I gripped the wheel tight.
Glancing over, he sighed from the passenger seat and crossed his arms.
"...Dunno. Feels like I lost a friend today."
"You lunatic—how was I supposed to say no when your grandpa was practically begging with tears in his eyes?"
"Still, if we're friends, you should've tipped me off first."
"Think you wouldn't have ghosted if I'd told you?"
At a loss, he bit his lip and stared out the window.
"...Grandpa says I don't have to come home anymore."
"What? So he cut you off?"
"Nah—if the house feels too awkward, I can just live on my own."
"Planning to keep staying out, then?"
"Yep. Twenty-eight now—gotta stand on my own two feet. Only way to chase my lifelong dream."
"Which is?"
"Bringing a girlfriend home."
I pursed my lips and rubbed my chin with one hand.
"...Junseok, doesn't that mean get a girlfriend first?"
"About time I did. Can't stay lonely forever."
"Dramas always show chaebols doing arranged marriages, though. That for real?"
"Honestly? They're not unheard of."
"So no one's approached you? Weird. Ugly rumors or not, it's Yeoksan Group..."
"Y-you bastard! It's not like that!"
The light jab seemed to ease the heavy mood a bit.
I jerked my chin with a laugh in my voice.
"Then what?"
"...No successor picked yet. Companies are all just circling, waiting."
"Ah... Him coming out to the gate means you're not gunning for it, right?"
"Kinda... but turns out life doesn't bend to my will."
I didn't know the ins and outs of chaebol drama, but I got it.
Junseok had always craved 'freedom' like a man dying of thirst.
No wonder the guy who hated anything restrictive aced military life—must've been the house itself that chafed.
Like a prison without bars, maybe?
"Happy now?"
"Totally. No side-eye at meals, drink as late as I want."
"Rough childhood, huh."
At my concerned glance, he stared back and snorted.
"Pfft—even as a chaebol kid, way better than some country bumpkin life."
This jerk always swatted away any worry like that.
Guess that's his charm.
"...Bumpkin came to visit once, and the chaebol brat can't even date."
"Ha! Who's the virgin now?"
"No dating since discharge? Sounds virgin to me."
"Looks improving and now you're cocky?"
"Whatever— we're here. Hop out."
Junseok climbed out, then bent down to peer at me in the driver's seat.
"Heading straight back?"
"Nah, gotta swing by somewhere first."
"Why not? Come up—grab a drink since you're here."
"Next time."
"...Fine."
He looked bummed—clearly craving booze—but I gripped the wheel and peeled out toward Kim Se-ah's place.
One of Jiwon-i's seniors. Address had pinged straight to KakaoTalk, so no hesitation.
Had to check their game in person.
Screeech.
Same Seoul, but the nav led quick enough.
An old one-room villa—basement unit.
Kim Se-ah's was smack in the middle.
Parked in the tight spot, took a deep breath.
Air felt dank and chilly somehow.
Down the stairs to the basement, the metal doorknob gleamed.
Hesitated a beat at the door, then knocked lightly.
Knock knock.
Moment later, it swung open—Kim Se-ah.
"Oppa, you made it?"
The instant I saw her, her cheeks flushed pink.
She wore a thin camisole clinging tight, straps dangling precariously off her shoulders.
Below? Shorts so tiny they could've passed for panties—or loungewear.
Her damp hair screamed fresh shower.
"Yeah, hi. Where's Jiwon-i?"
"Oh... that? I said you weren't coming at first—as a joke!? It's just me and Hyunju here."
I let out a short sigh and glanced away on reflex.
One-room setup—full view from the door. Park Hyunju's outfit hit even harder.
Outfit? Debatable.
Bra and panties. That was it.
Fuck, they serious?
Frozen in shock at the threshold, Kim Se-ah grinned and tugged my arm inside.
She rose on tiptoe and whispered low.
"Oppa, let's have some fun—just the three of us tonight."
Bzzz. Bzzz.
Phone buzzed. I politely shook off her grip on my arm and picked up.
-Hello?
-Han Haeseong? Correct phone?
-Yes.
-Hello. Yeoksan Group Secretary Jin Hyeong-o here. You requested a favor from our chairman, correct?
-Yes.
-Kim Se-ah and Park Hyunju—the ones you sent info on? Not students at Reheon University.
Meanwhile, Kim Se-ah and Park Hyunju sat side by side inside, waving me in post-call.
I blinked hard.
-...Not? For real?
-They target broke female students, loan money at insane rates. When they can't pay? Straight to the red-light district. Good news: Jiwon hasn't hit the final stage yet.
-Ah... Got it.
-Reported to the chairman already. We'll handle it cleanly.
-...Mind if I call back?
-Of course.
Click.
Call ended. Kim Se-ah shook a beer can and called out.
"Oppa, done with the call? Come on in!"
So.
They'd cozied up to sweet, part-time-working Jiwon-i without her folks' help—loaned cash, then planned to pimp her out when the interest crushed her?
This wasn't kid stuff.
Learned to pull shit like this at their age?
Fingers trembling, fury boiled up from deep in my gut.
Bam.
Slamming the door shut, I stormed inside.
Park Hyunju on the floor was casually tucking a protruding vibrator back into her panties.
I swallowed dryly and eased my butt down to the floor.
Forced a relaxed grin, scratched my head.
"Haha! Sorry I'm late—got held up on the call."
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Well, no matter how pissed I was, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do, right?