Chapter 227
Chapter 227
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: A Brother's Fury
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Warning
"Park... Un-ho? Why?"
Philip probably wanted to ignore my opinion and push ahead anyway. But to show he was a true leader, he asked for it.
"Why? It's suspicious."
".......Sus...picious?"
For some reason, Philip stared at me with a look of utter disbelief.
"Yeah, suspicious. That's why I'm against it. Well...... looks like I'm the only one objecting anyway. Even if my opinion doesn't carry the day, I don't mind. But I should at least be able to voice it, right?"
I shrugged as I said it.
".......I see..."
Philip looked like he had words rising to the back of his throat, but he held them back.
"Park Un-ho! No one else seems to object....... So, we'll welcome him into our group."
Democracy in action, as expected.
-Clap clap clap.
Then Edward Morgan spoke up.
"I offer my deepest gratitude to Philip and Humphrey for rescuing me. And to all of you for accepting me into this group—truly, thank you. I know some of you aren't thrilled about me."
He glanced my way.
It was a sleazy look that made me want to turn his eyeballs into pancakes.
"I'll do my best to prove myself a valuable member, even to those who don't like me."
Edward gave a little speech, flashed a friendly smile, and greeted the survivors.
"Un-ho, are you worried Grace might fall for that guy?"
Carrie asked with a playful expression.
"......No."
It wasn't petty jealousy. I was genuinely against it because he was suspicious.
Edward was a superpowered Awakener.
He could get better treatment if he revealed it, but he was hiding it. Who would even believe me if I said it?
Grace or Carrie...
Hard to say if they'd buy it.
They'd probably be skeptical.
Rachel might believe me, at least?
But she didn't have the influence here to sway opinions.
Edward would have to manifest his powers for anyone to believe it.
He didn't seem inclined to.
Forcing him would require some rough methods.
These people wouldn't stand for that...
And I had no intention of wasting time convincing them.
I'd done what I could.
'Still, I should warn Grace and Carrie later that he's shady.'
"Edward probably... isn't Grace's type."
That was a relief.
"But you never know with romance."
"What!?"
"Come on, Un-ho. No need to look so down. But if Grace dumps you..."
".....?"
"How about... me?"
Carrie blinked up at me, peering carefully at my face.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed.
Was it the flickering campfire flames?
Or...
A subtle tension flowed between us.
She leaned in toward me slyly.
At that moment, I quickly extended my senses to scan for Grace.
She was chatting with someone pretty far off.
Relieved, I started to gently wrap my arms around Carrie.
"Carrie."
Damn it...
I barely swallowed a curse that almost slipped out loud.
"Ugh, what is it, Philip? You ruined the mood!"
Exactly—didn't this guy have any sense of timing?
".........Sorry, I need to talk to Park Un-ho about something important."
He said that, but Philip didn't look sorry at all.
"Tch!"
Carrie shot him a glare.
"I don't have anything to say..."
Of course I wasn't thrilled either.
"Park Un-ho..... I have something! Important to say. Let's talk somewhere quiet."
Philip clenched his jaw, glaring at me.
Somewhere quiet...
Music to my ears.
This guy had been getting too comfortable.
I could've had a nice time with Carrie tonight...
Even if he was her brother...... he'd crossed a line this time.
Perfect opportunity.
Maybe time to cure him of his siscon habits.
He led me behind a secluded warehouse.
"I'll make this simple. Stay away from Carrie."
"Philip..... isn't meddling in someone else's love life crossing a line?"
"........Didn't you say you had feelings for Grace?"
"I do."
"What!? Then what the hell are you doing now?"
"What else? Flirting. First time you've seen it?"
".......I know what you've been up to. And I know about you and Rachel too."
"Rachel?"
"Yeah, I know you two have a deep relationship."
Rachel visits late at night.
People here don't wander outside in the dark.
So if he knew that...
He'd seen it.
This guy...
"Rachel...... was stalking me?"
"No! I was surveilling you!"
Philip bristled, hitting the nail on the head.
"Not even a sheriff anymore, and you're spying? That's stalking."
"Keep pawing at Carrie, and I'll expose your 'deep relationship' with Rachel—right down to sleeping together!"
"Hmm..... blackmail?"
"Not blackmail—a warning. I won't let a guy like you near Carrie."
A deep relationship with Rachel...... maybe, maybe not...
As someone pursuing the ultimate goal of claiming the camp's top three beauties, it was a hurdle I'd clear anyway.
But exposing it now wasn't part of the plan.
Whether he targeted it or not...
'Philip hit my weak spot dead-on.'
"........Rachel and I aren't like that."
I played innocent to buy time, mind racing.
"Not like that? Denying it?"
"That's...........friends with benefits.... yeah, that's it."
Even I thought it was a solid answer.
"What..........benefits?"
I'd seen it on Nutube once.
Trendy among young people these days.
Got to keep up with trends.
Especially good ones.
"Ahem.... kid's out of touch. Friends with benefits? Casual hookups before anything serious. Also called sex-first-love-later. Rachel and I are still in the friends-with-benefits...... or 'flirting' stage."
"You... son of a...!"
"Oh! I'd love to do the same with Carrie. Even if you're her brother, meddling in her love life isn't cool."
I gave Philip some friendly advice.
From Carrie's reactions, she'd be mine soon enough.
Thinking of a steamy night with her made my little buddy twitch involuntarily.
Couldn't pop a boner in front of another guy, so I casually gripped it, adjusted, and calmed down.
Philip caught the motion, his face twisting as sparks flew from his eyes.
"You psycho! You bastard!!!"
Fury boiled over—his face flushed red as he charged.
This was America, right?
Open-minded country.
Even in strict Korea on sex stuff, it was trending. That shocking?
Whatever... I'd been waiting for this.
-Grab!
I casually caught Philip's incoming fist with my left hand. No miracle would let it touch my face.
"Self-defense established?"
"Let... go!!"
Philip struggled to yank his fist free. Ignoring it, I gripped tight and started pummeling him with my right.
-Thud! Thwack thwack thud!
"Guh! Ack! Urk!"
Philip took a one-sided beating without retaliation.
But I was hyper-focused—more than against the Zombie King.
He was just too weak.
Had to control my strength.
Don't knock him out.
"Wh-what are you doing?!"
As I dusted Philip thoroughly, some guy's voice rang out.
"Hm?"
I glanced over naturally.
It was the newbie.
I didn't stop the lesson midway.
Philip dangled like a sandbag from my right hand.
-Thud! Thud! Thud!
"St-stop that!"
The newbie—justice incarnate Edward—charged at me upon seeing it.
"Grahk!"
He flew back rolling the instant he got close, kicked away.
"S-someone! H-help!!!"
The guy suddenly bellowed.
'This... bastard?! No shame as a man?'
He ruined Philip's quiet endurance.
People started gathering at Edward's shouts. Seeing that, I had to release Philip's hand.
His face was swollen like a balloon, but he somehow stayed upright, staggering.
I felt proud of my beating skills—reaching a new level.
"U-Un-ho, what the hell happened?"
Carrie arrived at the commotion, stunned.
"Th-that guy assaulted Philip!!"
Edward pointed accusingly, the snitch—mouth as loose as his face suggested.
"U-Un-ho? What's going on..."
-Murmur murmur.
Grace arrived late too—everyone's eyes demanded the truth from me.
"Ahem...... Philip dragged me here, said he didn't like me opposing the newbie earlier. Then these two tried to 'discipline' me with a beating. Just traded punches, that's all."
Philip shot me a what-the-hell look of disbelief.
"Wh-what!? N-no!!"
The newbie, suddenly a co-conspirator, denied it desperately.
"No? Weren't you waiting for your chance to backstab while Philip and I fought?"
"Th-that was... to, to stop it."
"I just defended myself—I didn't want to get hit by you two."
My face was too clean for self-defense...
But here, you needed a poker face.
And technically, I hadn't struck first—so I was in the clear.