Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Yu-na's Foster Mother
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A sticky, wet sound echoed through the receiver.
Kim Kyung-sook's face flushed hot, a dizzying sensation washing over her.
'What kind of treatment is that innocent girl enduring?'
She couldn't leave Yu-na with the man on the other end of the line any longer.
She hurriedly made an appointment to meet the man Yu-na called "Uncle."
She wanted to take Yu-na away from him as soon as possible.
In her haste, Kim Kyung-sook rushed to get ready to leave.
Just then, Jin-woo, who had finished his surgery and returned home to recover, shuffled out of his room.
He saw his mother dressed neatly in a smart women's suit, preparing to go out, and asked,
"Uh, Mom... where are you..."
Jin-woo was still a patient.
But Kim Kyung-sook couldn't look kindly on her son asking where she was headed.
'Yu-na's in that kind of situation right now...'
She never could have imagined her own son attempting to assault Yu-na.
Kim Kyung-sook felt an overwhelming disappointment toward her son.
Seeing Jin-woo wilt under her glare softened her heart a bit—he was still her son, after all—but she steeled herself.
"I'm heading out, so make your own food."
"Okay..."
His mother Kim Kyung-sook's gaze was ice-cold.
Jin-woo couldn't bring himself to ask more and just nodded meekly, watching her closely.
His mother left without looking back.
The once gentle warmth of his mother turned as cold as midwinter from that day on.
He was the one who had ruined everything.
It had been an accident.
He'd lost his reason to jealousy.
Honestly, he couldn't deny feeling a little aroused seeing Yu-na's underwear.
But he hadn't intended to do anything to her.
Still, that wasn't an excuse.
Even if Jin-woo had witnessed the situation himself, he wouldn't have believed it.
He felt no resentment toward his mother.
He had no right to, since it was all his own mistake.
He worried about Yu-na, who had left home because of him.
Would he ever see her again?
If he did, what should he say?
"Haa..."
Jin-woo let out a deep sigh of frustration.
As I entered the cafe, all eyes turned to me.
I was used to it.
A quick glance showed them averting their gazes the moment our eyes met.
'I think my face is fine, though.'
The staff member at the counter forced a stiff smile as I approached.
I could feel their tension from here.
These days, I was so accustomed to such stares that they barely bothered me.
"Wh-what can I get for you?"
"I have a meeting with someone named Kim Kyung-sook..."
Yu-na's foster mother, Kim Kyung-sook, was already there waiting.
I sat down across from her.
Her hair neatly tied up in a bun, she looked younger and prettier than I'd expected.
Probably not much older than me.
Considering that guy Jin-woo's age, maybe a bit more?
But she looked younger than me.
If she dressed a little more youthfully, she could pass for Yu-na's sister.
She seemed surprised to see me too.
Thanks to my awakening skill, I was quite the hulking figure now.
Everyone in the cafe had stared when I walked in, so it wasn't just her reaction.
Unconsciously, my eyes scanned from her chest down to her hips.
It was almost instinctual now whenever I saw an attractive woman after awakening.
She wasn't blood-related, so no genetics there, but her breasts were as impressive as Yu-na's.
Maybe sensing my blatant gaze, her stiff expression flushed red.
Not embarrassment—more like awkwardness? Or a bit of anger?
"I'm Kim Kyung-sook."
Yu-na's foster mother quickly composed herself with a resolute face and introduced herself.
"Park Un-ho."
"........."
"........."
A brief silence passed between us.
Then Kim Kyung-sook spoke first.
"Um... how is Yu-na...?"
She got straight to asking about Yu-na's well-being.
"She's doing well."
I might be dense, but...
Yu-na hadn't seemed all that uncomfortable at my place.
"I-is that so? Do you have any plans to send her back home?"
As if there was any question—I had no intention of letting Yu-na go.
"No."
"Please, for the child's future."
Was living with me at my place a bad influence on Yu-na's future?
It might be selfish, but it could only be positive, not negative.
"I beg you."
Kim Kyung-sook bowed her head politely to me.
A heartfelt plea full of maternal love.
But her desperate appeal didn't move me.
"I'm not holding her captive."
"Isn't that going too far?"
"Hm?"
Sensing I had zero intention of letting her go, she looked furious.
Despite my size, which should intimidate her.
Her mother's unyielding resolve was impressive.
"What exactly?"
"Seduction of an innocent, kind girl—isn't that too much? Do you even love her?"
"........."
Well... she wasn't wrong.
I couldn't deny it.
Not just Yu-na, but Jae-eun and Ji-ah too.
I found them cute and lovable.
But I knew those feelings weren't exactly normal.
Even before the gates appeared.
Before enlisting, I'd dated a girl.
Wasn't what we had normal love?
Maybe it was the fiery passion of youth.
In the end, it fizzled out before the wall of military service...
Of course, I wasn't the one who ended it.
As usual, contact gradually faded, and it grew cold.
It was agonizing enough back then that I even considered going AWOL.
Naturally, it felt completely different now.
Maybe because I'd gotten older.
Or maybe I'd changed...
But it didn't matter if this possessiveness toward my women was selfish.
As long as they didn't reject me—as long as it wasn't Yu-na, but any of them—I didn't want to let go.
"If you care about her even a little, please let her go."
"........."
Wait.
Actually... what had I done wrong?
Thinking it over, I didn't see anything particularly wrong.
It all started because that Jin-woo tried to assault Yu-na.
Yet here I was, the one who'd done nothing, painted as the villain.
But if that's how she saw me...
Maybe acting the part wasn't so bad.
If it was for Yu-na's sake, she might even prefer that side.
I could leave the choice to Yu-na, but...
I couldn't entrust this issue to her.
The kid was soft-hearted.
A total pushover.
Look at that overflowing maternal love.
Yu-na would hem and haw, unable to decide, and crawl back home.
I absolutely refused to let Yu-na go, so I had to settle this here.
Screw politeness.
"Hm... this is ridiculous."
"Pardon?"
My sudden shift in demeanor made Kim Kyung-sook flinch.
"Maybe because it's not your real child, but you seem awfully oblivious..."
"Pardon? What do you mean... I've treated her like my own flesh and blood..."
"You think Yu-na wants to go back to a place with an attempted rapist?"
Kim Kyung-sook panicked.
"Th-that's..."
"It's not my fault she left, right? As far as I know, she ran away because your son tried to 'rape' her..."
"Well..."
"You're not seriously suggesting she live under the same roof again, are you?"
She had no comeback for that.
I crossed my arms, pressuring her silently.
"N-no..."
"Tch. Looks like it. I'm not sure who's really going too far here."
"........."
"Not sending her."
At my words, Kim Kyung-sook bowed her head deeply.
Then she lifted it, her eyes resolute.
"I'll kick Jin-woo out of the house."
Her determination to drive out her own son just to separate Yu-na from me was admirable.
Kim Kyung-sook was a good foster mother.
Sorry, but I still wasn't letting her go.
"Hm. No."
"Kuh... You're after her body anyway, aren't you?"
Anger flashed in Kim Kyung-sook's eyes.
"........."
Not entirely wrong... it hit the nail on the head.
"Anyway, no. Conversation ends here."
I stood up.
"Pl-please!!"
Kim Kyung-sook urgently grabbed my pant leg.
The commotion drew glances from around us.
Needless to say, not favorable ones.
But given who I was, they only peeked cautiously.
Kim Kyung-sook wore a desperate expression.
The sight of the voluptuous, mature lady, ripened to perfection, softened my resolve a touch.
As I gazed at her, lost in thought for a moment...
A look of determination crossed her face.
"If it's just her body you want, I'll take her place instead."
"...?"
Was this... that trope?
......The mother's sacrifice?
Setting that aside, it wasn't like I'd sold Yu-na off somewhere...
Anyone would think she'd fallen into hell.
For the record, Yu-na was eating well and living comfortably.
I wondered if this was even meaningful.
Kim Kyung-sook might be older, but she'd taken care of herself—or maybe it was natural.
She had a remarkably voluptuous, ripe figure.
Under my blatant scan of her sensual body, Kim Kyung-sook now carried herself with confidence, as if aware of her own appeal.
Had she figured out I was weak to attractive women?
Or after eyeing her body like that, it'd be weird if she hadn't noticed.
She wasn't unappealing...
But not enough to give up Yu-na.
"No."
"Pl-please."
She showed no sign of letting go of my pant leg.
I could shake her off by force, but...
At this point, just walking away felt unmanly.
"Wh-what would it take..."
"If you say it like that..."
My words made her face brighten, as if I were about to propose something.
Sorry to her, but I offered a deal with no chance of winning.
"If you satisfy me... I'll think about it."
"Satisfy?"
"I have a pretty high sex drive."
"S-sex drive..."
Realizing I was demanding her body after all, Kim Kyung-sook's face stiffened slightly.
But she quickly set her jaw with resolve.
"Even Yu-na struggles to keep up."
Mentioning Yu-na made her bite her lip.
At this point, was I really the villain?
Well... she was the one who'd suggested it.
Turning down a situation like this would be rude for a man.
"If you can satisfy my overflowing lust, I'll consider it."
"If I satisfy you, let that child go."
"Deal."
I readily accepted Kim Kyung-sook's condition.