Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Gather 'Round, Warmth Monster Forest (3)
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I knew she was something else from the moment she started spamming the chat with "yass," but...
To think she'd shout it out loud in someone else's house, right in front of a total stranger.
Akahara, you're the real deal.
My head was spinning.
Aka shouted "yass" like it was the proudest thing ever, clapping her hands and wiggling her hips.
Maybe it was the dinosaur-tailed pajamas, but her emotions were on full blast.
What, you think I'm gonna start telling dirty stories now?
As if.
The guild master was looking at me like I was trash.
The monkey auntie let out a deep sigh and glared at me.
"What the hell. You said you weren't dating!"
"We're not! It's not like that."
"Seonghyeon, I'm so disappointed... I hoped you'd deny it or something, butt in? Just say you're dating already—why make everyone feel bad? We've known each other for a while now..."
This is so unfair.
I didn't lie.
It's just hard to explain.
Dahye needs warmth, I need Dahye for my insomnia,
So we sleep together—sleeping, not yass!
How do you even explain that?
Maybe I'm the one who's really hurt here, getting treated like trash for no reason?
"Whatever ugly stuff you're imagining is just in your heads, so please don't make it obvious."
"You're really not dating?"
"Of course not. Dahye's just a real friend, so don't embarrass us."
"Pokttal, is this for real?"
"Yes! We just sleep together—nothing else!"
Yeah, that should wrap it up clean.
I'll just embrace being the trash.
Dahye's got a different standard for embarrassment; she probably doesn't even see what's weird about us sleeping together.
Then again, she hasn't done anything wrong, so why keep shutting her up?
If I just accept being trash, everything's solved.
But the real silver lining is...
There are other trash bags here besides me.
"Hell yeah, that's right!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We've been game buddies for eight years, but this was my first time meeting Marbaji Auntie and Aka in person.
I figured the first offline meet would be awkward.
But the weirdos started prying about our cohabitation, we made excuses, and just like that, we were thick as thieves.
"So... you cuddle up because of insomnia...? What are you, a baby? Or just a massive perv?"
Linentrauzer. 29 years old. Housewife. Professional monkey.
I thought she was ancient since she talks down to the guild master, but
we're the same age?
Auntie was a concept? Nah, I'm an uncle too. Auntie confirmed.
"I get it! I want to sleep together too, but I can't come up with excuses!"
Akahara was a high-school dropout NEET just turned 20, aspiring sex maniac. Current role: dinosaur.
Both had such crazy charisma, we dropped formalities in no time.
Dahye became the poor kidnapping victim, I got labeled human trash, but whatever.
I stopped caring.
Right on cue, Dahye shot up like a robot and started prepping dinner.
Aka was chatting her up, but still feeling shy?
"Okay then... I'll get started on cooking!"
"Whoa, Dahye's really making it for us? What're you cooking?"
"Steak! I've practiced a ton with Seonghyeon, and I owe the guild master too... I'll make it super delicious!"
"Sweet, meat after ages. Guess I'll mix some drinks."
Guild master pulled booze bottles from his bag like a bartender pro.
But these monkey and dinosaur wouldn't take their eyes off me.
Both propped their chins on their hands—one glaring murderously, the other starry-eyed.
This is suffocating.
"What? Why stare like that."
"Just jealous~ I should've lived it up all slutty when I was young. Sleeping together without dating? So damn cool. Right, Aka?"
"Yeah! Super cool. But is it really possible to just cuddle and sleep? Why not make babies?"
"You think everyone's like you?"
"Whoa, oppa, don't say that. Sex is normal. Oppa sleeping only is the pervert thing."
"Fair."
"Isn't all that filthy imagination of yours turning normal folks into perverts?"
"Yeah, you're cool, I like that. But does Dahye think the same?"
Monkey auntie jumped up and yelled at Dahye.
"Dahye! What do you think about no dating, just sleeping together?"
How bad does she want to trash me?
But Dahye's response was legendary.
"I love it!"
How is she so innocently bright it embarrasses even me?
She says it's good, so I feel good too...
But to the flaming weirdos, it was just tossing gas on the fire.
Monkey auntie plopped back down in shock,
glaring at me again.
Fine, excuses failed anyway—better to piss 'em off.
"Fuck. Don't even smoke, but craving a cig hard. Wonseok, make mine strong booze."
Nice one, Park Dahye!
"Oppa, I live alone, so cohabiting sounds so jealous-making. What's it like?"
"Just living together. Eat together, play together, watch movies together."
"You really live like that? Wow... stuck together every day? Ah... I wanna get married..."
"Auntie, you're already married."
"Ah~ I wanna get married!"
What kind of life does Marbaji even live?
Every time we shared our daily routine, she'd grumble enviously.
Never thought how we look to others.
Enviable enough to complain?
Come to think of it, even I randomly feel blessed these days.
Just Dahye smiling next to me pumps me up,
she's diligent with housework or hobbies, never complains much.
Other roommates fight daily, but one who energizes you just by looking? That's a blessing.
Even now prepping dinner proves it.
As dishes piled up on the table, everyone shut up and watched Dahye.
Forks, knives, water glasses per plate—spot on.
Good girl.
Would be easier with two, but she insisted on solo guest service and practiced for days.
Chopped veggies in a wooden bowl, mixed with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, bit of mustard—salad done.
Seen it three times from practice, but her focused face still tenses me up.
And...
Main course time.
Dahye grabbed a plate, went to the balcony, and brought back the meat.
1kg sirloin and tenderloin slabs each.
Today's stars.
Monkey and dinosaur freaked at the meat slabs.
"Whoa, you went all out? Gonna cook all that? Dahye solo?"
"Wow! Huge meat! Dahye, you're awesome!"
Boosted by cheers, Dahye nodded proudly.
Like when she nailed her first cafe order.
Elementary school perfect attendance face—adorable... but cool now.
Shoulders high, she pulled out her secret weapon.
Stainless burner on a gas torch.
That's a sear torch.
Blasts meat surface with fierce flame.
Told her pick a dish, she wanted that red-inside pretty steak from YouTube.
But steak needs experience—not quick learn.
My fix: sous vide machine.
Sous vide seals meat, low-temp long bath.
We had the gear; anyone can perfect steak.
Even, juicier and uniform than pan.
So Dahye's job: sear perfectly cooked sous vide meat with torch.
Dahye gets to shine.
Whoosh!
Weirdos thrilled.
"Insane... Dahye a chef? How at home?"
"Wow! Fire show! Sear Kwon Seonghyeon too!"
Tense face, slowly turning, crisping the surface.
Cut open... perfect pink inside.
Brilliant.
Dahye portioned tenderloin and sirloin per plate, drizzled my steak sauce.
Reactions? Total chaos.
Visuals killer, taste god-tier.
Melted in mouth soft.
Aka stuffed cheeks, double thumbs up.
"Wow, so good... restaurant level, Dahye?"
Marbaji grumbled again.
"Damn, hubby so pitiful... I only do rice daily..."
Devoured meat like mad,
passed Wonseok's champagne and wine around.
Game talk, life talk, past meets with other guildies.
Chatter flew, Dahye laughed naturally amid it.
Perfect table.
Picture Dahye and I wanted—done.
Served her cool dinner, seeing her chat happily warms me.
But staring at Dahye's face, why this unease?
Watched the weird anxiety,
finally couldn't hold, went to my room, called her.
"Dahye, help with this a sec?"
"Yeah! Coming!"
Closed door softly, faced her.
Forced smile drooped fast.
Lip pouted, chin wrinkled.
Smiling face looked like holding tears— it was.
Dahye started sobbing quietly.
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