Chapter 51: If I Tell the Truth, You'll Kill Me.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 51: If I Tell the Truth, You'll Kill Me.
"Are you saying you rescued Cadet Kim Min-su after he fell for the temptation?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"Cadet Kim Min-su! Is this really true?"
"...Yes... it is..."
The impromptu press conference at Wonderland was proceeding at a rapid pace.
The reason it could move so quickly was that there were no casualties and the building damage wasn't extensive. Since no one was hurt and only a bit of the structure was smashed, the atmosphere wasn't overly stiff.
Perhaps because of that, the reporters' questions had lost much of their usual caution.
"Hunter Baek Tae-yang, what was the monster lying on the floor when you cleared the Hallucination Dungeon?"
"It was the Succubus Queen. Cadet Kim Min-su was also victimized by her."
"Thank you for the answer. Additionally, is it true that the Queen confessed her love at the end? Is it true that you actually seduced the Queen in reverse?"
"There is no truth to that. I, Baek Tae-yang, would never! I do not share affections with monsters."
"Oh... Ooh...!"
It was a cliché line, but the effect was certain.
In reality, it was a blatant lie.
Kim Min-su's erection was hidden by his pants, but my junior wasn't so lucky. After having sex with Shael, my cock felt even bigger than before.
There was a stiff python clearly pressed against the inside of my thigh, and they believed I didn't "share affections"? Even a passing dog would laugh at that.
Since they were professional Hunter reporters, they all knew exactly what kind of monster a succubus was. But despite that, there was only one reason they believed my words entirely.
It was thanks to Kim Min-su.
In the interview just a moment ago, Min-su had affirmed that he was the one seduced. Because of that, it became an established fact that 'the one who shared affections with the succubus was Kim Min-su.'
‘It’s probably partly because of my image, too.’
The man who ranked first in S-Class Gate contribution—he looked like the type who would seduce women, not the type to be victimized by them. Publicly, my image as a "man's man" had already been firmly established.
A manly Hunter falling for a Succubus Queen? That was a story no one would believe.
"Then, let's wrap this up."
"Ah..."
Lamentations broke out here and there, but I remained unmoved. I felt I had fielded enough questions regarding the Hallucination Dungeon.
If I took more questions, they would likely veer into personal territory—my relationship with So Yu-min, my relationship with Melanie, and so on.
One might say I could just refuse to answer, but the very act of those questions being asked was the problem. Once a topic was brought up, it wouldn't cool down until I gave a precise answer.
‘That would be the worst-case scenario.’
I suddenly felt a bit sorry for hitting Min-su in a rage earlier, accusing him of cheating. But then again, Min-su doesn't live up to his looks, while I do, so isn't it fine?
"Now, now, let's end it here."
The reporters looked disappointed, but they never crossed the line. What if they accidentally crossed the line and provoked an Awakener's wrath? A non-Awakener could never handle that. Since there had been actual cases of that happening, they were very strict about knowing when to stop.
‘Now, I guess it’s time for the second part of the questions.’
The official questions were all over. I wanted to end everything here and go home, but that was impossible.
Yoo Min-hyuk—he was currently approaching me.
Yu-min also looked like she had a lot to say to me. But as soon as she saw Yoo Min-hyuk's face, she immediately backed away. She was overwhelmed by his pressure and spirit.
‘Come on, Yoo Min-hyuk.’
I am Baek Tae-yang.
*
This wasn't the first time I'd been in a situation like this.
If Kim Min-su were to handle what was about to happen, what would have occurred?
‘That guy could never handle this.’
Only I could skillfully endure and navigate this situation.
"You've already built up quite a career for a first-year."
"Thank you for seeing me in a positive light."
"I never said I saw you in a positive light."
"Yes, sir."
The Wonderland VIP room had a truly cutesy atmosphere. There were large teddy bears, of course, and even dinosaurs hanging from the ceiling.
‘He said it was a space where we could talk comfortably...’
It made a person return to their childhood a bit too much. The wallpaper looked like something out of a princess animation, complete with stardust sprinkled over it.
The crowning glory was the sofa. The sofa where two men, each with a build twice that of a normal adult male, were sitting was hot pink.
Additionally, on the table in the center were two cute mugs, asserting their presence with cocoa and floating marshmallows.
‘Chubby Ahn, you crazy bastard.’
This was undoubtedly the influence of the gag episodes that guy had created.
"I thought you were dating my daughter."
Yoo Min-hyuk didn't care about the atmosphere at all. He was like a predator, contemplating only how to tear me apart.
"But looking at your recent... activities... you seem to have many women."
This was news to me. When I put on a confused expression, Yoo Min-hyuk slid a phone toward me with a news article on it.
In the article, I was coming out of Melanie's limousine with a bright smile. To anyone watching, I looked like a man who had enjoyed everything there was to enjoy.
‘We only played the OX Game.’
It wasn't an atmosphere where he'd believe me even if I told him, so I just kept my mouth shut.
"And then there's Cadet So Yu-min. The way she looked at you today was unusual... I've been in love before, so I know."
"They are all just good friends. I think there's been a misunderstanding."
"Then was it also a misunderstanding when you were walking through the breakfast street with my daughter that day?"
The expected question finally popped out. Naturally, it was a question any father with a daughter would want to ask.
A daughter who didn't come home the night before is seen walking through a breakfast street with a man the next morning? And they looked very close? One couldn't help but think they spent the night together. Moreover, given Su-jin's personality, it would be obvious if she tried to lie about something like that.
In other words, Yoo Min-hyuk had come here knowing everything.
"I know exactly how you feel. However, I want to tell you that the things you're worried about will never happen."
In times like this, it was best to go with a direct approach. Having experienced this countless times back on Earth, this had the highest probability of success. Acting flustered was the worst response; I had to show him I was a reliable and trustworthy man.
"...To be honest, I know I'm being rude right now. It's like I'm interfering in my child's love life."
Yoo Min-hyuk was being very rational.
"But I hope you understand that this is also a parent's duty. If the man my daughter is seeing... takes my daughter lightly..."
Scratch that.
Yoo Min-hyuk was being very emotional. He was just like a kettle that hadn't finished preheating yet, slowly coming to a boil.
He clenched his fists as if the mere thought made his anger flare. I didn't know how strong of an Awakener he was, but his intense emotions alone were making the surrounding objects tremble.
"That will not happen."
"Honestly, how far did you go?"
He spoke immediately after I finished. He probably wanted to ask this from the very beginning. All the words before were just a buildup for this one question.
‘If I tell the truth, you'll kill me.’
Our first time was in the disciplinary room. I was kneading your daughter's tits while I pierced her hymen from behind. The second time was in the VIP suite of the Bogeumjari Hotel, where we washed each other and I made her swallow my cum. That's all. Hunter Yoo Min-hyuk, if you have no more questions, I'll be going.
That wasn't what Yoo Min-hyuk wanted to hear. If he really wanted the truth, he wouldn't have even brought it up like that. A man who had dated and married couldn't possibly not know.
In times like this, the right answer was to play along.
"After the Department Store Gate incident, we developed a deeper bond, so it was about the level of a hug."
"...You call a man and a woman hugging... 'about the level'?"
Wrong answer.
I didn't realize Yoo Min-hyuk was such a romantic. You said you've dated before—did you marry your first love? Just how much innocence are you expecting? Now I think I know why the novel's title includes "Pure Love Diary."
"...No, I reacted too sensitively... Right, that can happen... They say the current generation is different..."
"No, sir. I can fully understand."
"Really? You can understand?"
Suddenly, Yoo Min-hyuk's eyes flashed as he looked at me. It reminded me of an eagle's pupils when it spots its prey.
"Yes."
"Then you'll also understand me inviting you to dinner?"
I'd been played. To think a single mistake in word choice would lead to this. He had been aiming for this from the start.
There were limits to a parent interfering in their child's romance. Since they were meeting because they liked each other, he couldn't just tell them what to do.
However, a dinner invitation was one of the best cards a parent could play. A double-edged card that applied pressure while showing goodwill. Yoo Min-hyuk had just thrown that card at me.
‘I have to avoid the relationship being finalized.’
If I went to Su-jin's house and our relationship was confirmed, I wouldn't be able to handle what would follow. The most ideal way for me to live in this novel was to maintain smooth relationships with everyone. In other words, rather than declaring, "This person is my only lover!" I had to establish a harem where I could say, "You all love me, so deal with it."
"I understand. Just let me know when you're free, and I'll be there."
It wasn't good to refuse here.
‘I'll have to coordinate with Su-jin and come up with a script.’
I didn't know when I'd be invited, but he would surely give me some time. Since his daughter's (prospective) boyfriend was coming over, he wouldn't call me on such short notice.
"Then I'll see you this weekend. I'll tell Su-jin the rest... See you then."
"Yes, I'll see you then."
With those words, Yoo Min-hyuk stood up. Only two cups of marshmallow cocoa, not a single sip taken, and a business card remained on the table.
‘Yoo Min-hyuk... he's a formidable opponent.’
Even if he said this weekend, that was only four days away. My original plan was to make Yu-min and Min-su break up within this week. I was going to proceed as slowly as possible to avoid it looking forced, but...
‘I need to start preparing as soon as I walk out this door.’
How to catch two women at once? It was easier than eating cake.
*
‘The traces of that skill's use were definitely [Cleanup].’
Sub-skills could be similar, but it was hard for them to be identical.
‘It’s too identical.’
It was an F-Class skill, so no one else noticed, but Yoo Min-hyuk himself was different. It was the very first skill he had obtained while working a cleaning job 15 hours a day, 7 days a week, during his difficult and struggling times.
Therefore, the Cleanup skill was created based on 'Yoo Min-hyuk's cleaning habits.' In other words, when Baek Tae-yang had just cleared the Hallucination Dungeon, the surroundings were organized 'as if Yoo Min-hyuk had cleaned them.'
‘I have a lot to ask this weekend.’
From his relationship with his daughter to how he obtained that skill.
Yoo Min-hyuk was radiating murderous intent, unable to contain his anticipation for the coming weekend.