Chapter 179: Date With Byeol

Chapter 179: Date With Byeol

There could be a possibility of terrorism near the kindergarten Shiba attended.

How should one react to such information?

Naturally, one should try to eradicate it, and if that fails, leaving the kindergarten would be the only option.

It was impossible to simply ignore even the slightest risk.

“What are you thinking so hard about, Shiheon?”

Byeol, with her arms crossed and pressing close to me, pouted her lips at me.

“Do you know how hard I’ve worked for this day? Don’t think about anything else, just look at me, only me!”

But that’s the thing.

My mind kept drifting that way.

I smiled bitterly at Byeol’s face, and she, not liking my reaction, cutely stomped her feet.

By space magic, we arrived at the Seoul Department Store.

A very typical date for couples, she said, ‘Let’s go shopping now!’ and pulled me into the store.

Of course, my space magic played a role in getting here.

Without teleportation, we’d have to date at the academy amidst the gossiping students.

Still, Byeol wore a hat, given her high position as the vice-chairman.

“Got it. Why are you so desperate?”

“But so far, it’s been Seyeong who monopolized you. Or what, you don’t like gamers or what~!”

Byeol playfully patted my shoulder.

As I feigned pain and moved away, she stopped hitting and rubbed her cheek against her arm.

I felt a sadistic pleasure toward Jin Dallae that I didn’t understand.

I shrugged my shoulders teasingly at her.

“Was it really only Seyeong who monopolized me?”

“...!”

Byeol’s shocked face.

“Yo....”

Unable to speak properly, she stood dumbfounded, then punched my shoulder hard.

“Yo, you damn thing!”

“Ouch!”

“Talking about another girlfriend in front of your girlfriend... You’re too much! Do you know what you did?”

“What then.”

“Like taking your girlfriend to a PC room to teach her StarCraft, but not teaching her anything and just panicking while she uses 4 drones!”

What an analogy.

I kind of understood it, which made it even more amazing.

The girlfriend wouldn’t even grasp the concept of population; she just kept making workers until it’s ‘Oppa, what do I do?’ and then zerglings chase her back to her base.

The worst boyfriend ever.

Her analogy was quite accurate.

“I’m sorry.”

Byeol narrowed her eyes like a cat at my straightforward apology.

She looked at me nonchalantly, then suddenly grinned and stretched out her arms.

Her large movements made her lightly worn dress flutter.

“...Then, why don’t you hug me?”

“Yay.”

“Hehe... I can finally brag to my parents~”

“Got a boyfriend? What will they say?”

“Hey~ With Shiheon, he’s top husband material! Let’s go to the graveyard together sometime. My mom and dad would welcome you with open arms. ‘Our pretty girl who only knows gaming brought a guy~’ Hehe.”

“The graveyard... Ah.”

It seemed that Byeol’s parents had long passed away.

Seeing me lost for words and not responding, Byeol playfully slapped my buttock.

“Why? It’s common these days.”

“Is it? I haven’t heard such stories much.”

“Shiheon? That’s surprising... Well, it’s really nothing. Let’s see... when was it?”

Byeol hooked her arm into mine and started walking around the department store.

“...Just. I used to be a real nerd back then. A hikikomori? Locked in my room playing games. Well, that’s still the same now.”

“Yes.”

“So... Flower. You heard today, right? My parents were killed in a terror attack by those bastards.”

“I see.”

“I realized then. Ah... Staying locked up at home, I was really stupid. Funny, isn’t it?”

“No. That’s quite impressive.”

“Hehehe say it’s funny. Just.”

Byeol laughed bitterly and turned towards the women’s clothing.

Byeol, who had been slightly awkward in treating me, now spoke in a much more relaxed tone.

“Yes?”

“...Even if I am a mistress, are you going to let your girlfriend go like this?”

Byeol, flickering her lips, sent a provocative signal to me.

When I took a step forward, Byeol, full of mischief, smiled and stepped back.

“What are you doing?”

“There’s no tree that won’t fall after ten strikes! Keep coming, keep coming.”

Jump.

Byeol stepped back again as I took a step forward.

Feeling somewhat stubborn, I walked towards her as if running three steps.

At that moment, Byeol took off her hat and pouted her lips.

Softly intertwined tongues and fluffy lips. The scent of the other person brushing against my nose.

A droplet of saliva, like the sweet taste of starfruit, fell from Byeol’s mouth onto the sidewalk paving stone.

Crackle.

The light above us on the utility pole flickered once.

When the light came back on, Byeol had already detached her mouth, still smiling innocently and cutely.

“...Mistress. Promotion to wife?”

“If only you spoke well, how nice that would be.”

“...Hehehe. What can I do about being such a Byeol~”

Byeol laughed heartily, ran away, and looked back at me from afar, waving happily.

“Still, I wasn’t a nerd today, right~?”

This time, I acknowledged it.

Waving back, a satisfied Byeol left.

Pitter-patter. Her steps, like a cheerful elementary student, involuntarily made me laugh.

‘...Looks like an outsider now.’

Outsider. A shorthand for someone who went around alone.

Seeing her cheeky behavior today, the innocent image of Byeol I felt seemed to shatter.

Still, there’s no need to say that out loud.

The atmosphere was perfect for parting.

I cherished the sight of Byeol disappearing on the horizon until the last moment.

Vibrate!

The vibrating sound of my cell phone. I pulled it from my pocket and deciphered each word of the received message:

Byeol is dancing: Today was nice!

Byeol is dancing: But why didn’t you insist on going to the motel till the end? Are you tired of my body or what!

Byeol is dancing: (Angry emoticon)

‘...She has issues.’

Byeol was still being Byeol.

In a dim back alley, men clad in robes that concealed their presence sat atop a pile of scrap metal, smoking rolled flower petals.

“Phew... So? When are we starting?”

“Don’t know. It’s up to the leaders, not us. We just follow orders.”

“What are they even using this drug for?”

One man pulled out a magic-processed glass bottle, peered at the purple liquid inside, and mused aloud.

“...Hmm. Not drugs, more like a stimulant, that sort of thing.”

Among the members of Flower, it’s rumored that it granted eternal life.

But, of course, if that rumor were true, they wouldn’t be using civilians as test subjects.

So, it must be a clinical trial. Something along those lines.

“It extends life, forcibly expands the magical reservoir, and pushes potential to the limits. Good grief. When petrified, does the power double?”

Almost the perfect drug, really.

He was genuinely curious about what would happen once this reagent was complete.

“Even if it’s completed, it’s not like we’ll get to use it.”

“...Right?”

The man yawned, returned the glass bottle to his magic pocket, and stepped out of the alley for some fresh air.

A couple embracing each other across the street was particularly annoying to see.

Not much longer now.

A man standing beside a leader echoed the sentiment.

The middle-aged man, looking paranoid and frequently biting his lips, gathered phlegm and spat it onto the ground.

“Ptui.”

The discarded cigarette was carelessly tossed aside, and the man swaggered back into the alley.

His thick spit mingled with the paving stones.