Chapter 179 – Date with Byul.

There is a possibility of terrorism near the kindergarten where Shiba attends.

How should one come to terms with such a fact? Naturally, I would try to eliminate the threat, and if that fails, the only option left would be to quit the kindergarten.

Even the smallest risk could not be ignored.

“What are you thinking about so deeply, Siheon?”

Byul, with her arms crossed and her chest pressed close to mine, looked at me and pouted her lips.

“Do you know how much I’ve been looking forward to today? Don’t think about anything else, just look at me!”

That’s easier said than done. What can I do if my thoughts keep drifting in that direction?

I gave Byul a bitter smile, and she stamped her feet cutely, seemingly displeased with my reaction. We had arrived at a department store in Seoul, brought here by space magic. It was a typical date for couples, and when I promised to buy her clothes, she excitedly shouted, “Go, go! Charge forward!” and dragged me to this place.

Of course, my spatial magic played a part in coming here. If it weren’t for teleportation, we would have been on a date at the academy, with the cadets giggling around us.

Still, Se-Young was wearing a hat, a nod to her high position as vice president of the association.

“Alright. Why are you so impatient?” I asked.

“But until now, Se-Young has had a monopoly on you! Or are you saying you don’t like Azalea or something?”

Se-Young playfully tapped her shoulder. Pretending to be hurt, she moved away, stopped tapping, crossed her arms again, and rubbed her cheeks against them.

For some reason, her small and lively cuteness made me feel a sadistic streak towards Azalea. I shrugged my shoulders with a teasing tone and said, “Has Se-Young really been the only one to monopolize me?”

“…!”

Se-Young’s face showed shock.

“You…”

She couldn’t speak properly, and then, with a clenched fist, she hit me on the shoulder.

“Yo, yo, you damned thing!”

“Ouch!”

“Discussing another girlfriend in front of your own… really, that’s too much! Do you realize what you just did?”
“What is it?”
“I came to the internet café with my girlfriend, promising to teach her StarCraft, but instead, I’m wasting four drones on her while she flounders around, not even knowing how to play!”

What a peculiar analogy.
It’s even more intriguing because it’s somewhat understandable.

She didn’t even grasp the concept of population, so she just kept producing workers nonstop. When she asked, “How do I do this?” Zerglings were already chasing her main base.
I couldn’t be anything but the worst boyfriend.
If an analogy had to be made, Byul’s comparison was quite accurate.

“I’m sorry.”

Byul narrowed her eyes like a cat in response to my sincere apology.
She looked at me with a slightly sour expression, and then she cracked a smile. She stretched both her arms out.
Her big movements made her lightly worn dress sway gently.

“…Then give me a proper hug.”
“Alright.”
“Hehe… Now I can brag to my parents.”
“You’re telling them you have a boyfriend? I wonder what they’ll say.”

“Aww~ Siheon would make a top-notch husband! Let’s link arms and go get some oxygen later. My parents would’ve welcomed you with double eyelids, right? Saying, ‘Our lovely girl who only knows how to play games has brought a guy!’ Hehe.”
“Oxygen… ah.”

It seems Byul’s parents had passed away some time ago.
Since I couldn’t find the words to respond, Byul looked at me and playfully tapped my buttocks as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“Why? It’s quite common these days.”
“Is it? I haven’t heard many stories like that.”
“Siheon? That’s a bit surprising… Well, it’s really nothing. Let’s see… when did it happen?”

Byul started talking while we strolled through the department store with our arms linked.

“…You see, I used to be a total outcast. A hikikomori? Holed up in my room just playing games. Although, that’s still the case now.”
“Right.”
“So… Flower. You heard today, right? My parents passed away after getting caught up in the Gonyon terrorist incident.”
“I see.”

“That’s when I felt it. Ah… I truly felt like an idiot being cooped up at home. Funny, right?”
“No, it’s actually quite impressive.”
“Hehehe, just say it’s funny.”

Byul smiled wryly and turned towards the women’s clothing section.
Everyone has a painful past, but it’s usually quite difficult to overcome it and lead a normal life.
Byul was managing to get past it in her own cheerful way.

And the Flowers that shattered such a tender family were quite something.
…These Flower bastards keep popping up.

Byul continued her old story, giggling openly.
All the actions mixed with affection, and the smile directed towards me. It didn’t look like the behavior of a woman who had been hurt at all.
Ironically, Byul’s audacious demeanor seemed to make her appear even sadder.

“So I realized. Ah, I can’t go on like this. But guess what? I was a charismatic and talented woman like something out of a novel.”
“Wow… That’s spot on.”
“Feels like a comic, doesn’t it?”

With arms folded, she flexed one arm, striking a pose to showcase her muscles. Byul smiled.

“So this gamer Byul~ went to the academy!”
“Aha.”
“But as a loner, I struggled with speaking and focused only on studying and training. I somehow became friends with Se-Young, but Se-Young was my only friend.”
“So that’s where your relationship began.”
“Yep. Se-Young is really kind. Except for the outrageous personality… Anyway, the story of Byulimono Gatari doesn’t end there.”

Byulimono Gatari… Ah, the tale of Byul.
Byul, who spoke a mix of Korean and Japanese, placed a hand on her chest as if she still couldn’t believe it.

“An undefeated streak at the academy. Eventually, I landed a job and rose to the position of vice president! I’m the youngest worldwide, you know?”
“That’s amazing.”
“Yep. Do I seem different now?”

To be honest, up until now… Because of her personality, she hadn’t seemed like such an extraordinary person.
Easily falling in love, constantly putting herself down.

Who would believe that such a person actually holds great achievements as the vice president of the association?

Fascinating. I slightly tugged on my arms and spoke to Star.

“You’ve been through a lot.”
“…Yeah. But actually, I wanted a place to belong rather than a job!”
“Heh heh heh. Well done.”

I stroked the top of Star’s hat-covered head. At that moment, Star stopped walking and looked at me with wide, round eyes.

“Seeing you like this, you’ve grown up remarkably well. Someone else might have crumbled under the circumstances.”
“…Right?”
“I’ve had my share of troubles too, but I’ve been living like a fool for over 10 years.”

I admire that aspect. I felt disillusioned and empty in my life when things went wrong with my father. Until I heard Star’s story just now, I didn’t think it was strange that I had grown up in the wrong direction.

“Really?”
“Yes. But seeing Star, who has grown brighter despite even more trying experiences than me… it’s quite something. How should I put it?”

Upon realizing I had a similar experience, Byul gazed up at me with eyes brimming with concern. She was unfazed when speaking of herself, but my story seemed to affect her differently.

What could I possibly say to Byul? As I pondered, I found a single phrase that came to mind.

“I thought you were a more decent person than expected. I guess I’m seeing you in a new light today, sis. Heh-heh.”

“…Ah.”

Hearing my words, Byul’s eyes momentarily quivered. The star-shaped pupils swayed from side to side, then up and down. Gradually, her once spirited expression began to crumble, and her lips trembled ever so slightly.

“Is, is that so? Ha. Haha. What’s with the ‘more than expected’?! I’ve always been a decent person, you know?”

Byul, belatedly regaining her composure, jabbed at my waist with an indignant expression. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t forget that fleeting change in her countenance.

“Enough! Let’s go out and buy some clothes.”

“Yes, yes.”

A well-chosen outfit. A yellow couple’s tee. And accessories like earrings.

Under Byul’s guidance, we successfully concluded our date and decided to part ways, sharing smiles without any further casual conversation.

“Originally, I was going to suggest doing it since it’s been a while… But I’ll let it slide because you’re pretty.”
“I’m okay with it. Should we go to a motel?”
“…No, it’s fine. I just want to follow my heart right now.”

9 o’clock in the evening.

Byul, smiling brightly with her arms full of the clothes we had bought, took a step away from me. Her cheeks blushed shyly, and her eyes sparkled like honey. Suddenly, her gaze seemed deeper than before.

“Hey.”

Byul, who used to act slightly awkwardly and playfully when interacting with me, now speaks to me in a much more comfortable tone.

“Yes?”
“…Even if it’s just a fling, are you going to let your girlfriend leave like this?”

Byul’s lips twitched, her eyes gleaming as she sent me a suggestive signal.

As I took a step closer, Byul retreated with a mischievous smile.

“…What are you doing?”
“There’s no tree that doesn’t fall after ten strikes! Keep coming, keep coming.”

– Hop.

As soon as I took a step, Byul moved away again. Feeling somewhat stubborn, I walked as if leaping three steps at a time.

At that moment, Byul removed her hat and extended her lips towards me.

– Smooch.

Our tongues softly intertwined, and our plump lips met. The scent of her brushed past my nose. A droplet of saliva fell from Byul’s mouth onto the pavement block below, as if it contained the very essence of starfruit’s sweetness.

– Buzz.

The light on the telephone pole above us flickered once. By the time it returned, Byul had already pulled away from our kiss, still grinning with her innocent and adorable face.

“…Concubine. Promotion to wife?”
“If only you spoke as well, how wonderful that would be.”
“…Heh heh. How can you be such a star~”

Byul, who dashed away from me laughing, looked back from a distance and waved her hand cheerfully.

“Still, I wasn’t a total loser today, huh?”

This time, I admit it.
As I waved back, the content Byul departed.

Hop, hop. I unintentionally burst into laughter at the excited steps reminiscent of a frolicking elementary school student.

‘…Looking again, she seems like an outsider.’

Outsider. A term for someone who goes about alone.
Observing those lighthearted movements, I felt like the image of Byul, who appeared innocent today, was shattering once more.

Nevertheless, there’s no need to voice that thought.
Now is the perfect moment to part ways.
I kept my eyes on Byul’s figure as it vanished into the horizon.

– Ugh!

Then, the sound of my cell phone vibrating. I pulled it from my pocket and read the received messages one by one.

Dancing with Lee: Today was great!

Byeorineun chumchugo: But you didn’t insist on going to the motel until the end? Are you tired of my body or something!
Byeorineun chumchugo: (Angry emoticon)

‘…Holding a grudge, huh.’

Still, Byul remained a star.

* * * * * * * *

In a dimly lit back alley, men wearing robes to conceal their presence were seated on a heap of scrap metal, burning rolled up petals.

“Phew… So? When are we going to start?”
“I don’t know. Do we have any idea what those higher-ups are thinking? We just do as we’re told.”
“What exactly is this drug for?”

One man took out a magically processed glass bottle and cocked his head at the purple liquid inside.

“…Hmm. It’s not a narcotic. More like a stimulant, I guess.”

It’s said that if administered, one’s lifespan will be extended to immortality.

There were rumors among Flower’s members that such a thing existed, but of course, if the rumors were true, they wouldn’t use civilians as test subjects.

So, clinical trials. Perhaps that’s what it was.

“Increase lifespan, forcibly expand the mana reservoir… Raise one’s potential to the utmost limit. Really? Does the power become twice as strong when lignified?”

It was almost like a perfect elixir.
The man couldn’t help but wonder what would happen once this reagent was completed.

“Even if it’s completed, it won’t affect us.”
“…Right?”

The man yawned, placed the glass bottle back into his dimensional pocket, and stepped out of the back alley to face the outside breeze.

The couple embracing each other on the other side looked quite irritating.

– Not much time left.

A man standing beside the executive repeated those words.
Seemingly paranoid, the man recalled the face of the middle-aged man who frequently bit his lips. He gathered the phlegm that rose in his throat and spat it onto the ground.

“Tch.”

The discarded cigarette landed haphazardly on the ground, and the man sauntered back into the shadowy alley. The viscous phlegm he had spat out mingled with the sidewalk block, seeping into it.