Chapter 490 – In a Dream (1)

[Ah~ ah!]

A Western blonde woman is violently impaled by a powerful figure. She reaches her climax, a relentless gushing release. blockbuster.avi

Her exaggerated moans fill the dark one-room apartment, accompanied by the sound of forceful thrusts.

[Oh, yes!]

‘So he likes this kind of stuff?’

She munches on popcorn while watching the adult film, curious about his preferences and tastes after living together for some time.

What Se-Young learns while watching the film confirms her earlier suspicions. Lee Si-heon is indeed quite fond of women with large breasts and sensual curves, accounting for 60% of his adult film collection. Surprisingly, he also seems to have a fetish for women’s scents and armpits.

As for the comics… hmm. Hypnosis app? She’s not sure about that.

‘Does he like blondes too? Well, I should have figured that out when he went to great lengths to save Sansuyu.’

Large breasts, sensual, and submissive. It’s unmistakably Cornus’s girl.

“Hmm.”

I’m tired of Western women now.
Se-Young, who stopped the video with a mouse pointer, began to browse through other files.
She couldn’t help but laugh at the secretive videos that appeared one after another.

“Hehehe. Wow~ You’ve downloaded 400 gigabytes of adult videos? You rascal, Lee Si-heon.”
【Se-Young, calm down and turn off the computer. Si-heon wouldn’t want this either…】
“No.”
【Oh, dear…】

He’s neglected me for years.
I’m not going to get angry over this.
Ignoring Baekyang’s astonishment, Se-Young continued to scan the erotic files she had uncovered.

[Stocking Legend Korean Girl Footjob.avi]
[Sister Who Drains Water from Behind.avi]
[a.avi]
[12.avi]

Sister, stockings.
Se-Young’s lips quivered with excitement as she noticed the common themes that were gradually coming together.

“…Si-heon was indeed fond of feet.”
【Really?】

“Why, are you interested? It’s an old story… He keeps trying to lick the inside of his thighs or his feet.”

The two women gossiped and laughed together,
After revealing all of Lee Si-heon’s secret preferences, time had passed, and the sun was rising outside.

“But don’t you know how adorable he is when you watch him? He’s tall like a giant, but inside he’s just a Chihuahua…”

– Good morning~ Ta-da! Ta-da!

“…Has it already gotten this late?”

The morning alarm rang from Lee Si-heon’s pocket.
Se-Young stopped talking and looked at the spot where Lee Si-heon had collapsed.

There, a caterpillar that had just woken up squirmed and covered its ears in pain.

“…Ah, shit.”

Cursing right from the start. I understand that feeling. There’s nothing more difficult than waking up for work in the morning.

“When did I fall asleep…”

Scratching the back of his head, Si-heon led his disheveled hair and trudged up from his seat.

Si-heon, with his head still feeling the lingering effects of alcohol, popped a few Tylenol tablets into his mouth while sitting at his desk.

Gulping down bottled water mixed with cigarette ash –

“Ugh, bleh! Ptui!”

Si-heon spat out the water, wiped his chin, and sighed. He looked both pathetic and somehow endearing.

Se-young and Baekyang widened their eyes as they watched him filming the skit. Se-young commented to Baekyang,

‘He must be having a tough time, huh?’
【In this world, Lee Si-heon is indeed struggling. He hasn’t had the chance to meet you or anyone else.】
‘That old, pathetic appearance… Something like that?’
【Saying he’s immature might be an overstatement, but it seems he’s considerably weak in terms of mental strength.】

Lee Si-heon’s bleary eyes scanned the surroundings before eventually settling on his computer screen.

“…What? Why is this on? What did I do yesterday…?”

Could it be that people can notice changes in things but are unable to see themselves?

Se-Young, sitting still, could calmly observe him in the vulnerability of the morning’s past.

Wearied by life,
He appears overwhelmed once more.

Upon seeing Lee Si-heon preparing for work early in the morning, Baekyang muttered to himself.

【…This is Si-heon’s true future.】
“What do you mean?”
【In other words…Well…】

Baekyang, having hesitated for a moment, finally made up his mind and spoke.

【Lee Si-heon was originally a person of this world. He was led into our world by the fate of the World Tree and King Mokryeong.】
“…What?”
【So, perhaps this is the world in which Lee Si-heon never came to our realm.】

He was originally a person of this world.
He was drawn in by the fate of the World Tree and King Mokryeong.

Se-Young furrowed her brow as the incomprehensible words momentarily overlapped.

‘Wait a moment, what I just heard…it isn’t a lie, right?’

Upon reflection, there were several peculiarities in Lee Si-heon’s demeanor. His sudden change in appearance was one, his lack of knowledge about the culture was another, and his inexplicable aversion to polygamy also raised eyebrows.

It was as if he had lived in a different cultural sphere altogether. Si-heon had experienced this feeling several times before.

‘…I feel a bit disoriented right now.’
【 Still, the person you loved remains unchanged. 】
‘That’s true, but…’

As he began to see the truth, Si-heon gradually started to understand himself better.

‘Hold on… So, the reason there was no information about my family or relatives is…’
【 Yes. 】
‘And that’s why my social status was so shaky?’

Although it was a fabrication from Lee Si-heon’s time in Do-won, Baekyang decided to affirm it with silence for the time being. There was a slight misunderstanding, but it was grounded in truth nonetheless.

【 This is Lee Si-heon’s hometown. 】
‘Why do you know this?’
【 Because it was once a world tree. 】

It was a statement that couldn’t be denied.
It wasn’t odd for Lee Si-heon to know that Baekyang, a candidate for the World Tree’s husband, had discovered the path to this world.

So, was this the future Lee Si-heon was destined to experience?

As Se-Young glanced back, she caught a glimpse of Si-heon’s weary expression. Well, it was better to live a mundane office worker’s life than to be in constant danger.

What would it be like to have a hometown in another world? Would Lee Si-heon want to return? She felt as though she now understood the cause of his melancholic demeanor, often seen with a cigarette between his lips.

‘Then why am I here?’

Another question arose. Se-Young dusted off her hands, now salty from perspiration, and gazed at Lee Si-heon as he prepared for work.

Perhaps she should follow him for now. Se-Young rose from the dust-covered chair on which she had sat all morning.

Driven by the desire to witness Lee Si-heon’s life in this world firsthand, Se-Young crossed her arms and set off for his workplace.

No matter the size of the company, there is an unwritten rule that separates those who work a lot from those who work less.

Typically, the company’s personnel can be divided into four categories:

1. Those who are competent but cunningly seek opportunities for promotion.
2. Those who are competent and diligent, with workloads that are saturated.
3. Those who are incompetent but possess excellent interpersonal skills.
4. Those who are wholly incompetent.

Lee Si-heon belonged to the second category.

“Si-heon, could you do this for me?”
“Sure.”

At the age of 27, men who have graduated from the military and university are being introduced to society for the first time. Lee Si-heon, who was entering society for the first time, was competent in his own way. He learned a great deal from his father, a politician, and acquired many skills from observing him. However, he couldn’t employ the same cunning tactics as his father.

For example, concealing his own mistakes.

Pushing aside the motives of competitive relationships.

It was Lee Si-heon who had trauma ingrained in the entirety of such repulsive acts.

He had become what people commonly refer to as a pushover.

“Are you not tired? Is the timing alright?”

“Ah, I’ll give it a try for now.”

He was living a difficult life. Recently, rumors had spread within his company about his father being a politician, and subtle ostracism had begun to occur around him.

If Lee Si-heon’s father were still a powerful member of the National Assembly, it might be different. But having been cast aside and regarded as powerless…

“Hey, didn’t you get into the company through your connections? Ah, just kidding, just kidding. Why do you take it so seriously?”

Although the words weren’t that direct, he had often heard statements with similar undertones.

“Still, Si-heon is better than other newcomers.”

Praise that was merely superficial settled in his ears like scabs, and his workspace was filled with countless files.

‘……’

【This is severe. It’s highly inefficient.】

Many companies employ numerous workers, but Lee Se-Young is aware.
Assuming that the employees are giving their all, reducing their numbers by half wouldn’t affect operations.
It meant that a significant amount of manpower was being diverted elsewhere.

Se-Young, who had been observing, heaved a heated sigh.

“This is quite infuriating.”
【Calm down, there’s nothing we can do.】

This world lacks magic.
Subjectively, fatigue accumulates four times faster than in the world she used to inhabit.

Feeling so drained in such a place, she now understands her appearance in the morning.
There’s no room for reprieve, so she’d curse. No matter how mature one is, irritation only grows.
In Se-Young’s eyes, the companies here were nothing short of hellish.

– Tick.

Time passes. Evening arrives.

Lee Si-heon, unable to even eat properly, continues to work late into the night.

Se-Young, seated comfortably in a chair, could only sigh in frustration as she stared intently at the scene before her.

Working like this won’t double one’s career achievements.
Instead of improving skills, it only stirs up anger in the body.
How wonderful it would be if one could rest a bit more and be honest with their emotions.

– Clop, clop.

Someone approached Lee Si-heon.

“Are you still working? What about leaving for the day?”
“…Ah, yes. Supervisor. The manager asked me to do something, so I’m just going to organize this file and leave.”

A woman wearing a suit skirt with her dark hair neatly braided to one side.
Her direct supervisor.
The woman, who gripped Lee Si-heon’s weary shoulder and lowered her head, opened her mouth upon seeing his workload.

“No, why is there so much? Wow… This isn’t Si-heon’s responsibility.”

Se-Young’s eyes narrowed as she observed the interaction.
The face seemed familiar for some reason. Both the gaze and the expression were quite similar.
Could it be…?

‘Is that me?’

A doppelganger had appeared.

In front of a surprised Se-young, another Se-young heaved a sigh.

“Si-heon, haven’t you taken on too much work?”
“Well, they insisted I handle this one specifically.”
“But still, did you really have to take all of this on?”

If he refused, he’d face reproach.
A sense of humiliation spread across Lee Si-heon’s face.
The name on the glimpsed name tag was Lee Se-young. Even the Chinese characters were the same; it was undoubtedly her.

【Perhaps… it’s the Lee Se-young of this world?】
‘Does that even make sense?’
【If it’s fate, then it must be fate. This too.】
‘……’

While Se-young and Baekyang questioned each other and bickered, the two exchanged bemused smiles.

“Really, this is too much. Everyone. Can’t we go home until this is done?”
“Uh… I’ll finish it quickly.”

Si-heon offered an awkward smile.
Lee Se-young of this world, ‘Se-young’, looked at Si-heon with sympathy and rose from her seat.

“Phew, good luck.”
“Yes.”

After responding briefly, Lee Si-heon returned to his work. Se-Young watched him until just before leaving, then stood beside him as if she couldn’t help herself.

“Ugh…seriously. So frustrating.”
“Yes, yes?”

Si-heon was taken aback by her annoyed tone.

“What do you need me to do? Tell me. Don’t you want to finish quickly and leave?”
“Uh, well, this—”
“Oh, this? Then give it to me. Give me that too.”

Se-Young snatched the tasks away with a decisive manner. Flustered, Si-heon hesitated with a bewildered expression, prompting her to become angry.

“Quickly!”
“Ah, yes!”

Se-Young and Baekyang observed the exchange, silently blinking their eyes. It felt like watching a drama unfold.

‘Should I just watch for now?’
【Yes】

A subtle friendship was sprouting between the irritated Se-Young and Lee Si-heon.