Chapter 56 – First Partner (3)

“What’s the penalty?”

An awkward tension filled the room.
Se-Young, with a stunned expression, asked if what she had heard was true.

“I die.”

At my response, Lee Se-Young’s face hardened, and she narrowed her eyes as if disgusted.

“…You’re not lying, are you?”

Se-Young placed the cardigan that was hanging on the sofa over her chest and brought her index finger to her philtrum. It was a habit of hers when deep in thought.

“Is that why you raped me? Because if you didn’t, you’d die?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”

A bittersweet remark.

“Damn, you must have been torn. If you don’t commit sexual assault, you’ll die.”

I think it probably wasn’t like that. It’s true that I was feverish and half-mad, enjoying the situation at the time. Even so, back then, I was undoubtedly a societal evil.

“To be honest, I didn’t give it much thought. I was even half-welcoming the idea of being raped.”
“Come on, be honest. What did you think would happen?”
“At that time, I truly had no thoughts about it, as I hadn’t even adjusted to the idea of being a husband candidate yet.”

I still occasionally ponder upon it.
Why did I do that back then?
As I delve into the past, it always leads to a single conclusion: it’s likely that the pent-up resentment towards Lee Se-Young, who had been continuously suppressed, exploded in conjunction with an anger management disorder.

That’s why now, with my increased mental strength, I don’t act recklessly anymore.
Ah, of course, excluding White Peach.

“Is that so?”

Se-Young contemplated my words, and then sneakily glanced at the eyes behind my mask.

“Even that time with the cult?”
“Well, that situation was a bit more complicated.”

I sat down in earnest and began recounting the tale.

Starting from the day when I received a quest to befriend three people.

Realizing that failure would lead to death, I hastily attempted to woo Azalea but was ultimately rejected. Then, by chance, I encountered Lee Seong-Han who saw through Azalea’s inner feelings. Believing that this was the only way to win Azalea’s affection, I shared everything that had happened.

“Pffft. What is that?”

Upon hearing my story, Se-Young laughed heartily for a while. She then wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and clung to me.

“Couldn’t you have just made another friend?”
“Well, that’s the thing. Azalea had the highest affinity for me, even though she detested me.”
“Detested? No matter the reason, that seems unlikely. Isn’t it just because you don’t know many people?”

Huh.

“Is that really it?”
“Hehehe. Idiot.”

My face flushed as I realized I had gone the long way around. Se-Young looked at my reddened chin, and as if she found it endearing, she removed her mask and playfully pulled my cheek.

“Nevertheless, our little one has been through a lot.”

“Baby? Have you lost your mind?”
“How old am I?”
“…Just this once.”

Smirking, Se-Young played with my cheeks. Then, suddenly, a question seemed to arise, and she asked me.

“By the way, what’s my affection score?”
“Hmm, give me a moment.”

I immediately opened the World Tree Auction and checked Lee Se-Young’s affection score.

▶Lee Se-Young: ♥♥♥♥♡ (93/100)

It had increased since last time. Feeling somewhat mischievous, I didn’t tell her right away and decided to tease her a bit.

“How much do you think it is?”
“What? What’s the maximum?”
“One hundred is the maximum.”
“Hmm, really?”

Se-Young moved her cardigan aside and pressed her body against mine. Her face inched closer.

-Kiss.

A lingering warmth remained on my right cheek.

“I don’t know the exact number… but you’re definitely in first place.”

At the masterful answer that dodged her question, my excitement surged like a spring that wouldn’t stay down.

This is experience.

“Ninety-three.”

“Oh, what? Didn’t fill it all up? If you fill the womb with yours, will it rise to 100?”
“No, you’re really speaking vulgarly.”
“What… don’t like it?”

Se-Young licked her lips with her tongue, as if feeling regretful.
Just when it seemed like the atmosphere was heating up again, she put some distance between them and changed the subject, fanning herself with her hand.

“Anyway… So that’s how it was. When you suddenly said you were going to face Lee Seong-Han in a life-or-death battle, I thought you’d gone mad and got really worried.”
“Why would you worry if I’m the one fighting?”
“Want to know? Then you won’t be going home tonight.”
“…I’d like to graduate in good health, please.”
“Hehe, you cute little thing.”

She playfully pinched his cheek again.

“But–”

Se-Young’s expression suddenly hardened. At a glance, she looked completely furious.

“–Have those World Tree bastards crossed the line?”

His surprise was palpable at her cold words.

The World Tree displayed such animosity toward all that constituted this world, a realm that was akin to divinity itself. It was a sight never witnessed before, except by the delusional fanatics.

“You’re exploiting the husband candidate system, aren’t you?”

“Am I?”

“This is quite troublesome.”

Murmuring as such, Se-Young, who had already contemplated the situation from various angles, patted me on the shoulder.

“Si-heon.”

Her voice still maintained its frosty tone.

“Yes?”

“What do you think will happen if you continue down this path?”

“I don’t know.”

“What kind of turmoil do you think the existence of a World Tree harboring hostility towards you will stir within our world?”

The World Tree, a being of near-absolute authority in matters of faith. And the countless millions of devotees who followed it blindly. This world was a place where, no matter how morally deviant an act might be, if carried out by the World Tree, it would be forcibly endowed with legitimacy, creating meaning where there had been none.

What if it were revealed that a certain World Tree bore resentment toward me and altered the information within a quest?

“Perhaps.”

I murmured bitterly.

“I might meet my end.”

Marked as an enemy by the World Tree of Purity, branded as a heretic, and eventually facing a hangman’s noose. Even if the circumstances were beyond bizarre, they would still turn a blind eye.

For them, the World Tree was the embodiment of truth, akin to a divine being. Its will was the very essence of morality, a principle that must not be defied.

“Alright. Do you understand now?”
“…Yes.”

The World Tree of Purity… No, I didn’t want to dwell on that now.

“Loosen up your expression.”

Se-Young reached out and embraced my head. The sensation of her arms around me, unmasked, was incredibly warm.

“Feeling down just because of a single warning? Were you always like this?”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s okay, kid. Oh? You’re not loosening up? If you don’t, I might just throw you into the Han River.”
“Heh.”
“That’s right. At your age, laughter is what’s left.”

Silence.

Both hands touch my face.

-Tok.

This time, her cheek touched the top of my head. As I slightly raised my head, Se-Young was intently focused on gently caressing my cheeks and hair with her eyes closed.

“Well, if you’re in trouble, I can take you in and look after you.”
“Thanks, even if it’s just words.”
“Right. Oh, yeah. You mentioned a quest. What is this quest about?”

Uh, well… It seems difficult to say right now.

Observing Se-Young’s expression, I felt I had to tell her, so I swallowed and closed my eyes tightly.

“It’s about having sex with three wooden people.”

Her hand that was stroking my hair stopped.

“…….”

The cold gaze felt like it made a hole in my brain.

…I know. It’s something only the worst kind of scum should do. But, it’s unfair to me too, as she was the one who asked.

After a long silence, she sighed and said.

“Sigh. Hey.”
“…yes.”

“Damn it, give me back my sentiment.”

I remained silent.

“Am I the first one, though?”

Why would they ask that?

* * * * *

“Ugh, I can’t believe I went through all that for them. I even put on expensive lingerie and treated them like royalty, yet my affection for them must have decreased.”
“It went up by one.”
“Shut up!”

Se-Young, donning a cardigan, addressed a bowed flower.

“Hey! Aren’t you going to suddenly pop up?”
“Yes.”

Si-heon rose with a cute response, resembling a wet puppy, which nearly brought a smile to Se-Young’s lips.

“You know what you did wrong, right?”

– Nod.

“But why did you do that?”
“But, damn it, you told me to speak up.”
“Is the little shit talking back?”
“…Yes.”

Hehe, it feels like acquiring an excellent servant.

Se-Young walked down the dimly lit road at dawn with her arm around Si-heon’s shoulder.

“I won’t dwell on it since I didn’t give you permission, but are you asking for my help to complete that quest? Have you lost your mind?”
“No-“
“Is this you asking me to find someone for a one-night stand?”

Si-heon, putting the mask back on, hesitated before speaking in an aggrieved tone.

“No, I was just going to ask you to have sex.”
“Oh.”

Se-young realized her mistake. She awkwardly scratched her cheek and slapped Si-heon’s back, as if attempting to reset her own statement.

“Ouch! Why did you hit me?”
“Because it’s annoying.”

Regardless, the reality Si-heon was facing was shocking information for Se-young.

When she first heard about it, she felt so sorry for him that she wanted to embrace him tightly. In the end, she did hug him, but her sympathy was overwhelming.

‘Three people.’

As Se-young walked closely with Si-heon, she savored the sensation of the milky fluid still trickling down from her vagina.

‘Two more to go.’

Although she could be difficult, she often thought she was worth the trouble, and since they weren’t married, she believed there was no need to be entangled any further. She was a woman with a surprisingly open heart, or at least, that’s how she saw herself.

Failing meant death, with a deadline of 30 days.

‘It’s best to handle this as quickly as possible… Right?’

As time went by, Siheon would grow increasingly anxious.

– Gulp.

She pressed his arm against her chest with all her strength.

“Why are you so clingy today?”
“If it bothers you, just let go.”

Chuckling, Siheon’s laughter prompted her to laugh as well.

The sweet time they shared, like savoring soft ice cream on a midsummer day, melted away as quickly as a frozen treat in the sun. Before she knew it, the path leading Siheon ended at the dormitory’s main gate.

“Go inside and get some rest.”
“What about you, teacher?”
“My schedule is all messed up. I need some rest now too. Teachers are human, after all.”

“Really? Rest well.”
“Alright.”

Siheon waves his hand as he enters the dormitory. Watching his retreating figure, Se-young smirks and then turns her back to the dormitory, taking out her cell phone and browsing her contacts.

‘I must protect my own.’

Though her motives were self-serving, Se-young believed that it was an unavoidable part of human nature.

She flipped through her contacts, deep in thought.

‘The right guy… doesn’t match my level. Someone too highborn would be problematic if things went wrong. An unattractive girl… that guy has such high standards, they obviously wouldn’t suit.’

She needed someone cunning and sharp-witted, who could also look out for themselves.
That way, even if they had sex, nothing would leak out.

As Se-young assessed various women with these considerations in mind, a sudden wave of self-loathing washed over her.

“Shit.”

A sincere exclamation.

Having to lend the man she liked to another woman with her own hands, no matter how open-minded she was, Se-Young couldn’t feel entirely at ease. However, she thought she would probably be okay soon, as she herself was an unconventional woman, much like Si-heon.

*Thud.*

Her fingers paused at a certain spot.

*Trill.*

As soon as she pressed the call button, the ringing tone sounded immediately. A mischievous voice was soon heard, accompanied by a clicking noise.

“Se-Young! What’s up at this ungodly hour?”

*Pew pew pew.*

The sound of intense gunfire echoed from within the smartphone.

“Ugh, ugh, ugh, block Site A! Block it! Okay, what’s going on! Hey there!”

“Crazy bitch.”

“Hey, why call me out of the blue just to swear at me?”

Star.

Her nickname was Starfruits.

Although she had a fairly high reputation, she acted like a troublemaker. Strangely enough, she was incredibly good at looking out for herself. And most importantly, she was a beautiful woman.

In the midst of it all, Se-Young finally managed to part her lips which had been clinging together for so long.

“Hey.”
[Why?]
“Don’t you want a boyfriend?”
[…Se-Young, long time no see. I like it. I’ll stop playing games here today. What? Don’t be mean?]

A bickering voice was heard from within the cell phone.

[Hohoho, I refuse. I’m going to find a boyfriend.]

After finishing everything, Bam spoke seriously.

[So…]
“Yeah.”
[Is he handsome?]

Se-Young recalled Si-Heon’s face.

“Absolutely.”

Perhaps the most handsome in the world, at least in Se-Young’s eyes.

‘And you’re just a one-night expendable.’

Se-Young’s eyes were smiling.