Chapter 630 – The Chaotic Lover’s Market (8)

Blanche had succeeded.
Indeed, the French Madam was unparalleled.

– Flush.

A smirk crept over her face at the thought of the blissful time she would spend with Si-heon. Yet, a wave of guilt from her underhanded tactics swept over her. Marronnier scanned the room cautiously, her gaze landing on Hanbyeol, sprawled languidly on the sofa.

“Um… Sister.”
“Ughhhhhhh.”

Our Hanbyeol, who we hadn’t seen for three years.
She had painstakingly dressed up for this gathering, even using her secret weapon: a rare perfume.

However, all her efforts to look chic had been in vain as she was pushed back in line, leaving her in a state of deep embarrassment. The scent of alcohol replaced that of the perfume, and her clothes looked frumpy from the drinking games.

She had exerted herself to keep the atmosphere light and jovial, which led to a profuse amount of sweat.

Every woman has a desire to meet their man at their absolute best!

“… Hanbyeol.”
“No…Blanche.”

Hanbyeol, who had been groaning, rose from the sofa with a weary expression.

“Our adorable kitten… Spend a pleasant time with Si-heon.”

Despite her position, Blanche’s pure love was so genuine it made you want to root for her.

“Don’t feel guilty. Go on.”
“……”

When Marronnier entered Lee Si-heon’s room, Hanbyeol sighed and reclined on the sofa once more.

Hanbyeol pondered.
In the outside world, she was a formidable woman, even a president’s grandfather wouldn’t dare to belittle. Yet, in the Lover’s Market, it was ludicrous that she had nothing to show for.

“…But it’s also odd for my sister to cling onto me. Isn’t it, Se-young?”

Se-young responded while nibbling on fruit snacks.

“No. You’re already quite unattractive.”
“…Really? Can I get even uglier?”

Whether it’s a good or bad situation, she always aims for first place.
Hanbyeol was all too familiar with Se-young’s contemptuous gaze.

“Phew. But why are you so calm? Don’t you miss Si-heon? What is this, some first love scenario?”
“It’s called faith, you know.”
“Faith, my foot~ Don’t you know when the body drifts apart, the heart follows? Give me three years, and I could surpass everyone here and woo Si-heon!”

She was bluffing.
Hanbyeol had a habit of feigning courage.

“No, that’s not it. Si-heon doesn’t really like your coquettish type.”
“Huh! Wow, me!! That’s hilarious!”

While the two engaged in their usual banter, Wiki and Alba observed quietly.

“…But does Si-heon really not like a coy girl? Then what does he like…?”
“Why are you asking me that?”
“Ah, but you’ve spent more time with Si-heon, so you would know…. Could you give me a tip, please?”

What kind of tip could she offer?
Lee Si-heon, the esteemed host who had experienced all sorts of red-light districts, surely had the confidence to win anyone over.

Se-young spoke as she lifted a half-empty can of chilled beer.

“I don’t much care for pretense, yet I suspect you wouldn’t even notice the pretense you’re trembling with.”
“What does that mean?”
“That’s him. He’s incredibly dense when it comes to relationships.”
“Huh? Isn’t Si-heon quite perceptive?”

Indeed, his intuition isn’t lacking.
If it were, he wouldn’t have survived this long.

But when it comes to affairs of the heart, Lee Si-heon is hopelessly obtuse.

“He ran away after threatening us with a knife. That incident has certainly left a mark. If we told Si-heon to orbit the earth a few times, would he actually do it?”
“I… I’m not sure. Does that have anything to do with his obtuseness?”
“Yes.”

Lee Si-heon’s mental state is anything but healthy.

According to Alba, he’s been prescribed a dose of medicine so potent, it could prove lethal if consumed by an average hunter. At Se-Young’s glance, Alba nodded in affirmation.

Byul, unable to converse with Si-heon, remains unaware of his condition.
But she would understand if she could see him.

“He’s changed.”

The number one thing lovers should never utter!
But it’s not used in the usual context here.

In the past, Lee Si-heon was, let’s say, an energetic large dog prone to mischief.
Now, his vivacity has vanished, and he has become bland.

Perhaps,
His head is filled with thoughts like, “Can I joke around with these people?” His words and actions have become cautious, and guilt prevents him from taking any initiative.

“Even if you act coy, he wouldn’t notice, too preoccupied with being attentive.”

If he were in his usual state, he would have noticed. But his mind is so captivated that he fails to see it.

“…Now that you mention it. Just look at the yellow one….”
“That’s exactly it.”

Among Lee Si-heon’s women, Cornus is the most cunning.
A veritable fashion puppy.
Calculating in every word she utters and every adorable act she does, but he indulges her despite knowing it.

“There’s a certain appeal to his earnestness, though. It’s rather endearing.”

At Se-Young’s words, as she gazes into the distance, Alba closes her eyes.
Drinking apple juice, Wiki speaks up.

“Dad can improve. It’s just that he has too much on his plate right now.”

“……Also. I didn’t know Dad that well back then. But the attentive Dad that I know now is the coolest.”

Upon hearing Wiki’s words, meant for Lee Si-heon, smiles spread across the lips of Se-Young and Alba.
Even Byul could only respond with an amused chuckle at her innocent demeanor.

In the early morning light, Byul looked at Wiki, her eyes bright and asked.

“How did you like hanging out with us, your aunts, Wiki?”

Wiki hesitated for a moment before answering.
Apart from her father, Wiki doesn’t really feel interested in anyone else.

But, sharing similar tastes with her father, she thought that everyone was beautiful and kind.

“…I didn’t like it.”

However, Wiki adores her father.
With utmost sincerity and fervor, to the point of feeling jealousy towards her aunts.

Despite towering over her and exuding a definite feminine allure, these individuals were, to Wiki, nothing more than nuisances.

“Wiki.”

“I apologize. However, my father did instruct me never to lie.”

Wiki hung her head in response to Alba’s admonition, a cloud of gloom settling over her. The air grew even more somber as a sniffle escaped the nose of a dejected Byul.

“Hmm.”

The time had slipped away to two in the morning. Given their need for rest, it was high time to wrap things up.

Se-Young, having set down her empty beer can, gently stroked the head of a smirking Aori.

“Aori.”

“Yes?”

“Shall we commence the next round of rock-paper-scissors?”

Although they still had some time before the end of their gathering at Marronnier, it seemed prudent to make the next decision ahead of time. Se-Young regarded the remaining trio with a stern gaze.

“For the last round, how about the victor stays the rest of the morning?”

She bent her knees, gathering momentum.

As if anticipating this, Alba broke into a grin while Wiki raised an eyebrow. Byul, on the other hand, chuckled and clenched her fist in triumph.

“Se-Young, what are you suggesting? Have no regrets?”

“No, none. And what about you, Wiki’s mother?”

“…Sounds good to me.”

The final round was heating up. Alba, as though foreseeing the situation, folded her arms with a confident air.

“Deal?”

“Deal.”

“Agreed.”

The task at hand was to bide their time and ‘consume’ Lee Si-Heon… With the thrilling gamble now underway, they had no choice but to approach it with caution.

Byul, taking a deep breath, spoke with an air of assuredness.

“Shall we settle this with rock-paper-scissors? I’m playing seriously this time.”

The common game of rock-paper-scissors. The method of determining a winner by throwing rock, paper, or scissors was, in actuality, not entirely fair in the society of hunters.

Given the varying degrees of cognitive ability among individuals, those who had reached a certain level could anticipate their opponent’s move.

In simpler words, they could ‘react based on observation’!

As Byul, who had hitherto played fairly, prepared to apply her full strength, Se-Young and Alba responded with nonchalant laughter.

“I think it would be wise to send Aori a message on Kkadok and decide based on that? If we do it visually, I win.”

“Fool. Did you forget that he’s a sage?”

A sage who could penetrate the world-tree network and perform reconnaissance couldn’t possibly be unable to manipulate a mere message.

“What about writing it on paper?”

“Don’t underestimate the wizard.”

The conversation bounced back and forth between Byul and Se-Young. The reason they settled disputes with traditional rock-paper-scissors was to counterbalance the boundless potential of wizards.

Though Se-Young and Byul were well-versed in magic, compared to the genuine article, they were akin to powerless Muggles. They couldn’t predict what sort of magical event might occur.

Similarly, this was why they refrained from resorting to lotteries or other gimmicks like the King’s Game.

“So? Se-Young, you won’t stand a chance.”

“Since when do you care about me?”

“…So, we start now?”

There was something about the confidence etched on Alba’s face. Byul, who boasted superior physical strength, couldn’t help but feel cautious of her demeanor.

Alba was formidable from the get-go.
Clearly, there was an underlying strength, but who could discern it?
No one could penetrate the depths of Alba, who, despite being a former sage, was surpassing his peak daily.

“Ha. Alright. Let’s give it a shot.”

Inevitably, their game of Rock, Paper, Scissors proceeded without a change of stakes.

Aori, having risen from her seat, yawned and proclaimed,

“Then… all of the king’s lovers, raise your hands. Yawn~ Alright! If you don’t throw, you lose!”

Se-Young, Byul, and Alba’s gazes darted back and forth between each other, sparking a fierce competition.
A resolute will not to lose emanated simultaneously from all three.

‘Surely, he’ll use a trick. However…’

As Byul’s pupils widened, the surrounding time seemed to decelerate.
Near her breaking point, she accelerated her thought process, keenly observing the movements of Lee Se-Young and Alba.

Scissors.

-Swoosh!

Rock.

-Smack!

‘I can do this.’

It’s visible.
Both Alba’s and Se-Young’s hands gradually shift, the angles of their fingers altering.

Alba throws a rock. Lee Se-Young does too.
A form of nothingness yet to define its change.

But slowly, their gestures morph. Alba throws scissors, Lee Se-Young throws paper, and Wiki throws scissors.

‘Good. I need to eliminate Se-Young first!’

In the moment Byul throws scissors,

-Flash!

Time freezes.

* * * * * * * * * * *

In this episode of ’30 Minutes with Lee Si-heon’, if there are pre-established rules,

One would be to honor the result with grace and fairness.
The second would be to avoid any sexual contact with Lee Si-heon.

The choices of the women, concerned about the weary and fatigued Lee Si-heon, were clear.
Maronnier also nodded her agreement, understanding the rules well.

“…Cornus!!! You!!”

Blanche was livid.

“Um… yes!”

Cornus, soaked lower body from a large rice cake bite, made repeated swallowing motions as if to fully take in what was left.

“You’re unbearable!! Truly, get out!”

Dragging.

Pulling her by the shoulders, Cornus was pushed back entirely by Blanche’s strength.

Despite Cornus’s resilience against the feeble strength of a wizard, her actions were calculated.
Reluctantly stepping back and swallowing the thick milk, she conceded.

“We agreed not to do this!”
“…Would you like a turn, Blanche?”

The sweaty lower half of the exhausted Lee Si-heon.
Cornus pointed at the sticky, transparent liquid trailing down his urethra.

“Hah, hah….”

His labored breathing was undeniably sexy.
Blanche’s face flushed crimson as she continued to part and press her lips together.

‘It’s getting bigger…’

-Gulp.

Saliva involuntarily welled up in my mouth.

‘Ah, no, no!!’

Marronnier vehemently shook her head. Hadn’t she and her sisters made a solemn pledge, sealed with intertwining pinkies, to stay away from any lascivious acts?

She attempted to resist the demonic temptation that was gnawing at her restraint.

“First off… get out!! You idiot!”
“!?”

Spatial magic exploded from Marronnier’s hands! With a hint of disappointment etched on her face, Cornus was teleported to her bedroom.

Left alone in the room, Shiba lay protected behind a transparent shield.

“Seriously, ugh. Seriously!!”
“…Blanche?”
“Uh….”

The resonance of her name in his voice sent chills down her spine. Marronnier’s body ignited with a sudden rush of heat.

“Uh, y-yes, it’s me….”

She can’t indulge in lewd acts. She can’t succumb to impure thoughts. Marronnier repeated these lines like a mantra in her mind as she frantically sought a tissue.

The moist and glistening spot felt uncomfortably sticky. If she pulled up her pants as they were, the sensation would be unbearable.

‘This is…’

Considering that Lee Si-heon was immobilized for the moment…

-Swallow.

‘Just cleaning, only cleaning.’

Reaching out to the tissues, Marronnier’s adorable little hand pulled out a piece of the white paper.

“Next is your turn… Oh, sorry. My body isn’t cooperating right now, so wait a bit. I’ll get dressed and stand up soon.”
“Oh, no. I… I’ll clean it up for you.”
“You really don’t have to.”
“Just stay still…. You fool.”

Marronnier’s hand slowly moved towards the moist area. It has been a long time since she had held it in her hand.

‘Ah… Ugh.’

Racy thoughts incessantly invaded her mind. Marronnier tightly shut her eyes, and the amplified sensation of the soft yet rigid surface of his penis was relayed to her hand.

A magnificent size, too grand to be measured with a single hand. Marronnier’s index finger traced down the veins.

-Swipe, swipe.

Wiping it down with the tissue, again, and again, and again….

“Uh, Blanche, wait a moment.”
“I’m cleaning up! Wait…!”

Her embarrassment was as if a thief had caught her stealing. The heat in her cheeks was unbearable.

Carefully lifting her eyelids, Marronnier saw it – a truly massive, awe-inspiring cock.

“Uh… Wow….”

It presented an irresistible spectacle.

-Gulp.

The tiny fragments of tissue, sticking even after wiping it down, irritated her eyes. Marronnier’s slender fingernails delicately scraped the glans to remove the pieces.

-Twitch.

His thighs trembled.

“Uh!!”
“Just wait a moment.”

She was filled with erotic anticipation. As Si-heon’s face, eyes clenched shut, came into view, Marronnier found herself fixated on his lips.

The face of the man she loved. Kissing isn’t an obscene act, is it?

This was just cleaning…. Kissing was different. Consumed by a whirlwind of thoughts, Marronnier slowly approached Lee Si-heon, who was propped up on the bed.

– Smooch.

As our lips collided, Marronnier’s quartet of fingers tenderly encircled the glans.

The touch, now somewhat coarser, could hardly be described as merely wiping.

“Mmmh…”

The cat was primed to ascend the hearth.