Chapter 124 – A Peeping Woman, A Wounded Woman, A Child-Like Woman (5)

Cha Hyewon couldn’t sleep, her mind in turmoil. The scene she had witnessed earlier, of Yurian, the Saintess, and the red-haired knight all tangled together, was just that intense.

Cha Hyewon was a model student.
From a young age, she was known for her intelligence and was always praised for her academic achievements. Her family was also harmonious, so she grew up properly, without any rebellious tendencies, just as her parents had hoped.

During middle school, while others went through turbulent times and puberty, Cha Hyewon herself, looking back, wondered if she even had a puberty, as she was so quiet.

The only thing that could be considered typical of a teenage girl was the flutter she felt thinking about her first love, the boy next door. She had no complaints about her repetitive life of school, tutoring, school, tutoring.

She thought the stress of studying was something everyone her age in Korea experienced, and she considered herself happy, receiving love from her parents in a harmonious family.

After her first love, the boy next door, disappeared, a long time passed without her forgetting the fever of her first love. Even as her peers had their first dates, first relationships, first kisses, and first times.

She knew she was less experienced than her peers when it came to sex. But she wasn’t a complete idiot who had never watched porn. She had watched porn and masturbated from time to time.

‘Still… still, it was different from what I saw in porn.’

She hadn’t had sex, but she was confident that she wouldn’t be flustered during her first time… It was arrogance. The spectacle of bare skin she had seen with her own eyes.

Cha Hyewon slipped her hand between her legs and began to fidget.

“Haa… You bad bastard.”

“What? You’re leaving? Where to?”
“The Empire. I need to report and finish my quest.”
“Hmm. Then we should make the Empire our next destination. Okay, I’ll think about the route.”

Cha Hyewon was dumbfounded by Yurian’s assumption that they would move together. Since when had he been so considerate? …Well, she wasn’t exactly displeased.

“No. You do your thing. I’m going to move separately.”
“Huh? Weren’t we traveling together?”
“No, we weren’t.”
“W-we’re not a party?”
“No, we’re not, mister.”

Their eyes met. His blinking eyes seemed not to have grasped the situation yet. So, Cha Hyewon kindly explained.

“Let’s part ways now. You go your way. I’ll go mine. Okay?”
“Why? Why suddenly?”
“Suddenly? We were always like this. I should be the one asking. Why are you so naturally assuming I’m part of your group?”
“……”

His flustered expression at her calm retort was quite satisfying. Yeah, you’re flustered, aren’t you? You want to hold me back when I said I’d do my own thing? You regret not treating me better, don’t you?

But the satisfaction was short-lived. A wave of self-reproach washed over her, wondering what kind of childish behavior this was.

“Sorry. I didn’t sleep well last night, so I’m a bit sensitive.”
“No, it’s not like you’re not prickly every day. I’m used to it.”
“…If you’re used to it, should I be even more prickly?”
“Hey~ Just kidding. …It was a joke, right?”
“…It was a joke. By the way. The mercenaries your… no, your girlfriend brought.”
“Girlfriend? Who’s my girlfriend?”

…Was he pretending not to know? Cha Hyewon was about to snap at him but stopped herself. Whether she was his girlfriend or a sex partner, what did it matter to her? He could do whatever he wanted.

“The Saintess, I mean.”
“Ah, Diana. That’s right. She is my girlfriend. Somehow, she feels more like a wife than a girlfriend…”
“Were you married in real life too?”
“Crazy. You’re making a bachelor into a married man. I’m single, okay?”
“Divorced?”
“No, I’m not!”

She had often felt he was like an old man, but was he younger than she thought? No. These days, there are many unmarried people regardless of age. Hmm. Not married yet?

“Hehe. Is that so? Well… you said you were a loser in real life? That’s possible.”
“……I’m not a loser. You’ve been saying that since we first met. What nonsense are you talking about?”
“An older brother I know said that the more effort you put into customizing your game character, the more of a loser you are.”

That’s what her first love, the boy next door, who was now a distant memory, had said. So, she should avoid men like that. The biggest losers of all.

“……No, I’m not. Anyway, I’m not. I used to say that when I was going through my cool phase, but I’m not.”
“Well, I’ll take your word for it.”
“Why are you so excited all of a sudden? You’re so lively when you’re teasing me.”
“Hehe.”

A girlfriend in a game or a marriage in a game… it was just a connection in the cyber world. Did he want to do that with an NPC? Cha Hyewon decided to be understanding. He had been immersed in the game world for 16 years, so he might be confusing it with reality.

“Ah. That thing you couldn’t remember the name of. Isn’t it related to the Saintess? Did you solve that?”
“…It’s not that, but… I have a rough idea.”
“You’re so reckless. Do whatever you want.”
“Okay. Anyway, let’s have a farewell party tonight.”

She left, humming, and headed to her room.

Unlike the morning, she felt much better and attended the farewell party with a light heart. Who knew? If Yurian begged her not to go, saying he needed her… well, she might stay.

She would decide after seeing how sincerely he pleaded. Hehe.
But it was a delusion. He seemed more interested in the mercenaries than in her, busy mingling among the NPCs.

‘What is this? Are those stupid NPCs more important than me? Ha, ridiculous. Fine, do as you please. What am I lacking? I’ll do my own thing too.’

She was picking at her food when Sandra approached and asked.

“Governor, have you seen the Cardinal?”
“Yurian? I don’t know. He’s probably having a good time drinking with those mercenaries.”
“Hmm? Okay.”

The way she swayed her hips while looking for Yurian irritated her. Seriously, how many women did that pervert have? Even if they were NPCs, didn’t he have any principles? Was anyone okay as long as he could sleep with them?

And that woman too. She was married, wasn’t she? How could a woman with a husband be flirting with another man? Look at her wiggling her butt like that. Even if it was a game, even if they were NPCs, how could a woman be so unchaste?

In a fit of anger, she drank heavily. It was only after a while that Yurian approached. What? Where did that woman… Sandra go? Did they go off to have sex?

Look at him staggering. She knew it. He had been gulping down whatever they gave him. She was angry but also worried at the sight of him staggering towards her.

“Are you okay?”
“Ugh. I didn’t even drink much, but my stomach is full of alcohol. It’s sloshing around every time I move, it’s driving me crazy.”
“You should have drunk in moderation. You’re like this because you just kept drinking whatever they gave you.”

She glanced at him. He looked clean, not like he had been rolling around with a woman. Ah. There was magic here. Then where did that mage go?

“Why the face? You’re sad to see me go, aren’t you?”
“No.”

Sad? She felt relieved.

“Hey, don’t lie. Tell me honestly. You’re sad, aren’t you? Huh?”
“I said no.”

Absolutely not. …Honestly, she was a little sad. But thinking about this pervert who was all over any woman, that feeling disappeared. The thought of him rolling around with the mage in that short time floated in the back of her mind, making her not want to talk to him.

“Hey~ Hey~ You’re sad. Right? Right?”

He sat down next to her and nudged her with his elbow, acting so sly. He must have lured women like this. That pervert.

“Hey, Cha Hyewon. Are you a little sad? We’re the only comrades we have. Are you really going to split up like this? Seriously?”
“I’m serious, so stop bothering me and move away.”

Since he was sitting so close, she sniffed him, just in case.
Sniff sniff.
She didn’t smell any woman.

…What, did that mage reject him? Hehe. Well, this pervert wasn’t such a scumbag that he would hit on a married woman.

The Saintess and him living together… well, they had been together for 16 years, so they might have developed feelings. Even if she was an NPC, she was quite pretty, and if they had been together for that long, any man would be tempted.

The fact that he had slept with those two… the three of them rolling around in bed at the same time was still a bit much, but she could understand it somehow. At least, she could accept it in her head.

“You two were here. I hope… I’m not interrupting?”
“Interrupting? Come sit here, Sandra.”
“Hehe, excuse me.”

……What. He wasn’t rejected… he just couldn’t find her?
Of course. She felt annoyed and poked at the food on her plate for a while. The two of them were so lovey-dovey, it was a sight to behold.

Seeing his grinning face next to her made her blood boil. They were so happy, so lovey-dovey. How could that married woman flirt with another man while leaving her husband behind? Did she have no sense of chastity?

Disgusting. Repulsive.
Fine, let them be happy together.

“You two are so lovey-dovey. You two have fun, I’ll get out of your way.”

Even as she stormed off, she had a slight expectation. Surely he wouldn’t let her go like this? Even if he was obsessed with women, she was better than that woman.

She was confident.
Objectively, she was better than a married NPC. In terms of looks, ability, and her importance to him. She was one of the only two modern people in this world, wasn’t she? She was the only one who understood this world, and it was natural for him to hold onto her, who was so pretty and capable.

Cha Hyewon wondered how she would reject Yurian if he tried to hold her back. Of course, it was a futile worry.

……He’s not holding me back?
At first, she was furious, but soon she felt empty.

‘Why am I being so stupid? Why am I acting so childish?’

She knew. She knew how contradictory her actions were.
She had been like this before. She had hoped that her first love, the boy next door, would understand her feelings, hold her back, and tell her he would wait for her… While pretending to be indifferent, she secretly hoped he would recognize her affection.

But now she knew. How foolish and pathetic that was.

She couldn’t understand why her childish self kept resurfacing.

“Why am I like this? Why am I acting so pathetic?”

Haa.
She squatted in a corner, sighing deeply in self-reproach. Yet… a faint expectation still lingered in a corner of her heart.

What if he came to hold her back, even late? She knew it was a vain hope, but because of that vain hope, she couldn’t go far and was just sitting here.

“You’re so pathetic, Cha Hyewon.”

If she liked something, she liked it, if she disliked something, she disliked it. It wasn’t difficult. She was like that in real life. In college, at work… she was the type to clearly express her opinions.

She really didn’t know why she was like this. She leaned against the wall of a building and looked up at the sky.

‘Ha. That’s it. Being with him just gives me a headache. We’re going to part ways after today anyway… that’s all that matters.’

Then, she faintly heard a groan.

‘What is that? Did someone get hurt… That voice sounds familiar.’

Cha Hyewon listened carefully and gritted her teeth.

‘That… that bad bastard! So, he doesn’t care about me at all, huh? That filthy guy. Even with a married woman!’