"Phew."
"Phe~w."
Go Yeon-Joo and I sat side by side on the steps, exhaling smoke at the same time. She had a sullen look on her face the entire time she smoked the cigarette. It seemed like she had genuinely been trying to hide this time, but my easy discovery of her seemed to have annoyed her. If not for my third eye, I probably wouldn't have noticed so easily—at least, not the me from the first life.
We just sat there, puffing on our cigarettes in silence. It didn't seem like Go Yeon-Joo had any intention of speaking first. So, I flicked off some ash and gently broke the silence.
"Why on earth were you hiding in there?"
"Well, with such a strong mana flow coming from the second floor, how could I not go up and check it out?"
She replied to my question in a sharp tone. By mana flow, she probably meant magic detection. I nodded once and continued.
"Still, you could've just taken a quick look or stayed out in the open. There was no real need to hide, was there?"
"Tch."
This time, perhaps having nothing more to say, Go Yeon-Joo acknowledged her defeat with a click of her tongue. At her reaction, I let out a faint smile. Good. After we finish smoking these, I'll head up to the room…
"Come to think of it… Player Kim Su-Hyeon really is a player who lacks awareness."
Just as I was about to think, "What a nice way to end the day," Go Yeon-Joo fired back with a new remark. And the moment I heard her words, I couldn't help but let out a dry laugh. Me, lacking awareness? I, who've survived ten years in Hall Plain, lack awareness? It was such utterly ridiculous nonsense that I didn't even feel it was worth responding to. A silent smile crept onto my face.
But Go Yeon-Joo didn't seem to feel the same. Seeing my reaction, she looked at me in disbelief and said:
"What's with that ridiculous smile? Don't tell me you actually think it's not about you?"
"It's just laughable, that's all."
"So, you really think you do have awareness, huh?"
"I suppose so. Compared to most players, I think I'm much better off."
Go Yeon-Joo tilted her head, looking like something was off. Then she slightly turned her body, gently placed her hand on my shoulder, and spoke in a serious tone.
"Look here, Player Kim Su-Hyeon. I'm sorry to say this, but you really do lack awareness. And I don't mean the kind you use in battle or other technical matters. I'm talking about the kind of awareness a man is supposed to have toward a woman. Do you understand?"
"Haha. That's something that idiot An-Hyun lacks, not me."
Go Yeon-Joo looked dumbfounded by my light-hearted response. She shook her head vigorously for a moment and then raised her voice a bit. It was the first time I'd seen her this flustered, and I found it somewhat amusing.
"No! At the very least, that rookie has way more awareness than you do. Trust me. And seriously, try to develop some awareness. At this rate, you're really going to be in trouble someday."
"Come on now. What kind of trouble are you talking about? And again, I'm telling you, I do have awareness. You don't have to worry so much."
"Haa…"
At my words, Go Yeon-Joo pressed her hand to her forehead and let out a long sigh. Then, muttering to herself, she flicked away the cigarette she'd finished.
"To think I'd end up discovering a weakness like this… No, maybe not a weakness—more like a flaw."
The innkeeper doesn't seem to know how to take care of his own inn. I took another drag from the cigarette that was still burning in my hand.
Although she'd finished smoking, Go Yeon-Joo didn't get up from her seat. Judging by that, it seemed like she wanted to keep talking with me a little longer. And yet she says I lack awareness? Even now I can guess her intentions this well. I let out a quiet snort and decided to wait a little longer for her to speak again.
Sure enough, just as I stubbed out the cigarette, I saw Go Yeon-Joo's lips slowly part.
"So, you ended up going after all, didn't you?"
By 'you ended up going', was she talking about Yun-Jung? It was true that Go Yeon-Joo had opposed me stepping in. However, I prioritize my own judgment and went to comfort Yun-Jung.
"Yes. As you saw."
"I didn't see or hear anything. But still, I told you not to go like that…"
As her words trailed off, I took a moment to gather my thoughts. There was nothing good to come from dragging this issue out. Whether she already knew or not, I figured it would be better to just tell her my honest thoughts. So, in a quiet voice, I began to speak.
"Yes, you did. But I felt that going was the right choice."
"Why?"
"Because there isn't much time left."
Go Yeon-Joo fell silent at my answer. That one line I had just spoken carried countless meanings. I turned my head slightly to glance at her. She was resting her chin on her hand, staring forward as she mulled over my words.
"Not much time left… Hmm…"
Go Yeon-Joo muttered to herself, tapping her cheek lightly with a raised finger. Her elegantly positioned fingers supporting her chin below. Without realizing it, I focused my gaze and looked at her more closely.
Beautiful.
Skin as smooth as white snow tinged with a peachy hue, cheeks tinged with a small blush. Her eyebrows were thin and lightly drawn, and as I looked into the deeply submerged gaze in her eyes while she stared ahead, I felt as if I might be pulled right in. Go Yeon-Joo quite literally possessed a fatal charm.
"Hmm…?"
Perhaps sensing my gaze, she blinked a few times and then quickly turned her head. Her wavy hair shimmered as it swept across her slender face. And the moment our eyes met midair, she wore a gentle smile. Her eyes curved into a beautiful arc, and her lovely vermilion lips slowly parted into a half-circle.
"Why are you staring at me like that~? Did you fall for me?"
"…Let's just say I almost did."
As I nodded and admitted it honestly, Go Yeon-Joo gave a look like she couldn't believe it.
"Ha. Really? What's gotten into you today? Back when I used to try and seduce you, you never fell for it no matter what."
"Who knows."
I gave a vague response and let out an awkward laugh. The reason I had just been momentarily captivated was because her appearance reminded me of Han So-Young. Han So-Young had a habit of resting her chin in her hand and tapping one cheek with a finger whenever she was deep in thought. Come to think of it, I wondered what Han So-Young might be doing around now.
Thinking of Han So-Young made me sigh automatically. Noticing this, Go Yeon-Joo slightly lifted herself and moved closer to me, gently pressing her shoulder against mine. Then, resting her head on my shoulder, she spoke in a soft voice.
"Okay. I don't know what's going on, but I doubt you didn't understand what I meant. I'm sure you have your reasons. And your actions will show their results soon enough, so I'll just wait and see. But still, that issue—it's not up to you, it depends on that little girl."
"That's true. Either way, thank you for saying that."
In other words, what Go Yeon-Joo was saying was that the request I made back then was still valid. Feeling relieved at that thought, I inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. If she were to change her mind, Yun-Jung's resolve might end up being all for nothing. Well, maybe not completely for nothing, but it would definitely lose some of its strength.
At my words, Go Yeon-Joo smiled playfully with her eyes and then spoke again.
"Just like that? No return gift?"
"...?"
"I lent you an inn, fed you breakfast, drove you around, even gave you a report. And now I'm about to teach the kid too. Have you ever seen a tree that gives so generously?"
"No, I don't think I have. But you're not a tree, are you?"
Even I had to admit—it was a pointless jab. But the moment I said it, a glint flickered in Go Yeon-Joo's eyes. Don't tell me I'd slipped up again. Feeling a wave of anxiety wash over me, I swallowed nervously. She gave a soft smile at my words and leaned in slightly. From her neck, I could feel her warm breath rising.
"You're right. I'm not a tree. I'm a person—no, a player—so I think I deserve some form of compensation."
"Weren't we going to settle that compensation later?"
"In any mutual agreement, an upfront deposit is common courtesy, dear customer."
Our bodies were already shoulder-to-shoulder. As she gradually lifted her head and leaned in closer, the distance between us shrank even more. Watching her retort to every word without missing a beat, I started to feel a growing tension inside.
I steadied myself and spoke in a calm voice.
"Please take good care of Yun-Jung for the time being. She's a player with a lot of potential."
"If she comes to me on her own, sure. And don't try to change the subject so slyly. You always do that when you're at a disadvantage. Aha, and why are you getting up already? Who said I was going to devour you? I'm not done with what I have to say yet. Where do you think you're sneaking off to?"
"…Someone who's about to become the kid's teacher shouldn't be acting like this."
"Oh my. I'm the kind of teacher who accepts bribes, you know."
"That's a terrible joke. Well then, I'll be getting up now…"
"Too—" Before I could even finish speaking, Go Yeon-Joo's face suddenly rushed in toward me. Thinking she was aiming for a mouth-to-mouth kiss, I quickly leaned my head back. That's when it happened.
Sss. Sssst.
As if she had predicted my movement, her figure vanished, leaving behind a faint afterimage. I couldn't sense even the slightest presence. It happened in the blink of an eye—barely one or two seconds. She was too close for me to activate the Third Eye in time. There was no time to regret my mistake. I had to trust my instincts, so I quickly turned my head.
First, to the left. Nothing. Then that means…
"Hup—"
As I turned to the right, I gasped. Just as I fully turned my head, a warm and soft sensation touched my lips. She had timed it perfectly—her face appeared at the exact moment I turned.
"..."
Back in the first life, I had once thought about what it might be like to feel her lips against mine—and now, they were. I saw her face smiling brightly in front of me. Seeing my expression, Go Yeon-Joo pressed her lips together firmly and pulled away with a look of triumph.
Smooch.
"Hoho. We finally got to kiss."
"How did you just now…?"
I asked with a reluctant expression, and Go Yeon-Joo wagged her finger back and forth. Then, in an excited voice, she began to explain.
"I figured it out back when we had that match. First, I had to close the distance. If I gave you any time to respond, I thought I'd definitely lose. So the next part was a 25% chance. Up, down, right, left. I went left first, then immediately moved to the right and waited. Then, just as you turned your head, I leaned in and lightly stuck out my lips."
"…Hah. To go to such lengths just for a kiss. That's some serious planning."
"Why? Why are you sighing? Was kissing me that bad? Are you upset?"
When I let out a sigh, Go Yeon-Joo tilted her head and spoke. Her face was still smiling, but something in her voice carried a strange undercurrent. At that moment, a past conversation I'd had with her came to mind.
<"That's right. I used to be a bar girl.">
<"Player Kim Su-Hyeon, how do you judge someone like me?">
<"And in the modern world, a woman who used to work at a bar, someone looked down on by others…">
<"Look into the eyes. You can tell, more or less, what someone's thinking just by looking into their eyes.">
"…No."
I could still feel the warmth of her lips lingering on mine. I shook my head and stood up from my seat. Looking down at her, Go Yeon-Joo was glaring up at me.
"So, did you like it?"
"Yeah. Honestly, it felt pretty nice. I mean, to kiss the famous Shadow Queen."
"Hoho. Now you're finally being a little honest."
Seeing Go Yeon-Joo smiling sheepishly, I took a bold step forward. Without hesitation, I reached out and grabbed her by the collar.
"Ah."
"For the record, when it comes to things like this, I'm not the calculating type."
At my declaration, Go Yeon-Joo's eyes widened in surprise. I leaned in, pulling her clothes toward me, just as she had done.
"Mmph…!"
Though the impact was a little forceful, once again, a bewitching sensation lingered on my lips. Her breath and lips carried a faint scent of tobacco. At first, her face was startled, but then her eyes gently closed as she responded to my kiss.
This kiss didn't last very long. If it had continued, it might've gone as far as exchanging tongues, so I carefully lifted my head. And yet, her lips were so moist that even after just about ten seconds of contact, they clung to mine as if reluctant to let go.
After releasing her collar, I straightened her clothes and spoke.
"…How was it?"
Go Yeon-Joo didn't answer right away. She simply opened her eyes and looked at me with a calm gaze, one I hadn't seen before. Then, she stuck out her tongue slightly and drew in her lips, gently sucking them.
After wetting her lips like that, she spoke in a quiet voice.
"I'm sure someone like An-Sol or Lee Yun-Jung would've blushed and stomped their feet. But I'm not like them. If you were hoping to see me lose my composure over something like this, I'm afraid you're mistaken."
"I see."
"Still… I take back what I said about you lacking awareness. You're not a clueless guy—you're a sly snake. Hmph."
"Hahaha."
I let out a cheerful laugh and turned around. It was time to head back. I no longer felt like organizing equipment lists or anything of the sort. I just wanted to either lie down and rest… or pick up my sword and swing it around.
Just as I was walking up the stairs and about to open the door, Go Yeon-Joo's voice called out from behind me.
"But… Why did you kiss me on your own? Was it like, 'You got me, so now it's your turn to get got'?"
Go Yeon-Joo placed particular emphasis on the word 'on your own.' I just turned my head slightly and shrugged my shoulders as I replied.
"Who knows. In a way, I guess it's similar. Maybe I was curious what it would feel like—not being kissed by the Shadow Queen, but kissing her myself."
At my answer, her expression subtly changed. I didn't bother to add the unnecessary comment, 'The me from the first life.'
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