Chapter 17

EP.17 New Encounter #2

A familiar and nostalgic face quickly brings a sense of closeness.

Yuria said that my face resembled her late father and asked to have a brief conversation. Since I had the intention of digging into her, I naturally agreed.

And so, we introduced ourselves and sat down at a café to talk.

Currently, my name is Kim Taegon, an unmarried real estate businessman who’s doing quite well.

“I’m really sorry for asking you to talk and then making you treat me…”

I gave a kind smile to Yuria, who seemed quite apologetic.

“Don’t worry about it. You’re from Sweden, right?”

“Yes.”

Yuria had returned to her usual aloof demeanor.

But every time she sipped her coffee, she glanced at my face. It was obvious she was paying attention to me.

“By the way, didn’t you speak to me in a strange language on the street earlier? Was that Swedish?”

Yuria was referring to the time she unknowingly used the common language of Erandel.

Of course, as a modified being, I understood that language perfectly, but showing that I understood would raise suspicion, so it was right to pretend not to know.

“That… was… I’ve been studying linguistics, so it just came out without me realizing. It wasn’t Swedish.”

What a plausible excuse…

“I see. By the way, it’s a bit surprising. You said your name is Yuria, right? It’s surprising that I resemble your father.”

“I was surprised too. You look so much like him… I must have startled you by suddenly grabbing you like that.”

“Not at all. It felt nice to be called by someone like a daughter. Of course, I’m unmarried, so I don’t have a daughter… If I made you feel bad, I’d like to apologize.”

Yuria quickly waved her hands.

“I didn’t feel bad at all. Rather… no, it’s nothing.”

She swallowed her words.

It seemed she wanted to say she was happy to be called like a daughter.

In the past, Tairat… no, in front of me, she always maintained a stern and disgusted expression…

That friendly gaze, so beautiful. I hope to see it often from now on.

“Your Korean is very fluent. When did you come to Korea?”

“I immigrated here a year ago. I’ve been learning Korean for 10 years.”

“Really? You seem very interested in Korea.”

“That’s part of it, and there’s someone I must find…”

Someone you must find? That must be me.

I should test the waters.

“Have you found that person?”

“No. Not yet. But I recently got a hint.”

A hint… She must have noticed Amducias and Octoa.

But what can she do alone?

Even if she had thousands, tens of thousands of people helping her, she wouldn’t be able to find my true form and base.

“It must be someone important if you flew all the way from Sweden.”

“They’re not someone important. There’s something I need to settle.”

She softened her words, but it was clear she came to kill me.

If that’s the case, aside from me coming here earlier, the flow of Part 2 hasn’t changed much… This makes things very easy.

No, should I completely change it?

Should I persuade Dr. Cash to create another Device and transform quickly?

Leona and Yuria… The idea of both of them being active at the same time doesn’t seem bad…

Various thoughts filled my head.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

I snapped out of my thoughts as I sipped my coffee.

“It’s nothing.”

If I probe further here, Yuria might get suspicious.

Even if I resemble her father, we’re still strangers right now.

Also, judging by the fact that Yuria kept lying to maintain her disguise, it seemed I wouldn’t be able to learn anything more here.

I spent quite a long time with Yuria, talking about trivial things.

She mostly talked about her father, and every time she spoke, her voice was filled with longing.

She must have really missed him.

I acted as if I were her real father, building up Yuria’s fondness for me.

When it got late, I looked at my watch.

“Shall we get going?”

“Huh? Already?”

“Already? We’ve been at this café for three hours.”

“Ah… right. Then let me treat you to a meal. Since you bought the coffee…”

“It’s late, so I’d like to go home. I have a busy day tomorrow, so I want to rest well.”

“Then… can I at least get your contact info? If that’s too much, even your company name…”

“This is making me a bit uncomfortable.”

Yuria bowed her head deeply.

She wanted to leave room to meet again, but since I said it was uncomfortable, she seemed at a loss.

She then looked straight at me.

“Do you believe in reincarnation?”

What a sudden question.

Reincarnation… Does she think I’m the reincarnation of her father?

Well, the planet Erandel had a strong belief in such things…

“I’m not sure. I’ve never really thought about it…”

“You feel so familiar to me. Don’t you feel the same?”

Bold as ever.

I hardened my expression and shook my head.

“There are people who look alike everywhere. To be honest, I think you’re just momentarily, very momentarily, feeling that way because of your longing for your father.”

“…But still…”

“If it’s meant to be, we’ll meet again. The world is smaller than you think.”

After finishing my words, I pushed my chair back and stood up. Yuria also stood up.

Her expression was very earnest, as if she really wanted to keep in touch with me.

Yuria took out a pen from her pocket, wrote something on a napkin, and handed it to me.

“This is my contact info. Please contact me again.”

“Hmm…”

After pretending to think for a moment, I took it and calmly extended my hand.

“It was nice meeting you.”

Yuria, holding my hand, emphasized.

“Please contact me. Please.”

After shaking hands, I smiled without answering and left the café.

Don’t worry, I’ll come find you again.

**

There’s a chicken in front of the door to my house.

Chicken from a popular pub in Handaeguri.

It seems Sehwa brought it after having a drink with her friends.

I chuckled and took the chicken inside.

After heating it up in the microwave, I watched a video Marcella sent.

The video showed Yoo Seunghyun, dressed in a waiter’s uniform, talking to Sehwa.

‘Sehwa’s hairstyle has changed.’

A ponytail with a few strands hanging down to her chin.

Her bangs, which seemed trimmed, covered her forehead, and her tied-back hair had a slight S-curve.

I really liked how her hair wasn’t perfectly neat.

Especially how her delicate nape was exposed.

-You changed your hair?

At Seunghyun’s surprised tone, Sehwa gently touched her tied-back hair.

-Yeah. I just trimmed my bangs a bit and changed it. How is it?

-Hmm… It’s pretty, but I think I liked the old one better. And you didn’t like showing your ears, right?

-Summer’s coming soon. It looked stuffy, so I changed it.

-You must be under a lot of stress living as a hero. To change a hairstyle you’ve kept for so long. What happened in Incheon… You did well. I’m proud of…

Sehwa’s eyebrows twitched, and she cut off Seunghyun’s words.

-I told you not to mention that. People are already watching me, and now you too? Just say it’s pretty, why do you have to add all that?

-Ah… right. I’m really sorry.

-Are you finishing late again today?

-Probably.

-Can’t you ask for a day off?

-Sehwa, you know. I need to make money… And I’m so busy that if I’m not here, this place won’t run. I’ll ask when things calm down a bit.

Sehwa sighed deeply in front of the flustered Seunghyun.

-Haah… Alright. It can’t be helped…

-I should get going now. I’m always on your side, so hang in there. It’s really nice to see your face like this. Let’s hug for the first time in a while.

-Hey… we’re on the street here?

-You didn’t care about that before.

At those words, Sehwa reluctantly approached Seunghyun.

Seunghyun, hugging Sehwa tightly, looked at her with a deep gaze.

-I love you, Sehwa. You’re the only one for me.

Seunghyun suddenly brought his lips to Sehwa’s.

Sehwa, who was unexpectedly kissed, showed no reaction.

She just said this.

-Work hard. If anything happens, call me.

-You’re not going to say you love me?

-People are watching. I’ll say it over the phone later.

-Say it now. It’ll give me strength.

-Ah… fine… I love you.

-It feels forced, but… it still gives me strength. I’ll go to work now? Get home safely.

-Okay.

And so, the two parted ways and went their separate paths.

The video ended there.

I slightly raised one corner of my mouth and picked up the warmed chicken to eat.

Then, a small knock came from the front door.

‘It’s Sehwa. Perfect timing.’

It was too late to ring the doorbell, so she must have felt sorry.

Beep! Click!

I opened the door remotely and continued eating the chicken.

Then, I made eye contact with Sehwa, who was sneaking into the house.

She smiled sheepishly.

“I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d take a walk… but the chicken I left at the door was gone. I thought maybe…”

“Who cares? But your hair looks pretty. I really like it.”

Sehwa’s mouth stretched wide.

Without anyone saying anything, she sat across from me and asked.

“How’s the chicken? Good?”

“It’s good. You should have some.”

“I’m fine. I ate a lot earlier. Ah, I left my card at home… I’ll return it tomorrow. Or should I go get it now?”

“No, just keep it and use it when you need it.”

Sehwa’s pretty eyes blinked.

She seemed surprised that I told her to keep it.

I shrugged.

“I saw today that you barely spent 50,000 won. Did you feel bad using the card and used your own money?”

“No…?”

“No? There’s no record of payments except for the karaoke and hair salon. Did you get the chicken for free?”

“…. I felt bad using it carelessly…”

“Even if you spent a million won a day, it wouldn’t make a dent in my wealth. Let’s stop talking about this… Turn your head. Let me see your hair.”

“Like this?”

She turned her head to the side and stayed still.

I slowly admired her hairstyle, then tapped the chair beside me in satisfaction.

Sehwa slowly got up and sat next to me.

I put my arm around her shoulder and said.

“Tell me what you did today.”

“I went to karaoke… then to the hair salon to trim my hair a bit, and had chicken and beer with friends. I also met Seunghyun.”

“Yoo Seunghyun? What did you do?”

“Just… met briefly. We talked about this and that, then parted.”

“Tell me in detail.”

I acted with a jealous expression.

Sehwa, seeing my expression, smiled faintly.

She seemed to think she could take the lead and stalled for time.

“Hmm… it’s a secret.”

“Tell me quickly.”

“Where did you go and what did you do?”

Ah, so we’re opening up to each other?

If you tell me who you met, you’ll answer too?

You’re quite the fox.

“I just met an old friend and talked for a bit.”

“Which friend?”

“There’s a girl I’ve known for a long time. She’s a bit feisty, but I just heard from her after a long time. We just talked, so don’t worry.”

“I-I wasn’t worried? Why are you assuming things?”

Her flustered expression is so cute.

“Your reaction is a bit intense? Are you concerned?”

“No?”

It’s obvious you’re concerned, no matter how you deny it.

“Now it’s your turn to answer. What did you do with Yoo Seunghyun?”

Sehwa hesitated for a moment, watching my expression.

“We just… talked.”

“About what.”

“This and that…”

“This and that what? Be honest.”

“Well… I was complaining, and Seunghyun apologized… we hugged… eep!”

Sehwa was startled when something salty and sweet entered her mouth.

It was my finger, covered in chicken seasoning.

She widened her big eyes and looked at me, then started sucking and rolling my finger like candy.

“You hugged? Then you didn’t just talk.”

Sehwa slowly nodded.

Her face was full of laughter, and her eyes even had a sparkle.

She seemed to think her plan to make me jealous had succeeded.

She probably didn’t think about the consequences that would follow.

“Stay at my place tonight.”

At my low, angry voice, Sehwa looked scared.

But only for a moment. Thinking her plan had worked, she slightly raised the corner of her mouth, and her eyes became dreamy.

She must have remembered the affection she received at the hotel.

I need to charge the Device… this is unavoidable.

She seemed to think that.

Alright, I’ll give you what you want.

I should finish what we couldn’t do last time.

No matter how much she struggles.

To be continued―――――――――――――――――――――

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