Chapter 56

EP.56 Preliminary Battle

“Wow… is this the laboratory?”

Yuria’s admiration.

Sehwa, who was sticking right next to her, smiled brightly and explained the facilities.

“Yes. That’s the situation board, over there is the medical room, next to it is the lounge, and next to that is the doctor’s private room… over there is the airplane hangar…….”

Seeing her chatter away, it seems Yuria is really excited to be here.

Sehwa, acting like a real estate agent, showed Yuria around the lab, and when Dr. Cash came out of her room, she bowed in greeting.

“Doctor! Hello!”

“Right. You’re especially lively today?”

“Yes. Ah, this is…”

“I know. Ms. Yuria Elenard, right?”

As the doctor stepped forward and extended her hand, Yuria took it and said,

“Hello, Dr. Jennifer Cash. It’s an honor to meet you.”

After a brief exchange of greetings, the two soon sat down at the situation room table and began to talk.

Included there were me and Sehwa as well.

The conversation ended after a long time.

The doctor seemed to quite like Yuria and was interested in what she had to say.

But she seemed to think Yuria wasn’t quite fit to be a Device user.

Sehwa had been equipped with the Device and transformed because she had shown the ability to look after people even in crisis situations.

But Yuria had only taken down criminal organizations so far and hadn’t shown the same kind of heart for people as Sehwa.

Also, since she couldn’t be fully trusted yet, it was understandable to still be cautious.

Hearing about the Aiter Device from the doctor, Yuria’s mouth dropped open as if she had never imagined such an item could exist.

I want to shove my thing into that open mouth.

I’m itching to corrupt her quickly.

“Ah… so that’s how Sehwa transformed…”

“Right. Amazing, isn’t it?”

The doctor had started speaking comfortably at some point.

Yuria replied.

“Yes… Aiter… it’s really amazing energy.”

She’ll be even more surprised when she hears about the Device charging method later.

“Do you know why we’re telling you such secrets?”

“I’m not sure.”

“It’s because Sehwa trusts you. The fact that the transformed Leona approached you without wariness is also one of the reasons. But… I still think I need to watch you more.”

Sehwa was about to say something, but Yuria took the lead.

“That’s natural. I’d do the same.”

“Can you stay at the lab with us for a while?”

“Yes. But…”

“Is there something holding you back?”

“I have a father. A reincarnated father… he hasn’t regained all his memories yet, so I want to stay close to him until his memories return.”

She must be talking about Kim Taegon.

She still firmly believes in reincarnation.

“Haah… right, if crossing galaxies was possible… it wouldn’t be strange for something supernatural like reincarnation to happen. What’s his name?”

“Kim Taegon.”

The doctor was taken aback but didn’t show too much surprise.

“That Song’s business partner?”

“Right. He had a dream…”

Now it’s Yuria’s time to complain.

It’s so boring. It’s getting on my nerves.

**

By the time both sides finished their stories, it was already late at night.

Sehwa had gone to our house with Yuria.

The doctor and I were left alone in the lab, reviewing Yuria’s story.

“Reincarnation… can you believe it?”

“It’s a bit awkward for a scientist to say this… but I want to believe. Just like you and Sehwa met as if by fate, I think Mr. Kim Taegon and Ms. Yuria meeting was also fate. Her explanation was quite detailed.”

“That’s true.”

“But… even though you trust Leona’s judgment, we’ve revealed too much of our hand.”

The doctor agreed and let out a shallow sigh.

“My mistake. I must be too tired lately.”

Being tired, she needed someone to rely on, and she wanted to believe in that person’s words.

The doctor telling Yuria about Aiter was part of that.

The fact that she didn’t just hand over the Device to Yuria shows she still trusts her own judgment more, but she still firmly trusts Yuria.

She relies on me even more than Sehwa.

I gave her a soft smile.

“Since it’s already happened, let’s find a solution.”

At that, the doctor stared at me intently.

Why is she doing that?

“You sound just like our husband.”

Ah, so that’s why she had that longing look in her eyes.

An unexpected gain.

“People with drive tend to say things like that.”

“Seeing how you sneak in compliments about yourself, you’re really alike. Maybe that’s why I made you my assistant… no, partner.”

The doctor got up from the lab chair and washed her face in the bathroom.

Her face, dripping with water and without makeup, is quite beautiful.

It’s not easy to have such beauty without makeup.

I also got up and stretched.

Then, with a serious expression, I said,

“Shall we talk about money now?”

At that, Dr. Cash tensed up.

I think this is the first time I’ve seen this reaction? I want to knock her down.

The doctor sitting across from me cleared her throat and tried to lighten the mood with a lame joke.

“Just now, I called you a partner… did I score some points?”

“Quite a bit.”

“That’s a relief. How much… can you support…?”

Her tone is too cautious.

Well, money talk should be cautious.

“How much do you need? I’ll match whatever you want.”

“Well… rather than receiving it all at once, I’d prefer to receive it monthly as a sponsorship…”

“So, how much is that amount?”

“You know roughly… how our lab operates. I’d like support that matches that.”

She’s coming out in that posture. A good sign.

Pretending to be deep in thought while stroking my chin with my finger, I stated the amount after a while.

The doctor’s eyes widened.

“That, that much isn’t necessary…?”

“I’ll leave enough for all my companies to run smoothly and funnel the rest into the lab. Money is better the more you have, right? The more, the better, you know?”

“That’s true but…”

“If we assume everything Ms. Yuria said is true, proper demons haven’t even appeared yet. Tairat is playing with Earth… we can’t just sit back. Let’s develop new equipment and look for any remaining Aiter.”

“Song, are you sure…?”

“I don’t care if I have to sell a few companies. What’s the point of having a lot of money? If we stay like this, Earth will be ruined and we’ll live as slaves. Don’t worry about the lab’s money from now on. I’ll figure it out somehow.”

The doctor silently nodded and got up.

Then she hugged me, who was sitting with my upper body bent.

And I… subtly touched the back of the doctor’s thigh.

This wasn’t intentional.

It was just a habit-like action I did when hugging Sehwa.

“Hey… Song… what are you doing?”

The doctor’s whisper in my ear.

The breath from her mouth is quite ticklish and erotic.

Coming to my senses, I removed my hand.

“Ah, this is just… a habit.”

Then the doctor released the hug and asked, looking baffled.

“You touch thighs when hugging?”

“Sehwa’s legs stand straight when she hugs me while sitting, right? I like that feeling…”

At my detailed fetish explanation, the doctor chuckled.

Judging by her lack of a strong reaction, she seems to be letting it go.

“Sehwa must be having a hard time.”

“She actually likes it.”

The doctor lightly tapped my head.

It was a touch filled with affection, without any force.

“Don’t do that next time. I almost slapped you in surprise.”

“The feeling was good… can I touch it once more?”

“Are you trying to die… is that something to say now?”

“Just kidding. See you next time.”

“Right.”

I shrugged my shoulders, smiled at the doctor, and left the lab.

This level of skinship is still too much.

I know everything about the Beast Slayers.

But the doctor doesn’t. So while it could be annoying, it’s actually fun.

At least she didn’t push me away in surprise, and she didn’t get too angry at my joke about touching her again, so it seems she trusts me much more than before…

No, not trust, but favor.

Maybe it’s because today, the image of her dead husband accidentally surfaced in me.

Let’s slowly peel away the layers in this state.

**

Returning home, I chuckled seeing Sehwa and Yuria drinking beer and chatting.

They’re practically like real sisters.

“Jihyuk, you’re back? Want me to make you coffee?”

Sehwa, who always came running to kiss me when I returned, was being somewhat reserved, which made me a bit sad.

“It’s okay. Ms. Yuria, are you planning to stay here tonight?”

At that, Yuria stood up and awkwardly smiled.

“You don’t have to test me. I’ve made my decision. I’ll stay in Seoul for a while.”

“I’ll let you stay in the next house.”

“I’m fine. I can stay at a hotel with the money my father gave me.”

“If you insist, then okay. And Ms. Yuria, don’t worry about your identity anymore. I’ve taken care of everything, so there’s no need to worry about suspicion.”

“Thank you so much.”

Yuria bowed at a 45-degree angle.

You’re not that kind of girl, are you? You’re just being polite now because you want to look good, to get the Device, right?

Over time, the doctor will open up and give you the Device… but I’ll help.

I want you to transform quickly.

“Would you like to come to my room? I have something to discuss.”

“Ah, yes…”

I stopped Sehwa, who was about to follow with a smile, and entered the room with Yuria, closing the door.

“Ms. Yuria, I know you have strength far beyond that of an ordinary person. But that strength doesn’t work on demons. You’re just stronger than an average person. That’s why you want the Device, right? To transform like Sehwa and fight demons, to find Tairat.”

Yuria’s eyes trembled slightly.

She answered honestly.

“That’s right.”

“Let me ask you something. If Tairat is preparing to run away from you, and there’s a dying human beside him, who would you choose? Would you chase and kill Tairat? Or save the human?”

“Huh…? What’s that…”

“Answer me.”

“I…”

Yuria, deep in thought, bit her lower lip tightly.

She continued.

“I would save the human.”

“Why? It’s a chance for revenge.”

“Right. But if I leave a dying human in front of me for my revenge… I’ll regret it forever. My parents didn’t raise me like that. But why are you bringing this up suddenly…?”

“There’s only one criterion the doctor uses to determine Device suitability. It’s how much you care for humans. Sehwa looked after others even when she was in a life-threatening situation. You can’t have the Device unless you’re at that level.”

Yuria made an “Ah…” sound and slowly nodded.

I brought up a story she would like with a smiling face.

“I’ll talk to the doctor. I really liked your answer. That Ms. Yuria thinks this much about humans… that’s what I’ll say.”

“Really…? Why suddenly…”

“From the lab’s standpoint, I can’t trust you recklessly, but personally, I think you’re trustworthy. And it’s also for Sehwa. That’s the biggest reason. But don’t be too sure. I’m not very good with words.”

Yuria’s face brightened considerably.

“Thank you so much. This kindness…”

“Nothing’s confirmed yet. Let’s talk next time.”

“Yes… yes! Thank you!”

Yuria kept bowing and thanking me.

Sehwa had been peeking through the door at some point, listening to Yuria’s story.

Her bright expression undoubtedly showed she was satisfied with my answer.

I gently pushed her face away and said to Yuria,

“Let’s meet again soon.”

Next episode―――――――――――――――――――――

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