Chapter 76

EP.76 Everything is Hard at First

I entered the café and spotted Yuria, smiling brightly.

Revealing my pearly white teeth, I slightly twisted my right arm at a 30-degree angle and waved.

Yuria’s face stiffened and then relaxed upon seeing me.

It was a habit Aaron had shown. Seeing it from me, not Yoo Seunghyun, must have made her feel even more complicated.

“Did you wait long?”

“Ah, no… I haven’t been here long either.”

It’s been over 30 minutes, but sure.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

I took Yuria to a nice restaurant on Han-daero.

While ordering food and chatting in a warm atmosphere, Yuria suddenly mentioned that she lives with Kim Taegon.

“….What did you just say…? You live together?”

My mouth hung open.

Yuria shyly tucked her hair behind her ear.

“Yes… He’s completely reincarnated.”

I pretended to fix my hair and glanced away for a moment.

Meanwhile, the food arrived, and as I stared at the steaming steak, I turned my gaze back to Yuria and whispered.

“You know that sounds completely unbelievable to a mere human like me, right?”

“I’m human too, you know?”

“No, I misspoke out of confusion. I meant that as an Earthling, I can’t comprehend it. But…”

“But…?”

“Since you’ve consistently claimed that Kim Taegon has reincarnated… I’ll believe you. Speaking of which, Kim Taegon said something strange today. Is it because, as you said, his reincarnation is complete?”

Yuria swallowed hard.

“What did… Father say?”

“He asked what it would be like if he had a daughter. I guess he was referring to you.”

“Ah… Really… How embarrassing…”

Yuria, seemingly mortified by her father’s behavior, tucked her arms between her knees and lowered her head deeply.

I shrugged at her and said, “Shall we eat?”

“Ah, yes… But… Jihyuk.”

“Yes?”

“What did you say in response?”

Seems like she’s curious.

I only gave Yuria a meaningful smile as I sliced the steak.

Yuria, growing impatient, urged me again.

“What did you say?”

“I said if Kim Taegon had a daughter, she’d be pretty.”

A bit of a cheeky answer, huh? Judging by her relaxed expression, it worked.

I took a piece of steak into my mouth, chewed it slowly, and continued.

“I thought it was some kind of psychological test. So I just gave a neutral answer. If I had heard your story before answering… I might have answered differently.”

“How so?”

“I’d have said he’s a great person who sacrifices for others.”

“…..”

Seemingly caught off guard by the unexpected answer, Yuria moistened her lips.

Not missing the moment, I smirked and expressed my gratitude.

“I’m always grateful.”

“Ah… I’m grateful too… And sorry.”

“For what?”

“For causing trouble with the device charging…”

“Not at all. If I were you, I’d have run away. I wouldn’t have been ready to accept such a fate.”

“Why say such things… You’re running the lab so well. Even getting funding from multiple companies…”

It’s not me running it, it’s the doctor. Does she not even consider her?

Well, given how the doctor has acted so far, it’s understandable.

I scratched the back of my head awkwardly.

“There are two things I can do. Use my brain… and provide funding. Especially the latter, I’m confident in.”

Yuria, fiddling with her steak, brought her hand to her mouth and smiled.

Her crescent-shaped eyes.

Though only a year apart, she had a different charm from Sehwa.

Something mature and dignified, that kind of charm.

“I think you underestimate yourself too much. You were quite calm and decisive when Astaroth appeared. I never imagined you’d stab your own thigh. You even slapped Dr. Cash to snap her out of it…”

“Are you doing this on purpose? To embarrass me?”

Seeing me say that with a smile, Yuria quickly waved her hands.

“No, I really meant to compliment you…”

“Just kidding. And you’ve got sauce on your mouth.”

“Huh? Ah…!”

Startled, Yuria brought a napkin to her mouth.

I teased her.

“You did this last time at the café too. You’re a bit clumsy, aren’t you?”

Yuria, having wiped her mouth, let out a soft laugh.

“I guess so.”

“It’s nice. People who are too perfect lack charm.”

Showing subtle interest, Yuria’s face turned slightly red.

Ding!

At the same time, my phone rang.

Checking the message, I frowned and sighed.

“Ha…”

Yuria asked.

“What’s wrong?”

I silently showed her the phone screen.

[I’m staying out. I’ll sleep at a friend’s place, so don’t wait for me. Got it?]

Seeing the message, Yuria gave an awkward smile.

“The sender is Morning… And a heart… Is it Sehwa?”

“Yes.”

“Was she always this sensitive on that day?”

“Not really… Maybe she’s upset because I didn’t consider her feelings. I’ll make it up to her when she gets back. By the way, I’m really craving a drink… How about we hit a cocktail bar after dinner?”

Yuria hesitated at that.

Just agree. Kim Taegon’s late because of a company dinner.

Besides, I’m more like Aaron than Yoo Seunghyun.

“I… I’d like that.”

That’s right. Good job.

“Thanks for agreeing.”

“Thank you too.”

Yuria, demurely bringing the meat to her mouth.

This time, she deliberately opened her mouth wider to avoid getting sauce on it.

**

Yuria, taking a sip of her gradient cocktail with pomegranate syrup, spoke.

“Please take care of Father.”

Sitting at the bar table, I turned to Yuria and smirked at her request.

“I should be saying that. Kim Taegon is an incredible businessman. If we partner up, we can support the lab even more.”

“…. Is that your main goal?”

How about that? Similar to what Kim Taegon said, right?

She must be moved.

“Yes. Finding Tairat is urgent. With more funding, we can expand the search.”

“I feel like I need to reflect on myself. I should be dealing with demons and finding Tairat to eliminate them… But here I am, worrying about the device… You must think I’m pathetic, right?”

“Not at all. As I said at the restaurant, if I were you, I’d have run away.”

Yuria let out a weak smile and turned her chair slightly toward me.

Her好感 has increased. Good, good.

I need to be very careful with Yuria’s攻略.

Her physical strength far surpasses that of an Earthling, so if I mess up, I could get punched.

Yuria’s domineering tendencies also stem from that physique.

When she exerts her strength, others naturally back down, allowing her to dominate freely.

I need to prevent that in front of me.

I’ll leave that tendency to Yoo Seunghyun, and in front of me, I’ll create a new dynamic.

To make her unable to let go, to make her fall deeper.

At first glance, it seems difficult, and it is, but I know all of Yuria’s sensitive spots.

If I press a few buttons, she’ll naturally wag her tail for me.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

At Yuria’s gentle question, I snapped out of my thoughts and stared at her.

Yuria, avoiding my gaze, asked.

“Were you thinking about Sehwa?”

“…. No.”

“Then what?”

“Various things.”

I answered and lowered Yuria’s gaze to the floor.

Pretending to be concerned.

Yuria did the same.

She kept her eyes on the floor and spun her chair around.

We silently sipped our cocktails.

When her glass was almost empty, I asked.

“Shall we head back?”

“…. Yes.”

She seems a bit reluctant. Don’t worry.

I don’t plan to just go back either.

I need to charge the device to at least 50% to be satisfied.

We got up, paid, and walked outside onto the sidewalk.

Watching the cars zoom by, I glanced at a small nearby park.

“How about a walk? To sober up.”

“Ah… Yes.”

After a moment’s hesitation, she agreed, and I showed her that Aaron-like smile.

Gulp.

I could almost hear Yuria swallowing.

I matched her pace, narrowing the distance between us as we strolled through the park.

The stone path lit by orange streetlights.

Trees scattered on either side added to the atmosphere.

A perfect spot for a secret rendezvous. Located near an eight-lane road, the park was almost empty.

“It’s a beautiful park. Though there’s no one here, probably because of the location.”

“Yes… I think so too.”

After a brief exchange, we continued walking along the stone path.

I spotted a bench in a spot where the streetlight barely reached.

This is practically made for *that* kind of thing.

“Shall we rest there for a bit?”

“Are you tired?”

“Actually, I’ve been running around with Kim Taegon, so my legs are sore.”

“Ah… You should’ve said so earlier… Let’s sit down.”

I nodded and sat down, draping my suit jacket over the backrest.

Yuria picked it up and sat beside me.

She neatly folded the jacket and placed it on her lap.

“You’re just like Father. If you leave it hanging like that, it’ll get wrinkled. Of course, you probably wear a different suit every day… But looking neat is always good. Ah, not that you’re not neat… I just mean it’s better to look even neater.”

She’s rambling. I can feel her embarrassment.

“Thank you.”

Yuria smiled at my thanks and suddenly sniffed.

She caught the subtle scent of gooseberry perfume on the jacket.

How is it? Similar to the flowers from your kingdom, right?

Yuria’s expression brightened.

“The perfume smells nice.”

“It’s gooseberry. Seems like you like it.”

“Yes. Very much.”

Yuria smiled brightly at me.

It’s the first time she’s shown me such a smile.

It’s incredibly beautiful. Seeing the other side of the noble knight feels so refreshing.

Barely holding onto my composure, I stared directly at Yuria.

With the same complicated expression she’s been wearing lately.

Her face gradually stiffened.

“You know.”

My voice deepened.

Yuria swallowed again.

“Yes?”

Her nervous expression was evident.

Should I say something cringey? Or just go for it?

Let’s combine both. Here, anything I say has a high chance of success.

“Your smile is incredibly beautiful.”

“Huh…? Ah!”

She flinched and pulled her head back.

Because I had leaned my face closer to hers.

Her flawless, porcelain-like skin.

Like an elf from a fantasy novel.

“Can you show me again?”

“That’s… Jihyuk, this feels wrong.”

Wrong? You hate indecisiveness, don’t you?

That’s why you docked points when you saw Yoo Seunghyun’s behavior.

But now you’re showing that same indecisiveness? Humans really are hypocrites by default.

Just like me.

“Can you show me again?”

My voice dropped even lower.

Emphasizing it again, Yuria bit her lower lip.

“Please don’t do this…”

“Say it clearly.”

I need to be assertive.

To awaken her submissive side, to make her cling to me from the start of the real攻略.

“…..”

Yuria, fidgeting and unable to give a clear answer, had my face even closer now.

My upper body was also leaning in, my chest almost touching her shoulder.

I could see Yuria clenching her fists and trembling.

In her mind, alarms must be ringing, telling her this is wrong, to stop.

But her body feels differently.

She’s drawn to Song Jihyuk, who’s shown more of Aaron than Yoo Seunghyun.

Gulp.

Yuria’s slender neck quivered.

Let your instincts take over. I’ll satisfy you.

As I brought my face even closer, Yuria unconsciously moistened her lips.

Then, I pressed my lips to hers.

“Hup…!”

Her pupils dilated, but soon her eyes closed, and her stiff expression softened.

I gently licked Yuria’s crimson lips, slowly parting them.

My right hand supported the back of her neck, while my left gripped her wrist.

To keep her from moving.

Her lips gradually parted.

The moment a gap appeared, I aggressively slipped my tongue inside.

“Haah…!”

Yuria exhaled sharply, her body going limp.

Her mouth was warm, with a faint taste of the pomegranate cocktail.

Her tongue obediently intertwined with mine, as if accepting its master.

‘Got her.’

Everything is hard at first, but after that, it’s easy.

I’ll make her fall faster than Sehwa.

You’re done for now.

To be continued―――――――――――――――――――――

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