NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 36
36.
Five months have passed since Hong Seo-min’s arrest.
January passed, and now it’s June.
The sweltering summer weather has engulfed Seoul.
The cicadas are buzzing.
Heatwaves shimmer on the roads.
It’s not for nothing that this place is called the “Peninsula of Hell.”
Still, South Korea has overcome the minor storm of January—the Capital Hospital Gate incident and the Hong Seo-min crisis—and regained its peaceful calm.
This was true for any coffee shop in Korea.
Ding-dong—the doorbell jingled as a customer entered.
Kim Yeon, a small-time cafe owner, came out of the break room after stretching. The cafe was well-decorated, but there weren’t many people.
Not many customers around.
“Welcome.”
“Ah, yes.”
Another customer, thank goodness. She glanced at them. They looked light and neat.
One woman, one man. Clearly a couple.
Kim Yeon, who couldn’t stand being single and had a rough time in the military, could tell at a glance. They were stuck together like glue.
“They’re definitely a couple.”
Kim Yeon could confidently say, tying her apron as she prepared to serve.
The lunch rush was over, so her energy was fully restored. She could handle even the most troublesome customers. She was brimming with confidence.
“What can I get for you?”
“Uh, it might take us a while to decide. Can we use the kiosk?”
Kim Yeon, standing politely at the counter, nodded her head.
“Of course!”
Lunchtime is for employees only.
It’s written on the menu.
A customer service policy from the top, a relic from over 30 years ago. Of course, the staff handles it as they see fit.
Sometimes, there are customers who avoid conversation. For Kim Yeon, who wanted more break time, it was a good thing.
“Ah, just press the screen, ma’am~”
“Thank you.”
A stiff tone. Just an ordinary woman. Not a troublemaker.
It’s fine. Couples like this usually spend a lot of money. Kim Yeon decided to stay quiet.
Better than a guy chatting and ordering sides. The profit margin is higher this way.
Kim Yeon lingered at the counter for a few seconds until the order was placed, then quickly slipped back into the break room.
“Hmm. They’re gone.”
Kang Jin-young glanced at the counter for a moment.
That woman definitely seemed flustered when she saw Lee Seong-han. Even if it was just a moment, she could feel it.
Is he really a genius at charming women?
“Seong-han.”
“Yes.”
“I’m kind of pretty, right?”
Swish.
She flipped her short hair back, revealing her neck.
She read it on a community forum, so it must be credible. Confidence is key! Even a stubborn tree will fall if you hit it ten times.
“Huh?”
Kang Jin-young absentmindedly pressed the kiosk with her index finger. She perked up her ears, waiting for an answer.
Lee Seong-han, who was looking at the menu, was caught off guard by the sudden attack.
What’s this?
What’s the point?
What’s the intention?
How to counter?
How to defend?
No idea.
No clear way to handle this.
“You’re pretty.”
“Where?”
“Everywhere.”
Hmm. A 65% answer.
Whatever.
There’s definitely some affection mixed in.
｢Hehe, I scored higher than my sister. Clearly, I’m better than her. If I keep this up… Hehe. Maybe we’ll even hold hands?｣
Kang Jin-young chuckled mischievously.
Lee Seong-han gave her a look that said, “What’s wrong with this girl?”
Of course, the signal didn’t reach. There was no Protoss-like energy to transmit it.
Even if there were.
“Ugh! Get out of my head! Pure love is nothing but recognition, transformation, hypnosis, and pure love!”
She would’ve cut it off herself.
She’s crazy.
A love-crazy lunatic.
A genius lost in her own world is beyond the understanding of ordinary people.
Lee Seong-han decided to just go along with it.
“Wipe your mouth. You’re drooling, and it’ll get on your clothes.”
“Huh? Ah, ugh.”
“Stay still.”
Kang Jin-young, who was about to wipe her mouth with her arm, froze.
Lee Seong-han pulled out a few napkins and wiped her mouth.
｢He has no idea how many women are after him right now!｣
Well, you’re the one who told me.
Lee Seong-han wanted to say something, but Kang Jin-young’s sudden change in reaction made him tilt his head in confusion.
“Ugh! Expensive!”
Kang Jin-young clicked her tongue.
Prices these days are no joke.
Awakened Ones are like that.
Money comes in as fast as it goes out.
“Coffee costs 20,000 won?!”
What was the daily wage for an Awakened One again? Kang Jin-young groaned in front of the kiosk.
Every time she thought about the price, she remembered cheap coffee like Leviss.
‘No, thinking about it is a luxury!’
She shook her head involuntarily. The current minimum wage for Awakened Ones is 22,000 won. Awakened Ones have additional expenses. Taxes are added.
Benjamin Franklin said that nothing is certain except death and taxes.
Lee Seong-han leaned toward the kiosk.
“It is expensive.”
“This kind of thing is better left to women—”
“I’ll pay.”
“?”
“I have money.”
“???”
Where does a man get money? From activity fees or something. Besides, I heard his family isn’t well-off.
But Lee Seong-han isn’t broke either.
He has cash saved up from hunting monsters.
The important thing is that the system only deposits money for monster extermination.
[‘■■■■ ■(EX)’ tilts its head, saying, “Huh, did we have something like that?”]
[‘Automatic Combat’ says that a small amount of money kept flowing into the account.]
[‘Super Reconnaissance’ clicks its tongue, saying, 『MONEY is always right.』]
“Seong-han. Women can’t live owing men. Me, Kang Jin-young! A genius of the National Intelligence Service, the Mage of Namsan, in debt?!”
Kang Jin-young boldly crossed her arms and spoke.
“Your expression doesn’t look good.”
Elite bodyguards like me are always attached like this—she added.
Lee Seong-han glanced at Kang Jin-young’s outfit.
A transparent underbust crop top.
Her black bra was completely visible, leaving nowhere to look. Is this normal in this world? I don’t know, I don’t know!
“Huh? Is there something wrong with my clothes? I put in some effort since we’re going out together.”
She was serious.
Kang Jin-young’s attack this time was a pure, innocent question.
“N-no, there’s nothing wrong. It’s just… that.”
“What’s ‘that’?”
“It shows too much skin, I think.”
Skin?
Showing skin?
｢Haven’t we seen each other’s everything already?｣
A man and woman isolated in enemy territory, waiting for death.
Doesn’t it reek of something?
Besides, if things didn’t work out, they even promised to get married.
This fool.
He doesn’t even remember that.
Maybe he has amnesia or something.
[‘Super Reconnaissance’ cheers, “As expected, Mother! The goddess of pure love!”]
[‘Block’ says, “The true wife is definitely Kang Jin-young.”]
Lee Seong-han, flustered with his arms crossed, gave them a look that said, “Why are you guys like this?”
After all, [Super Reconnaissance] and [Block] received help from Kang Jin-young.
Especially [Block], whose core is [Mental Barrier], which came from Kang Jin-young.
“Seong-han? Why are you so flustered?”
Kang Jin-young moved closer.
Sniff sniff.
She didn’t want to, but the scent was unavoidable. It smelled good. Clearly, she had put in effort.
“Did you not wear perfume?”
Her dark eyes looked up at him. Only at times like this did he feel his insides burning.
“Do I have to?”
“Seong-han, you don’t have much presence. Your scent is weak, I guess? Here, wear this.”
She handed him perfume.
A brand Kang Jin-young often uses.
She gave it to him last time too.
Considering how she threw a fit when the scent disappeared last time, this was a strange reaction.
“Do you think I’d lie?”
｢If he smells this strong scent, any woman would fall for him…｣
This world’s sense of chastity is really strange.
“Wear it quickly.”
Her expression changed instantly.
Her eyes turned like those of a fish.
No choice.
Lee Seong-han quietly sprayed the perfume.
A pleasant lavender scent soon filled the air.
How she picked a scent that suited him so well is still a mystery.
…
…
…
｢It was worth stalking him every day!｣
Ah.
So that’s it.
She’s a professional stalker.
* * *
Beep beep beep.
“Is this okay?”
After a long discussion, they settled on 『Awakened One Special Iced Americano』. With a few sides.
The price was exactly 22,000 won.
The small note in the corner, ‘50% off for couples!’ was the deciding factor. They weren’t a couple, but pretending to be one saved them a whopping 11,000 won?
What a crazy country. Prices only go up, never down.
“I’ll pay~”
“Sure.”
Kang Jin-young held out her check card. A product of the powerful Gangcheon Group. The luxurious gold trim was unmistakable.
Beep.
As she inserted the card, a clear voice rang out.
[-Your order has been completed.]
“Next time… buy me something better. Okay? You owe me your life too. You have to pay it back little by little like this.”
“Really, it’s fine.”
“I have to pay it back somehow to feel satisfied.”
Ding-dong.
The doorbell rang. A large man, dressed entirely in black, rushed in and pressed the kiosk. The cancel button.
Beep.
[-Your order has been canceled.]
[-Please select again.]
What, some new kind of villain? Lee Seong-han turned around.
Blonde hair.
Red eyes.
An unmistakably violent physique.
A flustered, red face.
“You… you don’t drink such low-quality black water. Drink a mild fruit beverage instead. I misjudged you, Kang Jin-young.”
“What?”
How did you get here? Busy person—Kang Jin-young’s face turned cold.
Her mouth smiled, but her eyes didn’t.