44 – 44.
The date with Hanyeo-won was much more enjoyable than she had expected.
For almost two weeks, we had been in constant contact, and as a result, we spent intimate moments together.
…I mostly stayed indoors, afraid that my face might get recognized.
“What are you doing?”
“Taking pictures.”
“Again?”
“I’ll take them and look at them every day. hehehe.”
Hanryeowon seemed determined to capture all the moments we missed, constantly taking pictures of me.
She took solo shots of me, face-to-face shots, and even staged scenes where our lips touched, creating a flood of photos.
It was as if she wanted to show them to someone.
“Your phone is like Pandora’s box.”
Hanryeowon’s phone was filled with old photos and videos she had kept for a long time.
Among them were things that should never be shown to others, so I had to be especially careful.
“Just in case, I organized everything!”
“Ugh. I don’t know whose daughter you are, but you’re impressive.”
“hehehe.”
Of course, I wasn’t particularly worried because I knew she would handle it meticulously.
It was the result of the trust we had built up over a long time.
“Ah. Personally, one night and two days is too short.”
“…Yeah… I wish time could stop like this.”
“Oops. That statement is a bit dangerous.”
“Why? Don’t you want to die with me?”
“I will live one day longer than you, so no.”
They enjoyed such a short affair and then went up to Seoul, talking aimlessly along the way.
Hanryeowon, who was leaning on my shoulder and fidgeting with his hand, suddenly spoke in a subtle voice.
“You know… Should we… see each other on weekdays too?”
It was a proposal to meet on weekdays.
“On weekdays…?”
Honestly, I also wanted to meet more freely.
Ma Yeonseo is busy all day and can only see each other in the evening, so it might be okay to be more relaxed during the relatively free daytime if we’re careful.
But.
That’s why I hesitated even more.
We didn’t secretly contact each other for nearly two weeks for no reason.
Seoul has many watchful eyes, and we don’t know how Ma Yeonseo might be monitored.
The risk was too great.
“I should convince Hanryeowon reasonably.”
I cautiously spoke, trying to persuade Hanryeowon reasonably.
“Let’s think about it a little longer.”
“Why…?”
“I also want to, but I think it’s better to wait a little longer for now.”
“……”
Hanyeo-won seemed displeased with me meddling in her affairs, as she pursed her lips and pushed them forward.
It wasn’t a genuinely angry expression, but rather a dissatisfaction with not being able to do it together.
“How cute.”
A warm smile involuntarily appeared on my lips.
“Don’t stick your lips out.”
“…I don’t know.”
“Should I give you candy?”
“Am I a child?”
“You’re just too adorable.”
Zing. Hanyeo-won, who had sent a glance my way, sighed as if giving in.
“…Fine. If that’s how you feel, I can’t help it.”
Satisfied with her submissive demeanor, I quietly held her hand tightly and expressed my gratitude.
“……”
As I looked out the window at the scenery passing by in a flash, somehow, a thought crossed my mind.
“It would have been nice if Mayeonseo had done just as much as her.”
I didn’t fully understand the meaning behind that thought.
*
The Association estimated that it would take the Mayeonseo raid team a total of one week to break through the 9th floor.
This was the result of numerous simulations based on the data of the Mayeonseo, the core of the raid team, and other raid members.
However,
The Tower of Abyss was conquered by Mae-yeon-seo in just four days.
With the loot, she took the remains of Death Scorpion, the final boss of the 9th floor.
Not only that, but she also explored the entrance of the 10th floor and collected valuable data.
Impressed by this, the Association and the government welcomed Mae-yeon-seo’s return with open arms.
“You’ve been through a lot. I’m glad you came back safely.”
In particular, Im Mi-yoon, who had rushed out with bare feet, praised Mae-yeon-seo’s hard work with a brighter face than ever.
Since she achieved the feat of reaching the 10th floor within her term, Mae-yeon-seo couldn’t help but look beautiful.
“I didn’t suffer as much as the other members did.”
In response, Jil Sera, who had made significant contributions, also raised the affinity with the members of the expedition team, giving them credit and increasing their likability in real time.
Mae-yeon-seo was already nothing short of a “god” among the people who were enthusiastic about the Tower.
——
Title: Mae-yeon-seo, she’s something, lol
How did she break through the 9th floor in just 4 days?
1. Who is this? Are you friends with Mae-yeon-seo?
2. Look at this asshole talking, lol.
3. Call her Jjang-bit Hwang, not Mae-yeon-seo.
——
In the Awakening Fan Community, she gained followers as well.
——
Title: So, Mae-yeon-seo… Is she a “b*tch”?
There’s nothing better than a demon book that elevates the status of Korea, rather than a useless goddess. f*cking idiots.
No. The lucky goddess who rules the world’s sects is still dominant. Not recommended.
1. Pandralchu
2. All the idiots who recommend not recommended are being devoured by monsters today.
3. No matter what, are you joking about fighting a goddess? First of all, f*cking idiots.
——
To be compared to a goddess who leads the sect with a sarcastic voice.
——
Title: What have the Z-class done so far?
The bastards who boasted about being Z-class haven’t even broken through one floor on the 9th floor, and have been spectators all along, right?
Just kick out all the Z-class whiners and make a new judgment.
If you receive a Z-class judgment, you know there are a lot of benefits, various sponsorships, and even tax reductions, right?
The Z-class should be ashamed.
1. Yeah… What is this bastard Kim Hyejin doing other than filming YouTube?
2. We have to get rid of Chuseojin, who ran a strategy run, from the Z-class. This bastard is really pathetic.
From Noble mtl dot com
3. Wow, I’ve seen this bastard saying the right things while living…
└ The clock also chimes twice a day…
4. There are too many Z-class in this f*cking country.
——
They started to receive criticism even from other domestic Z-class.
It literally exploded, bursting at the seams.
“The public opinion is very favorable! It seems like the plan worked perfectly!”
Eun-yeona, who was gripping the steering wheel, couldn’t contain her joy and shook Eonseo with excitement.
One could say that she had gained a newfound “power of influence,” so it was impossible not to be happy.
But Eonseo herself wasn’t particularly interested.
“What happened with Kim Seong-hwan?”
Eonseo was focused on Kim Seong-hwan, a recent executive in the association.
Perhaps because it was related to Gang Yoo-chan, she was even more concerned.
“It’s almost finished while he’s inside. We should be able to pull everything out soon.”
“Good.”
“What should we do with Kim Seong-hwan once this is over?”
Eun-yeona glanced at Eonseo, briefly looking at the rearview mirror.
That’s when she casually replied while exchanging messages with Yoo-chan.
“We should give him a chance.”
To give Kim Seong-hwan a chance to prove himself.
Anyone who betrays once can betray again at any time.
He needed to prove why he wouldn’t betray Ma Yeonseo.
In any way possible.
“Should I prepare something in advance?”
“Yeah.”
Yeonseo often left everything to Ie-yeona and quietly looked at the photo that Yoochan had sent.
[Congratulations on finishing the celebration party preparations. My aunt helped me a lot… Anyway, come home quickly.]
She had a cute expression on her face, as if she was going to die from it.
*
After leaving the tower, Ma-yeonseo postponed the afterparty and ran straight home.
“Come on… Uwup…!”
And as soon as she saw me, she hugged me tightly and kissed me passionately.
“Uwup! Uwup!”
Whether Ie-yeona was behind us or not, whether I hit my shoulder or not, it didn’t matter at all.
“Phew…!”
I managed to break free and stared at her with a threatening look, catching my breath.
She looked at me with an unusual expression of affection.
“I missed you.”
It’s only been 4 days, and she’s acting like this.
I wonder how she managed to endure all this time.
“…Did you eat? Let’s go eat first. I’m hungry.”
“Don’t you eat first?”
“Wait. I’ll let you eat your fill.”
“…Okay.”
We celebrated with a bottle of good wine, having our own congratulatory party.
As much as I wanted to pretend I didn’t notice, it seemed like avoiding the awkwardness would fill the entire royal court. But this time, I decided to just grit my teeth and bear it.
“There’s nothing good that can come from losing my temper right now.”
It was a strategic retreat to properly subdue her.
It wasn’t because of any sense of guilt.
“So, you did all of this?”
“Yeah. My aunt showed me how, and I did it all by myself. Seriously, I worked on it all day.”
“You could get married for real, you know?”
“Stop talking nonsense and let’s eat.”
“hehehe.”
And so, after finishing the celebration party and finally being liberated from the devil’s invention, the chastity belt, I returned to my normal daily life.
“Hello! I heard the news about your girlfriend yesterday! Congratulations!”
“…Thank you.”
As soon as I arrived at the training center, I received congratulations from the information officer who was guarding the entrance.
“Oh, Mr. Yoochan. I heard the news. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
Not only that, but people I frequently crossed paths with or even people I didn’t know at all approached me, pretending they knew me.
“These people… They knew all along.”
It felt like they had recognized me all this time and had been secretly observing me, waiting for the right moment to strike up a conversation.
“…I’m glad I was careful.”
As expected, it was right not to meet at Hanyeo Garden and Seoul.
“Mr. Yoochan!”
“Oh, Trainer-nim.”
“I heard the news yesterday. Congratulations!”
“Thank you. Actually, it wasn’t even my doing, but it feels like I’ve heard congratulations over a hundred times today.”
“Isn’t that the fate of a celebrity?”
“It’s not easy…”
“hahahaha! Are you starting the personal training right away?”
“Yes. Let’s go right away.”
After joining the trainer for personal training, I exercised while having various conversations.
Maybe it’s because of the service industry, but their personality was good, and we communicated well, making me feel like I made a friend.
“I also went on a date with my girlfriend yesterday.”
“Oh, the one who works at the hotel?”
“Yes. But these days, work is so busy, it’s killing me…”
And then, in the midst of it all.
“Um, Mr. Yoochan.”
“Yes?”
The trainer, who was subtly keeping an eye on things, lowered his voice and whispered softly.
“(My girlfriend works at NP Hotel.)”
“…?”
“(I would appreciate it if you could speak more clearly later.)”
Not understanding what he was trying to say, I looked up at him with a question mark on my face.
“What are you talking about….?”
He responded with a strangely ominous expression, as if he knew everything.
“(I heard everything. You’re planning to have a wedding there this time.)”
“…Excuse me?”
I felt like my brain had momentarily stopped.
“A wedding? Mine?”
Suddenly regaining my senses, I asked the trainer again.
“No, wait. Are you saying that I’m having a wedding at that hotel…?”
“Um… Isn’t that the case?”
The trainer showed a belatedly flustered expression.
“No way…”
Sensing something suspicious, I pressed the trainer for more details about what he heard from his girlfriend.
“I’m sorry, but could you please tell me in more detail?”
“Uh… Well….”
And then…
“What?”
Finally, Ma Yeon-seo found out about the scheme I had secretly planned.