Chapter 453: Our Hyunsung (5) |
My heart started hurting at the thought that I was going to hurt the lovely regressor’s feelings.
If he asked me what was wrong, then I would feel guilty, but instead of doing that, he actually started thinking about what wrong he had committed. I wasn’t sure if he knew how forceful he had been all this while, but he looked somewhat guilty.
‘It’s understandable.’
I kept on declining his offer, but he kept on sticking next to me. I was sure that his clinginess made him look more like a horny bastard rather than a knight protecting a lady.
A woman with lots of experience wouldn’t think much about it, but the prim and proper Lee Ki-Yeon would definitely think that Kim Hyun-Sung had other motives. The physical contact just now definitely convinced Lee Ki-Yeon to think that way.
‘He grabbed my shoulders, and wait—did he also touch my stomach? You cunning bastard…’
Of course, our Hyun-Sung didn’t really do it intentionally, but he still had to take responsibility for kneading this virgin body of mine as if it were some kind of rice cake.
I had to act a bit more assertive…
Now that I thought about it, I was sure he had advanced magic knowledge, so he could have stabilized me without using his hands.
‘He still hasn’t learned his lesson despite getting backstabbed so many times in his past life.’
Fortunately, he met me first. If he met some kind of gold digger, then he would have gotten into trouble.
There would have been nothing worse than seeing an article titled something along the lines of Guild Master of the Blue Guild Sexual Misconduct Allegations going around in Lindel.
Of course, I wouldn’t let an article like that appear in Lindel’s media in the first place. In addition, I couldn’t really imagine him being in this kind of situation with another woman, but…
‘Think of this as a lesson, Hyun-Sung.’
One would never know what would happen in one’s life, and one could never guarantee anything. Pain was the most effective teacher, and I was sure that he would experience situations like this a few times in his life.
Therefore, it was better for him to taste it for the first time with Lee Ki-Yeon rather than with someone else.
‘At least I’m going easy on you…’
I unknowingly nodded while Kim Hyun-Sung was still hesitating on what to say.
“...”
‘I’ll start the conversation.’
“I have been declining your offer, but you have been insisting on escorting me. It makes me think that you consider me a cheap woman.”
“I think there’s a misunderstanding. I—”
“I had a good time today, Mr. Hyun-Sung. I had fun, and I understand your feelings as well, but your actions are unacceptable. I’m sorry if I made you misunderstand, but I have no plans of doing that with you. You rescued me and bought me delicious food. I appreciate what you’ve done for me, but if I had known that you were expecting me to do that kind of thing with you in exchange for what you have done to me, then I wouldn’t have accepted your help,” I continued.
“That’s not it,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.
I had to be more cold-hearted…
“Find someone else if you want a one-night stand,” I added.
“Wait.”
“Is this how you usually act? You said that you can’t trust anyone… Was this your plan from the start?” I questioned.
“No, not at all, please—”
I started acting as if I were angry, and Kim Hyun-Sung looked like he had no idea how to fix the situation. He looked like he really wanted to explain, but he couldn’t say anything because I kept on talking.
I was sure he was thinking that he got a bit rude, but he wasn’t rude at all. Actually, it was a bit too much for Lee Ki-Yeon to act like this when he simply offered to take me home. In addition, the only physical contact we had was when he caught and stabilized me when I almost fell to the ground.
Of course, he also had a reasonable reason to accompany me to my lodgings.
Therefore, Kim Hyun-Sung wasn’t being rude. Bitch Ki-Yeon was just too sensitive. No, she was more like a crazy woman because she basically trapped her benefactor.
I wasn’t sure if Kim Hyun-Sung considered that, but based on his expression, I could see that his mind wasn’t even thinking anymore.
He had really fallen for it, and my extreme acting was the number one contributor. I bit my lips with tears in my eyes, and I looked disappointed and ashamed. I looked like a tragic heroine who had just gotten betrayed by the person she trusted the most.
I couldn’t see my current expression because there were no mirrors around her, but the look on Kim Hyun-Sung’s face made me realize that my acting was good enough.
There was no need to drag this out. Time wasn’t on my side, and I would eventually fall into a disadvantage if I were to drag this out. I had to get out of here as soon as possible.
“If I had known that you were that kind of person…” I muttered.
“I-It’s a misunderstanding. That really wasn’t my intention. I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, but… I hope you’ll believe me,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.
“Can you swear to me that you had no other intentions?” I questioned.
“...”
‘Huh?’
‘You weren’t supposed to hesitate, man. Even if you did have other intentions, you were supposed to deny it.’
“I won’t deny it. I like you,” he confessed.
‘It seems that at the end of the day, you’re a guy as well, Hyun-Sung.’
I knew that he liked me, even if it were just a tiny bit. I didn’t think that he was lying when he said that because he even lowered his head and apologized.
“I’m sorry. I sincerely apologize if I made you uncomfortable.”
‘Give me some kind of excuse to use, man. You shouldn’t have apologized right away, Hyun-Sung. Apologizing in a situation like this basically means that you’re admitting your defeat…’
His sincere apology made me feel ashamed of myself. A tango would need two people, so I needed an excuse to be annoyed at him. Unfortunately for me, he chose to apologize directly rather than give a lousy excuse.
If I were to brute force my way here, then Lee Ki-Yeon would end up being the strange one. In the end, I had no choice but to back down. After all, time wasn’t on my side.
“Whew…”
“...”
“I understand. Please lift your head,” I said.
“I’m sorry,” he repeated.
“No, I think I misunderstood you. I know you’re not that type of person. It looks like I’m the one who had those embarrassing thoughts, but… it’s probably best if you go back home today,” I suggested.
“...”
“It’s true that I’m kind of drunk, but I’m not a kid. I’m an epic-ranked adventurer, and I already told you that I can handle going back to my lodgings on my own, you know?”
”I understand your concern, but I hope you’ll also understand that too much kindness can make people misunderstand. If you give me the same answer as last time, I might misunderstand you again…”
”And I’m not actually in the greatest mood right now. No matter your intentions, I’ll definitely feel offended by it. You understand what I’m trying to say, right?” I asked.
“Yes, I understand,” he said.
“We started off on the right foot, so I want us to part on a good note. I just want us to have good impressions of each other,” I added.
“I see…”
“I’d like to part ways here. I’m sorry,” I apologized.
“No, I should be the one who should apologize. Again, I’m sorry,” he repeated.
‘Stop apologizing, man…’
“Okay.”
‘Shit. I got too prim and proper...’
I got as prim and proper as the women in Joseon Dynasty. I was inwardly happy at the thought that I had successfully completed a difficult mission. I wasn’t sure if I handled the situation well, but the outcome wasn’t that bad.
Kim Hyun-Sung seemed to have realized the fact that being persistent here would make things worse. I was worried that he was going to follow me, but he had already realized his mistake, so I was sure that he wouldn’t do anything unnecessary.
He would probably just watch me from afar.
Now, I just had to go to the Rift Inn. I was dizzy, but I started walking as fast as I could because I couldn’t waste any more time.
Obviously, I couldn’t show any signs of staggering or falling because I was sure that Kim Hyun-Sung would come flying toward me the moment I showed any signs of collapsing.
I was at my limits, both physically and mentally.
If I lost focus even for a moment, the burning mana inside me would definitely burst out.
I bit my lips and walked one step at a time. I thought I was taking big strides, but I was honestly worried about how I looked from behind. When I started running down the huge stairs of the main road, I couldn’t help but get worried that I might fall.
‘Shiiit… I think I’m done for…’
I staggered, and I miraculously avoided humiliating myself by grabbing the nearby handrail, but one of my shoes fell off.
‘Damn it. I’m not Cinderella!’
“Miss Ki-Yeon! Your shoe…!”
I could hear Kim Hyun-Sung calling me from behind, but I couldn’t respond to him.
‘So he was still watching. That stalker-like bastard… just go home already!’
I had no more time, so I had no choice but to hope that he wasn’t doing something unnecessary like running toward me to give me my shoe. Thankfully, it seemed like he wasn’t going to do that.
I could feel a presence behind me, but I walked briskly without turning around.
‘Please…’
The Rift Inn was getting closer.
I felt like I was going to lose my focus, so I hurriedly entered the inn.
‘Please!’
Creak!
“Welcome to the Rift Inn!” the receptionist greeted.
“Legendary rank. Room. Hurry,” I said before hurling a bunch of gold coins.
“Ah… okay,” she replied.
“Keep the change,” I said as I immediately started heading upstairs.
“The check-in—”
“I’m going to head up right now,” I interrupted her.
“Okay.”
“The room number,” I requested.
“I’ll guide you—”
“No need. Room number… h-hurry up,” I stuttered.
“O-okay.”
‘I don’t think he’s crazy enough to follow me inside.’
However, I couldn’t keep my guard down until I entered my room because I didn’t know what was going on. My mind was blank, and my body felt like it couldn’t resist nature’s call anymore.
I declined the receptionist’s offer and immediately entered my room.
I shut the door and finally sighed in relief upon entering a safe space.
“I’m safe…” I muttered.
When I relaxed, the burning mana in my body finally burst out. I glanced in the mirror and saw a familiar man.
Light Ki-Yeon was beautiful, but I was more fond of this look. I nodded at the sight of it.
I was a bit bothered that I lost one of Light Ki-Yeon’s shoes, but I smiled because I successfully completed my mission.
‘It was perfect.’
As long as Kim Hyun-Sung didn’t do anything unnecessary like trying to find the owner of that shoe, I would say that I had completed this mission beyond perfection.
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