noveldrama
Chapter 158
Chapter 158
To lure Paimon, a grand festival was needed. And to make that happen, persuading the chairman was essential.
In Korea, even the president would struggle to prepare such an event in just five weeks. Only Seol Ha-yeon, the legendary Awakener and hero of the 1980s, could pull off something like this.
However, despite her fame, I didn’t think it would be particularly hard to convince her. I had reasonable justifications, a “special mission” pretext, and the added benefit of reclaiming the top ranking by defeating my master. By presenting these arguments, I figured she would at least consider it.
And then, I’d just need to push her a little more. Maybe give her a shoulder massage, or if it came to that, even press down on her back to help her relax.
With these thoughts in mind, I headed to the chairman’s office without a hint of nervousness.
...Little did I know I’d encounter an unexpected obstacle.
---
*"Sigh..."*
I hadn't anticipated Bbo, whom I trusted, would really hit me where it hurt.
With a deep sigh, I noticed she must have sent a bill or something.
I could understand. The Awakener Association would normally cover expenses for special missions. It was only natural for Bbo to charge the Korean Association for her trip.
The reason she didn’t tell me... well, last night was a good night. We had a close, sweaty bonding moment as friends, so discussing money probably felt too trivial.
A thoughtful gesture among friends.
*‘I was planning to give her something later as thanks for doing it for free.’*
Maybe I should’ve said from the start that I'd cover the costs myself. I’d make it clear to the chairman it was a secret.
*Thunk.*
*‘Now I have to deal with the fallout of explaining this to the old lady... sigh.’*
I covered my burning face with my hand. The aftermath of my “self-destruct” technique to calm the furious chairman was lasting longer than expected.
I mean, it’s not like I want to bring up intimate matters in front of other people. I only want to do that kind of thing with someone I love. Even someone with my reputation as a “breeding guy” has a pure side.
So, I left the chairman’s office with my face still burning five minutes later, the embarrassment not fading.
*‘Well, at least I managed to settle things... Forget it, just forget it.’*
*Slap slap.*
I slapped my cheeks to pull myself together. Dwelling on past mistakes wasn’t like me – it reminded me of my awkward first life.
Instead, I’d look on the bright side. Everything had worked out well, so I was thankful for that.
---
*‘And...’*
[Chairman, I feel like a real scumbag. I love all three of them but can’t choose just one....]
[Then marry all three of them. You’re capable enough.]
[Master, Shia, and Alice all said the same thing, but still....]
[Ugh, you spineless guy. Having three wives isn’t so bad, you know? A hero should have multiple wives! You could even take on four more concubines....]
With her attitude, I knew she wouldn’t really care.
If she didn’t care about my mention of *that* in her face, I should be good.
*Step step.*
*‘I’ll cool my head in the lecture hall...’*
Shaking off my embarrassment, I headed towards the academy’s main building. There was still plenty of time before class started, which gave me a chance to sort through my thoughts.
*‘Maybe I can draft some initial ideas for the end-of-semester festival....’*
*Squeak.*
*“Ah, Yu-jin! Perfect timing!”*
*“Hey. Come here and sit down.”*
*“Yikes.”*
I had no time to think. Even 30 minutes before the lecture, my two wives were already seated, waiting for me.
Hearing the line “Come sit down” was like hearing one of the top three lines that terrify married men.
Both of their eyebrows were raised high.
---
*"So, you stayed out on Sunday? With Ninomiya?"*
*"Be honest. Did you two go to a hotel? What did you do at the hotel!?"*
*"Eek."*
The interrogation from my wives! The pressure was overwhelming! Seo Yu-jin was in a state of **Fear**!
*“Well, it’s... This is a secret, but... Paimon....”*
*“You stayed out because of a special mission? If that's the case, I can understand.”*
*“Right!? Thanks for understanding.”*
*“But nothing happened with Ninomiya? You stayed at the same hotel, right? She didn’t try anything, did she?”*
As they questioned me relentlessly, Alice’s blue eyes fixed on me with certainty.
*“Yu-jin, you remember what you said back in the U.S., right? You apologized for not being able to take us to a hotel before leaving, and you promised to take each of us to a hotel at least once.”*
*“That’s right....”*
*“So, you took this chance to go to a hotel, using the mission as an excuse, just the two of you.”*
*“Well... I did take the girls along, so it wasn’t just the two of us.”*
*“There’s no way she’d miss a chance like that! She probably found a way to ditch the kids so she could pull some moves on you!”*
*“Tell us honestly. Did anything happen? Like... a kiss, or... anything else?”*
Shia’s brown eyes turned to me, a mysterious curiosity gleaming in them.
...This was a crisis. My two wives had caught me red-handed with my third wife. And not only that, but I was dating both of them in secret.
A night out with another woman? Are you kidding me?
They could easily react much worse. Honestly, I was lucky they weren’t yet furious. But if I didn’t handle this carefully, it could turn into a real disaster.
So I...
---
*"I, Seo Yu-jin, am unable to lie for the next 10 seconds."*
*Ding.*
*[Skill 'Perfect Hypnosis' activated....]*
*"A kiss? Nothing happened. Seriously, nothing at all."*
My expression turned naturally downcast.
...Ah, a kiss? I would’ve liked that. More than that, I wanted to do all the things I dreamed of, holding her, cuddling her, and more while she slept.
But there was no way. I didn’t even touch her, just stayed up all night watching over her. Doing anything to someone drunk would have been wrong.
And now, they’re asking if I kissed her? It was like pouring salt in the wound. All I could do was feel bitter about not getting what I wanted.
---
*“If you don’t trust me, that’s understandable. After all, I’m a guy.”*
*“It’s not that we don’t trust you, Yu-jin.”*
*“But! Don’t see my master that way. She’s the purest person in the world.”*
I framed my frustration as sadness.
It was one thing not to trust me, but why doubt my master? My master, who could sleep peacefully even in her underwear, hugging her student without a care in the world! She’s so oblivious to her own charm that it’s almost aggravating!
It worked.
---
*“There, you see? Even if it’s Ninomiya, she wouldn’t go that far.”*
*“There’s no way! She’d pretend to be drunk and sneakily remove her clothes, trying to seduce Yu-jin in her underwear!”*
*“What kind of perverted woman does that? Unless it’s England or something, that’d be considered...”*
*“...I don’t think that makes her a pervert!”*
*“Gah! Why are you yelling, you fox!?”*
Shia and Alice began arguing.
Watching their banter, I felt warmth in my heart.
*‘I’ve been so focused on chasing Paimon and courting my master lately, but I really do love both of them. I need to treat them even better...’*
---
*“Oh, right, Yu-jin.”*
*“Huh? What’s up?”*
*“What about me?”*
*“...Huh?”*
*“Why haven’t you taken me to a hotel yet?”*
She wasn’t letting me off the hook.
I shut my mouth at Shia’s sudden question. Her intentions were crystal clear.
*“You’re the only one left now, right? You promised to take each of us to a hotel.”*
*“I was waiting to see if you’d say anything, but it doesn’t look like it. Are you just going to ignore it?”*
*“Of course not! I’ve been looking into it!”*
Panicked, I stammered an excuse.
Would I dare break my promise to someone as precious as my girlfriend? I’d been busy, but I never intended to ignore the promise.
In truth, I’d been searching for a perfect place. While my master and Alice were fine with a regular hotel, Shia was a billionaire’s daughter. Her clothes alone were worth millions.
So, taking her to a cheap hotel? Not an option. I’d been looking around, making dozens of calls...
---
*“Sigh. Don’t you have any sense?”*
*“...What?”*
*Poke poke.*
*“Does the place really matter? What’s most important is being with you.”*
Shia’s voice, laced with kindness, cut through my explanation as she poked my cheek, a smile forming on her lips.
*“Take me somewhere simple. Even a motel would be fine. Actually, I think I’d prefer something like that.”*
*“Shia...”*
A wave of emotion washed over me.
Isn’t my wife the sweetest person in the world? I love her more than anything—
---
*“M-motels are out of the question!! Those are for... those kinds of things!!!”*
*“...!!!?”*
The moment was shattered.
For a moment, we’d slipped into our own world, but Alice was still there, after all.
Sweat beaded on my forehead.
*‘I’m screwed...!!!’*
My relationship with Shia was a secret. My relationship with Alice was a secret. I was juggling both.
From Alice’s perspective? Her boyfriend was talking about going to a motel with another woman?
This was a slip-up stemming from my habit of having three wives in my previous life.
---
*‘I have to live. I have to survive...!!’*
---
Grabbing my courage, I thought of a way to appease both Shia and Alice.
*“I don’t mind, but if you’re worried, Alice, then... Shia?”*
*“Hm? What?”*
*“After class, should we go see your father? If Alice is this worried, I’m sure he’d want to know, too. We should tell him in advance.”*
I steered the conversation toward her father.
I could already imagine the aftermath. Her father would say, “Sure, go ahead,” in front of us, but behind the scenes, he’d probably make sure any attempts at intimacy would be thwarted.
---
*‘Shia, I’m sorry. I’ll take you somewhere really nice later...!!’*
With that, I shot a look that said, *“Look, Alice, we’re wholesome.”* And to Shia, a pleading *“We’ll go to a real hotel later, okay?”*
---
*“Hmph? Hmm. Well, if you want, I guess we could.”*
*“...?”*
Wait. She wasn’t angry.
I blinked in surprise.
---
*“Ugh!! S-Shia! You’re really going to do this!?”*
*“I didn’t say anything~ Yu-jin’s like this~.”*
*“Huh?”*
Alice’s reaction was just as confusing.
Just as I wondered what was going on...
---
*“Yu-jin, I’m going too!! I mean... I have to go too!!”*
*“...What? No, that’s...”*
*“Hehe. Isn’t that fine, Yu-jin?”*
*“Shia!?”*
*“Get ready, fox. I’ll show you what the Clan of Heavenly Flowers can do.”*
*“I won’t lose...!!”*
And so, the two of them decided to have a four-way meeting with me, Shia, her father, and Alice.
...Seol Ha-yeon, if this is what it’s like with two, how would it even be with three wives? Would I end up like a chicken, split seven ways?
---
A short while later, in the office of the Clan of Heavenly Flowers’ leader...
*“So, Dad, I’m going to a motel with Yu-jin.”*
*“Absolutely not! If you go there, Shia will end up...!!!”*
*“....”*
*“....”*
*Stare.*
*‘Yu-jin, why are you doing this to me?’*
*‘Father-in-law, I’m truly sorry. I’m sorry for even existing.’*
And I regretted ever being born as a decent young man.