Luckily, after the first afternoon class ended, all three of us had free periods, so we sat in a cafe and chatted.
"Oh right, you mentioned last time something about becoming the husband of the World Tree, didn't you?"
"Yeah. I was curious about that."
While sipping coffee, the topic naturally sprung up. Responding moderately to it, Siwoo spat his coffee out.
"Pfft, cough! Cough, cough, oh that? It's true… but it's not a big deal."
"Not a big deal? It was a huge topic in the articles. Look at this."
In the article Dallae showed, a brightly smiling photo of Siwoo was accompanied by the journalist's praising words.
-User(152.44): So, the journalist I sent to write an article just writes praising words. LOL
└User: He's the husband of the World Tree LOL. Why would they write negative things about him?
-User: Siwoo again? Really, Siwoo?
-Long live Siwoo Oppa: Oppa, you look so handsome!
└User: (Thump-)
└Long live Siwoo Oppa: What ㅡㅡ Oppa, don't believe this.
└User M: Yep~ Siwoo doesn't even know your name LOL
Ah. This familiar sensation.
The internet slang made me feel nostalgic warmth.
"Well… it's true? It's really not a big deal."
"How did it happen?"
"I don't know, I was training, and suddenly there was this weird hologram? A window appeared. It asked me to become a husband."
"Oh right, they said this time the husbands would use a system? So, can you meet the World Tree later?"
"Cough, well, I'm more curious about Shiheon's mask. Shiheon?"
Why was the conversation suddenly shifting to me? My face had stiffened from the thought of finally having the opportunity to suck up some World Tree information.
How should I explain? I couldn't just say it's an artifact. After some thought, I found my answer.
"It's nothing, just a keepsake from my grandfather."
"Oh."
Excuse Technique No.1: Misdirection. I had used this method before.
Siwoo, who was staring at me, looked uncomfortable, which meant that my excuse was working.
"So, Siwoo. Have you met the World Tree?"
Dallae swiftly turned the conversation to change the atmosphere, and Siwoo closed his mouth with a bitter smile.
He obviously didn't want to talk about it. Should I score some points here?
"More importantly, you used spirit magic well earlier. When did you learn that?"
"Oh, yes, you do use spirit magic well."
As I casually made eye contact with Siwoo, he smiled gratefully at the small consideration.
[Current Friends: 0 → 1]
The friend window was updated immediately. The affinity also unexpectedly rose to 42. It was pretty easy with guys.
Now, two more to go.
"Spirit magic? I have had the talent since I was young. It's not hard."
"Really? Oh, I'll go to the bathroom for a bit. You two continue talking."
As Siwoo left for the bathroom, Dallae, who had been fluid in conversation, suddenly stopped talking.
'It seems like she is interested in Siwoo. Should I bring it up?'
Maybe approaching naturally as Cupid. But first, I had to deal with this horribly low affinity.
So, what should I do?
I heard praising someone's appearance works better than asking mundane questions.
However, compliments from an ugly person can make him look like a stalker, even a criminal.
"...Do you have something to say?"
Noticing my silence, Dallae slightly frowned and spoke.
I somehow felt déjà vu. It was like this when we first met.
"I just thought you were really pretty."
"Ah.... Yes."
Her voice, drawn out in bafflement, made me close my mouth.
It was as I thought. I was treated like a madman.
It might be better to just speak my mind rather than awkwardly trying to raise her affinity.
"You seem really close to Siwoo. Have you known each other for a long time?"
"Yes, we have. Why?"
"It's just a bit uncomfortable if you keep speaking formally. We'll keep meeting, so why not speak comfortably?"
"If you want to, you can. I'm comfortable with formal talk."
"But you talk normally with Siwoo."
"...."
I seemed pretty persistent, even to myself. At this point, getting angry wouldn't be strange.
But what could I do? The closest friend candidate here was this girl.
Dallae seemed to ponder for a while and sighed, finishing her drink.
"I'm sorry to say this, but… this is a bit uncomfortable."
Her uncomfortable, pink eyes.
A hard truth bomb was thrown at me.
What could I do?
Anyway, I had no expectation of winning her over with just a single attempt.
"I'm sorry."
I spoke, feigning regret and with a seemingly serious face.
"I wanted to be friends. I guess my feelings got ahead of me."
"..."
Explaining myself, a sudden surge of unfair feelings became tangled in my heart.
I really didn't want to do this. I knew my place, but this damned World Tree kept pushing me to go beyond my limits.
-Plod, Plod.
Just then, Siwoo returned.
"You're back?"
Seeing a slightly exhausted Dallae, Siwoo tilted his head.
"What were you talking about?"
"Uh, nothing~"
Dallae looked at me, seemingly hoping I would go along with her.
"Right. It's nothing."
I had dreamed today would go well for a moment, and we would become friends.
Damn it.
"Why such a long face?"
"The Tree made me do something ridiculous."
In the evening, after class, I called out to Lee Seyeong and found a decent pub.
I had never drunk here before, but I couldn't resist this time.
Damn it, saying, 'I wanted to be friends. I guess my feelings got ahead of me.' What nonsense! I was not even a sweet guy.
Regret for my actions welled up within me.
"So, you came because I called?"
"You have no friends. A teacher should take care of such things."
"Ah… yes."
I downed a glass of draft beer the owner handed me. Drinking after so long, it went down smoothly.
"Do you still wear a mask when meeting people?"
"I always have to wear it."
"Ah, worried I might be a criminal, always so concerned about your safety. Will you do the same with your teacher?"
"Yes. But why are you acting like we are close after meeting just once?"
"...What are you saying? You called me."
Grumbling, Seyeong stuffed a freshly fried piece of soy sauce chicken in her mouth.
Watching her happily munching, I suddenly remembered the face she made when I scared her that day.
Thinking about it, she seemed to enjoy it then.
As I continued to chat with her, I switched to soju.
As I drank, my words flowed more freely.
"Hey, criminal. Are you drunk?"
"Damn it. Don't call me a criminal here, especially when you have your own criminal fantasies."
"What, what, what are you talking about? Who would have such fantasies?"
"It seems like it's here.... hehehe."
I was feeling blissful. The suppressed feelings seemed to be exploding now.
Maybe being called a loser and attacked lowered my self-esteem even more.
"What are you really saying?"
With a pretend angry face, Seyeong glared coldly.
"You really don't?"
"What."
"Liking being assaulted."
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
"...Shall we verify?"
Laughing in disbelief, Seyeong drank the beer in front of her nose and breathed out vigorously.
I subtly moved to the seat next to Seyeong.
Just then, the last guest left the pub.
"You're not as pristine as you claim to be. Because the teacher agreed with you once, you are acting all high and mighty- Euph!"
Just like that time, I lifted the mask slightly and stole a kiss.
"How is it?"
"I, I hate it."
With wide, surprised eyes, Seyeong cursed.
Contrary to the tense atmosphere, her slightly bent fingers were stiff and trembling gently.
"Got it. So, it's not your taste?"
"Ob-Obviously, who do you think you're seeing me as-?"
"But I like you and want to take you."
"-Heh."
I murmured into her ear.
"Come with me."
"You… I won't let you get away with this."
We will see about that. She said the same thing last time.
Seyeong and I had been in a twisted relationship from the start. I would have died if I hadn't taken her, and fortunately, her preferences formed an odd connection with me.
I stood up, paid for the food, and went outside to breathe in the still-cold night air.
'Ugh, make friends? Then, friends with benefits are also friends. Damn it.'
Seyeong, who followed me outside, seemed uncomfortable. Her eyes were trembling, unable to fix her gaze on one spot, resembling a child about to make a request.
Where should I go, a motel? No.
"Come in."
"Here..."
My feet stopped at the men's restroom in the park.
"You, are you crazy? Sober up first…"
"Go in."
I forced her into the restroom, closed the door, and locked it.
-Bang!
A clean, single-person restroom. Seyeong backed away as I stepped towards her and shouted in a tense voice.
"Don't do it! You can still stop now."
I had never done such a play before, but I acted based on what I'd seen in adult videos.
I lightly grabbed Seyeong's hair and pulled her to me.
"…No."
I hadn't even used much force, but Seyeong screamed briefly. I hugged her from behind and stole a kiss.
Our tongues intertwined. I could feel the timid beating of her heart as I tightly grabbed her neck, careful to leave no fingernail marks.
"Ha… Heh… Uh…"
Rough breaths escaped her lips. When I ripped open her shirt, the buttons flew off.
"Uh!"
Ignoring her slight resistance, I grabbed her large breasts as if they were about to burst.
White skin protruded between my fingers.
"It hurts… be gentle…"
"You should speak politely, shouldn't you?"
"Please be gentle…"
"If you ask, I'll do it. But you have to show some sincerity."
"...Yes?"
Her eyes cleared as she fell easily with a light sweep of her legs.
The shirt that had been removed revealed all of her white skin above her belly button.
-Zip.
As I undid my pants, Seyeong's pupils dilated.
"You know what to do, right?"
I heard her swallow. Her eyes fixed on my penis, she spoke in a voice as if she was about to go into a mouse hole.
"I, I know."
Wasn't this too much?
Well, a hookup should be fine.
Covering her chest with one hand, Seyeong came closer and glared at me once.
"You jerk."
Then, she opened her mouth wide and took me in. Subsequently, a thrilling pleasure surged through me.
It was an unexpected outcome.