41. Hellgate

+++

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only silence remained in the spot where Han Sarang had left.

Well, to be precise, the President was also sitting there as if dead, but there was such a chilling silence that it wasn’t even noticeable.

 

 

 

“….”

 

 

 

There was something on the corner of his lips that could be called a smile, or perhaps self-deprecation, like the expression of someone who had given up on everything facing a flashback at the last moment of life.

It seemed like he had no regrets, and also like he was endlessly full of regret.

 

Does he resent fate?

Or has he given up and attained enlightenment?

 

 

 

 

 

Ttorreu-reu.

 

 

 

 

With sluggish movements, he filled a glass and brought it to his lips, then stopped.

 

 

“In the end, do I have to do it? To the very end…do I have to do it?”

 

He couldn’t bring himself to drink and put it back on the table, then sighed deeply.

 

Han Sarang had coldly rejected his last proposal, even going so far as to denounce it as a ‘meaningless act.’

In front of her, he had become a pathetic human chasing after delusions in an instant.

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah.

I don’t deny it.

Because it’s a dangerous gamble that converges extremely on delusion.

 

“Yeah. I have to do it. Even if it’s hard, even if it’s humiliating, I have to protect it.”

 

 

What kind of decision has he made again?

He picked up a telephone set up on one side, and after a long hesitation, he called someone.

 

 

“This is the President.”

-Yes, please speak.

“As the Commander-in-Chief of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, I have an order to issue.”

-……Is it…that matter?

“Yes.”

-….

 

 

What on earth is that matter?

A heavy silence lingered for a while.

 

 

 

 

In the midst of that, the President was the first to speak.

 

 

“From now on…I will forcibly dissolve…the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea.”

-….

“Arrest all registered members of the National Assembly, all city council members, and extend the nationwide martial law indefinitely.”

-…You’re finally doing it.

“Yes.”

 

 

Cheok.

 

 

I could feel him saluting over the phone.

I could also feel something unknown and hot.

 

 

-May only blessings be on your path ahead.

“There’s no such thing on my path ahead.”

 

He put down the phone and closed his eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

+++

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Hehe. It’s been a while!”

“It has.”

 

Finally, I meet our Sarang-ssi.

Thinking that I’m meeting her after several months, my lower body suddenly gets all excited.

 

Ugh…I did it a lot with Seo-hyun before coming just in case this would happen. It’s meaningless. It’s a problem even if my stamina is too strong.

 

 

 

 

“I missed you.”

 

 

Sarang-ssi suddenly attacking(?). I haven’t even gone inside yet, is this what they only talk about, an offensive of affection? But her expression is stern, though.

 

 

“Ahem…m-me too.”

 

Ah, honestly, Sarang-ssi is cheating, you know? She’s not even a maid, but she’s my real girlfriend who’s hooked on me. Honestly, even I don’t understand it, but that’s how it turned out anyway.

When someone like that says something like this, the power is too strong…

 

 

Ah…at this rate, even if Sora-nuna calls me a virgin, I have nothing to say….

 

 

“Let’s go in for now.”

 

But I can’t just be a loser and hesitate.

I naturally led her inside.

 

 

 

I heard that she came to see me right after meeting the President, and we could meet at my house, but to revive the memories of our first date, we came to a nearby barbecue restaurant.

That was a really good memory back then. It’s also the first place I touched Sarang-ssi’s chest…and I don’t remember the name, but the part-timer also ate there…I wonder if he’s doing well?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Four servings of pork belly are here.”

 

 

As soon as we came in, we ordered, and after some time, a delicious-looking fresh pork belly came out.

Since Sarang-ssi and I were already famous, I could see that the part-timer was a little nervous.

 

Well, don’t worry too much. Even I wouldn’t suddenly do anything bad. Besides, he’s a guy. I guess that nuna from before isn’t here either.

 

 

 

“Sarang-ssi, how have you been?”

“Yes. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I conquered the other world.”

“Ah, I heard. Ludmilla-ssi was incredibly dumbfounded.”

“That’s…I’m a little sorry, but that’s how it turned out.”

 

She doesn’t seem very sorry.

Well, it doesn’t matter.

 

“Yoo-eun-ssi, I heard you went to a new other world in the meantime?”

“Yes. It was the world of Murim. Actually, if you look at it broadly, it’s not just Murim, but a place with various supernatural powers, but I only felt Murim roughly and came back. After all, there’s also the zombie situation and my wives.”

“Hmm…I see.”

 

 

Ah.

Should I have brought up the wives?

Well, it’s a well-known fact that I have wives, but it could still be upsetting, right? Talking about other women to her face.

 

 

“Did you have a ceremony?”

“Yes? A ceremony?”

“I remember you had an engagement ceremony before, but I was wondering if you’re actually married yet.”

“Ah.”

 

That’s right.

I’ve been calling them wives, so I haven’t really been thinking about it…we were only engaged…that’s right. Strictly speaking, they were just girlfriends. Oh my god.

 

 

Sarang-ssi chuckled, probably because my face looked funny for a moment.

 

 

“I guess you haven’t done it yet.”

“Ugh.”

“Women are sensitive to things like that. Take good care of them. Like Sonya-ssi. You didn’t even have an engagement ceremony with her, did you?”

“Y-yeah, I should.”

 

I can’t believe I’m hearing this from Sarang-ssi.

 

 

“But Sarang-ssi, don’t they…say anything?”

“About what?”

“Your family…honestly, my image isn’t very good, is it?”

“It’s not just ‘not very good’.”

“Anyway.”

 

She cut the sizzling meat with scissors and let out a sigh for a moment. It seems like it’s hard to answer. I guess they’re saying things like ‘Don’t meet a guy like that!!’

Hmm…maybe. It’s a great clan, after all. Wouldn’t they have a strict discipline or something?

 

 

“Actually, other than when I sent Mullang and Mallang to my family before…I haven’t really contacted them. I don’t really know.”

“Huh.”

 

The answer that came back was completely different from my expectations.

What is it? Is it the laissez-faireism that I’ve only heard about?

My daughter is dating me, and they don’t even contact me. Is that even possible?

 

 

“Wouldn’t other people be more of a problem than me? I have free will, but….”

 

Now that I think about it, that’s right. The maids all have parents, but there hasn’t been any reaction so far.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hmm…

 

 

Wait a minute. Isn’t this a bit serious? Why didn’t I know anything? It’s a bit creepy. I’m worried that Seo-hyun or someone might have done something.

 

 

“It’s all cooked.”

“Ah. Thank you.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perhaps because my stats are high, the pork belly kept going into our stomachs endlessly.

The alcohol didn’t taste good, but I drank it to liven up the atmosphere, and that also went in like crazy.

Wouldn’t we have filled the sales of almost 20 people between us?

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Let’s go there.”

 

 

When I came out after finishing the meal, I wanted to go straight to a motel.

It’s been a while since I met Sarang-ssi, and her appearance and figure were very stimulating.

 

 

But what should I say…

When I think that she’s someone who really likes me, not just because of the maids or skill effects, it’s hard to drag her around like that…I feel like there’s some kind of psychological barrier.

 

Thus, the next destination is a cafe.

 

 

We ordered this and that at the cafe, and just like at the barbecue restaurant, we spent time talking about this and that. And when I couldn’t even fill my stomach with water anymore, we went around to places like coin karaoke, but from somewhere in the middle, Sarang-ssi’s expression isn’t very good.

 

 

Hmm…

 

 

What is it?

 

 

 

 

 

Uduk.

 

 

At some point, she stopped after eating all the ice cream she was holding and turned to look at me.

The surroundings happen to be a motel village.

The only people are couples who come and go occasionally, and even they quickly take refuge in the other direction after seeing my face.

 

Do they think I’m going to do NTL next to Sarang-ssi? Tsk tsk tsk.

 

 

 

“Something’s strange.”

“Yes? What is?”

“Yoo-eun-ssi.”

“I’m always the same person.”

 

 

Sarang-ssi shook her head from side to side.

 

“You’re different.”

“Hmm.”

 

 

What is it?

Is this the situation that I’ve only heard about, ‘We had a satisfying date and broke up satisfactorily, but when I called her at home, my girlfriend was angry’? Although it’s not home.

I have no idea why.

 

 

“The usual Yoo-eun-ssi wouldn’t be like this.”

 

 

I’m sorry, but we’ve only been on about four dates. How do you know me so well?

 

 

“You should be more selfish, more thoughtless, and more reckless…more excited in that direction.”

“Hmm.”

 

 

Now that I hear it, that’s true…ah. Was I too conscious? If I wasn’t in a job like the Crown Prince of the Glans, there’s no way Yuna-ssi, Sora-ssi, and Sonya-ssi would have become my lovers, right? If you think about it that way, Sarang-ssi is my first girlfriend…

 

 

No, wouldn’t Sarang-ssi have dated me if it wasn’t for my abilities?

 

 

Hmm. It’s complicated.

 

 

Anyway, Sarang-ssi feels like the only one…somehow…it’s hard to treat her…

 

 

 

 

“Am I difficult?”

 

 

Then Sarang-ssi suddenly asked, putting her hand on her chest.

She’s always been a dignified female soldier, but at this moment, she’s the epitome of pure and innocent.

I think I know why the word ‘beauty that can overthrow a kingdom’ came about. If a beautiful woman asked the king for something with this expression, he would have no choice but to give it to her.

 

 

 

“You didn’t used to be like this. I guess I’ve become difficult for you in the meantime. Or maybe it’s become awkward.”

“Of course not. That’s not true.”

 

I didn’t know what to do, so I tried to say something, but she doesn’t seem very satisfied. She’s still shaking her head.

 

 

“I don’t know why, but I can see hesitation when you treat me.”

“….”

 

 

I don’t know.

What am I supposed to do?

 

As I was standing there dumbfounded, she suddenly chuckled.

???

 

“Yoo-eun-ssi, you’ve never been in a relationship, have you? Are you a motae solo?”

“Yes? No, what an insulting thing to say.”

“That’s exactly how you’re acting.”

“N-no, what do you mean motae solo? I have so many women.”

 

Now that I think about it, isn’t Sarang-ssi the one who’s a motae solo????? How can she call me a motae solo?

 

 

“Still, isn’t I the first one to truly like Yoo-eun-ssi without any external factors?”

 

Please refrain from fact-bombing.

 

“Maybe you’re treating me specially. That’s why you’re hesitating and being shy.”

“…No, I’m not.”

“Then since you’re treating me specially anyway,”

 

 

She arbitrarily concluded and rummaged through her small bag. And then she takes something out….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Will you marry me?”

 

 

 

 

It was a ring.