03. Another Dungeon.

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“….”

“….”

 

 

The two women faced each other across the table.

Utterly without a word.

 

 

They looked like sisters no matter how you looked at them, but one of them was actually the mother.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I was just letting you do your adventurer activities.”

“You…knew?”

“Did you think I wouldn’t know?”

“….”

 

 

Yuna lowered her head.

From long ago, this person knew everything I was doing. Like a goddamn stalker.

 

It was like a prison, to the point where I even felt like I was wearing a prison uniform.

That’s why I became an adventurer, traveling the world and exploring dungeons, but even so, I couldn’t escape from her grasp.

 

 

The woman, Yuna’s mother Isonya, took a sip of her coffee and calmly continued. At first glance, she didn’t seem to have any anger, but since she was such a cold person who maintained a poker face so well, Yuna couldn’t shake off her anxiety.

 

 

“Adventurer…it’s a bit concerning that it’s dangerous, but who am I to tell you what to do with your life? You’re not a child.”

“Then…”

“But it’s a different story when you’re involved in a clearly ‘wrong’ ideological group.”

“Wrong? We’re just addressing and trying to solve the discrimination that clearly exists!”

“Why is the guild doing that? You should be doing social activism.”

“W-We’re doing that too, of course.”

“….”

 

 

Sonya stared at me with a look of pity for a moment.

 

 

“Shall I guess? You guys didn’t create an ideological guild to do social activism. You just banded together because you were afraid of meeting and mixing with people who have different ideologies.”

“That’s not true!”

“It’s not? Then why do you only accept women? Shouldn’t a guild accept men and women to become stronger and gain more rights? Is this mother wrong?”

“That’s because those Han-nams-.”

“Don’t use those words. I didn’t teach you that.”

“….”

 

 

Sonya, who coldly cut off her daughter’s words, stared at her daughter with truly cold eyes.

 

“A correct ideology makes the people who follow it correct as well. If that ‘radical feminism’ you’re following is truly correct and for the peace and stability of society, then why did you create those words? Who would see that and think it’s right? It’s wrong from the start.”

“They started it first!”

“They? Who’s ‘they’?”

“Korean men! They were the ones who first created all sorts of misogynistic terms like ‘Kimchi-nyeo’ and were spouting nonsense like women should be beaten three times a day! So we created it as a mirroring measure!”

“….”

 

At Yuna’s harsh words, Sonya thought for a moment and glanced at the next table.

There were three men and women watching the conversation between the two mothers and daughters with interest.

Yueun, Sora, and Eunju.

 

 

Turning her gaze back, she looked at Yuna.

 

 

“What do you call that man?”

“Han-nam…”

“What does that man call you?”

“…Yuna-ssi…”

“Then, have you ever directly heard the word ‘Kimchi-nyeo’ in your life?”

“….”

“What about ‘Kim-yeosa’?”

“….”

“You haven’t, have you?”

“B-But-.”

“But this and but that, other people call you Yuna, so why are you calling people by those words? Do you think people will see that and ‘We were wrong!’ and reflect?”

“….”

 

 

Yuna was silent, biting her lip tightly.

Seeing her like that, Sonya took out several documents.

Printed on them were the ‘Spicy Rib Soup’ website and the numerous actions of the ‘Spicy Rib Restaurant’ guild. Not a single one was proper.

 

 

Reading through them one by one, Sonya sighed.

 

 

“This is quite a sight.”

“….”

 

She realized that the group her daughter was involved in was worse than she thought.

How could there not be a single proper action?

 

 

At her reaction, Yuna hurriedly continued.

 

 

“I-It’s true that women are at a disadvantage!”

“What is?”

“There’s still a glass ceiling in this country, there’s gender discrimination, and there’s definitely misogyny!”

“Glass ceiling?”

 

 

Sonya raised her head.

 

 

“I’m hearing those words in front of me.”

“Ugh….”

 

She had certainly succeeded.

Massively so.

 

 

“That’s right. There is. I’ve been ignored because I’m a woman, and I’ve been hindered. But you know what?”

“W-What?”

“There are also times when I do well because I’m a woman. A male lawyer at my level doesn’t get much attention and isn’t as well-known. Because I’m a woman, and because I’m beautiful, I get more attention and achieve more results. Aren’t you thinking about that?”

“That’s proof of misogyny!”

“How so?”

“Because they don’t think of women as individuals and only see them as sexual objects, so they just like them if they’re pretty. They’re not looking at ability, they’re looking at face and body! They’re committing all sorts of lewd acts in their heads with sinister thoughts!”

“That’s your opinion. Have you even talked to a man?”

“O-Of course.”

“I guess so. You have colleagues, so you must have. What about dating?”

“….”

“You haven’t even talked to a man properly, you haven’t dated, you haven’t touched bodies, you haven’t debated, you haven’t fought while drinking. What have you done to judge that men will be like this? Did you even experience the glass ceiling? Even if you did, I experienced it. My mother’s generation experienced it. What have you experienced?”

“W-We also-.”

“And I’m a lawyer. You think people hire lawyers based on their face and body? Don’t you think that makes sense? You guys are the ones who are ignoring women.”

 

 

She, who was quite excited unlike usual, took a breath again and calmly calmed her expression.

 

“Get out. Of that guild.”

“I-I can’t.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll make you get out.”

 

 

She handed the documents to Yuna.

 

 

“A lawsuit has been filed. Members of the ‘Spicy Rib Soup’ website have filed a class action lawsuit against the ‘Spicy Rib Restaurant’ guild.”

“What?!”

“A member of the Spicy Rib Restaurant guild posted a selfie on the website, and the website members who saw it felt insulted.”

“T-That’s ridiculous!”

“The website members are mostly fat hikikomoris, right? It’s understandable that they would feel that way when they see a slim guild member’s selfie, isn’t it? Like, ‘They’re trying to make fun of us and laugh at us.'”

“That’s just them being delusional! How can they sue someone with their psychological problems!”

“I know, right? Their delusion is the problem, so why are they talking like it’s a social problem?”

“…!”

 

Isonya got up from her seat.

Yuna reflexively got up too, and Yueun and the others who were watching from the next table also got up.

 

 

“If you don’t want to get out, that’s fine. It’s not a big deal to dissolve a guild full of delusions like that.”

She glared at Yuna with cold eyes, then turned her gaze to Yueun.

 

 

“It’s almost dinner, let’s have dinner together.”

 

 

 

 

 

+++

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“….”

“….”

 

 

This is a fancy restaurant. A place I haven’t had much to do with until now.

And I am having a one-on-one meeting with an incredibly beautiful woman.

 

 

She has features similar to Yuna-ssi, but honestly, she’s prettier. Um… well, Yuna-ssi will develop even more if she starts to exude some maturity(?), but anyway, that’s how it is now.

 

 

“You’re Yuna’s colleague.”

“Ah…yes.”

 

 

Her lips opened, and a voice that sounded like music came out. As expected, Yuna-ssi is pretty because her mother is so beautiful.

 

 

“Are you aware that Yuna is involved in a strange guild right now?”

“I am aware.”

“I heard she’s calling you by strange words. I’m worried if you’re upset.”

 

 

She’s speaking with an incredibly cold face, but even so, her tone is full of dignity.

 

 

“Haha. I’m used to it now. Actually, Yuna-ssi is…better than most. She’s good at distinguishing between public and private matters.”

“I’m glad you think so. She just went astray for a while, but her heart is kind, so please don’t hate her too much.”

 

Don’t worry, Nuna! There’s no way I could hate Yuna-ssi. And you too.

 

 

 

Perhaps she understood my expression, she smiled softly.

Ah…this feeling of everything brightening up.

 

 

I’ve decided.

I will definitely, somehow, make her my woman.

 

 

But she’s a lawyer, right? If I touch her carelessly, I’ll be screwed, right?

Hmm…what should I do?

 

 

 

“Is Yuna doing well? She’s a stubborn child and lacks social skills.”

“She’s a bit lacking, but she’s good at commanding. She was like that during the tutorial team, and she’s not bad now either. Above all, she has ability.”

“Heh. She’s great at one thing, like me. It would be nice if she didn’t have strange thoughts.”

 

 

Her heart worrying about her daughter is revealed in her cold face.

It would be nice if I could engrave myself on that face.

 

 

“I wonder if she’ll be able to get married like that….”

“Ah, you don’t have to worry about that.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“Ah….”

 

 

Oops. I said it without thinking.

 

 

“There’s no need to worry? Perhaps….”

 

 

She narrowed her eyes and suspected.

Ugh. Should I say I’m her boyfriend?

 

 

Hmm…

It’ll be okay, right?

It’s a bit concerning that there are other women…but Yuna-ssi can’t meet other men anyway. Systemically.

 

“I’m her…boyfriend-ish existence.”

“…?”

 

She tilted her head and looked at Yuna-ssi. Yuna-ssi is looking at me with a worried face again, but Sora-nuna and Eunju are diligently eating their food.

 

 

“You’re…her boyfriend?”

“Boyfriend-ish existence.”

“….”

 

 

She frowned as if she didn’t like something.

…

As expected, she’s from a rich family, so someone like me isn’t up to her standards? This typical Korean drama cliche-.

 

 

“So you’re saying she calls her own boyfriend a Han-nam?”

“Yes? Ah…well…that’s what it is?”

“That’s more serious than I thought.”

 

Is that what it is? That’s kind of a relief….

 

 

“Well, let’s think about that later. So, how far have you gone?”

“Of course, we’ve had se-.”

“….”

 

….

Shit…this damn tongue….