Ch.171World’s Strongest Being’s Birthday – 1

What’s this? Why do I feel such softness?

It’s so cozy. So warm. Just like when my mother used to stroke my head when I was little.

Just as I was about to close my eyes again in this indescribable comfort.

“Isn’t it time to get up? It’s almost lunchtime.”

“…Huh?”

The voice in my ear wasn’t my mother’s, but someone else’s.

It definitely wasn’t a stranger. No, that would be impossible.

This voice was the same one I’d heard mingling and harmonizing with mine just yesterday.

When Rina Lee finally opened her eyes, she could see Seojin Baek gently stroking her hair.

As a bonus, she was completely naked, without even a blanket covering her.

After blankly examining her body, Rina slowly turned her gaze toward Seojin.

“…How long have you been looking?”

“What’s with that suddenly?”

“At my body.”

“What are you talking about? I saw plenty yesterday, didn’t I? I’m not particularly trying to look right now.”

“Then why am I just sprawled out like this?!”

Saying this, Rina hurriedly pulled the blanket over herself.

Seojin made an exasperated expression and said:

“Hey. You don’t know how hard I tried to keep you covered since yesterday? What’s with your sleeping habits? Every time I tried to cover you with the blanket, you’d kick it off within five minutes.”

“That’s…”

“And that’s not all. You were so clingy. I even scolded you seriously at one point, wondering if you were awake or just messing around. But no. You were sound asleep. Thanks to you, I couldn’t sleep at all.”

There wasn’t a hint of playfulness on Seojin Baek’s face. Everything he was saying was true.

It didn’t take long for Rina’s face to turn bright red.

“S-sorry. I should have warned you about my sleeping habits.”

“Well, at least you know now.”

“D-did I hit you or yell or anything?”

“Why? Don’t tell me you do that too?”

“No… My mom used to say I should have separate bedrooms when I get married. She said no man, no matter who, would want to share a room with me after sleeping with me once.”

At that, Seojin burst into laughter.

Just like before when they met, her parents judged their child too accurately.

Some thoughtless parents either hide their children’s problems or are oddly proud of them.

Rina’s parents were extremely cautious about their daughter potentially causing trouble for others.

The problem was that since it was Rina, their efforts didn’t have much effect.

“Don’t just laugh! Did I really do that?!”

“I don’t know about hitting, but you did talk in your sleep.”

“What?! Don’t tell me I was cursing…”

“No? You were moaning ‘Ah! Ah! Oppa, I love it! Right there!'”

“…”

Rina’s face turned red again, looking like it might explode.

“…Did I really? You’re joking, right? Please. Tell me you’re joking.”

She had never begged so sincerely. Please let this be Seojin’s joke.

But the truth is always cold and sharp.

“For real. I told you. I thought you were awake and got serious and angry.”

“…Haa… Sigh…”

Rina pulled the blanket over her head.

This is embarrassing. So embarrassing she could die. Did she really do that in her sleep?

She should have slept quietly and prettily, but instead she was fussy, troublesome, and even talked in her sleep?

“But you were pretty.”

Flinch—

For a moment, Rina thought she’d misheard and slowly lowered the blanket.

Seojin grabbed the blanket and pulled it away completely.

Then, looking straight at Rina’s face, he continued:

“Your sleeping habits were a bit wild, but you were still pretty.”

With those words, Rina’s reason snapped.

“…Oppa.”

“Yes?”

“Kiss me.”

“Oh? But what should we do? Your wish coupon expired yesterday.”

At Seojin’s response, Rina narrowed her eyes.

She seemed to have figured out what this man wanted.

It hurt her pride a little, but there was no helping it.

The thirsty person digs the well, and the one in need must humble themselves.

Carefully emerging from under the blanket, Rina brought her lips close to his ear.

“Please.”

“One more.”

“…Meow.”

Like a cat rubbing against someone for pets.

Looking at Rina who had come into his arms asking for it quickly, Seojin—

“You’re not just going to kiss, are you?”

“Hehe. You caught me.”

The flame between man and woman that seemed to have ended at dawn began to burn again.

*

“Hmm.”

In the end, I couldn’t hold back and did it again. A sense of self-loathing briefly passes through me.

Was I always this obsessed with women? Am I secretly sexually frustrated?

But lately I’ve been working so hard that I haven’t even thought about women.

‘I guess it’s because Rina is just that pretty.’

It’s an unfair thing to say about Soohyun, and it makes me feel like a complete jerk.

But Rina had her own unique charm. I was completely swept away by it.

She had always shown a powerful, overwhelming, and aggressive side.

But yesterday, she showed the image of a girl who didn’t know what to do and was flustered.

When she cuddled up in my arms and whimpered cutely, I thought I was going crazy.

I finally understood why men go crazy for that “gap.”

Once I saw that cute side, I wanted to see it again, so I teased her more.

And each time, Rina’s reactions got more intense, which excited me.

If Soohyun was quiet normally but transformed at night into a woman who climbed on top…

Rina was the opposite—confident normally, but completely flustered when it mattered.

If I had to put it in terms, Soohyun would be “meek by day, bold by night,” while Rina would be “bold by day, meek by night.”

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

Rina, walking beside me, pokes her head in.

The embarrassment she showed earlier has completely disappeared.

Now she’s back to being the usual Rina, maintaining her high energy.

“Act well. We need to look like we just returned today.”

“Don’t worry. I can act well when needed.”

“Heh. Yet you always get caught in front of me.”

“Now the same goes for you.”

When I teased her a bit, her face turned red again.

See that? It makes me want to tease her more. Cats are truly mischievous.

“Seojin oppa.”

“Yes?”

“Am I really your woman now?”

“…Yes?”

“Good. Then I can be more openly clingy now!”

Though we’ve left the portal, we’re not completely away from people’s gazes.

Nevertheless, Rina clings to my side and links arms as if she no longer wants to hide it.

After looking at her for a moment, I decided to address one concern.

“Stop clashing with Soohyun.”

“What are you saying? Anyone listening would think I’m bullying that woman. In reality, she’s the one who picks fights and grumbles first! I’m the victim here!”

“I know. Of course I know. What I mean is, um, just give in a little. As you know, Soohyun is still a bit… um, timid, right?”

At my words, Rina snorts.

“Timid? Oppa. No matter how much you like her, speak properly. She’s not timid, she’s strange. I’m me, but she’s crazy in her own way too. She’s a witch, a witch.”

I couldn’t refute the “witch” comment.

After all, Soohyun herself is “The Crimson Witch,” so how could I deny it?

“And why should I always be the one to give in? I also… did that! That thing! With you, you know? I have the right to make claims too!”

“What I mean is that as her senior at the Superpower Academy, you should be more generous. See? You’re stronger, you’re more senior, and also…”

“I have bigger breasts, whiter skin, and I’m prettier. Right?”

It’s strange how she can say such things so casually.

Last night she was so embarrassed she was stumbling over her words.

“Sure. Let’s say that.”

“What do you mean ‘let’s say that’! You should say ‘That’s right!'”

“It’s the same thing.”

“It’s different! Repeat after me: ‘Rina, you’re absolutely right!’ Come on!”

“Maybe you are.”

“Argh! Really!”

As soon as we returned, we had to make our post-mission report.

Their personnel would have already reported, but the parties involved needed to report directly too.

So we met with the Association President to explain what happened in Russia—

“Arbiter Seojin Baek. I heard the Elder was captured two days ago.”

“Ah.”

“And I see there were two people who used the portal.”

Rina? Rina? Ms. Rina? You said to trust you. You said to trust only you.

You said the Association President wouldn’t know, but he knows exactly? Huh?

I glared at Rina, but her face was perfectly calm.

She looked like she was saying “Manage your expression. Manage it!”

So I just blinked my eyes and responded “Is that so?” to the President’s words.

Fortunately, the President didn’t elaborate further on that matter.

He just said with a meaningful look:

“I look forward to your continued service, Arbiter Seojin Baek.”

He’ll pretend not to know about these small matters and keep quiet.

So please continue to serve as Rina’s restraint.

That’s probably what the President meant by “looking forward to your service.”

Of course, Rina and I said we understood and left the Association.

“You said we wouldn’t get caught.”

“In the end, it was treated as if nothing happened, right?”

“We call that being caught, not getting away with it.”

How can I really trust this woman?

I suddenly understand why Rina’s parents were so worried about their daughter.

Why they told me I was too good for her and should run away quickly.

Buzz—

“It’s mine.”

Rina checks her phone screen.

Suddenly she gasps and holds her breath.

“What now?”

“…Ah, it’s because of you, oppa.”

“What is?”

“I forgot because of you. Aaaah!”

I thought she was talking nonsense again.

So I snatched her phone and looked at the screen—

– World’s Strongest One’s Birthday –

…What’s this?

“Actually, today is my mother’s birthday.”

Ah. I see.