Ch.196Episode 38. Someone to Rely On (7)

“Wow… Your house is so spacious! How many square meters is it?”

I don’t know. It was a house that had been here from the beginning, so I knew nothing about it. I had examined the items in the house, but even those didn’t provide any useful hints.

I only knew that Yujin was the owner because of the house documents.

“I’m not sure. Just bought it.”

Having lived here only until entering the academy, it felt like I was in someone else’s house.

“Huh! So you’re a gold spoon?”

“Not a gold spoon, just enough to live comfortably.”

Considering the money deposited into my account each month, that wasn’t entirely untrue. Working at the academy and occasionally catching villains meant I earned quite a bit.

Since receiving training, I’d been commanding an even higher price than before.

At this rate, I might never retire.

“By the way… even though all the furniture is in place, it feels… empty somehow. Is it because the heating isn’t on?”

“…Do you want me to turn on the heating?”

Isn’t it strange to turn on the heating when summer is approaching?

“I was just joking. But Instructor, you live in the dormitory, yet there’s not a speck of dust on your furniture?”

“I employ a cleaner.”

The house was too large to clean alone, so I had no choice but to hire someone.

“Is this the life of a rich person?”

“…Stop talking nonsense and come here.”

I said, placing the bag containing alcohol on the coffee table. Bin Yoon ignored my words and spent a while looking around the room.

“It’s spacious. Looks about 185 square meters? Do you live alone?”

“Yes.”

Though I might end up living with six people later.

But there are only four rooms, so should I move to a bigger place?

While pondering these trivial concerns and preparing for our drinking session, Bin Yoon pressed herself against the wall, peeking out with just her head.

“I’m just curious about something.”

“Hmm?”

“You’ve brought many women to this house… right?”

“No way. You’re the first woman to enter my house.”

Somehow I felt that if it were Yujin, he would have brought countless women here, but I decided not to count the Yujin from before my time.

“H-hmph.”

Bin Yoon let out a strange laugh and approached me with wide strides. Come to think of it, Bin Yoon seems to like being first.

“Stop that nonsense and sit down.”

I chided her as she approached with a grin, exerting a strange pressure.

I take out two bottles of soju and chicken skewers bought from the convenience store. I heat the skewers in the microwave and rinse the soju glasses with water.

It was literally just having a light drink. Getting too drunk would make things difficult.

“Should I turn on the TV?”

I asked while bringing the heated chicken skewers. Bin Yoon raised her soju glass and shook her head.

“No. Tell me an interesting story, Instructor.”

“Am I a clown?”

I replied indifferently while filling her glass with the opened soju.

“Hehe. Honestly, I enjoy talking with you.”

After filling my own glass, I clinked it against hers.

We immediately downed our soju and ate the chicken skewers.

Sitting side by side against the sofa backrest while drinking created a peculiar atmosphere. Bin Yoon didn’t seem to mind it either, subtly pressing her shoulder against mine.

Was she reassured that no one would see whatever we did here?

“By the way, Instructor.”

“Yes?”

“Can’t you stay as an instructor without retiring?”

“Why? Would you like that?”

“I want to… repay what I’ve received… But if you retire as a hero, I can’t repay you. I’m someone who’s only good at making potions.”

Bin Yoon downed her glass with self-deprecation. Then she held out her glass to me, as if asking for a refill.

I smiled slightly and filled her glass to the brim with soju.

“You’re already helping plenty.”

“Thanks for saying so.”

“I mean it sincerely.”

I don’t know how many lives have been saved thanks to the potions Bin Yoon developed. Even the countermeasure for the eX potion was created solely at my request.

While she was once a threatening villain, now that she’s on the hero’s side, she’s become someone I can rely on more than anyone.

“I… want to keep being helpful…”

“Then you should stay by my side forever.”

“…What?”

“Just having you beside me is help enough.”

“F-forever…”

“I’m not trying to force you.”

Human relationships are connected and broken by the smallest things.

I’ve always been prepared for that.

“Shall we continue drinking?”

Clink.

As our glasses touched, some soju spilled over, dampening our clothes.

I smiled bitterly while drinking the soju that tasted nothing but bitter. It feels like taking medicine.

Just as the drinking atmosphere was beginning to warm up, Bin Yoon leaned her head on my shoulder.

“Phew…”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine…”

She casually dropped the formal speech.

Finding it amusing, I wrapped my arm around her waist. Unlike at the restaurant, she didn’t reject my touch.

“Yoonie.”

“Mmm…”

“Your hair smells nice?”

“Eek!”

At my words, Bin Yoon flinched and lifted her head from my shoulder. Was she worried about having a bad smell? It actually smells good.

“What shampoo do you use?”

“Cherry Blossom…”

She answered in a shrinking voice, as if embarrassed about something. Anyone would think I’d asked about the color of her underwear.

…Hmm. Now I’m curious. Is she wearing the same pink as her hair?

“Really? Then what about body wash?”

I asked, putting my nose to her neck. She tried to pull away, but with her waist held, escape was impossible.

“A-are you going to keep sniffing like some pervert?!”

She said, hitting my thigh.

“How can I help it when it’s so nice?”

“Y-you say nice things too c-casually…!”

“Don’t worry. I don’t say it to just anyone.”

Bin Yoon shuddered as she felt my breath on her skin. And when I kissed her neck, she jerked her shoulders as if startled.

“Eek! W-what are you…”

“Just a kiss.”

“D-do people normally kiss on the neck?”

“Don’t they?”

During foreplay.

“I-is that so?”

“Or did you want it on your cheek?”

“T-that’s not what I meant?”

“Really? But I want to give you one. May I?”

“…”

She didn’t answer. She just glanced at me. It seemed she was too shy to respond.

“You’re pretty.”

I said, carefully tucking her hair behind her ear. Bin Yoon slightly closed her legs and looked around nervously. Was she expecting a kiss?

I smiled and slowly kissed her cheek before pulling away.

Smooch.

“Phew…”

She lowered her head, not knowing what to do. Her flushed ears and neck, visible through her disheveled hair, were irresistibly tempting.

Ah, I really can’t hold back.

“I’m going to kiss you?”

“What?”

I announced rather than asked, and placed my hand on her chin before suddenly pressing my lips against hers. Surprised by the sudden kiss, she put her hands on my chest to push me away, but her resistance wasn’t strong.

It wasn’t a deep kiss with tongues. Our lips were just pressed together.

When I slowly pulled away, Bin Yoon’s eyes opened languidly.

“You smell like alcohol…”

“So do you.”

“Pfft. I guess so.”

We looked at each other from a close distance. Bin Yoon slowly closed her eyes and subtly pushed out her lips. She wanted a kiss first.

Had she gained courage after the first one?

After lightly pressing our lips together a few more times, I said:

“Open your mouth.”

“Eh…?”

Despite her confused response, she obediently opened her mouth.

While holding her face, I slowly slid my tongue between her parting lips.

“Mmph!”

She stiffened in surprise as my tongue entered. With her tongue slightly out, she remained motionless, but as I gently swirled mine, she began to reciprocate.

The wrinkles around her eyes that had formed from surprise gradually smoothed out. She was starting to enjoy the kiss.

Slurp! Slurp!

A vulgar sound unlike the light pressing of lips earlier.

Enjoying the explicit lewdness echoing in my ears, I moved my hand from her waist to tap her side.

“Ungh…!”

She twitches with each touch of my fingers, as if about to twist her entire body.

“Khnng…!”

Whether struggling to breathe or not, hot breaths from her nose stimulated my philtrum. I separated our lips to give her time to breathe.

“Haa…! Haa…!”

As our lips parted, a thread of saliva stretched between us, evidence of our intense kiss.

Saliva dripped onto our clothes, but we just stared at it, not thinking to wipe it away.

“Want to do it again?”

“…”

Again, there was no answer. She just quietly looked at me.

Understanding this as a signal, I kissed her again. Feeling her tongue coming out to meet mine, I pressed our lips closer together.

As we continued our deep kiss, I placed my hand on her cardigan, fumbling for the buttons, when Bin Yoon urgently grabbed my arm and pulled away.

“L-let’s go to the b-bed… A-after washing up… calmly. Okay?”

That was my intention from the start. I was just going to caress her lightly.

“…Alright. There’s a bathroom next to the bedroom, wash up there.”

I kissed her forehead and got up. I planned to clean up the table before proceeding.

“Ah… carry me?”

“Y-you don’t have to carry me?!”

She shouted nervously, as if embarrassed. Even that reaction seemed cute, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Okay. I’ll treat you well.”

“…”

She didn’t respond to my quiet promise. She just fidgeted with her fingers anxiously.

“Go wash up first. I’ll clean up and join you.”

“Okay…”

I watched Bin Yoon enter the main bedroom and began clearing the trash from the table.