Ch.51Yes+

# 51. Ye+

“Seyeon. I really appreciate your words and intentions, but I’ve been washing myself just fine all this time, so thank you, but I’ll have to decline.”

What’s gotten into both Saex and Cutjukyeora? What kind of wind has blown their way?

Cutjukyeora’s face turned completely red like a tomato, and she was struggling to speak properly while tightly gripping the towel in her hand.

“I’ll wash your back for you. Wouldn’t it be okay once in a while?”

“No, but still…”

“I’ll wash it for you.”

Cutjukyeora was staring at me with such intensity that she looked ready to tear the towel apart if I didn’t accept her offer. Before she could become “Cutjukyeora” (Cut-and-die), I nodded my head.

‘First Yuri, now Seyeon… Sigh. There’s no reason for this sudden change. Did Subin say something to them?’

Otherwise, this abrupt change in attitude made no sense. Even if I were to be extremely generous and assume Saex was just playing around, Cutjukyeora wasn’t the type to do this kind of thing as a joke.

‘…There must be some reason. It’s not like they’re trying to harm me.’

While Yebeobnojeong was the first person I recruited in the game, Cutjukyeora was the first one I met in the Tower.

From the attitude she showed during the very early days of entering the Tower, I had a different kind of trust in her.

It’s a bit, no, very embarrassing.

But washing my back should be fine, right? Not my front. My friend has gotten scrubbed by bath attendants and received massages from masseuses. At my age, making a fuss about getting my back washed might make him tell me to cut off my manhood.

– Hey, it’s different when the person washing your back is a gorgeous beauty like her!

– How is it different?

– Hehe, well, there’s just something about it.

He might say something like that.

Anyway, I swallowed my embarrassment, took off my equipment and upper clothing, and stood in front of Cutjukyeora with my back exposed.

‘Ah. I must smell from the sweat.’

Hoping this time would pass quickly, I fixed my gaze on the cave floor.

**

*Gulp*

The Captain’s body… this is the first time I’m seeing it up close like this.

‘Even though Yuri has a really nice body, a man’s body is different.’

This is a real man’s body.

Broad shoulders, clearly defined muscles.

The Captain humbly says he’s the weakest, but that’s just because of his class origin.

‘Since he’s the only man left now… I wonder if I’m the first to do this for him.’

I’m suddenly grateful to Yuri.

Saying there’s a hierarchy even in cold water, and giving up this opportunity to me, her foolish senior who can barely speak properly.

After Yuri made such a big concession to her rival, I can’t just hesitate and let this chance pass.

‘My heart is already racing just looking at him, but actually washing his back… isn’t this suddenly jumping several levels?’

But when I try to place the wrung-out towel on the Captain’s back, I find myself hesitating.

What if he thinks I’m strange for suddenly offering to wash his back?

What if he thinks I’m a pervert?

Or what if he’s figured out Yuri’s and my intentions?

‘No. If we’re talking about levels, sleeping in the same bed or tent is much more intimate. He sees my bare face every morning when I wake up, so washing his back is nothing. Right. It’s nothing. Don’t make a big deal out of it.’

Rationalization. Self-rationalization.

Why does this require more courage and self-justification than facing a horde of orcs?

It can’t be helped.

To me, the Captain is that kind of person.

A good person. A person I like.

A great person. A person with great responsibility and a big heart. And someone who has rapidly become a significant part of my life.

‘Ugh, I should have offered to give him a shoulder massage first.’

Even after all my self-rationalization, everything resets just by getting close to the Captain.

This is all the Captain’s fault.

“Um, Seyeon. I think I should—”

“No. I’ll do it.”

“Ah. Um. Okay.”

Idiot. Idiot, idiot.

The Captain must be more embarrassed being undressed. He probably already thinks I’m weird.

I’ll wash him carefully, as if handling something precious.

Naturally.

As Subin said, in a way that won’t make the Captain uncomfortable.

I’m not Yuri, so I’ll comfort the Captain and get closer to him in my own way.

“You worked hard today.”

“Not at all. You worked much harder, Seyeon.”

“Not just today, but always.”

“That’s my line. I’m the one reaping the benefits of having such a good team member like you.”

Hehe.

I feel like smiling.

Does the Captain prefer Yuri’s hearty laugh? If I knew, I’d practice it too.

…Would it not suit me?

“Whoa.”

“Ah! Are you uncomfortable somewhere? Did I make a mistake?”

“No. It just feels strange but refreshing, so I couldn’t help it.”

“Ah. That’s a relief.”

What’s a relief? Why can’t I say anything else? I’m such an idiot.

If only I could be like Yuri… or even half like Subin!

‘No! I shouldn’t compare myself from the start. I must have my own strengths!’

…Right?

“Seyeon. Do you have any complaints or discomforts, anything you’d like to see improved?”

“Me? No? Nothing. How could I?”

“You can be honest without worrying. What am I going to do, scold you? If what you say makes sense, I’ll reflect on it; if not, I’ll let it go. Of course, if there’s really nothing, you don’t have to force it. I’m not pressuring you.”

“Honestly.”

“Yes. Honestly.”

If the Captain puts it that way, there is something.

“Um, Captain.”

“Hmm? Yes, go ahead.”

“Yuri is just Yuri, and Subin is just Subin. Why am I still ‘Seyeon-ssi’?”

“Ah. Um. So that was your complaint.”

“No, no! It’s not a complaint, I was just curious.”

Actually, it is a complaint.

Being the only one called “Seyeon-ssi” makes me feel distant.

At first, I liked it because I thought he was showing respect despite me being younger, like I was getting special treatment.

Of course, “Seyeon-ssi” is nice, but if he called me “Seyeon-ah”—

“I think I kept adding ‘ssi’ because you’re more mature than your age suggests. And Yuri, who’s right behind you in age, seems exactly her age, which made that aspect of you stand out more.”

“Ah, I see. I never thought of myself as that mature.”

“Don’t you know how many times your maturity has helped me keep my sanity?”

Ah.

I’m embarrassed. But it makes me so happy.

“Well. Unless you don’t want it, there shouldn’t be any discrimination in this. I’ll drop the ‘ssi’ from now on. Anything else, Seyeon-ah?”

“…”

What should I do?

“Seyeon-ah?”

“Hap! Yes! Yes! Did you call me?”

I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight.

“If you don’t like it—”

“No! No! I like it! I really like it! Yes!”

What should I do? I think I’m going crazy.

“Oh, okay. Well, I’m glad you like it.”

“Yes, yes. I’m glad too. Haha.”

I don’t mind being an idiot. I never knew my name could sound so nice.

No.

Even an idiot knows it sounds that way because the person saying it is someone good.

“Seyeon-ah. I think that’s enough washing.”

“No. Let me wash more thoroughly. Oh right, I should wash you once more with the cloth we bought in Albrant.”

“No, I’m fine. I bought those for you all to use.”

“There shouldn’t be any discrimination in this, right?”

Hehe.

I’ve gotten one step closer.

**

‘I feel dizzy.’

From Saex’s aegyo to Cutjukyeora’s back-washing service.

If someone asked if I enjoyed it, I’d say yes, but I also had a chilling feeling down my spine that something huge was happening somewhere without my knowledge.

But why did I think the previous two attacks were “one-time” events?

“Oppa. I learned some amazing stretching and muscle relaxation techniques while working out. Let me do it for you. Lie down flat on your stomach.”

“No, Yuri. Why suddenly—”

“Hurry up.”

Inside the tent, where I had resigned myself to sleeping separately, just as I was about to lie down comfortably for my turn to rest, Saex suddenly rolled me over, saying she would give me a massage.

Since it seemed ungrateful to refuse someone offering to do something nice, I lay down as instructed. Then I felt a heavy pressure on my waist and hips.

“Hey!”

“Oh, I’m supposed to sit like this to do it properly. Just stay still.”

Saex, who had climbed on top of me, started pressing firmly from the back of my neck. It seemed she wasn’t lying about learning well, as she skillfully balanced between pain and pleasure.

At first, the heavy feeling bothered me, but being tired and receiving such a skilled massage quickly made me drowsy.

“Feel good? Nice, right? Refreshing?”

“Yeah. Yeah. It’s good. You’re good at this.”

“Pfft. I don’t do this for just anyone. Remember that.”

“Sure, sure… I know…”

“I’ll do this for you often from now on.”

“Is that so… Thanks…”

“Since you said this is your last time, rest well until then.”

“…”

**

“Seyeon unni.”

“Yes?”

“Do you think we can move the Captain’s heart this way?”

“We have to try. It’s better than resenting the situation, making the Captain uncomfortable, or having all possibilities completely cut off.”

“That’s true. But you know what? Do you think Subin unni really has no interest at all? If she does, she’d be a truly formidable rival.”

Cutjukyeora thought of Yebeobnojeong, who had switched guard duty with her and was now taking the first watch.

She shook her head and smiled.

“Subin unni is smart and calm. But Yuri, the moment unni truly develops feelings for the Captain, she’ll be caught by her own words.”

“Huh?”

“So remember clearly what you heard today. Okay?”

“Yes. I got it.”

Cutjukyeora and Saex carefully turned the sleeping Guild Captain from his stomach to his back.

For a while, they silently gazed at his sleeping face.

Until Yebeobnojeong’s watch ended.