Chapter 164: 164
"Huhu, did you have a good time?"
Shin Se-hee smiled slyly.
"Yeah, sure."
"Then, are you ready to have some fun with me now?"
"Yeah, of course."
I nodded, accepting her words.
But in truth, I was thinking something else.
I had already had a blast with Lee Yoo-ri and had a thrilling time swimming and betting with Kang Do-hee.
Of course, our usual training regimen kept us in good shape, so it wasn't like my energy was depleted or anything, but…
I felt like I needed a mental break.
'Hmm, but I shouldn't discriminate. It's important to treat everyone fairly.'
In the game, showing favoritism to certain party members and intentionally excluding others could lead to disharmony and a significant drop in performance, with skill misses increasing exponentially.
That's why it was crucial to maintain a certain level of fairness and care for all party members in Velvets.
And this was reality, not a game.
'And Shin Se-hee is quite sensitive to those kinds of emotions.'
"Then, shall we go?"
I rearranged my expression to hide my thoughts and spoke to Shin Se-hee.
"Huhuhu, just kidding. Jin Yuha."
"Huh?"
"Well, I do want to spend time with you in the sea, but… I actually have something else I want to do."
"...What is it?"
"Aren't you hungry? Let's eat together."
Rumble─
As soon as she mentioned food, my stomach rumbled in agreement.
'Ah, now that I think about it, it's way past lunchtime.'
Although we had snacked on various treats during the drive here, after two consecutive water activities, it felt like everything had been digested.
Once I became aware of my hunger, it seemed like my appetite had been unleashed with a vengeance.
"Are you sure it's okay?"
"Yes, I really want to spend time with you here by the sea, eating together."
Shin Se-hee smiled brightly.
"Then, shall we go?"
"Hmm, well, if that's what you want…"
I followed behind Shin Se-hee, pretending to be persuaded.
.
.
.
"...This place."
I arrived at a secluded beach with Shin Se-hee.
There, a huge glass box, about the size of a shipping container, sat alone.
The structure was unusual, a solid glass building in this remote location, and it wasn't a place that had appeared in the game.
I examined the building curiously, intrigued by its unexpected presence.
Shin Se-hee grabbed the handle of the glass box and opened the door.
"Shall we go in?"
"...Wow."
The inside of the box was even more dazzling.
Unlike the outside, the interior was transparent, and the ceiling was open, allowing sunlight to stream in.
Below were a parasol, a water bed, and a sophisticated wooden table.
The pièce de résistance was the array of dishes on the table.
They were freshly made, with white steam still rising, and next to them were chilled drinks with beads of condensation.
"...Is this place rented out entirely?"
"Hmm, yes, you could say that. Now, let's eat. You're hungry, aren't you?"
"Uh, uh…"
I sat down at the table with a bewildered expression and started eating.
'...'
Clink. Clink.
I busily moved my fork and knife, devouring the food.
Mumble mumble.
"H-How is it? Does it suit your taste?"
Shin Se-hee, who had been nibbling at her food in front of me, asked hesitantly.
"...It's delicious."
It wasn't just flattery. The dishes were genuinely tasty.
They were visually appealing, with obvious attention to decoration.
Usually, I wouldn't be impressed by such stereotypical, pretty dishes, but these dishes seemed to have been made with my taste in mind.
They were experimental yet harmonious in flavor.
Haa─
As soon as I said it tasted good, Shin Se-hee let out a long sigh, placing her hand on her chest.
In an instant, my eyes narrowed.
"Shin Se-hee, your hand…"
There were band-aids on her fingers.
She quickly hid her hand behind her back, startled by my question.
What did that mean?
"...Did you do this?"
I asked her, surprised.
'Did she make these dishes herself? And at such a high level? But more importantly, Shin Se-hee hates getting her hands dirty and cooking herself…'
"...Th, that…"
"Really?"
"Umm, I didn't make it directly. I just helped a little, and with the help of a professional chef…"
Shin Se-hee lowered her head shyly as she spoke.
The fact that she had made these dishes to suit my taste, going so far as to put band-aids on her fingers, touched my heart.
"Uh, thank you. I mean, I'm really thankful, but…"
"Hmm? Is there something you don't like about the food?"
"No, no, that's not it. It's really delicious. It's tailored to my taste."
"Then?"
Shin Se-hee looked tense.
"...You don't want anything in return, do you? This is for me, not for you. It feels a little unfair that I'm the only one receiving something when we're spending time together like this…"
"Haa, I'm relieved. So, the food isn't disappointing."
"Of course. Today's food… It's the best food I've ever eaten made by someone else."
I nodded seriously.
"Huhuhu, Jin Yuha."
"Huh?"
"You just gave it to me."
"...What?"
"You saying that my cooking is the best. That's the biggest reward for me."
'She really leaves me speechless…'
I looked at Shin Se-hee, who was smiling purely and sincerely, without a trace of shadow.
Of all the Utopia party members, Shin Se-hee's image has probably changed the most.
Or perhaps, she hadn't changed at all from the beginning.
In the game, she was always an absolute ally to those on her side.
Maybe, Shin Se-hee was just desperately trying to survive in a suffocating family environment, and outside of that shadow, she was always this bright and cheerful girl.
Perhaps the actions she showed in the game were still clouding my vision, even now.
'It doesn't feel right for me to be the only one receiving something.'
"Shin Se-hee."
"Yes?"
"Is that really it?"
"...Uh, well…"
Shin Se-hee looked around, biting her lip as she tried to come up with something.
'She didn't think about that part, did she?'
"I'm full now, and we still have quite a bit of time left. What's next? Other than just lying down and resting, I mean."
"..."
Shin Se-hee furrowed her brows, deep in thought.
'Alcohol and massages are what she usually likes, but alcohol is for when she's stressed out… So, a massage should do the trick.'
Shin Se-hee, true to her lady-like character, regularly received spa treatments.
While the touch of the top-tier estheticians she usually visited couldn't be compared to mine, I had also gained a deep understanding of muscles through my grappling training.
I knew which muscles were usually tight and which areas were prone to knots.
'She's a valuable party member who works tirelessly behind the scenes. I can at least give her a massage.'
And if I infused a little mana into it, I could easily relieve any knotted muscles.
"Uh, Jin Yuha, I'm so sorry. After the meal, I haven't really thought about what to do next… Just lying here and relaxing is all I can think of…"
"So, can I do what I want?"
"What do you want to do, Jin Yuha?"
"Yeah."
"Of course! Anything, please!"
"Did you just say anything?"
I smiled slyly, asking her to confirm.
Despite sensing something amiss, she didn't back down from her words.
"Then, lie down over there."
"...Huh?"
"On that water bed."
.
.
.
'What, what? You want me to lie down on the bed?'
Shin Se-hee was taken aback by Jin Yuha's sudden suggestion.
"Me? That water bed is for you to rest…"
"Hurry up."
At Jin Yuha's urging, Shin Se-hee reluctantly got up from her seat and lay down on the water bed, facing the sky.
'...What do you want me to do now that I'm lying down here?'
"Like that, how can I…"
"Then, turn over."
Jin Yuha's intentions were unclear, but she obeyed his command and turned over.
Mmm─
The cold feel of the water bed touched her chin.
Chop─ Chop─
Then, a strange sound, like two palms meeting, echoed from behind.
Gulping, she wondered, 'What is this?'
Her thoughts were taking an increasingly risqué turn. Surely not…
"Shin Se-hee, why don't you loosen your chest strap a bit?"
"...The chest strap?"
"Yeah, it's a bit awkward for me to touch it."
'...Hmm, is this for real?'
Shin Se-hee's pupils wandered aimlessly.
Her heart pounded wildly.
But at the same time, her hands honestly reached back and undid the chest strap.
Why did she feel so embarrassed just from undoing her chest strap?
It felt like she was exposing herself naked in front of Jin Yuha.
Then, she felt a heavy weight on her back.
Jin Yuha, sitting on her back.
The unfamiliar sensation made Shin Se-hee scream internally.
'Heek!?'
What was this situation?
She was enamored with Jin Yuha, but was it supposed to progress this fast?
Shin Se-hee had prepared this glass chamber for him the day before, and today, she had called in professional chefs to prepare a meal tailored to his taste, starting two hours in advance.
She had intended to fill the space with a unique kind of healing when others might have drained his energy.
Honestly, she was satisfied just hearing him say that the food she had prepared was the best he had ever tasted.
Clearly, that was the case.
'Did I put something in the food?'
She was so confused that she even began to suspect herself of scheming without realizing it.
Slap!
Then, a wet hand touched her shoulder.
Goosebumps ran down her spine.
And.
Squeeze─!
"Haaang━♥"
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