While watching the shattered glass scatter, Chon Se-hee smiled faintly.
“Stupid bastard.”
It was a clearly malicious smile.
“I guess there’s nothing left to do but give it a try.”
“Yeah, let’s do it.”
The woman and Kkomkmu exchanged glances and soon began to fuse. It was Kkomkmu’s ability.
Kkomkmu enveloped the woman’s body as if melting slightly.
The woman’s body turned black, like ink dropping on a white canvas.
The woman extended her hand forward.
At the same time, tentacles sprouted from the shadows. They were ready for battle at any moment.
‘That thief who steals others’ inventions.’
Chon Se-hee thought that the woman probably had this as her goal from the start.
Her pride was hurt by the fact that her long-term work had been stolen right before her eyes.
However, Chon Se-hee quickly calmed her anger.
‘Anyway, you’re going to lose anyway, so what does it matter?’
And she was right. Soon, the fusion of the woman and the tentacle slime began their battle.
The slimes swung powerful tentacles. The woman knocked them away with a giant octopus tentacle and continued her attack with the next tentacle.
It was a heavy, powerful swing.
The slimes quickly dodged, but not before a couple were crushed.
Still, throughout all this, Chon Se-hee remained calm.
“…What is there so many of!”
The woman’s voice complained.
Yeah, the problem was exactly that.
“Are there a lot?”
“What the hell is there so many…”
“It’s because I’ve played around with a lot of people.”
“This kid…!”
Unfortunately.
As time passed, the slimes began to gain the upper hand in the fight.
“Tsk.”
The woman frowned.
Unlike her earlier confidence, the situation didn’t look good.
She blocked all the wildly swinging tentacles. If a tentacle attacked, she repelled it; if it lunged, she defended.
Even though she was barely keeping up, their coordination was quite impressive.
I’ll admit it.
For a first-time attempt, that was an excellent skill level.
Then…
“Still, there’s no business against overwhelming numbers.”
On this side, it was just about pushing through with sheer numbers.
Dozens? No, maybe even hundreds.
The result of tormenting countless victims. There was no telling how many women had sacrificed themselves to birth these slimes.
“…Tch.”
The woman clicked her tongue. Signs of struggle began to show.
Whoosh.
When the woman extended her arm, a tentacle shot out and pierced one of the slimes. Soon, other tentacles joined in killing the slime.
With a loud “PLOP,” one slime burst.
But the cost was terrible.
Many tentacles flew towards the woman. She tried to defend herself, but couldn’t block everything.
“PLOP.”
A single tentacle struck her body.
The woman staggered slightly. Even such a small opening drew the slimes together.
Like ants swarming to honey.
“End.”
Now it’s over. Chon Se-hee’s mocking voice rang out.
The woman stared blankly at the approaching slimes.
“The end is your life, you crazy woman.”
Instead, she loudly insulted Chon Se-hee with rage. Chon Se-hee stopped her movement to shout back in fury.
What is this?
Looking closely, some tentacles behind the woman were moving busily.
“What are you doing?”
Chon Se-hee looked at the tentacles.
And realized. The woman’s plan.
“…Soyju bottles.”
Behind the woman were plenty of soyju bottles. All of them had their caps open, and tissues stuck in their mouths.
She looked at a container filled with yellow liquid.
It was an oil drum used last winter for heating and then lazily left aside.
The oil-soaked tissues were plugged into the mouths of the soyju bottles.
Chon Se-hee finally understood what the woman was creating.
“Isn’t this crazy…?”
Molotov cocktails.
“Stop it…!”
“Why?”
“Hey!”
“Oh, maybe.”
The woman briefly glanced this way and smirked.
“Do they have a weakness to fire?”
Chon Se-hee couldn’t say anything.
The woman was right. Slimes are all weak to fire.
They melt instantly upon contact with fire, unable to do anything. How did this woman know that?
How did she know enough to even think of making Molotov cocktails?
“Mu… Retreat!”
Shouting desperately, but they wouldn’t listen.
These creatures lack intelligence; they just act on instinct.
Thus, the slimes advancing as one.
BOOM!!
Were engulfed in flames as they erupted.
The woman moved her tentacles, grabbing a few more Molotov cocktails.
Thrown simultaneously, the room became a complete inferno.
The sprinklers activated late to extinguish the fire, but it was already too late.
Annihilation.
The conclusion was the annihilation of the slimes.
“So, who’s the idiot now?”
As the woman tightened her grip with her hands, tentacles emerged from the shadows.
That thing was close to a blunt weapon, capable of easily crushing Chon Se-hee’s bones.
And those tentacles.
“Rot in prison for the rest of your life.”
Clearly showed intent.
Intent to destroy Chon Se-hee.
“Never crawl out again.”
The next thing Chon Se-hee saw was a massive tentacle striking down on her.
+++++
“Haa… it hurts…”
“Kk… You’ve worked hard.”
“Ugh… Stop talking and properly relieve the pain.”
“I’m trying.”
As evening approached and the journey home began.
Noah absentmindedly looked at the large wound on his arm before covering it with his clothes.
Ignoring the slight ache in his arm, he continued walking.
Damn demons appeared again today.
It’s good that they grow stronger by absorbing magic power, but lately, it’s excessive.
Too much.
Encountering them continuously like this was rare, something unimaginable in the past.
Lately, tasks keep increasing, leaving him weary.
But what can be done?
This is the path he chose, so he will silently continue.
If only there was someone to indulge in a little tantrum with.
“…Pull yourself together, Noah.”
Noah slapped his cheeks. His face turned vividly red.
What’s the point of getting this weak already?
Let’s go home quickly, get treated, eat, and sleep.
I’m tired, so these empty thoughts keep popping up.
‘…Oh, that person gave me ramen that’s still left.’
The man’s face came to mind, who always supplied food while claiming it was going to waste every time he visited the convenience store.
So, what exactly did that man do there?
Was he simply suffering from constipation and spent a long time in the restroom?
Unknown.
If I ask, it would reveal that I was stalking him.
Whatever, there’s no real reason to suspect the ramen. Let’s hurry home and cook some ramen.
Just as he was rushing with that thought,
“Eh?”
He saw the man.
Sitting on a bench, smoking a cigarette.
The man’s face looked more tired than usual.
“Hello… Ah, no, hello? What a coincidence meeting you here.”
Suddenly switching to informal speech?
Well, it’s not a convenience store, but…
The man is clearly older, so it’s natural.
Still, it suddenly made him feel awkward.
Didn’t he use formal speech until this morning?
Not only that.
The man stood up slowly and started walking toward him.
“…Uh…if it’s okay…”
“…?”
“Ah, no, if it’s fine…”
“…?”
“Do you want to go eat with me?”
The man suddenly started hitting on him.
Although the man was strange before, it felt even stranger now.
What happened in just one day?
+++++
‘Is that girl?’
‘Yeah.’
I was still conversing with Kkomkmu, who remained inside my body.
“She looks cute.”
“She’s at a cute age.”
It was purely coincidental that I met Noah.
I was on my way to buy beer after returning to my male form.
Somehow, my body felt a bit tired.
So, I thought I’d smoke a cigarette in the designated smoking area and sit on the bench for a bit.
During that short cigarette break, I noticed a wobbling girl far away.
It was Noah.
‘What a coincidence meeting you here like this.’
“Mr. Shin Hyun.”
“Hmm?”
“Coincidence turns into destiny if it keeps happening.”
Kkomkmu’s comment made me smile faintly. A typical line from romance novels.
I believe in fate, but isn’t this a bit forced?
I casually waved to greet her as Noah approached. Just like always, I was about to exchange greetings.
“What do you usually greet her with?”
“Just ‘Hello.’ Sometimes accompanied by a nod.”
“Something feels off. Like a customer and a part-timer.”
Customer and part-timer, indeed.
“You can’t win a woman’s heart forever like that!”
“So, what should I do?”
Kkomkmu pondered for a moment before speaking.
“Show a different side.”
“Different side?”
“Gapp-moe. When someone who is always kind suddenly uses informal language and shows a different side? That’s the charm.”
It was hard to understand. Just greeting normally would have been fine, but this guy has read a lot of romance novels.
Maybe he knows more about such things than I do?
…Anyway, winning Noah’s favor won’t be a bad thing.
Unless we get too close and end up doing something regrettable.
Of course, I will never make the first move. So, the only possibility left is Noah making the first move.
Surely that won’t happen.
After taking a deep breath, I decided to follow Kkomkmu’s advice.
“Hello… No, hey?”
My first informal speech to Noah. She wore a bewildered expression.
Of course, she would be confused. Someone who used formal speech until this morning suddenly changes.
“Mr. Shin Hyun! Don’t chicken out and go!”
“But, is this right?”
“Courageous people get the beauty, they said!”
Words from a self-proclaimed love expert. After a brief contemplation, I threw out something I’ve always wanted to say to Noah.
“…Uh…if it’s okay with you…”
“…?”
“No, uh…if it’s fine…”
“…?”
“Do you want to go eat with me?”
I wanted to feed Noah.
Every time I see Noah, I feel like a grandmother looking at her grandson.
“Aww! Look at our baby being so skinny! Not eating at home!?”
The difference is that the grandson is chubby, while Noah is genuinely thin.
“…”
Noah paused for a moment. Then hesitated as if wanting to say something, but her gaze grew sharp.
“…Did something happen to you today?”
“…”
“Or…are you just…uh…going crazy?”
“No.”
“…”
Noah only sent an odd look.
A mixture of pity and disdain.
Kkomkmu muttered.
“This is strange… In novels, this works…”
Trying it out, but of course, it didn’t work.
We’re not in a romantic fantasy, Mermaid Girl.
Risking being mistaken for a creep hitting on a middle school girl.
To salvage the situation, I resorted to a trick.
This was meant for later use when we got closer and had a relaxed atmosphere.
“…Huff, forget it. I’m just going to have some soup.”
Soup.
“…Soup?”
“Yeah. I know a place that makes great soup. They also make good kimchi and pickled radish…they add blood sausage as a service…Come on, I’ll just drink some soju alone-”
“…I’ll come.”
“Really?”
“Just for the food, and then I’ll leave.”
It was the best way to lure Noah out.
