Chapter 352 - Purple Deviation

I told my colleagues before.

While we're taking a break now, once another turning point comes, we'll have to work non-stop from then on.

That turning point is Phase 4.

The final phase of the original work that consisted of four parts.

...And also the final chapter that ended with the extinction of humanity, the peak of the tragic storyline.

Thinking about the original work, there really was no time to rest. The plot was packed tight, you could say. There wasn't a moment to breathe, and events kept happening without pause.

For Part 3, the first half was spent dealing with the gates that the Moon Cult Leader opened worldwide at the end of Part 2, and the latter half consisted of Seo-eun's great prison break and the boss battle with the Wish Granter. Of course, the middle was filled with various villains and events too.

And as soon as that ended, Part 4 began.

'But now things are different.'

As you can see, there haven't been any major issues. Peaceful days continue, at least within the Republic of Korea.

And that's because I dealt with the gates that made up the first half of Part 3 at the end of Phase 2.

I preemptively blocked the most important prison break in the latter half and even killed the Wish Granter in advance.

In other words, because I took care of everything ahead of time, things are more relaxed now compared to the original work.

...This is probably the only time we'll be free until the final battle.

And I already told everyone about this fact.

Anyway, the conclusion is...

When Seo Ja-young asked me to hang out for a day, I had no particular reason to refuse. I'm unemployed anyway.

...Of course, I should prepare for that crazy villain coming next week. Sigh. Well... my future self will handle it. Yeah. Retirement is the best.

For that reason, I was standing on the street with Seo Ja-young.

"Alright. Yawn. Let's go."

"Where are we going?"

"A manga cafe. I've wanted to go there for a while."

Since I decided to spend the day with Seo Ja-young, I agreed to do whatever she wanted.

But a manga cafe... I haven't heard that in a long time. Do those places still exist?

I wondered if we really needed to go since Seo-eun's hideout was basically a manga cafe, but when Seo Ja-young mentioned they also sell food there, I couldn't help but nod.

...It might seem strange to be going to a manga cafe while the world is on the brink of destruction, but whatever. It'll be even harder to go later if not now.

Anyway, we were walking to get there.

And as we walked, I noticed something...

'...People are looking at Seo Ja-young quite a bit?'

People frequently glanced at Seo Ja-young as they walked by.

At first, I thought it was because her purple bob haircut stood out, but seeing that all the glances came from men, there seemed to be another reason.

...Well, even in the original work, she had quite a few fans when she was active as a villain.

Even just walking with her hands in her hoodie pockets, there's a mysterious aura about her, perhaps due to her naturally languid demeanor and her Eyes of Reincarnation. ...I guess that's what happens when you're a named character from the original work.

"Yawn... My legs hurt."

The person in question seemed completely oblivious, looking around with dazed eyes.

As I watched her walking, I quietly thought to myself.

'...So, Seo Ja-young likes me...?'

At least according to what Su-bin said.

...Honestly, I still found it hard to believe. Especially since it was Seo Ja-young of all people.

She's always been someone who loves to joke around, so she likes me? Isn't she just confusing it with enjoying teasing me?

Well, I guess if she disliked me, she wouldn't have come into my bed to sleep together...

While I was thinking about this as I walked with Seo Ja-young.

"Kyaaaaaaah!"

"...?"

Suddenly, a scream echoed through the street.

What's happening? I looked in that direction.

BOOM-

Smoke was rising, and some commotion was occurring near a building over there.

"Guhahahahaha! I'm taking over this area!"

A man wearing a black bodysuit with swimming goggles and a cap was spraying fire from a flamethrower attached to his back.

And around him, people were fleeing at a very fast pace. It was quite a sight to see people in suits running away at full speed like track athletes.

Faced with this unexpected villain attack, I grabbed Seo Ja-young's hand and quickly pulled her behind an alley to watch the scene.

"Oh. Something interesting is happening?"

Seo Ja-young, whose eyes had been half-closed until just now, suddenly brightened up and asked me.

And I too stood still, watching the scene.

...Looking at the situation, I once again realized how accustomed the citizens of this world have become to such attacks.

As soon as that guy appeared, everyone fled in an orderly fashion at full speed, leaving no one nearby.

They must be used to such villains now, as there was no one trembling in fear or filming with their phones... there was simply no one around.

However, at the crosswalk about three blocks away, people were walking without paying any attention to what was happening here—a bizarre sight.

...For busy modern people, villains are just obstacles to be avoided, I guess.

"Guhahaha! Did they all run away in fear of me? How amusing!!"

Anyway, as I watched the guy who was happily setting fires on the street, I continued to hide behind the alley. ...It would be troublesome if he suddenly set fire to a building. Though I'm pretty sure everyone has already evacuated...

"Aren't we going to step in?"

Seeing the scene, Seo Ja-young summoned purple flames in her hand and asked.

"Ah. Just a moment..."

I stopped her and continued to observe the situation.

A hero will arrive soon and resolve everything anyway...

Wait.

'Could it be Stardust coming?'

As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I felt my heart race.

...What should I do? I hadn't expected to see her so suddenly.

...Stay calm. I just need to watch the atmosphere from a distance.

As I took a deep breath, Seo Ja-young looked up at me.

"Hmm?"

As if she noticed something, she smiled knowingly and said in a languid voice.

"With me right beside you, thinking about another woman is quite rude..."

She said this while tickling my hand, which she was still holding, with her fingers.

"That won't do, will it?"

Poke, poke.

After that, how many minutes did I wait with Seo Ja-young who kept poking me?

Not long after, a hero arrived.

"You! Huaaaaaaah!"

...Unfortunately, it wasn't Stardust.

Probably another B-rank or C-rank hero. Maybe because the villain was just spewing fire without any special abilities? Well, if that flamethrower had been a bit less powerful, the police could have probably handled it.

Anyway, upon the arrival of a hero with blue hair wearing a white coat, I felt disappointed and was about to leave.

Until I saw the emblem on his arm.

"Wait..."

That's our Yu-seong Group logo, isn't it?

Confirming this, I looked at the guy more carefully.

...Since I don't remember him, he must be one of the 4th generation ability users trained after I left.

He seemed to be a member of the Yu-seong Squad, also known as the Ego-squad, which consists of those with abilities below B-rank to defend our country. It seems they've been protecting the country all over while I wasn't paying attention.

'...Come to think of it, I haven't seen the Ego-squad members in quite a while.'

I should visit them next time.

With that thought, I pulled Seo Ja-young, who was still pressing on the back of my hand, out of the alley.

"Let's go now."

"Heh. Disappointed that Stardust didn't come?"

"...."

***

After all that trouble, we arrived at the manga cafe.

...Where I expressed my confusion.

"...Were manga cafes always like this?"

"Hmm. All the latest manga cafes are like this nowadays."

Instead of reading in an open space, there were individual rooms, and you rent manga from the counter and take them to your room to read.

...The problem was that the room was too small.

When I mentioned that we might need to sit separately.

"What are you talking about...? We can sit like this."

With that, Seo Ja-young made me sit down first, then sat on top of me.

"But... how am I supposed to read the manga?"

"Read it with me."

After saying that, Seo Ja-young grabbed the first volume of the manga she brought, wiggled around to find a comfortable position in my arms, and started reading. I still find her mindset hard to understand...

With a sigh, I had no choice but to read the manga with her from behind.

She said my arms were in the way and made me put my hands in her hoodie pockets, which made it feel like I was hugging her, creating a strange feeling. But from the middle, the manga was surprisingly interesting, so I didn't particularly mind it. Like hugging a stuffed animal? Maybe because it was soft.

"Mmm..."

...If anything, Seo Ja-young seemed more embarrassed from the middle. Every time I moved my hands, her ears would turn slightly red and she would flinch, occasionally purring, giving the impression of holding a large cat.

"Aren't you uncomfortable? Should I move away a bit?"

When I asked her that, Seo Ja-young replied.

"No. This is just right."

"Really?"

"Yeah. And also, I like it."

"Huh?"

"I said I like it."

Suddenly turning her head, she looked straight into my eyes and said that.

With her back pressed against my chest, saying that at a distance where I could feel her breath, I was momentarily flustered.

"This position."

"....."

With her following words, I relaxed.

"Why, what were you thinking?"

Seeing my expression, she smiled mischievously and replied.

...How annoying.

"Hey!"

"No, wait! Eek! Hahaha, seriously, it was just a joke!"

When I moved my hands inside her hoodie to tickle her out of annoyance, Seo Ja-young gasped for breath.

"Haa, haa."

After things settled down a bit.

After catching her breath, Seo Ja-young turned her head forward again and said softly.

"...Well, and you like me too."

"....."

"Heh. Acting all flustered when I say it like this."

After saying that, Seo Ja-young started focusing on the manga again.

And I too read along with her from behind, while holding her.

...With a slight feeling of guilt.

By the way, after returning home, I heard she got scolded by Choi Se-hee for playing with just the two of us...