Chapter 168. Baek A-Young Capture (2)
★ Heroine Status Window
[Baek A-Young]
- [Affection: 100] (+0.8)
- [Lust: 95]
- [Appetite: 45]
- [Fatigue: 75]
Current Status: Why... Why do you make me unable to resist you. Why...
"...Ms. A-Young."
I forced my mouth open with the last of my strength.
Pain shot through me every time I moved my tongue and lips.
"Do you still not understand why I'm like this?"
"Why... why are you doing this..."
Baek A-Young was sobbing as she healed me.
The timing was perfect for a confession.
But I couldn't get the words out.
My vision blurred.
'I better not wake up in hell.'
I hoped to wake up in a hospital room... and that her affection hadn't dropped.
I even raised a flag with the last of my strength—no way it didn't work, right?
- Hoyeon... Hoyeon!
I passed out, hearing Baek A-Young wailing and clinging to me.
"Hoyeon... Hoyeon...!"
Baek A-Young cried, clutching Lee Hoyeon's chest.
Thankfully, his heart was still beating.
He had collapsed due to mana exhaustion and the backlash of a buff skill.
His firepower had suddenly doubled, after all.
Baek A-Young poured healing light into him without holding back her mana.
She healed his back wounds, then moved to his internal injuries.
'His mana circuits are a mess.'
She didn't know what skill he used, but he'd need a long recovery to use mana again.
"Why... why would you go this far."
She couldn't understand.
Could someone do this much for just a sex partner?
Maybe, but Lee Hoyeon wasn't that kind of guy.
He was the type to take what he wanted when he could.
'...Does he really like me?'
Maybe he truly did have feelings for her.
He had said something along those lines at the end.
But honestly, Lee Hoyeon's feelings no longer mattered.
Baek A-Young had made up her mind.
It didn't matter whether he liked her or not.
She couldn't suppress her growing feelings any longer.
Lee Hoyeon had become irreplaceable in her life.
No matter the obstacles, they had to be together.
How could she even describe this feeling, if not love?
Adoration?
Devotion?
Affection?
Reverence?
Dependence?
Whatever the word, it wouldn't change her actions.
She wouldn't hold back anymore. She would never give up.
Ssh—
While continuing to heal him, Baek A-Young gently stroked his cheek.
His face was contorted in pain rather than his usual relaxed expression.
But even so, he looked far more peaceful than before—and she found it lovely.
His manly eyes, sharp jawline, proud nose, and lively lips.
Her fingers moved unconsciously toward his lips.
Soft, slightly moist lips—enough to steal her soul.
As if possessed, she slowly leaned closer.
Just before their lips touched, footsteps echoed.
Click, clack.
"...!"
Baek A-Young quickly looked up and saw a red-haired beauty approaching.
The woman wore a faint smile.
Baek A-Young went over the faces of all the VIPs and guests at the party—but she didn't recognize her.
That could only mean one thing: enemy.
Gulp.
She shielded Lee Hoyeon with her body and faced the red-haired woman.
She couldn't stop healing, so she kept one hand on him.
The pressure from the red-haired woman surpassed even the skull mask from before.
Baek A-Young tried to hide her nerves as she spoke.
"Who... are you."
"..."
The woman licked her lips and smiled brightly at Lee Hoyeon behind her.
"Found you."
"...Ugh!"
Baek A-Young's breathing slowed.
She tried to stop the woman from approaching, but her body moved like it was in slow motion.
She couldn't even stop Rebecca from touching Lee Hoyeon's face.
"W-What... is... this..."
"Ah... you were healing. Hmm. That won't do, will it?"
Rebecca released the rune barrier surrounding Baek A-Young.
Her breathing returned, and she collapsed forward, gagging.
"Guh...! Cough, cough, keh!"
"Sorry. If I knew you were a healer, I would've left you alone."
"Wh-Who are you..."
Baek A-Young trembled as she shielded Lee Hoyeon as best she could.
If she could just buy a second, help might arrive.
She lay over his body, blocking Rebecca's view.
"A lover, huh... Don't worry. I'm not here to hurt him."
Rebecca caressed Lee Hoyeon's face once and looked back at Baek A-Young.
The way she trembled reminded her of a small frightened animal—it was cute.
"Tell him when he wakes up: 'Someone from the Clan of the Past came looking. I'll return when you've recovered.' Got that?"
"...Yes."
Rebecca vanished without another word.
Baek A-Young didn't relax until long after the red-haired woman disappeared.
She was lost in thought.
The Clan of the Past? What kind of hidden history did Lee Hoyeon have?
"...Honey."
Whatever it was, she was ready to accept it all.
Bzzzz—
"Here! The Saintess is here! Lee Hoyeon is here too!"
Just then, Hunters who had reversed the surrounding rune barriers rushed in.
They were scratched up and soaked in sweat—the outside must've been a mess.
"A-Young! Are you okay?!"
Seeing Min Yeji run toward her filled Baek A-Young with relief.
Familiar faces let her finally relax, and tears filled her eyes.
"Yeji... hic. Hic..."
"Yeah... You're safe now."
She burst into tears in Min Yeji's arms.
*
Dark.
Where am I?
Swish— Swish—
I hear something being cut with a blade.
...Is this hell?
Jolt—
I opened my eyes and sat up.
Unfamiliar ceiling.
A pure white ceiling greeted me—and I was wearing some weird white-and-green outfit.
The label said "Ironblood Hospital."
"Ah..."
Thank god.
Not hell—just a hospital room.
Thud—
I turned to the sound of something dropping and saw Baek A-Young with a paring knife, staring at me with wide eyes.
Half-peeled apple lay on the floor.
"Ms. A-Young..."
"...You're finally awake."
She blinked at me.
"Was I out long?"
Hopefully not a whole month or something.
"No, just about a day."
"Ah... that's good."
"I need to report that you're awake. Wait a moment."
While she made a call, I opened the Heroine Status Window.
★ Heroine Status Window
[Baek A-Young]
- [Affection: 100] (+0.8)
- [Lust: 90]
- [Appetite: 55]
- [Fatigue: 85]
Current Status: Honey... I'm so glad you woke up.
Thankfully, her affection was still maxed out.
Passing out right after raising the flag was a good move.
'Affection 100...'
It was the result of many stacked events.
First time hitting 100—it made me a bit nervous.
"You caused quite the uproar. Heard you saw a bunch of Hunters on your way to me? Everyone was talking about you—lots of worried people."
"Ah..."
Well, I did crash through almost every barrier.
"Almost every Hunter at the party thinks you're a genius mage now—looks like it worked in your favor."
She chuckled while peeling another apple.
...Wait, is this really okay?
I mean, calm is nice.
Better than tears and drama.
But 100 affection... and yet she's so normal.
'Ah...'
Then I noticed—her hand was trembling slightly.
"Are you okay? Your external wounds are all healed. It's just your mana circuits—they'll take a long time to recover."
I moved my body. Everything seemed fine.
No discomfort in my back—she'd healed it perfectly.
"As expected of you, Ms. A-Young. Truly a Saintess."
As I smiled, she watched me touch my back and hesitated.
Then she finally spoke.
"...Why did you do it?"
"Huh?"
"Why'd you take the dagger for me? You knew I would've been fine. So why...?"
"...."
She stopped peeling and stared at me.
Her eyes trembled—waiting for something.
"...Ms. A-Young."
"Why... why would you do that... I can't take it when you do things like that... and now you just leave me like this..."
Watching her pour out everything she'd held back hit me hard.
It was my fault she ended up like this.
It was time.
"Ms. A-Young. I like you."
I finally said what I'd wanted to for so long.
"...Huh?"
"I like you."
"D-Don't lie... This is another one of your weird games, isn't it..."
Flush—
I pulled her close by the neck and wrapped my arms around her.
Blushing, she avoided my gaze—then met my eyes.
"You know I'm a terrible guy. I pushed you down, teased you, played with other women—and I'll probably keep doing it. But I still like you."
Her eyes turned redder with every word.
Trashy words—but with 100 affection, honesty works.
And I meant every word.
"Even for a bastard like me... you'll accept me, right?"
Baek A-Young cried as she punched my chest.
"...Hic. Why... why'd I fall for this garbage... hic."
Wham. Wham.
"Garbage... rapist... womanizer..."
Her words hurt more than the punches.
When she finally stopped, I held her hands and looked into her eyes.
"Honey, I love you. You'll always be number one."
"...I love you. I love you, honey... hic. I've been waiting for this."
We hugged tightly.
Normally, I'd be the one squeezing her tight, but I was too weak—so I leaned on her.
Looks like it'll be a while before I fully recover.
She wiped her tears and gently pushed me away.
"You're a crybaby, honey."
I teased her, seeing the teary smile she tried to hide.
"...Quiet, honey."
She tapped her smartwatch and made a call.
"This is Baek A-Young. Cadet Lee Hoyeon is awake, but still unstable. We'll need to begin intensive treatment and monitoring. Please restrict all visits."
"...Honey?"
What the hell was that?
I'm fine.
"No support needed. I'll handle it myself. Timeframe... until treatment is complete. I'll contact you then."
She ended the call and began undressing.
I finally caught on when she removed her blouse.
"...Honey—Ms. A-Young, I mean. I really don't have any strength left... I can't..."
"It's okay, honey. I'll take care of everything."
"...."
Watching her strip with that predatory gleam in her eye—I accepted my fate.
I began undressing too, like a rat caught in a trap.