If Lee Siwoon had just a bit of ‘composure’ like he usually did, things would have gone a little differently.
But maybe it was because of the chaos from running away for days, or maybe it was seeing the tactical team from Monolith in action.
Lee Siwoon didn’t feel anything strange about the Chairman’s words.
“Honestly, no more, no less. Just 6 hours. If you give me 6 hours, I’ll manage to get back.”
Hearing that, the Chairman inquired, puzzled.
[…Not kidnapped or anything, right?]
“Kidnapped?”
When a word he never expected flowed out of the Chairman’s mouth, Siwoon tilted his head in confusion.
However, unlike Siwoon, the Chairman quickly grasped the situation.
[…No, anyway, it’s 6 hours.]
“Yes, just 6 hours.”
The Chairman acted casually, as if he had intended to say that from the start.
[Got it, just 6 hours. No more than that.]
In the end, the Chairman was just one woman who wanted ‘Siwoon’s quick return.’
If Siwoon had caught on to these facts, he would have hit rock bottom in deep regret.
But alas.
“Thanks, thank you!”
He had no clue about the grave mistake he was making.
It was the end of his vacation.
—
28. Method of Rest (9)
…But really, what’s 6 hours?
In a situation where Monolith’s tactical team could swoop in at any moment, even a 6-hour window was clearly a good opportunity.
For now.
The first thing I did was call the Vice President’s secretary again.
Honestly, there were ways to spend these 6 hours here, but that was a choice only a rookie would make.
“…So you’re saying you’re going back?”
“Yes.”
It hadn’t been long since I arrived, yet here I was, already saying I was leaving.
The secretary’s gaze communicated that thought.
I bowed my head and apologized to her.
Honestly, it was the right thing to do.
“Anyway, I’m really sorry.”
The secretary, who was probably cursing me in her mind, maintained a calm poker face and replied.
“No, it’s fine.”
“I should at least see the Vice President while I’m here… it really was a sudden thing.”
“It’s truly fine. Mr. William will ‘genuinely’ understand.”
Somehow, it sounded like my leaving was also pleasing to the Vice President.
Well, that couldn’t be true.
Anyway, it was urgent to leave now.
It wasn’t the time to call a taxi inside the amusement park.
Every second was precious.
The secretary, adjusting the sight interface briefly, spoke to me again.
“I’ve received word from Mr. William. He says to tell you it’s fine.”
“That’s a relief.”
“And one more thing, he said to escort you to your desired destination via air vehicle.”
Honestly, I couldn’t put him in that much debt.
I waved my hand to decline.
“No, that’s too much─.”
The secretary continued firmly.
“Mr. William requested this. Please, don’t refuse. He asked to see you off ‘as quickly as possible.’”
“…Then I’ll take you up on that request.”
……I guess refusing too much would be rude.
Rationalizing it like that, I nodded.
—
Where to spend my precious 6 hours?
Would rumors spread that I had a great time?
I thought about renting a hotel near my home, but in this cyberpunk world, there was no concept of short-term stays.
Rooms could only be rented by the day, so that option was off the table.
No matter how much credit I had thanks to Kojaka’s reward, my inner commoner wouldn’t allow it.
After some deliberation, I decided on a place.
[The fee calculation for 6 hours has been completed. Your room number is ‘C-3’.]
It was at a ‘fusion café’ located in the Center Plaza.
A type of private café, it could be categorized as an odd mix of a ‘book café’ and a ‘room café.’
To put it simply, it had the feel of both, designed like a capsule hotel, enabling me to lounge without drawing attention, while also selling food and drinks.
It was just the right place for a short rest.
Soon, a module chip dropped below the kiosk.
[Please collect your ‘data module chip’. In case of loss or damage, a penalty of up to 30 times the fee may be charged, and if electronic replication is detected, eviction may occur.]
The book café didn’t actually have physical books.
By just connecting the data module chip, I could enjoy various novels, comics, and movies without making payments.
Since I could view it using my sight interface, I didn’t need any special devices.
I had installed the data module port in my forearm, and I inserted the module chip into the port with a familiar motion.
Then, a new icon appeared in my sight interface.
It resembled the signboard picture.
If activated, I’d probably enjoy a plethora of content.
I took a step back.
“Okay, this is how you pay.”
I handed the kiosk seat over to Eve.
Like most private cafés, the size of the provided room was on the smaller side. I wasn’t kidding when I called it a capsule hotel.
The Confucian values inside me were shouting ‘no sitting together before the age of seven,’ and since I wanted to roll around alone during this time, I wasn’t planning to share a room with Eve.
I had already communicated this to Eve in advance.
Fortunately, Eve didn’t refuse and agreed.
Thinking about it, it was a rather couple-like act to enter a private café together.
The food and drinks we ordered were quickly served.
With a pile of snacks in my arms, I said to Eve.
“I’ll go ahead and wait, see you later.”
“Understood.”
Then, off I go.
C-3, right?
I wondered if it was soundproof.
I couldn’t hear anyone in the corridor. Or maybe there just wasn’t anyone around.
Would the fusion café in this cyberpunk world be different? But it looked just like an ordinary capsule hotel.
Here we go.
Checking the C-3 written on the door, I stepped inside.
It seemed spacious enough for four people to lie down.
Except for the low height, the actual width inside was quite ample.
“Oh dear.”
Letting out a natural-sounding groan, I crawled further inside.
The place was soft.
With someone possibly asleep, there was a pillow ready on one side.
I twisted and turned to find the most comfortable posture.
For the next 6 hours.
I firmly decided I wouldn’t budge from here, no matter what.
So, let’s see.
Should I read a novel, watch a comic, or a movie?
“……”
But first, the restroom.
I didn’t want to get up halfway and disrupt the flow. I should have stopped by the restroom before coming in.
I crawled back and opened the capsule room’s door wide.
And was taken by surprise.
“?”
Eve was standing there.
What the heck, why isn’t she in the room?
“…Eve?”
“Yes.”
I steadied my surprised heart and asked.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was waiting because there were no available rooms.”
Ah.
“Then, why didn’t you say so?”
“No, it’s fine.”
What do you mean it’s fine?
If I hadn’t come out to go to the restroom, Eve would have been standing outside for 6 hours.
No matter how much I said I wanted to rest alone, that wasn’t right.
Eve slightly lowered her head and replied.
“It’s really fine.”
“I’m not fine.”
Letting out a light sigh, I continued.
“…I’ll just be a moment in the restroom, go into my room first. It’s really fine; don’t feel burdened.”
Leaving someone outside alone is not what a person should do.
After sending Eve into the room, I headed towards the restroom.
“……”
But.
When I checked out the kiosk, there definitely seemed to be vacant rooms.
…….
Well.
Maybe it was just my imagination.
I didn’t think too much about it.
—
Though I expressed it as a room spacious enough for four people to lie down, that didn’t mean it was spacious.
When I reached for a snack, my hand bumped against Eve’s shoulder.
Conversely, when Eve shifted her body, a certain ample body part brushed against mine.
(I won’t get into details.)
I checked the time on the sight interface.
I thought about an hour had passed.
But it wasn’t even 30 minutes yet.
It seemed the concept of time could indeed flow differently based on the location.
Time passed quickly when I was rolling around alone, but with two of us, it felt like it was moving at half speed.
Of course.
It could just be that I was nervous.
“……”
The surroundings were filled with silence.
The sounds of my shallow breathing were overly loud.
I looked up at the ceiling, rolling my eyes in the same position. I glanced over at Eve.
Eve was turned toward me.
Did she look at me too? Our eyes met simultaneously.
Eve’s arm slightly brushed against my shoulder.
From that, I felt something strange.
No matter how cramped this room was, it shouldn’t be this crowded for two people.
Especially since I was pressed against the wall. It was clear Eve had moved closer to me.
I carefully called out to Eve.
“……Eve?”
“Why do you ask?”
Because it just feels too close.
But it wasn’t the mood for that kind of conversation.
The atmosphere felt heavy.
Suppressing those feelings, I continued smiling and spoke.
“…Uh, just wanted to say thanks.”
“……”
Eve fell silent at my unexpected gratitude.
It was indeed an awkward moment for such a thank you. I was aware of that, so I tried to change the atmosphere with further explanations.
“No, about helping with my outing. Honestly, if I hadn’t made a mistake, I probably wouldn’t have been caught, and I feel sorry for that.”
If I had just paid attention to the automatic login back in Redwood, things might have turned out differently.
I would have probably been enjoying a fun vacation there right now.
I genuinely felt sorry toward Eve.
At that moment.
Eve opened her mouth.
“Then, can you give me one reward?”
“…Reward?”
It felt vaguely familiar.
Oh, I had heard that from Eve before.
Back then, the reward she asked for was a tight hug──.
And then I stopped my thoughts.
At some point.
Eve’s face was right in front of mine.
Literally right in front.
Long eyelashes, porcelain-like skin, white pupils.
I had never seen her this close before.
Eve’s bangs fell toward my face with gravity.
My head felt light.
At the same time, I found it hard to breathe.
It was completely unexpected, and I couldn’t hide my embarrassment.
One second, ten seconds, one minute.
How much time had passed?
I had no idea.
Eventually.
Eve slowly pulled away from my face.
“The hormones phenylethylamine, oxytocin, etc., have been confirmed in the primary body.”
What the heck is this?
I slowly began to grasp the situation.
But regardless, Eve continued at her own pace.
“Due to the lack of a changing room here, I’ll leave it at this. This reward should suffice.”
Eve glanced at the shopping bag.
I swallowed without even realizing it.
Maybe it was because of the lemon iced tea Eve had earlier, but a strong lemon taste flooded my mouth.
What on earth is happening?
My head was spinning.
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