In Neon City, mercenaries obviously belong to the 3D industry.
They only choose dirty, difficult, and dangerous jobs.
Sometimes they handle contract negotiations as Fixers, sometimes they’re hired for hacking missions to plunder data from the virtual world, and sometimes they are employed as technicians to maintain professional cyberware problems.
In short, they can be seen as ‘freelancers’ who handle all sorts of requests.
This is also why Catherine, the most famous and legendary mercenary in Neon City, saved her contact ID as ‘Neon City’s Best Freelancer.’
From the thorny requests that megacorps find difficult to handle to the bottom-cleaning requests from Pete McBurger’s owner, mercenaries naturally take on various types of work.
Therefore, for the ‘mercenary’ system to function properly, their strong professional spirit, indomitable will, and a bit of credits are essential.
Catherine recalled what Maya had said.
– “I have something to confess to you all…”
Having returned from treatment for her broken arm, Maya started gathering people and began to speak.
– “Actually, I also…, had membrane contact with Siwoon this time. Yes…, that’s right.”
A blush appeared on her face as she spoke, a feeling of embarrassment rising above her expressions.
It’s a girl-like, refreshing reaction.
Maya scratched her head and tried to play it cool.
– “Honestly, I wasn’t in my right mind at that time! I didn’t mean to get ahead of myself… Uh? How did it happen?”
Maya paused her words at someone’s question.
She stared blankly at the air for a moment as if recalling the memories.
– “Well… um, I just took a chance, I guess? It was like I lunged at him without realizing… Yes, yes.”
Her face was fully expressing the fever of love.
With a face full of blush, Maya continued to explain.
– “…What did it feel like? …It really felt good. I thought all those stories I read online were lies, but the real experience is different…!”
In front of the excited girls (who were all on the higher end of the age range), Maya relayed the memory from that day.
– “It’s true! It felt slightly salty, but there was a lightning sensation in my head.”
In fact, Maya was several steps ahead of them.
– “I didn’t know my tongue could move so well. Since it was my first kiss…”
That’s right.
There are usually various types of kisses.
From light affection, known as a peck, to the deeply intense French kiss.
And the type of ‘kiss’ Maya described clearly belonged to the latter.
Catherine, recalling that description and explanation, let out a short hmm.
“Guh.”
It was expected that she would be overshadowed by Eve, but she never anticipated being outdone by Maya.
This aspect significantly deviated from the plan Catherine had been contemplating.
‘…she lunged without realizing it.’
If only she had known this beforehand.
When Siwoon showcased his magic on the roof, she should have just lunged at him and knocked him over.
But it’s fine.
A professional mercenary must always maintain their cool.
As long as it’s not too late from now on.
Catherine glanced fiercely at her ‘target,’ determined not to miss the next opportunity.
And others felt the same way.
31. The Cheetahs Are Laughing (1)
Hmm.
What on earth is going on?
I thought to myself while maintaining a poker face.
“……”
Suddenly, Catherine’s gaze became extremely sharp.
Chill, it shot in like a cold dagger.
If I were to explain it based on my poor literary skills, she looked like a starving lion gazing at a plump deer.
That’s how intense Catherine’s aura was.
Even now.
Under normal circumstances, she would have been lounging on the sofa like a satisfied lion.
But right now, even while lounging, all her nerves were focused on me.
Even if I tried to pretend I didn’t notice, I couldn’t ignore it.
Today, or rather, since yesterday when I returned from learning magic from Merlin, her gaze had felt odd.
Honestly, I found it a bit scary.
And it wasn’t just Catherine!
Natasha, Andrea, and even the Chairman were looking at me with a subtly strange atmosphere.
Today, it felt peculiar that everyone seemed to have no schedule and were all spending time at home.
I felt like I was in a zoo’s carnivore exhibit.
At least, it’s a relief not everyone felt that way.
Eve, Julia, and Maya were just as relaxed as usual.
What could it be? Why?
As I pondered this, I briefly smacked my lips.
“Chomp.”
And at that moment.
All the eyes in the room turned toward me.
Among those gazes were Eve, Julia, and Maya, who earlier had said everything was fine.
“……”
I was overwhelmed by the stares of seven people.
I felt a cold sweat trickle down my back.
Did I accidentally walk into a horror movie?
I forced a smile and slowly opened my mouth.
“…Uh, is something wrong, everyone?”
““……””
But soon each of them exchanged glances and then returned to their tasks.
What is this atmosphere?
I felt a sense of dread, unable to understand why.
Surely they aren’t acting this way just because I kissed one of them.
…….
But just in case.
I decided to experiment and let out a short cough.
“Cough.”
I stealthily walked toward the refrigerator.
At that, they all subtly turned their gazes toward me once again.
Though they didn’t turn their heads outright like before, it was clear they were discreetly interested in me.
I pulled out a regular cola from the fridge.
There was still a lot of mint-flavored cola left from when I served Drake, but that was strictly for guests.
As a proud Korean known for our festive spirit, I muttered to myself and tried to move as naturally as possible.
“…I guess I’ll grab a cola~.”
I poured the cola into a cup and started to drink.
“Gulp.”
The prickly sensation of carbonation flowed down my throat.
A little trace of cola smeared the corner of my mouth. I wiped it away with my thumb and tongue.
““……””
Up until that point, they had been watching me in secret.
Especially when I moved my throat or smacked my lips, their gaze turned even more intense.
…….
Hmm.
Is this real?
I instinctively felt something was off.
*
For a while, I retreated to the rooftop.
“So you don’t know what to do, huh?”
[……]
Drake made an expression on the holographic screen that mirrored my own turmoil.
I wanted to hold back as I seemed to be interrupting Drake, who was clearly enjoying his newlywed life, but he was the only guy around I could seek advice about personal matters.
At best, I could ask ‘Tom’ or ‘Kojaka William,’ but I wasn’t close enough to them for that.
So, I chose to consult Drake.
On the screen, Drake covered his eyes with his giant palm.
[So… you mean.]
Drake summarized my explanation briefly.
[Recently, for various reasons, you’ve kissed several women─.]
“Membrane contact.”
[…Membrane contact, and now it seems all the other women want it too, right?]
“Pretty much sums it up…”
I clarified my statement to Drake.
“Of course, it could also be my misunderstanding.”
The possibility that it was just my plain narcissism was the most likely.
Drake stared blankly at me.
His expression conveyed something like ‘Are you an idiot?’ but, knowing Drake wouldn’t think like that in this situation, I brushed it off as a mood swing.
After a short silence, Drake continued.
[…So.]
“Uh-huh.”
[What’s the problem with that?]
“…Huh?”
Did I explain it poorly? Or did I not understand Drake’s words?
Drake kindly continued to explain, noticing my puzzled head tilt.
[Look. It’s just man-woman stuff, right? If you think so, then just dive right in. What’s stopping you?]
“…No, that’s not it.”
[If I’m wrong, give me a logical rebuttal.]
Hmm.
“…That might be true.”
There’s a chance it could not be, and there are parts that are not so easily resolved.
When I muttered that response, Drake pounded his chest in frustration.
[Ugh, I thought you were getting better. Why can’t you be more confident? What’s the problem? Those girls like you, don’t they? You feel the same, right?]
In a city where polygamy had been legalized, there was no issue.
Even if it were illegal, a lot of credits could make it legal.
But.
The problem is me.
That lingering feeling of discomfort in my heart still existed.
It felt wrong for someone like me, who has nothing, to stand beside those who shine.
Of course, it wasn’t like I had fallen into a pit of depression like last time.
I had received comfort from Drake and his girlfriend, now wife, Lorenda, so my mindset had changed quite a bit.
I even accepted that this world wasn’t just a game, but my world.
…….
I said to Drake.
“No, even so, seven is just too many.”
There was a sense of difficulty in wholeheartedly accepting their feelings.
Noticing my feelings, Drake sighed and asked me.
[What about you?]
“…Huh?”
[How do you feel? Do you like it or not? Just pick one.]
“……”
Honestly speaking.
As a man, it wouldn’t feel bad to be in this situation.
There was also a significant reason for my anxiety—my own shortcomings.
But since this was a conversation between just us two, I thought it was necessary to be a little more honest.
“…I mean, I like all of them.”
[All seven?]
“…Uh-huh.”
I answered Drake like that.
*
And at that moment, in a place I didn’t know.
“‘Siwoon’ said, ‘He likes all seven.’”
““……””
Conversations among my housemates were unfolding.
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