Chapter 112: By fountain (10)
Part 18
“For that reason—ta-da! I’m here!” Bonfire announced.
“What reason, exactly…?” Yoonseo asked.
“The world is full of things that transcend human understanding…”
A man spouting incomprehensible nonsense with a mischievous grin stood before her. Staring at Bonfire, with his charming face and lively voice, Yoonseo’s expression hardened in utter confusion. Dressed in her nun-like costume, she felt like she could smite this heretic for his absurd ramblings. Is it the blonde wig? Or am I imagining some holy aura?
“…I don’t even know what to say,” she muttered.
“Happy to see me after so long?” Bonfire asked.
“Should I say you’re someone who knows how to waste their time?”
“…That’s not a compliment, is it?”
Instead of answering, Yoonseo sighed and looked away. The waiting room’s scenery, now familiar from her previous visits, barely registered. Her reflection in the mirror, once tense, now looked bored, drained of excitement.
Wearing an outfit too unique to call merely “distinctive,” she no longer felt embarrassed—just awkward. With boredom dominating the wait, Bonfire’s sudden appearance felt more bothersome than surprising.
“So, why are you here?” she asked.
“Wow, that’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?”
His mock-sulky expression made her chuckle softly. Bonfire, as if admitting it was a playful act, quickly reverted to his warm, approachable smile.
“Seriously, what’s the occasion?” Yoonseo pressed.
“Still kinda cold. Not the reaction I hoped for.”
If I’m this polite and you still take it as malice, you’re the one with issues. Instead of saying it, she shrugged lightly with a smile, brushing it off. Even if he didn’t feel like a stranger despite the time apart, there was no need to be rude to someone happy to see her.
“…Alright, kidding aside. I’m here for work,” Bonfire said.
“Cosplay?”
“Nah, they considered it, but apparently no one wants to see me in costume, so it got scrapped,” he said.
“You’d look good with dual pistols or something.”
“I’m more into heavy artillery than agile ranged-dealer vibes.”
Glancing at his approaching steps, Yoonseo casually turned her chair a quarter-turn. Bonfire sat across from her, leaving an empty chair between them.
Yeah, it wouldn’t be cosplay for him.
“So, what’s the actual deal?” she asked.
“The game you’re cosplaying for—it’s launching soon. I’ve got some history with this company,” he explained.
“…Like, an ambassador?”
“Officially, it’s a roundtable, but yeah, kinda.”
Gonna have to play it for work, ugh. Bonfire grumbled, shaking his head with a dry laugh. He didn’t seem thrilled about the game, despite its official status.
“The game’s getting meh reactions despite the money poured in, but your Saintess cosplay’s been a hit,” he said.
“…Yeah, I guess,” Yoonseo replied.
“So they set the live roundtable here, added a filming schedule, and plan to casually show you and other cosplayers to milk the hype. I don’t deal with the planning team, so I don’t know the details.”
His smile didn’t hide his displeasure with the company’s tactics or his role. Yoonseo wondered if his earlier high energy was to mask this.
“Anyway, that’s the deal. We might cross paths, but probably no time to sit and chat like last time,” he said.
“Too bad. I’m in the Saintess cosplay you love so much,” she teased.
“If they offer you an exclusive contract or something, just say no. Once you sign, their attitude flips,” he warned.
“Then why do you work with them?”
His hearty laugh faded into an awkward silence. His lips twitched wordlessly, caught off guard. Whoa, was my half-joking question too much?
“It’s Blue N, even if it’s got a bad rep. I’ve got history with them. Half attachment, I guess,” he said.
“…Thought it was just the money,” she replied.
“Haha, that’s a big part too, sure.”
A short breath—not to choose words, just to steady himself. Instead of speaking, Yoonseo listened.
“People don’t always need grand reasons to do things. Attachment, just wanting to—it doesn’t need to be more than that,” he said.
“…Heh.”
It felt like something Bonfire—no, Kwon Hyuk—would say.
“Yeah, I guess so,” she agreed.
Part 19
Hyunji, who’d helped with Yoonseo’s cosplay and left promising a surprise, returned after Yoonseo saw Bonfire off. Some time had passed since their chat.
“…This is the surprise?” Yoonseo asked.
“Hehe, pretty shocking, right?” Hyunji said, lifting the wide brim of a witch-like hat. Her crimson-contact-lensed eyes sparkled mystically under the lights.
“Didn’t you say you couldn’t join this game’s shoot?” Yoonseo asked.
“Hehe, it’s not a major NPC role, but the director asked if I’d do it, so I jumped in. It’s a bard concept!”
Hyunji spun dramatically, her short skirt fluttering, revealing her thighs. Before Yoonseo could process the eye-catching moment, she reflexively yelped and turned away.
“What—what are you doing?!”
“What’s the big deal? It’s not like looking wears it out. Besides, I don’t mind showing off a bit for you!”
“What does that mean?!”
“Hey, hey! Hoi, hoi!”
Hyunji’s playful voice and the rustle of fabric filled the air. Yoonseo’s imagination ran wild, tempted by curiosity’s devilish whisper.
“Seriously, stop!”
“It’s just shorts underneath, you know,” Hyunji said.
“…Huh?”
“Pfft, your red face is too cute. Are you just that weak to teasing? Gotta use this more!”
Yoonseo’s inner turmoil crumbled at Hyunji’s words. Something snapped. Ready to snap back, she whipped her head toward Hyunji.
“Even so, that kind of prank—!”
Her words slowed. Hyunji still held her skirt up, revealing tight shorts—barely different from underwear—and pale thighs in full view.
“…Yoonseo?”
“…Don’t pull pranks like that,” Yoonseo stammered.
“Huh?! What part made you calm down?! Tell me! Yoonseo! Jeokranun! Noonaaa!”
“I don’t know! Just don’t do it again!”
Oh, youth. Stay this beautiful forever. Struggling to forget the paradise-like vision, Yoonseo flailed internally, wondering why her body felt nothing despite the sight.