Necromancer Survival

dly clicking my tongue.
‘Well, I suppose it would be strange for there to be no rumors with that kind of face…’

     Despite my rationalization, though, I felt oddly upset.

     I wanted to shake off this mystifying disappointment; though Seo Dawon opened his mouth to speak, I cut him off.
“Well…I can’t help it if we break up someday, but that doesn’t matter right now.”

     “Really?” Koo Hui-seo asked.

     “Yes…I like dishra–…I mean popular people in the first place.”

     “Really? You have unique tastes.”

     “…..”

     “Hmm… I see.”

     Jung Garam muttered to himself, “Well, I guess there’s guys with no dignity out there…” 3 Seo Dawon simply closed his mouth and looked at me strangely.
Koo Hui-seo patted his chin, observed me, and docilely stepped back.

     With that finished, we could finally leave the mansion.
Koo Hui-seo, holding my hand tightly and not hiding his reluctance to see me go, said “Please come to the mansion at  least once a month.”

     “Alright.” I readily answered–we needed to periodically verify the reports on Koo Kyungman’s physical condition anyway.

     Koo Hui-seo’s face brightened at my answer; he offered to escort us to the car and provide a chauffeur.
While waiting for the car to arrive, I casually asked him, “When will you be authorized as the new guild master?”

     “First, I’m going to report them both as missing, then temporarily take over as interim guild master.
Afterwards, I’ll reveal mother’s corpse.” He nodded, estimating that all of this would take no longer than seven days.
As we entered the limousine, brought over by the chauffeur, I said my final parting remarks, “Please watch out for Bae Jaemin.
If he contacts you, let us know.”

     “Of course.” Koo Hui-seo shockingly bowed his head to mine, brushing his soft lips to my cheeks.
I looked at him, amazed at how he could look so unperturbed.

      I was confused as to whether he was indulging in foreign-style greetings or if he had an ulterior motive.
In the meanwhile, the glass pane of the window rose, dividing us, and the car started on its journey.
I…had to endure the stinging gaze of Jung Garam and Seo Dawon, who watched it all happen from my side.

     When the car left the estate, Seo Dawon spoke first, “Lee-kyung-ah.
You don’t believe those rumors, do you?”

     “What rumors?” I asked, nonchalantly, but in fact those rumors regarding Seo Dawon’s past did concern me.
Just what did he do to be remembered so vividly by someone like Koo Hui-seo?

     Seo Dawon, after staring for a bit, suddenly leaned towards me.
He moved as if to whisper something into my ears, but, instead of whispering, he lightly bit them instead.

     “W-what are you doing!” I shouted, both frightened and flabbergasted.

     Seo Dawon shrugged his shoulders–turning on me though he was in the wrong–“Why are you so indifferent after hearing these rumors that I’m promiscuous” 4

     “What are you…W-why should I care about something like that!”

     “You should grill me, asking whether or not it’s the truth, and burn with jealousy.”

     I stared back in bewilderment, forgetting that I had been rubbing my bitten ears.
The shock made me miss the perfect timing to respond back, ‘Why should I be jealous?’

     Seo Dawon smiled at me, “When you said you liked me, why would you say the reason was because I’m popular? Koo Hui-seo wasn’t convinced at all.” He laughed, asking if there was ever an idiot who only cared about popularity with his date.

     I sat, frustratedly massaging my neck.

     However, Seo Dawon didn’t stop there.
He also bit my cheek–the one Koo Hui-seo’s lips touched; when I froze, he grabbed my chin and drew closer, his lips almost brushing mine.

     Jung Garam was next to us.
He simply looked annoyed and sneered, “Are you really going to do this in the car?”

     Jeez.
What on earth is he doing?!

     I couldn’t slip from Seo Dawon’s grip on my own strength.
I couldn’t watch the sight of him coming closer–closer to my lips–so I closed my eyes.

     However, instead of biting at my lips, Seo Dawon stopped a hair’s width away and, in a low voice, warned me, “Next time, if you don’t avoid Koo Hui-seo’s nonsense…I’ll continue?”

     “It’s not that I didn’t avoid him…!”

     “I’m different from Lee-kyung-ie.
I get very jealous; remember that.” And then, he distanced himself from me as if nothing had happened.

TL: Thanks for kofi Hi-mi! This bonus chapter is for you!

We’re at the end of this arc! There’s a lot to parse–the nightmare fuel of it all.
Koo Hui-seo…Confessions and MC’s dense dense feelings.
I’ll probably write my own feelings in comments but also I wanted to ask.
In preparation for chpt 100+… who’s your fave suitor? (Or character in general?)

Footnotes

The original saying, literally translated, would be “beat his own drum and play janggi by himself” Aka to leave Koo Hui-seo to his own delusions Dishrag is slang for slut.
A.k.a.
Used rags.
노예남 = slave boy or those who sell their dignity for selfish reasons 적반하장 = The thief turns on the master with a club.
or Save a stranger from the sea, and he’ll turn your enemy.
or Save a thief from the gallows and he’ll cut your throat.
It’s often used in stories where the swindler accuses their victim of being the thief.
Thus: turning on me though he was in the wrong.