Episode 59. A Good-Bad Guy, a Just-Bad Guy, and a Weird Guy (2)

It was clear now—Sodam had poked a ticking time bomb, and it had started counting down fast. Otherwise, there was no way this man, who had once turned red just hearing her change clothes from the other side of the room, would suddenly go completely off the rails like this.

Luckily, the man who just moments ago seemed ready to assault her wasn’t moving anymore.

At first, Sodam had tensed every muscle in her body, ready to strike the moment his hands moved either up or down from her hips. But now, looking at him frozen like this, she felt her strength drain away. He wasn’t even serious—just playing the part, only to freeze up when he couldn’t follow through. It was so ridiculous, it almost felt like a joke.

She gently gripped the hand that had only been resting over her clothes—not touching her skin—and slowly pulled it down. His hand fell away without resistance. Ugh, what am I supposed to do with this overgrown child?

The thought brought back memories of the time she’d successfully led a project full of clueless intern chicks to victory.

…Wait. Maybe I just need to do the same thing this time too.

Her body and dignity might take a hit, but if she could get the result she needed, that was good enough. If this was all about bruised egos or inferiority complexes and the desire to bring Baek Juyul down a notch—then that was between the two of them.

If those two were whales, Sodam was a krill. She wouldn’t just get crushed—she’d be obliterated. For the sake of her own survival, she needed to either run before the whales collided… or make sure they didn’t collide in the first place. A little pain now was better than death later.

Swallowing hard, Sodam cautiously looked up at Seonghwa.

“I believe… Esper Cha Seonghwa won’t move any further.”

“…You think I’m not capable of it?”

“That’s not what I’m saying. If you wanted to force me, someone like me—an F-class—couldn’t stop you. I just believe you won’t. And honestly, that kind of restraint… that’s a lot harder than doing something awful.”

As she spoke, she gently removed his other hand. He looked confused—maybe because she said she trusted him, even after everything he’d just done. Once both of his hands were lowered onto the bed, Sodam placed her palms over the backs of his hands to keep them still, and exhaled quietly in relief.

Okay. He’s not moving. That’s one crisis averted… Though honestly, I don’t even know what kind of crap I’m saying anymore.

Whether he stopped halfway or not, wrong was wrong. He’d already pinned her down—that was pressure, that was force. Saying “I trust you won’t do it” was just Sodam’s way of hoping, really hoping, he’d stop.

If I don’t act first, things could get worse. So I’m striking first. First blow wins.

With that thought, she forced a smile. She had no idea how Seonghwa would interpret it, but it was the best she could do to de-escalate.

“I honestly think, in some ways… Esper Cha Seonghwa—no, Seonghwa—is stronger than Baek Juyul.”

“You’re mocking me.”

“Just hear me out. Baek Juyul is… someone with a lot of scars, right? To stay beside a person like that, you need to be way more stable than them. And Juyul… he’s not as kind as you are.”

“…”

“He doesn’t have your patience, your gentleness, or even… your humanity. Wow, that’s already four categories where you beat him!”

It didn’t take effort to list Juyul’s flaws—no, the challenge was in trying to dress them up nicely all this time. As she tapped gently on Seonghwa’s hands with each point, his tense expression noticeably softened.

Encouraged, Sodam gave a more natural smile and continued.

“If we’re just talking personality… I don’t think you’ll find anyone better than you, Seonghwa. Honestly, if it weren’t for Juyul, any S-class Esper like you would have the right to walk around with their head held high. But F-class Guides? Even the Association looks down on us.”

“…Ah, well…”

“No need to comfort me. I’ve never been that hurt by it. But you—maybe you’re more conscious of Baek Juyul because he feels so close to you. I get that. But trying to force this on me… without even really fighting him for it first… that’s not like you, Seonghwa. That’s cowardly.”

As she said the last part, she wondered if she’d gone too far. That was the kind of line that usually made people snap—What do you mean ‘not like me’?!—and she couldn’t even swallow dryly now as she waited for his response.

Then came a weak, humorless chuckle.

“…Hah… Guide Maeng Sodam—or rather, Sodam… you talk like you know me really well.”

“Hmm… If I said I’ve always paid attention to you… you wouldn’t believe me, would you?”

“I wish it were true. But it doesn’t sound like it is, which is a shame.”

“It’s just… by my standards, I really do think you’re the better person, Seonghwa. That guy is so persistently annoying…”

Calling her up every single day under the excuse of “monsters,” paying attention to the tiniest comments she made, clinging to her even during intimate moments to the point of suffocation—Juyul was nothing if not relentless. In contrast, Seonghwa felt much more… human. More like someone you’d actually want to grow close to.

When Sodam looked up at him, her eyes sincere, Seonghwa finally softened. A familiar gentle smile returned to his face. He flipped his left hand over to meet hers and, with slow, deliberate motion, traced a finger along her wrist as he inched closer.

“I think I win in that department too.”

“Wh-What? Um, you’re really close…”

“How about this? You try both and tell me who’s better. Now works too.”

“H-ha! What a funny… joke!”

Sodam twisted her head awkwardly, already bending one leg to prepare a well-placed kick to his gut if needed. His face was getting way too close for comfort—not like earlier, when he’d threatened her, but this time with intent. That made it worse.

When she turned her gaze completely away, Seonghwa grabbed her slender ankle and lifted it onto his stomach. The way his fingers roamed up her wrist and now her leg was far too confident—chillingly so.

Sodam’s face turned pale as she managed to grab his hand and stop it. Compared to the awkward and painfully restrained Juyul, Seonghwa’s ease made her freeze up entirely.

“You’ve never done this position with Juyul, have you?”

“I-I have! I mean, I’ve definitely done it!”

“Could’ve fooled me. You’re way too stiff. I could show you how to loosen up, if you’d like.”

Right as he began to move his hand past her calf, Sodam readied herself to strike. And just then—BANG!—the door exploded off its hinges and flew across the room.

…Huh? The door? Flew? N-no way…

Unfortunately for Sodam, her instincts were spot on. And fate was never kind to people in her position. Footsteps, heavy with something unnameably dark, echoed into the room. The atmosphere became so suffocating it was impossible to shift from their very obviously compromising pose.

The source of that oppressive pressure walked in slowly, glanced at Sodam, then at Seonghwa—and let out a mocking snort.

“You’re pretty talented, Guide Maeng Sodam.”

“N-no, wait, this isn’t—”

“If you were still feeling unsatisfied after this morning, you should’ve just said something. No need to grab another guy.”

Those sharp, frozen-blue eyes turned to Seonghwa.

Suddenly, countless shards of ice materialized and shot toward him, filling the room in an instant. They melted before contact, but more continued to form—an overwhelming barrage.

Fucking hell. This—this is the exact kind of situation I wanted to avoid!

If even one of those ice shards veered off course, Sodam was dead. Maybe Seonghwa realized that too—because he calmly rose from the bed and stepped away from her.

Without a word, he passed by Juyul and exited the room, still fending off the icy onslaught with waves of heat. And yet, he didn’t leave without tossing in one final comment—just loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Shame. If I’d stayed longer, might’ve gotten a good show.”

“…Get lost. Before I kill you for real.”

“Why so tense? Just don’t torment Sodam too much. She might run.”

A spear of ice shot after him instead of a reply. Seonghwa caught it with his bare hand, then turned to give Sodam a slight nod before walking away.

The moment he stepped out, the spear melted into nothing. Still, the sting lingered in his palm. Rubbing it absently, he thought,

This is what I thought I wanted… but why does it feel so wrong?

He felt nothing but disgust. Even with a bit of that inferiority complex finally relieved, there was no satisfaction. Instead, his mind was stuck on the woman he left behind in that room with Juyul.

It was guilt, no doubt. The kind of selfish, dirty guilt that could only be lessened by facing her again and apologizing.

Sodam had been right—this wasn’t like him. And this cowardly revenge… it hurt far more than he’d expected.

Because deep down, he knew—if he kept acting like this, he’d never again be someone Sodam could call a good person.