After Ten Millennia in Hell

Side Story Chapter 26 - Rose Time (2)

"Haaa~ that should take care of things, right?"

Oh Kang-Woo stretched after perfectly handling the mountain of paperwork in Cha Yeon-Joo's office. He turned around to look out the window and the sky was already dark.

"Wow..." Yeon-Joo expressed. The pile of paperwork she thought would never disappear was gone after Kang-Woo began to help out. "W-Were you always so good at stuff like this?"

"More or less," he answered as he shrugged.

He had been avoiding doing paperwork because he couldn't be bothered to, but he was as fast as Lilith in terms of work speed if he put his mind to it.

'After all, I can use the Authority of Insight now.'

The Authority of Insight was mainly used to read the opponent's characteristics, movements, and weaknesses. Still, it could also be used to analyze and organize paperwork since the Authority existed to unscramble complex information as efficiently and accurately as possible.

"I mean, I'm fast but I think you're just slow as hell."

"Ngh..." Yeon-Joo flinched from getting called out.

She was like a bloodthirsty lioness on the battlefield but she was like a snail when doing detailed and meticulous tasks because she repeatedly checked one document in case she made a mistake.

"I just... want to make sure I didn't make any mistakes," Yeon-Joo mumbled.

"You're only making more work for yourself."

"Sh-Shut up! I know that!"

"If you do, then don't do it." Kang-Woo chuckled and lightly flicked her forehead. "Shouldn't you be getting off work soon?"

"Huh?" Yeon-Joo's eyes widened. "Off... work?"

'Off work?!'

It had been the first time two simple words elated her.

"H-Huhhh? J-Just a second," remarked Yeon-Joo as she read through the paperwork she approved today. "The land purchases... done. Discussions with the construction company are done... and..."

There was nothing else.

"Gasp...!"

Yeon-Joo's eyes widened. The hellish Seoul land purchasing operation had reached its end at last, albeit there were still a few small tasks to take care of.

"I-IT'S OVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER!!"

Yeon-Joo raised her arms in tears. She had successfully made two districts of Seoul, a land that those all over the world were competing to get, the property of Red Rose. They would easily make trillions of won once the redevelopment project began.

No, it was not just a matter of money. Land was a form of power. Not only that, but if that land was of Seoul, a place where people from all over the world had their eyes on, Red Rose would become a powerhouse second only to Guardians.

"Hey, hey, hey, hey, Oh Kang-Woo!! We're finally done with this shit!!" shouted Yeon-Joo as she grabbed Kang-Woo's hands.

Her waist-long red hair fluttered as she jumped up and down.

"GUUUUUUUUUYS!"

Bang!

Yeon-Joo kicked her office door open and ran out. She spread her arms wide and shouted, "WE'RE FUCKING DOOOOOOOOOOONE!!"

"Gasp!"

"W-We are?!"

"L-Lies! There can't possibly be something so great in my life!!"

"A-Are you sure we're done?!"

The expressions of the half-dead Red Rose guild members brightened. Yeon-Joo smiled and nodded. Now that the final checks and authorizations had been made, there was no longer a reason to stay in the guild building. They simply needed to wait until Seoul's redevelopment began.

"Yeah, we're done!"

"A-Aaaaaaaaaahhh!"

"Oh Lord... I'm not dreaming, am I?"

"HELL YEAAAAAAAAAAH!!"

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The guild members who had not been able to go back home for a month cheered. It was like seeing game developers who managed to finish developing the game after endless hours of overtime.

"H-Hihihi!!"

"W-We're finally d-done...!"

"Hurgh! I... I can finally rest now!"

The guild members laughed crazily as if they were fanatical cult members and hurriedly collected their things.

"I told you we were almost done." Park Hyun-Woo, who had been grilling the guild members to keep working, puffed out his chest in satisfaction. "Now that this massive project has ended, why don't we have a group dinn—"

"Water Cannon!"

"Kurgh!"

Splash—!

A huge stream of water poured over Hyun-Woo's head.

"Wh-What was that for?!"

Hyun-Woo turned around dumbfoundedly after getting soaked. He saw Choi Eun-Bi panting heavily in anger.

"Jeez! No wonder you're still a boomer bachelor! You're so clueless!"

"B-Boomer bachelor?"

'Sheesh, that splash damage.'

"Can it and get over here! If you want to have a group dinner so much, you can have it with just me!"

"H-Huuuuh?"

Eun-Bi pushed Hyun-Woo out the door and approached Yeon-Joo with a smile.

"Here you go, unnie. Don't forget this. It's important."

She winked cutely at Yeon-Joo as she stuffed a thin rectangular box in her pocket.

"What's this?" Yeon-Joo asked as she tilted her head and opened the box. "Y-You crazy bitch!!"

She looked up at Eun-Bi, her face as red as her hair.

"Hihihi!! I'll be going now, unnie! Have a wonderful time!!"

Eun-Bi was already far away, waving at Yeon-Joo with her tongue out.

"That damn brat...!" Yeon-Joo panted heavily as she quickly stuffed the box back into her pocket.

"What's that?" asked Kang-Woo as he belatedly came out of the office.

"N-N-N-N-Nothing!" shouted Yeon-Joo as she fiercely shook her head.

Kang-Woo tilted his head in confusion but paid it no mind. He then asked, "That aside, why don't we go grab something to eat since we're done with work?"

"S-Sure!" Yeon-Joo nodded, unable to hide her smile.

"Hehe, then lemme find a good kimchi stew place..."

"No, not kimchi stew."

"Gasp, wh-why not?! What's wrong with kimchi stew?!"

"How do you never get tired of it when it's all you eat? Let's have something else tonight," she said as she dragged Kang-Woo by his clothes.

They finally reached the place Yeon-Joo wanted to eat at.

"Lively Beer?"

"Yeah! The spicy fried chicken here is to die for! The beer is amazing too!"

"No, you brainless woman. Look at me. You think I can enter a bar?"

"Hihihi, then I guess you can just stick with the fried chicken~"

Yeon-Joo giggled mockingly as she entered the rowdy bar.

"That bitch..."

Kang-Woo frowned for a moment but sighed soon after and followed behind her. He thought about changing back to his original appearance using Mimicry but it would be pointless since his senses would disappear, including his sense of taste.

Glug, glug!

"Kaaaaaaaaah~! Yeah! That hits the spot!"

Yeon-Joo trembled as she chugged an entire glass of beer as soon as it arrived. She rubbed her cheek on the beer glass as if she couldn't be happier.

"Excuse me~! Another pint of beer, please!" Yeon-Joo stared at Kang-Woo, who was munching on snacks before the fried chicken arrived, with her chin high as if lording over him. "Hehe~ Are you jealous? Want a sip?"

"Why would I drink beer when I can't even get drunk?" asked Kang-Woo as he clicked his tongue.

His body was no longer made of flesh but the Demonic Sea itself. Hence, he couldn't get drunk no matter how much alcohol he drank.

"That aside, can you even get drunk?" Kang-Woo asked.

Yeon-Joo was also so superhuman that he wasn't sure if she could get drunk like regular people.

"A little if I suppress my mana and focus on it. It's just for the mood, honestly," answered Yeon-Joo as she shrugged. She then averted her gaze from Kang-Woo and asked, "What have you been up to lately? Is your body feeling fine?"

Her tone sounded apathetic but the words carried a large sense of worry and anxiety.

"Yeah, it's fine."

"Really...?" Yeon-Joo coughed and covered her mouth as the corners rose. She continued in dissatisfaction, "Hmph. I was never that worried anyway. I'm sure you were doing all kinds of things with Seol-Ah all day. How is it... with Seol-Ah lately?"

"Same as always, I guess."

"Is that so...?" Yeon-Joo lowered her head and stroked the beer glass she ordered. She then cautiously asked, "You guys haven't fought or gotten distant from each other, anything like that?"

"Of course not."

Kang-Woo chuckled at the nonsense. Such a thing couldn't happen between him and Seol-Ah.

"..." Yeon-Joo bit her lip as she shut her eyes tightly. She then smiled and laughed in both a happy and sorrowful way. "I'm glad. I would've split you in half if you did anything bad to Seol-Ah."

Seol-Ah was a precious friend to Yeon-Joo before she was Kang-Woo's lover. There was no way she wouldn't be happy to hear her friend was doing well.

'Yeah. I should... be happy.'

Yeon-Joo sighed and lowered her head.

Seeing that, Kang-Woo turned his head away from her and mentioned, "Well, I guess something happened."

"Huh...? What?"

"I ended up becoming lovers with Lilith as well."

"What?!" Yeon-Joo sprang up from her chair wide-eyed. "W-Wait a second. You're going out with Lilith too? Th-Then does that mean you're two-timing?"

"I got permission from Seol-Ah," replied Kang-Woo, nodding proudly.

"What in the..."Yeon-Joo sat back on her chair with her mouth agape. It was hard to accept as someone who was born and raised in Korea. "Two... at once?"

She placed her fists on her knees and trembled subtly. Her expression was filled with unconcealable joy.

'If he's allowed to date two at once, maybe...'

"N-No, not that, for fuck's sake!!" Yeon-Joo disheveled her hair and glared fiercely at Kang-Woo as she panted heavily. "D-Damn pervert! Motherfucker! Son of a bitch!"

"Kurgh! S-Stop it, woman!"

Bash! Bash!

Yeon-Joo mercilessly kicked Kang-Woo to no end as Kang-Woo scrunched up, grunting as if he were dying.

Mumble.

"Ah..."

A woman kicking and cursing at a middle schooler in a bar was more than enough to draw attention. Kang-Woo groaned and sat quietly back down.

"..."

"..."

An awkward silence fell between them.

"Here is your spicy fried chicken and deep-fried spam~"

The steaming hot fried chicken arrived soon after. Yeon-Joo handed Kang-Woo a plate and placed a delicious-looking chicken leg on it with tongs.

"The food here is... super good, so eat as much as you want. You can order more if you want."

"Okay. Thanks for the food."

"Uhh... Are you sure you don't want something to drink? I can put in a word with the owner here and it'll be fine."

Yeon-Joo was the master of the top guild in Korea; although Kang-Woo was not a real minor, it was a piece of cake for her to allow a minor to drink alcohol.

"It's fine. I told you I can't get drunk," said Kang-Woo as he raised his coke. "This is enough for me."

"..."

Clink.

The two of them touched glasses.

***

"Burp. Urgh... I'm about to burst."

They ended up drinking for hours until the bar closed as they were chatting away. The slightly drunk Yeon-Joo shook Kang-Woo's shoulder.

"That aside, I can't believe you went to a dangerous place like that while I wasn't here. You should've called me!"

"How would I have called you when I was captured by the Wikiholic?"

"Somehow!" Yeon-Joo shouted.

Kang-Woo chuckled. Just then, the notification bell of his phone rang. He took out his smartphone and saw that there were hundreds of texts from Seol-Ah.

[Darling ❤]

Darling ❤: Kang-Woo, you were meeting Yeon-Joo today, weren't you?

Darling ❤: You're a little late...

Darling ❤: Nothing happened, right?

Darling ❤: Right?

Darling ❤: Please respond.

Darling ❤: Kang-Woo.

Darling ❤: I miss you. I miss you, I miss you, I miss you, I miss you, I miss you, I miss you, I miss you, I miss you, I miss you.

Darling ❤: I'm waiting for you to come home with Lilith unnie.

Darling ❤: Hurry back home... and we'll do tons of nice things for you.

"..."

Messages were being sent as Kang-Woo was reading through the previous ones.

[I'll be home soon.]

Kang-Woo sent a short response and turned to Yeon-Joo to say, "I have to get going."

"Huh...? Y-You're going?" Yeon-Joo stared wide-eyed at Kang-Woo.

"Yeah, it's already 1 AM."

"Oh... Y-You're right." Yeon-Joo nodded with an awkward smile.

"It was nice seeing you after so long. Good luck with the rest of your work," said Kang-Woo as he turned around.

They could go home together since they lived in the same apartment complex but flying would be much quicker if he wanted to get back as soon as possible. The Authority of the Sky was made available for him as well this time.

"..."

Step, step.

The boy got further away and was about to disappear into the darkness.

"Ah..." expressed Yeon-Joo as she clasped her hands together.

She reached out to Kang-Woo's back as if trying to grab something invisible. She bit her lip anxiously.

'Is it... over? Is the time I longed so much for going to end so anticlimactic with nothing happening, nothing changing, as if we were just catching up on what each other was up to?'

"..."

Yeon-Joo shut her eyes tightly as her shoulders trembled. She then ran to the boy getting further away.

"Huh?" Kang-Woo turned to Yeon-Joo. "What's up?"

She carefully reached out to grab Kang-Woo's clothes in silence. She then quietly muttered, "Don't... go."