#69
Wrapped in a sheet covering his naked body, Seo Yi-young began looking for his clothes.
“Here.”
“Huh?”
“Your clothes are being washed.”
“Really? I could have just worn them as they were. Thanks.”
Seo Yi-young obediently accepted the clothes Choi Do-jun handed him. There was even new underwear. Thinking that he was surprisingly thoughtful in odd ways, Seo Yi-young put his head through the top first. He expected the clothes to be a bit big, but they fit almost perfectly.
“Are these really your clothes? They fit me perfectly.”
“They’re clothes someone left behind. Fortunate.”
“…I see.”
Watching Choi Do-jun answer nonchalantly, Seo Yi-young didn’t bother asking who they belonged to. But not asking didn’t mean he wasn’t bothered. Even though they weren’t in a relationship, it was irritating that Choi Do-jun didn’t even try to hide it.
“Return my clothes later.”
“Seo Yi-young.”
Choi Do-jun stood up and called Seo Yi-young’s name as he was about to say goodbye.
“Yes?”
“Since finding other partners is troublesome, how about we contact each other when needed from now on.”
His tone was completely neutral. Seo Yi-young didn’t immediately understand what Choi Do-jun meant.
“What? What’s troublesome to find?”
“Sex partners.”
“Oh. …Oh. … …What?”
“Isn’t it better for you to have a specific partner rather than whoever is available? I don’t think it’s a bad suggestion.”
“Available or specific or whatever, I don’t…”
Damn it, the original Seo Yi-young.
Seo Yi-young swallowed what he was about to say. Even if he wanted to say he didn’t have sex with others so easily, it wouldn’t be convincing to Choi Do-jun. Honestly, if it weren’t for what happened in the dungeon, he wouldn’t have gone all the way with Choi Do-jun either. …Well, excluding the incident in the parking lot, which happened because Choi Do-jun lost his mind.
Seo Yi-young rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand.
Certainly, Choi Do-jun wasn’t wrong. If he happened to suffer from insomnia again and needed someone, it would be easier to go to Choi Do-jun than to look for a new partner. Seo Yi-young nodded vaguely.
“I’ll be going then.”
But Choi Do-jun immediately held him back.
“I didn’t hear your answer.”
“I nodded, didn’t I?”
“Answer properly with words.”
“Alright. I will. Happy now?”
He wondered if this was the only way to satisfy him. He seemed to have a personality that liked everything to be definite.
“Then I’ll leave the clothes you’re washing now so I can wear them and take them later.”
It was a casual remark, but Choi Do-jun didn’t immediately respond.
“I suppose so.”
“Right?”
Seo Yi-young left Choi Do-jun’s place shortly after exchanging conversation like an unfunny sketch.
Though he was returning home in the early dawn, Butler Choi didn’t say anything special. He neither showed surprise nor displeasure. This revealed how the previous Seo Yi-young had behaved, but it also prompted other thoughts—given how much they were being paid by Seo Yi-young, shouldn’t they be doing at least this much?
When he first had such thoughts, he was surprised and disgusted with himself. How could he think this way just because his position had changed?
He tried to suppress it consciously, but there was nothing he could do about the sudden thought.
If Seo Yi-young were in Butler Choi’s position, he would have done the same. He might curse behind his employer’s back, but he would smile to their face. He was actually paying them that much. Though he occasionally came home late, Seo Yi-young didn’t treat them inhumanely or with contempt.
But he couldn’t easily answer whether such thoughts were justified.
Because these were thoughts he wouldn’t have had if he hadn’t come to this dimension.
“How would you like your meal?”
“Oh. It’s fine. I’ll eat in the morning. It’s early, please rest.”
“Understood. Then excuse me.”
Sitting on the bed in his room, Seo Yi-young looked around anew at the objects filling the house. Having just come from Choi Do-jun’s nearly empty house, it felt excessive. Thanks to Butler Choi, nothing was left unpacked and piled up, but there were several things he didn’t remember buying.
Certainly, apart from entering dungeons or other hunter duties, shopping at department stores was about all Seo Yi-young did in his spare time these days. He didn’t read books, nor did he sleep much, nor did he have any particularly productive hobbies. So if categorized, shopping might fall into the realm of his hobbies.
He thought he had just bought a little when he had some time, but was there really this much?
Seo Yi-young looked at the packed room with a strange feeling.
Honestly, there weren’t many things Seo Yi-young could do freely in his tightly scheduled life. However, after each dungeon entry, after completing each schedule, unrealistic amounts accumulated in his bank account.
It was enough money to spend 100 million won a day for several decades.
What could he do with it?
It was enough to buy dozens of buildings in central South Korea, but that didn’t interest him. Of course, he had looked into it when he first came to this dimension. But if he bought them, then what? If something went wrong in a dungeon, it would all be meaningless.
Of course, there were hunters who invested enthusiastically out of greed for money, but Seo Yi-young wasn’t that type. Seo Yi-young confirmed this about his character in this way. The fact that investments or savings had little meaning to Seo Yi-young, who had no family, was also a significant reason.
More than anything, the constraints on his time and actions were the biggest obstacles.
Even if this dungeon was fine, he might not be able to return safely from the next one. Certainly, Seo Yi-young’s own abilities significantly increased the possibility of safe return. However, entering a dungeon meant having that possibility, no matter how low the probability.
Being in a position closest to death, about the only thing he could do freely was spend money. Buying tangible items that he could physically touch. Just that much.
After coming to this dimension, he initially shopped enthusiastically, but as time passed, his interest in that also waned. No matter how expensive the clothes, Seo Yi-young had only one body, so there was a limit to what he could wear. Moreover, sometimes he would buy dozens of outfits in one department store visit. The good feeling from the act of buying things also dulled over time.
It wasn’t just clothes. Food was the same. He often got distracted by the many side dishes and impressive-looking foods.
But that was it. There’s a limit to how much one can eat anyway. You can’t eat more just because you’ve prepared more. He hadn’t gained any special insight. It was just that this food or that food was all the same. Wearing more expensive clothes or eating more expensive food doesn’t change their essence.
No matter how expensive the clothes, they don’t change Seo Yi-young who wears them. The same goes for food. In the end, they just need to fulfill their function.
Of course, compared to the previous dimension where he had nothing, this might be much better. No, it’s definitely better. But that’s all. If someone had told this to him when he had just moved dimensions, he would have likely called it nonsense.
It was clearly the life he had dreamed of. A life without financial constraints. Living however he wanted without worrying about others’ opinions. He certainly thought he could live that way. But Seo Yi-young in this dimension couldn’t do whatever he wanted either. Though his money was incomparably more than in the previous dimension, he couldn’t be free from people’s gazes and the obligations that came with being an S-Class healer.
What Seo Yi-young himself originally wanted became increasingly blurry.
Are these thoughts possible only because he has the luxury now?
A faint sneer spread across Seo Yi-young’s lips.
After changing into comfortable clothes, Seo Yi-young rested for a while, checked the time roughly, and contacted James. He was extremely happy to hear Seo Yi-young’s voice. Perhaps because he was here for tourism, he seemed to have time and they were able to set a meal appointment immediately.
When Alberto, who heard that Seo Yi-young had to enter a dungeon late in the evening, offered to cook for him, Seo Yi-young said he’d just accept the sentiment. He couldn’t ask that of someone who came as a tourist. They kindly suggested meeting at a nearby establishment.
Since the two had eaten a late breakfast, they went to a café where they could have a light meal. The three took seats in a partitioned area inside to avoid other people’s gazes, and ate their fill, ordering food enough for five people, including aged kimchi fried rice and Jeju black pork ribs rice bowl.
“If I had known you were entering a dungeon today, I could have cooked for you.”
“It’s fine. We can meet again later and you can cook then. Did you have a good dinner that evening?”
“Of course. Ah-, it was really delicious, but it was a shame Yi wasn’t there.”
James answered instead, drooping his eyebrows, as he drank the green grape ade in front of him.
“If I had known you were entering a dungeon today, you wouldn’t have had to strain yourself.”
“But it would have been regrettable to just part ways after you came to Korea.”
Seo Yi-young lightly replied with a smile. He didn’t want to postpone things. There was no guarantee he would return alive from this dungeon. Had they ever thought the same as Seo Yi-young? He couldn’t bring up such topics in this situation. No one likes to hear others’ complaints and lamentations.
Seo Yi-young kept smiling as he chatted with them, fingering the surface of his drink glass.
“Hmm, then shall I order something more?”
Alberto looked at the menu. Though he thought they had eaten quite a lot, it seemed it wasn’t enough yet.
“Let’s see. There’s chocolate cake.”
An unexpected menu item came from Alberto’s mouth. After ordering, he pushed the cake plate that arrived in front of Seo Yi-young.
“Mr. Seo. Try this.”
At Alberto’s suggestion, Seo Yi-young blinked in confusion, not understanding.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
