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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Knowledge of the Future
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When he told her he'd seen the text she sent after drinking.
"...!"
Shin Sehee's face turned a fiery red, as if it would burst if poked, and the corners of her lips, which had been turned upwards, stiffened rigidly.
He had originally wanted to bring it up more casually, but seeing her start to dig herself into a hole again, he felt a bit annoyed.
'Still, now that he'd definitively declared her a party member, it should be fine.'
Before, he had recruited Shin Sehee as an external collaborator, distinguishing her from the other party members.
The reason he chose that method.
Aside from his personal likes and dislikes for the original character,
it was due to the chemistry she'd have with the other party members if she joined the party, and her background.
The family in Shin Sehee's background. The prestigious hunter family, the Shin Clan. That place was quite a headache.
In the original game, she only appeared in Shin Sehee's personal story, but now that the game had become reality, it was clear they would exert influence over his party.
'That's why he recruited her as an external collaborator, to avoid such annoyances...'
He had always been quite biased between characters he personally scouted and raised, and those he didn't.
If that was true when they were just characters on a screen, how much more so now?
The moment he recruited Shin Sehee as his party's operator.
Though he called it 'external collaboration,' in truth, he had already accepted her as a party member from that moment on.
After that, well, no matter what she did, she didn't seem so hateful.
Perhaps she was the kind of woman who could make fans 'drool' with her 'gap moe' moments, especially when she'd had a drink.
'...This reaction is quite cute, too.'
She bit her lip tightly and cried out with an aggrieved expression.
"Y-you said you checked the message and deleted it! H-how could you lie to me like that—!!"
"Then let's call it even."
He replied with a chuckle.
At that, Shin Sehee contorted her face as if she'd heard something utterly bizarre.
"...C-call it even...?"
"Yeah, you tricked me into thinking my phone had a virus. And I tricked you once. We've each had our turn, so let's just pretend it never happened. And I'll apologize first. I'm sorry."
At that, Shin Sehee's mouth snapped shut, as if she'd swallowed honey.
'For her, these small things are important.'
Basically, Shin Sehee's character setting is that she comes from a wealthy family, so her affection level doesn't particularly increase with gifts.
However, gaining her favor isn't difficult at all.
Simply checking in on her often and showing her attention.
And just by showing that you'll always trust her, no matter what she does, most of Shin Sehee's personal problems—excluding those related to her family—tend to be easily resolved.
"..."
Shin Sehee covered her face with both hands, seemingly embarrassed.
And through the gaps in her hands, a voice as tiny as a mosquito's squeaked out.
"...I-I'm sorry too. I promised at first, but it was, t-too embarrassing..."
"It's fine. So, let's just agree not to talk about it again."
"...Okay."
Shin Sehee nodded slightly.
* * *
A moment later.
Vroooom—
A black sedan with a sleek, flowing sheen on its body.
Secretary Kim, who had come out after receiving the call, was at the wheel, while Shin Sehee and Jin Yuha were seated in the back of the sedan.
When she glanced sideways, she saw Jin Yuha looking impressed.
"Ohh! The ride comfort is incredible. Secretary Kim, you're an amazing driver, aren't you?"
"Heh heh, it's nothing special."
'...What a strange person.'
The shock from a moment ago still hadn't faded, making it difficult for her to speak to him.
Inside her, embarrassment was still soaring to new heights.
'...And he kept teasing me!'
—Hey, Shin Sehee. Your right hand and right foot move together when you walk.
—Ah! Ick! Eck! Huh!?
She winced.
Shin Sehee bit her lip tightly again, her face burning with renewed shame.
But even so, she couldn't bring herself to hate him.
—I'll tell you clearly right now, Shin Sehee. You are my party member. And you've never done anything strange to me.
She flinched.
She flinched.
Even amidst her shame, the corners of her lips kept twitching upwards.
Honestly, why had she been so anxious?
While Jin Yuha had sought out and recruited the other party members first, she had practically clung to him, forcing her way into the position.
Though she didn't want to admit it, an inferiority complex had honestly been growing within her, swelling in size.
At that moment, Jin Yuha had once again said exactly what she most wanted to hear.
'So. Now it's my turn to repay him.'
Fortunately, what he requested today was one of her most confident areas.
'Shopping.'
She had heard that men's shopping trips tended to take a very long time.
That men, when shopping, acted as if they possessed endless stamina.
Looking at the same item multiple times, a never-ending, infinite loop of hell.
That's why, it was widely advised to avoid shopping with a man if possible, even if it meant making excuses.
However, in Shin Sehee's case, that was no problem at all.
In this regard, Shin Sehee was more masculine than feminine.
'Shopping truly begins by setting aside an entire day and looking at everything from start to finish.'
And she also possessed the wealth to acquire anything he desired.
Of course, to Jin Yuha, who had seen the future, the items she offered would likely seem crude beyond belief.
But she could at least appeal to his discerning eye enough to minimize that gap.
'Hoo! Good. I'll treat him properly today!'
It was just as Shin Sehee was firmly resolving this to herself.
"Oh, right. Shin Sehee. Can you perhaps exchange this for money?"
Jin Yuha held something out to her.
And when Shin Sehee saw the object in his hand, her eyes widened into perfect circles.
'A Top-Grade Mana Stone!?'
Shin Sehee had a surprised look at the sudden appearance of the Top-Grade Mana Stone, but soon nodded with an understanding expression.
'Ah, come to think of it, Jin Yuha was the one who gave a Top-Grade Mana Stone to Senior Gaeul, wasn't he?'
"...You want to exchange that for money?"
"Yeah, I've earned some money from various things, but it seems like it won't be quite enough."
Jin Yuha spoke as if he hadn't considered relying on her from the start.
Shin Sehee, who had been staring intently at the mana stone, lifted her head.
"W-well, I could just pay for today's shopping..."
"That won't do."
Jin Yuha firmly cut her off.
"This only has meaning if I, as the party leader, buy it."
"..."
"Hmm, you could say it's like a signing bonus?"
"A signing bonus?"
Jin Yuha nodded at Shin Sehee's question.
"Of course, I plan to fairly distribute the profits we earn from future activities, but I haven't given you guys any recruitment fees at all, have I?"
"...That's..."
"Both Kang Dohee and you. Your 'value' is quite high, isn't it? And as for Lee Yuri or Lim Gaeul, considering their potential, we could find plenty of sponsors willing to invest."
Ah, that was certainly true.
The party gathered now was, in a way, a group of people who had become captivated by Jin Yuha himself.
Though they were listed as party members, they hadn't actually signed any formal contracts.
"But I don't want to pay your 'value' with money. I just want to give you a gift. And what meaning would it have if I bought you a gift with your own money, Shin Sehee?"
Ah, truly.
Indeed, this man was different.
'He's incomparable to the trash who've chased after me for my money, power, or looks.'
Shin Sehee slowly nodded.
"Yes, I understand. I'll buy that mana stone from you and pay you for it."
"Thanks. But as for the commission, just take a small friend discount."
And so, right there, Shin Sehee exchanged the mana stone for money with Jin Yuha.
'...But judging by what he's doing today, Mr. Jin Yuha will surely only get things for us, won't he?'
Because he never invests in himself.
Compared to how familiar he seemed with Lohana Restaurant, or how casually he pulled out a Top-Grade Mana Stone...
Just recently, the glimpse she caught of Jin Yuha's life in his lodging was utterly shabby.
'I know he's already experienced everything in the future and lost his enthusiasm, but...'
Still, she didn't like it.
'I need to get him something, anything.'
Honestly, it wouldn't be bad to earn some points by giving Jin Yuha a gift all by herself.
It was a natural desire to be treated specially, more so than the others.
However,
'Hmm, I also heard from Mr. Jin Yuha today that I'm a party member... If I don't say anything, everyone else will try to repay him somehow.'
Shin Sehee glanced down at her phone.
The group chat.
"Yuha's Party Without Yuha"
A group chat with only the girls, excluding Jin Yuha.
It hadn't been created secretly from Jin Yuha.
It was a group chat he had given permission for a long time ago.
The reason for creating a separate chat room was simple.
Since their genders were different, there were some things they couldn't discuss when he was present,
and since they'd been entrusted with managing the party members, they also needed a space where they could speak more freely.
'Because they didn't want to show that side to Mr. Jin Yuha.'
Indeed, unlike the chat room with Jin Yuha, the girls-only chat room tended to have less of a filter on their mouths.
'Huh? But what is this...?'
Shin Sehee frowned as she read the accumulated messages.
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"Yuha's Party Without Yuha"
[Warm Autumn Day] — Dohee.
[Fist of Fire] — ?
[Warm Autumn Day] — But what does it mean that you got 'lifted and pinned'?
[Not Gukbap] — Lifted... and pinned...?
[Fist of Fire] — ...Senior. Who was the bitch who spouted such nonsense? What's her position? Her name. Quickly!
[Warm Autumn Day] — Hmm. I can't really say names. But I heard you got 'lifted and pinned' by a junior...?
[Fist of Fire] — I did not!!!!
[Not Gukbap] — Can I ask what happened? It seems like a serious discussion is needed.
[Fist of Fire] — Damn it. I just let my guard down during a spar with that junior!
[Fist of Fire] — If I'd gone all out from the start, it would've been nothing!!!!!
[Warm Autumn Day] — Huh? Even so, wouldn't there be something...? The junior is a guy!
[Not Gukbap] — ...
[Fist of Fire] — ...
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