บท 102: Coincidence or Destiny – Part I
A long, romcom mess of a week where I went around sorting out all my relationships with long conversations, intimate conversations, intimacy, and basically every tool I had at my disposal.
The details weren't important other than the fact that things were fine right now... and that there was apparently going to be a competition among the girls to hash things out among themselves at a later point in time.
Fortunately, the general consensus was that this trip was for me first and foremost to relax and unwind, so all of that got pushed off again.
Which was good. After all, there was still the Parasite Queen to deal with back in Paradise, along with a bunch of other issues.
Though the moment that was over, I had a feeling another war would start right up with me as the prize.
But that was a later issue. One I could solve after thinking a bit more and letting Hannah and Flone work their magic.
...And also after I begged Jinhee to help me sort this mess out since everything I was seeing told me I was heading right towards a bad ending where at least one person was going to end up hurt instead of the golden one where everyone lived happily ever after.
But again, a later issue.
Today, a pair of guests were showing up at the airport, and it was my job to pick them up.
...Well, my job along with my very tolerant wife.
Sitting in the passenger side, Hannah let out a long sigh as she sipped on a coconut cream latte.
I glanced at it as I parked the car at the airport and said, "Is that even any good?"
"It's better than nothing. Besides, I like cream, so I don't mind."
I turned off the engine and muttered, "That's definitely true."
Hannah turned red and swatted my arm. "Shut up, you pervert."
"Says the one who's obsessed with roleplaying as the kinky secretary. Honestly, between you, Seora, and Seohui, I wouldn't be surprised if the hotel staff think I'm some rich conglomerate heir out playing with his assistants."
Hannah rolled her eyes and unlatched her seatbelt. "Considering how much money you have and can make if you want, isn't that true? Mister KDrama Lead?"
"Whatever you say, Wifey."
Hannah shook her head and then stepped out of the car.
I stepped out after her and shut the door. That done, I pulled out my phone to check the time. "Still just 9 AM. Their arrival time's at 10, isn't it? Is there a reason why we're here so early?"
Hannah sipped on her latte and said, "Yes. So that you wouldn't get dragged off by another girl and drained before we arrived to pick up the ones who see you as a benefactor."
"Ahaha... Yeah. I guess Kaz would be pretty shocked if he saw me like that." I paused, remembering his reaction at the Banquet to finding out I was faking being dense. "...Or he might just laugh at the fact that karma came around to bite me."
Hannah rolled her eyes and grabbed my hand. "Come on, Husband. Treat your wife nice like you promised."
I laughed and then pulled Hannah into a one-armed hug. "You know, if you just wanted me to spoil you, you could have just asked."
Hannah blushed and then averted her gaze. "W-Whatever. Bastard. You're lucky that I already double-downed and knew what I was getting into."
"And I love you too."
"At least you can say that sincerely these days."
"Because I sincerely love you and don't know what I'd do without my beautiful, intelligent, competent, and saintly wife."
Hannah snorted and said, "I'll take the first three, but leave the last for Flone."
"Got it."
We walked to the airport gate like that. As we did, I noticed more than a few people staring at us. Mostly women, and mostly at me.
Seeing that, I clicked my tongue and said, "That bastard rigged it so that my level up's going to be Harem God, isn't it?"
Hannah laughed. "I wouldn't be surprised. ...Though if you try to get the Bug Queen-"
"Ew. No."
"Good."
The two of us sat down on a bench at the gate where Kazuki and his sister Yui would arrive.
For a while, Hannah didn't say anything, simply content to lean against me while sipping her latte.
As for me, I was happy to just enjoy some downtime with one of the few mentally adjusted women in my life.
Not that I didn't like the others. But after trying out a bunch of different flavors, it was good to have plain vanilla again.
...Ah wait. Flone was vanilla, so I guess Hannah would be chocolate? Still good, but a little bitter-
"You're thinking of something stupid again."
"No I'm not."
"Dumbass. You think I can't read your mind by now?"
"I know you can't. But you do have a scary intuition."
Hannah rolled her eyes and finished her latte. After that, she got up to toss it before sitting back down and staring me in the face.
I stared back and tilted my head. "What?"
"...I think I've asked this before, Jihu. But are you really not related to Sung Shihyun?"
I frowned. "Sung Shihyun? You mean the guy we talked about a long time ago who Sinyoung used to do all of their stuff?"
"Yes."
"I'm a hundred percent certain I'm not related for at least three degrees of separation."
Neither through grandparents, cousins, aunts, or uncles. That guy wasn't related to my family in any way at all. *That* I was certain.
Though...
"Why are you asking this now?"
"Mm..." Hannah tapped her fingers along the bench and said, "I've just noticed it recently. You're different than him, but you're also really, really similar. Especially with the recent womanizing."
I coughed. "Sorry."
Hannah waved her hand. "It's fine. That's who you are at your core. To be honest, I'm surprised you didn't commit to it earlier. Probably would have made things a lot easier."
I let out a wry smile.
"But anyway." Hannah continued and then said, "I've just been thinking about that place recently and our next steps." She crossed her arms and said, "Resa mentioned that Sung Shihyun showed up again. Not only that, but that his abilities were eerily similar to yours. Weaker, but similar."
"Hm?" I frowned. "Really?"
I knew that we were both magic swordsman, but I didn't think we were that similar.
Gula mentioned something about us sharing traits, but I didn't think much of it. But...
Hannah reached up to tap her chin and said, "I've been talking with Seohui, Yuhui, and Seonhwa about it too. All of them agree that you remind them a lot of that guy. Not only that, but did you know? His 'realm' was apparently something called One With Nature."
I froze. "Wait, what?"
Hannah nodded. "I was shocked too. Yours is 'All As One', right? Seonhwa said that guy's realm created harmony between himself and both the internal and external world around him." She looked at me and siad, "The degree is different, but the concept is pretty similar, isn't it?"
"...Yeah. It is."
All As One was just as it sounded on the tin. It let me treat everything as connected to each other. Similar to the concept of the 'Dao' where all streams flowed back to one source, everything I learned and picked up were treated as one whole. That let me do crazy things like make a fire that was both hot and cold, attack thin air while simultaneously striking in multiple places at once or tying up objects together...
'Harmony' was a bit different. It was making things work together in unison instead of treating them as a whole. But the basic concept...
I frowned and muttered, "Did she know about this?"
Was this coincidence? Did I just happen to have similar talents and personality to Sung Shihyun, leading me down a path that seemed to be the same as his?
...Or was this a result of my time in Paradise moving me towards a path that already existed where I would fit best?
Hannah shrugged and said, "Well. It doesn't really matter in the end. You might be a womanizer like the guy was said to be, but you're not a dick. ...It's probably the only reason you get a pass from all of us, so remember to keep that in mind."
"I'll always take my smart, sexy, and super tolerant wife's advice to heart."
Hannah snorted. "You're getting too good at that."
"It's a survival mechanism at this point."
Hannah laughed. "I suppose it is. You bastard."
"Love you too."
Hannah smiled and then pulled out her phone, scrolling through some emails.
I looked over and said, "Business?"
"Yeah. Hao's sending me updates about that place. Not only that, but since Sinyoung folded, the September Halfway point is a mess. I'm checking to see if we can swoop in to salvage some spaces."
I frowned. "...Is that necessary?"
Hannah glanced at me and said, "You said you'd be a big tree, didn't you? Right now you're just a pillar. If we want to change that, you need to spread your roots and find some good saplings to water as well. Also... Isn't it about time you pulled Jinhee in?"
I paused. "...Jinhee?"
Hannah nodded and said, "Right. I don't say this about people very often, but she's something else. It's only a matter of time before she catches onto the tail of someone from that place being sloppy and dives in. It'd be better if you got ahead of that and did it on your own terms, wouldn't it?"
I sighed. "...You make a good point. I'm just worried."
"About what?" Hannah scrolled through her email and said, "You're a cheater and a cheat."
"You mean just a cheat."
"I know what I said. And besides, what are you worried about? There's not a person in that world who would be dumb enough to try to hurt her. And with you recovered, there'd be no one who could. Right?"
"That's not what I'm worried about."
"Hm?" Hannah looked at me. "Then what is it?"
"...I'm worried that I'll have to start beating guys off with a stick."
"Wow. Didn't know you were into that too, Hubbie."
"S-Shut up. You know what I mean."
Hannah laughed and then said, "Well... If you're that worried about it, why don't you just grab a friend to go with her? I'm sure we can find someone reliable to send her through the Tutorial, right?"
"Who would-"
I paused, remembering something Blackie mentioned earlier. Also the bit that I'd been trying to remember about the Halfway point.
"...Actually, I do know someone. The problem is if she'd do it. And the fact that she's tried and failed already."
"Huh?" Hannah blinked. "You know someone like that?"
"Mm. It's complicated. I'll tell you over pillow talk some time."
Hannah blushed and then swatted my arm. "Pervert."
I laughed and pulled her back into a hug. "Weren't you scolding me about not being true to myself? It's about time you stopped projecting and accepted it, right Wifey?"
Hannah turned red but didn't say anything.
I smiled and let her get back to reading her emails. But...
Sung Shihyun, huh?
xxx
"Annyeong." Kazuki bowed his head and continued in stilted Korean. "It's been a while, Emperor."
Hannah covered her face, doing her best to not laugh.
I groaned and responded in Japanese. "Kaz. Could you not? I've already got Hao cracking jokes about an Imperial Harem and I've been dealing with all sorts of crazy shenanigans already. I don't need you to jinx anymore."
Kazuki laughed and then raised his head.
The Japanese Archer was dressed for the vacation, wearing a Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts. Similar to Jun did back at the Banquet.
Smiling, Kazuki responded in Japanese and said, "I didn't expect you to be fluent in Japanese, Jihu." He paused. "...And with a Kansai dialect?"
"Ah. My bad." I coughed and continued talking. "Is that better?"
Kazuki blinked and then shook his head. "I've said it before, Jihu. But you really are-"
"H-Hello!"
Before Kazuki could finish, someone else called out to me.
A cute young girl wearing a school uniform. Black hair tied in a short ponytail, a shy smile and bright eyes...
I waved at her and said, "You're Yui, right? I hope you've been well."
"Y-Yes! Since Onii-chan rescued me, I've been getting better! It's still a bit scary and I get weird dreams every now and then, but..." She blushed and started shifting in place.
Wait.
I panicked and quickly pulled Hannah in, making sure to grab her left hand to show off her ring. "Glad to hear it. Anyway, this is my wife, Hannah." I glanced over at Hannah and whispered in Korean. "Please help."
Hannah rolled her eyes and then smiled at Yui before speaking in Japanese. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Yui. I've heard quite a bit about you and your brother."
Yui looked between me and Hannah before letting out a deep sigh.
At the same time, I saw a faint crimson thread floating around her shrivel up and crumble into dust.
Thank God- No. Thank Hannah, the one real goddess in my life.
Next to Flone, of course.
...Aaand playing favorites again. Need to be better about that...
Kazuki chuckled and placed his hand on Yui's head. "I told you, Sis. But anyway..." He looked at Hannah and then back at me. "I suppose I should congratulate you?" He frowned. "Though I would have thought that Flone would be your wife. Were you that close with the infamous fox?"
"...It's complicated. And if you think that's surprising, wait until you meet Seora and Seohui."
"...Pardon? I think I misunderstood..."
"I wish I could say the same, Kaz." I sighed. "I wish I could say the same."
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