SWNOVELXO Chapter 25
**Episode.25 The System’s Shop**
Harin’s every nerve was focused on the act of kissing me.
She concentrated all her senses on the kiss.
Her saliva lingered, making my mouth moist.
Her tongue, having found its way to mine, danced like a waltz with mine in the air.
That time, brief yet long, finally approached its end.
As her face gradually receded, a thin thread extended from our lips like mozzarella cheese.
“What, what is this—”
I tried to ask her about the bewildering situation.
But she only held me close again without a word.
“Hey…”
“You… I confirmed the answer to your last question well with your lips… Today, I’ll let it go.”
And then Harin pulled away from me and buried her face in the pillow as she lay on the bed.
It was perplexing.
Honestly, I still couldn’t fully understand the situation.
She seemed embarrassed about suddenly launching a kissing attack and refused to show her face.
“You can go back today, but… next time we meet in bed, I won’t let it go…”
‘What could she mean by letting it go…’
I left the room quickly before she could change her mind and boarded the elevator.
Since coming to the association, it seems like every time I step into the elevator, new incidents occur.
I don’t have claustrophobia, but it felt like I was becoming somewhat afraid of elevators.
As soon as I entered the elevator, I closed the doors right away.
Through the slight opening of the closing doors, I caught a glimpse of her injecting something into her own body.
‘Does she still have drugs left?’
That was likely her last shot.
‘If I had lingered in there, the needle would have probably been aimed at me…’
The doors finally closed completely, and the elevator began its descent to the lobby.
【Hey! Where have you been?】
Somehow, a familiar voice filled my mind again.
“Chaewon? No, where have you been?”
【Responding to a question with a question… I’ve been here inside the elevator!】
“Inside? Why didn’t you come out?”
【I was going to follow you out, but then I caught a glimpse of that girl’s room and lost consciousness.】
“No way… Is that even possible? I didn’t lose consciousness… Was it a room where spirits or summons can’t enter?”
What kind of protective magic could do that?… Or was it a room that used some kind of dispel technique?
But if it was some dispel-based ability, my summon should have been released and ended up in my sword.
It’s all just speculation, but if that room indeed prevents external interference… how could I get in?
【I didn’t even go in… Anyway, when I woke up, I saw the ceiling of the elevator. I had been waiting here for ages, sucking my fingers until you returned.】
“Were you scared?”
【Hmph! Not at all! I wasn’t scared at all!】
Chaewon emphasized that she was completely unafraid.
“Really? It seems like my left shoulder where you were sitting is damp?”
【Th-that’s!】
“Hmm… No matter how I look at it, that mark doesn’t seem like drooling while sleeping…?”
【P-please don’t say that! I’m begging you…!】
“Seeing as your pants are wet…”
【Ah… Ah… I can’t hear you…】
She covered her ears.
But I think no matter how much she blocked her ears, my voice would still get through.
‘Did you… wet yourself quite a bit?’
【Y-you… you bad person…】
‘Ha… Why is there so much liquid coming from your soul? I need to wash this quickly before it leaves a mark… But, this is definitely just you wetting yourself, right?’
【… What do you mean?】
‘Is this pee, or did some other liquid flood out?… It doesn’t make sense, but you are a teenage girl.’
【N-no comment!】
‘This isn’t some chicken place, and it’s not half and half. It’s not like a mixture of fried and seasoned; what’s with this pee-half…’
【Heeek!】
She screamed, cutting off what I was about to say.
‘Now we’re getting to the highlights, and she interrupts me.’
【Ugh! Ugh! Are you crazy?!】
‘What’s wrong?’
【I’m a girl too, and there’s nothing I can’t say in front of a girl!】
‘Why not?’
【Why? Why are you asking why? Do you not see me as a girl?】
‘If you want me to see you as a girl, you need to show more of your charm as a woman. Maybe cover up a bit.’]
【Th-this is!】
‘And, you don’t have a big chest… though your butt is unnecessarily large.’
【Didn’t you know a wide pelvis is a woman’s lifeline?】
‘Let’s not talk about that.’
– Ding~!
The elevator arrived at the lobby.
I got off and quickly walked home.
【What is this! If I’m wrong, answer me!… I want to go too… I’m tired…】
It had been a day full of various events.
**********
Time passed, and it became Saturday of the following week.
The same tedious work of writing reports and mundane information continued. I really don’t know if this place is where Eunbyul wants to take revenge.
It’s likely because my position is too low to know much.
The association doesn’t operate on weekends.
As mentioned before, it really is a dream job.
But it’s only natural that they don’t work on weekends.
Even if people slack off, everyone lets it slide to a certain extent.
This is why they get criticized. They need to get rid of the corrupt ones quickly.
And since that day, Harin hadn’t shown herself in front of me.
I wonder where she is.
By now, it feels awkward for me to call her.
To be honest, on the day Harin asked me her third question, I was aiming to use the last question’s answer as an example.
I could show her some love in the behavior that doesn’t cause me harm.
But at the moment I was about to answer, Harin pounced on me… She probably felt I was trying to reject her.
It’s not that I have no feelings for her at all. I was disappointed, though.
Still, I wouldn’t forget the kindness of someone who gave me such a rare sword.
Anyway, on this precious holiday, I found myself holed up at home.
Of course, staying home on hot days is the best.
Occasionally replying to Eunbyul’s messages while enjoying the fan’s breeze was my usual routine.
‘… Is this right?’
【So, let’s go out and trade that sword. Why use that shabby sword?】
“This would mean you vanish too, you know?”
【Ah, so this was my home?… Please, take good care of it.】
I grasped the hilt of my double-edged sword and stared intently at it.
‘Thinking back, I think I got something called ‘G Coin’ after infusing this sword with Chaewon?’
【What are you talking about all of a sudden? G Coin? Gold Coin?】
‘System.’
– Ding!
‘Shop.’
– Ding!
[Shop]
『Upgrade Sword』 10 G Coins
『Soul Attribute Technique of the Sword』 10 G Coins
『Inventory』 8 G Coins
『HP Recovery Potion』 3 G Coins
『Mana Recovery Potion』 3 G Coins
『Random Stat Increase Potion』 2 G Coins
『Clothes for the Queen (Random)』 2 G Coins
『Random Box』 1 G Coin
==========
Right now, the only thing I can buy is the Random Box.
So I purchased the Random Box first.
‘Buying Random Box.’
– Ding!
[You have purchased a Random Box.]
[Once an item is purchased, it will be replaced with another item.]
So, does that mean if I want the same item to appear, I have to buy it randomly over and over again?
To earn G Coins, there is no choice but to trigger quests.
But how, where, and what should I do to trigger a quest?
【What?! What’s this?!】
As I was pondering what to do, a small gift box tied with a ribbon suddenly appeared in front of Chaewon.
Seeing the size of that gift box, it seemed like this time I had struck out.
‘That’s unfortunate.’
I picked up the box that fell to the floor and untied the ribbon.
【What’s unfortunate?! You wished I’d hit the jackpot?】
From inside the box came a key.
【Where did that box come from…! Ugh, it’s infuriating…】
‘Activating King’s Insight.’
【Are you going to keep spouting nonsense all alone? You should share some knowledge too… I’m bored.】
– Ding!
[Checking the information of the item.]
[Information]
Name: Key of the Defector
Type: Tool
Description: An item used to unlock certain locks.
– Current Status –
Well preserved. It seems there’s a specific hole for use.
==========
【What’s that? The key to a chastity belt?】
“No, you crazy person.”
Hmm… Defector?
“What does Defector mean?”
【What are you talking about?】
“No, this key is called the Key of the Defector… right?”
【Oh, do you know Latin?】
“Why all of a sudden Latin?”
【My parents forced me to study Latin, so I know a bit; it seems ‘Defector’ is in Latin.】
“Really? Then could you tell me what ‘Defector’ means?”
【Honestly, it’s been so long since I learned it, I don’t remember well.】
I felt the urge to hit Chaewon.
She gets my hopes up for no reason.
How cruel to bring forth the torment of hope, which is considered the most painful form of torture in specific situations.
I decided to punish her.
Thinking back, I should give her the punishment I planned before as well.
I approached her.
【Hmm… Defector… what was it again? I distinctly remember it—Kyah!】
I approached and grabbed her ample rear firmly.
The sensation was an art form.
It felt like playing with the liquid monsters I had as a child.
– Clap!
“Ah. Why did you hit me?”
I received a slap to the face.
I didn’t understand.
I had simply touched my property, right?
【Y-you… are you really crazy?】
“I just gave you a punishment.”
【Hah… I finally remembered the meaning of the word ‘Defector,’ and all of a sudden, you touch my butt.】
“I didn’t touch it; I just squeezed it.”
【It’s the same!… Anyway, Defector is in Latin.】
“And so, what’s the meaning?”
【Defector (dēféctor), it means ‘traitor.’】