chapter 6
6 – The Bewildering Alley
“Yes. Yes, understood, Team Leader.”
I ended the call with Team Leader Lee Taeseok, whose contact information I had obtained before parting ways in the woods.
It had been a while since I had escaped from the underground complex, but villain Luna had once again ensnared someone.
Even though the target was a bottom-feeder of society.
As a hero government official, I couldn’t ignore this matter.
I briefly explained the recent incident to the team leader.
In response, he assured me that he would handle it on this end and asked me to rein in Luna a bit more.
“Sorry… I got angry at you for insulting yourself…”
After using Luna’s physical abilities to flee the scene from a distance.
In a deserted alley near the city, she bowed deeply to me.
The fact that Luna, who had just crushed a single person, was apologizing to me.
If it were an ordinary person, it wouldn’t have been just a “single” incident, but in many ways, it was a conflicting feeling.
“No. If it wasn’t you, things could have turned out much worse.”
“R-really? Then, did I help you…?”
“But I hope you stop casually hurting people from now on…”
“Y-yes! I’ll try my best!”
For a villain, is murder an act that can be controlled based on effort…?
Anyway, even though the method was drastic, it’s true that I received help from Ruina.
I lightly patted her head, smiling coolly.
“Uh-huh ♡ hehehe.”
Ruina seemed to savor my patting with a melting expression.
If she had a tail, I wonder if it would be wagging non-stop by now.
My fierce girlfriend of just one hour.
I seemed to gradually figure out how to control Ruina.
* * *
After arriving in the city, I acted like an ordinary citizen.
I didn’t use Ruina’s power at all, and I took the subway like everyone else.
But it seemed like Ruina had never used public transportation before.
She seemed fascinated by the bustling station and the inside of the train.
Well, my legs are faster than most modes of transportation.
And it’s strange to see a villain who would destroy everything if he didn’t like it, using public transportation so calmly.
“Do you commute like this every day?”
Ruina, pressed close to me due to the crowded train, asked.
“It’s not just me, most people probably do, right?”
Living in the metropolitan area means living in close quarters like this.
It might be a different story if you have a car.
Of course, I didn’t have it.
It’s not easy to afford a car on a civil servant’s salary…
“Heh~ You’re amazing. If it were me, I wouldn’t last a minute and everything would have been ruined.”
She, who was endlessly positive towards me, smiled brightly.
But what she said was not so bright, but rather slightly eerie.
More than that, I’ve realized something now.
Right now, aren’t we very close?
Her faint breath tickled my neck gently.
Did I just kiss her with that small mouth…?
The first kiss with the pretty girl…
If that’s the case, it won’t be long before…
“Ahem.”
Pull yourself together, Jongseong-hoon!!
What are you doing, having such wicked delusions here!?
It’s still okay for now.
But if any reaction comes and I end up poking Luina, it’s going to be a big problem in many ways.
If someone asks what I poked her with…
“……….”
To reset my scattered mind, I played the national anthem in my head.
It was an excellent preventive measure for unexpected situations as a man.
“Hey. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, why?”
Luina asked suddenly with a troubled expression.
“You look like you’re having a hard time.”
“Oh, I’m okay. Just feeling a bit cramped.”
“I see. If it’s tough, you should tell me. I’ll make it more comfortable right away.”
Luina chuckled and clenched her fist slightly.
I wonder if making it comfortable involves any physical discomfort…?
They say people in love lose all sense of discretion.
It was truly fortunate that Luina’s abilities, which were already quite out of control, were sealed.
“Phew.”
I sighed softly, looking up at the route map above people’s heads.
The distance from downtown to our house on the outskirts was quite far.
We still had a long way to go.
And because Luina’s abilities needed to be continually sealed, my hand was getting damp from holding hers.
No matter how much Luina insisted she was okay, it was probably best to wipe her hand once.
“Let me wipe your hand for a moment. It’s getting damp from sweat.”
“Huh? I’m fine. Okay~”
Surprisingly, Luina let go of my hand easily.
Maybe she thought it was okay to let go a little after holding on for so long.
Anyway, the maximum duration of my nullification ability is only 3 minutes. However, since I didn’t know how long Lucina’s abilities beyond the standard specifications could be stopped, I quickly took out a handkerchief from my shirt pocket.
That’s when it happened.
Thunk!!
The subway suddenly slowed down and made a loud thud.
[Attention, passengers on board. Our train is slowing down after receiving a signal. We appreciate your understanding…]
The voice of the conductor echoed through the train’s speakers.
It was a more common occurrence than I had thought.
People crowded together, each complaining in their own way.
I didn’t pay much attention to it.
But then…
“Oh ♡”
“…………Uh.”
The palm of my hand, which was trying to wipe away sweat, was resting against Lucina’s protruding chest.
The moment Lucina let out a moan, everyone’s gaze turned towards us.
Upon seeing someone raising their phone sneakily, I quickly removed my hand from Lucina.
“She, she, she’s my girlfriend! Don’t misunderstand!!”
Have I ever raised my voice this loudly in a ten-thousand won subway before?
But as a humble civil servant, I was desperate to do anything possible.
Feeling cornered and anxious, I had to prioritize extinguishing the urgent fire at hand.
I desperately gestured to Luina for immediate assistance.
Luina, who blushed at the sudden touch, promptly wrapped her arms around mine.
“Sorry, darling. I was startled by the sudden touch. hehehe.”
The man’s plea didn’t quite sink in as expected.
On the other hand, the woman’s actions were surprisingly easier to comprehend.
As Luina’s intimate gesture began to draw the attention of the passengers, their gazes scattered in various directions.
Some nodded in agreement, while others wore expressions of disappointment, blatantly revealing their exasperation.
“Sigh…”
It’s only been three hours since I finished work.
Yet, within those three hours, how many diverse events have transpired?
Being kidnapped by National Intelligence Service agents.
Becoming the lover of an SSS-class villain.
Sharing an oppressive first kiss in the woods.
Witnessing Luina take down a person right before my eyes.
And even touching Luina’s chest like a shameless subway pervert.
All in just three hours.
If this is what it’s like being with Luina, how much more frequently will such events occur in the future?
“……..”
She lightly clenched the hand that had been molding her heart irresistibly.
The sensation left on her palm, which had reached an area she had never touched before and shouldn’t have, was far softer and more cushiony than she had imagined.
* * *
[Our train, this station is……]
After a silent passage of time,
An announcement indicating the station for our homebound train was heard.
In the meantime, as many people had gotten off at the transfer station,
We were able to sit side by side.
Louina, leaning against my shoulder from the opposite window, was visible.
And she was holding my hand tightly enough to make sweat come out again.
It was a very natural gesture of affection.
If I had been a confirmed bachelor a few hours ago, I might have felt embarrassed and uncomfortable watching our affectionate behavior.
“Let’s start getting off. We’re here.”
“Nooo! I feel tired just sitting still~”
Louina stood up and stretched, shedding a few tears.
She, who was about half a head shorter than me, stretched her body.
She was so cute that I wanted to take her home.
No, it’s not that. But taking her home……
[The entrance door is opening.]
The door of the train opened at last.
We still held hands as we stepped out onto the platform side by side.
“Hey hey ♪”
Contrary to me, who was lost in a thousand thoughts,
Luna showed affection as she stuck close to my body.
“How much further do we have to go now?”
“About 10 minutes?”
“Yeah yeah. I can walk with you for another 10 minutes.”
Quite a positive attitude.
I should learn a little from Luna, not to show my tiredness…
“But, what about you?”
As we walked towards the ticket gate,
Luna suddenly looked straight at me.
Her sparkling eyes.
It was the same eyes that had come closer in the woods.
“Oh, why?”
“I forgot to ask earlier.”
Luna lifted her finger to my ear.
“How was my chest earlier?”
“!?!?!”
I quickly turned my head away from Ruina, my face burning with embarrassment.
Whispering words that made me feel ashamed, Ruina stuck out her tongue and giggled like a mischievous child, saying, “hehehe♡.”