Necromancer Survival

Chapter 177

“Choi Lee-kyung, what’s with that lively expression?” However, someone who could severely scold me entered the room. As I returned to my senses because of Kim Olim’s contemptful face, I hurriedly tore my gaze away from Seo Dawon.

Jung Garam, though, giggled and hugged onto my neck, dragging me back down onto the bed. Then, smiling meaningfully with his eyes, he said, “What’s that? You’re into that?”

“Don’t say such weird things and get off…” I mumbled.

“What’s wrong with Jung Garam?” Following Kim Olim, Woo Ragi also entered the room, saw the scene inside, and clicked his tongue. In particular, he concentrated on Jung Garam, who was on top of me. Though he didn’t say much, it was clear that his gaze conveyed something akin to ‘What kind of homo bullshit is this?’ To put it nicely, his expression was so very honest.

However, Jung Garam didn’t seem to feel any shame; he placed his face closer to mine. When he looked my way, he shouted, “Oh?” as if he had found something. “Ragi-hyung’s symbol is over here, huh?”

“Hm?”

“I’m talking about your earlobe.” With that said, Jung Garam reached out and touched my left earlobe; my shoulders wriggled since his touch on that pattern was quite itchy.

Woo Ragi stared at us for a while, before tilting his head away. Temper raised, he rubbed at his neck. “…Hey, don’t mess with that.”

“……”

A few seconds later, he turned a frustrated frown onto Jung Garam. The young assassin smiled, mischievously toying with his hyung, and soon removed his hands from my ear.

After Jung Garam released me, though, Woo Ragi strode towards me and pressed down the side of my head with his palms in order to scrutinize my ear more closely. The posture was quite uncomfortable–and I moved around a little to avoid his touch–but Woo Ragi’s chilly voice spoke first. “Don’t move, hm?”

“W-Why are you doing this?”

“Shut up. Let me check something.” Woo Ragi didn’t touch my rigid body with his fingertips. Somehow, I figured out that he seemed to be distracted by the pattern on my earlobe.

Then I felt something feather-light touching my ear, but the moment I locked eyes with Woo Ragi again, the soft sensation had disappeared. He brushed himself off and stood up again as if nothing had happened.

“What’s the basis for this contract?” Woo Ragi turned his head towards Seo Dawon.

“When the servant is revived to his former self, only two feelings will remain: longing for the master who signed the contract and hatred for the enemy that killed him.” The one to answer his question was not Seo Dawon but Kim Olim.

After listening to her, Woo Ragi looked as if he fell deep into contemplation before shooting me a sidelong glance. “It looks like I’ll be driven crazy if this guy gets injured? What the hell is this? Why should I be driven to feel or think this way about a bastard I fucking don’t like.”

“That’s because of the servant’s special position. It can’t be helped; it’s enforced by the system. Since this is a subordinate relationship, the system is focused on weakening your ego. Of course there is still some space to resist, but, as a whole, it’s inevitable to be instinctively attracted to Choi Lee-kyung.”

“Disgusting.”

“Well, you’ve always been the type to avoid being emotionally entangled with others… However, this isn’t what Choi Lee-kyung wants.”

At those last words, Woo Ragi made a mysterious expression; when he looked down at me again, it seemed as if his hostility was lightened by a single level.

I had also been shocked by the obsession the servants had shown before, so I felt some responsibility for the confusion Woo Ragi felt. Though I hadn’t intended for that effect, it was true that they were greatly influenced by my condition and feelings.

So, partially making excuses, I hesitantly said, “I’m not planning on using your feelings in any way, so relax…”

“That’s a given. You. You’re not allowed to touch my symbol when you’re alone.”

“……”

However, the way Woo Ragi conveyed his requests was so totally wrong. That’s why I blinked, grabbed at my left earlobe, and started pulling at it. Though, not enough that it hurt. However, I pressed hard enough on the earlobe pattern.

I was aware that I was acting childishly, but it felt very good to watch one of Woo Ragi’s eyebrow rise high. Jung Garam, looking from the side, burst into laughter and rolled around on the bed, cackling.

“Is this homo bastard crazy…?”

“Why do you have so many things you don’t want me to do? Asking me not to touch my own body…you know my earlobe is my body, right?”

“Want me to turn you into Van Gogh?” ¹

His voice showed enough bloodthirst that belied his intent to actually follow up on that threat, but I wasn’t in Woo Ragi’s [Vengeful Ghost Memory] right now.

Furthermore, there were three other servants next to us who were enjoying this situation. So, I ignored Woo Ragi, twirled around, and laid prone on the bed. Without even looking at the guy, I mumbled quietly, “Also, you, if you say ‘homo bastard’ one more time… I’m going to pierce my ear right through your symbol.”

“What?”

“I’ll do everything that would fit a ‘homo bastard.’ You look like someone who’d froth at the mouth at the sight of a man who wears earrings.”

“……”

“Pffhahahaha!” It was so refreshing to just stretch out after throwing a tantrum. When I looked towards Woo Ragi, who was growling, he looked sharply back at me. His eyes were so sharp; if looks could kill…

However, the more I looked at his peeved face…

‘It’s fun…’

It was so thrilling! It was so refreshing to see reactions–ones that people like Seo Dawon or Koo Hui-seo would never make…

Honestly, I definitely had the upper hand in a situation where I knew the other’s pet peeve and the other couldn’t hit me. I wasn’t a closeted gay like I was in highschool. Furthermore, Woo Ragi had already seen my memories, so he’d know what kind of person I am.

‘There’s no reason for me to pretend to be someone I’m not… Rather, I feel relieved.’

Since Woo Ragi already hated me so much, I didn’t even think about making a good impression on him; I wasn’t bothered with the idea of upsetting him.

I’ve never felt this way about someone before. It was really my first time dealing with someone I had no desire to get close to and had no need to hide anything from them. In short, in my relationship with Woo Ragi, I had no need to purchase his affection.

Since I didn’t need to make a good impression on him, I could act however I wanted and not walk on eggshells around him. The way I could act made me think that he and I weren’t on equal levels but that I was superior. Actually, I got a sense of liberation from talking to him.

So, as I teased Woo Ragi, I didn’t really detest him all that much nor was I hurt by his words. In fact, I didn’t even take Woo Ragi persistently calling me homo bastard as an insult. I just wanted to humiliate him; I’d be too soft on him if I just allowed him to call me like that.

“Let’s see how long you’ll stay on your high horse.” As expected, anger filled Woo Ragi to the brim, and the man suddenly opened the door and barged out. Seeing as how he didn’t call me a ‘homo bastard’ even though he left like that, I felt so incredibly victorious.

After the door slammed shut with a loud crash, I stopped pulling at my earlobe and released it. “Pfft…” I laughed.

While I smirked, Jung Garam suddenly climbed atop my stomach. “Wow, Choi Lee-kyung! You’re pretty good? You’re crazy good at handling Ragi-hyung.”

“Ngh, so heavy…”

“It’s the first time I’ve seen someone talk to Ragi hyung like that! Actually, I thought you’d be intimidated once Ragi-hyung arrived.”

“Mmm… Was I too harsh?”

“No? It was damn hilarious?”

As Garam talked childishly, I took a careful look at Kim Olim and Seo Dawon; I was surprised to see that both of them were laughing as well.

Since they were friends, I thought they would be disappointed with me… Even the stern Kim Olim tried to stop her laughter by biting her lower lip; Seo Dawon wore a smile that clearly revealed his joy.

The mage said to me, “It’s a relief that you’re getting along with Ragi.”

Woo Ragi shouted, “Piss off!” from outside the room, as if he had heard what Seo Dawon said. After hearing that, we burst into laughter, and the room filled with sounds of delight.

“Honestly, Ragi has the stubbornness of a psycho. No one could win against hyung, you know?”

“Re…Really?”

“Yeah! He’d easily throw a tantrum, so everyone marched to his beat.”

After hearing what Jung Garam said, it wasn’t hard to imagine what Woo Ragi had been like back when he was alive. A man who said whatever he pleased, and a man who was never touched despite what he had said.

‘He was a total jerk…’

“How is it that he couldn’t defy Choi Lee-kyung one inch?”

“……”

There must not have been many people who could ignore Woo Ragi during his lifetime. With such a handsome face, overflowing talent…he didn’t lack in money either…

Since he was the main DPS ² position in Red Lotus, how many people could ignore his presence in a world where a man of his talents was so rare? Additionally, he was a close friend of Seo Dawon, the guildmaster.

I think if I were him, I would’ve become a rude person as well. He probably had never been criticized even if he were rude. I’m sure everyone tried their hardest to like him.

However, I didn’t intend to bend over backwards for him.

Rather, if I could, I’d rather…

‘Hmm… What’s that word again? Discipline…? Training…? Educate…?’

In any case, I didn’t want to be swayed by him even if I needed to pointedly press him down. So, I simply shrugged my shoulders at Jung Garam’s amazement.

TL: I feel like a proud mom T_T

But also, please, pierce that ear.