Chapter 176: My Patriotism In This Moment
The gamble that wasnt really a gamble turned out quite successful.
Thanks to Yumir making room for me, I sang the national anthem from the first to the fourth verse with Baek Seol-hee, and afterward, she remained silent.
She simply nestled in my arms, lying on the bed, burying her face in my shoulder as we watched a late-night movie.
It just happened that we started speaking informally.
Baek Seol-hee tentatively mentioned the moment I started calling her Seol-hee.
Should we keep talking informally with each other?
Why suddenly make a big deal out of it?
I buried my face in Baek Seol-hees hair and gently shook my head from side to side.
Wouldnt it be a bit disappointing if you brought it up now?
Weve always spoken formally, so switching to informal speech all of a sudden might feel strange.
It may feel strange, but look how well were doing now. Was I the only one comfortable in our conversation just now?
No.
Baek Seol-hee laid her hand on my chest.
Her white fingers stroked up and down my sternum, and she gazed intently at me, smiling faintly.
I felt comfortable too.
Then thats settled.
.
An ordinary person, Do Ji-hwan, and an S-class hero. There might be a difference in our positions, but when its just the two of us like this, we dont have to worry about anything else and can be at ease. Right?
Thats true.
Baek Seol-hee moved closer to me.
She clung to me as if I were a body pillow, sticking close as if she didnt want to let go.
Really, it feels nice being comfortable like this. In moments like these with you, I dont want to worry about anything else I just want to feel at peace.
Baek Seol-hees heartbeat, felt through her skin, was utterly steady.
As if weve known each other for a long time.
I wonder. Didnt we first meet in Seoul?
Thats right. That day in Seoul, we met when I was renting a bike.
Baek Seol-hees eyes half-closed.
Her gaze was undoubtedly one of inquiry, and I stroked her hair while using my arm as a pillow.
Do you like it when I tease you?
Yes. I like it.
What did you say?
I really want to keep you in my arms always.
I turned towards Baek Seol-hee and embraced her more tightly than before.
What should we do, Seol-hee? Do you want to keep being with me like this?
.
Lets not send you anywhere else. If villains or demons show up, let the other S-class heroes handle them. Unless the situation gets so bad that you need to step in, I want to keep you by my side.
Thats can we do that?
I moved my face close to Baek Seol-hee until our breaths intertwined, and her eyes began to tremble.
Huh? Seol-hee.
You say that, but you already have a wife.
We can live together, the three of us. And with Yumir, itll be four.
Do we really have to do that?
Yes. I dont want to lose you.
I moved even closer to Baek Seol-hee.
She seemed overwhelmed by my proximity but didnt pull away.
What will you do? If we keep spending nights like this watching movies, I might get even more intense.
What will you do if it gets more intense?
I dont know. At least, I wont harm Baek Seol-hee, but I might make it so that she spends more time being a woman just for me than a hero for the people.
I stroked Baek Seol-hees cheek and moved my face even closer.
Have you ever thought about that? Not being a hero for the country but wanting to share love with someone.
And that love is with a man who already has a wife and flirts with other women?
There are many forms of love. If you love me, Ill give you even greater love. But.
I placed my index finger on Baek Seol-hees lips.
No exclusivity.
What if I want exclusivity?
Youd be ruined.
Me? Huh.
Baek Seol-hee wrapped her arms around my back and pulled me in even tighter than before.
What if I take you to a quiet island, build a castle of ice, and keep you there so you can never leave? Then your wife or Yumir would come to save you, and Id have to fight them, leading to my downfall, is that what you think?
No.
Then what? Are you worried Ill fall hopelessly in love with you, abandoning my life as Hero Snow White and everything else to be with you? Even if a villain or criminal that only I can handle appears, you think Ill be too engrossed in sharing love with you?
Thats not it either.
Then what? Oh, I see.
Baek Seol-hee took my hand, stroked it, and then placed it on her lower abdomen, smiling.
Are you worried about having a child and throwing everything away for that child?
If we have a child, Id be even more willing to give up everything and devote my life to them.
What?
Being a father means that. Dedicating oneself to the family, paving the way for my child to grow up right. If thats what it takes, Id even quit my current job.
Youre serious. Really, seriously saying this.
A look of trouble crossed Baek Seol-hees face.
Tell me truthfully. Do you really want to have a child with me?
Of course.
Why?
If I hadnt married my wife, you would have been the one I proposed to.
Thats a bit regrettable.
Baek Seol-hee sighed as if lamenting, burying her head in my shoulder.
If that had been the case, I could have married you first. Hey, if I told you not to see other women, would you stop?
Of course. But, can you handle that?
Handle?
Yes. Its an extension of the ruin I mentioned earlier. What I mean is
I moved Baek Seol-hees hand down to demonstrate my robust health and vitality.
You find it hard to handle me alone as it is.
Thats
If it happens every day, do you really think you can handle it?
.
If you were unemployed, maybe. If you werent working, you could handle it. But you know. Ability users have much stronger personal desires than ordinary people, and they need a lot more resources to satisfy those desires.
.
Baek Seol-hee bowed her head slightly in fear.
Cant it be managed with effort?
There are many things in this world that even effort cant conquer. You know it, having tried multiple times. You cant handle me alone. Look at the time.
I pointed at the movie on the TV.
Weve been going at it since the movie started, and now its reaching its climax. But you got exhausted before it even got there.
And you?
I could watch five more movies easily.
Fear began to dawn in Baek Seol-hees eyes.
Yumir tactfully made herself scarce, but would the situation be different if she were here now? No. Ten minutes after the commercials and the next movie starts, wed both be panting and exhausted.
Youre an ability user, arent you?
What?
Isnt your ability exceptionally high in that regard? Thats why youre still fine.
Maybe. Interesting. I dont feel any magic power, but maybe Im an ability user whose patriotic power flares up only when being patriotic
The movie ended.
I climbed on top of Baek Seol-hee, stroked her hair, and looked down at her.
If I really were such a being, could you handle me?
.
Youre struggling with just Do Ji-hwan as a man. If I were an ability user using my magic power for patriotism, could you handle it?
Patriotism with magic power?
Yes.
Yumir had confirmed it.
Having first dealt with the Goblin as the Platinum Sun, she knew well the danger of the Goblin.
How terrifying a fully powered Goblin could be.
Human imagination is truly diverse. And if imagination is the basis, any action is possible. Even if that action is on the battlefield of patriotism.
Like this?
Ssssh.
A cold aura emanated from Baek Seol-hees hand extended behind me, wrapping around my back.
This is a net for capturing villains, originally. But as you said, with a little imagination, it can be used to keep a man from escaping.
.
You cant escape from me now.
Just as Baek Seol-hee had said.
She created a cocoon of ice around me, trapping me inside what felt like a one-person tent, and then crawled in herself. I was caught, unable to move, holding her in my arms.
I could possibly crawl out from inside, but something significant blocked my way, making it not easy.
Even if I somehow managed to squeeze out, Baek Seol-hee, clinging to me tightly enough to suffocate, would ensure I couldnt escape.
Do Ji-hwan.
Baek Seol-hee stroked my face.
You think just because you have a good face and body, everything you do will work on me?
Yes.
Teasing me, playing with me, deceiving me, and then trying to appease me like this, do you think Im someone who gets easily appeased?
Yes.
I made it that way.
Do you think Im easy?
Of course not. From the very beginning, when I approached you, I was prepared to get an ice spear in my gut if things went wrong.
I was sincere.
Then.
Baek Seol-hee clasped my hand.
Im going to ask you seriously, with all sincerity. Forget everything else, just answer this. If you lie or anything Ill kill you.
Baek Seol-hees eyes grew cold.
Me.
Baek Seol-hee looked at me with trembling eyes.
If I get pregnant, will you take responsibility?
Of course. Dont you trust me?
Trust you? Calling you Oppa like that makes it even harder to believe.
Then Ill change my answer. To begin with.
I embraced Baek Seol-hee, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
If I wasnt going to take responsibility, I wouldnt have approached you in the first place.
Then.
Baek Seol-hee slightly turned her head to the side.
Promise to take responsibility.
Promise.
I interlocked my fingers with Baek Seol-hees -
Dont stamp there. Here.
.
Again.
The movie started.
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