HPDBC Chapter 102
Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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“...Why did I do that?”
I unconsciously rejected Ha-Yul’s offer to help.
Why did I reject it?
Surely, there was nothing wrong with his offer to help.
It would have ended quickly if I had gratefully accepted his help, even if I felt a little sorry.
I wore a troubled expression at the clothes scattered on the floor.
I had already rejected his kindness.
Looking at the amount of scattered clothes, there were more than I thought.
I suppose it’s because Siwoo changes his clothes often, as he sweats daily.
“Hmm, this is strange...”
I sighed and started putting the scattered clothes into the basket individually.
While pondering why on earth I had acted that way.
I did it reflexively, but I really couldn’t understand why.
After thinking while picking up the clothes, I finally realized why I hadn’t let Ha-yul help.
“...That was dangerous.”
Was I reflexively protecting Siwoo from danger to this extent?
My shoulders rose with unwarranted pride.
“Even if Ha-Yul is a member of Arachne, there’s no guarantee he’s absolutely on our side. It was a good decision.”
Ha-Yul is an ally.
A position closely connected to the Association as a former investigator.
A veteran who has been through numerous real battles.
On top of that, it is a practically invincible ability, even if it can’t be maintained long.
He’s undoubtedly the strongest among the Arachne members.
Yes, the best in Arachne.
Even including me.
“If he had been given a traitor setting and did something to Siwoo’s clothes... Phew, that’s a relief.”
[What nonsense is that... Hup!]
“?”
What was that?
I thought I heard something just now.
It must be my imagination.
***
The girl hurriedly covered her mouth and held her breath.
The sound was already blocked, so the Reader probably couldn’t hear her, but she couldn’t bear it otherwise.
The subject of the girl’s observation looked around for a while at the sudden sound, then started picking up the clothes again, one by one.
“Whew... That was close...”
(I can’t believe she didn’t notice.)
“W-What did you say?!”
(If only she had noticed, we could have seen her crying... What a shame...)
“I wouldn’t cry!”
The girl exclaimed that, but she wasn’t sure if she wouldn’t cry.
The girl had made a resolution.
When the Protagonist and the Reader started to confirm their feelings for each other, she would speak to her again then.
But the girl’s short patience was shattered by the past month’s experiences.
Surely, the girl’s patience could be considered excellent among transcendents.
Especially compared to those who would just forcibly connect them rather than wait frustratingly.
To be honest, the girl was starting to want to talk with the Reader.
She wanted to chat about various things. Not being able to speak was quite painful.
Yet, the reason the girl didn’t speak to her was simple.
She didn’t want to waste the past month.
If she spoke now, everything built up until now would crumble.
But it was hard to endure. At this rate, it seemed like she might give up and speak first.
She connected the sound briefly to feel that moment again, but her voice accidentally leaked out at the Reader’s monologue.
She almost ruined over a month of waiting in vain.
“Ah, this is so frustrating! How can we make the reaction happen faster?!”
(I thought you said you liked that kind of thing?)
“Even that has its limits! After waiting for a month, huh? Shouldn’t they be all over each other by now?!”
***
“...Phew. I guess I’m almost done.”
I sighed while picking up the clothes.
Finally, it’s over.
Looking at the clock, almost ten minutes had passed.
I should hurry back before another problem occurs.
Thinking that, I hurriedly headed towards the washing machine.
At that moment, thud.
With the sensation of something catching my foot, my body started to lean forward.
“Ah, aah?!”
Crash, bang.
The contents of the basket I was holding in both hands spilled out, and my body, with no way to support itself, fell onto the contents.
Ah, damn it.
I have to pick them up again.
My mood sank. Things aren’t going well today.
“I’m sure there was nothing here...”
There shouldn’t have been anything in this area that could catch my foot.
I looked around to see what had caught my foot, but I couldn’t see anything.
...Was it my imagination?
“Sigh, I have to pick them up again...”
How am I going to explain this?
I felt guilty seeing the white clothes covered in dirt and stained.
Those kinds of stains don’t come out easily, so I’ll have to figure out how to fix them somehow.
I picked up the clothes again, trying to soothe my deeply sunken mood.
After putting the picked-up clothes into the washing machine,
Only then did I realize something was strange.
“Huh?”
Feeling the strangeness, I looked at the clock.
The clock was still busily moving, showing the time.
The time that had already passed 15 minutes since I separated from Siwoo.
“Hmm...?”
When I was separated from Siwoo, my breathing would naturally start to become unstable after ten minutes.
For the time to suddenly increase by more than half doesn’t make sense.
I don’t think my body suddenly got better.
Even yesterday, my hand trembled once.
Then what’s different?
Among things related to Siwoo, the reason I can endure longer than before is...
At that moment.
Suddenly, the basket in my hand caught my eye.
Come to think of it, when I fell, something felt warm.
“...”
Gulp.
Should I do this?
Is it really okay to do this?
I don’t even know if this is right or not.
No, but constantly clinging to him until now might have been more of a nuisance.
Compared to that, this much is...
“Arte! Arte, where did you go?! Are you okay?!”
“Eek?!”
“There you are! Arte, are you alright?!”
“Y-Yes... I’m fine.”
“Thank goodness... Let’s go back to the room for now.”
“Ah, no. Before that, I need to...”
“Oh, that. I meant to tell you but forgot. Those are my clothes, so it’s fine to do it later.”
“No, it’s just...”
“Let’s go to the room first.”
Wait a moment...
Even though I tried to say something, Siwoo was busy ushering me into the room.
So, I ended up holding onto something.
One of Siwoo’s clothes.