Chapter 44: Even If You’re Caught in a Tiger’s Den (2)

 

The tiger’s den was full of shelters.

 

The closest one was just a three-minute walk away.

 

“Please open the door!!!”

 

But not a single shelter would open its door. Some people inside were crying and begging us to go somewhere else.

 

Some even cursed at us like madmen when they saw me and the woman.

 

“Get lost, get lost, get lost, get lost. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.”

 

“Wow, they’re swearing like they’re rapping. Really, no compassion at all. Are they saying it’s okay if we get eaten by a tiger...?”

 

I don’t exactly know what this tiger is.

 

Probably some kind of monstrous phenomenon or evil spirit.

 

One thing’s for sure, it’s something so strong that even Cheonji can’t defeat it.

 

I have no desire to fight something like that either.

 

We need to find a shelter or escape quickly, one or the other.

 

“Uh, maybe, it’s because of, me,”

 

Rejected and cursed at by every shelter, the woman behind me had crouched down and was trying to crawl into an abandoned box.

 

“What are you doing? We don’t have time for this.”

 

“The, the box is comfortable. For me.”

 

Does she think she’s a cat or something?

 

Staying here won’t stop the tiger from finding her.

 

Feeling frustrated, I grabbed her hand and led her to look for another escape.

 

Seeing her sullen expression, I decided to meddle a bit.

 

“Don’t worry about what people say. It’s a tough world, and people get sharp because of it.”

 

“...Huh.”

 

The woman looked at me with surprised eyes.

 

So, I decided to meddle a bit more.

 

“You haven’t done anything wrong. It’s the world that’s wrong.”

 

“I haven’t done anything wrong? Really?”

 

“Yes, so stand tall and smile brightly.”

 

“Stand, tall and, smile brightly?”

 

She awkwardly straightened her back and gave a sheepish grin.

 

How should I put it? It was really awkward.

 

But she was naturally pretty, so I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

 

Ahem, her cheeks are turning red.

 

I might seem too eager like this.

 

But I had to say it.

 

“You, you’re really beautiful.”

 

“Be, beautiful. Me. Really?”

 

“Yes, one of the prettiest women I’ve ever seen.”

 

Hearing that, the woman smiled shyly again.

 

“Hehe, hehe.”

 

She laughed like that and then suddenly, a tear fell from her eye.

 

“Oh, sob… sob.”

 

“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad.”

 

“No, no. It’s because I’m such an idiot. You didn’t do anything wrong. You, you, fool! Dummy!”

 

Suddenly, the woman started hitting her own head.

 

Yep, this woman was clearly not in her right mind.

 

Her madness felt different from Nayu’s.

 

At that moment, my phone started ringing again.

 

===

[Web Alert][Safety Notice]

[Seoul Metropolitan Government]

The tiger is still roaming around.

Citizens, please evacuate to shelters immediately.

===

 

Ugh, this is driving me crazy.

 

How are we supposed to evacuate when the shelters won’t open their doors?

 

The tiger’s den is the slum area.

 

That means the streets are like a maze due to haphazard development.

 

Even with a map on my phone, it’s easy to get lost in this labyrinth.

 

Play hide-and-seek with a tiger in this maze?

 

I really have no idea where to run.

 

“This is nuts. It’s my first time coming this deep into the tiger’s den.”

 

Just then, the woman behind me muttered.

 

“Um, excuse me.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Would you like to come to my house? I mean, I’m not forcing you. But since the shelters are all locked…”

 

“Is your house nearby?”

 

The woman nodded vigorously.

 

Looks like we don’t have much choice.

 

“Alright, I’ll take you up on that offer.”

 

“Grr. Great. Come, follow me.”

 

As soon as I finished speaking, she grabbed my hand and led me deep into the alley.

 

This woman, she’s surprisingly strong.

 

Where is she taking me?

 

Is there really a house deep inside the tiger’s den?

 

And so, I followed her further into the tiger’s den.

 

****

 

I never expected to find a place like this deep in the tiger’s den.

 

A mansion that cleverly combined above-ground and underground.

 

The mansion she led me to was luxuriously decorated, like a grand cave.

 

As she entered, a group of people respectfully bowed their heads.

 

“Welcome back, miss.”

 

“Mmm. This is my friend.”

 

“Welcome, friend.”

 

I greeted them with a slight nod.

 

But these people, their eyes seemed unfocused.

 

Almost as if they were spacing out.

 

Well, I get it.

 

Sometimes you space out while working.

 

As soon as she entered the house, the woman threw her shirt far away.

 

“Grr, clothing soaked in sound helps conceal abilities? Nonsense, nonsense...”

 

“Wait, hold on.”

 

The woman was now wearing only her underwear.

 

Which meant I was suddenly staring at a stranger’s bra.

 

What size is that? Definitely over a D cup, right? A black lace bra. That’s way too sexy.

 

Her white skin and ample chest caught my eye.

 

I quickly turned my head away.

 

“Why are you acting like that?”

 

However, the woman looked at me with a genuinely puzzled expression, as if she had no idea why I turned my head.

 

She approached me, still looking completely clueless.

 

“That’s strange. Why are you acting like this all of a sudden? Do you suddenly see me as a monster...?”

 

“No, but why are you showing me your underwear when we barely know each other?”

 

“Underwear...? Oh, my underwear.”

 

She tilted her head slightly.

 

And something swayed with the movement.

 

Sway, sway—

 

Should I just be honest about my desires???

 

No, control yourself, Yoo Hajin!!!

 

You don’t even know who this woman is, and you’re going to stare at her chest?

 

That would be sexual harassment!!!

 

As I turned my head further away, the woman suddenly muttered in an excited voice.

 

“Could it be... that?”

 

She smiled sheepishly and said,

 

“Are you turning away because of my chest?”

 

“Well, what else would it be? Put something on, quickly.”

 

“But what do you think of my chest?”

 

This pervert, why is she asking that out of the blue? I shouldn’t have come here.

 

She really is crazier than I imagined.

 

But seeing her desperate expression, I couldn’t help but answer.

 

“Um, it’s totally my type, and it’s exciting, and why am I saying this? I really, really like it!!!”

 

“Hehe, hehe.”

 

She laughed like an idiot and then said,

 

“I shouldn’t make things harder for you. Hehe, I’ll put on some clothes.”

 

“Of course, you should.”

 

She better not sue me for sexual harassment later.

 

I’m scared. Terrified.

 

But as she dressed, she was subtly conscious of my gaze.

 

“May I know your name?”

 

“My name?”

 

Why? Why does she want to know my name? To sue me?

 

But I have plenty to say for myself.

 

If she wants to sue, let her sue.

 

“It’s Yoo Hajin.”

 

“Yoo Hajin...?”

 

She looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded.

 

“My name is Baek Yoorin.”

 

“Baek Yoorin.”

 

Baek Yoorin. Is that “Yoorin” as in “urininate”? I shook my head at the silly thought.

 

“It’s been so long since there’s been anyone in this house.”

 

Baek Yoorin looked around nervously.

 

Then she glanced at me and spoke.

 

“Are you hungry? I don’t have much food since no one really eats here, but, should I make you some ramen or something? No, I don’t even have ramen.”

 

“No, you don’t have to. Just letting me stay here is a huge help.”

 

Baek Yoorin continued to fidget nervously.

 

Then, she suddenly grabbed my hand and said,

 

“Th-then, how about we play a game or something before you go?”

 

“A game?!”

 

Surely she didn’t mean that kind of game, right?

 

Thankfully, her next words clarified things.

 

“I used to look down on people who played games, calling them hikikomori, but now that I’ve become one myself, uh, there’s nothing as fun as games. It feels like I have a lot of friends in the online world. Hehe.”

 

“Oh, I see.”

 

A true gamer, huh.

 

She’d get along well with Jamsuni.

 

But I could play games at home, too.

 

There’s no need to play games in a weird place like this.

 

Just then, my phone rang again.

 

I glanced at it and saw it was another safety alert message.

 

===

[Web Alert][Safety Notice]

[Seoul Metropolitan Government]

The tiger emergency has ended.

Citizens, please return to your daily activities.

===

 

“It’s finally over.”

 

I put my phone back in my pocket and said,

 

“I’m sorry, but I’ll have to take a rain check on the game. The tiger emergency is over, so I should head back home. If I’m late again today, the little one at home won’t let me off easily.”

 

I didn’t realize so much time had passed already.

 

Lately, Jamsuni gets all fussy if I’m late, so I better head home quickly.

 

“What? Uh, okay?”

 

“Then, I’ll be going now.”

 

“W-wait. I’m not ready yet.”

 

At that moment,

 

something with considerable strength grabbed my wrist.

 

“Don’t go... please...”

 

Baek Yoorin was clutching my wrist, her expression desperate.

 

‘What kind of strength is this…’

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

 

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