A Korean Office Worker Who Became a Nuisance Villainess in a Zombie Story - Chapter 127

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Cyprus had always believed he wasn’t the type to let his guard down. (Or so he thought.)
But now it seemed the time had come to revise his self-assessment.
He had fallen in love with a woman he’d sworn he could never love.
“There’s no way my heart would shatter just because the Princess cries….”
His past words, spoken blindly without seeing even an inch ahead, rang hollow now—he found himself doing every foolish thing imaginable to soothe the tear-stricken expression before him, desperate to comfort her.
(Though if he was being honest, what Cyprus did was less comforting and more infuriating her into drying her tears, which he conveniently ignored.
Well, either way, the tears had stopped, hadn’t they?)
Besides, watching those sharp, cunning eyes glisten with tears felt like his heart was being squeezed tight. What was this? Was something wrong with him?)
“Ow.”
In the end, he’d even taken a punch.
It wasn’t intentional—he hadn’t let Yusara hit him to make her feel better.
He’d genuinely been caught off guard.
‘If I’d been in that state just moments ago, I wouldn’t have resisted even if Yusara had stabbed me with a sword. I would’ve just died.’
Since he hadn’t seen it coming, he couldn’t employ any of the usual techniques—tensing his abs to reduce the impact, or leaning back slightly to evade.
His lower abdomen throbbed where the blow had landed squarely.
In a few hours, there would definitely be bruising.
It wasn’t so bad.
He almost wanted to get a tattoo in the shape of the bruise.
“Go get some ice or something. I hit you with all my strength.”
Yusara looked refreshed, punching like a street thug rather than a noblewoman. Her tears had completely dried by now.
As Yusara descended the rooftop, leaving Cyprus sprawled out flat, she was no longer crying.
Despite having taken a thorough beating just ten seconds ago, he felt quite good.
‘Getting hit feels good.’
Amused by his own pathetic state, he chuckled to himself as he climbed down from the rooftop.
Unlike Yusara, who descended the ladder safely, Cyprus jumped directly from the roof.
‘I must really disgust her.’
No suggestion to come down together, no offer to apply medicine—nothing.
He craned his neck and peered into the inn just to be sure, but it was silent.
Yusara hated him.
It was endearing, yet bittersweet.
Cyprus landed on the dirt ground holding an empty hot chocolate cup, and at that exact moment, General encountered him returning from a walk around the neighborhood.
“….”
“….”
In the darkness, a white fluffy mass looked up at the tall man—black pupils, a moist nose, one ear flipped inside out that fluttered with each step.
Cyprus instinctively shielded his thigh, wary, and awkwardly greeted him.
“…Hello?”
“….”
“Been for a walk? Since you’re a street dog by origin, you’re quite independent. You even know how to take care of your health.”
“….”
“Ah, I’m not covering this because I’m afraid you’ll come at me again—I just took an incredibly powerful punch to the stomach, so if I get hit again, the damage would be worse…”
General looked up at Cyprus, who was fumbling through excuses, then turned his head with a sharp motion.
He walked over to the pillar at the inn’s entrance, lifted one leg to mark his territory, and then simply walked through the open door inside.
“Hey, hey, where are you going…? Don’t go. Stay with me. I’ll give you a snack….”
Click.
The door closed at just the right moment.
Cyprus, who had been completely ignored by the dog, muttered in a daze.
“Do you… hate me too?”
He waited for a moment, but neither did the puppy that had gone in first come back out, nor did Yusara emerge with any ointment.
Cyprus, standing blankly, rubbed the spot where he’d been hit.
“…This really hurts.”
Were fists particularly painful when thrown by people with naturally lean hands?
Cyprus glanced at his own fist—large and covered with calluses, hard as a stone—then entered the dining room attached to the inn through the back door.
There sat Praha, chin resting on his hand, with a glass of strawberry juice before him. His hair, which he’d apparently run his fingers through in impatience, was disheveled in a way that looked devastatingly melancholic.
Indeed, the face was everything.
How infuriating.
‘Surely it wasn’t Yusara who messed up that hair.’
Running her fingers through those thick, silky strands, feeling them wrap around her hand, brushing down along the scalp…
At that thought, I felt inexplicably irritated.
“Ha ha.”
At Cyprus’s irritated laugh, Praha finally glanced at him.
His smooth face looked particularly handsome today, and it was genuinely infuriating.
‘Why did he come dressed up like a prince?’
Trying to show off that he’s the Crown Prince?
You should just wear thick glasses and a burlap sack. I’m supposed to be the most handsome person here.
Cyprus, thinking thoughts uncharacteristically childish, set down the cup he’d brought onto the table with a thud.
Praha spoke without even glancing at Cyprus’s state.
“The wound is deeper than I thought.”
“What?”
“Is there a way for me to fully understand it?”
“You’re asking me that right now?”
Cyprus let out a hollow laugh.
There was no need to ask who the subject of that sudden remark was.
Who else could it be?
These days, Praha only talked about one person.
Like a dog that won’t let go once it bites.
Cyprus, crossing his arms, spoke.
“Even if I knew, why would I tell you? I’m your rival.”
Only then did Praha lower his eyes to look at Cyprus.
Praha was sitting while Cyprus was standing.
Yet he was looking down at him despite being seated.
Truthfully, I wanted to punch my friend right then and there.
And Praha was pouring fuel on that fire.
Praha spoke.
“You can’t be my rival, Cyprus.”
“….”
“Do you really think she sees you as a man?”
He was hitting me where it hurt.
Cyprus’s lips curled into a smirk as he mocked his friend.
“So that’s why you cried?”
“….”
“I saw you crying alone on the Rooftop. You shared a cup of hot chocolate, had a deep conversation, and came back down together.”
“….”
“Isn’t a man who comforts you better than one who wounds you?”
Hearing those words, Praha rose quietly from his seat.
Crack—
And threw a punch at Cyprus’s face.
Unlike with Yusara, Cyprus saw it coming and didn’t dodge.
The fist connected squarely with Cyprus’s face, and he tumbled backward with a crash. The table, pushed by his massive frame, toppled over, and cups shattered.
Cyprus ran his tongue over the inside of his split lip and grinned at Praha.
“My turn now?”
And once more—crack.
After exchanging blows amicably, both men lay sprawled on the Dining Room floor. Cyprus let out a hollow laugh as he surveyed the wreckage around them. A single exchange of punches had destroyed the place.
It was the first time I’d fought this childishly since I was eight years old.
From the corner of my eye, Praha lay flat on his back, breathing heavily in silence. The Servant Boy who’d peeked in at the commotion let out a gasp of disbelief and hurried away, mouth agape.
After a long moment, Cyprus spoke.
“Hey.”
“…What.”
“Whoever is chosen between us two… or even if someone else entirely is chosen, let’s not be ugly about jealousy.”
“But waiting on the sidelines hoping the choice changes is allowed?”
“That’s allowed.”
Of course it should be allowed.
Because right now, his odds seem higher than mine.
And he doesn’t seem to realize it.
So I’ll have to be cowardly about this.
“Use every dirty, underhanded method you can. I’ll use them too.”
“Even killing you?”
“That’s not allowed.”
“….”
“Praha.”
“What.”
“If you were chosen, could you make her happy?”
“Yes.”
“….”
“What about you?”
“I….”
I’d meant to answer, ‘Of course I can,’ but for some reason, the words wouldn’t leave my tongue.
Was this what conscience felt like? As Cyprus—who had lived his entire life without it—hesitated before this unfamiliar sensation, Praha raised his upper body.
Those infuriatingly beautiful amber eyes fixed on Cyprus with unwavering intensity.
He asked as though determined not to miss a single detail.
“Why did you hate her?”
It was another question with much left unsaid, but Cyprus understood it instantly.
‘Why did you hate Yusara in the past?’
“You’re curious about that now?”
“I became curious.”
“….”
“Isn’t it time you told me?”
Yes, it was probably time to tell him now….
But.
“You don’t need to know.”
Cyprus shrugged with a nasty smile, as if to say, ‘Have you ever seen someone reveal their weaknesses to a rival?’
Praha didn’t press further.
He simply wiped his cheekbone with the back of his hand, where bruises were already beginning to bloom a sickly green.
Even those marks on his face looked like adornment. He really was beautiful to behold.
“Hey.”
“…What now.”
“I’m a fool for women.”
“You’re only realizing that now?”
“Ha ha.”
No, I’m truly a fool.
Despite all the reasons I shouldn’t love her scattered everywhere, I ignored them all and ended up loving her anyway.
Even though I feel guilty about that fact, I can’t possibly stop.
It’s not easy.
It’s not happiness.
It’s like holding a cactus in my bare hand.
But Cyprus was the kind of man who could grip his fist even tighter while staring at the thorns embedded in his palm.
* * *
“We should… treat our faces, right?”
“Don’t ask the obvious.”
“I have a magical salve for bruises.”
“Hand it over.”
“You should say ‘please’, Praha.”
Smack!
[Inn Owner’s Invoice]
– Lodging
– Meals
– Various service charges for preparing bathwater, purchasing dog treats, delivering boxes from the Costume Room to the room, and other errands
– Replacement cost for broken Dining Room table and chairs

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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