The Second Coming of Gluttony - Chapter 3

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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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Episode 3. Son of a Bitch (2)

“I have to scrape together funds somehow if I’m going to get back.”
After standing at Nonhyeon Station for some time, lost in thought, Seol Eun set off down the street.
He was besieged on all sides, but there was still one refuge left.

An alarm clock shrieked. Five-thirty in the morning. Yu Seon-hwa’s eyes snapped open, and she stretched luxuriously, feeling the day already smile upon her.
Morning sunlight streamed through the window and flooded a small photograph frame on the dresser.
Seven people in the image—herself, her younger sister, and five others. The woman studying the photo felt a faint smile bloom across her lips.
Gruff on the surface but with a heart deeper than anyone’s, Uncle Seol. Ajumma, who always made sure she ate well and treated her as tenderly as her own daughter. These two weren’t alone.
There was Seol Woo-seok, the eldest of three siblings who resembled Uncle most—cold-faced but warm-hearted. Seol Jin-hee, the youngest daughter, bubbly and easy to get along with. And then,
A handsome young man grinning softly in the middle, his head tilted as he rested it against her shoulder, her own face bright with an open smile.
“…….”
A shadow of sorrow crossed Yu Seon-hwa’s face as she gazed at the photograph.
When she checked her phone to see the time, the shadow only deepened.

“Already heading out? At least have a cup of coffee before you go.”
“Yeah, I wish I could, but I really need to get there early. I have a piece due today.”
“You didn’t forget anything? You’ve got everything?”
“Of course! I’m not a kid. I’ll be back soon!”
The front door closed, and quick, light footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Left alone, Yu Seon-hwa finished the remaining rice with a smile on her face. Seeing her sister’s bright energy lifted her spirits too. It was a string of days so contented it almost seemed impossible to deserve. She really was happy. If only for one thing.
Yes. She was truly happy. With just one exception.
After finishing her meal and packing a lunchbox with the leftover side dishes, Yu Seon-hwa suddenly laughed at the sound of heavy footsteps thundering down the hallway. Thump-thump—the door began to shake urgently, and as if she’d expected exactly this, she opened the front door.
“See? I told you I packed everything….”
Yu Seon-hwa’s voice froze mid-sentence.
“Were you expecting Seung-hye?”
Standing in front of her was not her younger sister. The young man wore grimy, unkempt clothes, and his body reeked of sewer stench—as if he hadn’t bathed in days. Dark circles shadowed his eyes from an all-nighter.
“You… what are you doing here?”
“Ah, it’s been a while. How’ve you been? This place is always so spotless whenever I come by.”
Seol Eun glanced around, and his eyes landed on the table scraps. He reached out, grabbed food with his dirty hands, and began eating while nodding.
“Tastes good. I’m starving, so this works out. Hey, get me some rice.”
“…….”
“I said get me some rice.”
“Who told you to just walk in here?”
His eyes widened at the venom in her voice.
“Why are you acting like this?”
“Because this is my place. Not yours. You realize this is breaking and entering, right?”
“What are you talking about? And how is this your place? I know your dad put down the whole deposit.”
“I paid that back. It’s been ages since I paid it back—what are you going on about deposits for? And even if it were true, you have no right to be here.”
“…Why are you like this? Between us—”
“Between us what?”
Yu Seon-hwa’s voice turned razor-sharp.
“Don’t get it twisted. We’re done. I’m not anything to you anymore.”
There was more than coldness in her tone—there was poison.
He rolled his eyes around, exhaled deeply, and without another word, threw himself flat on the floor in the middle of the room.
“I’m hungry, so just give me some rice. I walked all the way here, and it was exhausting.”
“Listen! I’m not going to put up with your tantrums anymore. Get up. Get up and get out. Before I call the police.”
The young man let out a scoff—but the moment Yu Seon-hwa actually pulled out her phone, he scrambled to his feet.
“Don’t be like this. Can we talk about us? I came because I wanted to. Sincerely.”
“I have nothing to say. If you really want to talk to me, go to the Casino right now and file for a ban. Then I’ll think about it.”
“Wow, what’s gotten into you today? Why are you so touchy?”
She was past exasperation—her patience was about to snap.
Yu Seon-hwa shut her eyes tight, tilted her head back, and drew in a deep breath.
“…Get out.”
“Really? You’re really going to do this?”
Before he could finish speaking, a scream tore through the air. The anger she’d been holding back finally erupted.
“Do you think I don’t know why you’re here? You came to ask for money again!”
Seol Eun flinched, struck by the accusation.
“Hey, what are you—”
His nervous laughter seemed an attempt to brush it aside, but this was far from the first time he’d tried this trick.
It had been only four months ago that she’d decided to believe in him one last time, after he’d knelt for hours begging her forgiveness.
Now that hollow laugh, which looked almost servile, stirred in Yu Seon-hwa a contempt she’d never felt before.
“I’m done, do you hear me? Not a single won more from me. Not one. Start over? Have I lost my mind? Why? Wasn’t the deposit money you squandered last time enough?”
Yu Seon-hwa pressed on, then broke off breathless, coughing from the force of her tirade.
Seol Eun stood vacant, tongue-tied before her unyielding resolve, yet his lips twisted into something sly and contemptible.
“Look, look—you really are something else…”
For a moment, Yu Seon-hwa wondered if she’d gone too far. Then her ears deceived her.
“What did you just say?”
“What, your ears full of wax? Do you think I’m funny? Damn it.”
Never had she heard such open cursing from him. The shock blanked her mind white.
“You have no right to speak to me like that. When you were struggling and desperate, you clung to me like a burr, didn’t you? Your whole attitude’s changed. I’m not trying to be petty about it, but don’t you remember me taking care of your messes in high school? Day after day you’d sneak out saying you missed your parents, and whenever your sister came looking for you in tears, I’d have to go find you. Every time. Don’t you?”
A wave of nausea rose in her throat, choking her. She tried to swallow it down, but the crushing sense of betrayal kept burning her eyes.
“When you wanted to study abroad and couldn’t afford it? I delayed my own reinstatement to add to your tuition. Even after you left, I worked part-time and sent you money so you wouldn’t starve.”
That was true. She’d wanted to go overseas to chase her dreams, but the reality made it impossible.
Back then, when she’d suffered in silent heartbreak, it was this young man who’d stepped forward. When she’d added his deferred tuition toward her study-abroad fund, the gratitude and guilt had nearly overwhelmed her. How could she ever repay such kindness?
That’s what kind of man he’d been. More caring, more devoted, more steadying than anyone. When they enrolled at the same university and he confessed his feelings, she’d felt like she held the entire world in her hands. When he promised a future together, her happiness was so complete she thought she might die from it. How deeply she had loved him.
But how had it come to this? How had he become so utterly broken?
After trembling like an aspen for a long moment, Yu Seon-hwa sniffed sharply and looked up. Her composure had steadied somewhat, though her eyes and the bridge of her nose remained flushed.
“You bastard.”
“Wh—what?”
Seol Eun stammered, his shock plain rather than anger. He knew well that Yu Seon-hwa despised profanity so intensely she’d barely ever sworn in her life.
“How much?”
Her slightly hoarse voice was resolute—as though some decision had crystallized within her.
“What?”
“How much? The money you sent me when I was studying abroad.”
“Uh… tuition was five hundred, and part-time work money about two hundred?”
“I’ll pay back the tuition to Uncle. You gave it, but it was his money originally. I’ll give you the two hundred right now.”
Yu Seon-hwa, who’d been swallowing her words, immediately switched on her mobile phone.
“Sent. Exactly two hundred. Check it.”
The young man cleared his throat and pulled out his phone. Seeing the account confirmation, he grinned.
“Wow, you’ve got money? How much have you saved?”
“Are we even now?”
Her voice wavered as if wrung from her throat, trembling with barely suppressed tears. Even Seol Eun, who’d been gloating inwardly, flinched at that raw edge. Looking at her, he shrugged.
“Hey. I never asked you for money. Anyone listening would think I robbed you or something.”
“Are we settled? My debt to you?”
“Uh… what?”
“If you’ve confirmed it, leave. There’s nothing between us now. No debt.”
“Here she goes again.”
Unable to endure any longer, Yu Seon-hwa finally crumpled to the floor. As she fought down her rising sobs, the young man scratched his greasy hair awkwardly.
“Fine. I’m going, I’m going.”
Shoes already on, Seol Eun fled the room in a panic, like a thief caught red-handed.
The relief of having finally lashed out lasted only a moment.
Sob… sob… sob…
Through the closed door came the muted sound of her muffled crying, and his mood curdled suddenly into disgust.
Bursting outside, Seol Eun lifted his head and stared at the sky. The morning had already given way to the pure, almost offensively clear blue of late morning.
The fatigue he’d forgotten came rushing back.
After filling his empty stomach at a convenience store, Seol Eun returned to his studio apartment. He switched on the light and collapsed onto the bedding that had gathered a thin layer of dust.
How much time had passed?
It was the hour when the sun had crossed the zenith and begun its descent, and the ruddy twilight had deepened to a murky red.
Boom!
Suddenly, a faint sound rang out, and a circular ripple appeared in empty space.
The undulating waves gathered toward the center, then transformed in an instant into a brilliantly glowing blue shard that fell downward, landing gently against the sleeping Seol Eun’s forehead like a kiss.
A moment later, as the shard began to sink into him like stone into water, it started to disappear.
Twitch.
The body that had lain still as death stirred.
!
Seol Eun’s eyes flew open.

(To be continued)

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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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