Adjusting the Gangster Male Lead’s Intensity [Novel] Chapter 38

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 38

Chapter Title: Secrets of the Bad Ending

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Walking back to her room, Yi-hae Baek mulled things over.

‘Will the sound of my call with Eun-seol Yeo leak outside? She seems to have a lot to say too, and with my time limit, it'd be great if I could quickly uncover her true identity.’

Yeol Seo and I-heum Seo were deep in conversation, so they probably wouldn't summon her until dinner. Do-gyeom Seo had piled on plenty of review homework, so she should be fine for the time being.

Arriving at her door, Yi-hae Baek glanced toward Do-gyeom Seo's room.

After a moment of furtively checking her surroundings, she quietly opened the door and slipped inside. Her heart pounded wildly, as if she were sneaking off for an illicit affair.

She first sent Eun-seol Yeo a text asking if she could talk, then propped her chin on her hand.

“......Yes or no answers only, huh.”

It seemed restrictive at first glance, but flip that around and it meant no limit on the number of questions—there was a positive side to it.

Eun-seol Yeo, who seemed to know Do-gyeom Seo's personality. And who appeared to have memories from when Yi-hae herself was a woman.

Yi-hae Baek picked up a ballpoint pen and jotted down several words in her notebook.

She wrote regression, reincarnation, possession on the paper, marking an X next to each.

‘Similar, she said.’

Her reluctance to use game metaphors suggested it definitely wasn't the same situation as Yi-hae Baek's. She added the word dream beside them.

‘She might have glimpsed the game scenario in a dream. That could explain why she described it as similar to regression or possession.’

Yi-hae Baek let out a deep sigh. Even with no limit on questions, pinpointing the exact truth was no easy task.

After a moment's hesitation, she spoke up.

“Player, are you listening?”

A screen popped up in midair like a chat window. The quick response, as if it had been watching her ponder, was a bit irritating, but she didn't let it show.

“You said you'd answer my questions last time. Can you do it now?”

“That barely counts as an answer. You didn't help at all in the end.”

Yi-hae Baek scowled fiercely at the cutesy act that didn't suit it. If the Player had a physical form in front of her, she looked ready to grab it by the collar.

“Cut the crap. What you want is this game's happy ending, right? Let's not waste energy on nonsense and cooperate.”

Yi-hae Baek wanted to get home. The Player wanted to see the happy ending.

She briefly wondered why the Player was so obsessed with the happy ending, but quickly brushed it aside. Her own goals mattered more than some faceless entity's motives.

Fortunately, the Player seemed willing to talk. Still whispering in case her voice carried, Yi-hae Baek replied.

“Information on Eun-seol Yeo. Nothing that could derail the plot too much.”

Weak question or not, Yi-hae Baek was shameless. Under her threatening glare demanding full cooperation, the Player fell silent for a moment before another window appeared.

Who would've thought that flashy blonde hair was dyed.

Having unwittingly gleaned Eun-seol Yeo's personal info, Yi-hae Baek's eyes widened at the final detail. Bad ending.

It was an answer she hadn't even considered.

“Bad ending? I know about happy and sad endings, but a bad ending too?”

A sad ending was harsh enough for the female lead. Something worse than that?

Right—in that scenario, forcing a confession from the despairing female lead would be the sad ending.

Yi-hae Baek tilted her head. The Player continued.

“......You're lying. No matter how unhinged Do-gyeom Seo gets, he wouldn't kill someone he loves.”

Yi-hae Baek denied the unbelievable info. But she had no basis to judge its truth.

If it was real, it gave Eun-seol Yeo, who remembered the bad ending, plenty of reason to hate Do-gyeom Seo.

Clutching her dizzying head, Yi-hae Baek pressed on.

“Why does Eun-seol Yeo have those memories? And he's a guy now. His build screams male—no way it's a disguise.”

“You mean a chance for a normal romance with Do-gyeom Seo? ......Then why's he a guy now?”

Did that mean Eun-seol Yeo's hidden taste was love between men?

Either way, if Eun-seol Yeo wanted the happy ending too, achieving Yi-hae Baek's goal would be straightforward. Do-gyeom Seo might like her now, but fate would shift his affections to Eun-seol Yeo eventually.

The thought made her heart sting just a little.

“So Eun-seol Yeo saw it in a dream and remembers it? He said no to regression or reincarnation.”

The Player was proving more useful than expected—enough that she might not even need to ask Eun-seol Yeo directly.

But Yi-hae Baek kept her expression indifferent as she continued questioning. She planned to squeeze every last drop of info.

“Why can't you share info on me? Does he have a Player attached like you do for me?”

“......Meaning death.”

The Player didn't deny it. Yi-hae Baek let out a hollow chuckle.

‘What a pair we make—what the hell are we even doing?’

Only now did she understand why Eun-seol Yeo had that wistful look wishing she'd noticed, yet never explained. In some ways, his position might be even more frustrating than hers.

‘Who am I to pity anyone in my shoes?’

Still, they both aimed for the happy ending, making him a perfect ally. No need to probe further—she felt a wave of relief.

Yi-hae Baek smiled, her face much lighter.

“Thanks for the info. You can be helpful sometimes.”

Its ready cooperation was a tad suspicious, but she chalked it up to the Player wanting the happy ending too.

“Huge praise.”

She knew it lacked conviction even to her, but whatever.

Right on cue, her phone rang from Eun-seol Yeo. Smiling, she hit accept. No more Player messages meant no more windows.

“Hello?”

“What did you do?”

Such sudden grilling.

Caught off guard, Yi-hae Baek just blinked as Eun-seol Yeo pressed impatiently.

“What did you do to lift the restrictions just for you?!”

Evidently, things had shifted after Yi-hae Baek got info from the Player. Guessing the situation, Yi-hae Baek started to respond, then pouted.

‘But why's he still censored even after his restrictions lifted?’

No matter the process, it was good for him, yet here he was throwing a tantrum.

“Beats me—what are you even talking about? Did your restrictions suddenly lift or something?”

Yi-hae Baek played dumb with shameless poise. Any faint sympathy evaporated instantly.

“You know something, don't you? I knew something was off from the start. No one was supposed to be by Do-gyeom Seo's side.”