Adjusting the Gangster Male Lead’s Intensity [Novel] Chapter 9

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 9

Chapter Title: I Want to Go Home

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Yi-hae Baek ran toward Do-gyeom Seo's room without so much as a glance behind her.

The first floor was too far away, and he was the only vaguely trustworthy person who came to mind.

"Do-gyeom! Save me!"

I-ryeong Cha, who had been pursuing her, flinched at Yi-hae Baek's shout.

'I'm saved!'

She'd been fretting that Do-gyeom might get dragged into it too, but it was a blessing amid misfortune.

"Why?"

Do-gyeom voiced his doubt upon seeing Yi-hae Baek and I-ryeong Cha in the hallway. With no apparent danger in sight, it was a natural question.

Yi-hae Baek's mouth fell open.

'She tried to kill me! But even if I say that, he won't believe me. She's prettier, after all.'

It was bizarre logic, but she knew Do-gyeom had zero trust in her.

No interest, either. That must be why the status window still labeled her a side character.

"Hello, young master."

I-ryeong Cha approached slowly, flashing a smile as lovely as if it were painted.

Do-gyeom gave a slight nod in casual greeting before turning his gaze back to Yi-hae Baek.

"What scared you?"

"Huh?"

She'd expected him to snap at her for causing a fuss over nothing, but it was an unexpected question.

Yi-hae Baek flapped her mouth for a moment, glanced sideways at I-ryeong Cha, then slowly shook her head.

"It's nothing. Sorry... I thought I saw a huge cockroach, but I must've been mistaken."

"You're screaming like that over a bug?"

"I really hate bugs..."

She gave an awkward smile, but she could feel I-ryeong Cha staring right at her. It was the leisurely gaze of someone observing how she'd act next.

That sent chills down her spine, making her shiver. Do-gyeom watched her for a moment, then stepped forward, putting her in the lead.

"Let's go."

"W-where?"

"The dining hall. I was heading to get you anyway."

Whether by design or chance, Do-gyeom positioned himself between Yi-hae Baek and I-ryeong Cha.

He was a fledgling Yakuza too, someone she should be wary of, so why did his presence behind her make her feel safe?

"Yeah. Let's go together."

Yi-hae Baek replied with a sigh of relief. She'd once scoffed at his warnings to fetch her when danger loomed, but now she understood.

'Do-gyeom probably doesn't suspect I-ryeong Cha, but he must've figured someone else could be a threat.'

It was a place full of dangerous people, even if they were guests of I-heum Seo.

Yi-hae Baek's face crumpled. She'd just realized anew how terrifying this place was.

'I want to get out of here.'

No, if possible, back to her original world.

Unlike her usual self, she trudged along listlessly. She felt Do-gyeom's gaze but ignored it.

I-heum Seo had arrived at the dining hall first, as always. Yi-hae Baek followed Do-gyeom thoughtlessly and didn't even notice she'd sat in Yeol Seo's spot.

Yeol Seo arrived soon after and pointed angrily.

"Hey, Beggar Pumpkin! Why are you in my seat? Yours is over there!"

"Ah... Sorry."

Yi-hae Baek, who had been hanging her head, finally grasped the situation and apologized quietly in a daze.

She didn't even notice Yeol Seo's surprised expression at her apology.

"Forget it. Sit."

Do-gyeom stopped her as she rose weakly to move seats, grabbing her wrist and seating her again. He turned to the flustered Yeol Seo.

"Yeol. Sit across from me today."

"What? But the seat next to you is mine!"

"......"

Do-gyeom didn't repeat himself, merely glancing at Yeol Seo. Under the silent pressure, Yeol puffed his cheeks but moved without a word.

I-heum Seo watched the switched seats and situation with interest, then looked at Yi-hae Baek. She still wore a vacant expression.

"......"

"......"

It was an unusually quiet mealtime lately.

Ever since Yi-hae Baek arrived, her chattering had filled the air, leaving no room for silence.

The familiar quiet now felt unbearably awkward. Even young Yeol Seo sensed something off, sneaking glances at her while eating.

Yi-hae Baek poked at her food before setting her utensils down. Still, she didn't leave until the others finished.

"You can go first."

I-heum Seo stood, not even realizing he was concerned for Yi-hae Baek.

He wondered if she was watching him.

Maybe she'd stand if he did first. If not, she'd always come pestering him with pranks around this time anyway.

"......?"

But Yi-hae Baek didn't rise from her chair even as he left the dining hall.

With no expected ambush, I-heum Seo felt an odd emptiness and glanced back. Her playful gaze that used to chase him was absent.

I-heum Seo departed, trying to ignore the strange feeling.

"Get up."

As soon as I-heum Seo left, Do-gyeom rose as if waiting and spoke to Yi-hae Baek.

She stood blankly like a broken machine and followed him. Yeol Seo, who usually went separately, trailed after them.

"What's with you, Beggar Pumpkin? You sick or something? If you're sick, go to the hospital and stop being a nuisance!"

It was an exasperating remark, deliberately mean to provoke a reaction, but none came.

Instead, Do-gyeom chided his brother gently.

"Yeol."

"But she ruined dinner today."

"It's the same as before she came."

Just unusually lively with her around. All because of one person.

As the elevator rose to the third floor with just the three of them, Yi-hae Baek burst into the tears she'd been holding back.

"Hwahhh."

Do-gyeom turned at her childish sobbing and sniffling. Yeol Seo looked disgusted.

"What the heck, Beggar Pumpkin?! Why are you crying?! Who bullied you? You never cried when I did!"

"I hate it here. I wanna go home."

"I hate you being here too! Just go already!"

"But I can't. I want to, but I can't..."

Yeol Seo, poised to retort as usual, faltered at that and just gaped.

He knew, even if vaguely, that Yi-hae Baek had lost her parents and was stuck here.

To the two who didn't know the details, she seemed a pitiful soul whose bottled-up grief had finally overflowed.

"Big bro, what do we do?"

Yeol Seo, who never cared about others' moods, awkwardly sought Do-gyeom's help.

He didn't want to comfort her himself, but he didn't want to abandon her either. Do-gyeom sighed and approached slowly.

He placed a hand on the crown of Yi-hae Baek's head, where her sobs poured out, and patted gently.

"This is your home. If something scares you, tell me. I'll take care of it."

Yi-hae Baek's teary eyes turned to him. Her smiling face had that effect, but her crying face made his stomach churn too.

Do-gyeom couldn't understand the strange feeling that came over him every time he saw Yi-hae Baek.

"You don't know anything either. You wouldn't believe me anyway."

"You haven't even tried telling me."

Yi-hae Baek clamped her mouth shut. Seeing that, Do-gyeom thought to himself.

Could someone have tried harming her despite I-heum Seo's warning?

Should he summon O Seo-bang, gather everyone, and extract confessions through torture? As he pondered, Yi-hae Baek tugged his sleeve.

"......Will you really fix it?"

"......"

Do-gyeom had no interest in small animals, but Yi-hae Baek suddenly seemed tiny, like a little critter.

Her reddened eyes evoked a rabbit; her habit of stuffing food like hoarding evoked a hamster.

"Yeah."

He didn't know what "cute" felt like, but he wanted to protect her.

Pity for the weak, perhaps.

Unaware of his thoughts, Yi-hae Baek blinked at his answer, exhaled in relief, and grinned foolishly.

Truly like a fool.

Yet it was a smile he strangely couldn't tear his eyes from.