“Damn brat… I’ll never forgive you. Really…”
Nari sat on the stairs of the villa, crying for a long time. It was well past midnight.
She had met her father. As always, Nari was extorted for money, if that term could even be used to describe the encounter. She wished she could express it differently.
It was always like this. Once a year, then every six months, and later every three months. Would it eventually be monthly? Family, it turns out, didn’t mean much.
Even if they are family, if they’re never around when truly needed, it’s all the same. Nari’s father was one of those.
‘This damn Sovereign of Chaos never shows up when needed…’
No indirect messages, no communication. The Sovereign of Chaos always chose to be silent at times like these, as if enjoying Nari’s despair.
Feeling as if the whole world was watching and exploiting her plight, Nari knew crying here would only make her look more pathetic. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve and stood up.
‘I’m used to it now, it’s okay. I have to prepare for tomorrow’s work.’
Flap. As she stood up, something fell from her pocket. Nari picked up a small piece of paper.
「Kang I-hyun | Tell. 010-XXXX-XXXX」
As if spellbound, Nari took out her phone and dialed the number impulsively.
Just wanting someone’s company, not because you said you’d help, not for that reason. I just…
After a brief ring, a voice came from the other side.
[…Hello? Nari? Where are you now?]“Uh… try this, it’s good. Have a taste.”
Nodding silently, Nari sat quietly in front of I-hyun, barely touching the food.
The sizzling sound from the table continued. Nari took a piece of gopchang (Korean grilled intestines) and chewed slowly. The prolonged silence made I-hyun sweat.
Nari had called I-hyun just two hours after giving him her card. When he arrived, she was completely deflated, a stark contrast to her prickly demeanor in her apartment.
‘Did you eat anything?’
At this question, Nari shook her head, so I-hyun took her to a nearby gopchang restaurant that was open late. There weren’t many options at this hour.
Now, Shin Bitnari was quietly eating, not saying a word. Kang I-hyun didn’t know what to say and just sat there silently.
[The Sovereign of Purity advises that sometimes just being there is enough to help.]‘Right, I guess…’
Having gone through family issues, revealing her true identity unwillingly, and now having to rely on someone she treated harshly, it would have been normal for Nari to resent herself. Yet she had turned to him for support, and I-hyun couldn’t leave her alone.
“Should I order some alcohol?”
“…If you want a malicious illusionist throwing magic around while drunk.”
“No, no. Uh, Mr. Owner, just a bottle of cider, please!”
After some time, when Nari seemed a bit calmer, she looked up at I-hyun and asked softly.
“Why did you come?”
“Me?”
“Yeah, it’s late. It’s already dawn, and I treated you so badly. Plus, now you know who I really am.”
“Well…”
I-hyun mumbled, his voice trailing off. He sounded completely deflated, like someone who had lost all confidence. I-hyun looked at Nari.
“I was worried about you.”
“Lies. You responded because you want something from me too.”
Nari fidgeted, looking down.
Nari had learned to live alone since she was ten, after many had left her. The first rule of surviving alone was never to expect selfless kindness from others.
Since ten years ago, the people who deliberately approached Nari or stayed by her side belonged to a certain category.
They were individuals seeking to fulfill their desires through Nari’s help. Whether it was sexual, financial, recognition, or wanting someone to dump their emotional garbage on.
Particularly, there were many who sought to capitalize on Nari’s downfall for their content. And once their desires were moderately fulfilled, they immediately left Nari’s side.
Having experienced this too often, Nari had stopped trusting people.
Even the man in front of her, kind as he seemed now, could have ulterior motives, now that he knew her vulnerability. Therefore, Nari did not let her guard down.
Then why had she called him? Why was she inwardly pleased that he had hurried to her? Why did she want to keep holding on to him, breathless from running? Why had she entrusted her well-being to his seemingly insincere concern? She couldn’t understand it herself.
“Uh…”
Kang I-hyun, in response to Nari’s question, scratched his head awkwardly, appearing quite flustered, as if this was a new experience for him. After a moment of thought, he asked with a slight, sheepish demeanor.
“So… will you grant my wish?”
Nari bowed her head again. There, she saw the same type of person. False hope brings more pain when it crashes. It’s better not to harbor any hope at all. Just as she thought this, the ‘Covenant of Holy Fire’ contract was pushed towards her.
“The content written in the contract. If I change it to asking for friendship, will you agree?”
My Ex-Girlfriend Is The Regent In The Female-dominant World (Male lead transmigrates to the matriarchal world)
Two years ago, Gu Sui picked up a homeless woman in ancient costume from the street.
Apart from occasionally claiming to be a princess from a female-dominant country due to illness, her figure, appearance, intelligence, and martial arts skills were impeccable.
Naturally evolving from roommates to girlfriends, as time went on, Gu Sui found it increasingly difficult to tolerate her queen syndrome.
“Mu Jiulu, can you stop controlling me inside and out? Let’s break up.”
Gu Sui made a breakup call, and since then, he couldn’t find any trace of her.
A year later, Gu Sui, who was planning to move, woke up the next day and found himself in a different place.
“Young Master, today is the day you choose your Wife-master through martial arts competition at Jade Dew Pavilion. Please get up quickly.”
Gu Sui: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
As the only son of a general’s mansion in a female-dominant dynasty, the young empress personally issued a decree allowing Gu Sui to select his Wife-master through martial arts competition. Whoever could defeat him could marry him.
Gu Sui: “……”
He didn’t inherit the original owner’s martial prowess, so anyone could defeat him! And what the hell is a Wife-master?
Forced to come to Jade Dew Pavilion, the densely packed women below made Gu Sui’s agoraphobia act up, and his face was full of resistance.
Until he saw the Regent sitting on the second floor, with a smile on the corner of her lips, her eyes wicked and nonchalant.
Hmm… she looked a little familiar.
It turned out that the Regent also found him a little familiar.
Mu Jiulu fiddled with her bone clasp, her deep gaze locked on the man who was out of place in this world.
“Finally, I found you.”
Male transmigrates into female-dominant world
One-sentence summary: What goes around comes around, taking turns in the crematorium
