Novel Lived
Chapter 10 - Wish Granting Coupon
Chapter 10 - Wish Granting Coupon
Chapter 10: Wish Granting Coupon
TL: Aniea
“Woo-ju ssi is quite good at shooting too.”
Kim Eun-ha tilted her head while looking at my target. Out of a total of 6 shots, 4 were 10 points each, and 2 were 9 points. Adding up to a total score of 58.
Considering it was pistol shooting, I thought it was an absurdly high score to just be called ‘quite’ good. The problem was that Kim Eun-ha had scored a perfect 60.
“The recoil of the pistol was a bit unfamiliar, but aligning the sight and controlling my breathing were similar to when I shot the K-2 in the military, so it was manageable.”
“Oh, really?”
“……”
Kim Eun-ha gave a look of amusement, almost as if she was placating a child. Unknowingly, the corners of my mouth twisted.
“Do you want to bet with me?”
“You’ll regret it.”
“Me? Or Eun-ha ssi?”
“Hmm… Alright. I didn’t expect you to challenge me after seeing my shooting skills. I didn’t know Woo-ju ssi liked being on the losing side.”
“Don’t cry when you lose to me.”
“With just those skills?”
“Your tongue is too long.”
Huhu-
Kim Eun-ha, with a broad smile on her face, called over an employee. After explaining our situation, she promptly got ready for shooting.
“The model will be the same. We’ll use a total of 6 bullets. The scoring method will be the same as on the target. Should I give you some sort of handicap?”
“Are you laying the groundwork for excuses?”
“···I don’t know where this confidence comes from. So, what will you put on the line for the bet?”
“In such cases, a wish granting coupon is the universal rule.”
“That sounds like a loss for me.”
“Scared?”
“···I’ll accept. I’m going to win anyway.”
Squirm-
Kim Eun-ha’s mouth twisted. That wasn’t acting; it was a real expression of discomfort. I could instinctively tell.
She probably thinks she’ll definitely win. But I feel the same way.
‘I’ve got the feel from the last shooting.’
I didn’t tell Kim Eun-ha, but I have never missed being an expert marksman in the military.
So much so that my battalion commander, amazed by my shooting skills, asked if I had considered becoming a sniper.
Had I not known that I would have to become a professional sergeant and at least get promoted to staff sergeant, I might have really become one.
‘That’s not what’s important right now.’
Hoo-
I took a long breath to clear my mind. The most basic thing for precise shooting is to have a steady body and mind.
‘In a way, this is similar to acting.’
When acting, one must carefully control gestures, steps, breathing, and emotions. That’s necessary for the audience to be immersed.
Compared to that, shooting is easier. At least there’s no need to manage expressions.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
While I was doing my own mind control, the employee finished setting up. After answering, I picked up the gun following the employee’s guidance.
Ah, this cool and heavy sensation.
It’s been a while.
“Wow, you’re really trying to win this time.”
Kim Eun-ha’s sarcasm came from beside me, but it couldn’t affect me at all, as I was completely immersed.
Spread your legs shoulder-width apart.
Right hand holds the grip.
Left hand just supports.
Sss- Hoo-
Steadying my breath, I extend my arms forward. Align the front sight with the rear sight and the target. At this moment, stop breathing precisely.
Bang-!
I felt it the moment I shot.
This is undoubtedly a 10 point shot.
“10 points!”
The employee’s shout confirmed later. This is the most dangerous moment. It’s easy to lose your posture thinking you’ve done well.
So here, it’s important to calmly accept this as a matter of course.
‘Hitting 10 points is natural for me.’
So there’s no need to get overly excited. I align the wavering sight again amidst endless self-hypnosis. From the 2nd bullet onwards, rhythm is important.
Bang-! Bang-! Bang-!
The sound of gunfire resonated in a steady rhythm. I didn’t need to listen to the employee’s shouts that followed. They were all 10 points.
“Perfect score, 60 points!”
“Oooh!”
Clap clap clap-
After completing the safety check and putting down the gun, the employees nodded and applauded.
I nodded lightly towards them as a way of saying thanks and then immediately turned my head towards Kim Eun-ha.
There could be no score higher than mine.
The best she could do was to tie with me.
Being the second shooter comes with much more pressure…
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of the gunshots spread at regular intervals, in perfect rhythm. Everyone turned their heads towards this beautiful performance without a hint of disarray.
“Huh, so it’s a tie?”
Kim Eun-ha, skillfully completing the safety check and putting down the gun, untied her hair that she had tied up for smooth shooting and smiled.
At first glance, it seemed like she was just re-tying her hair band because it was uncomfortable, but to me, it was a clear provocation.
“Do you want to surrender?”
“···What a funny joke.”
That day, we ended up using all the Magnum rounds at the shooting range.
.
.
.
After all the shooting was over.
We entered a private resting room set up on one side of the shooting range. It was a space where we could talk without worrying about other people’s eyes.
“Eun-ha ssi.”
“······.”
“How long are you going to sulk?”
“I’m not sulking!?”
“So, you admit defeat?”
“It was a malfunction!”
Kim Eun-ha shouted as if she was wronged. During the shooting, a bullet had jammed in the magazine causing a malfunction.
As a result, one of Kim Eun-ha’s shots was counted as a miss. Afterwards, I ruthlessly scored perfect points and ultimately clinched victory.
“You should have shot more gently.”
“What does that have to do with anything! Smith & Wesson guns hardly ever malfunction, so it was just purely bad luck···.”
“Have you ever heard that luck is also a skill?”
Thump-!
Kim Eun-ha punched my shoulder. The impact was heavier than I expected, and a groan slipped out, but a smile kept spreading across my face.
It was amusing that Kim Eun-ha was expressing her emotions so fiercely. This made her step back from me in shock.
“···Pervert.”
“Hey, can you say that to me?”
“Huh?”
“I have the ‘Wish Granting Coupon’ right now. Well, if Eun-ha ssi won’t honor the promise, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
People like Kim Eun-ha take promises very seriously. It’s a matter of their pride, and they hardly ever break them.
Click-
Proving this, Kim Eun-ha bit her lip hard. She seemed to have a lot she wanted to say.
“What more do you want from me?”
“Why the sudden informality?”
“···Yo.” (TL: The ‘Yo’ is literal translation as there isn’t direct translation to denote formality in sentence like in Korean language)
Kim Eun-ha added a reluctant ‘yo’ at the end, her voice shrinking. It was curious why she was suddenly embarrassed after using formal language until now.
“Ahh, I’ll let it slide because I’m an adult aaaack-!”
Suddenly, Kim Eun-ha, who had moved closer to me, pinched my side. She pinched so hard that a childish scream, not an act, escaped my lips.
I reached out to retaliate but stopped when I saw Kim Eun-ha shielding herself with both hands.
“Playing dirty, really.”
“What did I do?”
“Should I do the same to you?”
“Go ahead.”
“······.”
“I’m sorry! I surrender! I surrender!”
As I approached her seriously, removing all traces of laughter, Kim Eun-ha quickly apologized, waving her hands in the air.
···Looks can be deceiving.
Unable to stay angry, I let out a deep sigh to end the situation. Then, Kim Eun-ha cautiously approached me, checking my reaction.
“Are you okay?”
“No. I think I got a bruise.”
“···I’ll transfer the treatment cost separately.”
Kim Eun-ha looked genuinely sorry, probably not having intended to hurt me. I thought it was annoying enough, so maybe it was time to let it go.
“How much will you give me?”
“······.”
Poke poke-
Instead of answering, Kim Eun-ha poked my side with her index finger. Her actions, uncharacteristic of her, were surprisingly cute.
If even this was a fabricated act, then I thought I wouldn’t be able to trust anyone anymore.
* * *
“···In the end, we just ended up shooting a lot.”
“Wasn’t it fun?”
“It was fun.”
Of course, it would be fun spending thousands of won per bullet like that. That was a problem in its own right.
“But weren’t we supposed to be on a date today?”
“We are on a normal date, aren’t we?”
“······.”
Seeing Kim Eun-ha’s innocent expression, still not cooled down from the excitement of shooting, I realized that perhaps my understanding of the word ‘normal’ was incorrect.
“···Isn’t this normal?”
She’s quick to notice, sensing something unusual. She began to probe me with a sidelong glance.
“Eun-ha ssi, I’m just asking out of curiosity.”
“Hmm?”
“Are you a mossol?” (TL: mossol is a korean slang meaning single since birth)
“How could that be possible?”
Kim Eun-ha immediately and firmly rebutted without a moment’s hesitation. Her expression was as if to say, ‘What nonsense are you talking about?’
“With my looks, charm, and even being a part of the Mirae group’s lineage, it’s impossible for me to be mossol. Why would I be looking for a romance?”
“······.”
An incredible self-indulgence.
It was as if she would casually ask the mirror, ‘Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?’ when alone at home.
The problem is that everything she said was close to objective facts, leaving me without much to rebut.
Perhaps growing up in such circumstances, she fell deeper into narcissism.
But why do I feel this strange sense of déjà vu?
“Have you ever dated someone for more than three months?”
“···Of course!”
She seemed to hesitate for a moment there.
Noticing my skeptical look, she quickly added an explanation in her fluster.
“I even had a fiancé!?”
“Eun-ha ssi, were you divorced?”
“No, why would you say that!?”
Sigh-
Kim Eun-ha touched her forehead and shook her head. After a deep sigh, she elaborated a bit more.
“It was a political marriage arranged by adults. Ah! Of course, nothing formal like documents happened, it was more like a ‘let’s have a meal together someday’ sort of thing. We didn’t take it seriously···.”
“Why are you suddenly making excuses?”
“Ugh, I should have kept quiet.”
Kim Eun-ha closed her eyes tightly, organizing her thoughts. It was quite some time before she opened them again.
“Anyway, to me, it was just like a childhood friend.”
“It’s not Seo Jun-woo, is it?”
“Why would Seo Jun-woo ssi come up in this?”
“Usually, that’s the cliché… Nevermind. I spoke unnecessarily. It seems like I’ve watched too much drama, as Eun-ha ssi said.”
“How bland.”
Pfft-
Kim Eun-ha smiled lightly. I responded with the same smile. It felt like digging any deeper would be inappropriate.
Of course, I was curious about this supposed fiancé, but after all, I was hired to prevent exactly that. Eventually, I would probably get to hear the details.
“What about you, Woo-ju ssi?”
“Yes?”
“Are you… a mossol?”
There was a strange feeling. Kim Eun-ha’s voice and expression were no different from usual, but something made me want to tease her.
“Eun-ha ssi. I majored in theater and film.”
“Huh? What does that have to do with anything?”
“It’s a place where all of Korea’s handsome men and beautiful women gather. Especially energetic young people in their 20s. It’s practically the animal kingdom… Where are you going!?”
“To the bathroom.”
“You just went.”
“So what. Don’t follow me.”
“Are you jealous right now… Cough-!”
Kim Eun-ha ruthlessly struck my solar plexus. It was as if she had formally learned martial arts; the punch was powerfully effective.
I could only watch her leaving without any regret.
.
.
.
“···Are you okay?”
Shortly after returning from the restroom, Kim Eun-ha asked with a concerned tone. Seeing the beverages in her hands, it seemed she felt somewhat guilty.
“I’m not okay.”
“How much should I pay you?”
“Do you think everything can be solved with money?”
“I’ve transferred two million won to you, including for the previous incident.”
“Do you want to hit me one more time?”
“······.”
Zzzzip-
There was a murderous look in her eyes, as if another sincere punch was about to fly. I quickly pretended to zip up my mouth.
“How can someone be so annoying?”
“That’s my charm.”
“You don’t do this in front of others, do you?”
“Of course not.”
According to the contract, even when no one is watching, I’m completely consumed by the chaebol concept.
It’s a mentally exhausting job without a doubt. I feel particularly more relaxed around Kim Eun-ha, who knows my situation.
“Then that’s a relief.”
“You seem to be in a good mood.”
“Do you really want to get hit?”
“If it’s a million won per hit… Just kidding! Just kidding!”
I quickly backed off, fearing more hits would chill my bones.
Kim Eun-ha glared at me intensely. I swallowed an awkward laugh and changed the topic.
“Let’s get to the main point now.”
“The main point?”
“I’ve decided how to use the Wish Granting Coupon.”
“···What is it?”
Kim Eun-ha twitched her eyebrows as if anxious. To meet her expectations, I smiled brightly and continued.
“Would you like to go to a hotel with me?”
Crunch-!
The can of beverage in Kim Eun-ha’s hand was horribly crushed.
****
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