It was a change that made him doubt his eyes. It felt like his thought process had temporarily stopped. As he blankly stared at the number that had crossed the ‘1 day barrier’ again,

“Mmph…”

Choi Gang-hu’s lips collided with his again. His tongue, rushing in like a thirsty person, swept over his even teeth with noticeably more skilled movements than the first kiss.

Status: Remaining lifespan 1 day 7 hours 18 minutes

He could see the content of the status window still floating before his eyes changing in real-time.

Status: Remaining lifespan 1 day 7 hours 27 minutes

Status: Remaining lifespan 1 day 7 hours 37 minutes

Status: Remaining lifespan 1 day 7 hours 49 minutes

The more intensely the kiss continued, the steeper the increase in numbers changing by the minute became, albeit slightly. Even while struggling to breathe, his gaze kept going to the status window.

“Where are you looking?”

Choi Gang-hu, who separated their lips with an erotic “chu” sound, gently bit his cheek as if scolding him for looking elsewhere.

“Ugh.”

“You should focus on me.”

The sight of him narrowing his eyes and licking the white cheek where a faint mark remained with his tongue was truly like a wild beast.

“Wait, wait a moment.”

Ryu Seo-ha hurriedly blocked the lips trying to overlap again with his palm. As if startled by the sudden movement, his wrists tied by the necktie complained of a numb sensation.

“Why.”

Choi Gang-hu’s pupils, asking back in a low voice, were dilated larger than usual. As if he had suddenly been deprived of the leisurely feast he was enjoying after a hunt.

Status: Remaining lifespan 1 day 7 hours 58 minutes

But he had no time to consider his mood. All his nerves were drawn to the number that had mercilessly stopped.

Status: Remaining lifespan 1 day 7 hours 57 minutes

The number that had paused briefly started to show a slow downward trend again. As if this was the normal trajectory.

“Ryu Seo-ha.”

A voice with slight urging was transmitted through his palm. Only then could he take in Choi Gang-hu staring intently at him with furrowed brows.

“…There’s something I need to check.”

“What?”

“I’ll take it as cooperation if you don’t avoid it.”

Ignoring the eyebrows rising crookedly as if asking what he meant, he planted a “chu” kiss on Choi Gang-hu’s lips covered by his palm.

Status: Remaining lifespan 1 day 7 hours 57 minutes

However, there was no change in the remaining lifespan. He grasped Choi Gang-hu’s cheeks, who had frozen like a statue with wide eyes, with both hands that weren’t free and pressed his lips against them again.

Chu chu, chu, no matter how many times he pecked his lips, the status window remained unmoved. Choi Gang-hu, whose eyes had grown wide, tried to push his tongue between their connected lips, but he slightly turned his head to avoid it for now.

Even when he experimentally kissed his cheeks, forehead, eyelids, and bridge of nose in turn, the numbers didn’t increase anymore. A sigh tinged with excitement, satisfaction, irritation, and regret tickled the fine hairs on his cheek.

Status: Remaining lifespan 1 day 7 hours 56 minutes

Another minute had decreased in that time. He felt his body, resting on the thick, solid forearms, floating. In the blink of an eye, his body thrown onto the bed was covered by a familiar shadow.

“Are you torturing me now?”

The voice growling like a beast held a faint metallic sound.

“How much longer do I have to endure?”

His pitch-black eyes emitted a dangerous light. Somehow, the air in the room felt completely different. An erotic atmosphere that made the nape of his neck tingle pressed down on his body.

The veins bulging on the back of his hands and arms resting on either side of his head were concerning. Due to an inexplicable tension, he reflexively stuck out his tongue to lightly lick his lower lip. At that moment,

Status: Remaining lifespan 1 day 8 hours 1 minute

Suddenly the number increased. Though only about half compared to when it rose from kissing, the lifespan had clearly extended. The reason pecks didn’t work but kisses did, and why licking his own lips worked… Could it be Choi Gang-hu’s saliva?

Ryu Seo-ha unconsciously wrapped his arms around his lover’s neck. Then, as he licked the lips before him like a mewling kitten, Choi Gang-hu’s pupils contracted sharply.

“This, are you asking to be devoured?”

But Ryu Seo-ha couldn’t listen to the nonsense coming with his roughened breath.

Status: Remaining lifespan 1 day 8 hours 7 minutes

Because his lifespan had increased again. It was clear that some secret was hidden in Choi Gang-hu’s saliva.

“Choi Gang-hu.”

When he called his name with an expression that seemed almost solemn, Choi Gang-hu, who had been hastily pulling at his clothes, paused. Ryu Seo-ha grasped his hand as if covering it and desperately met his eyes.

“Please spit on me.”

“…What?”

His expression became strange at the absurd request. There was no time to care about the gaze suspecting his tastes. It was a situation where the last ember that had been going out without hope was about to be revived right before his eyes.

“Or if you could lend me a little blood…”

As he continued speaking, thinking he should try everything he could, a grumbling sound intruded like an unwelcome guest. Why was his stomach clock acting up so noisily today of all days?

“Ha.”

A low sigh as if deflated tickled his cheek. Feeling embarrassed, Ryu Seo-ha rubbed his flat stomach with his palm. Choi Gang-hu pulled his upper body back with a dejected expression.

“I’ll tell them to prepare a meal.”

Ryu Seo-ha quickly sat up, seizing the opportunity. The touch supporting his shoulder as if helping him stagger was gentle as always. A premature sense of relief came over him.

Fortunately, his anger seemed to have subsided quickly. Thinking that, he nodded. They could have a conversation while eating together. There were things he needed to confess honestly and things he wanted to ask for cooperation with.

“Please untie this first.”

Ryu Seo-ha smiled slightly and shook his wrists tied with the necktie, making his request. He may have been unconsciously certain. That Choi Gang-hu would grant his request even while sighing, as he always did.

“I don’t want to.”

But what came back was a refusal without a hint of smile.

❖ ❖ ❖

A spoon decorated with elaborate mother-of-pearl inlays moved in a smooth parabola and stopped in front of Ryu Seo-ha’s lips.

“Now, say ah─.”

“…”

“Why? Don’t you like the meal composition?”

When he didn’t open his mouth, a voice that immediately turned cold subtly threatened. That the chef’s head might fly if he kept showing reluctance.

Ryu Seo-ha quickly shook his head and obediently ate the food. The arm tightly wrapped around his waist loosened a little. As if rewarding his behavior for quietly following orders.

“Ah─.”

“…I’ll just eat by myself.”

He quietly made a request as the feeding continued again, but the chopsticks floating in the air with telekinesis didn’t budge at all. The eyes meeting his darkened even more.

Choi Gang-hu’s face, frozen as if frost had fallen, was too close. It was because he was sitting on his thick thighs like a small child. Still with his wrists tightly bound.

In the end, Ryu Seo-ha opened his mouth again to receive the food. Only then did a warm breeze settle on the face that had been like an ice sculpture. The change in expression was frighteningly fast.

“Good boy.”

A large hand gently stroked Ryu Seo-ha’s head as if praising him. Meanwhile, another spoon with food approached his mouth.

Though it was clearly only his favorite foods… He felt suffocated. It was enough to seriously wonder if this was some new form of torture.

Even while diligently moving his lips, chewing, he couldn’t fully enjoy the taste. He ate even more earnestly, thinking he should just get through this situation quickly.

“What should we have for dessert?”

After finally finishing the meal, Choi Gang-hu asked affectionately while personally wiping his mouth with a napkin.

“How about pearl ice cream today?”

“Yes, that’s fine. But I have something to tell you…”

As Ryu Seo-ha trailed off, glancing furtively, Choi Gang-hu jerked his chin as if telling him to speak. Smiling gently as if expressing gratitude, he tried to get down to the floor, but a thick arm tightened around his waist.

“Where are you trying to go?”

It was a grip strong enough to make his bones ache. Suppressing a groan, he raised his head to see Choi Gang-hu with an expression like the final villain rather than the protagonist of a novel. Though he wasn’t openly emitting magic power, it felt like his breathing was being choked off.

“I was going to sit, facing you… The posture…”

Choi Gang-hu’s sharp gaze persistently swept over Ryu Seo-ha’s face as he connected words sparsely without giving a proper explanation.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

The low voice asking back in a composed tone was still affectionate as ever. His mind, which had been stumbling at the overwhelming pressure that made his legs weak, finally regained calm. Thanks to that, he was able to attempt conversation again.

“For a serious talk…”

“Then should we go back to the bed?”

But he had to close his mouth soon after hearing the muttering that cut off his words. Though he was speaking as if being considerate, it was a clear threat. A red blinking danger signal rang in his head.

As he quietly shook his head, the pearl ice cream was served. A cute dessert spoon moved on its own, scooping up tiny grains like flying fish roe.

Ryu Seo-ha, about to eat it unconsciously, paused. It was because he felt a flow of magic power from the pastel-colored pearl ice cream. It was a very faint sensation. So faint that he wouldn’t have detected it at all if he hadn’t received magic lectures from Choi Gang-hu.

“Say ah─.”

A large hand caressed Ryu Seo-ha’s chin as if urging him. Choi Gang-hu’s face, which he looked up at by turning his head, was like a freshly carved sculpture. It was an expressionless face that felt discordant with the gentle coaxing voice.

“…What is this?”

Though thinking that he wouldn’t harm him, Ryu Seo-ha’s voice asking carefully was trembling slightly. Choi Gang-hu, meeting his gaze, smiled with curved eyes.

“A tracking device.”