The Legendary Programming Mage

Honestly, I was a bit unsure whether to play the game with Sylvia or not.

Regardless of who she was now, her soul still belonged to Kim Jin-ah, the cop who always found a trace of me.

That was why, throughout our discussion, I tried my best not to slip; though her insults hit me from time to time, I never did.

Ask questions anyone would want to know.

Don't say too much or too little.

However, it seemed my acting couldn't fool her completely because—

"Hey, Allen..."

What does she want now?

Sylvia leaned toward me and whispered, "I forgot to tell you something important… The game revealed who you were before reincarnation."

Wait — is she for real?

No, it might be a lie, but that doesn't explain...

I forced myself to relax.

After a pause, she leaned even closer, her mouth brushing my ear. "Mr. Park... you're under arrest."

Huh?

Such a crude joke — there was no way she knew who I was.

If the game indeed revealed me, the Kim Jin-ah I knew could have confronted me ages ago.

"What are you even saying, you idiot? If you knew, why ask me so many times?"

She paused, then shrugged. "I didn't have enough evidence; you were the one who told me never to work without proof."

"I never said that. I'm not Allen."

She smiled slyly. "You still say blessings the same way even after reincarnating."

I nearly blinked.

Oh yeah — there was that.

A bad habit of mine.

I had made it up as a joke, but it soon became my thing.

However, I wasn't going to admit that.

"People can have the same habits."

She shook her head. "The same habits, the same name, the same attitude, and the same hate for my special alcohol mix and my special meal—don't think I've forgotten how you complained about the food I cooked after the entrance exam."

She let out a cheeky smile, formed her fingers into a gun, and pointed it at my forehead.

"You're under arrest. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."

Damn this crazy—

Huh?

Am I smiling?

Was I actually happy in this situation?

Well, if I think about it properly, it was kind of cute that after years of chasing she was able to catch me—in another world at that...

No, no, that should be the least of my worries.

Should I tell her the truth?

I wanted to see her reaction so badly.

I let out a breath. "Shouldn't I be the one arresting you for obstruction of justice and animal-level stubbornness?"

Her eyes widened before narrowing. "Hehehe, so I was right — you crazy psychopath."

She giggled and rested her head on my chest. "You smell so good, Mr. Park."

"I will toss you on the floor, Kim Jin-ah."

Her head suddenly snapped up. "Huh? You bastard — you should be treating me like a damsel in distress. Do you know what you put me through?"

I shrugged. "Not my problem. You were the one chasing me around instead of enjoying your youth."

She nodded. "That's why you should put it as your first priority—to make my springtime springing."

"That isn't a word."

Her grip around my chest tightened as she nuzzled in. "It is if I say so, idiot."

A soft chuckle escaped my lips.

"Allen... I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing to me?"

She paused, twisting my shirt a little. "If I had pushed harder and made it so your crew weren't executed, maybe things could have been different."

No, they wouldn't.

In reality, I was actually glad things ended like that.

If they weren't executed, they would have been tortured and left like that forever.

Even if I had managed to save them, life wouldn't have been the same.

They had all tasted betrayal, so it would have been hard to rebuild trust.

Plus, I would have never seen this new life and world.

"No need to apologize."

She raised her gaze to meet mine; only then did I notice the tears spilling from the corner of her eye.

She was really a crybaby, wasn't she?

I let out a soft sigh. "I'm glad things ended there."

My lips curved into a smirk. "And this world is much more badass."

"Allen, can you remember the cream cake you made before?"

Hmmm....

"Yeah?"

She smiled at me, her cheeks reddened and a little puffed up—she reminded me of an animal.

If I put on some ears, then...

"You look like a bunny."

Her cheeks flamed. "I don't like doing it that much."

Huh?

What did she mean by that?

We both stayed silent for a full minute.

I guess she still has a lot to process; however, she seemed extremely happy for some reason.

She is very stubborn but in a cute way.

I dropped her on the bed, and she raised her gaze from the hand where she had buried it.

"Where are you going? Please don't leave me."

I glanced back at her. "You know I have classes, right?"

She lingered for a bit. "Miss it."

Sitting up a little, she looked at me with her bunny eyes—my imagined ears on her drooped.

Damn, she's adorable.

I knew she was Kim Jin-ah, but now that she knew who I was, she seemed to act even more cutely.

God, I've gotten weak.

"Whatever."

I sat beside her bed and she immediately rolled onto my lap.

"Since I knew Allen first, I have to come before Quincy, right? Right?"

"Don't ask me."

She puffed her cheek, her voice suddenly syrupy-soft. "Pat me. Praise me."

She raised the head that was resting on my lap. "I caught the most slippery man alive, so I'm the best detective, right?"

A small laugh escaped my lips as my hand went to her head and patted it.

"Nice job, detective."

She deserved it. I wasn't exactly the easiest man to catch.

Sylvia's grin widened tenfold.

"Allen, I'm hungry," she added in a small conspiratorial voice.

"Is it just me or have you been calling my name a lot?"

"Hehehe, it's called obes... wait, what was the word again?"

"You mean obsession?"

She snapped her fingers. "Yeah, that. I'm obsessed with you, hehe."

I lifted her head and placed it on the bed.

"Let me make some hangover soup."

Before I could move from the bed, she grabbed my wrist.

For a heartbeat, she froze; her whole face flushed.

The first four buttons of her shirt were undone—whether by accident or on purpose I didn't know.

The fabric slipped off one shoulder, exposing her collarbone and a bit of chest.

Sweat trickled down her skin, which made her whole look seem a bit seductive.

"Allen, you're forgetting something," she said breathlessly.

I blinked. "What's that?"

She squeezed my wrist, her eyes wide and bright, like a torchlight.

Oh!

I knew what this was about.

Slowly, a smile spread across my face.

"Okay, okay."

She wanted it so badly, and I guess three days were almost over now.

"Sylvia Draven, or should I call you Kim Jin-ah now?"

Her face brightened at the sound of my voice.

"Will you... Ahem..."

Well, wasn't this awkward.

The first time I was asking a girl out in two worlds.

I looked away a little embarrassed. "Will you go out with me?"

There was a beat of silence, and for me it felt as though the countdown to my death had started.

I knew she wouldn't reject it, but somehow I was still a bit scared.

How did people even do this in shows?

Sylvia then smiled—not coy, not teasing, but a wide, unequivocal smile.

Thump.

My heart skipped a bit.

"Yes," she said, lowering her flushed cheeks. "I'll go out with you."

After another beat she giggled. "I'm happy I saw your shy face, Allen."

Oh brother...

Things are going to get crazy soon, 'cause...

Sylvia placed her hand on her raised chest with a grin. "Get ready, Allen, 'cause you have me as your girlfriend now."

I'm cooked. Heavenly cooked.