SWAP 99

Usually, he was the type to dismiss others’ words as nothing more than a neighbor’s dog barking, but right now, the situation was different. Perhaps because “to the pure, all things are pure”—or in this case, the opposite—his expression sank coldly due to specific phrases that struck his ears with pinpoint accuracy.

Talking about making a path into the inner part, putting fingers in deep….

He’s not even some adult ASMR YouTuber, for fuck’s sake.

The fact that the guy made those remarks in a space where Lee Seoul could hear everything was what pissed him off. Saheon, failing to realize that he was the only one perversely substituting a perfectly wholesome pottery class for something lewd, naturally developed a crooked gaze.

Is that guy really a potter?

Seeing the shaggy hair and the half-closed, greasy eyes, he couldn’t help but feel suspicious. Only five minutes ago, Yun Hyeok had introduced him as a fairly well-known figure in the industry, but Saheon, who naturally let it go in one ear and out the other, looked at him with “dog-eyes,” finding ridiculous faults.

However, Heo Doae (41 years old, married his first love), who didn’t know even in his dreams that he was being treated like a total pervert who spouts obscenities in front of a camera, continued his explanation with a genial face.

“If the inside has been sufficiently loosened during the first stage, you won’t feel anything catching on your fingertips. If there is a tangled part, just press it firmly and pull it upward as you slowly untangle it. It might be difficult for beginners, but it’s possible if you focus step-by-step on your fingertips. Don’t worry, I’ll help you too.”

“…….”

“Teacher!”

It was then. Unlike a certain someone, Ye Juyeol, who was engaging in the class with great sincerity, thrust his clay-covered hand into the air. Considering Yun Hyeok—who had two years of pottery experience—as his rival, he spoke with eyes burning with passion.

“Nothing is catching, but I feel like the center is shaking a bit. And the top keeps getting wider than the bottom, what should I do? I want to make it straight and neat! I also want to make the handle in a round shape; do I attach that later? Oh, and if it collapses because I used too much water, do I make it round again to find the center? Is it impossible because it’s already gotten soggy…?”

Apparently, Ye Juyeol’s next role was confirmed as a rapper. Even while unleashing a barrage of questions without pausing for breath, his diction was so precise that not a single syllable was slurred. Heo Doae clapped his hands with an “Oh!” at the sudden impromptu cipher and laughed pleasantly. He did not dislike students who were full of curiosity.

When the teacher approached saying he would take a look at his work first, a doubly fired-up Ye Juyeol started listing more questions. Even though he hadn’t heard the answer to his first question yet, based on his momentum, he looked ready to hold an exhibition right then and there.

“Sigh….”

And that sight resulted in exorcising Seo Saheon, who had been possessed by all sorts of distractions and carnal desires. Watching someone react so purely to the same explanation brought him back to reality. It wasn’t others he should be suspicious of. Admitting to himself that his own mind was the most trash-tier, he lowered his gaze with dead eyes.

I know, I’m not sane.

Saheon, who hadn’t slept a wink all night, swallowed a sigh and straightened his collapsed pillar. If one is making a cup, explaining that you have to poke a hole and widen the inside is perfectly common-sense. He shoved his thumb into the lump of clay that crumpled easily in his palm, repeating the thought briefly.

The sufficiently loosened clay opened a path smoothly, just like Heo Doae’s explanation. As he pushed his long finger firmly inside, the events of the dawn naturally came to mind.

The inside of Lee Seoul’s mouth is softer than this stuff. For someone who gets cold so easily, the inside was hot enough to melt. There’s no need to spray water because it’s stiff, either. Just a little bit of poking and he’s already making whimpering sounds because he can’t swallow his spit. As the image of Seoul crying and sobbing while holding his small mouth open surfaced, Saheon’s fingertips tensed up sharply.

I wonder if his tongue is an erogenous zone.

Considering how his dick stood up just from having his mouth poked a bit, it seems likely….

If not that, it might be his lower belly. Because when I rubbed that flat area with my palm, he flinched as if he’d been burned. Seeing how the timid guy even bared his teeth—cutely, at that—there was no doubt that felt good too. It was a shame he didn’t bite down hard, so no tooth marks were left. Just as Saheon was thinking about coaxing him to bite harder next time, he suddenly furrowed his brows.

…But isn’t having the lower belly be an erogenous zone too erotic? Thinking of the sight of that snow-white abdomen flushing pink and trembling made him feel like another sigh would leak out. He was also curious about what would happen if he lifted the T-shirt and buried his face in that soft skin. He’d obviously whimper that he hated it, but… the moment he thought that shoving his tongue into that shallow dip would almost certainly make Seoul burst into tears.

Waking from his reverie at the hard, cold sensation felt through his fingertips, Saheon looked down.

“…….”

The clay that had been maintaining a neat shape was now messily ruined.

Having shoved his finger past making a path and all the way down to the spinning wheel plate, he blinked with an expressionless face. Since the scene reminded him of a certain past moment, a self-mocking laugh escaped his lips belatedly.

Ah, after acting like such a psycho, fuck, I still haven’t come to my senses.

“Oh dear, you couldn’t control your strength properly….”

Heo Doae, having realized the situation late, ran over and spoke with regret. It was already too late to revive it; at the suggestion that he would have to start the work over, Saheon nodded half-heartedly and slid out of his seat.

He was big even when sitting, but once he stood up, his crown was practically at the top of Everest. Saheon spoke in a detached tone toward Heo Doae, who had stepped back instinctively.

“I’m going to use the bathroom for a moment.”

“Pardon? Oh, ah, if you go out and turn the right corner, it’s right there!”

Whether he heard it or not, the man disappeared without a word. Heo Doae watched his retreating back for a moment before turning his attention to the other students. Yun Hyeok was already skilled enough to make high-level work on his own, and Ye Juyeol’s skill was visibly improving as much as his passion, so there was no worry there. Seo Saheon had just disappeared, so that left one more….

Naturally turning his head in one direction, Heo Doae burst into a short laugh in spite of himself.

Everyone was already busy raising the walls of their pillars, but one person alone was struggling and agonizing over a round lump of clay.

One shouldn’t judge everything by outward appearance, but based on looks alone, Seoul seemed like the one who would craft the clay most delicately and beautifully among these four students. If anything, he had an aura closer to a pottery instructor than the teacher himself, but in reality, he was busy wobbling without even being able to find the center properly. Seeing how quiet he had been since entering, the teacher had assumed his personality was very introverted, but he hadn’t expected him to be unable to say a single word for help, so he hurried over.

“Mr. Seoul, are you fighting with the clay? I don’t know if you’ll be coming down with body aches tomorrow.”

“No… it’s just, this keeps….”

While saying it wasn’t so, Seoul, unable to do anything about the clay lump that kept sagging, lifted his head with an embarrassed face. Honestly, it was true he hadn’t been able to focus properly at first. But after Heo Doae gave the demonstration, he had tried his best in his own way…. For some reason, nothing was going as he wanted.

Noticing Seoul’s gloom, Heo Doae encouraged him with a kind voice.

“Originally, clay that has gotten tangled once is hard to untangle. You have to crush it and pull it up several times with firm strength to finally loosen it. In that case, it’s actually easier to just get new clay and start over from the beginning.”

It was surely an explanation about clay. But because his heart was exhausted, it resonated with Seoul in a different way. Those words were right. Staring blankly at the heap of clay that wouldn’t loosen no matter how hard he tried, Seoul nodded slowly. Once something became tangled, whether it was clay or a relationship, it was hard to untangle. Just as he curled his fingertips, thinking it might be the same with Saheon.

“But most people who work with clay don’t use new clay. They put in the effort and eventually untangle it. I teach my students the same way. Even if it’s hard, if you pull it up stitch by stitch and untangle it yourself, you realize things through that, and your skills suddenly jump up. Truly.”

“…….”

At the unexpected advice, Seoul’s eyes, which had been cast down, looked up. “I’m actually saying this kind of thing to a national actor,” Heo Doae muttered to himself as he brightly lightened the mood. It was because of a mission he had just received from the production staff.

“Hahaha. But well, that’s too Spartan for someone learning for the first time today. So, the production staff have prepared something….”

Ta-da-da-da!

At the same time, Seoul’s phone on the side table vibrated.

When Seoul, whose hands were covered in clay, turned his head in surprise, Heo Doae asked for permission and picked up the phone for him, clicking the push notification. A familiar phrase appeared on the screen.

>> EVENT <<

You, whose skills are the opposite of your appearance! Wouldn’t you like to revive the clay with <Secret Technique: The Potter’s Hand>? It is possible if you exchange your best friend!

Would you like to exchange Seo Saheon for [Secret Technique: The Potter’s Hand]? Reward: 5 Coins

⚠ CAUTION: Your best friend might [ ]…

I’ve felt it all along, but this really is in real-time….

Admiring the production team’s ghostly timing in requesting an exchange, Seoul nodded. Realizing that he was being asked to press the exchange button on his behalf, Heo Doae tapped the screen.

Since things had turned out this way, Seoul’s only thought was that he wanted to work hard to collect coins and gift Saheon some loafers. However, a moment later, he couldn’t help but draw a question mark at the phrase that appeared.

⚠ CAUTION: Your best friend might become [Ye Juyeol]…