Chapter 64: Hair Loss Concerns and Sensitive Scalp
He thought hair loss had disappeared once his karma normalized.
The fact that a hair nutrient supplement appeared when he drew items alongside the luck effect proved this theory.
Shin Ha-neul clicked her tongue as if she'd only now grasped the seriousness, shaking her head. Then she spoke again in a soft voice.
"Sir Seo Juhwan, how old are you? Since you were discharged recently, are you twenty-three?"
"Yes. Twenty-three is correct."
"Then don't worry. It's not too late yet. It's circular, not an M-shape, so it can be reversed. I'll recommend some shampoo, conditioner, treatment, and some nutritional supplements. Just manage it well from now on."
"Do I really need that much?"
"Would you prefer to live bald?"
"N-no, of course not!"
"Then listen to me. Hair, just like skin, needs consistent care from a young age."
"I see..."
The world of hair care was more profound than he thought.
Seo Juhwan readily nodded.
At least he found out now—that was fortunate. Recommendations from a hair fetishist came with automatic credibility. Her own hair looked absolutely lustrous.
As he watched her with this thought, Shin Ha-neul's hair looked incredibly beautiful. It shimmered and gleamed so much that he wanted to touch it.
Without realizing it, Seo Juhwan blurted out his admiration.
"It's really pretty."
"Excuse me?"
"Oh, no. Your hair, ma'am. It looks so soft."
"Ah, thank you. I've taken good care of it. Hehe."
Ding!
[Shin Ha-neul's favorability has increased to E+.]
Huh?
*
"Now I'll wash your hair."
"Yes."
A thin towel was placed to prevent water from entering his eyes, and Shin Ha-neul began washing his hair.
When she washed the back of his head, her hands lifted his head, and he instinctively tensed his neck, worried it might be heavy.
"You can relax your neck. It's more comfortable that way."
"Oh, okay."
He quietly relaxed his neck. Oddly embarrassing. He was grateful the towel covered his eyes.
Whoosh~.
She rinsed once with water and applied conditioner. As she massaged his scalp with such gentle hands, something started to feel strange.
"Uh?"
"Is something uncomfortable?"
"Oh, no. I'm fine."
Actually, he wasn't fine. There wasn't a major problem, but the way she touched his scalp felt quite... peculiar. Come to think of it, conditioner was supposed to be applied to hair, not the scalp. So why was she touching his scalp like this?
Just as he had this question, Shin Ha-neul's nails scratched down the groove at the back of his head, all the way to his neck.
"Hup?"
"Ah, that area must be itchy."
"Th-that's... yes."
"Hehe. Almost done, so hang in there a little longer."
Ding!
[Shin Ha-neul's favorability has increased to D.]
The favorability rising again.
Seo Juhwan was a bit bewildered. He could understand the previous increase since he'd complimented her hair. But this time, he had no idea what he'd done to raise it.
That's when Lucy's voice came through.
[I think I understand why.]
Lucy, who rarely spoke unless offering system assistance. It was unusual for her to initiate conversation.
'Why is that?'
[My guess is she's pleased that your hair is sensitive.]
'What?'
[Since she's a hair fetishist, perhaps she likes people with sensitive scalps?]
'My scalp is sensitive?'
Don't lie. Before returning to the past, this never happened. He often scratched his eyes and hair, but that was just a habit.
Seo Juhwan rejected Lucy's words, insisting he couldn't possibly be such a deviant. There were limits to maligning an innocent person.
[To be precise, it's not the scalp but the nape extending from the back of the head. The back of human necks are naturally sensitive areas.]
'Well, then. Of course I'm not a deviant.'
The moment he thought this.
Scriiitch. Scratch.
Shin Ha-neul's hands scraped across the back of his head again.
'Gasp.'
A subtle shiver ran through him and his body flinched. Compared to stimulation of his precious place, it was a very mild sensation, but it felt like receiving caresses.
This was partly due to Seo Juhwan's nape being sensitive, but it was also because Shin Ha-neul's hand movements were inherently sensual.
Seo Juhwan eventually admitted it.
Perhaps not an erogenous zone, but the back of his head was definitely a sensitive area. And as evidence, his precious place had already shifted into tight mode.
He quietly crossed his legs, worried he might be discovered.
Perhaps his action had given it away instead.
"Oh my? Hehe."
The voice reaching his ears sounded amused.
Ding!
[Shin Ha-neul's favorability has increased to D+.]
'Please stop increasing...'
***
"You must be tired~."
"Oh, yes. You must be tired too, ma'am."
"Hehe. My name is Shin Ha-neul. Come back again~."
"...Yes."
Why was she suddenly telling him her real name?
Seo Juhwan left the hair salon as if fleeing.
'I feel like my sense of identity has been thrown into chaos...'
So the back of his head was a sensitive area. He'd learned a fact he never wanted to know.
[Since people's fetishes are diverse, you might have unusual fetishes too, master.]
'Won't my fetishes show up in the status window?'
[No. I believe Russ, who created me, thought there was no need to display that.]
'...Yes. That's fortunate instead.'
Having something strange listed would've been more unsettling. Sometimes not knowing was better.
For example, the sex fantasy of the murderer he'd caught involved rape, dismemberment, and murder. While fetishes can be acquired later in life, they're often innate from birth. There was no need to open Pandora's box.
Lucy asked.
[So you won't be going to that salon anymore?]
...It seemed he would become a regular.
🔥 Want More Chapters? Read Ahead on Patreon! 🔥
💎 Tier 1 — $5 → 50 chapters ahead + 7-day free trial
💎 Tier 2 — $10 → 110 chapters ahead
💎 Tier 3 — $15 → 175 chapters ahead
💎 Tier 4 — $20 → 245 chapters ahead
🚀 Tier 5 — $35 → Tier 4 benefits + 2 chapters/day
👑 Tier 6 — $50 → Tier 4 benefits + 4 chapters/day
🔥 Special Tier — $35 (Limited!) → Tier 6 benefits (only 3 slots)
❤️ Support the story and unlock chapters right now! : patreon.com/aristo0_0