Chapter 42: Housewarming

Kim Seongyeong, 15 years old.

An Awakened with ultra-acceleration ability and self-proclaimed future S-class.

He was in the same student division lectures as the girl, but they weren’t exactly on friendly terms.

Things got better later, but the fact that he’d started off with a crude joke and picked a fight at their first meeting couldn’t be erased.

Even the usually calm Guild Master initially thought, ‘Did he come for revenge?’

“Guild Master? Oh, it’s been a while!”

However, when Kim Seongyeong’s parents appeared, it became clear this meeting was just a coincidence.

“To meet you by chance like this, I guess moving on a ‘day without hands’ really is auspicious.”

The couple approached, acting friendly despite their not-so-pleasant history.

Their behavior was surprisingly cordial, considering how they’d threatened to sue before.

As with most adult matters, sometimes you have to separate personal and professional relationships.

Kim Seongyeong had been staring at the girl for a while.

In contrast, his parents approached the Guild Master, seemingly uninterested in the child.

Like father, like son, you could say.

It was clear they were trying to use this opportunity to strike up a conversation, but the Guild Master was about to ignore them and leave when.

“Day without hands…?”

The girl, who had been quiet during this awkward encounter, tilted her head.

She tugged at the Guild Master’s clothes, asking about something she’d never heard of, even on the internet.

“What’s a ‘day without hands’?”

Kim Seongyeong’s parents, finally noticing the girl, jumped at the chance to butt in.

“Is this your relative? She’s such a pretty child, as expected of the Guild Master’s bloodline.”

The Guild Master quietly waited, allowing the parents’ flattery for the sake of the girl’s curiosity.

“A ‘day without hands’ refers to a day when evil spirits aren’t active. People choose these days for important family events or when many people gather, like moving, to avoid major accidents.”

Day without hands.

As explained, it’s one of Korea’s long-standing folk beliefs.

It’s about praying to prevent accidents and misfortune.

Huh?

Demons don’t have divine beings, do they?

Even if they did, how could there be days when demons don’t come?

This was something she hadn’t heard from the Guild Master or others.

Which means…!

These people must be heretics too!

They must be from a different sect of heretics this time!

How can there be so many heretics among the surface people?

The whole world is full of heretics!

The girl eyed Kim Seongyeong’s parents warily, despite their attempt at friendliness.

She hesitantly retreated, hiding behind the Guild Master.

“Ah, the child must be shy…?”

At their awkward question, the Guild Master inwardly chuckled.

“Yes, she’s a bit introverted.”

They probably couldn’t imagine what the girl was really thinking.

But the Guild Master, who had already figured her out, could guess her thoughts.

She was probably going on about how they believed in such superstitions and whatnot.

The important thing was that even with these thoughts, she wasn’t taking any direct action outwardly.

In the past, she would have shouted without considering others’ feelings or the situation.

Probably something like “Superstitions are bad!” or “So heretics have such cultures!”

But this was the effect of consistently teaching her at headquarters and with the monks that she shouldn’t say things that might hurt others carelessly.

It’s admirable.

There’s hope she’ll continue to improve in the future.

So he decided to sacrifice some of his time to create an opportunity for her to make a decent friend.

In the awkward atmosphere after the girl hid,

“Do you have a moment? Since we’ve met like this, it might be good to sit down and talk about the previous incident as well.”

Kim Seongyeong’s parents eagerly welcomed the chance for a face-to-face meeting with the Guild Master, something others would pay for but couldn’t get.

We can use this to cover up that awkward memory from before!

We need to properly impress our child on the Guild Master.

“Oh my, we’d be grateful.”

Just as the couple started pushing Kim Seongyeong’s back, urging him to greet the Guild Master,

“This might be heavy talk for the children to hear. Let’s let them play together. I’ll cover the expenses.”

The Guild Master’s suggestion to separate the groups made them flinch.

Kim Seongyeong, who had been busy sneaking glances at the girl’s face, quickly brushed off his parents’ hands and answered.

“Yes! I’ll take her to play so we won’t disturb you!”

His response was so enthusiastic that even his parents wondered, ‘Was he always such an obedient child? Wasn’t he usually less eager?’

The five of them settled in a nearby cafe, splitting into two groups to start their conversations in earnest.

“We’re truly sorry. Our child said he was being blackmailed…”

The parents were busy groveling, aware of their wrongdoing.

But the two kids who were the cause of all this…

“Hey! E-eat this. I’m buying it. With my allowance!”

After giving a long-winded excuse about wanting to look around their new neighborhood, Kim Seongyeong led the girl away from the adults’ sight.

He immediately offered her drinks and snacks he’d bought from the cafe, finally free from his parents’ watchful eyes.

“Um…?”

The distance between them physically showed how awkward their relationship was.

But soon, the girl’s eyes widened at the sight of the bright yellow drink, and she inched closer.

Wow! Lemonade!

“Ack! T-that’s too close!”

Oops.

She must have unconsciously leaned in like she did when walking with the Guild Master, sticking out her head instead of her hands.

Her nose was almost touching Kim Seongyeong’s fingers holding the drink.

The girl calmly took the drink without being flustered.

She took a happy sip through the straw, then cleared her throat.

For the first time since they met, she responded to Kim Seongyeong’s question.

“But why are you lying? I saw the Guild Master paying.”

She had clearly seen it with her own eyes, so there was no chance of confusion.

The Guild Master had ordered, and only he knew that she liked lemonade.

Since he’d said that black card was one of only a few in Korea, it meant Kim Seongyeong was lying.

Hmph.

Just like when I first met him, he’s still a bad kid.

Not content with bullying others, now he’s lying too.

If he weren’t a child but an adult, his personality would be so bad it wouldn’t be strange to say he was possessed by a demon.

The girl frowned, took another sip of her drink, and lectured the stiff Kim Seongyeong.

“Lying is bad. You’ll go to hell for that.”

…Hell?

Oops.

For a moment, he’d been distracted by the girl’s face up close, her pale skin and soft lips.

“No, what do you take me for! Not the drink! This snack!”

Kim Seongyeong hurriedly held up the snack in his left hand, afraid of being labeled a liar.

“Snack?”

“I-I bought it for you.”

It was a snack neatly packaged in a clear bag.

“Wow, I’ve never seen a snack like this before.”

Unlike the snacks the sisters had given her, this one was incredibly crumbly.

Aha!

It must be a pre-ground snack for elderly people with weak teeth!

“Uh…? Uh, th-this isn’t right?”

“Thank you.”

A gift is a gift, regardless.

The girl smiled brightly and took the snack bag.

She was about to open the bag and shake out the crumbs to eat when she paused.

She looked at the despairing Kim Seongyeong.

Ah.

Why do I always make mistakes like this?

When I first met the girl, I tried to act tough and only pushed her away.

Just when I finally get a chance to talk, I end up stuttering.

Of course, it’s because her appearance is, well.

It’s like seeing a celebrity in person.

She was prettier than anyone I’d ever seen, not just among our peers.

It made me wonder if we were really the same species.

That’s why I wanted to become friends with her somehow…

I bought the snack, but I crushed it all in my fist out of nervousness.

Will she hate me again?

“Haah…aah?”

Just as Kim Seongyeong was letting out a deep sigh,

Without warning, a piece of the snack slipped into his mouth.

When he reflexively closed his lips, he felt a slender finger brush against them.

Huh…? Huuh…?

The flustered Kim Seongyeong stared blankly at the girl, unable to even chew the snack.

The index finger slowly moved away.

“Do you want more?”

Misunderstanding Kim Seongyeong’s gaze as wanting more snacks, the girl slightly furrowed her brow, looking troubled.

If he wanted to eat the snacks, why did he give them to me instead of buying two?

Still, she didn’t mind.

It’s better for those who have to give, and it’s better for two people to be happy than just one.

“Here. Eat more.”

Just as the girl was about to offer the half-empty snack bag,

“N-no! You eat it! I’m full!”

Kim Seongyeong’s face turned bright red as he hurriedly backed away.

“…?”

It was the same distance as when the girl had first tried to keep her distance.

Huh. Why is he acting like that?

Didn’t he want to eat the snacks…?

Or is he giving them up even though he doesn’t have enough, like me?

“You can eat them if you want…”

As the girl tilted her head in confusion, Kim Seongyeong urgently raised his voice.

“I said it’s fine, so hurry up and eat!”

“…Okay.”

Only then did she look dejected.

Why is he getting angry?

The girl poured the remaining snack crumbs into her mouth all at once.

Though there wasn’t much to chew, just crumbs, it was delicious.

The sweetness went well with the tangy lemonade!

But the awkwardness didn’t easily fade.

M-m-my lips… her finger…!

How can a girl act so casually without any sense of personal space…!

His heart was pounding so hard it felt like he had two of them.

Why is it so quiet?

Whenever the girl turned to look at him, he unconsciously averted his gaze.

Hmm… was he that embarrassed about wanting to eat the snacks?

I guess in times like this, I should speak first, being the mature one.

So the girl asked,

“Is there a reason you’re suddenly moving?”

That snapped Kim Seongyeong back to his senses, remembering how his parents had scolded him.

“Eeek!! It’s because of you! You blackmailed us with the address!”

He glared at the girl, stomping his feet.

Wow, he’s got his energy back now!

The girl took it in stride.

Instead, she glanced slightly to the side.

She’d been feeling an intense gaze from somewhere for a while now.

It was a man in unfamiliar attire.

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