Chapter 58: Something Seems Suspicious (3)

Who’s Guild Master Jang Jin-yu…?

Gyeonwoo tilted her head reflexively at the unfamiliar name. Following Gyeonwoo’s lead, Pureumi smiled and tilted her head too.

Though she didn’t understand any talk about Guild Master Jang Jin-yu or Mama being a guild member.

If Mama does it, I’ll do it too!

I need to become a reliable adult like Mama!

With that thought, Pureumi stretched out both arms toward Han Dayeon who was holding Gyeonwoo, her head still tilted.

“I wanna know too!”

Her flapping her arms like wings, shorter than Gyeonwoo’s, naturally drew everyone’s attention.

Not just Gyeonwoo who was curious about Guild Master Jang Jin-yu, but even Han Dayeon who’d been focused on the serious situation.

“Aww, of course. We need to hug our Pureumi too!”

Was this what they called flowers in both hands?

She didn’t want either child to feel discriminated against.

Han Dayeon smiled broadly and carefully set Gyeonwoo down.

As a non-physical enhancement type Awakened, it was hard to carry both children at once.

“Ah…”

Though she noticed Gyeonwoo’s disappointed look, she lifted Pureumi up just as she had Gyeonwoo.

True to her smaller frame than Gyeonwoo’s, she felt almost weightless.

But she had a child’s warm temperature and soft skin that hadn’t lost its baby fat.

“Heehee. Our cute Pureumi!”

Han Dayeon rubbed her cheeks against Pureumi’s fluffy hair, clearly not caring about others’ stares.

Pureumi’s giggling at her ticklish hair didn’t last long.

“Mama too! I’ll hug Mama!”

Sister Han Dayeon hugged me, so I’ll hug Mama!

In the end Han Dayeon had to support both children’s weight, but young Pureumi couldn’t think that far ahead.

Gyeonwoo awkwardly smiled and stepped back.

“Um… no. It’ll be hard for s-sister.”

While Pureumi was still a child who should go to kindergarten, acting cute and sometimes being a burden while growing up.

I’m an adult.

She was ready to give up even more if it made Pureumi happy.

And she didn’t want to burden Han Dayeon, who was as much their benefactor.

“Um, I think we need to follow the teachers now.”

“Huh?”

She smoothly changed the subject as she always did.

While Han Dayeon played with the children, the kindergarteners in their bright yellow uniforms had toddled far ahead.

To Gyeonwoo who didn’t know better, it looked like they’d been abandoned.

Ah, did I cause trouble again by being evasive…?

Making the kids fight, and making Han Dayeon stay behind.

We can’t get kicked out of kindergarten…

Anxious, Gyeonwoo tugged Han Dayeon’s clothes and shifted from foot to foot.

Finally.

“Ah, right!”

Han Dayeon remembered what the teachers had whispered in passing.

“My, the children are so innocent. Take your time talking and come to the rooftop garden when you’re done!”

Their voice had been full of laughter, as if they found Gyeonwoo and Pureumi adorable.

Really.

I wish our Gyeonwoo would realize her national treasure-level cuteness.

She couldn’t keep watching her anxiety any longer.

“Ah! We should hurry. It’s lunchtime now, right? Sister packed lots of things you like, so let’s go eat.”

The Guild Master killing people or Guild Master Jang Jin-yu’s brother could wait.

Though awkward, it wasn’t worth worrying this much about.

For now she wanted to focus on taking care of Gyeonwoo.

“Here, let’s hold hands so you don’t get lost.”

The brutishly strong Han Yuyeon could carry both children in her arms or hold one while holding the other’s hand.

Sigh…

At times like this, being a weak healer-type Awakened who couldn’t take the lead was frustrating.

“Um, I’m fine…”

“No. Could you find your way home alone if you got lost? Come on, take it.”

“Okay…”

So Gyeonwoo carefully reached out and firmly grasped Han Dayeon’s fingers.

Her hand was so small that three of Han Dayeon’s average-sized female fingers filled her grip.

“Me! Me too! I wanna hold Mama’s hand!”

Pureumi, now down from Han Dayeon’s arms, was different.

Not wanting to lose her chance to the boy who’d been staring at Mama.

“Pureumi! You’ll get hurt moving so suddenly.”

“Don’t care! Mama’s mine! Mama has to go with me!”

She ran like a small agile animal and grabbed Gyeonwoo’s free hand.

This left the boy alone.

“Come on, take sister’s hand too.”

“N-no, I’m really fine.”

Still unable to forget his brother’s nightly stories, he didn’t dare step forward.

Instead he hurried ahead, away from Pureumi’s intense stare.

“I-I’ll just walk right in front. That’s okay, right?”

“Sure. We’ll continue our talk over lunch.”

Their steps quickened, not wanting to lose the children who’d gone ahead.

This naturally ended the conversation as Han Dayeon fell into silent thought.

She’d hoped Gyeonwoo and Pureumi would learn common sense by mixing with other children.

But making new friends seemed premature.

Though Pureumi, younger than Gyeonwoo, got along well with children, she hadn’t really talked properly.

Still… It must be because she hasn’t forgotten her terrible past in the cult.

When Gyeonwoo’s existence becomes widely known according to the Guild Master’s plan.

Hopefully by then Gyeonwoo’s heart will have healed a bit more.

Become closer like real sisters.

She was willing to do anything for that.

Han Dayeon belatedly remembered Han Yuyeon’s pathetic face sighing at the plan to help Gyeonwoo make friends.

Come to think of it, at the temple and at home.

It was strange how that reckless Han Yuyeon was acting unusually timid.

As if she knew something Han Dayeon didn’t.

They’d need to put the children to bed and force a conversation when they got back.

“…Sister?”

Oops.

Lost in thought, she must have unconsciously tightened her grip.

“Sorry, did that hurt?”

“Hehe, no. I was worried I’d done something wrong. I’m sorry.”

Though clearly Han Dayeon’s mistake, Gyeonwoo brightly smiled and blamed herself.

“Mama did something wrong?!”

Pureumi’s eyes went wide in shock, following Gyeonwoo.

What wouldn’t I do for these sweet, kind children.

“No. Sister was just thinking about something. Ah! Did you know we might get to meet the district chief and council members at lunch today?”

Han Dayeon continued awkwardly, trying to sound excited to keep the children from strange thoughts.

“You don’t know what district chiefs and council members do? They’re people our neighborhood residents voted for saying ‘Please make our neighborhood better!'”

Well… She left out things like connections with the guild.

Or that they came to meet parents, not children.

Adult matters were too early for children to know.

“Oh! The district chief?!”

But contrary to Han Dayeon’s worries, Gyeonwoo’s interest was elsewhere.

Oh my! The district chief!

“Wow! The Almighty God must be watching over us!”

Gyeonwoo, who’d been quiet, suddenly jumped up at the unexpected good news.

Both hands holding Han Dayeon and Pureumi shot skyward.

“Pureumi! I’ll find the people who hurt our Pureumi and scold them! The Almighty God must love our Pureumi! Our Pureumi is so lucky to be loved by God!”

Her voice rose higher than usual in excitement.

“Wow! I’m God’s baby?! Mama’s the best!”

“Ah, not baby, but child or daughter…”

“No! Pureumi’s gonna be Mama’s baby!”

Though not understanding why, Pureumi also started jumping and raising her voice.

“K-kids! Shh! We need to be quiet inside.”

Han Dayeon hurriedly tried to calm them as people started staring.

Of course, she didn’t hit them or raise her voice, not wanting to frighten them.

Fortunately.

“Hoho, it’s fine. What’s wrong with kids being noisy? Right, Chief Han?”

“Of course. I have a niece so I understand. Well-behaved, cute children like these are rare.”

Watching Gyeonwoo purely happy like her age for once.

And Pureumi adding “Wow-ah! Wow!” along with Gyeonwoo.

“I’m sorry…”

“My my, we should just make way. Kids, have fun. The cafe cakes up ahead are delicious, ask your sister to buy some.”

Far from being displeased or uncomfortable, they just smiled broadly and laughed.

Even a man who looked old enough to be the Guild Master’s father, at least team leader level, whispered jokes to the children before leaving.

“Phew…”

Oh my, what a relief.

She’d been so worried the children might get scolded or kicked out.

As expected of our children.

Thankfully their world-conquering cuteness prevented any problems.

Really, if only Gyeonwoo would understand how others felt about her.

Han Dayeon, who’d aged ten years from stress, whispered to Gyeonwoo and Pureumi.

“Kids, let’s talk quietly since we’re still inside the building.”

“Ah!” Gyeonwoo exclaimed softly and answered in a lower voice.

“I’m sorry…”

Pureumi asked in a matching whisper.

“Cake! What’s cake?”

“It’s something soft and sweet. I’ll buy you some when Mama earns money.”

“Huh? We can’t eat it?”

“No… we don’t have money right now.”

“Money! Then Pureumi will earn money and buy it for Mama!”

At their heartbreaking conversation, Han Dayeon forgot about asking about the district chief and just smiled softly.

Since Gyeonwoo wouldn’t ask for anything, I’ll secretly buy a box on the way back.

Only one person couldn’t smile at this seemingly happy situation.

“S-so this is the Chungseong Guild…!”

Even high-ranking district office people can’t treat them carelessly!

They’re terrifying people just like brother said.

The boy raised his guard even higher as he watched the three giggling people.