It hurts…

It hurts…

 

While last time I focused on creating the lair, this time I planned to focus on decorating it.

Unlike last time, I needed to acquire more decorations and furniture.

‘The problem is, there’s no normal way to obtain decorations or furniture.’

I made up my mind to pick up discarded furniture from the dump, the only way to avoid causing trouble for others.

Han A-rin gave me a piece of advice.

“Instead of picking things up from there, how about getting furniture that the association doesn’t need or is planning to throw away?”

I shook my head at those words.

At first glance, it might not seem much different from picking things up from a junkyard or receiving things that were going to be thrown away.

‘Considering how exceptionally well the association people have been treating me.’

There was a high probability that they would give me furniture that didn’t need to be thrown away just for my sake.

I refused this suggestion because I felt that my attempt to avoid being a burden might actually become a bigger burden.

Seeing my reaction, Han A-rin seemed to think for a moment, then as if she had a good idea, she snapped her fingers and said.

“Then how about this? Help the association people and receive unused furniture in return.”

“Help?”

“Yes. I thought you could do errands for them and receive furniture in return.”

While I was thinking that doing errands in exchange for furniture might be too much.

Suddenly, I came up with a good idea.

‘Healing ability…!’

I remembered that the ability to heal someone was classified as a quite rare ability.

Then, I thought, couldn’t I heal other people and receive furniture as compensation?

‘It might work.’

I was feeling good thinking that I might be able to find furniture that I really liked, so I was wagging my tail and shaking my head from side to side.

Han A-rin hugged me like a stuffed animal and asked.

“So, do you want to do it?”

I nodded in response to Han A-rin’s question and shared what I had been thinking earlier.

“Yes…! But I want to run errands and use healing abilities too.”

“… Healing? Ah.”

Han A-rin pondered my words for a moment, then smiled awkwardly and said to me.

“Healing abilities… Well, okay. Let’s do it this way: your sister will check first and then ask Ha-eun for help, alright?”

I blinked in confusion at the mention of needing to check first.

Han A-rin thought for a moment, then continued speaking while gently touching my cheek.

“There are still many things Ha-eun shouldn’t see…”

She seemed to have difficulty speaking freely, opening and closing her mouth repeatedly and rambling.

But I could roughly guess what Han A-rin was trying to say.

‘Since people who need healing abilities are usually injured.’

It seems that things that could be called cruel might suddenly appear.

I nodded, thinking that while I might be okay alone, it would be better to avoid such scenes as much as possible when I’m with Chae-a.

“Yes…!”

As I was bowing deeply in gratitude for this consideration,

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.

‘I wonder if healing abilities can also remove stiffness, headaches, or fatigue?’

Since I wasn’t sure if it would work or not, I thought it would be good to try it out and my eyes sparkled.

If it works, just solving these problems could be a great help.

‘If it doesn’t work, I can always carry around the flowers I’m growing.’

Ha-eun has a regenerative effect on flowers, so just being here will probably be a big help.

Deciding to become a living totem(?), I said this to Han A-rin.

“That sounds good. Then, would you like to try it on me? My shoulders have been stiff lately.”

I’m a little happy that there’s an immediate opportunity to test my abilities.

I nodded and tried to use my healing ability, but.

Something wasn’t working right, so after trying various things, I eventually gave up and just massaged her shoulders like a regular massage.

“Mmm… it seems to be working.”

Han A-rin smiled with a very happy expression, clearly feeling the effects.

“At this rate, I’d like to buy you not just furniture, but a whole furniture store.”

“Ah, not for rent.”

“I’m just kidding, kidding.”

Remembering that the Elder Dragons said they would buy me a store, I guess I just copied that.

I thought Han A-rin was being mischievous, so I tried to pout… no, since I’m an adult, I tried my best to control my expression and act like nothing happened, but.

Chae-a, who was next to me, started to hesitate as she watched my tail tapping the floor.

“Ha-eun, are you angry?”

Judging by her worried expression, she seems to be watching my reaction.

Startled by Chae-a’s behavior, I shook my head.

Chae-a grinned and relaxed her expression, then came closer to me and said.

“Then it’s okay!”

Certainly, in front of a baby, it’s necessary to be careful with words and actions.

I decided to be more mindful of my actions as an adult who needs to take care of Chae-a, and put on a mature expression.

Han A-rin, who was hugging me, chuckled and said to me.

“Ha-eun’s expression is so funny. What kind of face are you making right now?”

“… Huh?”

“Oh, you’re really cute. Can I take just one picture?”

Huh, why is she reacting like that…?

I was about to pout again out of frustration.

But since I had already grown up significantly, I endured it and shook my head at Han A-rin.

“No. I don’t want to!”

When I shortened the three-part combo I had learned before to a two-part combo,

Han A-rin looked at me with a very shocked expression.

Feeling like I might have gone too far, I glanced around a bit, then quickly apologized while grasping Han A-rin’s hand.

“I’m sorry…”

At those words, Han A-rin quickly erased her hurt expression, and then spoke to me with a face trying to hold back laughter.

“Your sister feels hurt and might cry. If Ha-eun gives her sister a kiss… Ha-eun? I’m kidding. It was a joke, so come back!”

Since there seemed to be no need to listen any further.

I firmly held Chae-a’s hand and headed towards my lair.

*

Ignoring Han A-rin calling out to me desperately from behind, I turned on the broadcast.

It was partly to get advice on interior design, and also to see if there were any viewers who needed my help.

‘And above all.’

It’s been a while since I’ve seen it, so I felt like I wanted to watch it.

With a slightly nervous heart, I turn on the broadcast and the usual people start pouring in.

[Seo-rinSeo-rin – Ha-eun and Chae-a are so pretty and cute even on broadcast ㅠㅠ Ah, I feel healed.]

[GradStudentRecruiting – Take it slow, dear.]

[LuckyWaterDeer – Hello, little ones ㅎㅇㅎㅇ]

ː

I can understand Seo-rin, but why is Han A-rin watching the broadcast behind me?

Not sure, but thinking it’s just personal preference, I greeted as politely as possible.

“Hello!”

I bowed deeply.

Chae-a, who was watching this from the side, giggles and follows with a greeting.

I pat Chae-a’s head to show she did well, then explained why I turned on the broadcast.

“Today, I turned on the broadcast to see if anyone needed help with interior design… And also because I wanted to see the viewers.”

I was hesitant to say the last part because I felt shy.

But I knew that if I didn’t express such sincere feelings usually, we might drift apart.

So I spoke honestly and plainly, then tried to move on casually to the next topic.

[Lotlot – Cute cute cute cute]

[SpicyChickenYummy – No way ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Ha. I swear I’ll donate all the money I earned from the dungeon yesterday.]

[SpicyChickenYummy has sent a donation.]

[Yumyum – Is it really okay to be this cute?]

[A user named “Rich and Suspicious” has sent a donation.]

[A user named “Rich and Suspicious” has sent a donation.]

[A user named “Rich and Suspicious” has sent a donation.]

[A user named “Rich and Suspicious” has sent a donation.]

[A user named “Recruiting Graduate Students” has sent a donation.]

The same message keeps repeating and the chat is scrolling up quickly.

I shook my head thinking this isn’t right, and desperately shouted ‘Please stop sending,’ but.

The viewers didn’t seem to have any intention of listening to my words.

‘I’ll have to refund them later.’

I decided that if they refuse the refund, I’ll donate that money or use it for people in similar situations as me.

To calm the viewers down, I shook my head calmly and said.

“You shouldn’t do that…!”

As I said it’s not okay, the atmosphere became even more excited and the chat window scrolled up quickly.

I felt like I was facing chaos and felt dizzy.

To find some comfort, I raised my tail and hid my face, then Chae-a, who was next to me, stepped forward and said.

“Chae-a will show you a forward roll…! Chae-a is good at forward rolls.”

It seems she’s trying to draw attention on purpose for my sake as I’m feeling shy.

I was feeling grateful for Chae-a and was hesitating when.

Just as Chae-a was about to bend down to do a forward roll.

Bang!

Ha-eun immediately stopped, burying her head in her cell phone.

Seeing the squirrel pajamas trembling, it seemed she was quite startled, so I was about to quickly calm her down.

Chae-a speaks to me with a whimper.

“It hurts…”

Chae-a, who was whining while holding her head with both hands, came to me in tears.

She began to tell me how sad she was feeling right now.

 

“My head hurts so much that I’m crying like this… So Chae-a feels sad and wants to cry. But I tried to hold it in because I have to protect Ha-eun…”

Judging by how long her speech was, it seems she was incredibly upset about the pain.

I was patting Chae-a to calm her down.

I blew a gentle breath on Chae-a’s forehead to heal her.

“Wow… It doesn’t hurt at all!”

Chae-a smiles brightly with tears in her eyes, as if it also had a pain-relieving effect.

As I look at Chae-a like that, thinking it’s a relief.

Han A-rin, who was nearby, picked up the fallen phone and said.

“Kids should be careful. Otherwise, you’ll go bald like Spirit User Uncle?”

At those words, Chae-a froze and had a very shocked expression.

“…?!”