Chapter 81: Concerns (8)

So, Guild Master Jang Jin-yu’s anger stemmed from a simple reason.

Through Gyeonwoo, who’d befriended his precious younger sibling, he’d discovered she wasn’t just some whiny brat but quite an interesting child, despite their brief meeting. Going against his nature, he’d even helped hunt down those cult bastards and showed up on time for the meeting, but…

“What’s going on? Why aren’t they here?”

Time was up, but no one had arrived. While Lee Sunghwan was unpredictable enough to be late, why wasn’t sister here?

Did they change the meeting time without telling him? If they’d changed locations, the guild members would have guided him there.

As he waited grumpily, he overheard guild members talking:

“Don’t Guild Master and Guild Master Kang Hari look good together?”

“Yeah, with the kids they look like a real family.”

What? They left him waiting while having fun somewhere else?

He jumped up and looked out the window to find the four of them laughing and playing, completely ignoring the meeting.

“Isn’t my anger justified?”

To this explanation from Jang Jin-yu…

“He’s sulking.”

“Definitely sulking.”

Kang Hari and Lee Sunghwan dismissed the situation in a single phrase.

Unlike the two adults, Jang Jin-yu was still quite young – just 21, an age when he should have been enjoying college life in more peaceful times.

As the youngest of the three Guild Masters, he often acted selfishly. This seemed to be another childish outburst.

“What? Ha! As if I’d sulk over something so trivial!”

But his protests changed nothing.

“Hey, kid. What do you think? Am I sulking? Did I do something wrong?”

Thinking mature Gyeonwoo would judge fairly, he stared at her expectantly as she stammered…

“Um, well… you didn’t do anything wrong… but you do seem to be pouting…”

Despite nervously eyeing Jang Jin-yu who towered over her by two heads, Gyeonwoo stood firm in her opinion.

After all, she couldn’t lie. With three out of five people in the room claiming he was sulking…

Frustrated, Jang Jin-yu sputtered “Ha, shit, ha, shit” unable to hide his fluster. Then…

“Fine! What do you think, little one?”

As a last hope, he turned to Pureumi in Kang Hari’s arms.

His gaze burned so intensely it might have made a normal child burst into tears, but…

“Yeah! Mama’s wight!”

“No…”

“And don’t get close to our Mama, you lolicon!”

Pureumi’s counterattack brought a heavy silence.

Jang Jin-yu, Kang Hari, and Lee Sunghwan all quietly glanced at the conference room door.

Thankfully it was firmly shut.

That could have ruined his social life – what a close call.

These terrifying kids…

“What did I do…?”

“You keep looking at Mama with pewvy eyes!”

“I what…?”

“Pewvet!”

She pronounced “lolicon” crystal clear like an adult, yet spoke like a child otherwise.

“It’s ‘pervert,’ not ‘pewvet.'”

“Pewvet!”

First at the party, now today.

Just from talking to them briefly, they labeled him a pedophile. Their attitude was so bad he wanted to ask what kind of home education they’d received.

But situations like this never worked in his favor.

Anyone hearing this without context would definitely take the children’s side.

“…Fine. I give up, you win.”

One heart-stopping moment was enough.

Jang Jin-yu finally raised both hands and feet in surrender.

Clearly numbers and loud voices were all that mattered in this world.

He’d lost interest.

This was one reason he despised other humans, but what would these kids know?

Talking more would only get ugly, so he grumbled and melted the ice he’d frozen the conference room with.

As the ice instantly vaporized and drifted out the window…

“Blehhh!”

“Pureumi! I told you not to speak carelessly!”

Gyeonwoo who’d toddled out pinched Pureumi’s soft, squishy cheeks.

They stretched like rubber.

“Monk Jamyeong said that what we see and hear might be different from the truth.”

Though it looked painful enough to bring tears to adult eyes, Pureumi just giggled “heehee” and met Gyeonwoo’s gaze with a bright smile.

Was Gyeonwoo teaching her little sister as the older one?

The three Guild Masters watched Gyeonwoo expectantly.

“Though Guild Master Jang Jin-yu has been suspiciously hovering around us, we shouldn’t condemn someone just on appearances.”

“Ugh…”

“Even jokes can hurt, and if misunderstandings spread as rumors, they become unstoppable. So always think two or three times before speaking.”

But listening to this…

It didn’t sound like she was scolding Pureumi for lying, but for hurting someone with words.

Some might even think Jang Jin-yu was targeting Gyeonwoo.

Kang Hari and Lee Sunghwan, who naturally acted as Gyeonwoo’s parents, were considering whether to ban his approach when…

“Besides, I’m grown up! Just four more years until I’m an adult!”

Ironically, Gyeonwoo’s bombshell made them completely forget those concerns.

Our tiny Gyeonwoo… just four years from being an adult…?

19 minus 4 equals 15.

Which meant…

Unlike what everyone thought, Gyeonwoo was a 15-year-old middle school student!

“…Um, why is everyone staring like that?”

Four pairs of unblinking eyes fixed on her.

Under those intense gazes, Gyeonwoo backed away nervously.

She’d meant to scold Pureumi, but had she said something wrong…?

“G-Gyeonwoo. You’re saying you’re fifteen now?”

At Kang Hari’s question, Gyeonwoo nodded without hesitation.

“Yes… I think so?”

After losing her parents and being handed to the cult, she’d essentially become an illegal resident without ID, so she couldn’t be certain.

Ironically, the cult never missed celebrating her birthday even once.

She was their saint, given by the almighty god who’d revived them from the brink of extinction, so it was a sacred day!

It was the one peaceful day when no one died in the cult that normally treated non-Awakened and heretics’ lives as worthless.

“I’ve had ten birthday celebrations, so I must be fifteen.”

It was impossible to forget – the one day each year she could eat good food, rest easily without making wishes.

“…Really? Was it delicious?”

“Hmm, it was then, but I’m not sure now. Hehe, everyone feeds me such good food now that I’m always full.”

No more unnecessary questions followed Gyeonwoo’s response.

There was no need to bring up bad memories.

The three were shocked simply because they’d never expected Gyeonwoo’s age.

Her tiny frame under 140cm and thin limbs.

Weight so light that even normal women could lift her easily.

Even accounting for delayed growth, her build was nowhere near that of a fifteen-year-old.

Everyone who met her mistook her for a kindergartener.

They could only guess at growth disorders from malnutrition.

No wonder… she acted so mature despite seeming so young.

A fifteen-year-old middle schooler?

Wasn’t that the storm and stress age?

Though Gyeonwoo was kindhearted, normal kids that age thought they were the center of the world and acted recklessly.

Looking back, her jealousy of Pureumi made perfect sense.

It would be stranger if she didn’t envy seeing a child act freely and receive love when she’d spent her life walking on eggshells.

This was clearly more than simple jealousy – there were deeper wounds.

“Did you know, brother?”

“No.”

“What? Isn’t she your daughter! You never asked her age?”

“…How could I ask about age to a child who lost her parents, was kidnapped by a cult, and doesn’t even know her birthday?”

“Oh, right…”

Though Gyeonwoo and Pureumi didn’t notice, the atmosphere had grown irredeemably awkward.

This was no time for jokes about sulking or being a lolicon.

“Ah! So that’s why Gyeonwoo didn’t enjoy playing with kindergarten friends much?”

“Well… it wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy it… just felt awkward.”

After quietly exchanging glances while the children weren’t looking…

Kang Hari subtly probed for Gyeonwoo’s answer:

“Then, you probably don’t want to go to kindergarten?”

“No! I’m stupid so I’d rather help the Guild Masters than study. I can purify contaminated areas and clear dungeons! I’m good at physical work.”

A heartbreaking answer, but exactly what Kang Hari wanted to hear.

“Really? Then… would you like to play with brother Jin-yu for a bit? Brother and I need to discuss Pureumi’s kindergarten enrollment.”

“Oh! Don’t worry. I’ll stay out of the way.”

She deliberately paired Gyeonwoo with Jang Jin-yu for a reason.

Jang Jin-yu was the embodiment of pride and self-love.

She thought being with him might help Gyeonwoo build her own self-esteem.

“Huh? What, I have to leave too?”

Though the oblivious Jang Jin-yu protested…

“You’re an adult too, so help Gyeonwoo.”

With Kang Hari’s telepathic message plus…

“Um, at times like this you should tactfully step aside.”

“What, are you saying I lack tact?”

“I’ll buy you something tasty in return!”

“You’ll buy for me? Alright, let’s go.”

“Yes!”

Pureumi’s kindergarten enrollment.

With Pureumi’s future at stake, even Gyeonwoo eagerly pulled his hand, making resistance impossible.