chapter_0519

519 – Even Though Kkamangi is Scary

519 – Even Though Kkamangi is Scary

Gaeul, being inherently kind, had a rather weak wildness.

Still, since there could be some issues, I decided to keep an eye on Gaeul as much as possible.

Bwoong—

A sense of satisfaction blossomed on Gaeul’s face as she tore through a whole page of her sketchbook.

Perhaps she liked our praise, as Gaeul picked up the sketchbook again.

“Gaeul, are you going to do it again?”

“Nek!”

Gaeul flipped through the pages of the sketchbook in chunks.

On the spread-out pages was a precious drawing she had made with the other kids.

She flinched.

Gaeul, trembling at the sight of the drawing, glanced at me from the corner of her eye.

I knew she wouldn’t do anything, but feeling playful, I asked Gaeul.

“Gaeul, are you going to tear the drawing too?”

“Anya anya.”

“Really?”

“Nek. Gaeul did it all.”

Gaeul shook her head in denial and folded the sketchbook back to its original place.

Even if she became wild, she was not a child who would touch the memories of her family.

‘I feel like she’s still not satisfied.’

Gaeul seemed to want to break something more.

If she couldn’t fully unleash her destructive desire, it would be quite bothersome.

Having experienced the rampage of wildness firsthand, I understood Gaeul’s feelings very well.

I decided to bring her something suitable to break.

It was a drawer full of wooden chopsticks from the kitchen.

“Gaeul, do you want to break this?”

“Jua!”

Kong—! Kong—!

Gaeul approached me with energetic footsteps.

She stretched out her hands, so I handed her a chopstick.

“How about just breaking this one for now?”

“Hek…!”

Gaeul easily broke the chopstick in half.

One chopstick was probably too easy.

When I gave her a pair of chopsticks, the other kids clung to me.

“Wanga! Levinas too! Levinas wants to break some too!”

“Me too!”

The kids came to me asking for chopsticks.

Only Saebyeok, who was strong enough to break steel, showed no interest in breaking chopsticks.

It was the so-called leisure of the strong.

“Here you go.”

I handed each child a pair of chopsticks.

With their own battle cries, the kids broke the chopsticks.

“Yahap!”

“Pasha!”

The kids easily broke their pairs of chopsticks.

Feeling confident, Gaeul reached out her hand to me again.

“Jua.”

“Do you want to break more chopsticks?”

“Nek!”

I handed Gaeul two pairs of chopsticks, and her arms began to tremble as she held both ends.

Baddle baddle baddle—

Her face contorted, and she bit down hard, but the two pairs of chopsticks did not break.

Realizing this wouldn’t do, Gaeul returned the chopsticks to me.

“Anya anya.”

“Really?”

“Nek. Gaeul did it all.”

Gaeul insisted she had done it and returned the chopsticks.

If it were the usual Gaeul, she would have honestly said she couldn’t do it, but the wild Gaeul seemed to have quite a bit of pride.

“Still, Gaeul…”

Just as I was about to praise Gaeul more, Haneul, freshly dried from the bathroom, came into the living room.

“What are you doing, Master…?”

“I’m breaking chopsticks. Do you want to try, Haneul?”

“Ah…! Yes…!”

Haneul took the chopsticks from me.

She took the whole bunch of chopsticks I was holding.

That would be hard to break…

Kwadudududung—!

The bunch of chopsticks was broken in one go by Haneul’s mechanical arm.

I was left speechless by her overwhelming strength.

“Oh my…”

Gaeul’s eyebrows, which had been raised fiercely, lowered.

From above Gaeul’s head, a black aura began to seep out.

“What is that?”

In my flustered state, I looked at Sophia.

But Sophia only wore a look of disbelief.

**

“An evil spirit?”

“Yes, sometimes there are those that leave behind grudges.”

“Ah…”

So it wasn’t wildness, but an evil spirit.

Could it have been a big deal…?

I wasn’t sure.

Even if Gaeul was possessed by the evil spirit’s demonic energy, she remained kind.

Since the demonic energy had finally left, I guess I didn’t need to worry?

Hmm…

After pondering for a moment, I sat down next to Sophia on the sofa.

Then, the usual Gaeul came back and said,

“Jjuin, Gaeul is sorry! Sorry!”

Kong kong.

Gaeul stomped the floor angrily, showing a sorry expression.

It seemed she felt guilty for acting out under the influence of the evil spirit’s demonic energy.

“It’s okay, that was a really bad evil spirit trying to control Gaeul.”

“Control?!”

“Yes. But Gaeul is so kind that it ended there.”

“······!”

Gaeul’s tail perked up.

Feeling good, she soon burst into laughter.

“Hehe.”

As I patted Gaeul’s head, I thought about the Divine Beasts working hard to rebuild the Beastmen village.

‘I should give the Divine Beasts a gift or something.’

Maybe I’ll stop by the pet store tomorrow.

I fell asleep while contemplating what gifts to buy for the Divine Beasts.

**

The next morning.

Waking up, I returned to the Ggaemmi Guild.

Some Divine Beasts had gone hunting with adventurers, while others were resting.

As I spent some time with the Divine Beasts, Ensia approached me.

“Lady Gyeoul, there you are.”

“Yes. What’s the matter?”

“I’m going to the dungeon tomorrow, and I was wondering if I could accompany Yuri.”

“Yes, of course… but could you help me with something?”

“Yes. Of course.”

Ensia didn’t even ask what I needed help with.

She simply nodded, acknowledging it.

“Then let’s go to the pet store together.”

“Understood.”

The kids were still asleep.

Just as I was about to hold hands with Ensia and head towards the pet store, I heard,

“Meow meow!”

“Kki kki!”

Seol, with Kkamang on her head, followed us.

Did she want to come along?

Our local supermarket allowed animals inside, so it wouldn’t matter if they joined us.

“Do you want to go with Kkamang and Seol?”

“Meow meow!”

“Kki!”

Seol, carrying Kkamang, followed closely behind me.

After a light stroll, we arrived at the supermarket, which wasn’t open yet.

“Oh.”

It opens at ten o’clock.

Did I come out too early for no reason?

Checking the time on Ensia’s smartphone, it was still eight-thirty.

“What should we do, Ensia?”

“If we have a simple breakfast while waiting, it will soon be ten o’clock.”

“Hmm… then let’s do that? Time flies when I’m with you, Ensia.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I guess I just like being with you.”

Hehe.

I looked up at Ensia and smiled.

Cough, cough.

Ensia cleared her throat and pointed to a nearby restaurant.

“How about that place?”

“Yes. Sounds good.”

I had a meal with Ensia at the restaurant and played while strolling around the neighborhood.

Seol and Kkamang seemed to enjoy the walk, running around here and there.

“It’s almost opening time.”

“Yes. Let’s go back.”

We moved back to the supermarket.

There weren’t many people since it was just before opening.

Although animals were allowed, I held Seol and Kkamang in my arms as we made our way to the pet store.

Arriving at the pet store, I thought it would be fine to set Seol and Kkamang down again.

I picked up a brush from the store and waved at Ensia.

“Ensia, Ensia.”

“Yes?”

“Could you please give me your tail for a moment?”

“Yes. I’ll turn around.”

I gently brushed Ensia’s tail with the brush.

Ensia’s tail was fluffy, making it easy to brush.

“Ensia, how does it…”

I wanted to ask how it felt, but Ensia’s tail began to shake rapidly, and I was struck on the cheeks.

The tail was shaking so fast that I couldn’t brush it properly.

“Ensia…?”

Nya nya…

A timid cat sound instinctively escaped me.

It wasn’t because my cheeks hurt, but because the swaying tail kept brushing my face, blocking my view.

“I-I’m sorry. I was so moved that Lady Gyeoul was brushing me that I couldn’t help it…”

Startled, Ensia grabbed her tail and turned around.

Seeing her like that made me chuckle.

“I’m sure the Divine Beasts will love it if I brush them with this, right?”

“Yes. If it’s you, Lady Gyeoul, the Divine Beasts will consider it a once-in-a-lifetime honor.”

“Eh.”

Ensia always said such things when it came to me.

Of course, I didn’t particularly dislike it.

“Next time…”

Just as I was looking around for something to buy for the Divine Beasts, I heard a scream nearby.

My ears perked up at the sound.

Then I heard someone frantically running around.

What was happening all of a sudden?

Instinctively, I headed towards the source of the scream and couldn’t help but be shocked.

Seol was peeking out from the pet store.

The staff from the neighboring store was in a panic as they looked at Kkamang sitting on Seol’s head.

Kkamang did look scary.

But was that insecticide the staff was holding?

“······!”

Seeing the staff’s finger pressing down on the insecticide, I activated my mana and rushed towards Kkamang.

Chiiiii—!

Insecticide was sprayed towards Kkamang.

Just before the insecticide reached Kkamang, I managed to pull Seol and Kkamang into my arms.

Naturally, the insecticide hit me instead.

“Nyaaa.”

My eyes instinctively closed as the insecticide sprayed on my face.