Episode 289. Happy Alice (2)

“Oh, oh! Look at this!”

“…It’s nice, though.”

A mansion too big to be called a house.

Passing through the yard, surrounded by a garden that felt alive with nature’s energy, a massive two-story mansion came into view.

Roughly estimating, it looked 10 times the size of the dormitory. No, maybe 20 times wider.

At first, when they said it was 20 billion won, I just thought, ‘This is going to be great.’

But even considering that, it seems way too big.

Besides, this is right in the middle of the city.

“Scarlet. Didn’t you say this place was 20 billion won?”

“That’s correct.”

“It’s not even a lease deposit; I bought it outright.”

“Hoyeon-nim. Didn’t you check the contract?”

“…Yeah. But it seems surprisingly cheap.”

I feel like it should have cost more.

Of course, that’s based on my standards before possessing this body.

The existence of things like Gates and dungeons must cause significant differences in prices and such.

Anyway, it’s not something I need to worry about, so I’ll skip it.

I was looking around the first-floor living room, which seemed spacious enough for me to seriously play basketball even if I couldn’t play soccer, when I found Liliana occupying the largest room.

“Hey. Give up the room. It’s my house.”

And I immediately teased her.

“No way! I’m already setting up my computer?”

Liliana was putting up the same wallpaper as the dormitory on the wall behind the computer desk, wherever she’d gotten it from.

She was even using a measuring tape to check the computer’s position, looking incredibly serious about her broadcast.

“…You’re really serious about broadcasting, aren’t you.”

“Of course! There are people inside the computer.”

Seeing her this serious makes it hard to take the room back.

Actually, any room would be big enough, so it doesn’t really matter.

It was just a joke anyway.

“Fine. You can have this room.”

Leaving Liliana to her preparations, I put my luggage in the second-largest room on the first floor.

This place is also plenty spacious for one person.

Moreover, Scarlet had already arranged things like a bed and essential furniture.

Seeing the artifact I received from Lucy here suggests this was my room from the start.

After roughly unpacking, I came out to find Nam Daeun and Nam Dahee sitting in the living room watching TV.

“Where did you guys put your luggage?”

“We’re on the second floor! Unnie and I are right next door!”

“Oh? That’s good.”

Nam Dahee beamed, looking genuinely happy.

It was the kind of smile that unintentionally made me feel good too.

As expected, children should smile.

“I was surprised by how nice the house is. Thank you, Hoyeon.”

This was originally your money, though.

“Oppa… But are we really going to live here together?”

“Yeah. What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”

“But… I don’t have any money to give you, Oppa….”

I patted Nam Dahee’s head as she hesitated.

“It’s okay. Your Unnie helps me a lot.”

“Yeah. Don’t worry, Dahee, since Unnie is here.”

“Unnie….”

Nam Dahee hugged Nam Daeun, hiding the tears welling up in her eyes, while Nam Daeun patted her with a loving smile.

Truly, a lovely pair of sisters…

KWANG-!

“I’m hungry! Buy me food, food! They say people eat Jjajangmyeon when they move, and I want some too!”

“Okay. I’ll buy it for you, so stop yelling.”

“And Tangsuyuk too! Hmph!”

Liliana ran towards me, smiling brightly.

“Hey. I said I’ll buy it. What are you doing?”

I was surprised to be suddenly hugged like that.

I don’t mind, but with Dahee right here, it’s not good for her emotional development.

“Unnie… I want Jjajangmyeon too.”

“It’s okay. Hoyeon will buy it for us.”

“Okay. I’ll buy everything, so go ahead and order.”

As if I haven’t bought things for you before.

Watching Nam Dahee and Liliana lie on the floor and excitedly choose the menu as soon as they got my permission, I shook my head.

Now that the house is bigger, it’s going to be harder to control them.

I let out a wry laugh and sank into the sofa.

Just then, Nam Daeun approached me.

“I never imagined I would end up living in a place like this.”

Nam Daeun gently sat beside me, looking at Nam Dahee with a fond smile.

“…This is all money I took from the guild you were in.”

“…You were the one who saved me from that hell, Hoyeon.”

Kkoook-

Nam Daeun held my hand.

“Until recently, I was just living because I couldn’t die.”

“…”

Sharing our warm body heat, we made eye contact.

Sometimes, when she speaks so directly like this… I get so embarrassed.

In the end, when I looked away first, Nam Daeun rested her head on my shoulder.

“You’re coming back late tonight, right?”

“…Probably?”

I have to go meet Alice, so I won’t be back early.

And I don’t know how long it will take there either.

“Starting next week, we won’t be able to see each other for a whole week.”

“…Yeah.”

When I go to the Iris Guild, Nam Daeun said she was going for an internship at the Ironblood Guild.

Since she’s top-tier among the first-years, it’s a natural outcome.

I think Lucy and Lumi also said they were with the Ironblood Guild.

It seems they take all the top-tier people.

“…Stop by tonight. I’ll put Dahee to sleep quickly.”

“… “

Nam Daeun’s face turned slightly red.

I didn’t do the clueless thing of asking where I was supposed to go.

I just held her hand tightly.

“Landlord! Is this okay? The Tangsuyuk and Jjajangmyeon set!”

The one who broke that mood was Liliana.

I was grateful inwardly. If it had continued, I felt like my face would explode from blushing.

“…It doesn’t matter, but what’s with ‘Landlord’?”

Call me by my name or call me Master.

Just pick one already.

And I prefer Jjamppong over Jjajangmyeon.

“Hey. I want Jjamppong.”

“No way. We have to order the same menu for faster delivery!”

…If they’re going to act like that, why did they even ask?

Even though I’m the landlord, they’re not giving me any proper treatment.

“Can’t a Succubus even buy what the landlord wants? No, actually, I’m the one buying it for you.”

“I don’t know! Eat Jjajangmyeon! Eating Jjamppong is bad for your health!”

I got up from the sofa and pinched the stomach of the lying-down Liliana.

“Kyaak! Dahee! Daeun! Save me!”

“Liliana Unnie… Can’t you just order Jjamppong?”

Nam Dahee tilted her head, looking puzzled, while Nam Daeun started the order, telling me not to worry about it.

Next to them, Liliana and I were rolling around, playfully biting each other.

Behind us, Scarlet was quietly smiling.

Even in the new house, it was an ordinary day, just like any other day up until now.

*

“…”

Ttok- ttak- Ttok- ttak-

Alice fiddled with her hands while looking at the analog clock hanging in the hospital room.

9 PM.

Outside was already dark.

Indeed, night can truly be called night only after the sun has completely set.

True to his playboy nature, he seems to have great patience, even when playing hard to get.

Still, thanks to Lee Hoyeon’s visit yesterday, the pain has lessened considerably when I move.

Before, I couldn’t move my body at all, but now it’s at a level I can barely endure.

It was a day I felt the effect of Lee Hoyeon’s massage once again.

It’s embarrassing, but the effect was undeniable.

“…But why isn’t he here?”

Even giggling and laughing alone in the room gets tiring after 3 hours.

Alice finally turned her gaze back to her smartwatch.

Seeing no new messages, she started watching the news.

I couldn’t send a message to Lee Hoyeon first.

Playing hard to get is a battle of pride.

“‘I will never be led around by a man,’ Alice thought.”

After dinner and playing around for a bit, I left the dormitory and checked the time. It was 9:30 PM.

“I’m later than I thought.”

It’s a good time for night, but I actually planned to go earlier, but I was held up at the house for a long time.

After much ado, I ordered dinner, unpacked the remaining luggage, and ate heartily.

Up until here, it was good…

Liliana, whose energy levels were high because we got a big house, tried to ‘suck’ on my belongings as ‘post-meal fun.’ It took some time to escape that.

Scarlet also made her own room after moving in.

Actually, Scarlet probably has her own home… but letting her have one room isn’t a big deal.

We’re already close, but living together will make us even closer, which is great.

There are many pretty women in the house, so there’s no downside.

Besides, she seemed happy about it.

Anyway, after various things happened, I arrived at the hospital at 10 PM.

I sent a message saying I was coming soon right after leaving the dormitory, so Alice must have finished getting ready.

I completed the visiting procedures at the lobby and went to the room.

Although it was late, it seemed okay if the patient permitted.

Knock knock knock-

“Alice. I’m here.”

“Yeah. Come in.”

When I knocked on the hospital room door, Alice’s voice was heard from inside.

Upon entering, I saw Alice lying on the bed.

As always, her ruby-red eyes and the blonde hair flowing down past her shoulders were captivating.

“You’re finally here? You’re late.”

“Uh, yeah.”

“It’s okay to take your time, so sit there.”

“…Okay.”

Sitting on the temporary bed prepared in the room, I felt a strong unnaturalness during our short conversation with Alice.

“What is it?”

I can’t pinpoint it exactly, but it feels strangely awkward. Her tone is too soft.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Alice]

• [ Affection: 83 ]

• [ Lust: 85 ]

• [ Appetite: 40 ]

• [ Fatigue: 65 ]

Current State: Pretending to be relaxed. Kinda cute.

“……?”

Opening the Heroine Status Window, I wondered.

Why? What’s cute about me? I’m not even handsome.

Unlike the usual Alice, her tone was different.

If I had to compare, it was similar to how Alice acted when her affection increased after she misunderstood me due to her congenital mana disorder.

It was as if she was trying to take care of me.

‘Pretending to be relaxed….’

Still, after seeing the Heroine Status Window, I understood.

The identity of the strange unfamiliarity I felt from Alice.

It was precisely ‘pretending to be relaxed.’

The one pretending to be relaxed wasn’t me, but Alice.

Just as I was trying to figure out the reason, Alice spoke.

“How’s the new house you moved into? Was it good?”

“…New house? Ah.”

Alice was looking at me, the corners of her mouth raised.

The ‘new house’ must refer to the one I moved into, of course.

I thought she’d realize a bit later since she was in the hospital room, but it seems she must have heard something.

“…But why are you so confident?”

Even if it’s next door to you, I bought it with my own money?

“Do you like the location? That area has a great view.”

“The view… Yeah. It was good. Speaking of which, it was close to your house. I was surprised.”

“I know, right? I was really, really surprised too.”

Alice still maintained her smile.

Strangely, she showed a lot of smiles today.

‘Wait a second.’

I hadn’t even mentioned it, but Alice brought up the topic of the new house first.

She probably got the information from her butler, Sebastian. Alice was in the hospital room all day.

The problem was that relaxed expression and the upturned corners of her mouth.

And continuously mentioning my house and her house…

Let’s think again, from Alice’s perspective.

A man who kept mentioning he was moving moved, but it turned out he moved right next door.

That man had visited our house several times.

He must have seen the house next door when signing the contract, yet there was no mention of it…

If it were me, what would I think?

“‘Of course, I’d think he hid it on purpose.'”

After finishing my thoughts, I glanced at Alice.

Alice still wore a relaxed smile.

“‘This one seems to be having a strange misunderstanding.'”

It seems likely… seeing that I moved next door, she’s letting her imagination run wild alone.