episode_0017

Mother laid out the clothes she used to wear.

The other clothes were all burned while mother was putting on makeup, and this is the one remaining garment that was not intentionally set on fire.

Is it because it’s a dress mother often wore?

I couldn’t bring myself to throw away this outfit.

I didn’t expect it to be used like this… Well, it turned out fine, I guess.

But what about undergarments? I just burned them all. What should I do?

I feel hesitant to go buy them in the village, and taking Heesun to the village would attract too much attention.

Still, it’s better to have something to wear rather than being without bottoms like this. It’s probably best to give her this.

“Oppa!”

When Heesun entered the room, a pleasant fragrance wafted in. It seemed like she had washed her face or something while drinking water with slightly wet bangs.

She probably just washed with water, so how does she smell so good?

“You’re here? Do you want to try this on first? It’s a clean outfit that mother liked because she always did laundry, so it’s a neat piece.”

“Thank you. Oppa! Do commoners wear clothes like this?”

Commoners? Oh right, she was a fairy, wasn’t she?

“Yes, do fairies wear different clothes?”

“Yes! Their attire is slightly different. It’s fascinating… Can I try this on?”

“Well, I took it out for you to wear.”

“Yes! Thank you. Hehe.”

Heesun, who was excited, quickly took off the clothes she was wearing and picked up the outfit that belonged to mother.

“Oh, oops!”

I was taken aback as I witnessed the clear silhouette of a maiden in an instant, blushing in embarrassment.

“Why are you acting like that, Oppa?”

Heesun seemed puzzled by my flustered expression.

Of course, seeing such a pink… no, such a thing suddenly would make anyone flustered…

Do fairies have different customs?

Ah, I see.

I overlooked the cultural differences.

Commoners? Is that right? Should I tell her that commoners don’t show their naked bodies to each other except between spouses? Should I think of it as disrespecting the culture if they don’t respect it?

Hmm… I guess I should tell her! After all, this isn’t heaven where they follow heavenly laws like in Rome.

What if she suddenly starts undressing in front of others?

“Um… Heesun, commoners only show their naked bodies to each other within marriage.”

“Oh~ I see. Oppa! Don’t worry. It’s the same in heaven!”

“Huh?”

“Yes?”

“Oh, no, it’s nothing.”

For some reason, I felt like if I asked more, I would fall into an unknowable swamp.

“Oppa! Oppa, look at this. It’s a bit big, but it’s so pretty! It seems like mother was skilled with her hands. She made such beautiful clothes.”

As I turned around, Heesun was happily showing off the clothes.

Of course, she was only wearing a top and skirt without an undershirt, inner jacket, inner skirt, or underpants, but it looked livelier and more modern, making it even prettier in my eyes.

“Haha, are you that happy? But that’s not mother’s handiwork; she wasn’t skilled, so we just bought these.”

Heesun’s face seemed embarrassed at my words, as if she had made a mistake.

“Oh, um… I see… I’m sorry. Even so, I can feel that your mother cherished these clothes a lot. Thank you for giving me such nice clothes, Oppa.”

There’s really no need for her to look so guilty.

I was simply grateful for Heesun’s thoughtfulness and warmth.

“It’s okay. Thanks to you, I enjoyed reminiscing about mother. She would have been very pleased to see you wearing this outfit, haha.”

“Really? Would your mother have liked it?”

“Huh? Uh, yeah… She would have loved it, right?”

Deep down, she wanted a daughter too, so she would have been extremely happy if Heesun had seen it.

“Hehehehe, I… feel good?”

Ah, I should get going now. I got so into talking with people after spending time alone without saying a word…

Suddenly, Heesun, who was smiling brightly beside me, ignores her and picks up the clothes she had taken off.

Since this is leather, it shouldn’t be washed but wiped clean.

But what if Heesun wore it? It smells so good. Maybe it’s okay not to wipe it?

Unconsciously drawn by the fragrant smell, I bring my nose closer to the clothes.

The good scent seems stronger at the lower part? Hmm.. Oh, the smell is nice.. I want to keep smelling it…

!!!

“Oh, brother!!”

Heesun’s shout brought my wandering mind back in an instant!

Heesun, who shouted loudly, quickly approaches me, her face turning red as she swiftly takes the clothes from my hand.

“I-I will wipe it properly later! You can’t just wash leather, right? I’ll take care of everything!”

“Uh.. yeah… Sorry. I didn’t realize it smelled good…”

Oh, girls are sensitive to these things; I was thoughtless. I made a mistake unintentionally due to the fragrance.

“It’s… It’s okay, brother.. I sweated a lot last night, so… I was worried about a bad smell…”

But only a good scent is coming out, so there’s no need to be upset.

“No, no, it wasn’t like that. I actually find it disappointing when the smell fades.”

Huh!

?? Why am I surprised? The smell was really nice..?

Heesun, blushing and sitting close to me, holding the clothes tightly in her arms.

“I-I’m sorry. I thought your mother’s clothes would be fine, but…”

The cheap clothes seem to have shrunk a bit! Hm!

“Heesun. I don’t think your mother’s clothes will do. They’re… well… uncomfortable… Let’s go to the village first. Even though it’s a bit embarrassing for men to buy women’s undergarments, if you ask someone you know or a younger sister, they’ll help somehow.”

As Heesun, who was cooling her flushed face, turns to face me after my words, the temperature in the chilly room suddenly drops.

“Someone you know? A younger sister…?”

‘Why… why? Did I say something wrong?’

Although Heesun is smiling, why does it feel strange?

I suddenly felt scared of Heesun.

“Heesun…”

“Uh.. yeah…”

Responding with a simple “yes” to Heesun’s repeated calls in a cold voice, my heart shrank.

“I think it’s better if I go out to the village. Isn’t it a problem if a man goes around buying women’s undergarments?”

“Well, you can wear my clothes over this, right?”

“Yeah.. But… It’s a bit… awkward for you to go to the village.”

My voice trails off at Heesun’s sharp retort…

It’s most frightening when a pretty girl gets angry.

I found myself stumbling over my words and making excuses unnecessarily.

“Why? Is there a hidden woman I should be concerned about? Why shouldn’t I go to the village?”

“Ah… No… It’s just that you’re too… beautiful…”

“I can’t hear you. Brother! Speak louder!”

“I said you’re beautiful! I’m sorry!”

I don’t know why I’m apologizing, but I did it anyway.

That’s what my father used to say. Apologize first, and then half the battle is won.

But how can I take Heesun to the village when it’s so awkward?

Sigh.. Just thinking about the trouble I could get into by taking that face to the village is making my head spin already.

Keeping her hidden at home seems like the best solution.

“Jealous?.. Hmph! Hmm! I see. That’s what you meant. Alright! Well then, I’ll forgive you for now.”

Even as I said that, a prickling sensation – I must have done something wrong.

“But getting angry looks quite pretty… There’s some charm to it…”

“By the way, Brother!”

“Yes yes!”

Staring blankly at the cool beauty, I was caught off guard and quickly responded.

“Do you happen to have any silk or thread for sale here?”

“Well.. we do have some. Mother had stocked up on a lot of silk threads because she wanted to earn money through weaving and prevent me from going hunting…. Of course, they didn’t sell, so she eventually gave up, haha.”

“Oh, is that so? Can I try using that?”

“Of course, but if you’re a fairy, aren’t you supposed to have a delicate body? Do you know how to do such work?”

“What are you saying, Brother! Weaving fabric is a fairy’s main task and something they should excel at! Among fairies, I was the best at it. Of course, it would have been better if it were silk threads, hehe. I’ll showcase my skills and make some clothes for you, Brother. We can sell them and make some money.”

“You not only know how to weave but also how to make clothes?”

“Yes! I can handle making my own clothes. So, Brother, please don’t go around asking the village women for undergarments!”

I could only nod my head in response to her fluttering emerald eyes and blinking eyelashes.

“Alright, alright. But until we find a way to get to heaven, we’ll have to stay at our house. Will that be okay? It might be quite uncomfortable; it’s just a small room.”

“Don’t worry. Something like that won’t bother me at all!”

‘Are all fairies this kind-hearted?’

She smiled as if she understood my concerns, but perhaps she was considerate because she cared about me.

Where can one find such a good person in this world?

So, I must definitely send this child back home.

It seems like I should visit the heavenly realm at least once for myself.

“Don’t worry too much! Heesun, I will find a way to take you back home to heaven.”

“Huh? Uh.. I.. I don’t think you need to try so hard…”

“Human world is dangerous, Heesun. You are exceptionally beautiful, making you even more vulnerable. Think about it, trying to seduce an ugly old man like me! Well, he did go overboard, but anyway, it’s best to return as soon as possible.”

“But still…”

“And I have some business in heaven too…”

Boing!

“You’re going to heaven? What business do you have there?”

“Oh, um.. Could you meet the.. high-ranking person I’m thinking of?”

“Well.. since it’s the Jade Emperor, he’s the highest-ranking person.”

“Could I meet him? Is it appropriate for me to say that? Can I meet him?”

“Ah, the Jade Emperor? He’s not easy to meet, but since he saved me, he’ll probably let you meet him! Apparently, the Jade Emperor really admires me!”

“Haha. Well, that’s fortunate. So, if we find a way up, can I come along?”

“Of course, Brother! I’ll make sure you can meet the Jade Emperor.”

For some reason, Heesun’s face turned red.

Whether her flushed cheeks were warm or not, Heesun cooled them by placing her cold hands on her cheeks and whispered softly,

“I… in… troduction… Yes, yes, good, good!”

She mumbled something, but I couldn’t understand a word.

Gurgle

“Oh! Are you hungry, Brother? Let me cook something for you!”

“Oh no, I don’t have much to eat anyway, maybe some potatoes or sweet potatoes.”

“If there’s nothing special, it’s something I can do! I want to repay your kindness, so please let me do this!”

“Uh.. uh.. Alright..”

“I’ll go and peel the potatoes and sweet potatoes, so please… um… no, sir, please sit here.”

Hui-seon said firmly before turning around and heading to the kitchen.

Well, since he was the one who helped me, I felt a bit compelled to repay the favor, so it was hard to stop him.

Isn’t that right? Wanting to be helpful in a new place but feeling awkward because nothing is being asked of you, as a newbie?

In those situations, you should just do some work. So, I just let him do as he pleased.

But it feels like I forgot something… It was definitely important… Why do I feel so uneasy?

… Ugh. I have no idea at all.

I’ll probably remember later. Whatever.

“Hehehehe…”

The woman’s muffled laughter echoed from the kitchen.

How could such a refined lady produce such a muffled laughter?

“Hehehe. Sir… I told you not to peek, right? Hehehe, I saw everything I hid here, what will you do if you forget~ Hehe, this place is mine now, right? I can do whatever I want~”

What she pulled out from the corner of the kitchen was his underwear.

“Uh… uh… ugh… Sir… hehehe.”

Despite the foul stench emanating from the man who had been there for a while, the woman in the kitchen savored it as if it were a fragrance.

Her actions of savoring the scent continued until the water in the pot boiled and the potatoes and sweet potatoes were cooked.