episode_0098

Since that day.

Lager, who was already mischievous, became incredibly annoying.

“Hey, honey.”

“Don’t.”

“Honeeey~”

“I said don’t.”

Just as I was focusing on cooking for the weekend, he kept fidgeting near the kitchen counter, getting on my nerves.

“Darling, you look so good in an apron.”

“Hey.”

“If you take everything off and just wear the apron, you’ll look even prettier….”

“Hey, come here. Hey.”

“What?!”

I turned towards him with the knife I was using to chop onions. Startled by the sudden change in demeanor of my childhood friend turned rogue, Lager raised both hands in surprise and took a step back.

“Do you want to die? Huh? Do you want to try dying?”

“Calm down. Put the knife down.”

“Is this pervert forgetting that I used to be a woman and making sexual comments?”

“Calm down, Ale. I was wrong. And between a married couple, this is not harassment, it’s just aegyo….”

“What? You want to experience marital disputes with a knife?”

“Oh, no.”

Seeing Lager sweating nervously, I turned back satisfied.

“Behave yourself. If you don’t want a hole in your stomach.”

I went back to chopping onions, gathered them in a bowl, finely chopped the ham, and started beating eggs in another bowl.

Today’s menu was omurice. I couldn’t wrap the fried rice in an omelette as tradition dictates, but I could at least put it on top like a blanket.

It’s annoying, but… we are living together after all.

As Lager provides for our livelihood, I must do my part as well.

“Ale, don’t get so angry.”

Seeing Lager sneakily checking if I still had the knife in my hand, I felt a bit guilty.

“Yeah. I need to control my temper.”

Lager said that, confirmed that I didn’t have the knife, and sneaked up behind me.

“When our baby beer in your belly hears this, it’s good for prenatal education….”

“I’m not pregnant! I’m not pregnant!!”

Thud, thud, thud.

Unable to bear it any longer, I rushed towards him and threw punches. Concerned about the noise, I put on slippers and engaged in a quiet chase.

After going through various ups and downs, we had our meal, sat side by side on the couch, drank beer, and watched TV.

It was still daytime, but our taste in alcohol matched well, so a bottle or two of beer was like a soft drink. It wasn’t enough to get drunk, but it lifted our spirits slightly, the charm of beer.

The reason we could eat right after drinking beer and opening a snack without any problem was simple.

“I like that you’re a TS woman.”

“I like that you’re a TS man.”

As in other works, TS characters don’t gain weight!

A girl who never needs to diet. It’s a good thing no matter what.

“But why did Yooju gain weight?”

“She gained weight?”

Lager put down the beer bottle and looked at me after hearing my muttering.

“Well, Yeongchang is a really good environment for gaining weight.”

“But Yooju is a TS character too, why did she gain weight?”

“Is it a misconception?”

“Hmm.”

It might not be a big deal if it’s nothing.

But why does it feel like there’s something more to it?

“Do you know anything?”

I asked, but Lager just shrugged his shoulders.

“I didn’t even know about Yooju’s existence in the first place.”

“Well, that’s what you said.”

“But it’s a shame you don’t gain weight.”

“Why?”

It’s a random comment.

As I thought about it and tilted my head.

“It’s because your chest doesn’t grow.”

“What?!”

Lager reached out and pulled me towards him, starting to fiddle with the fabric on my chest.

“What, what are you doing, you pervert!”

“It’s just too tempting.”

“Move. Get away from me.”

“If you don’t like it, just push me away.”

“No, no, I… ”

Honestly.

…It feels good.

However, the feeling of pleasure wasn’t like being pricked in the tail by a switch when touched, but rather a refreshing and relaxing sensation, similar to receiving a massage on the shoulders or legs.

Of course, after feeling so relaxed.

“Ah… no, I don’t like it. Stop…”

Slowly, the switch starts to turn on.

At first, Lager’s playful gestures and gaze gradually became more intense. Even the grip that was holding Lager’s wrist formally began to weaken.

“Ugh… hmm…”

“Your breathing seems to be getting heavier.”

“Because you keep touching me strangely…”

Lager carefully slid his hand from the fabric into my clothes.

I didn’t resist.

I simply raised my arms to make it easier for him to undress me as he laid me on the couch.

“I told you I’m not pregnant, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll go get a condom.”

“Just leave it near the couch…”

Since that day, we have become quite like a newlywed couple.

*

Monday.

After sending Lager off, I started catching up on household chores.

“This never-ending household work…”

I did the laundry and washed the breakfast dishes in between. By the time I finished cleaning the bathroom, the laundry was done. I transferred the laundry to the dryer and while it was running, I swept and mopped the house.

I’m quite used to it now.

It was tough at first, but with good equipment, it’s satisfying to handle the machines.

“What should I make for lunch…”

I decided to make kimchi with radishes I bought last Friday. Since the weather was getting colder, I thought of making a hot pot, but we didn’t have enough side dishes at home.

It’s my role to do these things.

I peeled and washed the radishes at the sink. Placing them on the cutting board, I tried to cut one in half.

Thunk.

It didn’t go through.

Is my strength really this weak?

No, that’s not it. It’s not difficult to cut half of it once the knife is in, but the knife wouldn’t even go in.

It’s not cutting.

“Hmm…”

Going out to buy a knife is too much trouble.

I briefly thought of doing it in a few days, but I didn’t feel like putting the peeled and scratched radish back in the fridge.

What should I do?

Then, I remembered the meditation.

‘…Could it work?’

According to Lina, just like a gun, a knife can materialize, but it’s just a toy model because it can’t carry mana.

She didn’t say there was a penalty for using it.

Let’s give it a try.

I closed my eyes for a moment and visualized the knife in my mind.

Materializing the knife outside of my mind was not difficult. The sketched knife was soon in my hand.

Now, should I try cutting?

Feeling a bit dry in the mouth, I swallowed my saliva.

One by one.

Swoosh!!

“Wow?!”

The knife worked.

Without the need to hold it with both hands, the kitchen knife effortlessly sliced through the thick radish!

It was surprisingly sharp.

Nanatsuyoru! Are you the Shiki of Ekanth?!

The exhilarating cutting power was so impressive that witty remarks involuntarily came out.

Then naturally, my consciousness moved to another weapon.

A gun.

Let’s shoot a gun.

Feeling good this time, I quickly put on my shoes and headed to the rooftop.

I pressed the elevator button three times by mistake.

I was trembling. My fingers were shaking.

The winter rooftop air was cold. The sight of a common rooftop in a typical residential apartment complex, with a communal ashtray and a few shabby benches scattered around.

Standing in the midst of it, I mentally drew a gun.

And then, I raised the handgun in my hand high into the sky.

“Alright.”

I placed my finger on the trigger.

And with all my might.

I pulled it.

Bang!!

“It’s done!!”

My ability had returned.

Now, I’m not just a powerless being. I’m not just a female protagonist who only cooks at home without any meaning!!

“I…!”

As I jumped up and down cheering.

One question popped into my head.

But how did my ability come back?

Was there some kind of awakening event recently? Or did some conditions get fulfilled? The pieces are falling into place…

Ah, there it is.

“Female fall score…?”