Chapter 106
Chapter 106
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: End and Beginning (1)
Hehehe.
Despite everything, seeing Yu-ra clutching that ring so tightly made me sheepishly scratch the back of my head as I stepped outside.
The moment I left the room, I spotted two kids and a dog happily playing around.
"Ta-da! Check it out! Pomi has an inventory too? You guys don't, right?"
Nod, nod.
Pomi pulled ice cream and snacks out of thin air, while Se-ri watched in wide-eyed wonder. She followed Pomi's hands with her gaze like a kid at a magic show.
Pomi got even more excited by her reaction, her shoulders shimmying as she kept showing off.
"I have tons of snacks!"
Pomi stretched her little arms out as far as they could go, drawing a huge circle in the air.
"Slurp..."
Se-ri was drooling rivers, even after scarfing down dinner.
Oh man, Pomi, you rascal. Teasing the poor kid like that.
And besides, that stuff all came from me and Yu-ra's wallets in the first place.
I headed over to scold her, but her next words made me freeze mid-step.
"Call me sis, and I'll give you some!"
"Sis...?"
Se-ri stared at Pomi's hands like she was hypnotized.
Seeing that, pity welled up in me—not for Se-ri, but for Pomi.
'How pissed must she have been.'
Pomi had always been the older one, yet she'd had to butter up Yu-ra and call her sis every time. All that pent-up frustration was exploding now!
Pomi rummaged through her inventory and pulled out a cream donut from earlier.
"That's right! Call me sis, and it's yours!"
She was even willing to share her favorite snack. Our little Pomi was growing up.
It was ridiculous, but also kinda admirable... Wait, no. Is this really something to admire?
Anyway, I was feeling proud of Pomi for a moment, but that vanished when I saw her slice the donut clean in half.
She held out the half like she was bestowing a great favor.
"Here! Say... sis. Siiis."
...Just give her the whole thing, dude.
Meanwhile, Se-ri leaned in, sniffing like she was entranced, but then she snapped back with a gasp. She scanned Pomi's tiny body up and down, then shook her head.
"You're not sis."
"Th-then no donut for you!"
The donut pulled away.
"Gimme."
A black shadow flickered over Se-ri's arm, snatching at Pomi's hand in an instant. But the donut was already back in the inventory.
"Wha— that was close!"
Pomi yelped, shook off Se-ri's hand, and bolted behind me.
Se-ri's eyes trembled violently as she stared at Pomi hiding behind me. Finally, the word slipped through her lips.
"...Sis, gimme snack."
"N-no more if you try to steal it again!"
"Okay."
With Se-ri's nod, Pomi peeked out from behind my back and pulled out the donut again.
"Hehe. Ehehe. Here!"
Se-ri took it and nibbled the end. Her eyes went wide. Then, without offering even a bite to that 'family' Star guy, she turned away and started munching it all by herself.
Star watched her enviously, then opened his jaws toward Pomi.
"Grrr. I want some too."
"You call me sis too!"
"Hey, you wanna hear it from a dog too?"
But Star was clearly craving sweets bad, and the word popped out easy enough.
"Grrr. Sis."
Hearing 'sis' from a massive black wolf dog's mouth wasn't just weird—it was downright eerie.
Anyway, Pomi fed him the other half she'd already cut.
"Here!"
"Nom nom nom... Insufficient."
"D-donuts are limited now! I'll give you something else."
As Pomi moved to pull out more at Star's complaint, Se-ri—who'd been savoring her half—shoved the rest in her mouth in a panic and shot Pomi puppy-dog eyes.
"Sis..."
"Grrr. Sis..."
Ah. What do I do with these kids?
'No choice. Time for me to step in...'
I steeled myself, stepped between them, and turned to Se-ri.
"Se-ri, wanna see bro's donuts? Ta-da!"
"Honey! Gimme."
"Hey, not honey! Call me bro. Brooo."
"Honey-boo."
"Bro!"
"Honey!"
"Bro!"
"Honey! Sex is for husb—"
"Drop it!"
We went back and forth with donuts as bait a few more times, but she wouldn't budge on 'honey.'
I turned away, exhausted, just as Yu-ra emerged in fresh clothes.
"Kids calling you honey feels good, huh?"
Ugh... So tired...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Se-ri and Star's living situation was settled, but for now, we'd have to look after the two with zero social skills.
I'd help out some, but Yu-ra, being a girl too, would know better what Se-ri needed.
We gathered in the living room to get to know each other better.
Yu-ra brought washed peaches, and Se-ri—who'd been watching TV—swallowed hard and stepped up.
"I'll do it."
"Oh? You sure?"
The girl who'd spent half her life chasing revenge and death had latched onto 'chef' as a new goal. She grabbed the tray of peaches and peeler confidently.
Slowly, stealthily.
Black shadows billowed up thick around her hand, sharpening into a blade.
Shwick—.
"Holy crap."
Yu-ra, who'd been watching, jumped into my arms in shock. Heh. She had these cute moments sometimes, and I loved it.
"Se-ri, what did I say?"
"Ah! Right."
Shooo—.
The shadows dispersed. Se-ri picked up the peeler properly and started peeling the peaches.
She'd only helped with dinner once, but her knife work showed no hesitation. Impressive, but as someone with years in kitchens, jealousy flared up at this prodigy.
'No ugly envy here. Right, I've got talents in dick and stamina.'
Not something to brag about publicly, but in bed with a woman? Unbeatable confidence!
As I shook off the envy, Se-ri finished slicing and started spearing pieces with forks. Looked more like the wolf beside her gave her the idea. Smart pup—that dog'd thrive in society.
"Honey, peach."
"Please..."
Se-ri, you're killing me here.
I took the fork without looking at Yu-ra.
Se-ri speared the next piece and skipped straight past Yu-ra to Pomi.
But Star slyly pawed her hand mid-pass, redirecting it to Yu-ra.
One who won't give. One who won't take. Awkward silence falls.
"..."
"...Star, bite."
"Whoa, chill! What?!"
Thwack!
"Honey hit me."
Se-ri rubbed her head and grudgingly handed the fork to Yu-ra.
Sparks flew between their eyes as they passed it, but no blood was shed.
"Next, Pomi."
"Hehe. Se-ri, you agreed to call me sis earlier."
Pomi reminded her with a smile, but Se-ri's reply shattered it.
"Give snack..."
"Ehh?"
"Give more snack, and I'll call you sis!"
"Y-you can't just— wahhh. Jun-youngie."
Pomi threw herself at me sobbing.
"Aww, here comes our cute little pushover."
"Everyone's mean. I'm the sis. Waaah."
She nuzzled my head, sniffling. But she had the wrong target.
"Right? It's unfair, huh? So... let's grind 100k points quick and show 'em Pomi's the real sis?"
I stroked her head with a grin. She bolted away, freaking out.
"Aaaah! Enemy here too!"
Se-ri popped the last peach slice into Star's mouth.
Watching him nom away reminded me of a question I'd forgotten.
"Oh yeah. Hey, Star."
"Nom? Why call, sir?"
The dog turned, mid-second slice.
"I was too out of it earlier to ask. Uh... might be rude, but."
"It's fine."
He nodded like 'ask away.' I'd wondered since he first padded in here.
"Never had a pet, y'know? Love animals. But Mom hates 'em."
"...What're you trying to say?"
I hemmed and hawed, then slipped it out.
"Uh, so... do you, like, go outside for... poop and pee?"
"Arf! Rude! Of course!"
"Whoa!"
My eardrums rang; I shuddered. But his rage wasn't over.
Star's fluffy shoulders quivered as he barked.
"What do you take me for?!"
"Wh-what? An animal."
"Raaargh!"
"Knew you did, so why yell?"
"You're rude."
"Tch. Said ask anything."
Se-ri burst out laughing at Star's huffing—new sight for her.
It'd been a chaotic day, but I thought it'd end peacefully. If not for the excited news anchor blaring from the TV.
📰 Breaking News "We have breaking news just in." "Shh, kids. Something's up."
I quieted the noise, then instantly regretted it.
📰 Breaking News "The serial killings near Seoul have identified a suspect. Police have issued a wanted notice, citing public fear. Here's the poster." The anchor paused for breath, held up an A4 wanted sheet. And there...
📰 Breaking News "Name: Han Se-ri. Female, twenty years old. Height 165-170 cm. Slender build..." A woman's face, eerily like Se-ri's, stared out clearly.
The anchor hammered the description and details, but to us in the living room, it all sounded distant. Stifling silence.
Plop, clink.
"Ah..."
Yu-ra's peach chunk—fork still stabbed in—fell from her hand, shattering the quiet.
I turned. Yu-ra stared at Se-ri, face pale as a ghost.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I put Se-ri, Star, and Pomi up in the neighbor's place.
Then barely calmed Yu-ra from screaming and explained Se-ri's full story.
She's actually pitiful, I beat her once, I'll protect you, etc. After all that, Yu-ra finally understood.
"Ugh, wiped out."
What a day.
The interview and free coffee from Yoon Mi-so felt like a week ago, but it was today.
Good thing tomorrow's Sunday.
Gonna laze all day. Delivery food, tell Yu-ra cleaning waits till next week... Hit up Mpia too.
Oh right. Text Hong-seop the job's filled, take down the ad...
"...Gasp."
Wait. Hold up.
I'd dozed off for a sec—shook my head to snap awake. One flashing thought jolted my eyes wide.
"Ah, fuck. We're screwed."