Chapter 169
Chapter 169
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 169
Chapter Title: Giraffe Class: Shi-ba (1)
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"Ppi."
In the lonely dawn that seeped into her waist, Shi-ba tossed and turned in her sleep before opening her eyes.
"......"
No one lay on the bed in the pitch-black room without a single light, except for Shi-ba.
Again. Daddy had taken her sister and vanished.
The white-haired sister did it sometimes, and so did the orange-haired one.
Where did they go, leaving me behind?
Shi-ba's eyebrows shot up sharply.
"Daddy..."
She murmured the name past her lips. It didn't feel right.
Worry and anxiety bubbled up. Daddy wouldn't get hurt, right?
Shi-ba recalled a scene she'd once glimpsed outside the bedroom.
The orange-haired sister devouring Daddy with her mouth.
It had been terrifying enough to make her skin crawl.
-Ppi, ppiik!?
Oh no, Daddy got eaten!
She didn't know how much she'd shrunk back in fear then.
He'd whined like he was in pain... and his breathing grew heavy.
Thankfully, the sister had mercy, and Daddy still saw her off the next day as usual.
She's fine on her own. Shi-ba was strong.
She never doubted that Daddy would be lying beside her when she woke in the morning.
Still, she hated seeing Daddy hurt.
"Ppiing."
It'll be fine. Like last time.
He'll come back by morning.
Daddy has his own things to do! Shi-ba was understanding like that.
Just like how she played at kindergarten, Daddy had to play too.
All she had to do was keep her eyes shut until then.
She wrapped herself tightly in the green blanket, clasped her hands together, and brought them to her head.
"...Ppi-yak."
A pure white fantasy world unfolded in her mind.
There, Daddy stroked Shi-ba's head as she lay on the bed.
The more she imagined, the more Daddies multiplied, one by one.
Daddy one... Daddy two.
"Ppi-hihi."
Shi-ba giggled like a child in happy reverie before drifting off to sleep lightly.
I wonder what lunch will be at kindergarten tomorrow.
Bibimbap? She hated bibimbap!
Shi-ba hated sprout bibimbap the most in the world.
Her food preferences were simple.
Her favorite was food made by Daddy. Second was food bought by Daddy. Third was water given by Daddy.
Thinking of Daddy made tears well up again.
Leaving me here like this. Bad Daddy.
Does he even know he's wrong?
'Ppi?'
A brilliant idea popped into Shi-ba's head.
*****
Hwando's thighs trembled sweetly as she walked down the street.
"Hic... Eut."
"Stop crying already."
"My lower belly's still pounding."
Her arched back. Her hips swaying awkwardly with an embarrassed smile.
As she patted her waist leaving the motel, Hwando let out a shriek.
-Pang!
"Hik!"
Her butt jiggled dramatically once.
The more he looked, the sexier her body seemed... but it would be hard to embrace Hwando like this from now on.
Hwando would miss it too, so he'd let her drain him dry through the night.
It was like injecting maximum affection so they'd never feel awkward even after reuniting later.
There were only a few days left until they parted ways.
More than anything, memories of young Hwando from his childhood urged him to melt away the awkwardness quickly.
Honestly, there was a twinge of guilt.
Somehow, seeing child Hwando after Hwando the elder made the elder feel less like an elder.
Maybe that's why there'd been a slight bullying edge to their romp.
"Dongsaeng, dongsaeng."
"Yeah?"
Hwando slowed at the crosswalk, calling him twice.
She brought her face to his ear.
"...I liked it rough today."
......She liked the rough treatment.
As punishment for her lewd whisper on the street, he smacked the top of her butt.
Hwando held her breath, legs quivering.
-Slap.
"Eung!"
"Enough. Hurry up. What if you wake Shi-ba?"
"Shi-ba won't wake up! She'd sleep through being carried on my back."
I hoped so.
For some reason, he felt uneasy today.
The father-daughter bond alerted him. Midway through dawn, his chest had felt empty—he missed Shi-ba.
No way... is she awake?
He entered the dorm, punched in the code, and stepped into his room.
-Beep, beep.
The door lock chimed like Shi-ba's voice.
The door clicked open—
"......"
Shi-ba sat inside, hugging a pillow.
"Daddy."
Hwando, behind him and about to follow, froze at Shi-ba's voice from ahead.
"Welcome back."
That single phrase, colder than yesterday.
"Daddy."
"Yeah."
"......Ppi."
Ppi, ppi.
The chick peep from her pouty face shook his head heavily.
Was that 'ppi' substituting for 'I hate you'?
No way it was just his imagination. He could somewhat understand Shi-ba's words.
This was...
Undeniably his fault.
Excuses like 'Shi-ba sleeps so well...' were pathetic.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 'World Tree of Purity' puffs out her cheeks and scolds you. The voice ringing in his head snapped him alert.
You're right, World Tree of Purity.
But you're not one to talk—you just gave birth and left her.
【 ......... 】
Speechless, Purity clamped her mouth shut.
Fine... got it. That's not the issue anyway. It's a wash either way.
He knelt and offered himself to Shi-ba's arms in place of the pillow.
Shi-ba hadn't detached yet, nestling softly into him.
"Ppi."
A colder 'ppi' than usual.
"Shi-ba, my girl."
"Ppi."
"Daddy's sorry. Yeah? I won't leave at dawn ever again."
As he patted her back and entered the room, Hwando scurried in after and groveled to Shi-ba too.
"Shi-Shi-ba... Sister seduced him... Daddy did nothing wrong."
"What are you saying to a kid? No seducing. Just apologize."
"Hing. Sorry."
Ignoring Hwando's apology, Shi-ba silently buried her face in his chest.
-Rub rub, rub rub.
Rubbing her head against him... her anger seemed somewhat eased.
When he gently pried her away, Shi-ba's smiling face reverted to 'ppi' mode.
"...Ppi."
Her arms stretched out, demanding a hug again.
Her cynical eyes gleamed chicly.
He hugged Shi-ba once more.
-Rub.
Pried away again, and her beaming face shifted a beat late to 'I'm pouting' mode.
Hm.
No way.
Our Shi-ba wouldn't be that cunning.
"Ppi! Ppiik!"
Shi-ba planted pebble-sized fists on her hips and cheeped fiercely.
He scooped her up quickly, patting her back.
"Ppi-heng."
Laughter bubbled out.
Another inexplicable sharpness hit him, but Shi-ba was happy, so whatever.
"Shi-ba, wanna eat anything?"
The training camp was over—it was a holiday, Saturday weekend.
He'd planned to meet Hwando until evening, then spend the rest with Shi-ba. It hadn't panned out.
Had to soothe his daughter. Life revolved around her.
Bouncing her, kissing her cheeks, showering affection lifted Shi-ba's spirits, while Hwando watched enviously from the side.
"I wish I was born as dongsaeng's daughter."
"Huh?"
"Just... you look so happy."
Jealous of a kid? Jealousy incarnate.
"Noona got plenty last night."
"...Hehe. Felt good."
Dealing with daughter and Hwando drained his energy.
Hwando especially, with her subtle sex appeal.
...If he ever married later, he'd probably lose his bones?
The thought struck while playing with Shi-ba and bantering with Hwando.
"Daddy."
"Yeah?"
He looked up at Shi-ba's voice from his shoulders.
Shi-ba pulled a tiny dictionary from her pocket, read a word, then slowly spoke.
"...Daddy good!"
"......"
Kya!
Fatigue melted away.
Whip and carrot at once.
"Shi-ba! Me? Me?"
"...Scary."
"Eh?"
Excited Hwando asked Shi-ba, who replied in a slightly reluctant tone.
Shi-ba was Shi-ba. Loves Daddy only.
He hoisted the piggyback Shi-ba high and squeezed tight.
"Paa~ Daddy!"
Hwando stared vacantly.
"Jealous... Weird. Books say kids like their caregivers."
"Doesn't this prove Shi-ba's smart? I think we should send her to a good school. Piano lessons?"
"...Daddy-braggart. Books say kids distance from workaholic dads. That's why I went all out."
Shi-ba hugged him tight while eyeing Hwando.
"Scary! Daddy good! Hwando? No."
"There you have it."
"Hing....... Shi-ba."
Her peeps were still more familiar than this lispy speech, but he'd adapt eventually.
"Shi-ba."
"Ppi?"
"Still gotta go to kindergarten. Ends early today."
"......"
Shi-ba understood perfectly.
Pout all you want—no dice.
Social skills were essential.
He cooked breakfast, fed Shi-ba heartily, helped brush her teeth, then teleported to kindergarten.
Kindergarten routine was simple.
Teleport to a deserted alley.
Appear in a secluded spot, walk over holding Shi-ba's hand like locals.
"Oh? Shi-ba's dad, hi~ Daddy's here today?"
"Yeah, hi. Been busy with work, couldn't come for a while."
The teacher in a yellow short-sleeve greeted him smiling.
Her puppy-like smile beamed warmly at Shi-ba.
"You two always look so close. Hehe."
"Do we?"
"Totally~ Shi-ba adores her daddy~ Even draws only Daddy in her pictures?"
He knew that.
Shi-ba's kindergarten drawings always featured a tall black-haired man front and center.
He'd thought it was her imaginary prince on a white horse at first, but Hwando confirmed it was him.
As the beaming teacher grinned at him, he asked what'd puzzled him since last night.
"Oh yeah. When did Shi-ba start talking?"
"Ah~ Shi-ba's language development is a bit slow for her age... We did special lessons."
"I see. Shocked me. Came home yesterday and she said 'Daddy.'"
"Puhuhu. Happy, right?"
"Best."
Special lessons, huh.
Shi-ba looked about five or six, so others probably found it odd she hadn't spoken till now.
But Shi-ba wasn't even one yet.
Genius. Genius.
"Alright, Shi-ba. Go to teacher?"
"...Ppi."
Reluctant, she peeled off him and clung to the teacher's leg.
Of the kindergarten staff, this teacher got along best with her.
Name was... Shin Hye-young?
Like father, like daughter—Shi-ba loved pretty women.
"Oh right. Talent show next week—you're coming, right?"
"Of course. Gotta see my girl's performance."
Giraffe Class. Lee Shi-ba (1)
The more he thought, the more he realized he'd named her poorly...
'Tch.'
But with Shi-ba accepting it as her name, too late to change.
If she cursed him later, he could switch then.
"Take good care of our Shi-ba."
"Yes, daddy~ Shi-ba, let's go."
"Ppiing......"
Her droopy voice drew laughter.
With morning chores done,
He'd rest briefly while waiting for Shi-ba by lunch, so he returned to the alley and teleported again.
-Flash!
Back to the dorm.
Morning after Shi-ba left: dishes piled, half-eaten bowls on the table—that was normal.
Laundry in the bathroom.
Details he'd ignored as a kid now stood out, reminding him how carefree life was back then.
"...Gotta clean."
At least his body felt no fatigue.
He tidied Shi-ba's scattered clothes and headed to the kitchen.
-Slide.
The kitchen greeted him upon opening the door.
"...You're back?"
Cheondo sat at the kitchen table, reading a magazine while sorting leftover rice.