Chapter 174
Chapter 174
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: Kirin Class's Shiba (6)
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I returned to the dorm with Azalea and Shiba in tow.
I didn't have anything pressing to do, but I was feeling lazy and wanted to rest.
It had been a while since I'd played with Shiba, so that sounded nice too.
Anyway, I planned to just lie around comfortably today.
To avoid any scandals and dodge prying eyes, I escorted Azalea all the way to her door. Upon arrival, she flashed a happy smile and pulled me into a tight hug.
"You'll be busy again now... right?"
"Yeah. The Forest Keeper selection tournament is coming up soon... so I've got to prepare for that."
Azalea nodded knowingly. Shiba clung tightly to my leg.
She stroked Shiba's head lovingly, then knelt down to meet her eye level.
"Shiba, no throwing tantrums just because you want Daddy all to yourself, okay?"
"... ."
"You'll listen to Mommy, right?"
"...Bbi."
Shiba primly turned her head away with a curt reply.
"Hee hee, so cute... Si-heon, if anything tough comes up, make sure to tell me."
"Hm? Banmal this time?"
"Trying to ease into it bit by bit. Feels... a little more natural now."
Blushing shyly, Azalea leaned in slowly, closed her eyes, and pressed her lips to mine.
A brief exchange of affection, less than a minute.
-Smack.
Soon after withdrawing her tongue from my mouth, Azalea pouted playfully.
"Bbi!"
As I lingered in the afterglow of the kiss, Shiba pinched my leg.
"Ow!"
A surprisingly strong pinch for a kid.
"...No carry Daddy!"
Shiba smacked Azalea's thigh repeatedly, forcing distance between us.
At Shiba's plaintive cry, we exchanged glances and burst into giggles.
"Guess I should head out. Shiba hates it."
"Pffft. Take good care of our daughter... and don't vanish like before."
"Got it. If I have to go somewhere, I'll leave her with you."
"Yeah... Call me if you want to meet. Don't neglect me too much. I'm not that easy of a girl."
One final hug. I ignored Shiba's heartbroken expression.
Azalea entered the dorm with a satisfied look, and I scooped up Shiba, heading to my room.
-Beep beep beep beep. Rattle!
A few pairs of shoes sat by the entrance that hadn't been there when I left.
Cheondo?
Heading to my room, I found not Cheondo, but Baekdo sitting on the bed with her legs crossed, flipping through a manga magazine.
"......"
Spotting me, she gave a casual eye-nod before fixing her gaze back on the magazine.
First time seeing her since then, but her personality was still as prickly as ever.
I rolled my eyes and scanned Baekdo up and down.
Dolphin shorts that teased a glimpse of her underwear. Long, stretched thighs below.
Her pale toes wiggled toward me.
"...What're you staring at?"
Maybe my gaze was too obvious. Baekdo snapped sharply at me and snorted.
'...Look at her.'
She'd seemed promising as a kid.
Hearing she was dating Hwangdo must've changed something in her heart?
Her attitude was way rougher than before.
"...Daddy."
"Yeah?"
"Teebee!"
Shiba tugged my pant leg, pointing at the TV.
-Squeeze.
Listening to Shiba, Baekdo kept her eyes on the magazine and reached out with one arm to grab the remote and turn on the TV.
A midday rerun of some trashy drama.
Shiba beamed and dashed to the bed, flopping down to fixate on the screen.
"Shiba, wash your hands first."
"......"
She ignored me now.
I walked to the bed where Shiba sat, grabbing her pajamas from the nightstand chair along the way.
"Why's she watching this stuff already? Let's change first. Arms up!"
"Yah!"
Both hands shot skyward!
-Whoosh.
I peeled off her top and cast a cleaning spell on Shiba, who must've gotten grimy from morning play.
-Hummm!
Dirt and dust vanished, leaving only baby-soft skin.
She'd get spoiled knowing magic's convenience this early, right?
After safely changing her into pajamas, Shiba dove straight into the TV world.
"...What's fun about this?"
Leaving Shiba at the bed's front edge glued to the TV, I stretched out comfortably at the far end.
Baekdo's face ended up right next to mine.
"When did the kid start watching TV? Feels like she was doing puzzles just days ago."
"......Not long."
Baekdo answered curtly.
To keep me out of her sight, she pulled the magazine closer.
Her ignoring me this much sparked my competitive side.
"Ah, so that's how Shiba picked up talking so fast?"
"......"
"What manga you reading? Thought you hated this stuff."
"......"
Pressing relentlessly, I playfully poked her side with a finger.
"Eek!"
Startled, Baekdo dropped the manga.
The pages flipped wildly, landing straight on the cover without a bookmark.
With red ears, Baekdo glared at me like a ghost.
-Thwack!
An immediate retaliation.
"Urk!"
A solid hit to the crown of my head.
Baekdo pummeled mercilessly, showing her true colors.
Tears welled up, and four stars danced before my eyes.
-Stars... dancing.
...Hit a vital spot dead-on. My whole body went limp.
Strength drained from me, and I flopped flat on the bed.
"......S-Serves you right. Don't touch me! You get what you deserve for startling me!"
"It fucking hurts."
Seeing her worry uncharacteristically, she must've meant it.
"Sorry... Skull not cracked?"
Baekdo gently rubbed my head with her scarred palm.
Lucky she didn't break the law unintentionally.
A week ago, I'd be dead or crippled, using my powers.
I shook my head to clear the ringing in my ears and looked at Baekdo again.
"...So why the cold shoulder all of a sudden?"
"Shut up. You know nothing."
"We're parting soon. Forgot you said let's go with smiles?"
Yeah.
Before the training camp, after drinking and messing up, I'd talked with sulky Baekdo.
Not body talk. Violence talk.
After beating me thoroughly, she agreed.
Thought we'd patched up. But post-camp, her temper worsened.
"......Third disciple."
Confirming I was fine, Baekdo sighed in relief and spoke.
"Yes."
"Really... Sigh. Fine. They're both asleep, so it's okay."
"What's going on? Something happen?"
"It's your fault, you!"
Baekdo pressed my forehead firmly.
"You like Hwangdo, right?"
Same as Cheondo.
I knew they cared for each other, so I nodded indifferently.
"I do."
"......No. You don't like Hwangdo."
What now?
Baekdo stated flatly, frowning deeply and sighing heavily.
-Beep, beeeep~
With Shiba watching drama at our feet.
No blanket, backs against the wall, sitting on the mattress, we faced each other.
"What bullshit. Saying I don't."
"...If you really liked my little sister... that thing back then shouldn't have happened!"
That thing?
Ah.
"Oh. When I was drunk and touched her knot-"
-Boom!
"Urk!"
This hit was controlled.
"W-With the kid right here! Yeah, that!"
"Said it as 'knot' on purpose... So what?"
"How can you touch another girl while dating one!"
Baekdo raised her voice heatedly.
She's overreacting. The thought crossed my mind.
"Ah... that."
"Shady. Perverted. Said you don't cheat, all lies to fool peaches."
"Cheat? Pfft."
No defense before, but now I could.
"Tried being like that at first. Sigh, if the girls would let me."
Not wrong.
Just a bit cheeky.
Baekdo's face went beyond frown to glaring at societal scum.
Worse than her look at our first meeting with Azalea.
"Gross. Break up."
"That's up to Big Sis Hwangdo."
"Argh, break up if I say so! I won't give my sister to a parasite like you!"
"What can I do if she likes me!"
Bickering ensued.
Thought words would end it, but facing Baekdo itched unbearably.
Her disgust threshold crossed; she swung first.
Her bare foot slammed my solar plexus, sending me off the bed.
I grabbed her shoulder, pulling her down with me as we tumbled.
"Guh, why so mad?"
Baekdo in back mount, pummeling with controlled punches.
I tensed, blocking desperately; she sped up in frustration.
But now I could handle it.
Mid-beating, Hwangdo's old words resurfaced.
"...Wait, no way."
Baekdo paused at my words.
"Master likes me?"
Said mockingly.
"You feel bitter I'm dating Hwangdo-"
Last words.
Baekdo's face hardened viciously, cheeks flushing red with rage.
"W-W-What the fuck, you psycho!"
Fists rained down.
"Bbi, bbii~ Bbi? Daddy?"
Shiba, humming the drama ending, glanced pitifully our way before turning back to the TV.
"......Bbi."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "What's with your face?"
"Got beat up."
Cheondo eyed me pitifully and clicked her tongue.
"......Sigh. So reckless. Hard to leave you getting pummeled like this."
"Not hard to leave... Take her quick. She swings every time. Might kill your top disciple soon."
Cheondo stroked my swollen cheek.
Then mischievously pinched it.
-Streeetch.
"Ah, aaaah."
My pained groan made her chuckle.
"Handle it yourself... Schedule moved up. Leaving tomorrow."
"...For real?"
Wanted Baekdo gone fast, but not this soon.
Cheondo grabbed my phone from the table, input a number, and handed it back.
"Different number. Use this for future contact... Current phone's getting ditched."
"...Hiding the number too?"
"Yeah. Peach Garden stuff's like that. Might not reach, so here's Rossi and P's contacts too."
Tap tap. Contacts grew.
Cheondo remembered something, pulling my bankbook from her pocket hem.
"Oh, and... sorry for taking it. Sent some money. Use for living expenses."
"No need..."
"I got no use for savings anyway. Better you spend it while you're young."
The balance made me gasp inwardly.
Not bad savings myself, but this could buy a company with a bit debt.
"Peach Garden wasn't for money?"
Cheondo shrugged.
"Association contract's that way. Got duties."
Association.
Hunter Association...
Wonder what Star knows.
I pocketed the question instantly.
"Duties or not... mostly flower subjugations or terrorist punishments."
"Really."
"Yeah. Don't worry big. Forest Keeper tourney's solo, but follow my advice—no major twists."
Cheondo shrugged, giving a gentle, masterly smile.
"Got it?"
"...Yes."
-Ding! I cut short the wrapping-up talk with Cheondo and checked the phone screen.
"Stars Are Dancing: Si-heon-ah. Can you talk now? Wanted to discuss that thing from last time." Perfect timing. A message from Star.