Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: See You Later Then
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After getting thoroughly hammered with Cheon-do and spending a hot night pouring drinks back and forth, I woke up the next day rubbing my bleary eyes as I sat up in bed.
"...Ugh."
My body didn't feel fatigue, but by treating the buzz like tiredness, I'd gotten pretty good at sleeping that way.
From now on, whenever I needed shut-eye, I could just knock back some booze.
As I sat up with that thought, something heavy flopped off my shoulder.
"...Pii."
Sleepy Shiba.
She was clinging to me like a koala.
Shiba rubbed her eyes just like me, then yawned wide with her little mouth, completely carefree.
"Pwaaaah~!"
What a cute yawn sound.
Even in the morning, my daughter was adorable.
I scooped Shiba up in both arms and rubbed my cheek against hers.
"Did Shiba sleep with Daddy? C'mere, let's cuddle~"
"Daddy goo'!"
Shiba's weak little voice spread her arms wide and grabbed my head tight, rubbing her cheek against mine just like I did.
Raising a daughter was seriously the best.
"Pii~"
After greeting the morning with Shiba and rubbing cheeks as we got out of bed, someone approached from the door and met my eyes.
It was Cheon-do, dressed in her travel outfit.
"You're finally up?"
"Yeah. You're heading out right away today?"
"...Sticking around longer won't make anything happen."
Cheon-do gave a wry smile and a little chuckle, then turned and brought a suitcase over to me.
It only held the clothes she'd used while staying here.
Didn't she need any other necessities?
As I looked at Cheon-do, she came right up to me like it was no big deal and placed a hand on my forehead.
She brushed my hair aside.
"Hm... This is the last time I'll see my disciple's face."
"No, fuck. Don't say that."
"Why not? It's true I won't see your face for a while."
"I know, but it makes me uneasy. You gotta live long, Master. Don't jinx it."
"...Is that so?"
Cheon-do tilted her head like she didn't quite get it, picked up her luggage, and headed back toward the door.
"Anyway, I'm off to the airport. Coming along?"
"Of course. Can't miss seeing off my master. But you're not using magic to get there?"
"...It's nice to take it slow sometimes."
"Fair enough."
Warping everywhere with magic was convenient like a game, but there was something to riding a vehicle, watching the scenery, and messing around.
Plus, for places without coordinates, calculating was pointless—it was easier to just go directly.
Even if you couldn't memorize ten at once, whatever.
I've long forgotten the coordinates to the Peach Blossom Paradise.
Coordinates you didn't review every night slipped away. Right now, I only had the kindergarten and academy ones memorized.
Hwan-do could rattle off dozens in seconds. Heavenly Beyond Heavens indeed.
"What about Hwan-do?"
"She's awake. Should I call her?"
"Nah... There's a reason you're out here alone right now. Let's go. I'll wash up, drive. What time's the flight?"
"10:30."
It was 9 now, so plenty of time.
The dorm to airport wasn't far. A quick drive.
I put Shiba on my shoulder, careful not to bump her head, and asked Cheon-do as we left the room.
"Had breakfast?"
"...Figured I'd grab something on the way."
"Hm, how about I make some toast? Last chance for your disciple's cooking."
"That sounds good."
Cheon-do's pretty face broke into a smile, like she approved of my idea.
That rare expression of emotion on her stunning, usually impassive face was still the one burned deepest in my mind.
I lifted Shiba in one hand, turned on the sink, and started washing up.
"Shiba, hold your breath."
"Pip!"
-Pfft pfft.
I cupped water with one hand and splashed my face.
Cleaned the gunk from my eyes, wiped my cheeks and neck, then cupped water to Shiba's nose.
"Blow your nose. Not too hard, or your ears'll pop."
"Puuung!"
"Other side."
"Puu!"
Nose cleared. I'd done mine myself as a kid, but raising Shiba meant I ended up doing hers too.
After washing up, I dried my hair roughly with a towel and headed to the kitchen.
No time for a feast, so I grabbed some bread slices, buttered the pan, and got cooking.
Fried eggs, a few ham slices.
Strawberry jam.
I slathered on a ton messily, wrapped it in paper, and handed it first to Cheon-do, who sat at the table.
She took it and popped it in her mouth.
"...Tasty."
Overloaded with strawberry jam for my elementary-school-taste master.
No veggies—how could it not be?
"Made some for Hwan-do and Baek-do too, wrapped on the counter. Take 'em."
"Got it."
Then I mixed some lettuce into toast for Shiba and put it in her hands.
"Pi."
Shiba grabbed the toast, her face screaming dissatisfaction.
I could read her what's with this? expression plain as day.
"No way. You gotta eat your veggies."
"...Ping."
Shiba stuck her tongue out at me, clearly offended by my firm tone.
My daughter was sticking her tongue out at me now?
Not mad—more touched that she was picking up more expressions.
She's growing up.
Still, veggies for growth.
My genes aside, World Tree of Purity genes—who knew? For model proportions, start managing now.
Before my toast, I sat by Shiba and fed her first.
"Ahh~ Airplane coming in~"
I flew the toast right into her mouth.
Aah, her little mouth opened, stuffed full.
-Nom nom.
Mouth twitching—not hating the taste.
She tugged my clothes, gulped it down, and demanded more.
As I helped Shiba eat, Cheon-do, who'd been staring, chuckled with half her toast gone.
"Really... What a lovely father-daughter pair."
"Think so?"
"Yeah. Always strikes me that way..."
Cheon-do smiled warmly. Natural again.
From her view, a close father-daughter bond was ancient history.
Her dad had turned cold at some point. Probably thick as thieves only in her toddler days.
Knowing her backstory made the smile bittersweet.
"...Ah. You're feeding her, so want me to make yours?"
"Huh? Yeah, sure."
Cheon-do crammed the rest of her toast and stood confidently to make mine.
Wonder how it'd turn out.
Come to think, Cheon-do wasn't much of a cook.
That onigiri back then... so salty.
Bad with seasoning.
Half the food was edible only because of her face.
And sure enough, her first move was clumsy.
She dragged the whole butter stick across the pan, overdoing it—oil everywhere.
Bread smooshed down hard. Effort, but burning her hand oblivious.
Uh...
Combat cooking?
Any normal person would've scalded their hand already.
"...You sure that's how you make toast?"
"What's wrong with it?"
"Nothing. Uh-huh."
Hwan-do's cooking at least looked proper.
Master might need me feeding her forever.
"Done."
Cheon-do somehow finished and brought it over. I took it and held it up.
At least... not too burnt.
Dark, but passable as "well-done."
I gave Shiba the rest of hers and bit deep into Cheon-do's.
Sweet strawberry jam exploded out.
Eye-wateringly sweet!
I chewed in shock, glancing at Cheon-do. She peered sharply at my face, expressionless.
"How is it?"
Watching her now felt like seeing kid Cheon-do...
No.
She just turned innocent during cooking.
I swallowed bitterly. Jam assaulted throat, nose, mouth.
"...Super sweet."
"Sweet is tasty."
True—toast sweet wasn't weird.
Like sweet sandwiches at convenience stores.
I took another bite.
"...Hm."
"Want another?"
"Nah, too much booze last night."
This woman needs taking care of.
Her eyes must've regressed this time—she thought I loved it. I mused inwardly.
*****
We scarfed breakfast and headed to the airport.
I drove her car there, and surprisingly, her thanks was handing over the valuable ride.
"Keys. Use it."
"...You sure you don't need it?"
"No need for a car... Just a whim."
"Yeah, you could probably walk faster."
She checked her bags and sat waiting for boarding.
Knowing talks would be scarce after, words poured out of me.
"Don't take on dangerous stuff."
"...That's my line to you, disciple. Yours to me?"
"Fair?"
"Don't know what went down at training camp... Think and act carefully."
"Right back at you."
This send-off was unavoidable.
Or was it a send-off?
Just... them out of sight felt wrong.
Those scenes haunted me, nightmares every sleep—not normal.
Least booze and cuddling Shiba keep dreams away.
Anyway, Cheon-do in real danger later? Fact.
I stared at my advising master.
"Anyway, eat properly. If real danger hits, don't shame to run. Protect someone? Do it decisively. On that... Listening?"
Perfectly defined features, doll-like. Angelic smile, scary default.
Duality tripped even me up sometimes, but beauty unchanged.
Maybe why.
-Senior bro~!
Gazing, kid Cheon-do flashed in mind.
I reached out absentmindedly and petted her head.
"......"
Height difference let me catch her expression shift instantly.
"Oops, my bad."
"...What're you doing?"
"Dunno, just happened..."
Pet pet.
Cheon-do's blank face showed tiny fluster in shaky eyes.
Didn't yell to stop.
Her silky hair felt nice. Shiba tugged my clothes from the side.
"Pi, pi!"
You too?
Pet with free hand—she purred.
"......"
"Your hair's surprisingly soft."
"Quiet."
Cheon-do slipped her head away with confused eyes, rubbed her crown, tilted repeatedly.
Dunno what she felt.
Boarding started.
"...Anyway. You get all that?"
Cheon-do scolded once, switched to Hwan-do and Baek-do for words each, then boarded.
"See you later then."
"Yeah."
Sometime, unknowable.
But soon enough.
I watched Cheon-do go, waving Shiba's hand.
-Fufu.
She turned, saw Shiba waving and me holding the hand, smiled again.
Rare smile twice? Today was lucky for sure.