36. The Indirect Route
While thinking about how much I had accepted myself and talking about my cooking skills, Baek Eun-hwa.
I had no idea how good her cooking was.
It was the first time, and as a staff member of the Hero Association, I didn't know her private life perfectly.
Then, of course... was it natural?
Even though I had barged into her house without permission, I was just waiting with a mix of worry and anticipation for her cooking.
Should I help with the cooking?
Or maybe I was worried she might burn the kitchen?
These thoughts naturally came to mind, but for now, I quietly took a seat on the kitchen chair and watched her.
She was wearing a training jersey and short shorts, with an apron that didn't match, and started cooking. Honestly, it just felt... a bit lewd because of her figure. The jersey was fine, but just putting on the apron made her chest area prominently exposed. And tying the strings behind her alone, her waist was cinched tightly like a corset... yeah. It made me think anew about the beauty of an A-class hero who even does advertising and modeling.
“Don’t expect too perfect food.”
“Of course. I’ll just eat what Eun-hwa makes. You don’t have to worry.”
After all, I was really a guest.
Especially since I hadn’t brought any gift.
Moreover, just the fact that an A-class hero was making food for me was enjoyable... and originally, my purpose was to help Baek Eun-hwa.
I didn’t need to show a sorry expression.
“I’ll just make pasta.”
“Oh ho...”
“It’s plain. Don’t react like that.”
“Yes, I’ll wait. Please do as you usually do, Eun-hwa.”
“...Haa.”
So Baek Eun-hwa started cooking.
By the way, does she have to hide her ears and tail even at home?
I wasn't sure because I'm not a transfigured ability user like her.
While watching her quietly with that thought, her cooking continued with surprisingly skilled hands.
-Chik...
She poured olive oil into the pan, grilled garlic, sprinkled pepper, and beside it, was boiling noodles. Just controlling two pans at once made me think that she must have cooked a lot while living alone. Of course, one side was only boiling noodles at best?
Still, even for someone who starts cooking for the first time, she couldn't do even that.
“Bacon...”
“Ah, onions... and mushrooms too...”
Of course, because I was watching, there was a bit of clumsiness, but just a little.
That was actually fun.
“It seems pretty good, doesn't it?”
“It looks super delicious. Eun-hwa, you could have just come here to drink alone instead of going to an izakaya, right?”
“It's annoying.”
“Huh, that makes sense.”
With that, the completed dish arrived at the table, and I helped by moving the chopsticks or the side dishes. Of course, since I didn't know the positions of the things, I only asked questions.
“Like this, it seems... not bad.”
“There's alcohol next to it, so even more so?”
“...I won't deny it.”
She seemed satisfied with the completed scene, but perhaps because of her pride?
She didn't show a genuinely bright smile.
“The alcohol is a bit strong, so it's better to mix it with some carbonated water or cola.”
“How many degrees?”
“40 degrees?”
“...Let's mix and drink.”
“Nuh-uh.”
Although it was sweeter than whiskey, having over 40 degrees of alcohol might be a bit burdensome?
I didn't know her exact tolerance, but from her reaction, she didn't seem very strong with alcohol, and I was relieved.
If she was extremely strong with alcohol, I wouldn't be able to do what I thought...
“Then, shall we eat?”
“Yes, handler. Eat deliciously.”
So the alcohol was mixed with cola to drink as highball, and we started the proper meal.
An evening meal made by an A-class hero was surprisingly... quite, very good.
It was to the point where I thought if she ever got married someday, she would definitely be a perfect wife.
I also cooked while living alone, but it seemed she was better than me. Of course, the ingredients were quite good from what I saw earlier, and the noodles were cooked to perfection... I really liked it.
After praising and admiring the dish, Baek Eun-hwa answered a bit shyly.
While enjoying the alcohol I brought, we continued the conversation.
Compared to the bureaucratic talk about heroes from earlier, it was relatively more everyday and ordinary talk?
Just about preferences.
Talking about food tastes, about alcohol, which is tastier, cola or cider.
While sharing such ordinary conversations, we enjoyed the food and the alcohol together.
“...Huu.”
“Uh, yeah...”
By now, Baek Eun-hwa was quite drunk.
She didn't look like she couldn't stand, but at least she seemed to have trouble with ordinary, objective thinking.
I had no choice but to laugh at her appearance.
I had also drunk quite a bit, so my head was a bit dizzy, but... well, no problem.
I slowly got up from my seat... just to wake up my senses, brushed my teeth once, and approached the one who was almost collapsing at the table.
My height is 149, Baek Eun-hwa's is over 170... there's a significant difference.
“Eh... uuu... uwaaah...”
Somehow.
Somehow, I managed to carry her to the bedroom.
She just couldn't get her mind straight, but she wasn't completely asleep, and at least she could step.
Somehow, I succeeded in laying her on the bed...
“Huk... huk...”
It was incredibly hard.
I had to admit anew that I truly had pathetic strength and stamina.
If I had superpowers like telekinesis at this time, it would have been really good.
“...Change clothes only.”
I had to sleep anyway.
I changed into pajamas and lay on the bed, approaching the Baek Eun-hwa who still couldn't wake up.
It was fortunate that she wasn't completely out, and in this state of being drunk, I could apply the ability simply, just like when I used it on Saran recently.
“From now on, Eun-hwa will honestly tell me everything I say. Even if it might be a bit scary to speak your true feelings, the person you're confiding in right now is the most trustworthy person in the world. You have no reason to worry.”
“...Yes.”
Hypnosis was always useful.
In the past, I thought this ability was quite restricted, and even now, but the effect was really satisfying.
So, smiling, I started the proper questioning.
What I wanted to know from her was ultimately her thoughts.
Her true self.
I wanted to know the cause of actions that seemed like coercion from her admiration of previous heroes.
“Eun-hwa, do you want to be seen as a good person by others?”
“Yes.”
“Not just when you're a hero, but even when you're living privately, you want to receive that evaluation?”
“Yes.”
“What is the reason you want that? Why do you want to be seen that way not just as a hero, but usually?”
“...Just because I have to.”
“...”
Just because I have to.
It was a truly absurd statement.
Separate from the misconception that people are born good, people didn't need to always act good and be doormats.
Instead, being able to do both good and selfish actions was truly human.
“Do you think such thinking and behavior is right? Is it good behavior for Eun-hwa to always nod at others' words while suffering losses and being hurt like a fool?”
“No...”
“Then why do you think you have to do that?”
“Just...”
...I roughly understood.
It wasn't just admiration for heroes that was the problem.
The issue was that she acts like a doormat even when spending time privately with a cool hero, without proper reason in the actions.
It seemed like the result of being gaslighted.
I didn't know her growth background, but in a situation where such thoughts naturally arose, I slowly opened my mouth again.
“If Eun-hwa acts selfishly and freely, who would be hurt?”
“Citizens.... the Association president.... various staff at the Association...? And, also...”
“Yes.”
“Now there isn't any...”
Now there isn't any?
Was it that there used to be?
Was it not citizens, Association president, Association staff, but another person?
“Was there more before?”
“Yes...”
“Who was it?”
“...My mother.”
...Ah.
So that's it.
The puzzle was starting to fit together.
Yeah, no matter how good a person is, there was no reason to be this good, and there must be a reason for this.
“Hmm...”
What should I do?
Think about it.
How can I help this foolish doormat fox?
Go beyond reducing the doormat appearance to allowing selfish actions.
While thoughts kept deepening and worries branched out, the simplest method that came to mind was to just tell her to act selfishly.
Like when I put a suggestion on Batori to build confidence... I thought it might be good to do the same this time.
If I just add a degree of control, wouldn't the doormat-like behavior of Baek Eun-hwa's coercion level decrease?
“...”
No, I know it's different from Batori.
Just one suggestion wouldn't solve it.
While changing behavior is possible, it had no big connection to solving the fundamental problem, so I abandoned the suggestion.
“...”
There is a simple way.
A path that is too simple, discarding various things obtainable in the process, and just getting exactly the one result pursued.
And unlike that, there is a path that can be taken by circling around a bit.
Complicated, takes more time, but in that process, various things can be gained, and in the end, a much better result can be obtained.
What choice is the best?
Thinking, thinking... while facing the fox still in trance, I continued thinking.
“...”
Well, actually, my mind has been leaning to one side for a long time.
If I had just thought of changing all behavior and thinking with one hypnosis, I would have been a criminal rehabilitator, not a welfare worker or counselor.
“...One week.”
Even after today, there are six days left.
During this time, I'll spend time at her house, so I need to try to fix her thoughts somehow.
I haven't decided on a sure method yet.
But at least now I know the reason she acts like a doormat and wants to be seen as a good person, so I can think of a better way at least a little.
Definitely....
...Probably?