Chapter 27
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The Cheetah Is Smiling
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The cheetah is smiling.
After the whole goddess nonsense with the Doc.
I found myself feeling much more at ease around her as I stepped inside the hanok building.
'This is... the house where Lulu and Arin and I will be living from now on...?'
The interior that greeted me far exceeded my expectations.
First off, beyond the wide front gate was a smooth gravel path.
Following it led to a vast courtyard that felt like ten of my old one-room apartments stuck together.
[Pretty spacious, right?]
"Insanely so... But what's that tree smack in the middle of the courtyard...?"
[It's a persimmon tree a friend of mine raised. They doted on it, so I've been looking after it now and then. If it bothers you, I can take it off your hands.]
Ah... so it was left behind by the previous owner who'd passed away.
From what the Doc said, the former owner was an elderly herbalist.
The house had been kept exactly as they left it.
"Don't tell me... a Tower accident...?"
[No. The old timer passed from old age. They were already over 120 when they awakened as a Climber.]
"...They lived an incredibly long life...?"
[Yeah. They enjoyed a full century, awakened as a Climber, and stuck around a few more years.]
[So, want me to move the tree?]
"No way. You're not even charging rent—how could I ask you to go to that trouble? I'll take care of it from now on."
[You will?]
"It's a precious tree that the previous owner—my predecessor—nurtured, right? Of course the new resident should look after it!"
[Then I'm grateful. Take good care of it.]
"Leave it to me!"
Yeah. That's the right call.
The late previous owner left me this amazing house.
As their successor, tending to a single tree is the least I can do to carry on their legacy.
After admiring the persimmon tree and the rest of the courtyard.
[Let me show you the inside too.]
I followed the Doc into the U-shaped hanok building.
"Whoa..."
A real gasp escaped me.
The interior, entered via the wooden porch, felt even larger than it looked from outside.
The serene hanok vibe washed over me, mingled with a faint woody scent tickling my nose...
Hm? Hold on.
Am I seeing this wrong?
"Uh... Doc."
[What's up?]
"For a hanok, isn't most of the appliances way too high-tech...? Like that latest gaming PC, the massage chair that rocks, or that karaoke room in the corner."
I'd barely started gawking at the interior.
For a hanok, the furniture and appliances were all cutting-edge stuff I'd never even seen before.
When I asked her about it...
[Oh, that? They loved hanoks but were elderly, so whenever new gadgets came out, they'd geek out over how convenient and cool they were and snag them right away.]
[They'd even drag me over now and then to add new spells to them.]
[Thanks to that, this place stays cool in summer, sunlight spreads evenly in winter, and it's totally unfazed by rain, snow, or typhoons. Should be great for you.]
...Or so she said.
I'd pictured a serene hanok...
But it was actually a fusion of hanok, modern tech, and magic—like kimchi hot pot in house form.
Guess I'm living in something even more incredible than I thought.
####
While touring the kimchi-hot-pot-ver. hanok.
"Nyaaah...?"
"Yaaawn...?"
Lulu and Arin, who'd been out cold enough to sleep through being carried.
Finally stirred, stretching as they woke.
"You two are up?"
"Daddy-nya...? Where are we, nya...?"
"This is a new place..."
The two girls rubbed their eyes briefly after waking.
Soon realizing the unfamiliar surroundings, they began slowly looking around.
That's when their eyes met the Doc's—she'd been watching them curiously from the side.
Their reaction upon spotting their first person besides me since birth was...
"Lulu, Arin. This is the wonderful Doc who always helps and looks out for Daddy."
[Uh... hi, kids...?]
[I'm Kim Harin. Feel free to call me Harin sis or Doc.]
"Nyant...?"
"Hng...?"
...They made these odd expressions, like biologists spotting a new species.
Staring intently at the Doc for a while.
Suddenly, they buried their faces in my chest.
And started whispering loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"The Doc-nya helped Daddy-nya... Is she a good person, nya...?"
"Who knows. Maybe she has some motive for helping Daddy...?"
"Motive-nya?"
"Like the cheetah shark from that shark family story, maybe she's after Daddy's wife spot."
"So the Doc-nya wants to be our mommy-nya...?"
"Hmm... wouldn't be surprised? Daddy's the coolest, handsomest, kindest guy ever—super popular, obviously."
"That's it-nya...! Then it's our turn, Arin-nya!"
"Right, Lulu sis! We gotta check if she's stepmom material!"
"No, girls. What on earth...?"
Did that shark family movie from last night leave that much of an impression?
Seems my two little ones had formed a solid misunderstanding.
For reference, the shark family plot in brief:
Dad shark loses mom shark in an accident. Cheetah shark, who's secretly loved him forever, seizes the chance, wins over the daughters, and becomes the new stepmom.
'Do all kids' movie directors think like that these days?'
The last one with the cat in boots was weird too.
This shark family director was just as offbeat, in my book.
Anyway.
Back to the present.
"Girls. You can't say stuff like that. The Doc is someone to be grateful to for helping Daddy."
"Is that so-nya?"
"Really?"
"Of course. Look at this huge house we're in? The Doc owns it! She said we can live here—for free!"
"Heek-nya!? The Doc-nya's rich-nya! Trying to buy Daddy with money-nya?!"
"Now that you mention it, sis! The cheetah shark was loaded too! She showered Dad shark and the daughter sharks with fancy gifts!"
"No, girls... can we drop that topic, please...?"
Tsk... but what is this...?
Hearing it out, it doesn't sound totally wrong...
I'm half-wondering myself, 'Is it true? Does the Doc have a thing for me?'
Finally, the exasperated Doc took action.
[That's right.]
[I'm the cheetah shark—no, cheetah Doc—trying to seduce your dad.]
[So I'm planning to shower you with gifts too!]
"Heek-nya?! I-it's true-nya?!"
"Just as I thought...! She is the cheetah shark...! We gotta protect Daddy, sis!"
"Doc???"
I was so flustered by her bombshell that I shot her a look screaming, 'What... what do you mean...?'
The Doc then popped up a notification window angled so only I could see it.
Overheard you watched the shark family movie?
In the end, Dad shark and cheetah shark get together and live happily with the daughters, right?
So what if I call myself cheetah Doc? How do you think the kids'll react?
How...? They'd obviously warm up to... Ah.
Yeah, even if I seem suspicious, they won't be outright hostile.
Honestly, having them see me as stepmom candidate is a bit awkward? lol
But they're newborns basically. Totally understandable.
Aah... as expected of the Goddess of Benevolence, Tower Knowledge PhD!
The Doc had it all figured out!
#####
Thanks to cheetah Doc's clever handling?
Her relationship with the girls got off to a decent start.
"Can't become Daddy-nya's new wife that easily-nya!"
"Right! Can cheetah Doc pass our sister test?!"
They were wary since she was a stranger, sure.
But more like their hearts were cracked open rather than fully guarded.
For a first meeting, that was a great sign.
But my optimism didn't last.
[Jobbie. What do your girls like? Gimme a hint.]
"Huh? Uh... they love meat. Especially hanwoo beef."
[Hmm... alright. Hang on a sec.]
The Doc apparently had another idea and stepped out briefly.
Meanwhile, the girls and I explored the hanok and had a blast.
Soon after.
[Okay, everyone gather up.]
The Doc returned with bags in both hands, setting them down in front of us.
She plated food for Lulu and Arin, presenting each one.
[Here, Lulu, Arin? This is Kobe wagyu from neighboring Japan. Dig in.]
"Nyanyanya-nya?! This is wagyu-nya!? So fatty and delicious-nya!"
"Wagyu... totally different from hanwoo...! It melts in your mouth!"
[And this is jamón ibérico bellota ham, from pigs raised solely on acorns.]
"Nyaek?! Pig-nya but as good as hanwoo-nya!? Salty-nutty and it melts too-nya!!!"
"Feels so different from any pork I've had... Is this really pork...?"
[And this is chutoro, the belly of bluefin tuna. Good, right? Tasty?]
"Daddy-nya... Lulu's going weird-nya... Everything that goes in melts away-nya..."
"Daddy... first time with fish like this... sooo good..."
What... the hell...?
Doc... what are you doing right now!?
Stuffing the kids with this expensive stuff...!
[Hang on, we're not done yet?]
[Next up is prime beef from far-off America?]
"Daddy-nya! I wanna eat this every day-nya! If there's a new mommy, gotta be the Doc-nya!"
"Guh... can't deny it at this point... You're approved as stepmom candidate...!!!"
No!
Already blinded by pricey meat, forgetting all about Dad's feelings!
I don't have the funds... or the mental prep for this yet...!!!
But that was short-lived.
[Jobbie, you eat too.]
"Me? Really?"
[What, just feed the kids? You must be hungry—sit and eat together.]
"But... you're spoiling the girls rotten... no rent... how could I...?"
[What're you on about? When adults offer, you say thanks and chow down.]
[This stuff's pocket change anytime. Speak up whenever you want more.]
"Uh... th-thanks... By the way, Doc, how old are you...?"
[Sigh. Gotta be Jobbie to straight-up ask a lady's age.]
[This Doc is 26. Happy? Now eat your meat.]
As I stuffed my face with the Doc's expensive grub, I thought.
'Only three years older than me, and she's this mature...?'
More than that.
A 9-year gallery vet at 26... how young did she start climbing the Tower...?