Summer (3)
Summer (3)
"Good work, everyone. I hope you all enjoy the rest of your time. Ha ha!"
The Chairman gave a hearty laugh, descended from the podium, and became the first to leave the conference room. A heavy silence settled over the room in his wake.
The meeting was over. They could have simply gotten up and left. But they remained in their seats, watching my every move as one. I turned my gaze to Yoon Do-sik, who stood frozen like a statue beside me, sweat beading on his forehead. I watched him for a moment, then silently rose from my seat and turned away.
-Ding.
The elevator doors opened, and I stepped inside.
"Wait, let's go together!"
Yoon Do-sik shoved his hand through the half-closed doors, forcing them back open. He scurried up beside me, gasping for breath.
"...You and your goddamn temper."
"Shut it."
It wasn't compulsory, so I had simply refused.
They were the weird ones for walking on eggshells around me over something so trivial.
"Tch, still a bit of a shame. I was curious how much that person would bid for you."
"That person."
"The Executor, I mean."
"......."
"When I look through those weird glasses of yours, even the scariest things seem laughable."
Yoon Do-sik pointed at my glasses and snickered.
Out of everyone I had met so far, this one was probably the only human unafraid of me.
-Ding.
The doors opened, and Yoon Do-sik and I stepped out of the elevator at the same time.
"Summer really is coming. It's past seven and the sun's still up."
Yoon Do-sik chattered away at my side all the way until we left the main building. Ever since he'd gotten chummy with Jaden, his idle talk had increased. Not a welcome change in the slightest.
"Well then, if you have any tasks for me, don't hesitate to reach out."
Only when we reached the fork in the path leading to the parking lot did Yoon Do-sik peel away from me. I watched his gradually retreating figure for a moment, then turned my steps toward the mansion.
"You have returned."
As I changed out of my shoes at the front door, Claire, wearing an apron, approached me and took the artifact from my hands.
"Where is Baek Ha-na?"
"In the bedroom."
When I probed with mana, I realized that the bedroom Claire mentioned was not Baek Ha-na's room, but mine. With her following behind, I entered the study and opened the bedroom door.
"Hmnnn~"
-Piii... Pwooong....
The first thing that greeted me was the sight of the little hellion sprawled out starfish-style on the bed, fast asleep, and the tiny hellion lying in the exact same pose on her stomach, also sleeping and mumbling softly.
"Dinner?"
"Not yet. She said she would wait until you arrived...."
"I will wake her and bring her out. Please see to the preparations."
"Yes."
Claire watched the two sleeping troublemakers on the bed for a brief moment, set down the artifact she was carrying, and headed to the kitchen.
I concealed the artifact and then perched on the edge of the bed.
"Baek Ha-na."
"Nnng...."
When I called her name, the girl pursed her tiny lips and turned her head toward me. Her bangs, grown long enough that they needed trimming soon, fell messily to the side.
I reached out and brushed them neatly into place.
"Ee-hee~"
Every time I swept her hair back with my hand, she let out a goofy laugh. Watching her, I felt an unbidden chuckle trying to sneak out.
'Something that could have just been let go....'
If she simply hadn't assaulted that apprentice priest of the God of Luck, she wouldn't have been disciplined at all. She could have passed the time in her own room at the dormitory instead. Yet even as I thought this, the corners of my lips kept trying to creep upward.
The fact that this fool in front of me, making that stupid face, had gotten angry for my sake—it put me in a good mood.
"Baek Ha-na."
"Nngh...?"
I called her name again, putting a bit more force into my voice. Her tightly shut eyelids slowly rose. A moment later, my reflection appeared in her nearly transparent blue pupils.
"Woo-jin...?"
"What are you trying to say."
"Woo-jiiin~"
Blinking her eyes, Baek Ha-na stared blankly at my face for a second before flinging her arms wide open and throwing herself at me. And then.
-Peep?!
The Fairy, who had been sleeping on Baek Ha-na's stomach, tumbled down, wedging itself between Baek Ha-na and the bed.
"Ah!!"
The girl, who had been lazily trying to nuzzle her cheek against my thigh, flinched at the Fairy's shriek. She shot upright in a panic.
"A-are you okay?!"
-Piiii...!!
The Fairy, looking even more startled than Baek Ha-na, puffed up both cheeks in a massive pout. It rapped its tiny hands against Baek Ha-na's palm a few times before darting out of the bedroom. It was probably headed to Claire.
"Nnngh...."
Baek Ha-na looked up at me with an expression that said she had committed a grave sin.
"Wh-what do I do?"
"You clean up the messes you make."
"Nnngh!!"
As I moved to stand up, she bent over hastily and wrapped her arms around my waist. I used mana to lift her body, then pulled myself free from the bed.
"Let go."
"Eep...."
I gently pried loose the arms she had wrapped around my waist with mana and set her on the floor. But.
"Tell me...."
The moment her feet touched the floor, Baek Ha-na latched onto me again from behind, clinging tight. The girl's body had grown, but her mind had not matured one bit.
"If you apologize sincerely, she'll forgive you quickly."
"Really?"
"...Just let go of me."
"Tch~ Fine, I'm— oof!"
Thwack—!!
"Kyaak?!"
I struck the crown of her head with a lightly condensed ball of mana, and the barnacle on my back finally detached. I turned around and added a flick to her forehead as she rubbed her head.
"Agh!!"
"Quiet. Come out for dinner."
"No violence...."
"Consider not doing things that deserve getting hit first."
"Nngh...."
With a pouting Baek Ha-na in tow, I walked out to the kitchen.
-Peep!!
"Ah...."
The Fairy, who had been sipping honey-infused milk through a straw on the dining table, spotted Baek Ha-na and immediately flew off to perch on the shoulder of Claire, who was carrying dishes.
"......?"
Finding herself suddenly caught in the middle, Claire blinked, her gaze alternating between the Fairy on her shoulder and Baek Ha-na, who had taken the seat next to her.
"Don't mind them. Let's eat."
"Yesss...."
With the usual chatterboxes keeping their mouths shut, the dinner table was remarkably quiet. For me personally, it was not an unpleasant time.
-Ppaang~!
"I said I'm sorry...?"
-Ppiyaang~!
After the meal ended, Baek Ha-na sidled over to the Fairy, who had relocated to the tabletop, and began apologizing with all the sincerity I had advised her to muster. Every time Baek Ha-na leaned her head in, the Fairy turned away petulantly, resisting. That was, until—
"Want some of this?"
-Peep, piii...?
As soon as Baek Ha-na pulled out the children's chocolate she had been obsessed with since she was little, the Fairy's interest was instantly piqued. And then.
-Pwooong, piing....
In no time at all, it had climbed onto Baek Ha-na's hand and begun nibbling away at the chocolate with a crunching sound. It seemed food was far more effective than any heartfelt apology. Such a simple creature. There was no denying it.
"Oh, right."
Baek Ha-na, who had been stroking the head of the reconciled Fairy, slyly turned her gaze toward me.
"Woo-jin...?"
"What."
"...Is it okay if I bring my friends over?"
"Maria and Idni, you mean?"
"We-well, there are two more...."
I set down my half-empty teacup.
If she said two more, it was probably Nam Seo-hee and Lee Na-young.
"Do it."
"Hehe, thank you.... But, Idni and Maria might come over to play a little often...."
"I don't mind."
"Okay...."
Unlike her earlier, clearly happy reaction, this time her tone was subtly tinged with disappointment.
"Well then, I better wash up and get ready for bed."
-Ppiang!
As Baek Ha-na climbed down from her chair, the Fairy, having finished its chocolate, landed on top of her head. I called out to her just as she was heading quite naturally toward the bathroom.
"Baek Ha-na."
"Huh?"
She turned just her head back to look at me.
"Don't forget—your outings and overnight stays are still banned."
"......Ah."
Had she genuinely forgotten? Baek Ha-na's eyes trembled violently. I pointed to the clock on the kitchen wall.
"See that you get back without being late. Otherwise, I'll ban you from coming home at all. And one more thing."
"......?"
I spoke to Baek Ha-na, who was looking at me looking utterly deflated.
"Leave your written reflection on my desk before you go."
"Eck...."
**
The next morning.
"Pardon the intrusion~"
"Pa-pardon the intrusion!!"
"I'm here."
The three girls entered, pushing open the door to the study.
"I-it's been a while!"
"I'll be visiting more often from now on."
Idni, far stiffer toward me than she used to be. And Maria, who was growing more like Lee Ye-sol with each passing day.
"Breakfast?"
"Haven't eaten yet."
"Go to the kitchen."
"Okaaay~"
Baek Ha-na led the two girls out of the study. I rose from my seat and opened the closed bedroom door.
"Claire."
"Yes."
She had been sitting on the bed, watching the Fairy sleep. She came out. Once she was gone, I used the mana around the bedroom to block out the noise from outside. Of course, I didn't forget to leave the door slightly ajar so the Fairy could come out as usual when it woke up.
"Th-the Executor is cooking actual food instead of cereal...?"
"Be quiet...."
When I made my way to the kitchen a little later, I was greeted by the sight of the two girls staring at Claire's back as she prepared the stew, their faces unable to hide their shock.
"It's delicious...!!"
"It really is good...."
"I told you it was delicious."
Baek Ha-na frowned and grumbled at the two girls eating Claire's stew. The short meal ended, and just as the girls were about to head to the room—
"Miss Ha-na."
"Hm?"
Baek Ha-na, who had been about to head off to her room with Maria and Idni, stopped in her tracks. The two girls also halted, turning back to look at Claire.
"Change into sportswear and come out to the yard."
"Huh...?"
A thoroughly flustered Baek Ha-na approached Claire, who was clearing the plates, and asked.
"D-did I do something wrong...?"
"No."
"Then why...?"
To Baek Ha-na's question, thick with doubt, Claire answered in a low voice.
"It is the professor's order."
"Eck...."
Baek Ha-na looked back at me with the eyes of the betrayed.
"And."
Claire's gaze shifted to Maria and Idni, who were standing blankly by the entrance.
"You two as well. Get changed and come out to the yard."
The two girls' faces fell, turning grim.
I set down the teacup I was holding onto the dining table.
"If you want to play, you'll be trained by Claire for four hours a day. No exceptions."
Then again, I doubted they'd have any energy left to play.