Why Are You So Good at This?

As soon as Soyeon unleashed her genuine killing intent, her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠unique aura flooded the entire living room.

“No matter if it’s the Magic Tower…!”

She bit her lip hard and marched toward the door, looking like she might bolt outside at any second.

“Wait a moment. I’ll go and… give her a piece of my mind.”

She was serious. Dead serious. She looked ready to storm over to Ri-en and beat the living daylights out of her. Tower or not, she seemed fully prepared to start a war just because they had touched me.

…She already lost all her face though.

Going there just to harass her again might actually be fun.

That thought lasted only a second. It occurred to me that the reason Soyeon was this furious was because Ri-en had thrown a tantrum right in front of me. The realization was so adorable that I let out a soft chuckle and gently wrapped my arms around her waist from behind.

“Uh, uh…?”

The sudden back hug made the murderous aura that had filled the living room vanish in an instant. I lightly rested my chin on her shoulder and whispered into her ear.

“I’m hungry.”

“…!!”

In that moment, the crushing killing intent melted away like it had never existed. Soyeon’s neck flushed crimson all the way to her ears.

“H-hungry…?”

“Yeah. I want to eat your cooking. You’re just going to leave like this?”

I whined a little, asking slyly if she was really planning to go.

Soyeon fidgeted helplessly in my arms before shaking her head vigorously. My whining must have worked. I could feel all the tension drain from her body. She turned her head slightly to look up at me, face flushed, lips pouting.

“It’s true… I was just worried you might get hurt, oppa…”

“Then scold her for real later. But right now I’m seriously starving.”

At my sincere complaint, Soyeon finally burst into laughter as if she couldn’t win against me. She picked up the bag she had set down, looking exactly like a puppy wagging its tail.

…Tail? Must have been my imagination.

“Okay, wait just a little. Go rest!”

Soyeon trotted into the kitchen and put on an apron with practiced ease. Watching her from behind, I couldn’t stop my lips from curving upward. One moment she was radiating fury at Ri-en, the next she was wearing a pink apron in the kitchen.

This is what they call gap moe.

An apron, huh.

I’ll have to ask her to wear just that someday.

With that thought, I walked over to the kitchen, wanting to help with something. I was curious about the cooking too.

“I’ll help. Should I wash the vegetables?”

But Soyeon firmly shook her head and spread both arms to block my path.

“No! Oppa, go sit over there.”

“Why? It’s more fun together.”

“No way. I want ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to make it for you. Just sit quietly and wait, okay?”

She was adamant. When she put it like that, there was no point in being stubborn. So instead, I pulled her into a tight hug while her arms were still spread wide.

“Eek?!”

“Alright, I’ll wait quietly.”

I raised both hands in surrender and plopped down on a dining chair. She puffed her cheeks slightly, surprised by my move, then turned around and started cooking.

The crisp, rapid sound of chopping on the cutting board. The bubbling of stew. And Soyeon’s soft humming as she worked with her back to me. I enjoyed the sight to my heart’s content until the Hunter Gallery suddenly came to mind. I pulled out my smartphone, curious how they were reacting to the commotion at the Tower Plaza.

Well, it was obvious even without looking. But the actual heat far exceeded my expectations. Every refresh brought dozens of new posts flooding down.

The place was in complete chaos. The single central topic: who the hell was the unidentified person who had given the Magic Tower’s own heir a proper lesson?

I tapped on the post with the highest views.

Everyone was unanimously guessing it was White’s doing. Thanks to Ri-en, my own fame seemed to be skyrocketing, and I couldn’t stop my lips from twitching upward. Watching them debate about me among themselves was genuinely entertaining.

What, should I mess with them a little?

I naturally tapped the write button.

Comments flooded in less than a minute after I posted.

“…Huh?”

The reaction was completely off. Instead of agreeing, every comment was roasting me.

“…Hmmmm.”

It was absurd. I was the one claiming I wasn’t me, and everyone else was replying that it made no sense. I am White, though. The Hunter Gallery really is a place you can never fully understand no matter how well you think you know it.

While I was cackling at the gallery for a while—

“Oppa! It’s ready!”

Soyeon’s bright voice came from the kitchen. I looked up to see her wearing oven mitts on both hands, trying to carry the dishes to the table.

“Oh, I’ll do it. It’s dangerous.”

I quickly shoved my phone into my pocket and stood up, taking the hot earthenware pot and large plates from her. I carefully moved them to the table.

“Nooo… I wanted to show you everything beautifully arranged…”

Soyeon pouted and whined cutely. How much more perfect did she want it to be? She had probably wanted to present it with a big “Ta-da!” Her disappointed expression was so lovable that I teased her while setting the doenjang jjigae in the center of the table.

“What are you so disappointed about? Doing it together like this makes us look really close—like a married couple. Don’t you think?”

“M-married couple…!”

At my brazen words, Soyeon froze while arranging the table. Ah, there it was again—her delusional streak. Though at this point it could hardly be called a delusion anymore. Her face turned bright red in an instant.

“O-oppa really…! Saying things like that so casually…!”

She covered her heated cheeks with both hands, completely flustered. Finding her reaction adorable, I laughed out loud.

“Why? You don’t like it?”

“Eh?!”

“Come on, let’s eat. I’m hungry.”

I sat down, smoothly changing the subject. Only then did Soyeon realize I had been teasing her. She sat at the table with a slightly sulky expression.

It was a full feast. Thick, appetizing homemade hamburg steak. Beautifully rolled yellow egg omelette. And doenjang jjigae with its rich, savory aroma that tickled the nose.

She cooks really well, huh?

“Thanks for the meal.”

I cut a large piece of the hamburg steak and put it in my mouth.

“H-how is it…?”

Soyeon watched my reaction with a nervous face. It was better than I expected. The meat juices filling my mouth and the sweet sauce were perfect.

“…? Why are you so good at this? What is this?”

“R-really? It actually tastes good?”

“Yeah. For real.”

When I praised her sincerely, a relieved smile finally bloomed on Soyeon’s face. I kept eating and eating, completely losing track of time as I enjoyed the meal. The food was incredibly delicious, and watching Soyeon munch while looking at me made me think naturally.

She’s more wonderful than any side dish.

Well, in multiple ways.

After finishing, I patted my full stomach and headed to the bathroom.

“Ah, that was great.”

“You have to brush your teeth right away!”

“Yeah.”

With the toothbrush in my mouth, I looked at myself in the mirror. My expression was peaceful and languid. I was thinking how it perfectly reflected my mood when—

Ri-en again?

An official request, no less. Even after getting thoroughly educated, she still hadn’t come to her senses. Did she really need to meet me to feel satisfied?

“Sigh.”

I roughly finished brushing my teeth and was about to reply telling her to refuse when—

“…Excuse me?”

I nearly spat out the foam in my mouth. I stared at the screen again in disbelief. Tower Master. Yep, that’s what it said. The pinnacle of the world’s ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mages. The owner of the Magic Tower. A living legend.

Wait, the Tower Master is coming personally just because his daughter tripped on the street a little?