Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Kill Me
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Right now, I was cleaning up the room in Seol-i's house that they'd been using as a storage space.
This narrow, slightly dim room was where I'd be living for the next month.
"Haneul, I'm sorry. This is the only empty room we have."
"No, it's fine. This is more than enough."
I really meant it.
The first place I'd lived after leaving the orphanage was a semi-basement studio apartment, and compared to that dump, this room was a palace.
No bugs crawling out of the walls like there, no stench, and it wasn't the kind of place that got muggy in summer or freezing in winter.
It had air conditioning, good ventilation, and while the position made it a bit dark, it wasn't like that other place where not even a sliver of light could get in.
A room like this was plenty. More than plenty—it was perfect.
So there was no need for her to feel sorry.
Meanwhile, Seol-i, who was helping me sort things out beside me as I cleaned, had a deeply dissatisfied look on her face.
"...You could just sleep in my room."
"Seol-i, no."
"Yeah, Seol-i. Haneul's right on this one."
The moment she heard that, Seol-i clamped her mouth shut tight.
Her face screamed volumes of complaint.
But there was nothing to be done about it.
Even if I were still in elementary school, it might've been awkward, but starting from middle school? No way.
Middle school—what stage is that?
It's when puberty kicks in, and you start realizing things about sex.
It's also when the most obvious physical changes between boys and girls show up.
Seol-i and I were right in the middle of all that, so sharing a room and sleeping in the same space? Absolutely not.
"Still..."
"No way."
I said it with total finality, and Seol-i's face fell in huge disappointment. Auntie, on the other hand, looked utterly pleased.
Yeah, she'd be pleased.
If I were Seol-i's parents, I wouldn't have let me stay over at all.
No matter how close a childhood friend I was to their daughter, I was still a boy. Letting a middle school boy share space, sleep, and eat meals with their daughter? They'd draw the line there.
Especially with Seol-i.
The cutest, purest, kindest kid I'd ever seen.
How could any parent not be on guard with a daughter like that?
I was already grateful just to be allowed to stay. That's how I saw it.
"Looks like the room's all sorted now."
"Good work. Alright, Seol-i, let's head out~"
"Why?"
"So Haneul can unpack."
"I'm fine..."
No, Seol-i. I'm not fine.
Even if I was pretty laid-back, I didn't want her seeing my underwear or anything.
Auntie, sensing my feelings, took Seol-i out with her, and I was able to unpack in peace. Truly grateful.
By the time I finished unpacking, it was already evening.
"Haneul~! Time to eat...!"
Seol-i came running over, pattering across the floor, to invite me to dinner. I nodded as I wrapped up the last of my unpacking.
"Yeah, sounds good."
Seol-i's family meals were delicious, as I'd learned last time.
On par with my mom's cooking... no, sorry Mom, but Auntie was even better.
I figured she had to be.
Mom was pretty young. Just mid-30s, which was super young for a mom.
Auntie, on the other hand, was right around the average age for parents my age—early to mid-40s.
Nearly ten years more experience cooking than Mom, so the difference made sense.
Thinking about it, Seol-i had talent in cooking too. I could tell from that pork stir-fry before. Real talent.
Factor that in, and Auntie had even more years of practice plus amazing skill.
That gap in taste? Inevitable.
"Haneul, is it good?"
"Yeah, it's amazing."
I nodded, and Auntie suddenly thanked me with a smile.
"Haneul, thank you."
"Huh? What for?"
I tilted my head, not getting it, and she chuckled softly before explaining.
"Thanks to you, Seol-i's stopped being picky about food."
"Oh..."
Sure enough, Seol-i was eating a bit of everything from the varied side dishes.
"It's not really because of me."
"No~ Ever since you told her not to be picky, she quit cold turkey. How's that not thanks to you?"
It really wasn't me. Picky eating is notoriously hard to fix. Other people telling you off doesn't cut it.
The fact that she'd overcome it and was trying to eat a balanced diet was all Seol-i's own effort.
"No, seriously—it's because Seol-i tried hard."
"Honestly... aren't you a bit too mature for your age, Haneul?"
I tried to play the kid role as much as possible, but some things couldn't be helped.
My mind was still that of a 23-year-old guy, after all.
Wait, 23? It's been almost seven years in this world—didn't that make me 30 mentally?
Who knows. But calling myself 30 felt depressing, so I'd stick with 23.
Didn't some philosophy professor say something like that? Even if time rewinds, your mental age doesn't regress because you haven't experienced the years ahead or stood in those future shoes.
I'll go with that. If my mental age is 23, then it's 23. Whatever.
Lost in those thoughts, my chest suddenly felt tight. Irritated, maybe.
"...Sorry to ask, but could I get some water?"
"Of course, go ahead."
"Haneul, I'll come with...!"
"You want water too, Seol-i?"
"Yeah!"
She nodded eagerly and started to get up, but I shook my head.
"No, stay put. I'll grab it."
"But..."
"It's fine, really. Let me do this much."
It really was nothing. If I couldn't even do this, there'd be no point in staying.
I went to the kitchen, grabbed two glasses, and started filling them from the water purifier.
-Splash splash splash...
Water flowed out, filling the first glass. Then the second.
Both full, I turned to carry them back, and Seol-i jumped up to meet me anyway.
"Thanks, Haneul...!"
Even for something this small, she thanked me. She really was too good-hearted every time I saw her.
I sat back down with the glasses and gulped mine down.
After a few sips—and seeing her cute face—my mood lightened up.
As I finished my water and went back to eating, another question popped into my head.
"By the way... where's Uncle?"
"Oh, my husband's working late tonight."
"Late shift... that sounds tough."
"It is. He might grab some late-night snacks when he gets home. Do you eat those, Haneul?"
I shook my head right away.
I'd never been into late-night snacks. Too wasteful with money, and they never sat right at bedtime.
"Really?"
"Haneul should eat some too...!"
Seol-i chimed in from beside me, but I wasn't planning to.
Better to just eat more at dinner.
"My family doesn't do late-night snacks."
"Got it. But if you feel like it, just say so, okay?"
"Sure, will do."
I nodded, and Seol-i stared at me, trying to give me those puppy eyes.
"...Seol-i?"
"I wish Haneul would eat some."
...Was it that important? Did I really have to?
......If Seol-i wanted it, maybe once wouldn't hurt.
"Alright, I'll try some later."
"Really?"
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at me.
What was that look? Like a hamster spotting sunflower seeds? A squirrel finding acorns? Something like that.
I nodded to confirm it for her.
She beamed and dug back into her food.
Seol-i really was cute. Her smile alone healed me.
I thought this would be the start of a fun, heartwarming life as a lodger...
But there was one unexpected ambush waiting.
After dinner, brushing my teeth, and stepping out—I saw it.
Seol-i, changing her clothes.
The second I spotted her, I slammed the bathroom door shut and pretended I saw nothing. But Seol-i...
"......Haneul?"
...was calling me.
Her door had been open by bad luck, leading to this disaster.
But disaster it was, justified or not. And ultimately, it was my fault.
...Should I just die?
If I died, maybe time would rewind? Since I was isekai'd into a novel, that should be possible, right?
Author, you put in a power like that, didn't you? I believe you?
If so, kill me off in an accident right now. Please.