Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: How a Sinner Receives Forgiveness
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After Seol-i finished getting dressed, I knelt down properly and apologized to her.
"Seol-i, I'm sorry...."
"No... um... I was careless too...."
Even if that was true, the one who needed to apologize right now was me.
In this house, I was clearly an outsider and a guest. This situation was one where the guest had been rude to the host, so of course I had to apologize.
"I'm really sorry."
"I'm fine, you know... if it's you, Ha-neul, even more so..."
"...What did you say?"
"Nothing, really."
Seol-i shook her head back and forth. Her face still flushed with embarrassment, but she kept forgiving me.
"Anyway... I'm really fine... totally fine... okay...?"
She practically begged me to believe her as she told me to get up.
In the end, I awkwardly stood up, and only then did a small smile appear on her face.
"I'm... really fine... so... don't apologize anymore... got it...?"
"...Got it."
"Hehe...."
Her smile was even brighter now, big enough to melt away every last bit of my guilt.
But along with that, I could feel my heart pounding fiercely.
That glimpse I'd caught of her earlier, that split-second image I never should have imagined.
Just recalling it stirred up a dark desire I hadn't expected, one that shocked me... and even disgusted me a little.
Seol-i was only fourteen. I was twenty-three.
A nine-year age gap, and getting flustered over a kid like that? It was disgusting enough to turn myself in to the police.
"...Seol-i, I'm kinda tired. Mind if I head to bed first?"
"Oh... yeah...! Go rest...!"
"Auntie, I'll turn in for the night."
"Okay~ Sleep well, Ha-neul~"
I nodded at Seol-i, who was waving enthusiastically, then went back into the room.
And then...
-Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
To forcibly calm this gradually racing heart, I lay down on the blanket and closed my eyes, trying to fall asleep.
But the moment I shut my eyes, my heart started pounding even harder.
As if urging me to remember that scene from before.
Ridiculously, in that moment, I realized one thing.
Hormones are truly terrifying things.
Just looking at the ever-adorable Seol-i could make a teenager's heart race like that—youthful hormones were no joke.
...And the next day, when I finally managed to fall asleep and woke up again, I noticed my pants were a little damp.
"...This is driving me crazy."
I'd known this phase was coming eventually, but why now, of all times?
Ugh, I hate everything. Seriously.
*
In the end, I secretly told Auntie and Uncle about my embarrassing situation.
Instead of judging me, they comforted me, saying things like, "It's perfectly natural, don't worry about it," and "Just sneak some clean ones in without Seol-i noticing."
They really were good people, which only made it more embarrassing.
This wasn't the kind of thing I wanted them to see. Especially not as Seol-i's rational childhood friend.
As shame kept my head bowed, Seol-i woke up and approached me.
"Ha-neul... good mowning...."
"Oh, sleep well?"
"Mmm... slept good...."
Her sleepy voice had this magical way of amplifying her cuteness even more.
But at the same time, the image of her from yesterday flashed in my mind, and I involuntarily whipped my head away.
"Ha-neul...?"
"...Sorry, just a bit tired."
"Okay...."
She nodded and toddled off to the kitchen. I watched her go, then headed back to the room.
I folded the bedding as usual, gave the place a quick tidy-up, and stepped back out to find Uncle already dressed for work.
"Honey, Seol-i, I'm off. Ha-neul, Uncle's heading out~"
"Bye, honey."
"See you later...!"
"Drive safe."
"Sure~"
Uncle waved to us as he left, leaving just Seol-i, her mom, and me in the house.
"Dad's gone, so shall we eat now?"
"Yes...!"
"Yep. Need a hand?"
"Oh, thank you so much."
Auntie thanked me, and Seol-i shot me a quick glance.
She probably hadn't planned on helping much herself.
"Seol-i, you go rest."
"No... um... I'll help too...! Ha-neul should rest...!"
I appreciated the offer, but I couldn't just sit idle.
I was a guest, after all. I had to do something.
"No, you rest. You look tired."
"I'm fine... you should rest instead...! You're the guest...!"
Guest or not, I'd be here for nearly a month. I was more like a live-in helper.
How could I just sit around?
At least with chores like this, I could pitch in.
As I was about to dig in my heels, Auntie spoke up.
"How about Ha-neul helps today?"
"Me?"
"Ha-neul?"
"Yeah, Ha-neul helps today, Seol-i tomorrow. Taking turns like that sounds perfect, don't you think?"
At Auntie's mediation, Seol-i and I both gave in and agreed to help her out.
"Seol-i, go rest."
"Okay...."
She nodded and pattered back to the room. I moved to tie on an apron.
But as I reached for it, Auntie stopped me.
"No need to help with any of the cooking."
"I can chop stuff."
"What if you hurt yourself? How would I face your parents?"
"...Yes, ma'am."
"Just bring the side dishes and set the table, okay?"
From then on, I only did what Auntie asked—fetching things and setting them out neatly.
Even so, I did my best to arrange the sides and dishes perfectly.
Auntie sounded a little surprised as she watched.
"Ha-neul, do you do this kind of thing at home too?"
"Uh... sometimes."
Sometimes, yeah. At least until this year.
Ever since Mom got pregnant with Da-som, I'd been doing a lot more chores around the house.
Guess that's why I got decent at it.
As soon as we finished setting up, Auntie thanked me.
"Ha-neul, thank you so much."
"No big deal. It's the least I could do."
I placed the last cup on the table and was about to call Seol-i when Auntie grabbed my arm.
"Hey, Ha-neul."
"Yes, Auntie?"
"...What do you think of our Seol-i?"
"Seol-i?"
Auntie nodded.
I thought it over carefully. What kind of girl Seol-i was.
She was truly cute, kind, and sweet.
I put all that into a simple answer.
"...She's a good friend."
"A good friend, huh?"
"Yeah, she is."
"...I see."
Auntie nodded and patted my shoulder.
"Ha-neul, thank you for looking after our Seol-i all this time."
"No problem."
"It is a problem. Other kids must've teased her."
Back in early elementary school, yeah, they did. But I ignored it, and it died down.
Still, it was just childish teasing—nothing serious.
"Thank you. And... could you keep an even closer eye on Seol-i?"
"On Seol-i?"
"Yeah. She really likes you, you know."
I nodded right away.
"Sure, I'll do that."
Ever since I came to this world, I'd had one thought.
To make Seol-i happy.
It started as keeping her from falling for the original protagonist, Kim Do-yun. But now, she'd gone beyond that—she was just a normal friend.
Mission one accomplished. Strictly speaking, though, that was just the starting line.
I wanted to make her even happier. If that meant watching over her more closely, I'd do it.
But at my words, Auntie just sighed deeply, looking wistful.
"...You and Seol-i both have it rough."
Seol-i has it rough? What did that mean?
If anything, wouldn't that be me, if I was watching over her?
Of course, I didn't blurt that out. Saying it would've gotten me booted from the house for being clueless.
I bowed politely to Auntie and went to get Seol-i.
"Seol-i, time to eat."
"Okay...! Coming...!"
She emerged in light clothes.
And in her arms... Teddy Bear.
Seol-i, how long are you gonna carry that teddy bear around?
At least put it down for meals?
Luckily, Auntie put a stop to the teddy bear dining companion.
It seemed like Seol-i had just brought it out of habit anyway.
"Ughhh...."
Thanks to that, I got to witness the rare sight of Seol-i sheepishly leaving the teddy in the living room. Too cute for words.