Chapter 201
"No fair, Baek Sion did it too...! Tell him off quick...!"
Yoo Seol-ah slipped back into full elementary school kid mode. Meanwhile, I'd smoothly taken a spot next to Doyun hyung while she was jumping up and down in protest. If we're talking pure kindness, he's the undisputed top in our group. Should've played your positioning better, huh.
"Ugh..."
Yoo Seol-ah kept sneaking glances toward where the kid and her parents had been, covering her face with her hands. Her hands are small, but her face is even smaller—it's amazing how they cover it completely so easily. Honestly, if she didn't react, I wouldn't tease her this much, but what can you do about her natural sandbag personality?
The little girl still picking out toys kept looking our way too, so I guess watching full-grown adults messing around with toys was pretty fascinating for her. Or maybe since she called us unnie and oppa, she still saw us as college students? True to form for someone who adores kids, Yoo Seol-ah shook off her embarrassment and gave a little wave to the girl staring at her. The kid noticed and broke into the brightest smile—adorable.
"Seol-ah really can't pass by kids without stopping."
"...They're cute, aren't they? Especially when you just catch a glimpse like this."
Liking kids and actually raising them are definitely different, but I'm convinced Yoo Seol-ah would get along great with them. Personally, I want to be the kind of parent who's more like a friend when we have kids someday. So maybe having one right after college graduation wouldn't be so bad.
"Oh, wait— we should grab some toys after all."
"Huh?"
Yoo Seol-ah's face lit up with question marks at Lee Seo-yeon's words. What do we need toys for? We'd already tossed a magical girl wand in the cart, though.
"Not exactly toys, more like safe sticks or something? I talked to oppa earlier, and we need them for filming characters with weapons."
"Oh... right."
The Inpung Dolls perfectly mimic the controller's movements once linked, but for stuff like swords or wands, you have to hold the prop yourself for the doll to "hold" it too. Yoo Seol-ah's expression turned into that of someone walking way too far with a friend after saying goodbye, and she shuffled back toward the toy aisle hesitantly.
People usually think toy sections are just for kids, but this massive mall had tons of high-quality stuff. Like that automatic water gun from our last MT.
"Are unnie and oppa here shopping for toys too...?"
True to kids who latch on once hooked, the girl cautiously spoke up as we returned to the toy aisle. She couldn't be in elementary school yet, but her sparkling eyes were super cute. Babies sometimes avoid strangers, so maybe she's just naturally outgoing.
"...Sorry about our kid..."
"Oh, no, it's fine!"
Just from the parents' tones, you could tell why she's so extroverted. And with her gaze locked on Yoo Seol-ah, kids really are honest about looks. Yoo Seol-ah's face is the type you can't help noticing even if you try not to—must hit kids even harder.
Yoo Seol-ah knelt down a bit to chat at eye level. She rarely takes the lead when Lee Seo-yeon's around, but stepping up like this shows how much she loves kids.
"Unnie, which do you like better—this or this?"
Yoo Seol-ah was getting more excited than the kid, chatting away so friendly that her slightly apologetic parents just watched from the side. The girl was debating two foam-dart guns: one massive sniper rifle, the biggest of the bunch, and the other a shotgun-shaped pistol small enough for one hand...
Honestly, asking Yoo Seol-ah? The answer's obvious.
"...Hmm, unnie picks this one?"
Right on cue, she chose the giant sniper rifle. Makes sense—she's the type who loves anything that screams firepower. She prefers mowing things down herself, so she defaults to that even with toys.
...Classic mage behavior.
"What about oppa?"
"Me?"
Standing next to Yoo Seol-ah, the girl asked my opinion too. Naturally, I went for the shotgun. Better mobility than the sniper, and it looked too heavy and big for her small hands anyway.
"I'll take this one. Looks like you could shoot on the run with it."
Not wanting to lose to Yoo Seol-ah, I pitched its perks. Whether it was planned or not, Lee Seo-yeon—who'd been watching the deeply pondering girl fondly—finally chimed in.
"Want both?"
"...But I promised Mom and Dad just one."
The girl's straightforward reply was so cute that Lee Seo-yeon gave her time to decide. Not sure if my pitch worked, but she ultimately picked the shotgun. Seeing it go in the cart, Lee Seo-yeon snatched the sniper box and bolted to the self-checkout like a bullet.
Panting as she returned, she bowed slightly to the stunned parents.
"...What's your friend's name?"
"Kang Eun-seo."
"Pretty name... Eun-seo was so sweet and played nice with us unnies, so this is a gift."
Eun-seo's eyes went wide, and her parents looked even more shocked. They seemed flustered but chatted briefly with Lee Seo-yeon and bowed repeatedly in thanks. The girl tilted her head, then bowed at nearly 90 degrees.
"Thank you..."
The happy family kept thanking us nonstop until we left the toy aisle. Yoo Seol-ah poked Lee Seo-yeon with a grin.
"You always rag on me for liking kids."
"...I'm not obsessed or anything... But sharp ones like her are cute."
"Kids come in all types, huh."
She seemed so well-raised. Eun-seo, was it?
"Man, why are modern toys so awesome?"
"Right? They even sell targets... We didn't have this stuff."
"Back in my day, they sold rubber band guns at the mart?"
"......"
Yoo Seol-ah clammed up after accidentally saying "back in my day" and eating Yuna noona's comeback. Lee Seo-yeon, eyeing the gun aisle amusedly, spoke up.
"Everyone pick one gun you like. My treat today."
At the sugar mama's declaration, the other four froze for a split second—then scrambled to grab their faves. How could I resist the "Cyclone Shock," a mobility-type with fancy lettering? Six darts at once, rapid fire.
Yoo Seol-ah predictably hauled out a massive rifle and smirked at my little box.
"...Why obsess over mobility?"
"Mobility's key. Didn't even Eun-seo end up picking the shotgun?"
"...Ugh."
"Unlike some people who only care about brute force."
Yoo Seol-ah ground her teeth, glaring daggers. Hey, it is true.
"Kids, cart those for now."
"Ah... okay."
But everyone's equal before the wallet, so we obediently stashed the guns. These are for play; we still need club props.
"Oh, there—rubber and foam ones."
For safety, they were soft but shape-retaining. We swept every weapon type into the cart: tiny daggers to hammers.
Astasia had weird humans and demons galore, so weapons varied wildly. Most memorable for me? That spear that pierced me. Spotting a similar one cracked me up as I grabbed it.
"...Thank god for self-checkout."
"...Seriously."
Five toy guns and assorted weapons at a staffed register? Would've felt weird.
Under Yoo Seol-ah's command, we'd gone for cosplay fabric but ended up full-on clothes shopping too before finally heading back to Lee Seo-yeon's house. Trunk packed solid with boxes says it all. But since we met early, plenty of time till dinner. Grilling on the terrace might push it later anyway.
"So, we're holding the inaugural Astasia Cup Supreme Battle Tournament!"
"Wooo~"
Everyone clapped, so I joined in moderately. I'd half-expected it since picking guns. Our bickering in the car prompted Lee Seo-yeon to say we should just settle it.
"Hang on a sec. This range won't take long."
Yuna noona—peerless in wide-area and spatial magic—slapped her palm on the living room floor. On the drive, she said sunlight's decent mana anyway. Blue mana orbs rippled out, sticking to everything: furniture, walls, floor, ceiling.
"Won't break unless you try."
Probably what she'd planned before shopping when we scrapped. Feels like stepping into another world. Spatial magic never ceases to amaze.
"Any penalties?"
"Yup. Winner gets my special prize. First-round losers become the winner's one-day maid or butler."
...Yoo Seol-ah's one-day maid? Grilling meat by her side? Tempting. Wasn't planning to go all-out, but with safety nets, loosening up sounds fun.
"Need a bye too... You two were gonna clash anyway?"
"Obviously."
"No different from a bye."
Yoo Seol-ah taunted early. Lee Seo-yeon vanished, returning with a rack holding a maid outfit and butler suit. Yoo Seol-ah froze; I voiced it for her.
"...Why the hell do you have those?"
"Remember when you first came over and maid outfits came up? Bought 'em just in case."
Not just service—a full maid outfit? I'd have to wear the butler suit if I lose, but the reward's huge.
Baek Sion in a butler suit...? Never seen him in a proper suit like that... Can't miss this chance. And if I lose, having him as master wouldn't be so bad... right?
...Of course I'll give it my all, just saying.