Iris's Tears and the Fluffy Embrace
Once the Baek Arang Therapy story wrapped up, Olivia and the burly guy next to her left the cafe.
I swallowed hard, cautiously glancing at Han Seorin, who was staring at me intently from behind the counter.
...Why's she like that?
Han Seorin, who had been giving me a sullen look for a while, let out a deep sigh and strode over to my seat.
...Now's the time to use an item, more than earlier.
I subtly placed my finger on the item in my pocket.
Screeech!
"Ow!"
Han Seorin suddenly grabbed both my cheeks with her hands and yanked them sideways.
"...Haa, what am I gonna do with this total noob."
"It hurts... let gooo."
"What if you just blindly say yes to requests from total strangers? You'll get in big trouble someday."
I couldn't even make excuses under her sharp scolding; I just rolled my eyes.
Playing dirty with straight facts...
But come on... how do you say no when someone's crying and begging like that? And it's not even a hard request.
I wiggled my toes from the pain in my cheeks and looked up at Han Seorin.
When she saw my ears droop pathetically, she finally released my cheeks.
"Haa..."
She let out another deep sigh, then roughly ruffled my hair with her hand.
"Ah! Don't do that! Do you know how long it takes to brush this?!"
When I cupped my hair protectively and glared, Han Seorin smirked.
Smirking? This isn't funny!
It takes almost 30 minutes just to dry after a shower! If I don't dry it properly, it tangles and I can't even sleep.
"Still, coming straight to my cafe instead of going somewhere else was smart. Good job on that."
"...Hmph, don't touch my hair from now on."
Han Seorin grabbed a comb from the counter, roughly fixed my messed-up hair, then poked at my hoodie.
"But seriously, how long are you gonna keep wearing that hoodie everywhere?"
"Huh? Why?"
I tilted my head, and she shrugged.
"You can't wear that forever. I get it's because of your ears, but the weather's getting warmer."
"......"
"You gonna sweat buckets all summer and keep it on? You'll steam to death."
She hit the nail on the head.
The days were getting hotter, and wearing the hoodie pulled low made sweat pool on my head when I walked.
Plus, wandering around alone in this weather with a hoodie on drew stares.
I'm wearing it to avoid stares, but it just attracts more... Honestly, I've been thinking of just ditching it lately.
"Mm... I'll think about it."
"Yeah. Honestly, your ears aren't that big a deal."
"...Really?"
A few days later, I got a call from Olivia after she finished her business in Korea.
"Wow, her Korean's seriously good."
She's American, but her Korean is super fluent.
I fiddled with my phone while getting ready to head out.
I was a bit nervous to go alone, so I'd planned to ask the guild leader or Hyunah, but both were unreachable—today was the day they were heading into the Tower.
They're always MIA at the worst times.
"Arang, you get a call?"
"Yeah, but you're really coming with?"
"Duh. Can't send our little Arang off alone to those American chicks. The shop's just a hobby anyway."
...Isn't being a hunter mean prioritizing the Tower?
I don't think I've ever seen her go up.
I nodded and got into the car Olivia sent with Han Seorin.
It was a luxury ride, so the comfort was top-notch.
The car glided smoothly along the road and pulled up at a hospital on the outskirts of Seoul.
Even the entrance screamed money—it was no ordinary place.
The moment we stepped out, Olivia, waiting in the lobby, spotted me and rushed over frantically.
"Arang! Thank you so much for coming!"
"Ah, yeah. A promise is a promise."
Olivia's gaze shifted to Han Seorin, planted firmly beside me.
"But... who's this with you?"
Recognizing her as the cool cafe owner from last time who served coffee so smoothly, Olivia tilted her head.
'A hunter who skips the Tower.'
Han Seorin crossed her arms, smirked, and declared boldly.
"Her bodyguard. Making sure our Arang doesn't end up in some sketchy spot."
"...Why are you picking a fight?"
I stood on tiptoes, poked her side, and whispered in her ear.
All that height for nothing.
Olivia gave Han Seorin a quick once-over, then nodded vigorously.
"Arang will be perfectly safe and comfortable. I swear it."
She fidgeted anxiously, gazing at me pleadingly.
"Um... sorry, but could we start right away? I know you just got here and might be tired... please."
How desperate must she be to beg like this in a hospital lobby?
I nodded lightly.
Let's get it done quick so I can head home.
"Sure. Where to?"
"This way. I'll guide you."
Olivia led the way down the hospital corridor.
The innermost room was a massive VIP suite, guarded by layers of security personnel.
Olivia opened the door with trembling hands.
Creeeak.
The instant we entered, an awed "Whoa..." slipped from my lips.
She was seriously drop-dead gorgeous.
Pale gold hair shimmering silver, porcelain skin. Even a bit skinny, her figure was killer.
...Why is everyone around me stacked?
I glanced at Han Seorin and pouted.
If I'd known, I would've gone big too...
I looked back at Iris. Stunning as she was, her eyes held zero spark.
Like a perfectly crafted doll.
She didn't seem human—no movement at all.
Only the faint rise and fall of her chest with each breath proved she was alive.
...Must be tough watching family like this.
I swallowed dryly and approached her bed carefully.
"Um, hello?"
No reaction, not even a twitch.
She stared blankly ahead as if she couldn't hear me at all. Her breathing was so shallow, it was hard to believe she was alive.
Should I just shove some bread in her mouth and knead?
Unlike with Hyunah or Yura, my skill window showed no response.
...Can't knead this one?
Okay, proper greeting first then.
I hesitated, then slipped off my hoodie.
I also pulled my tail out from where it'd been uncomfortably tucked in my pants.
Let's see if a beastkin beauty gets ignored.
White tiger ears perked up on my head, and a fluffy silver tail swished out behind me.
Ah, finally breathing easy.
"Gasp!... So cute."
Olivia, watching from behind with bated breath, gasped in shock at my appearance.
Han Seorin just side-eyed her surprise with a smirk, arms still crossed.
I made my tail swish extra cutely on purpose and poked my face into Iris's line of sight as she stared blankly out the window.
"......"
My face, complete with perky white ears, filled her vacant eyes.
That close and no urge to touch?
"......!"
Suddenly, Iris's shoulder twitched—the first movement.
"Whoa! She moved!"
Her lifeless eyes began tracking my tail's sway, pupils slowly dilating.
Her gaze shifted from the empty window to my perky ears atop my head.
Did it work? Nailed it?
I flicked my ears once more and flashed the cutest smile I could.
"Um... hi?"
That awkward greeting was the spark.
Tears streamed from Iris's eyes.
Wait, why's she crying...?
Panicking at her sudden tears, I glanced at Olivia, who had collapsed to the floor at Iris's first reaction.
...What do I do?
As I stared blankly, Iris's hands gripped my cheeks firmly.
"Eh...?"
Before I could react, she yanked me into her embrace.
"Mmph...?!"
My face plunged deep into her soft chest, cutting off my breath.
