Lily's Longing and Pork Belly Guardianship
After Baek Arang and Han Serin left, Olivia carefully checked Iris's complexion as she leaned against the bed.
The sharp intensity from earlier was gone without a trace. Iris gazed out the window at the Korean night sky with the most serene expression.
She's okay now, right?
Olivia approached cautiously and gripped her sister's hand tightly.
"Iris... is your body feeling better now? Nowhere hurting?"
"Yeah, sis. It's like a miracle—my body's light as a feather. Even the pain crushing my chest is gone."
Olivia let out a deep sigh of relief, then hesitantly voiced the question she'd been harboring deep inside.
"But... why did you suddenly call that person, Ms. Baek Arang, 'Lily'? Lily's... the name of that cat we had as kids."
At Olivia's tentative question, Iris let out a soft pfft of laughter.
"I know."
"Huh?"
"I know that little one's not our Lily. I know she's just a hunter with a unique skill."
"Th-then why..."
Iris looked down at her own hands, recalling the small, fluffy warmth that had been nestled in her arms just moments ago.
"I just... missed her so much. That kid overlapped perfectly with our Lily. So I guess... I just wanted to lean into her warmth without thinking."
Olivia exhaled the breath she'd been holding at the calm confession, stroking her chest in relief.
"Haa... what a relief. I thought you were still suffering aftereffects, hallucinating with some cognitive disorder."
Feeling reassured, Olivia wiped away tears and pulled Iris into a tight hug.
"Iris. Finish up the rest of your treatment and rehab quick, and let's go back to the States together. Everyone back home's waiting anxiously for you."
Iris gently slipped out of Olivia's embrace and lightly pushed her away.
"No. I don't want to go back to America yet."
"What? What do you mean?"
Iris gazed out at the night sky, flashing a soft smile.
"Sis, I want to stay in Korea a little longer. Tell the guild back home that my condition isn't fully recovered yet, so I need to do rehab and therapy here."
"If that's what you really want, okay... but why all of a sudden?"
Even as a flustered Olivia pressed her, Iris's eyes remained fixed on something beyond the window.
Our cute Lily... gotta go see her again tomorrow.
A dark aura flickered in Iris's eyes as she stared out the window.
"Haa..."
As we walked the night streets after leaving the hospital, I kept glaring at Han Serin beside me.
"Wh-why are you staring like that?"
Serin Unnie cleared her throat awkwardly, checking my mood before averting her eyes.
Good job... is this what an adult does?
I thwacked the ground with my tail and snapped at her.
"How can you fight so openly like that! She's an American S-rank—if a brawl breaks out, we can't handle it!"
At my irritated scolding, Serin Unnie scratched her head and sheepishly turned away.
"S-sorry. I just got heated without thinking... no, that American S-rank was clinging to you and flirting way too much for a first meeting."
"She's a patient, it was all over the news she was critically injured—cut her some slack."
I drooped my tail and whined. There'd been the physical drain from all the kneading, but mentally, it had been an exhausting day.
...Ah, I wanna drink.
Can't buy booze with this body, and if I got caught, Cheon Yura and the guild leader would all gang up on me.
"Anyway, let's just go eat."
"Yeah, let's. I'm sorry, so Unnie's treating tonight!"
Serin Unnie pounded her chest confidently, like she'd never been gauging my mood. I slyly lifted the corner of my mouth and puffed out my cheeks.
"I'm eating something really expensive then."
She burst out laughing at my threat and casually slung an arm over my shoulder.
"Got it, got it. I'll buy it all. Where to? Hanwoo beef? Omakase? Or king crab?"
"Hmm..."
What to eat?
Nothing was coming to mind right away.
Traditional Korean again...? Meat?
"Pork belly."
"Huh? Pork belly?"
Serin Unnie's eyes went wide in surprise.
"Pork belly's fine? You said expensive—I'll buy something pricier and tastier."
"No, right now, sizzling pork belly on a hot iron plate is what I crave most in the world."
We headed across the street to the pork belly joint with the thickest, most tempting meaty aroma wafting out.
"Auntie! Fresh pork belly for four, and one dwenjang jjigae! Oh, two bowls of rice too!"
We'd just sat down and finished ordering, gulping cool water while waiting for the grill to heat up, when—
Bzzz— bzzz—
Serin Unnie's phone on the table started vibrating noisily. She glanced at the screen, and her brows furrowed instantly.
Who is it, some annoying caller? Why the face?
Serin Unnie inwardly clicked her tongue at the name Cha Eunwol on the caller ID.
"Argh, calling at the worst time..."
"Arang, Unnie's stepping out to take this—start grilling and eat if the meat comes first."
"Yup yup. Hurry back. I'll handle the grilling."
I grabbed the tongs and nodded casually.
Perfect. Considering her cooking skills, me grilling is safer. Was gonna offer anyway.
"What! Baekya's guild leader's raiding the tower—how dare you call now? I'm on a rare date with our cute Arang, don't ruin the vibe!"
Cha Eunwol's incredulous snort came through the receiver.
"[Just finished the upper floors and came down. Date? Hilarious. Babysitting a little blood clot isn't a date.]"
"Shut up. What's the deal? Gotta get back before the meat burns."
At Serin Unnie's irritated reply, Cha Eunwol's voice turned icy in an instant.
"[You're definitely with Arang right now, right?]"
"Yeah, together. Grilling meat now. Why?"
"[Good. For the time being, when me and Cheon Yura are away... you stick right by Arang's side no matter what.]"
Serin Unnie's eyes sharpened at Cha Eunwol's heavy, all-playfulness-gone tone.
"What's with the sudden order? Something happen?"
"[Soon, other guilds will start their real moves to poach Arang—underground ops already kicking off.]"
"What? Poach? So?"
"[Right now, me and Yura are blocking anyone heading Arang's way, but we can't fully control info leaks. Gerang's probably got word on her already.]"
At that name, Serin Unnie's face twisted viciously.
One of Korea's top mega-guilds, the mad dogs who bared their teeth for profit and talent, no holds barred.
"...Fucking psychos. Sniffing money and swarming like flies."
"[Got it? You're on full-time guard duty for a while. If any scum tries approaching Arang with funny business, smash their heads—no hesitation. Baekya'll clean up.]"
"Who'd think I'm your subordinate? Don't worry, I'll stick like glue. My Arang won't go to anyone."
"[She's my Arang.]"
Hanging up, Serin Unnie forced the fierce scowl off her face and headed back inside.
The table was already thick with the savory scent of pork fat.
"Oh? Back~?"
Inside, Baek Arang had stuffed a massive wrap into her mouth.
Seeing her cheeks ballooned out like a hamster's as she chewed, Serin Unnie's stiff expression melted away in an instant.
The Gerang guild worries cluttering her head moments ago felt like a dream.
...Seriously, who makes me worry like this.
"Pfft. Eat slower, your cheeks are gonna burst."
Serin Unnie plopped down across from me and opened her mouth wide with an ahh~.
"Make me one too. Tired from taking that call outside getting nagged. Ahh~"
A full-grown adult acting all cutesy demanding a wrap—what a baby.
I inwardly tsked in disbelief, but picked fresh perilla leaves and lettuce, topped with perfectly cooked meat, wrapped it neatly into a roll, and popped it into her gaping mouth.
"Here, eat up and make lotsa money."
She chewed blissfully, cheeks nearly splitting, wearing the world's happiest face. I couldn't help but chuckle.
Man, she's so simple.
