Chapter 166
Chapter 166
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: Decided to Give Up Thinking
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"O-Onii-chan..."
"Quiet. Sion. I'll handle everything."
"Onii-chan..."
To an outsider, it sounded like really cool dialogue. A dashing guy stepping in to solve problems for a girl.
If you only looked at the lines. Just the lines. Yeah, just the lines.
Reality is always harsh, though.
"Seong-hoon."
"Raphael, listen. There's a whole backstory here."
"I don't care about the backstory. I can see Levatein glaring daggers at us."
"..."
Nothing to say to that. I lowered my eyes. My posture was knees neatly together, kneeling.
The first time I'd taken this pose since coming to this world. Or was it? Not sure.
Doesn't matter. The past is forgotten. Only the present counts. Me, right here, right now.
"Seong-hoon."
"Yes."
Even saying that, I couldn't help sounding servile. What was this? It felt so familiar.
You know, like the husband who got plastered, ran up a huge bar tab on a whim, and now kneels begging forgiveness.
Not exactly that, but it gave off the same vibe. Cold sweat poured down as I thought about it. After all, bringing a new person into the house wasn't something I could just decide on my own.
I needed the members' approval. For something like a spirit like Lily, under my command, it wouldn't matter.
[Daddy.]
"..."
My cute little girl and...
"Seong-hoon."
That damn blonde wasn't under me. She was above. That's why I was asking permission.
By the way, Isia had gone off to explain the incident. As always, it'd be pinned on some demon, not me.
I left that to Isia because she's good at it.
"Onii-chan. A-Are you okay? I-I can live alone—"
"Sion. At times like this, you just bow your head. Got it?"
"Huh? No, that's not—"
"It's fine. See that blonde? She's an idiot, so she'll approve quick. Just bow a little."
"O-Okay."
It was clearly a scolding situation, but Sion smiled shyly anyway. Leaving her behind, I looked up and—
"Who're you calling an idiot?"
[Daddy's the idiot!!]
I saw the angry idiots. The little blonde and the damn blonde holding her, both fuming.
Why were they like this?
You guys liked Sion. Said she was a good big sis. Liked Sion.
"Sigh. I'm fine with it. If you take back calling me an idiot just now and say, 'Great Archangel Raphael, please grant us your mercy once,' I won't refuse."
Something like that. For Sion, I could do anything. Even swallow my pride.
"O-Onii-chan, that much?"
"People need to set aside their pride sometimes."
"Onii-chan..."
Sion looked touched, but of course. I roughly knew her situation. Why she became a guardian dragon, why she was alone.
Hatchling phase is crucial for dragons. How could they leave her here alone? No way.
This was the real world. Not some story where I vanish and everything resets.
So what about Sion's future?
[Just say it's because of her magic, nya.]
"Shut up."
People can't just blurt out their true feelings that easily.
"Woooow!!!"
Sion's amazed voice echoed. Her eyes sparkled as she looked around. What had her so excited?
Obviously our dorm. No way she could stay in Maldives.
You need some tact.
"Woooow!!!"
Yeah. So we came home. With our new family member. Afterward, I heard a lot from Sion.
She'd wandered the deep sea alone for years. Once a week, when she couldn't bear it, she'd surface.
People were too nice, so she kept her distance. Became a guardian dragon by accident.
Etc. Lots of stories. Tear-jerking survival tale from Sion, my hatchling explanation, got approval.
"Levatein."
[...]
She was still sulking. When a good girl sulks, no talking her out of it. She just clung silently.
So I kept hugging her.
"Don't like big sis Sion?"
Shake shake.
Her head shook instead of words. She likes her but acts like this. Who knows. I just patted her back.
Time heals these things.
"Maldives was nice, but home's the best."
"Yeah. Me too."
"Right? 'Our' home is the best!!"
"Huh? Yeah. The best."
Why emphasize 'our'? Whatever, it is the best. I nodded. Raphael looked pleased too, hopping off with Sion to the living room.
"They're hitting it off already. Right, Levatein?"
Nod.
I stroked her head as it bobbed lightly. Her expression softened, burying her face in my chest.
—Big sis!! What's this?! A m-microwave? What's that?!
—Whoa!! This is?! A d-dining table!! For home!!
—Rice cooker!! Rice cooker!! Pressure rice cooker!!!
Listening to Sion's excited racket, I headed to the living room. Lots to introduce, house rules to explain.
[Master.]
"Yeah?"
[But didn't we agree to go to Justitia after break ends, nya?]
"Oh."
Right. I grinned and explained to Lachesis.
"Then I thought, as long as we don't go out, it's fine. Tomorrow buy clothes for Sion and Levatein, hole up at home!!"
[Sigh.]
What? Why sigh. Raphael would love it.
"Seong-hoon!! Did you just declare yourself a hikikomori?!"
"How'd you know?!"
"Hehe. That's my specialty!!"
"Hikikomori?! Don't know what it is, but I wanna do it too!!"
"Kids shouldn't start young!!"
[Nyaa~]
Watching the noisy idiots, I thought our already rowdy living room got even louder.
Sion grinned ear to ear. First time on the sofa, hands between her legs, smiling like an idiot.
"What's so great, Sion?"
"Just!"
"Hehe. Our house is pretty nice, huh!!"
"Yeah. Totally love it!!"
Sion smiled, and the blonde next to her grinned too. That's what Sion loved.
She smiles, and smiles bloom around. Sure, Maldives too, but different.
Felt closer somehow.
A feeling impossible on her island. Of course, when Lee Seong-hoon first said come home, she panicked.
Was it okay? Was she disrupting this happy family? But now?
No such thoughts. Didn't want to go back to sea.
Even thought coming was right. He'd been dead serious; hard to refuse.
"Hehe."
Plus, the air here was different. So many wonders.
Deep sea daily, household stuff new. Fun just looking, but family more wondrous.
"Listen up. Explaining once."
The man before her. No need to say. Guy who saved lonely deep-sea death. But entering home, just—
"Housewife?"
"Right? Total sap for his daughter."
Literally. Holding the kid carefully lest she slip, firm but comfy.
No beginner. Proof: kid slept soundly.
Blonde beside grinned at him too. Better guy than thought.
Sion tilted head, listening.
"First, this damn cat. Our house pet."
[Nooooo!!]
Grabbed cat by scruff, explained, tossed. Blonde beside laughed holding belly.
'Not?'
Not such a good house?! Before anxiety spread, next family member.
"Next, damn maid. Housekeeper."
「Nice to meet you.」
"D-Demon?!"
"Don't worry. Well-trained demon."
What difference?! Sion swallowed words. Didn't compute.
Rest weird too. Beyond her common sense.
—Next, spirit. Stays in [Inventory], ignore.
—Next, this one. Nickname damn blonde. Handles freeloaders... Ow!!
—Next, Levatein. Queen of house. Her word law. Got it!
"Haha..."
Sion wry smile after all. Chaos midway.
No, still chaos.
"Who's the freeloader!!"
"Not? Then say your use!!"
"Hehe. Ultimate weapon for great demon fights..."
"Too niche!!"
「Tea? What kind? 」
"Cola!!"
They fought again. Sion felt it.
'Fun's all that matters!!'
Stop thinking, relax.
Eventually, Lee Seong-hoon lost to Raphael, explained 'Merciful Lady Raphael handles lots here.'
All except Lily cooking gathered in living room.
Levatein in Lee Seong-hoon's arms. Sion in Raphael's.
Sion said no need, but insisted, so held. Embarrassed, eyes down.
"Sion."
"Yeah."
"Bring lots of clothes?"
"Just this one."
Sion casual, Lee Seong-hoon jumped up.
"Good. Shopping tomorrow!!"
"Shopping?! Seong-hoon!! Hikikomori declaration 2 hours ago. Joke?! No. Can't go!! Won't!!"
"No go, we eat without—"
"I'll carry bags?!"
What shopping? Sion tilted head, he approached sneaky, like criminal contact—
"Sion. No treasures from old place?"
None, honest answer, his face...
Erased from memory.
'Onii-chan good guy.'
Probably.
Or low odds?
Dunno. Sion decided he was good.