Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: Henpecked Husband
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Unfair.
So utterly unfair. I know this might not be the perfect word for the situation, but this is straight-up unfair treatment.
I'm a modern 21st-century guy. Can't live without my smartphone?
I wake up and instinctively grab for my phone. Even when I've got it in hand, I'm checking where it is—that's me.
And to a guy like that...
"You confiscate someone's phone just because they left it behind?"
A vampire showed up—what was I supposed to do? It was an act of God. Raphael's the one who messed up by going to the bathroom right then.
But even saying all that doesn't get my phone back. What kind of angel has gorilla-level strength? Couldn't even tell if it was human or beast.
She pinned me down from above, and I couldn't budge an inch.
"Even explaining doesn't get through."
Or maybe not? Is she deliberately playing dumb with that gritted-teeth stubbornness?
—If it's you, Seong-hoon, there must be a reason.
—I'm okay with it. I'll go along with whatever you decide, Seong-hoon.
She'd smiled so sweetly while saying stuff like that, and now this? What does that make me?
"Oppa, you're totally henpecked."
"Anyone overhears that, they'll get the wrong idea."
"What wrong idea?"
"You know the kind."
I ruffled Sion's hair as she tilted her head in confusion, brushing it off. No good telling kids about adult troubles.
Thankfully, she let out a delighted laugh at the petting and didn't press further.
Our kids are just too sweet for their own good.
Seeing them makes me grin every time. I smiled wide, gripped her still-small hand tight, and we walked on.
Where to? Think of it as a follow-up to that unfair treatment from before.
—Seong-hoon. You think you wronged me just with the phone? No way. That's a separate offense.
—Go shopping!! The most important thing when you're holing up at home is stocking food!!
—You know what I like, right?
Yeah. That's why we're headed to the mart. Isn't this the real unfair treatment? It's not like I'm some hungover husband sent out late the next day.
"Hmm~ Mart~ Mart~ Off to the mart~"
"That excited?"
"Yeah!! First time ever at a mart!!"
That big a deal? For the record, I brought Sion along because she wanted to go.
She looks even cuter in that frilly dress she's been wearing nonstop since yesterday evening.
"Yeah."
Rosalyn's on full alert. Vampire or demon shows up, she deploys right away.
Meaning I don't have to tremble in fear myself.
"Sion. The mart's full of tasty stuff."
"Really?!"
"Yeah. And they do free samples too."
"Samples?!"
"Gonna be fun."
"It's heaven!!"
See? Summer break's the best.
"Oppa!! Hurry up!!"
"Easy there. The mart isn't going anywhere."
"Still!!"
Sion yanked my arm, leading the way to the mart.
"Whoaaaa."
First time stepping into a mart. Sion's eyes sparkled from the entrance onward as she looked all around.
She couldn't keep her head still for a second—what was so fascinating?
"No marts in the Maldives?"
"Dunno!! Probably!! But I've never been!! It's amazing!! What's that?! Put in a coin and the cart unlocks!!"
Just as it looks. I patted her head and headed to the cart, popping the lock.
Then I scooped up the wide-eyed Sion—
"Whoaaa?!"
And plopped her right in the cart. Her tiny frame fit perfectly, taking up less than half the space.
This is a privilege you only get when you're little. Cart rides at the mart.
"O-Oppa?! Can I really ride?! I-It is fun, though!!"
"Go ahead. It's a kid-exclusive perk."
"K-Kid?! I'm not a k—"
Sion cut off mid-sentence. She glanced back and forth between me and the cart, then puffed out her lips.
Like it was a one-time thing, she winked one eye and turned her head away.
"Fine!! I'll be a kid just for today!!"
"Sure sure. Good kids listen to the grown-ups~"
Quiet, you. I snatched the yapping cat from beside me and tossed it into the cart. The flung feline hopped right up and settled on Sion's lap.
Sion gripped the cart, eyes twinkling as she scanned the store.
"Perfect."
I eyed my one "daughter" and her pet cat, then tightened my grip on the handle.
Today, I'm Columbus, guiding these two to a new world.
Pretty cool line, right? Just as I was about to dash off with gusto—
Sion thrust her arms up with a "Depart~!", Lachesis meowing in agreement—
A voice came from the side. It sounded apologetic yet firm—plenty to freeze our excitement solid.
"Sorry, but for safety reasons, cart riding is prohibited. Please get down and then enter the store."
""Ah.""
Our eyes met. Sion, who'd been flailing her arms in joy moments ago, flushed bright red.
I scratched the back of my head, embarrassed too.
"Guess this won't fly?"
It worked back in my day. Haha. Well, this is awkward—
"Sorry."
"Oppa!!!"
I really didn't think it'd be a no-go.
"....This one."
"Yup."
"This and this too."
"Yup. Toss 'em all in."
"....."
I kept loading snacks as pouty-faced Sion directed. Our house gluttons always cheer up with food.
Simple's best, after all.
The cart fiasco was my bad, no excuses.
"Hmm!! Ahem!!"
I could see her lips twitching upward bit by bit, but it wasn't enough to relax yet, so I kept picking what she wanted.
"You stick to kibble."
What nonsense from the cat—I just yeeted it into the cart. No one's gonna see it anyway.
"This one. And this."
"Yeah yeah. Oh, grab a bunch of that."
"Huh? Why? Oppa likes it?"
"Nah. Raphael does. She devours it, so stock up."
"R-Really?"
"Yeah."
What's with those pitiful eyes? It's just snacks. I pressed her head playfully and kept shopping.
Before long, Sion's pout had flipped to a beaming smile. We sampled at every corner, plotted to buy tasty-looking stuff to ask Lily for later.
On top of that, Raphael's fave snacks, drinks, and frozen foods went into the cart.
"Wow. Oppa knows all this?"
"Why wouldn't I? You'll pick it up in time too."
"N-No, I mean... you know all the stuff unnie likes."
"I snag bites from her side. Even this mangy... er, cat knows."
"Really?"
We both looked at the cat, but Lachesis shook her head.
You snatch food every day. How don't you know?
That's a brag? Anyway, you get it. The cat's the weird one. Not me.
Living together means you end up knowing stuff you don't even want to.
"Oppa really is henpecked."
"Told you, no."
She kept getting weird ideas, so I grabbed the cart and started pushing. Sion trotted after, chattering nonstop.
"Then... does unnie know what Oppa likes?"
"I like everything. No pickiness. Got a cheap palate."
"Really? Bet there's something."
"Nope."
"I'm curious!!"
"Told you, no."
"There is."
"There is!!"
"No ther— Huh?"
I whipped my head sideways in surprise. This feels familiar. Didn't this happen before?
Pretty sure it was during a chat with Raphael—
"Long time no see."
I turned to see white hair. Deadpan expression. A beauty on Raphael's level.
"What're you doing here?"
"Shopping?"
"Talk normal!!"
"Huh? Wasn't I?"
"That's normal?!"
Way outside normal range, isn't it? Do angels just think different?
"I've always talked like this in Heaven. The other angels took it fine."
"'Cause you were the boss—they couldn't say squat!!"
"?!"
Don't look shocked. Don't act like it never crossed your mind.
"Perpetrators never remember."
No way. Watching Michael tilt her head skeptically, someone tugged my pants from below. I looked down to see cute black hair.
"Oppa. Who's this?"
"Raphael's little sister."
"Unnie's sister?! Then what do I call her?!"
Just call her unnie. What, you gonna ask what 119 is when there's a fire?
While Sion flailed in confusion, I looked up again. Now Michael was staring like she wanted an explanation.
Mountain over mountain, huh?
"Stepdaughter."
"Oh? Already that far?"
"No weird talk."
"Am I you?"
Michael crouched to Sion's eye level as she said it.
"Hello. I'm Michael. 'Auntie' works fine."
"A-Auntie?"
"Yes."
"Uh, o-okay. Auntie."
"What a good kid."
Does she like being called auntie? Michael smiled faintly, almost warmly.
First time seeing her smile. It was beautiful, sure, but it landed differently on us.
"You've been stewing over Leviathan calling you 'auntie,' huh?"
"Yeah. Raphael proves it."
"Want to die?"
No thanks. I answered Michael's icy tone right away and clamped my mouth shut.
Auntie's scary.
"Hey, Auntie! What food does Oppa like?"
"Ah. Raphael mentioned it, but since it's not here... I'll just say."
Isn't that bad then? Wanted to say it, but her glare kept me silent. Better to stay quiet.
"That trash... er, human likes cola. He usually shares Raphael's stuff, but among it, he loves chicken."
"See!! He does have favorites!!"
Like a person wouldn't. But how'd Raphael know? Thought she was like the cat, just scarfing it down.
"Every chat with Raphael is nonstop you-talk. Got sick of hearing it."
"Backstabbing reveal?!"
"That's not it."
I watched Michael finish up and pat Sion's head with a bittersweet look.
Why'd she seem so wistful? No clue. Her face was blank as ever, but that's how it felt.
Maybe that's why these words slipped out of me.
"Come over to our place for dinner sometime."
Michael looked at me. Then—
"Don't try to charm me."
When did I ever?