Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: Five Loose Screws
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"Hmm. Demons, huh."
The man stroked his chin as he examined the documents in front of him. The suddenly delivered papers were packed with intelligence on demon movements.
Compiled with such venomous intent, the meticulously categorized files were almost too thorough to believe.
And even—
"Predicted next appearance zones too?"
It wasn't something an ordinary person could pull off, but it wasn't impossible either.
Lately, demon activity had been rampant. Vampires lurking in the shadows and demons crawling out into the light, all scheming toward some goal.
"Who sent this?"
"From Justitia. Directly from Lady Rosaline."
The man standing beside him answered without a hint of hesitation in his posture.
"Lady Rosaline, huh."
If it was her, the chances of it being fake were slim. With a light groan, the man set the documents down and pondered.
Truth be told, there wasn't much to think about.
"She's telling us to handle this, right?"
"Seems that way."
"Makes sense. Lady Rosaline must be swamped right now."
Justitia had suffered the most damage from the demon incursions. The place where demons had been summoned only to vanish abruptly.
It had happened a lot this year. Demons that shouldn't have been summonable appearing, then disappearing without a trace.
As if someone had dealt with them. But no one had stepped forward as the solver.
So naturally, the cleanup fell to the chairman. And Rosaline was the chairman.
"With her personality... yeah."
She had every reason to gather this intel with fire in her eyes. Refusing wasn't an option, and from the guild's perspective, demon extermination was hardly a bad idea anyway. No need to agonize over it.
The man rose from his seat.
"Call everyone. Even the ones in the dungeons. Not a single one left out."
"What about the kid your daughter brought?"
"Ah."
That guy. The one who'd sweet-talked his way in, boasting about his daughter's immense talent.
Black hair, black eyes. Overflowing talent, yet humble enough to leave a good impression.
"Call him."
He strode toward the door from his standing spot, slipping on the coat from the rack and topping it with the bowler hat hanging above.
"I'm going too this time. No issues."
The bowler hat settled firmly with a thud.
"Seong-hoon."
"Yeah."
"I definitely told you to bring snacks, right?"
"I did."
"You did bring them."
"I got mostly the ones you like."
"Y-you got just the ones I like!! As expected, you know everything I love!!"
Of course I do. She was over the moon when I handed them over earlier, and now she's rubbing her chin on my shoulder like crazy.
It hurts like hell.
"But that's not the point. You know what I mean, right?"
"No clue."
"Why not!! I told you to bring snacks, not pick up an angel?!"
She jabbed her finger ahead as she spoke. Following her pale hand led my gaze to a head of white hair.
Sitting demurely, tilting her head as if wondering what the problem was.
Hmm. If that were my little sister, I'd be pretty pissed too.
"I told her to stay for dinner."
"Why!! We can't even afford food!"
"I'll cover the meal costs. It would be rude not to accept such a gracious invitation, wouldn't it?"
Michael replied without batting an eye, leaving Raphael speechless as she shot me a glare instead.
Is this what it means to curse with your eyes? Her little sister grabbing a single meal must irk her that much.
People shouldn't let grudges fester like that.
[I like Auntie!]
"Taine likes her too."
"I think the auntie seems like a nice person too."
"Sion agrees."
The queens of this house are my two daughters. With both on board, what can Raphael do but accept?
As if sensing that, Raphael peeled off me and flopped face-down on the floor—
"I knew raising daughters was pointless, and it turns out it's true!!"
She turned her head away in a huff, declaring it. Does she hate Michael being here that much?
This might even hurt Michael's feelings, no matter who she is. Out of concern, I glanced over, but—
What entered my view was—
"Whoa."
Michael smirking triumphantly. In that moment, I felt it.
Something I'd known but hit harder than ever.
And that moment was now.
I covered Levatein's eyes, cradled in my arms, and Sion's too, sitting beside me.
[Daddy?!]
"Oppa?! What's wrong?!"
I said nothing. Until the unseemly angelic sisters' spectacle ended.
I shielded my daughters' eyes.
"Girls."
Our angels, it seems—
"Don't end up like your moms. Seriously."
Each missing a screw. No, five screws apiece.
Michael slowly shifted her gaze. Normally quick and sharp, but only during work or battle.
She sharpened up only in situations demanding it. Otherwise, she preferred taking in her surroundings slowly, very slowly.
So she surveyed the room very slowly. She couldn't even remember the last time she'd done this.
After all, she was a Virtue. Duty-bound to lead the angels, her life had been one endless grind.
No time to space out. Even leisurely scans like this were mostly feasible only while traveling.
But lately, she'd been doing it constantly. Her first vacation ever, yet clueless on what to do, so here she was, zoning out.
Now was no different. Zoned out until hunger hit, went to the mart, bumped into Seong-hoon by chance.
And tailed him home. Of course, she knew the dinner invite was just politeness.
She wasn't that oblivious. Still, a sister's curiosity about her sibling's life was only natural.
—Daddy. Here. Help me with this one!!
—Sure, sure. This one? Huh? Doesn't fit?
—Levatein, that's the side piece.
—It really is!! Sis is smart!!
—Oh. I thought it was this.
—If you don't know, stay quiet.
Worrying about others is pointless. The thought crossed Michael's mind. No need to fret.
In her view, a cheerful family piecing together a puzzle. Led by Seong-hoon, the little blonde beamed innocently in his lap.
A bigger blonde propped her chin on his shoulder, while a black-haired girl sparkled with excitement beside them.
"..."
She found herself staring blankly. These emotions were new, yet watching them stirred a quiet loneliness.
'Because of Raphael?'
That Raphael. Infamous among angels as a menace, bullying lower angels out of boredom, her face perpetually stern from lack of company.
Now laughing so joyfully. An angel who'd done nothing now engaging willingly.
'All because of that man.'
Michael looked straight ahead. There was the black-haired man. Focused intently on the puzzle.
Ordinary, yet not. Sometimes he seemed subhuman, others superhuman.
Impossible to drop one's guard. The one who changed Raphael.
As she kept staring, their eyes met.
He paused mid-puzzle and looked over. Meeting his steady gaze, Michael returned it calmly.
Several seconds of locked eyes, then the black-haired man spoke first.
"Wanna join?"
One word. But Michael knew—he'd caught the flicker of emotion she'd let slip in that brief moment.
And now he was inviting her.
Of course, this wasn't the first time.
—Come to the beach with us.
—Stay for dinner at our place.
Casual remarks tossed out offhand. Yet each carried intent solely for her.
How did he know? She'd never been read before. How could someone else instantly grasp emotions even she was feeling for the first time?
Curiosities abounded, but Michael's response was always the same.
"Don't try to charm me."
"When did I!!"
And his retort matched every time.
Chaotic dinner table.
An understatement, really. Our non-humans were less "異種族" and more "big eaters"—the house was downright weird.
"Sis, this isn't enough."
"Totally. Lily's cooking improves daily, but somehow we never get full."
[Nyaaang~]
The trio patted their bulging bellies. I sometimes think—if we converted half of what Raphael eats into living expenses, we'd never be short on cash.
But saying that here? I'd just get "Take it up with God." So I stayed mum.
Hard-earned survival tactic.
[It was yummy!!]
"Right? Hired a great maid."
[Yeah!!]
Levatein grinned brightly on my lap. Stroking her head brought a sudden realization.
Lately, I've developed a habit of sitting with my knees together. Cat owners do this, apparently.
Our damn cat won't even sit on my lap, yet here I am. Kinda weird.
Better than the kids falling, though? Lost in such odd thoughts, my eyes met the white hair across from me.
She nodded contentedly, wiping her mouth. Our eyes locked, and she bowed her head.
"Thank you for the meal."
"Just words?"
"Pardon?"
Of course she ate well. Lily's cooking was progressing.
"It'll be even better next time. So come again."
"Yes?! Seong-hoon?! No such thing exists!! Don't come!!"
Raphael lunged to block us, but Michael and I ignored her.
Michael nodded. Hidden partly by blonde hair, but I saw it—good enough.
I grinned, patted the blonde head, and headed for the sofa to signal that's enough—
When my phone buzzed with a text. Unlocking the screen revealed:
[Sorry. Looks like you can't come to my place during break.]
"Huh?"
What now?