Chapter 173
Chapter 173
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: The Seven Wonders of the World
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“Hmm.”
What in the world is this?
I racked my brain as hard as I could. I stared at the text in front of me from every angle—up close, from afar, diagonally, straight on—
“Yeah.”
I was reading it when Levatein called out, so I popped a snack into her open mouth, then went back to staring.
“Hmm.”
I wanted to watch Levatein happily munching on her jelly on my lap, but right now, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the screen in front of me.
I rubbed my eyes and broke down the sentence word by word, interpreted it, then pieced it back together in my head.
And the conclusion I reached was—
“Raphael. Come here for a sec.”
Ask someone else. I seriously doubted if I was reading this right.
Raphael came over without a word. Well, she was lying on the sofa, so she crawled over.
Coming without a word was impressive enough. She slowly got up from her prone position and rested her chin on my shoulder.
Lately, she's been loving this pose way too much. Does my body have VIP seats for everyone in this house?
Levatein on my lap. Raphael on my shoulder. Sion next to me.
That's how they're sitting right now. Sion was watching TV next to me with an amused look, while Levatein munched on snacks on my lap.
And Raphael? Naturally, she had her chin on my shoulder, frowning.
I'm not some old man—why does she have to watch like that? And every time she gets close, I notice she has this faint, pleasant fragrance. It makes me feel a bit weird.
We're using the same shampoo. What's the difference?
“Using the same shampoo sounds kinda weird.”
“What does?”
“Never mind. Is my interpretation right? Can I take it to mean that?”
“Yeah. Something important came up with the family, so she can't come. That's it.”
Really? Is that right? I really don't have to go there? I don't have to meet that scary old man?
I looked at Raphael with all that in my eyes, and she nodded. Then she smirked with an annoying expression.
“Seong-hoon. Are you that happy not to go? Our house is the best, right? Being with me is the best, isn't it?”
What was that supposed to mean? Our house is the best, sure, but the rest wasn't worth responding to, so I ignored it.
More importantly, I was curious what happened. Nothing happened at their house during summer break.
The summer break storyline is just one thing: Kim Tae-hyun starts training to prepare for the second semester, gets caught up in an incident, and stops the demon's plan.
That's the only one. So what could it be? I'm curious, but if it's a big family matter, she probably won't tell me.
“What if we ask Shin Ga-yeon?”
“That girl would hand over her liver or gallbladder. Nothing to lose, right?”
Yeah, probably. I looked at nodding Raphael and texted Shin Ga-yeon, but—
“...”
“Whoa. You just send 'Got it'? The old Seong-hoon would've said something like, 'How dare a mere maid act like that?!'”
That's because I'm not the old Lee Seong-hoon anymore. Call me Neo New Lee Seong-hoon from now on.
I'm dead.
“Anyway, we're not going to Shin Ga-yeon's place?!”
“Yeah.”
“Yesss!!”
Why are you so happy about it? Who knows. Ignoring Raphael grinning to herself, I looked down, and blonde and black hair looked up at me.
Their eyes sparkled.
“So you're playing with us all day?!”
Is that how it works? Well, if I'm staying home anyway, that's all I'd be doing—playing with them.
I nodded, and Levatein and Sion grabbed each other's hands and giggled happily.
Is it that great?
“Yay!!”
“Yes! Awesome!!”
Watching the three of them bouncing around excitedly, a laugh slipped out for some reason.
Well, whatever. Let's just chill as long as we can.
The moment I said that.
Five days passed.
“Huh?”
Why does time vanish when you're having fun?
It's one of the Seven Wonders of the World that will never be solved.
“How is it already five days?”
“Means it was that much fun.”
“True, but...”
We did have a blast. But people have things they need to do.
For example, Kim Tae-hyun's incident. The event he goes through during summer break isn't minor.
It's not a huge deal on its own, but think of it as the start of something bigger.
What I mean is, the demons start collecting these 'fragments.' Of course, in the original story, Kim Tae-hyun interferes and stops them from getting them—but
“What a hassle.”
Kim Tae-hyun went somewhere else. Not to his training spot, but to Yang Min-ji's guild.
Whose fault is that? Saying it would tire my mouth out, and people should take responsibility for their mistakes.
“Raphael. You're bored stuck at home, right?”
“No? Not at all? It's totally fine? Way better than the Heaven Realm?”
True. It is nice. Summer's best spent holed up at home with the AC blasting.
But you can't run the AC 24/7. You turn it off when sleeping or heading out.
Our house, though—
“Oppa!! Are you going out?!”
Thanks to Sion and Benia, it's never hot. No AC needed. Mana keeps the temperature perfect.
I scooped up the running Sion and sat her on my lap to calm her down first.
“Hold on. We go if Raphael wants to go.”
“Why?”
Why? Because I'm at the bottom of the house pecking order. Couldn't say that, so I patted her head.
Sion's gotten used to it now, like Levatein, smiling as she accepts it. She used to squint one eye, but now she just takes it.
Good kid. Such a sweetheart.
As I did that, a shocked-looking Levatein came toddling over from afar.
She stretched her hands up with an anxious face, looking at me. Sion was on my lap, but I couldn't help picking her up.
Suddenly, Sion on my lap and Levatein in my arms.
What now? I pondered briefly, but it didn't last. Raphael snatched Sion away.
“Sion. My lap is nicer.”
“Really? I don't mind!!”
“What a good girl. If Seong-hoon was even half as well-behaved as Sion...”
Shut up. Thanks to Raphael kindly smiling only at the kids, I caught my breath. Looking back at my arms, Levatein smiled, satisfied she'd defended her spot.
I set her on my lap, and she leaned against me happily, grinning.
Is my lap that great? I stroked hugging Levatein once and continued.
“Anyway. Are we going or not?”
“Not to play, right?”
“I always say it. People have to take responsibility.”
“The most important word in life. Engrave it deep in your heart.”
Yeah. Loud and clear—nice. I grinned, and Levatein grinned back.
As we smiled at each other, a voice came from the side. Looking at the culprit, the blonde was stroking the black hair and smiling.
Her gaze was on me. I couldn't tell if the smile was for me or the little black-haired one.
“Seong-hoon.”
“Uh, yeah.”
“Have I ever not followed you?”
“No.”
“Right. Except that one time you threw a fit begging me not to come. Never once.”
True. But wasn't that because you were bored? I swallowed the words rising to my throat.
Not the mood to say it.
“So it's fine. Don't ask. You can take me along. This seraphim is always with Seong-hoon!!”
“Me too!! Oppa!! Me too!!”
Levatein and Sion joined in, raising their hands. It was a touching moment. The lines alone would bring tears—but
“Lachesis.”
“Did Raphael eat something weird today? Is she allergic or something?”
“Right? It's weird, right? Lately she hasn't been smirking annoyingly, just beaming? Is she possessed? Like a robber holding a knife to her throat making her smile like that?”
Lachesis cut off mid-sentence. Wondering what, I looked back.
“Ah.”
There was usual Raphael (physical form).
“When people talk, you should listen seriously!! Especially when we muster up the courage to speak—if you treat everything like a joke—”
“Yeah, yeah.”
I ignored unusually naggy Raphael and fiddled with my smartphone.
Thank goodness our sweet angel doesn't confiscate my phone for half a day or more.
So, naturally, I'm texting our maids.
Can't send to both at once, so starting with No. 1 in order.
Roughly: where to go, come with me. This job isn't too tough, but more people is better.
Texted No. 1, and a reply came quick.
As if. But for some reason, it felt like she'd accept if I said just us, so I did.
Feels like scamming, but the one who falls for it is at fault.
Why'd you fall for it and make me a scammer? I'm innocent. Victim, even.
Damn right. Thinking that, I sent the location and date, but got an unexpected reply.
“?”
What the hell? I tilted my head, and a reply came.
“A fight??”
Her weird phrasing threw me off. This is a stealth operation where demons just steal an item. What fight?
Couldn't make sense, so I went to text back—but
“Ho ho. Texting while getting scolded? Got some guts.”
“Hold on. Raphael. Let me finish this, then you can scold me. That work?”
Raphael laughed at my question. I laughed back.
“Does it work!!! No flexibility at all.”