Chapter 184
Chapter 184
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 184
Chapter Title: Full of Strange Things
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My sales pitch disguised as forced selling continued. Of course, I intended to push it hard.
But I had planned to sell it.
I had no intention of using force, okay? I figured it was an essential item for the people I was selling to, so I'd offer an offer they couldn't refuse.
Yeah. I was going to sell it with my words. With skill, not violence. I was planning to hawk it using my silver tongue─
"......"
"....."
What the hell is this situation? As cold sweat dripped down my face, my eyes met flustered blue ones. Blue hair, snow-white hairband, and the one idiot who fought well last time under my orders.
She usually doesn't show much expression, but this situation was an exception—she looked a bit flustered.
Of course, to anyone else, it wouldn't be noticeable. But I could see it. I made her, after all.
She's flustered right now.
Of course she is. She'd have to be. I'd be flustered too. Right?
Even I'm flustered now.
"........"
No words were exchanged. But we were conversing with our eyes.
What the hell is going on?
I don't know either.
What am I supposed to do if even you don't know?
I don't know means I don't know.
At the end of our eye conversation, Shin Chae-yeon let out a sigh, perhaps fed up. Then she opened her mouth─
"Are you guys doing some multi-level marketing thing? If you just called me here to sign something, I'm heading out."
She said something she shouldn't have. Why say that? Now─
"Aang? Multi-level? You joking? I'm in a bad mood right now!"
"Multi-level?! You just said multi-level, right?! Disrespecting mages?! Disrespecting my family?! You think you can look down on mages just because you're from a swordsmanship clan?!"
This is what happens. My head hurts. It already hurts. With those two glued to my sides, chipping in, my head feels like it's splitting.
And the way they're talking makes it seem even more like multi-level marketing. Like suited guys holding you down so you can't run, glaring until you sign.
Because of them, it's so hard to get to the point. It really feels like forced selling.
[It does, nya.]
No, it does, but no.
─Can't you step back a bit? Can't you see Lee Seong-hoon is uncomfortable?
─He's uncomfortable because of you.
─Huh?! I met him first today.
─Then leave first. Why are you still here?
Still, I couldn't put off the main topic forever, so I finally placed the item on the table where conversation was starting to flow.
With good words not exactly flying around, putting an item on the table naturally drew eyes.
I opened my mouth under the gaze of red, black, and blue eyes.
In times like this, confidently. With conviction. Boldly.
"Buy."
All I had to do was say my piece.
"No."
And at my words, Shin Chae-yeon looked at me. She glanced back and forth between the item and me, then at the two glaring beside me.
"If I don't buy this, are you dragging me away?"
Maybe. It's not me ordering it, though.
The item I showed Shin Chae-yeon was a sword. Showing a sword to the young lady of a swordsmanship clan might seem ridiculous.
But it's fine. This is a boss drop item, and the quality is pretty good. High grade, and the skills attached are solid.
If she really couldn't use it, she could just melt it down and forge a new sword.
A rich swordsmanship clan young lady has no reason not to buy this.
Personally, I think it's way better than the one at her waist right now.
Look at that thing. Skull motif on the hilt, rusted blade but still sharp.
Classic famous sword description from novels. Can't you just imagine how sharp it'll be after polishing?
I believe in our Chae-yeon. I believe in her talent as a swordswoman.
"Hmm."
And as if living up to my expectations, Shin Chae-yeon picked up the sword and examined it closely. She drew it slightly from the scabbard, and a sharp sound tickled my ears.
Just a glimpse of the blade, but it was sharp enough to draw attention, with a massive ring.
How about it? Can't resist buying now, right?
"Wow. Nice. You didn't sell me one like that."
"You sold me one. Mana stone. Manaaa stone."
"Hng."
What did they even come for? With me in the middle, they're in a staring contest. It's killing me.
Am I the shrimp caught between whales? Since they're stalling the deal, I decided to mediate.
You shouldn't always side with the winner when kids fight.
My kids haven't fought, so they wouldn't know, but that's the rule.
What I mean is, rather than Isia, who's acting smug like she won...
I should side with Sophia, who's pouting at me.
Without hesitation, I reached out and placed my hand on Sophia's head.
"I gave you something else instead."
Something else being a useless Lee Seong-hoon summon anytime, anywhere? But hey, I gave it.
Understanding my words, Sophia nodded like an obedient cat. I grinned at her.
Her face flushed red at the same time. Yeah. Cute.
With Sophia quiet now, we could continue the deal.
"Excuse me."
Betraying my thoughts, a voice came from right beside me.
Black hair with sullen eyes was glaring at me.
"What did you give her?!"
So annoying. I reached to pet her head the same way to quiet her.
She didn't resist as my hand touched her head. A little stroking, and she went quiet right away.
Good. From today, my hand is called the Veil of Silence.
"What are you doing?"
"Ah."
With both quiet, Shin Chae-yeon spoke up like a ghost. Getting called out while stroking both heads in this weird pose...
Kind of embarrassing.
"B-buy?"
So I changed the subject. Luckily, our straightforward Shin Chae-yeon pondered a bit and nodded.
"If it's within my allowance."
"Pardon, but how much is your allowance...?"
"Hmm. I have savings, but monthly─"
[Jackpot, nya.]
Tell me about it. My jaw dropped and wouldn't close. Rich people have allowances in different digits.
"You get that much?!"
Why are you surprised? You're rich too.
Mages must be stingy, I guess.
"That one, that one, and that one. Package this too."
[This too, nya.]
"This too."
[That too, nya.]
"....That too."
"Yes. We'll call you when it's ready."
"Okay."
I nodded at the clerk with the pretty smile. When I first came to the counter, she looked at me like trash, but orders a bunch of packaging and she smiles. Service industry is impressive.
I definitely won't smile like that capitalist later.
I took the bell from the clerk and stood in a corner nearby. No need to sit since I'm just picking up packaging and leaving.
[What's this, buying what I want to eat for once, nya.]
"Cancel if you don't want it."
[No!!]
She complains even when I buy it. This bonus dad vibe?
Shin Chae-yeon's monthly allowance was obviously way short, but she scraped her savings to buy the sword.
The amount was huge, so I ordered tons of the kids' favorites.
Can't wait to see their faces when I get back. Imagining Levatein pouncing with sparkling eyes at the dessert smell, a smile crept on my lips.
As I grinned like an idiot─
"What's got you so happy?"
Shin Chae-yeon, ready to go, approached. Eyes asking where the others are? I point to where they were.
"Ooh."
Still at it. Silver and black hair in a glaring match. Why are they so desperate to devour each other?
As I tilted my head, Shin Chae-yeon stared at the receipt in her hand, like it was her turn.
Receipt ridiculously long. Too much for one person.
Can't help it. I have two pigs at home.
I came up with an excuse, but nothing good.
─Raphael likes it.
Weird. Sure, all are Raphael's favorites. Still weird.
─I'm eating it all.
Blood vessels burst.
─Stockpiling food.
"Hmm."
Everything sounds weird. In the end, I used my ultimate move.
Which is.
"For Raphael."
"Raphael?"
"Yeah. Cousin came to visit. Buying some to eat together."
Mix truth with lie. The kids eat it, Raphael eats it—true.
I didn't lie?
"Oh?"
See? Suspicious eyes, but she can't pry.
Next step: change subject. Distract and done.
Lee Seong-hoon's eloquent magic combo.
"Anyway─"
"The sword."
Before my combo could land, Shin Chae-yeon spoke first.
"I'll use it well. Thanks."
She paid and thanks me? I couldn't take my eyes off Shin Chae-yeon as she said that and turned.
"See you after break."
Yeah. Because that expressionless girl smiled, just a little.
"It's so weird."
"Yeah. So weird. Lee Seong-hoon comes back early and even buys snacks."
That's not weird. Sitting at the table eating cafe cake, I thought.
[Daddy.]
"Yeah."
Of course, I didn't forget to feed Levatein.
[Delish!!]
Watching Levatein grab her cheeks and tremble, I continued thinking. What change of heart made that idiot smile?
In the original, it took time even to smile.
"And looking at me."
So weird. No matter how I thought, I couldn't figure it out, so as I racked my brain, something entered my peripheral vision.
A fork.
Fork holding cake, covered in white cream, promising sweetness.
Following it, a blonde propping her chin, watching me.
"Why aren't you eating? If you don't eat cake and brush, of course your teeth rot."
Is this a joke?
Raphael laughs at her unfunny gag. Not her usual smirk, but genuine joy.
I ate it because she'd probably hold it forever otherwise.
"Weird."
Unusually sweet cake. Was cake always this sweet?
"See, way tastier when I feed you!!"
Doubt it.
Today's full of strange things.