Chapter 186
Chapter 186
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 186
Chapter Title: Feeling Sulky
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A morning with birds chirping. Warm sunlight filtering through the curtains, announcing the start of the day.
The time when I should get up normally, wash up, and begin my day. I—
"Ah."
I let out a short sigh. I don't want to get up. Not one bit. Fortunately, Raphael had been tired yesterday too and gone to bed early.
Sleep is something that, once you start, you can't stop. Now that I'd let myself drift off comfortably, the drowsiness was impossible to fight.
I just wanted to close my eyes right here and sleep until I couldn't anymore.
「Master.」
But fat chance of that.
I cracked open one weary eye and gazed at the figure entering the room.
I was staring at the reason even a sleep-deprived wreck like me could wake up in the morning.
「You have to go to school.」
"Ah."
Why does school reopening even exist?
"It's one of the world's seven great mysteries."
"What is?"
"Why does school reopening exist?"
"Because there's vacation."
If you put it that way, I've got nothing to say. I smacked my lips and eyed the lavish breakfast spread on the table—far too extravagant to pass for a simple morning meal.
Lately, we'd been making some money, so maybe I was spending too freely. But this much should be fine, right?
Probably the only mid-tier demon in the world was serving up the meal, and I didn't stop eating as I spoke.
Of course, Levatein was dozing on my lap, so I didn't forget to pick the sleep crust from her eyes.
"Think about it. Why does vacation even exist?"
"It's for hardworking students to rest. Thanks to it, we had a blast together. We even went to the Maldives. It was amazing, right?"
It was great. Fun. Enjoyable. Yeah, all good. But that's not what I meant.
I tried to ignore the grinning blonde watching me and continued.
"Vacation is like the foundation for school reopening. It's designed to heighten the despair for students returning to class."
Truly diabolical. Maybe schools are spaces that feed on human despair?
[In short, you just don't want to go to school, nyang.]
Exactly.
"Explaining it in such a chuunibyou way is so you, Seong-hoon."
What can I do? I really don't want to go. By the time I get back, it'll be afternoon, cutting into playtime with the kids.
I shot Levatein a sulky look. Our eyes met as she chewed her food.
She was munching away with those vacant eyes. Since I'd given her a pouty glare, I expected something like [Daddy going out today?] or [Come home early, Daddy!!]—
[Don't worry, go on ahead. I'll play with Lily and big sis!!]
Sometimes, my daughter is just too mature for her own good, and it makes me sulky.
"I'll be with Seong-hoon all day. Jealous, Levatein?"
You could stand to mature a bit yourself.
[I wanna stay apart, nyang.]
Not you.
"Oppa, you heading out somewhere today?!"
And what are you on about?
Sion stared blankly at the front door as Lee Seong-hoon and Raphael left. Ever since arriving from the Maldives, every day had been a nonstop joyride.
The quiet now felt a little strange. Feeling a twinge of disappointment after they left, Sion unwittingly pouted.
'School.'
She'd never heard of such a thing before. Of course not. Sion had lived her whole life until now...
Deep in the Maldives' ocean depths. Chatting with fish, occasionally with spirits.
When hunger became unbearable, she'd surface now and then for food.
Otherwise, it was sleeping in the depths, spacing out, or swimming after fish. It was only natural she knew nothing of the surface world.
—Sion, we have to go. We'll be back soon, don't worry.
—I'll bring something tasty on the way home. Anything you want?
—I want a hamburger.
—Not you!!
Recalling their last words, Sion steeled her expression.
She didn't want to worry them. If it was something they had to do, she wouldn't deny it. She didn't want to distract them because of her.
'I'll get used to it.'
Lately, things had been so much fun. It was just a few hours. A brief return to the old days.
Not even that, really. Back then, she didn't even have proper company.
Now she had the housekeeper and a little sister. If she felt this sulky, how must Levatein feel?
'I'll do my best.'
She'd set an example for Levatein! With that thought, Sion turned around.
And there—
[Lily, this one and this one.]
「A wonderful drawing. That's you and Sion, right?」
[No. That's Daddy and Mommy. Lily and big sis are this one and this one.]
「Ah, your drawing is so impressive, I got confused.」
[It's fine!! That happens!! Want me to draw more??]
「Yes, please.」
—was Levatein, playing without a care.
[Huh? Wanna join, big sis?]
"Uh? Uh..... yeah."
Was this right? Weren't the roles reversed? Sion was a bit flustered but soon joined Levatein in play.
—The Dimensional War began with the demon invasion.
—Earth, which had accepted mana for some reason, combined with demons' ability to traverse any dimension with mana, sparking the event.
—Of course, the demons' ferocity prevented a proper war, but heroes arise in chaotic times.
—Thus, the great hero [Ice Knight] was born—
"Yawn."
Boring. So boring. First time back at school in ages. Sitting at my desk and chair again.
But the lecture? Stuff I already knew.
History? Sure, important. "A nation that forgets its history has no future," and all that.
But do we really need to dive in on reopening day? Who starts classes on day one? I'd argue, but Justitia Hero Academy? Yeah, they could. Not doing training on day one would be the surprise.
Think positive. Yeah.
As I yawned lazily, something flew my way from the next seat. Flew, as in handed over.
And who was in the next seat?
[What's that guy doing instead of listening, nyang.]
Damn blonde. Propping her chin, pretending not to notice, avoiding my gaze.
Then our eyes meet, and she smirks. Must be bored out of her mind.
What did she even give me? A yellow Post-it on my desk.
The usual one. The kind I jot runes on. No wonder she asked to borrow it before class.
For this? I shook my head and unfolded the neatly folded note—
[Hope the kids are okay?]
Surprisingly normal. What is this? She's been defying my sense of normalcy lately.
Back in the day, it'd be [I wanna go home.] or [This is boring. Show me something fun.].
Amazed by the changed Raphael, I crumpled the note. Of course I worried about the kids.
Left them at home, but half a day apart? Natural to fret.
But Lily's there, and the kids get along fine. Should be okay.
Our kids are sharp. No need to reply, so I tossed the crumpled note into my [Inventory]—
"....."
Raphael glared daggers. She puffed her cheeks in anger, then pulled out a new Post-it and scribbled furiously.
What, are you a middle schooler passing notes in class?
Whether she read my mind or not, she finished and passed it over. I reluctantly unfolded it—
[Reply.]
I ignored the single word. I was the fool for thinking she'd changed. Yeah, me.
We can talk with our eyes anyway. Watch. I looked up at Raphael.
She was glaring, sulky at my lack of reply.
My [What reply?] eyes made a ! pop over her head. Then [Why no reply?] back at me.
[Class time.]
[What class? You know it all already.]
[Even if I do. Review is key. Know that?]
[The only review you can do is yesterday's boss fight where you got trolled.]
[Why bring that up? And it's 'nice troll,' not just troll. Troll and carry are a paper-thin difference.]
[Fool and genius too.]
[Calling me a fool now?]
[Dunno~]
Once the eye-conversation started, it wouldn't stop. I meant to reply once and quit, but chatting with her beat the lecture, so I kept going.
To others, we looked weird. Not focusing, just staring and grimacing at each other.
They'd think we were having a staring contest. Good thing everyone else was glued to the lesson, ignoring us.
Well, except one.
Mid-eye-chat with Raphael, my phone screen lit up. Silent mode for class, but a message came in.
Curious, I checked it—
[From: Sophia]
A delinquent not listening to class.
[Focus on class.]
[Angry emoji.]
Why's she mad? As I tapped to send something like [My feelings],
The quiet classroom. Sounds of pens scratching and the teacher's voice.
Chalk squeaks, occasional wind, breaths. Amid the sparse human noises,
A voice reached only me and the person beside me, undisturbed.
For a split second, it felt weird. Like a private space amid the embroidering students.
Raphael cupped her hand to muffle the sound, pouting.
"Don't reply."
Why? I usually get her meanings straight. Her words rarely hide intent.
But not this time. Why no reply?
She'd pout her lips if I didn't answer her—
The dilemma didn't last. I figured it out quick. Simple, really.
"Lee Seong-hoon."
Who uses their phone during class?
"Pretty bold on the first day of school."
"Tell me about it."
Haha. The teacher atop the podium laughed awkwardly with me. After our strained smiles—
"How about 30 laps around the field? Or 40?"
Neither. Both suck.