Chapter 197
Chapter 197
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 197
Chapter Title: I Hate the World
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[What was your name again?]
"S-Si, it's Sion!!"
[Sion, huh. What a cute name. What are your parents thinking, letting you hang around a place like this?]
"Ah. Well, about that, my big bro—"
Two dragons sat side by side on the sofa, chatting away amiably. I watched them with a pouty face—no, I was trying my best to look perfectly fine as I sat there.
I absolutely wasn't pouting. This was just... kids being kids. They love new things, after all.
They were just reacting to the fresh stimulation that had suddenly appeared.
Starting tomorrow, Levatein would be back on top of Benia. And Sion, with her eyes sparkling beside them...
They'd all come back to me, right? They wouldn't even glance at Benia anymore, would they?
Of course they wouldn't. I nodded to myself, rationalizing it that way.
"........"
But still, it rubbed me the wrong way.
That spot should be mine! I should be the center of all that fun!
I wanted to shout it out. I wanted to shove Benia straight into my [Inventory].
But that would make me seem like a whiny brat, too childish to bear.
"I'm 25 years old."
I'm an adult. I repeated that to myself inwardly, forcing my protruding lip back in over and over.
[I see. Even that fool is growing up.]
"Fool? My bro might be weird sometimes, but he's not a fool."
[No way. He's the biggest fool among all the humans I've seen. Reckless, no thoughts—just starts trouble and thinks later. The biggest fool of fools.]
"Ah. Yeah, kinda..."
Was agreeing with that the right move? They laughed together as they chatted.
I had no place to butt in, so I huddled in the corner, legs tucked under me, watching with envious eyes.
"They won't even spare me a glance."
Tears started to prick at my eyes from the sheer pathos of it all when a voice came from beside me.
The usual grating voice. Half-asleep, but heavenly enough to call it angelic—pleasant to the ear.
Today, it sounded more welcome than ever.
"Seong-hoon. What are you doing all by yourself? Looking all pathetic."
I wiped the prickling tears and looked up to see tousled golden hair half-covering eyes gazing down at me.
She smirked pityingly and came over to sit beside me.
"You look like a man who's lost his country. Even in your dreams, you were bossing me around like that, but in reality, you lost to Benia."
"Shut up. I didn't lose. This is just kids reacting to something new."
"Sure, sure."
What was with that look—like she knew everything? It made me want to smack her. And her hair was all messy, but then she made some weird noise and it suddenly fixed itself.
Everything about her pissed me off, from one to ten.
"Still, I don't like Benia much. Be satisfied that I'm right here next to you!!"
"You slept all day? What were you doing while I was out there fighting hard?"
"Slept."
"So shameless!!"
"I trusted you, Seong-hoon, so I slept easy. Like a leap of faith. 'Lee Seong-hoon will definitely pull it off...!!' That shonen manga vibe you love."
And just like that, it was okay again. No matter how I thought about it, she'd probably just keeled over the second the sleep spell hit, no hesitation.
But spinning it in a shonen manga style in my head didn't feel half bad.
"And look at the results?! You handled it all by yourself in the end. Now we can conquer with our eyes closed."
"We could always."
"Aha."
Raphael tucked her feet together at my words, then rested her chin on her knees.
She looked up at me with a smile, her mouth stretched ear to ear for some reason.
Well, feeling good was a good thing. I patted her head a couple times while basking in her smile, then opened my mouth.
"Raphael."
"Yes?"
"Yeah. Good thing you're here at least. Starting tomorrow, Operation Levatein Reclamation—"
Before I could finish, Raphael—who'd been smiling at me—suddenly lifted her head.
And locked eyes with Benia, who was watching us.
"Ahh!! Benia!!! Caught you!! I pulled out that demon sword for you, and you couldn't even say thanks once?! I've been waiting half a year for one word!!"
[...........]
"Wha? Looking away?! Hey, you?!"
[How did you turn into even more of a monster?]
"Is that the point right now?! Get over here. Today, I'm getting that thank you no matter what!!"
[A little grateful.]
"That's not enough!!"
Raphael lunged at Benia, who fended her off lazily with one hand, and a brawl broke out.
In the middle of it, Levatein squealed [Beat Mommy!!], while Sion went [B-Be-Benia?!].
And me, watching it all?
Of course—
"You said be satisfied since I'm next to you."
I was hurt.
I hate the world.
—Seong-hoon! My bad!!
—Little one—no, Lee Seong-hoon. You gonna sulk over something like that?
—Bro! What's wrong?!
I ignored all the voices from outside the door and turned on my phone. It was too heartbreaking.
The world really had no one on my side. As I sulked in silence, the voices came again.
—Aww. No helping it. Wanna play a game?
—Game? How do you do that?
—Hehe. Benia won't get it. I'll teach you personally.
—Benia!! Don't fall for it!! Mom says crap like 'Learn while getting hit!!'
—Levatein, shh!! Be quiet!!
—Hm. Don't know what it is, but I bet I'll be better than you.
—You wanna bet?!
"............."
These guys, seriously. Person's sulking, and they just go off to game. So upsetting. Way too upsetting.
You think I have no friends without you? Open my phone, and they're overflowing.
See? Messages pouring in the second I check.
"Huh. For real."
I'd just hopped into some random community to soothe my sorrow, but yeah, tons of messages.
From all sorts of people.
Isia, Shin Chae-yeon, Sophia. Everyone tied to today's mess had messaged at least once.
Isia was whatever.
[Thanks.]
[Yo.]
[I smoothed things over about today.]
[Let's grab food this weekend. Yo.]
Something like that—barely even Korean. Couldn't refuse a meal invite, so I replied casually and moved on.
Next, Shin Chae-yeon.
A bunch of angry emojis and [Die.], so I apologized.
When I said [Win-win for both, right?], she sent a pic of her drawing her sword, so I apologized properly.
Then she asked when I'd come home. Told her to do whatever since I had time.
Next message—
[Sorry.]
She seemed to think the fight she lost earlier was her fault.
"Hm."
What to do. I typed and deleted on the keyboard endlessly.
I'd given half-assed replies to the others, but for Sophia, I put real effort in.
Simple reason. She needed looking after. Today's events probably left her more anxious.
The twisted incident had twisted its way into happening. Nothing said Sophia's wouldn't.
Sure, if I stuck right by her side and crushed every possible trigger, it'd be fine.
But still. But still.
"Hmm. It's okay. No, don't worry.... If anything.. bothers you..."
First time sending comforting words, so I wrote and erased a bunch to perfect it.
That's when I sensed a presence in front of me. I looked up, wondering what it was, and a black cat was rubbing her eyes.
[Whatnya..]
"Finally up? The whole incident's over."
[Yaaawn.]
Ignoring me now. Even when I glared for a response, she yawned and hopped down from the bed corner.
Then—
[Hungrynya.]
I really hate the world.
Even the pet now.
That's just how the world is. How everything is. That's how it's designed.
What do I mean? Simple enough. Kind enough to understand easily.
"Seong-hoon!! Punish her!! That damn purple-head!!"
[Why blame me for you sucking at games?]
"Argh!! Still like that to the end!! Kill her!! Kill!!"
"Calm down."
The one who bends must bow their head. Even the damn cat ditched me for the living room complaining of hunger, leaving me too lonely to bear.
In the end, I headed to the rowdy living room and took over the game from a defeated Raphael.
Ahh. This one's called Ghost Fighter King.
"Go, Lee Seong-hoon!!"
Am I a Pokémon? And why climb on my shoulder when there are perfectly good seats?
She wouldn't budge when I pushed, so I just let her be.
[Benia. Daddy sucks compared to Mommy.]
[Is that so? Then you're no match. Go sleep inside.]
"Hmph. You just haven't seen the real me."
Eyes focused on me at my words, but I didn't stop. Covered my face with one hand and chuckled.
"You haven't witnessed my true power."
Ignoring the [Here we go again.]s and [Outbursts are coming more frequently lately nya.], I gripped the controller.
"Eight Gates Opening."
"Ahh!! Using such a dangerous technique?! How serious are you?!"
I howled with Raphael playing along perfectly, mashing buttons for combos.
And the result—
Ding-dong—!!
"“Huh?”"
Raphael and I exchanged glances. What the heck? No one's supposed to come. Ignoring the pitiful stares from the reptile and cat, I checked the intercom—
—Hello. We got a noise complaint from the neighbors.
—Heard rumors of a woman's voice too, so mind opening up?
[What was bound to come has arrived. I was wondering when we'd get caught.]
"Ah."
Shouldn't have yelled.