Chaerin's Pout and Iris's Scolding
Elf Iris, possessing Kim Chaerin's body—"Is that really so upsetting?"
"……."
—"Pouting your lips like a kid again?! You're an adult now!"
"Shut up! It's all your fault!!!"
—"Eh… eh?! Why is it my fault?"
"Because you keep making me do weird stuff… that's why… Oppa looks at me all strange now—"
—"But you wanted that stuff too, didn't you? Am I wrong?"
"……."
Iris was frustrated by Kim Chaerin's tightly pursed lips and that telltale pout. Ever since Ho Tae had given Choi Eunji that incredible item for permanent stat boosts, Chaerin's mood had plummeted to rock bottom. Sure, it wasn't free—he'd sold it to her for cash—but the shock of him giving something so precious to another woman instead of her had hit hard.
Iris felt a twinge of responsibility, too. If I'd done better… but Ho Tae's the weird one, right?!
The techniques she'd taught Chaerin were killer moves straight out of elf seduction playbook—guaranteed to hook any man. Even in her elf village, overflowing with beauties, Chaerin's looks would've turned heads and earned compliments. Chaerin was the true owner of this body, and Iris had been trying her best to accommodate her. One way was helping her win over the first guy she'd ever shown interest in: Ho Tae.
Chaerin was barely an adult, raised under her mom's overprotection, still so childish. Iris had vowed to teach her properly about men. She'd even sacrificed sleep to scour the internet for stuff like "Easiest Ways to Seduce a Guy." She was confident.
But she never imagined Ho Tae wouldn't fall for glans kisses or panty flashes. She'd even made her wear those bear-print panties on purpose… no reaction. They tried sexier ones next, but it never went all the way.
Why does it have to be that guy?!
Of course, Iris knew the earth spirit sharing their link liked Ho Tae too. But it wasn't just because he was a farmer—the spirits adored. They were fickle, whimsical things, not always lending power even to contractors like her. It was a simple pact; the spirit decided when to help. Elves were spirit-friendly, but they didn't control them—more like friends blending together. You couldn't tame a spirit's wild heart.
Anyway.
"He's so handsome—!"
Human girls' tastes were impossible to fathom. Handsome? In an elf village, Ho Tae would be lucky not to get called ugly. Sure, among the men Iris had seen since waking in this world and settling into Chaerin's body, he was decent. But with Chaerin's looks, she could snag someone way hotter, no problem… right?
She still remembered Chaerin freaking out at the TV one day.
"Whoa… he's a total hottie! I wanna hire him as my guide toooo—"
So Iris had investigated him for her sake—and maybe that caused all this? Seeing Chaerin happy, she'd dug in and quickly uncovered his identity. No real investigating needed; the earth spirit spilled it first, chattering endlessly about a cute guy making mini-farms in dungeons.
Spirits didn't gush like that normally. Thanks to it, Iris ID'd Ho Tae and scoped his shop window, investigating every detail.
What, what?! What's this? Delicious carrots!!!
She'd expected some amazing power drawing the spirit's interest… If his crops had real effects, buying them could've built rapport. But just tasty? Double nutrients? That's it?!
The reviews were brutal. His shop was less about products, more a forum of complaints and random chatter. No real effects meant no appeal for awakeners. Buying would've just drawn hate in that toxic vibe, so Iris pivoted to other ways to befriend the seller.
Luckily, a dungeon tourism promo doc revealed he was a guide. She contacted the agency to book him—fully booked. Teeth gritted, she refused to quit. She had to get close to Ho Tae, confirm if he was worthy of Chaerin.
Her chosen tactic? Aggro.
A hot internet trend popped up: young fogeys were in. She'd trolled his shop as Ajae, grabbing attention—but no real contact with Ho Tae.
Chaerin didn't seem desperate, so Iris kept scheming. Then one day, she spotted via the shop that he was trapped in a dungeon. Rescue op success, team-up achieved.
But problem: zero reaction to her seduction skills! Sure, when Iris borrowed Chaerin's body to tempt him, he nearly caved… sucking like ice cream, slurp slurp—
—"Haa… ice cream… I wanna eat some…."
"Huh? Ice cream? Wanna swing by Vera 27?"
She'd accidentally voiced it aloud, but it wasn't that ice cream. Still, the word perked Chaerin up, so they detoured for cones and headed home.
Then, home sweet home… massive wall incoming.
"Oh my oh my! What's wrong?! Why's our Chaerin's face so down? Something happen out there?"
"No………………"
Why did "no" sound so unconvincing? Jin Soyu, Chaerin's mom, wouldn't miss Iris's vibe.
—"Chaerin-ah… please smile for me…."
"How am I supposed to smile when I'm depressed!!!"
—"Aaah! Nooo!!!"
Chaerin's tantrum burst out loud, and
"Our girl's feeling blue, huh… Alright then, Iris! Come out and explain yourself."
Jin Soyu summoned Iris.
"No, that's how it happened, I swear?"
"Wha…?"
"That's how it went, I tell youuu—"
Iris felt a deep self-loathing. Kim Chaerin was an earth magic awakener. Sink the ground, raise rocks—basic stuff. S-rank power could unleash a magnitude 8+ quake on a city if she poured all her mana, but she'd never gone that far.
That awakening came bundled with Iris. She'd contracted an earth spirit back home. But the free-spirited thing double-dipped: contracted to Iris, then shared power with Chaerin. Classic two-timing.
Iris ended up "possessing" Chaerin alongside the earth's power. A 600-year-old elf from her world—young by village standards, but over ten times Jin Soyu's age.
Yet here she was, shrinking like a scolded kid before Jin Soyu.
Technically, this was like isekai reincarnation for Iris. Napping under the world tree, she woke here somehow. This Confucian world saw friend's mom as mom—with Iris's only "friend" Chaerin, Jin Soyu treated her like another daughter.
"I told you, always be polite to adults, right?"
"Sorryyy— Anyway, it's not my fault!"
"What do you mean not your fault?! Think this auntie doesn't know you keep teaching Chaerin weird crap?"
Chaerin bantered casually with her mom… Why did "friend's mom = mom" force formal speech and bruise her pride? But Jin Soyu always made Iris wilt.
Any parent thrilled about a weird entity in their kid's body? Iris got it, so she bowed her head through the nagging.
Chaerin wouldn't spill what I taught her… right?
The tips for Ho Tae: glans kisses, panty flashes. If Jin Soyu heard…
All-night lecture… no! My ears'll bleed!!!
Worse, it might not end at words. Chills ran down her spine. Time for a secret pact with Chaerin later.
Today's scolding clocked in at about an hour. Finally, some rest.