Chapter 179
Chapter 179
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: Episode 59. Fireworks (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Still, maybe I can somehow get pardoned? I could just leave it here for now and pick it up later.
…That was Yeoreum's thought, and it crumbled in a mere five seconds.
Yeoreum belatedly remembered that her check card purchase history would be sent to Yoo Ji-tae's watch. If he saw [Single Volume: The Prince's First Love Is Me?] on the list, she was seriously considering running away from home or suicide as her options.
For that reason, Yeoreum's brain froze.
She went "Uh… buh…" and ended up grabbing a baseball bat she didn't even need.
"Hey. I really hate you."
"Why."
"Really. Really! I hate you so much. I loathe you. You're annoying. I wanna punch you in the solar plexus super hard."
"So why again."
"Why? You want me to explain how I feel? What if you really wanted to chug some soda?"
Soda?
"I don't really wanna drink any…… …… So."
"Say it straight. Even if you couldn't drink a sip of water for three days? Even if you had to eat three sweet potatoes right there on the spot?"
"…Yeah. I wanna drink soda."
"Right? But in that situation, if you drink soda, you'd have to burp. You couldn't do it in front of others. Then, lo and behold, you get a chance to drink soda alone. But it's all ruined! You came and ruined it all!"
What was this about?
Yoo Ji-tae pondered deeply before asking back.
"Buy you soda?"
She got dead serious.
"Forget it! Ugh! You're so frustrating!"
Swinging the baseball bat around wildly was pretty threatening. Winter furrowed his brow and widened the distance. When passing cadets glanced over, Winter explained.
"…I don't know her."
'I don't know you either?' Yeoreum yelled. She seemed extra hysterical today. Thinking about it, Yeoreum had a cat-like side to her and would occasionally glitch out like this and explode.
Anyway, it wasn't soda she needed, but something else. So Yoo Ji-tae said,
"Anyway, you need something, right? What is it."
"Forget…!"
Yeoreum, mid-sentence, suddenly went quiet. She thought for a moment, then spoke in a calmer voice.
"Pocket money."
"Pocket money? You have a card."
"Not that. Just. Separate. Give me some pocket money."
"Cash?"
"Yeah."
As he pulled out his wallet, she became a bit more docile. Like a bulldog waiting for treats.
The regressor suddenly felt a touch closer to everyday life.
Why did he hate giving when she acted cute?
"Why should I."
"Huh?"
"What makes you so pretty that I'd give you money."
"What nonsense. Hand over the money."
"No."
"You crazy?"
Then Winter, who had been listening, seemed to realize something and beckoned Yoo Ji-tae. When he turned, the kid pressed both fists to her cheeks and blinked. She was doing something cute.
Winter was signaling him. He hadn't caught on until then, but he pulled out a thousand-won bill and handed it to Winter.
"…Hee hee."
Winter, receiving the thousand won, shook the bill in front of Yeoreum. She looked thrilled.
Yeoreum glared at Winter in disbelief, then turned to Yoo Ji-tae.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"What."
"Pulling this childish crap? You think at my age I'd act cute next to this brat? Why not just tell me to lick your toes while you're at it?"
"Then don't."
"Fine. Fine. I won't take it? Pbbbt~."
Winter, watching their exchange, slyly moved again. She hugged Yoo Ji-tae's waist and buried her forehead in his stomach. When he looked down, she slowly lifted her head. It was desperate cuteness.
As he handed over another thousand won, Winter held the bills in both hands and shook them in front of Yeoreum. Watching her forcibly suppress a rising smirk made Yeoreum feel like she was in anger management training.
The situation amused Bom, who chuckled and asked,
"What's wrong? You usually act cute just fine."
"This the same?"
"What's different?"
"I dunno. Ugh, it hurts my pride……."
On the way to the restaurant.
Yeoreum glanced around cautiously and tried pressing her fist to her cheek. She could do it normally, but trying consciously? No dice.
Then her eyes met Winter's. And Winter slyly smirked. Yeoreum mouthed curses. 'Don't get cocky, you little shit.' Winter mouthed back. '…Two, thousand won.' Then giggled hee hee hee.
If Bom hadn't interrupted, Winter would've died for sure.
"Oh, right. Mister. I'm gonna head somewhere for a bit."
"Where."
"The magic professors were recruiting assistants for fireworks prep. I signed up."
"What's the occasion."
"Asked if they'd overlook my winter semester absences."
"They will?"
"Yeah. Just for me, special treatment."
Winter semester absences were probably when Yoo Ji-tae had made her take art or sculpture classes to find her dreams. Bom hadn't attended then either.
"Thought you didn't care about grades. Seems you do."
"No? Grades don't matter, but thinking back, missing attendance bugs me. I'm a diligent dragon……."
"Got it. Go ahead."
"Oh. And if you have time later, could you pick me up?"
"When?"
"Around when the fireworks start. Back gate of the Hilton clock tower."
"When fireworks start?"
"Yeah. Timing weird? No worries if not, don't stress."
Bom waved it off casually. He waved back.
After that, Yoo Ji-tae enjoyed the festival with Yeoreum and Winter.
Afternoons got more crowded. Real entertainment lined up. A world where magic existed. The festival had plenty of eye candy.
Over there, a palm-sized cat in socks leaped into Winter's arms.
"Ah…! Pretty blue-haired friend! You've been chosen!"
The magician superhuman approached with a big smile.
"…Chosen?"
Winter rolled her blue eyes and asked. The chocolate cat was wriggling on her hand.
"Yes. Chosen as a cat owner, so take it home."
"…Ooh."
"Haha. Like it?"
"…Yes."
"Ten thousand won!"
"……? …Money's, the goal?"
"Pardon?"
Winter's expression soured. She returned the chocolate. The magician panicked.
"……."
Only after Yoo Ji-tae paid did Winter brightly pop the cat's head in her mouth.
The chocolate cat had a heart-shaped red jelly tail. Winter's eyes sparkled. As she savored the body slowly, Yeoreum swooped in and snatched just the tail.
"…Huh? …It's mine."
"Oh yeah? Sorry?"
Yeoreum cackled, and Winter bit her lip.
The two bickered constantly like that.
Time flew after. Yoo Ji-tae took Yeoreum and Winter to lunch, then to a busking spot for music amid crowds. Yeoreum, who usually shuttled between training room and bedroom, seemed to enjoy outings. He won her a plush at a shooting game for Winter, who loved it.
Before long, dusk fell. Winter tugged Yoo Ji-tae's pants.
"What."
"…Look at that."
What now.
He turned. In the park bushes, a guy and girl embraced, kissing. Crowds passed by, but they ignored them.
"…What is that? Why're they like that?"
"They're dating."
"…Weird."
Then Winter glanced at Yeoreum. Yeoreum, fiddling with her watch, spotted them too and lifted her head. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"……?"
About to curse? As Winter puzzled, Yeoreum averted her gaze and started side-eyeing slyly.
Why's she acting like that? Winter couldn't tell.
Right after, Yeoreum suddenly whined for pocket money.
"Ugh, pocket money. This'll use it all up today. Hurry."
"Told you earlier. What's so pretty about you."
"You mean that seriously?"
Yeoreum hesitated, then flicked her hair.
"Someone like me is pretty just existing."
"……."
"What. Fuck. Why."
"Huh."
"Huh? Huh huh? Your eyes are piercing the sky. You see me every day, so you don't even know I'm pretty? In Ascalifa, when the Red Dragon lady appeared, from the king to the neighborhood dogs, everyone came out to gawk."
"…Pfft."
"Don't laugh. I'll split your head."
"…Hing."
"Ugh. Pocket money, now!"
As Yoo Ji-tae stiffly ignored, Yeoreum scowled and blocked his path.
Thrusting the bat out like a robber. At this point, he really didn't want to give more.
They faced off briefly.
Yeoreum's bat tip slowly lowered.
Head down, eyes scanning the street. Scratching her nape, she sighed deeply.
What're you up to. Yoo Ji-tae watched silently. Yeoreum looked up curtly.
"You doin' it? For real?"
"……."
"Show you my killer cuteness? Can't be responsible for your eyes. Okay?"
"……."
"Fuck……."
Yeoreum pouted her lips.
Yoo Ji-tae stayed indifferent as always, but Winter buzzed with excitement at teasing Yeoreum. As he watched her squirm into cuteness.
Suddenly Yeoreum grabbed Winter's hat brim and yanked it down over her eyes.
Startled Winter flailed. By the time she lifted it, it was over. Yoo Ji-tae had pulled out his wallet with a displeased look.
"…What."
Fun ruined, Winter grumbled.
Then Yeoreum snatched the wallet in a flash.
"This wallet's mine now."
As Yoo Ji-tae reached, Yeoreum swatted his hand away. She opened her jacket and tucked it into her training bra top.
Then thrust out her chest.
"Come on. Take it if you can."
"Yoo Yeoreum."
"Huh? Touch me and it's a crime?"
"Give it back. My wallet."
"Oh, got some money, huh? Dare make a dragon act cute, human? You sane?"
"Wallet. Now."
"With that mouth?"
Then Yeoreum glanced at Winter.
Winter caught on and grinned wide.
…Make Yoo Ji-tae do cuteness!
"……."
But Yoo Ji-tae’s eyes dulled further as he turned away. Thinking no cuteness show, Yeoreum nagged beside him to no reply.
"What the. Playing hard to get?"
"……."
"No wallet?"
"……."
"Ugh, so boring."
Soon Yeoreum said she'd be back, grabbed a ten-thousand-won bill, and turned. She'd slipped the wallet to Winter first.
"Where to."
"Out~ Back in an hour."
Yeoreum vanished. Yoo Ji-tae looked at Winter. Just the two now. Winter clutched the wallet preciously; spotting him, she startled and stuffed it into her tank top.
Learns weird shit fast. Regressor shook his head and held out his hand.
"Give back my wallet."
"…Nng."
"Not giving? It's mine."
"…Don't wanna."
"Why."
"…Cuteness."
Regressor squatted to meet her eyes.
Hand on chest, wallet hugged, she gazed expectantly.
"What cuteness from me."
"…Cuteness."
"Buy you something tasty. Gimme."
"…Cuteness."
"Yoo Winter."
"……."
He stared straight into her eyes. Winter flinched but held gaze. Defiant, like she'd make him watch.
Do it. Don't.
Mimicking gestures wasn't impossible.
"…Ever done cuteness?"
"No."
"…Not once?"
"Nope."
"…Then today's the first?"
First made Winter brighten more.
Embarrassed, he pondered longer.
Seemed like this happened before. When they demanded this, he was truly stumped. What even was cuteness. But Winter's eyes brimmed with anticipation. Couldn't snatch wallet or scold kid.
Finally sighing, he cautiously pressed fists to cheeks.
To anyone, more fighting pose than cute. But Winter beamed.
Because life's first cuteness? Utterly genuine joy, brighter than usual smile.
Then.
Something rippled in Yoo Ji-tae's vision.
Always hazy, he'd never noticed Winter's face unclear. Now sharper. Laughing blue lashes. Blue irises. Pupils. Vivid.
Centered on smiling Winter, foggy filter lifted. Festival backdrop returned to clean colors. Ground. People. Dusking sky. Glowing magic kites adorning it.
This was 'that phenomenon.'
When dragons felt great happiness from some trigger.
Proof the loop turned positive. Life's realism approaching him.
Felt from Bom, Yeoreum, Gaeul. Now from Winter too.
About then, Winter lifted her tank top, pulled wallet from stomach, and offered it. He took it, frozen stiff. Kid approached, hugged his head tight.
Sharpening senses didn't stop at sight. Small arms on cheek. Soft skin felt vividly.
As he accepted purely clean sensation, untainted by filth.
A message that never appeared in six loops popped up.
Yoo Ji-tae's hazy eyes widened.
Room?
New growth potential?
What the hell.
Why are you surprised.