Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Part 15: Gaze (1)
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There were a lot of calls looking for Gaeul.
"Uh... Mr. Yoo Ji-tae, the guardian. How about meeting up once?"
He ignored calls from everyone else, but he picked up the one from the PR Bureau's Dragon Team Leader.
She was the one who had given Gaeul a chance, even when she knew nothing.
"If you're proposing her as Lair's promotional model, then no."
"I see. Is there a reason?"
"There are circumstances."
"Ah..."
What could she do about circumstances? The Dragon Team Leader sounded deeply disappointed.
And rightly so. It wasn't just anyone—it was the Main Declarer. One who had shone so brightly that people called her the greatest in history. Right now, Gaeul could have a massive impact on Lair's image.
"Aigoo, what a shame."
"I'm sorry."
But his stance was firm.
Yoo Ji-tae had checked the online reactions too.
Yoo Gaeul.
Those three syllables had even climbed the real-time search rankings on Korea's portals. Related articles and comments were exploding.
Most praised her looks or her declaration. But there were the occasional nasty comments too. Some spewed filth as if cursing a blood feud.
The problem was how much they were getting mentioned. Tens of thousands of good comments, but thousands of malicious ones too.
This was the line.
One more step, and trouble would erupt.
"Then how about just one interview?"
"An interview?"
"Yes. If you make it clear there that she has no plans for broadcasting activities, wouldn't that convey the Yoo family's intentions more clearly?"
That much seemed fine.
But it probably wasn't a purely selfless offer.
"...You're thinking of an exclusive PR Bureau article, aren't you?"
"Ah."
The caught-off-guard Dragon Team Leader let out an oho-ho laugh. The seasoned chuckle of a middle-aged woman.
"In return, we'll help when you need it."
"Fine. But not the PR Bureau."
"Pardon?"
"When we need it. If you personally use your influence as Team Leader Yong, then we'll do the interview."
There was a difference between the PR Bureau pulling strings and Yong Do-hee doing it personally.
The latter carried a nuance of greater discretion.
"Deal. Great. It's been a while since I shook off the dust, but that used to be my specialty."
Shake off the dust?
"I was a paparazzi reporter back in the day."
She felt like a solid ally.
*
Q. Hello, Cadet Yoo Gaeul.
A. Hello!
Q. Right now, your declaration is a huge issue across internet communities and such. You know that, right?
A. Yes.
Q. There are a lot of positive comments...
"Ah, hold on."
The Team Leader cut off the interview.
"Yes?"
"We said to cut that stuff as much as possible, right?"
"Ah... Got it."
Under the Team Leader's scolding, the interviewer fiddled with the script.
Q. A lot of people are curious about your daily life, Cadet Gaeul. What do you usually do?
A. Eat delicious things! Macarons, chicken, red velvet cake, chocolate, ice cream, churros, pork hocks, pork belly wraps, um... uh... and chocolate... (abridged)
With all sensitive or provocative questions excluded, the interview turned trivial. Gaeul answered innocently.
Nothing problematic up to then. It was going exactly as pre-agreed.
Finally, the much-awaited last question popped up.
Q. Any plans to appear on broadcasts?
Gaeul glanced at Yoo Ji-tae. He nodded.
He had asked her that evening after the declaration too. If she was okay with it.
She had nodded. 'It's fine. We promised, right?' That was all she said before clamping her mouth shut.
A. Yes. None.
Q. A lot of people will be disappointed.
A. Hehe.
Q. Could we hear the reason?
A. Uh, um... Mom...
A. No! Can you edit this out?
Mom had said to cherish promises like life itself.
Gaeul swallowed those words.
* * *
Fall semester.
The first day of school dawned.
Bom, Yeoreum, and Gaeul donned their cadet spring-and-fall uniforms, tailored to fit.
Hate Ling's weather was cooling off too. Time to prepare for winter soon.
Buy them warm clothes. Quilts too. Probably nothing they needed, but still.
"What classes are you unnis taking?"
Gaeul asked at the breakfast table.
"Me? Superhuman Studies, Literature, Magic Studies, Sociology, Aesthetics..."
Bom had mostly signed up for non-combat subjects.
Of course, there were mandatory combat ones too.
"What about Summer unni?"
"PE. Gladiatorship. Boxing. Practical Combat. Military Studies. War History. Sexual Development. Criminal Psychology..."
Yeoreum mumbled through her sandwich. Mostly combat subjects for her.
"What's Sexual Development?"
"Sex."
The chick gave Yeoreum a sour look.
"Then what classes are you taking, ajusshi?"
"I'm your guardian."
"Guardians don't take classes?"
"Nope. They'll probably just observe or something."
As Bom said. Guardians could freely attend cadets' classes.
In Lair, guardians held a unique position.
Caring for the kids was basic.
They also built connections with other families and guilds.
Yoo Ji-tae alone got plenty of letters from professors thanks to Bom, and academy dorm contacts because of Yeoreum.
After Gaeul's entrance ceremony speech, it got even worse. His watch buzzed every five minutes from agencies, managers, A&R reps, major guilds, prestigious families.
Yesterday, even the Executive Guardian Social Gathering reached out. A forum to share info on raising top 1% cadets.
He put replies on hold.
Watch and wait for now.
The semester ahead might get busy.
Days spent as the kids' guardian. Nights full of tasks too.
"Off to school."
As he finished eating and stood to leave.
A pitiful gaze stabbed his back.
Looks like he couldn't take Winter today.
Yoo Ji-tae crouched to meet Winter's eyes.
"Today, stay with the cleaning lady over there."
"..."
"Okay?"
Her surprised face hesitated.
Winter's mind grew complicated.
She didn't want to part from Yoo Ji-tae. She wanted to shake her head and beg to come along. But she hated being a burden too.
The blue-haired baby fell into a dilemma.
"Be good."
With an almost teary, anxious expression, Winter nodded.
Yoo Ji-tae heartlessly took his unnis and left through the door.
Left alone, Winter sat by the door, hugging her blue bear doll.
And stared at the door for a long time.
"Um, miss? Shall I read you a picture book?"
The guardian finally noticed and approached with a fairy tale book. He often saw Bom reading to Winter and figured he'd imitate her.
But Winter didn't even glance at him.
"Um... miss?"
"..."
"Then I'll read it to you."
"..."
"The book is called 'My Dad Is a Fairy!'"
But at the title, Winter turned to him with faint curiosity.
With a voice like scraping metal, the guardian began reading.
"Once upon a time, long long ago... Probably before the Demon Realm era. Anyway, there lived Dolsoon and her dad... Mom seems to be dead."
"..."
"Before bed, dad told Dolsoon old tales... Interesting. Pre-Demon Realm means the Primitive Forest Great War era. Anyway, Dolsoon would listen and fall asleep happily... She's a war fanatic."
"..."
"But when she woke in the morning, dad was gone... Ah, off to find a new mom? That era had a culture of taking war captives as concubines. Anyway, so Dolsoon..."
The guardian stopped.
He felt a terrifying gaze.
Peeking from the book, Winter was glaring at him.
She looked furious, like she'd seen something repulsive.
"...What's wrong, miss? Didn't like it?"
Winter, hugging the bear doll with both arms, extended one hand. Give me the book.
He handed it over, and she hid it behind her back.
Then pointed off somewhere with a finger.
"...?"
The guardian looked where she pointed, then back at her in confusion.
The baby's face was serious.
That spot was the living room corner. Where he stood like a statue every night.
The guardian was exiled.
*
The Yoo family entered the academy district.
Unfortunately, their first classes didn't overlap. Different classrooms meant splitting up.
At the fork in the road, they stopped.
From here, it was up to each of them.
"See you later."
"Yes!"
"Call if there's trouble."
"Got it. What are you doing, ajusshi?"
First day, so he'd follow Yeoreum.
"What? Why?"
Why?
"I don't cause problems. I've been good lately, right?"
"..."
"Unbelievable. What do you think of me?"
"..."
"Don't follow! It's annoying."
Yeoreum grumbled and strode off first.
He stood there, suddenly alone.
Well. Thinking about it, she had changed a bit.
She held back curses even when reporters chased her, and just verbally lashed out instead of punching in street scuffles.
Maybe she'd be fine on her own. As he reconsidered.
Yeoreum, ahead, glanced back.
Eyes met; she scowled and walked on.
Then glanced back again.
"What? If you're late, it's on you."
Don't follow, she said.
After a moment's thought, Yoo Ji-tae grew suspicious. Does she not know the way?
He sidled up beside her. She scowled at him.
"The guardian should lead!"
Guess she really didn't.