Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Soi's Kitchen Disaster
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74.
Clatter!
….
Clang-clang!!
…….
Thud-!
“Soi….”
I couldn’t hold back any longer and bit my lip.
I tried my best to stay calm and forced a gentle smile onto my face.
“I’ll handle dinner myself tonight.”
“……Okay.”
Her voice sank weakly.
Soi had a pot flipped perfectly over her head like a helmet.
It looked cute enough on the surface….
But I knew.
How hard she’d tried. What kind of desperate battle she’d just fought here.
I knew.
And because I knew, I’d tried not to interfere.
Really tried.
I’d meant to just watch.
“But this is….”
Isn’t this too much?
My eyes caught the chaotic scene where countless kitchen utensils lay scattered across the floor in Soi’s wake.
It looked like the aftermath of a magnitude 5 earthquake.
The kind of mess that would make a stranger think burglars had broken in.
And that led to the current kitchen commotion.
Exactly 10 minutes ago.
*****
『Leave the meal prep to me!』
Soi had left that note for me after I returned home for the first time in ages, just like always.
She clutched the paper tightly in her tiny fist.
Thwack!
She smacked her chest with that little fist, looking like she’d steeled her resolve.
That confidence—trust me!
So I trusted her and left it to her.
No matter how small her body had become, Soi wasn’t a normal kid. She was a “ghost story kid.”
‘She’s a ghost story entity.’
She’s got to be different from a regular child.
That’s what I’d thought.
And this was the result.
[‘Magnitude 5’ kitchen status.]
-(Note: Not an actual earthquake.)
In a scene where it looked like every kitchen utensil had come alive and rampaged, Soi—pot perfectly fitted over her head—was currently…
…sniffle.
Crying.
She gazed up at me with dejected eyes.
Her expression suggested she’d burst into tears and run into my arms any second.
“….”
Scrape-
I stood from my chair and started picking up the scattered items one by one.
And honestly.
Asking Soi, now in a childlike body, to cook might have been asking too much to begin with.
I was at fault too for agreeing and just watching….
‘Guess I’ll fend for myself tonight.’
Fortunately, there was a convenience store right nearby.
Come to think of it, back when Park Yeon-jeong lived alone, I’d survived on convenience store food plenty of times.
Skipping one homemade meal with Soi wouldn’t be a big deal.
Besides, convenience store food had gotten pretty good lately.
Once I tidied up the mess, I planned to pop over there quick.
Squeeze-
?
As I was cleaning, I felt someone grab my pant leg. I looked down.
Squeeze-
There she was—a tiny girl clutching the hem of her oversized kimono in one hand and my pant leg in the other.
Her cute duck-bill lips pursed out.
She stood before me, downcast, tears welling in her eyes.
‘…No way.’
Did she think she was just getting in the way?
“…….”
She really looked like a little kid.
I set down what I was holding and gently placed my right palm on her dejected head.
I spoke in a warm voice.
“You don’t need to worry so much. Just having you here is more than enough for me.”
“……Really?”
‘…Really?’ I figured that’s what she meant.
I played along quick.
“Of course.”
Fortunately, her faint smile told me….
‘I nailed it.’
My answer had hit the mark.
With her help after that, we quickly finished cleaning the kitchen. Just as I was about to head out for dinner…
Pat-pat!
Cute little footsteps brushed past my ear, announcing her presence as she hurried to my side.
Soi dashed to the entryway on her stubby legs and unfurled a sheet of paper in both hands.
『Master. Anything else you’d like me to order?』
“Order something?”
Even if there was….
In her current shrunken state, most chores were nearly impossible for her.
I hadn’t planned to push her.
Sparkle-!
…Those sparkling eyes, though—like she’d cry if I didn’t.
Staring into Soi’s beautifully shining eyes made me want to order anything just to see her happy.
I racked my brain for a bit.
‘…Oh, right!’
The moment I saw her tiny form, it hit me. I pulled our trio out from my employee ID.
And held them out to her.
“Could you maybe handle this like last time?”
I wanted to ask her to repair our battered bear dolls from the latest fight.
Her response?
『Yes! Of course!!』
Her face lit up with joy at having something she could do.
Snatch-
She grabbed the bear dolls and hugged them to her chest, beaming.
Pat-pat-pat-
She hurried off to mend them.
Seeing her so happy put my mind at ease, and I headed to the store.
That night’s dinner?
Trusty “Baek Chef’s Bento” and a simple “cup ramen” did the trick.
I even managed a shower.
……Achoo!
Hot water would’ve been nice.
But cold water beat nothing, right?
Truly, after stepping over all those unexpected mishaps, my feet carried me back toward the bedroom.
Rustle-
Despite her small size, Soi’s sewing skills were still top-notch.
‘She’s fast, as expected.’
Honestly, when I’d gotten back from the store, I’d worried she might prick herself somewhere.
But in the short time I was gone, she’d already finished mending our eldest bear doll.
And now.
Rustle-
Right before bed.
Soi had flawlessly repaired all three bear dolls.
Clap-clap-clap!
“Impressive!”
“…….”
Shrug!
Soi silently shrugged her shoulders, proud of proving what she could do.
After that, I stowed the fully mended bear trio back in my employee ID.
Finally realizing all today’s tasks were done….
Yaaawn~
A wave of belated drowsiness crashed over me.
The kind where lying down would mean instant deep sleep.
My gaze drifted to the bed in the bedroom.
The rickety frame and suspiciously unstable-looking mattress.
‘…Gonna collapse through to the floor while I sleep?’
Just to check, I lightly pressed a hand to it.
Creak-
Crack-!
The sound of splintering wood hit my ears.
‘…Yeah, definitely collapsing mid-sleep.’
No hesitation—I headed to the living room.
Thanks to Soi showing me where the futon was for floor-sleeping, I’d manage somehow.
Flop!
I spread it out and collapsed onto it. The moment I lay down, my eyes started closing.
‘This is… really the limit.’
My eyelids drooped.
Poke.
?
Right on the verge of sleep.
A warm presence snuggled into my side. I turned my heavy gaze.
There was Soi, nestling gently against me, head buried in my chest.
Flutter!
She unfurled a sheet of paper toward me.
『Good night! Master!』
“…Yeah.”
Now it really was the limit.
My heavy eyelids fell, and pitch-black darkness enveloped me.
Like the lights of my consciousness flicking off.
I plunged into deep sleep.
*****
Deep in a dream. Somewhere….
When I opened my eyes again.
The scene before me.
Was a meadow shrouded in thick fog.
I sat on the soft grass.
Breathing in the scent of the grass.
Waiting.
Waiting for that child.
Thinking only of the girl in the red robe, awaiting our reunion.
Endlessly.
All my focus on my ears.
I held my breath….
And then.
Rustle-
….
Rustle-
The moment I heard footsteps brushing the grass by my ear, I sprang up from my heavy body.
Heart pounding.
I advanced toward the sound without hesitation.
And.
When my steps halted again.
There.
No red robe.
No girl.
Someone else stood there.
But.
The vibe was identical to that girl’s.
The same scent brushed my nose.
My attention locked on this mysterious child emanating the same fragrance.
She turned to me.
And spoke softly.
“…It’s you.”
Just those words.
With that, she curved a faint smile on her lips.
Beyond that faint smile.
Lurking like deep shadow, murderous intent hidden within.
Her voice reached me again, the killing intent emerging from the shadows.
“Those vermin like pests torment us once more.”
That line, wrapped in her smile, accompanied her light touch.
Swipe-
My body.
Bang-!
Exploded right there.
Scattered everywhere, unrecognizable as human remains.
“Original sin requires but one vessel.”
The bone-piercing pain etched into my flesh.
“So remember it with your body.”
My consciousness snapped.
【Approach my Eve no further.】
*****
“Argh!”
I screamed.
Sat bolt upright, frantically checking my body.
Touched my face.
Over and over.
Patted down every inch.
…It’s here.
My body was still intact.
All my parts in place.
For a second, the dream felt so real I thought my body had actually exploded.
And someone reacted to my yell.
“Master, are you okay?!”
Soi came rushing from the kitchen at the sound.
“Ah, no. Just a nightmare.”
“…Master. You should rest properly today.”
“Yeah, maybe……?”
!?!?!
‘Who am I talking to right now?’
As I stared blankly at Soi, she tilted her head in confusion instead.
“Master?”
“Soi, your… body.”
My eyes fixed on her form.
Soi, who’d been a little kid yesterday, now had the build of a middle-schooler.
She wore a perfectly fitted kimono, shy smile as always.
And Soi straightened her posture once more.
Bowed toward me.
“Last night, circumstances didn’t allow me to say so.”
Bow.
Her faint smile and warm voice reached me.
“Thank you for returning to my side, Master.”
Fortunately, she’d regained some of her body. After her heartfelt greeting.
I got to enjoy the breakfast she prepared that morning.
So.
Now for a relaxed day at home…… or so I thought.
But as always.
My feet headed for the entryway.
Seeing that.
“You’re going out again?!”
“Huh? W-well, it’s my day off, so I’ve got a quick stop to make….”
Her loud voice made me flinch.
Soi had recovered somewhat, but still looked like a middle-schooler at best.
Maybe that’s why.
Every action screamed her apparent age.
Puff-puff-!
Cheeks puffed with air, eyes full of complaint as she glared at me.
“Sigh… Understood. You have your schedule, Master.”
But luckily, she understood quick.
The time was just past.
10:00 AM.
‘Perfect timing if I go now.’
Click.
I opened the door without hesitation and gave Soi a light goodbye.
“Be back soon.”
Hearing that, Soi smiled faintly as if nothing happened.
And saw me off.
“Yes, take care. Master.”
Tick-
With the faint sound of the second hand brushing my ear.
I stepped out.