Chapter 169: An Unexpected Combination (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 169: An Unexpected Combination (4)
Bang, bang, bang!
Someone was knocking on the door, first thing in the morning.
“Ugh…”
Assuming it had to be either Shin Yu-jeong or Jeong-hee, I headed for the entrance… but the silhouette seemed a bit short.
Both of them were quite tall for women, so there was no way they’d look that short.
Puzzled, I opened the door to find a completely unexpected person standing there.
“It is cold! Brew me some coffee!”
Jung Si-a.
What in the world was she doing here at the crack of dawn?
Knowing her tendency to dive headfirst into things only to get bored just as quickly, she couldn’t possibly still be obsessed with that ridiculous scouter game.
“…What brings you here so early in the morning?”
“Hm? Did I not tell you before? That I would visit for coffee from time to time.”
“……”
She certainly had said that… but I never thought she’d actually show up.
And I definitely didn’t expect her to come this early.
“I have also brought a delicious dessert today!”
…Looks like I’ll be having dessert before I’ve even had breakfast.
“Now, let us go inside.”
I was helplessly pushed aside as she barged in without a second thought.
I’ve spoiled her so much that I’ve become too soft on her, and that’s the problem.
I guess I have no choice.
I’ll just have to play along for a bit and send her on her way at a reasonable time.
As I placed a kettle of water on the stove, I asked her, “I guess you’re not going to work today?”
“Mm, that is correct. Not just today, but for a while now.”
“……?”
What was that supposed to mean?
She was the type to go to work without fail, even when there were no dungeons to raid. Why wasn’t she going in?
Don’t tell me our guild went bankrupt…?
“That fake fellow who recently seized the Guild Leader’s position declared he would be taking a sabbatical or some such thing.”
“Ah…”
It seemed to be a desperate measure on Fake Si-woo’s part, since he couldn’t properly handle my body.
Since Jung Si-a was a member of the raid team I personally led, she must have lost her work along with him.
But even considering that, it was still strange.
“So is everyone on Hunter Son Si-woo’s raid team on a break?”
“That is not so. The other members have formed temporary parties to work, or are working hard to handle guild affairs.”
What the.
Things were going just as I’d thought.
“…Then why are you…?”
“Hmph! That fake fellow said he would grant this princess a vacation. An indefinite, paid vacation at that.”
“Aha.”
It seemed he’d made that decision because he didn’t want Si-a, who knew he was an imposter, anywhere near him.
Of course it would be awkward.
Si-a possessed a privilege that no one else in the guild had.
What was it, you ask?
“I went to scold him a few times, so he must have grown weary of this princess.”
It was the privilege to boldly barge into the office of the Guild Leader, the highest authority in the guild, without any prior notice.
It was something she’d basically stolen from me since I’d spoiled and taught her like a daughter… but I never had anything to hide, so I didn’t mind her coming in unannounced. For that fake, however, it must have been hell.
She would fling the door open and shout that he was a fake. He must have been living on pins and needles, terrified someone might overhear. It seems this was the best solution his little brain could come up with.
“You must have a lot of free time, then.”
“Ahem, free time, you say! Do you take this princess for a loafer with nothing to do but work?”
That was a bit rich, coming from the girl who used to go to work on her days off because she had nothing better to do.
“I must feed Elizabeth and take her for walks! I also have to visit the delicious new dessert cafe I discovered, and also…”
Right.
So, in the end, you’ve just been having fun all this time.
I could see the whole sequence of events so clearly.
She must have played by herself until she started to get lonely.
Despite the strong, self-centered impression she gives off with that ridiculous persona of hers, Si-a is actually quite sensitive.
And she gets lonely so easily. A few days on her own, and she starts craving human warmth.
The person she used to seek out without hesitation at times like these was me, and now that I was gone, she must have been so frustrated.
Then she must have thought of me and rushed over the moment she woke up.
“Here, your coffee.”
“Ooh, as expected, even the aroma is different!”
A smile crept onto my face as I watched her rejoice over a single cup of instant coffee mix as if she’d been given the world.
“Right! Let us eat this as well!”
The white paper box she’d been holding since she arrived was finally opened.
Inside was a palm-sized cream puff.
“I am telling this only to you, so listen well.”
“……?”
“If you eat something sweet with something else sweet…!”
“…your happiness reaches its peak?”
“Y-You knave! Did you just read my mind?!”
…That’s the excuse you always make whenever I nag you to stop eating so many sweets, you brat.
I couldn’t help but laugh as she jumped back in shock, practically falling over.
“Stop fooling around and eat before your coffee gets cold.”
“Ah, the coffee!”
Si-a quickly composed herself and sat down to drink her coffee.
I put the cream puff on a small plate to make it easier for her to eat, and she picked it up with both hands and took a large bite.
“Mmm…! Indeed, the combination of sweet and sweet is the best…”
She grinned foolishly, looking as if she might ascend to heaven at any moment.
I just couldn’t understand it.
If you add sweet to sweet, doesn’t one of the flavors usually get overpowered?
“Let’s see…”
She was eating with such relish that I decided to give it another try, even though I knew I was being fooled.
Take a bite of the cream puff, and then a sip of the perfectly prepared instant coffee mix…
“Ugh.”
The sweetness all jumbled together, creating a taste that was neither here nor there.
As I scrunched up my face, using every muscle I had, she saw me and laughed.
“That expression… it is not unfamiliar.”
“……”
“The Guild Leader always made that exact face when he ate sweets…”
…Did she actually figure something out this time?
“Do men not like sweets very much?”
Of course not.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I was completely burned out….
I wonder if the expression ‘like a fish in water’ was made for times like these.
I had severely underestimated the stamina of someone who had finally found a conversation partner she clicked with after so long.
I never imagined she would keep talking until evening.
“Mm, I suppose I must be going now.”
She came early in the morning and is only now heading home as the sun is setting.
It feels like the entire day was just deleted.
As she got up from her seat, I put on my jacket and left the house with her.
“Why are you following me out?”
“To see you off.”
At that, she smiled brightly, reached out, and patted my arm.
“You are the first person besides the Guild Leader that I have taken such a liking to!”
“Ha… ha.”
Since we’re the same person, you still only like one person.
As we walked down the stairs together, Jeong-hee happened to open her door and come out.
“Oh, Do-jin! I was just about to come tell you it’s time for dinner… huh?”
Jeong-hee tilted her head as she saw Si-a walking down with me.
“And this is…?”
Uh oh.
Could this be a dangerous situation?
“Ah, this is…”
I hurriedly stepped forward to explain, but Jeong-hee’s words were a step faster.
“Princess!”
“Oh, you know of this princess?”
“Of course! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! I’m your fan!”
Jeong-hee stomped her feet and gushed like she’d just seen a doll she adored.
She’d never shown that side of herself, not even to me…
“Do-jin! Can you take a picture for us?”
“…Sure.”
I was unceremoniously demoted to photographer.
I took countless pictures of the two of them with the smartphone Jeong-hee handed me.
“Thank you so much! You should come over to our place next time, I’ll make you lots of delicious food.”
As Jeong-hee spoke, spreading her arms wide, Si-a asked with a suspicious look.
“Those words… they are not a lie, are they?”
This was her own little confirmation process.
Many people had approached Si-a in the past.
Whether they were drawn to her pretty face or intrigued by her unique persona.
They would all flock to her, saying how much they liked her, only to leave as if they’d grown bored.
Since then, Si-a had developed a habit of doubting people’s words at first.
It was her way of testing them; if their expression remained the same when they answered her question, she would generously decide to trust them, just once.
And what happens if they betray that trust?
What do you think?
They get permanently kicked out of her heart.
She may be a sensitive child, but she has a surprisingly resolute side. Once someone gets on her bad side, she won’t even spare them a glance.
“Oh, of course not! Come over anytime!”
Seeing Jeong-hee’s unchanging expression, Si-a let out a sigh of relief and smiled faintly.
“Then… I shall pay a visit sometime.”
“Hoho! How cute. I’ll be waiting, then, Princess?”
Only after rattling off a list of her favorite foods for reference did Si-a finally start walking again.
When we got outside the building, her car, which should have been there, was nowhere to be seen.
“Did you not bring your car?”
“I came by taxi.”
Her habit of preferring taxis to her own car was still the same.
“Well… let’s go. I’ll hail a cab for you.”
We passed through the darkened alley and reached the main street, where I waved my hand at a passing taxi.
Si-a boarded the taxi with a graceful posture, then opened the window, looked up at me, and spoke.
“Thank you for today. I apologize that your day was spent because of me.”
She had fun while she was here, but it seemed she was starting to worry.
I smiled as brightly as I could to reassure her.
“It’s okay. I was planning on being extremely bored today anyway.”
“Mmm, I see.”
Seeing the corners of her mouth twitch upwards, it seemed a weight had been lifted from her mind.
“Then… may I come again?”
“Well… as long as you call first?”
“I promise to call ahead next time!”
“Okay, then.”
What could I do?
I was the only one who could take in this lonely, cat-like girl.
She’s also surprisingly considerate, so she probably won’t visit too often. I’ll just have to treat her well whenever she comes.
After giving a light wave to her departing taxi, I turned to head back home.
Then, I happened to notice the unlit streetlights scattered throughout the alley and let out a sigh.
“I should get those looked at.”
If only all those streetlights were on, the alley wouldn’t be this dark.
I wasn’t too worried about myself or Yu-jeong, but I was afraid something might happen to Jeong-hee on her way home at night.
Alright, I’ve made up my mind.
I’ll talk to Ms. Ji-an soon and have her hound the local community center or the district office.
And while we’re at it, I’ll pester them to install a decent security system, too.
“I’ll deal with that tomorrow…”
I was drained from dealing with Si-a, so for today, I’d just eat dinner and get some rest.
I wonder what’s for dinner.
When the door was open for a moment earlier, I smelled something incredibly delicious.
I was licking my lips and hurrying through the dark alley when it happened.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
A sharp scream suddenly echoed from not too far away.
“…Seriously.”
What now?