Chapter 176: A Kiss with Si-ho
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 176: A Kiss with Si-ho
Stunned, I stared blankly at the restaurant door, where I saw a notice posted.
It said the chef had been in a traffic accident on his way to work this morning, so they couldn't open.
Seeing that, I turned on my phone and belatedly confirmed that our reservation for today had been canceled.
I never imagined things would get messed up like this.
“Manager.”
At Si-ho’s call, I flinched and immediately apologized.
“Sorry, Si-ho. About this. I'll find another place right away.”
To think the very first step would go so wrong.
As I quickly pulled out my phone, Si-ho wrapped her arms around mine.
“Manager.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“I have another idea. Would you like to hear it?”
I blinked.
The restaurant plan had fallen through anyway.
“Alright, what is it?”
Since our schedule had opened up, just talking wouldn't be a problem.
Seeing my response, Si-ho gestured for me to lean in, as if sharing a secret.
As I lowered my head slightly, Si-ho brought her lips to my ear.
“Is it okay if Si-ho breaks the law, just a little?”
What law was she planning to break?
I was momentarily taken aback, but I nodded anyway.
Knowing her personality, I figured she wouldn't do anything that would cause a major problem.
Hearing my answer, Si-ho smiled for a moment, then took my hand and closed her eyes.
Seeing that, I hesitated for a second, wondering if she wanted me to kiss her, when suddenly my surroundings changed.
What appeared in my new field of vision was none other than the Eiffel Tower.
No way… are we in Paris, France?
As I, now suddenly in Europe, stared up at the Eiffel Tower, Si-ho shushed me.
“It's our little secret.”
“We won't get caught for this, will we?”
“Nope. Si-ho made a few adjustments, so we won't get caught.”
Well, if that was the case, I didn't mind.
Since I was the one who gave her permission, I gently stroked Si-ho’s head.
If we do get caught, I'll figure something out.
“In a place like this, anywhere we go will be delicious, right?”
She was right. Food eaten in a foreign country always felt special, no matter where you were.
Knowing this well, I began to walk with Si-ho along the streets of Paris.
How did we end up abroad?
The unique feeling of being in a foreign country, of being in another world, somehow made it feel like it was just the two of us.
“This reminds me of when we were on that deserted island, Manager.”
And it seemed Si-ho felt the same, as she brought up the past.
“You're right. Things felt pretty hopeless back then.”
From the responsibility of being Si-ho’s guardian to the simple need to survive.
A flood of memories came rushing back.
“But because you were there, Manager, Si-ho felt incredibly safe.”
“Ahaha, looking back now, I think it was mostly just bravado. I was just acting tough without knowing anything.”
“Is there anyone who would throw their life on the line for someone else out of sheer bravado?”
Hearing that, I gave an awkward laugh.
“That's just the kind of person I was.”
I think I've gotten a lot better recently, but back then, I was in a pretty precarious state.
At the time, I had only just stepped back out into the world and was finally getting a chance to look around.
That's when I met Si-ho.
Si-ho, who in my eyes was still so young, but was also strong-willed and mature.
I wasn't very mature myself, but watching her, I learned many things and grew up alongside her.
“Si-ho thinks it was the greatest fortune to have met a person like you, Manager.”
Si-ho smiled faintly and rested her head on my arm.
“To Si-ho, you were the most wonderful prince.”
Her most wonderful prince, huh?
I decided to accept Si-ho.
Because I could no longer push away this girl who loved me so dearly.
“Then I'll have to become someone worthy of you, Si-ho.”
“You already are.”
If she thought so.
Together, Si-ho and I found a restaurant in Paris.
Thankfully, I knew a little French, so I managed to order our food with a mix of words and gestures.
As for money, it wasn't a big issue since I had a card provided for overseas support when I became a hunter.
The food was excellent.
As if to prove France’s culinary reputation, it had a taste that could only be found here.
Watching Si-ho nibble on her food was especially a sight to behold.
It was amazing how all that food fit into her small mouth.
“Si-ho is all done.”
“Did you enjoy it?”
“Yes, it was delicious.”
“I enjoyed it too. Thanks to you, Si-ho, I got to come to a place like this.”
I said, looking out the window.
Crowds of foreigners were passing by.
As I took in the Parisian scenery, Si-ho moved to the seat next to me.
“Well, since we're already doing this, can Si-ho break the rules a little more?”
“You plan on visiting other countries, don't you?”
“It's December 31st, the day before I become an adult. I want to make it a special day.”
“We've already come all the way to Paris. One more stop won't be a problem.”
Once I gave my permission, Si-ho beamed and we left the restaurant.
Then, with her spatial teleportation, we began to travel all over the world.
In a way, it was a world tour that only Si-ho could make possible.
By the time we returned to Korea after visiting famous landmarks here and there, night had already fallen.
Perhaps because we had dinner along the way.
I wasn't very hungry. I smiled, looking at Si-ho, who was still holding my hand tightly.
“So, was it fun?”
“Yes, Si-ho had so much fun.”
It somehow turned into an illegal trip abroad, but it was definitely fun.
I turned on my phone to check the time.
Is it 11 o'clock already?
The new year was fast approaching.
“Manager.”
Just then, Si-ho called out to me.
Hearing her, I turned my head. She was looking up at me, her face full of excitement.
“Si-ho can learn about alcohol now, right?”
True, she had less than an hour until she became an adult.
Besides, I had promised to teach her about alcohol.
“Alright. It’s a promise.”
She would probably turn twenty while I was buying the drinks.
With that in mind, I headed to a convenience store first.
They sold everything from whiskey to wine, so I started browsing the selection.
Bitter alcohol would probably make Si-ho averse to drinking, so I decided to pick out mostly sweet ones.
Of course, I also grabbed a bottle of beer and soju.
I wanted her to try as many different kinds as possible.
Beside me, Si-ho watched with fascination as the bottles were placed in a bag.
After buying the alcohol, I walked outside.
Then it suddenly occurred to me: where were we going to drink this?
Should we go to my place?
“Manager.”
Just then, Si-ho tugged on my collar.
When I looked down, she was pointing somewhere.
Following her finger, my eyes landed on a motel.
My eyes wavered for a moment.
At the same time, Si-ho held her phone up in front of my face.
“Si-ho is an adult now, so it's okay to go in.”
12:00.
The moment I saw it, I could hear people cheering all around us.
“Happy New Year!”
Unsurprisingly, most of them were people who had just become adults.
“Manager, Happy New Year.”
“...You too, Si-ho.”
As I belatedly wished her a happy new year, Si-ho smiled faintly and squeezed my hand.
“Si-ho is twenty years old now.”
“Congratulations on becoming an adult.”
“That's right. Si-ho is an adult.”
Si-ho beamed with joy.
Her smile was incredibly beautiful and cute.
As I stroked her hair, she looked up at me quietly.
“Manager.”
And I knew better than anyone what Si-ho wanted from me.
Instead of the sullen eyes she had shown me the day we first met.
The eyes Si-ho was looking at me with now were the most loving in the world.
Seeing her like this, how could anyone not fall for her?
I placed a hand on Si-ho’s cheek and gently pushed back a strand of hair.
Seeing her, I slowly smiled.
My heart had opened up to her a long time ago.
I had only used her being a minor as an excuse not to express my feelings.
Si-ho and I both knew how the other felt.
Because even someone like me, Si-ho loved.
So, for her sake, I decided to go through with the final confirmation between us.
“Si-ho, I like you.”
Somewhere, the sound of fireworks erupted.
It seemed like there was some kind of event on the street for the new year.
As fireworks exploded overhead, painting the sky with red light.
I looked at Si-ho's face, bathed in that crimson glow.
Her face, always so beautiful, was flushed bright red.
From the moment I uttered the words she wanted to hear most, her already large eyes opened wider than I had ever seen them.
At the same time, it felt as if her hair was standing on end.
Seeing her blush so deeply for the first time, my own eyes widened in response.
For some reason, my hands and feet started to tingle.
The person in front of me loves me.
The thought surfaced from deep within my mind.
Her moist eyes looking only at me.
Her flushed cheeks.
Her rosy lips.
Her trembling body.
Every single detail felt like a signal to me.
My heart felt like it was pounding erratically, as if I'd been struck by lightning.
Though I was the one who confessed, I hadn't expected such an intense reaction from her. I parted my lips slightly.
“...Manager.”
Then, Si-ho called my name.
She was only calling my name, but it felt incredibly special.
A faint sheen of tears formed in Si-ho's eyes.
A tear slowly traced a path down her cheek.
Seeing her smile so beautifully, I couldn't help but smile back.
“Si-ho likes you too.”
My mind felt blank, as if someone had released a drop of ink into it.
I never thought a simple 'I like you' could hit so deep.
So this is what a confession feels like.
In that moment, I realized just how much courage Seol-hyang and Ahyu must have mustered for me.
Just then, Si-ho’s small lips came into view.
At that moment, it felt as if we were the only two people in the world.
Looking at her lips, I slowly raised my hand and cupped her cheek.
Si-ho, as if she had been waiting, slowly closed her eyes.
I slowly lowered my head.
And with that, Si-ho's face was right in front of mine.
Our breaths mingled just inches apart.
Meeting her closed eyes, I pressed my lips against hers.
Chu—
The sound of our lips meeting echoed softly.
Even though I had kissed Ahyu and Seol-hyang several times, this felt somehow different.
When I slowly pulled away, Si-ho's eyelids fluttered open to meet my gaze.
With tears in her eyes, Si-ho began to cry softly, as if overwhelmed with happiness.
“Manager, what do I do?”
And Si-ho said, her voice breathy and sweet.
“Si-ho is so happy.”