Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Queen, Hooked on Baseball -5
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The baseball game had ended.
After a long, hard-fought battle, the Eagles claimed victory.
"Reverse win!"
"That was so much fun!"
Prostia and Ellie jumped to their feet with cheers.
I stood up as well, grabbing my bag.
"Time to head back."
"Okay."
We blended into the crowd streaming out of the stadium and walked slowly.
Prostia, still buzzing with excitement, chattered on about the game.
"Did you see that comeback homer at the end? Totally insane, right?"
"Yeah, it was amazing."
"Right? I got chills just watching it."
Ellie nodded eagerly, her face lit up too.
"Me too! There really are so many fun things here."
I walked along, listening to their conversation.
Prostia's memories from earlier kept swirling in my mind.
It must have been so heavy.
Crowned at twelve years old, desperately trying not to hurt anyone, only to lose everyone in the end.
And now, that same girl was smiling like this.
There was probably more to the story, but since she seemed so scared of it, I decided to let it slide for now.
"Prostia."
"Yeah?"
"How've you been getting by since coming to Earth?"
"Oh, that?"
Prostia thought for a moment before answering.
"It was pretty rough at first."
"I bet."
"Yeah. No place to go, no money."
Prostia gave a small laugh.
Ellie looked at her face and asked,
"So what did you do?"
"Well, I was hanging around near the ballpark. Nothing else to do, so I figured I'd watch a game. Easy to sneak in."
"Right."
"But then the grandma selling chicken nearby caught me."
Prostia, lost in the memory, continued with a faint smile tugging at her lips.
It was a warmer smile than before.
"She saw me and asked where I was from. So I told her my story. Well, minus the part about coming from another world."
"I see."
"Yeah. And she said if I had nowhere to go, I could stay at her place."
Luckily, she'd run into a kind soul.
A rare stroke of luck in a world full of danger.
"I turned her down at first. Didn't want to impose. But she wouldn't take no for an answer. Said she had an empty room and needed help with the business anyway."
"Sounds like a nice lady."
"Yeah. She's really great."
Ah, so that's why.
"That was her shop, huh."
"Yep. I'm no good at cooking, so I just do serving and customer service."
So that's how she was making ends meet, helping out there.
With that, Prostia finished and stared right at us.
"Your turn now, Ellie."
"Huh?"
Ellie tilted her head.
"How've you been living since coming to Earth?"
"Oh, me?"
Ellie puffed up proudly after a moment's thought.
"I'm living with my master."
"What? Living together?"
"Yep!"
"Cohabiting in the one-room he used to live in."
"C-Cohabiting?!"
I felt a sharp glare.
"Gi-hyeon. Explain yourself."
"Hey, it couldn't be helped. Can't just leave a kid out on the streets."
"So you contracted with this summon too?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"..."
The air suddenly grew chilly.
Did I do something wrong? Or was she feeling jealous that I was slacking off alone?
As I pondered that, Prostia turned to Ellie.
"So, how is it? Comfy?"
"Yes! Master takes good care of me."
Ellie beamed.
"He cooks for me, we clean together, watch TV together."
"Watch TV together, huh."
"Yep! We watched a movie last night. It was super fun."
The air was getting colder by the second, but Ellie didn't seem to notice.
"Master's a great cook too. The curry he made yesterday was delicious."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes. And I slept with Master. He's so warm."
Prostia shot me a look.
"Must be nice."
"It's not."
"I was working part-time to save up for something before finding my soulmate."
"..."
"The TV's old, only a few channels work, and when Grandma goes to bed early, I've got nothing to do."
She grumbled, then muttered,
"I wanna live with someone too."
"You live with Grandma."
"Not like that. Someone I can just relax with."
"..."
"Grandma's wonderful and all, but it's still her house."
She probably wouldn't come even if invited.
She seemed too dutiful and responsible for that.
Couldn't just up and leave Grandma alone.
But I could at least ease her loneliness for today.
"Prostia."
"Yeah?"
"Wanna come hang out at our place?"
"R-Really? Grandma's probably asleep by now anyway."
Prostia hesitated a bit, then nodded.
"Sure. Let's go."
And so we arrived at the lodging.
I set some beers from the convenience store on the table and pulled out some snacks.
Stuff from the store and leftover chicken.
Perfect munchies.
"Ellie, want some?"
"J-Just a little."
"Alright then."
Prostia plopped down on the floor.
Ellie sat beside her and took a beer can.
"Cheers!"
The sound of cans cracking open echoed in the room.
Prostia chugged hers refreshingly.
"Beer after baseball is the best."
I took a sip too.
The bitterness slid down my throat.
Ellie sipped cautiously, then scrunched her face.
"It's bitter... but if this is what grown-ups taste like..."
She tried her best to drink it.
No need to force it like that.
Seeing this, Prostia tilted her can back.
To match our pace, maybe.
Ellie kept gulping it down.
That much would definitely backfire.
"Mm... hmm..."
Sure enough, Ellie's eyes started drooping sleepily.
At least she wasn't throwing a drunken fit like last time.
"I'm sleepy."
"Then go to bed."
"But I wanna hang out more with Prostia..."
Ellie rubbed her eyes, trying to fight it.
But the yawns kept coming.
"It's fine, Ellie. Go sleep."
"Okay... see you tomorrow..."
Ellie couldn't hold out anymore and staggered to the bed.
She collapsed onto it.
"Good night..."
A small voice trailed off, and then silence.
Her breathing grew steady and rhythmic.
"Quick, whether at the game or here."
"Yeah."
I tucked Ellie in and sat back down.
The room fell quiet.
Just me and Prostia left.
"More?"
"Yeah."
She took one.
The crack of another can, then silence again.
"Soulmate."
"...Yeah?"
"What do you think of me?"
It was sudden.
"What do I think?"
"Yeah. Me right now."
Prostia fiddled with her can as she spoke.
"You knew the old me, and seeing the current me—what do you think?"
"Well, I don't remember everything."
Still.
"You seem really different."
"Oh?"
"Not in a bad way."
"Why's that?"
"At least you're not unhappy now."
"That's all?"
"I only know fragments, so yeah."
I must've handled things well over there.
That's the only impression I have left.
"Guess I made you pretty happy, huh."
Prostia stared blankly at my words, then laughed.
"You're my soulmate, alright."
"What's with calling me that?"
"Don't you remember? You seduced me."
"Me? No way."
"Ha, seriously."
My body lifted suddenly.
I'd let my guard down. Come to think of it, she had Number 7-level magic power, like Ellie.
Boosting her strength with magic reinforcement would've been child's play.
Her flushed face drew close, her warm breath brushing my nose.
"I'm holding back 'cause Ellie's here, got it?"
"Y-Yeah."
"Then pillow my head on your arm."
"Arm pillow?"
"You did it sometimes."
Hard to deny.
I'd lost my memories, and denying it here might make things worse.
I obediently offered my arm.
"Gi-hyeon."
"Yeah?"
"You gotta visit more often. It's quick on Ellie."
"Uh, sure."
"And figure out how we can live together soon."
"We could do that now—"
"No."
Prostia's hand slowly stroked my thigh.
"Something else..."
"..."
I squeezed my eyes shut.
What the hell had I done in that world to make these monsters cling to me like this?
I have no idea... seriously.
"Eek."
"Stop touching."
"Hehe, gotcha!"
"Gahhhh! Ellie! Ellie!!"
"Shh. Unless you want your candy to turn into ice cream."
Thankfully, Ellie stirring and insisting on sleeping with us prevented any disaster.