This is a Boss?! # 4
This is a Boss?! # 4
But now that I think about it... Void Princess called it serious? That makes me a little nervous. What the hell is this evil villain trying to say to me?
Is she planning to dump some aggravating job on me?
"..."
I waited for her to say something, but Kitty stayed silent.
"Kitty? What is it? Hurry up and tell me."
"Hehe, Geun-cheol."
Kitty suddenly grinned.
"What do you think it is?"
She was messing around at a time like this? I told her to knock it off and ruffled her hair.
"Agh, hey. Stop joking. You've gotta tell me fast before we get caught, don't you?"
"Ugh, that's true, but..."
Kitty quietly bowed her head, as though enjoying having her hair ruffled. Still, I was glad our Kitty followed me so well. If only I could fix that mischievous streak.
"Kitty just wants to talk more with Geun-cheol."
"Hehehe, of course I want to talk more with Kitty too, but later. If we take it too easy now, we'll be in trouble. Si-hoo is asleep right outside, you know."
We put up a barrier, but according to Kitty it's not perfect. So we have to be as careful as possible.
Later, once Si-hoo's protection detail is over, we'll be able to talk freely. So for now, pass.
"So hurry up and say it, Kitty. I'm starting to get scared here."
"Why?"
"How could you not be scared of Void Princess? When I first met her, I thought I was gonna die of fright, man."
"Hohoho, is that so? Anyway, Geun-cheol. Listen for a sec."
I leaned in to listen.
"It seems like something strange has happened. My sister is a little troubled."
Something strange?
"And it looks like she's trying to pin the blame on Geun-cheol."
"On me?"
No—what the hell is this crazy villain pulling? Pinning the blame on me when I'm just keeping my head down?
I don't know exactly what, but it's definitely not normal.
"In a few days, something's supposed to appear a little ways from here."
"What, dude?"
Something's going to appear?
"She says deal with it. That's the whole message."
"Wha— What? Kitty, hold on. Deal with what?"
Deal with?
I have a feeling it's definitely not something easy like taking out the trash.
No way... Is it a monster?
"Kitty, I have a feeling this ‘deal with it’ is no minor trash mob. Is it some kind of monsterkin or a monster?"
"Kitty doesn't know either. I didn't get the details."
Kitty shook her head.
She really didn't seem to know.
"Hm."
But she's telling me to deal with it? It reeks of danger just from the look of it. Still, if Void Princess isn't doing it herself and is shoving it onto me... is it more annoying than dangerous?
"What happens if I don't do it? Can't you do it for me, Kitty?"
"I wonder? Still, one thing's for sure, Geun-cheol."
"What?"
"If Geun-cheol doesn't do this, my sister is going to get seriously mad."
"Ah."
I can't let her get mad.
"Okay. I don't know what it is, but if she says do it, I do it."
In this situation, I can't refuse.
Void Princess is a powerhouse. She's an S-rank monsterkin. She's fought the most formidable powerhouses in South Korea and screwed over the South Korean government multiple times.
What could I possibly do against someone like that? I can't even land a hit. We aren't on equal footing. In the first place, she's the one holding my life in her hands.
If she says do it, I do it.
"What about the detailed schedule and location?"
"I'll tell you next time."
"No... but Kitty, this is your sister giving me a job, right?"
"That's right."
"Shouldn't I get something out of it? No matter how I look at this, it seems dangerous. I could get hurt."
"Mmm."
Kitty ran her finger over her lips and said,
"I don't like it. Geun-cheol getting hurt."
"Right! So I'm asking, don't I get something out of it!"
I immediately made an OK sign with my fingers. Meaning, if I gave something, I should get something. A little something to make the job worth doing, you know?
Getting in bed with a monsterkin leaves a bad taste, but what can I do?
That's just how it is.
"Do you need something?"
"Of course I need something... Plus, if I go to deal with something out of nowhere, it'll be seriously suspicious. I'll need your help, Kitty."
At first she was a scary one, but Kitty's become a comfortable presence now. Naturally I can make a deal like this.
"Got it, Geun-cheol. Then Kitty will help as much as possible. Okay?"
"Yeah. I'm a little relieved, Kitty. You'll look out for me, right?"
"I will."
Good.
Now I can relax.
"Anyway, that's all I came to say, Geun-cheol."
"Yeah."
"Do a good job so my sister doesn't get mad."
"W-well, I'll try my best on that."
"Do that. Then let's play next time."
"Bye."
With that, Kitty closed the gate.
And I was alone again.
"Hoo."
I put away the towel and finished my shower. Void Princess. Void Princess, huh... A sigh escaped me. Crazy bitch, who does she think I am, her lackey?
Let's analyze this.
If she's having me do something, does that mean it's too bothersome for her but still something this Kim Geun-cheol can handle? Or maybe she's planning to use this to feel something out.
The possibilities narrow down to those two. If she wanted to eliminate me, there are plenty of better ways. Anyway. I don't want to play along with her tricks, but what can I do? the VP is way stronger than me. If she says jump, I ask how high.
So let's conclude that I'll do this properly.
It's likely dangerous, but I'll manage somehow. That's why I asked Kitty to help.
"Alright."
Once this job is done, I'll be able to get a word in with Void Princess. Back then I was too busy shaking to say anything, but I'll have run her errand. I can get a message through Kitty.
That's what I'm counting on.
ㅡSwish.
I finished showering and dried myself with a towel.
"Compensation."
If she's giving me work, there has to be compensation.
But I've already got a rough idea. That dungeon Kitty made for me. I got some pretty sweet coin farming there.
It's half-abandoned now that I'm living with Si-hoo, but what if I drag Si-hoo into it? I'll ask Kitty to drop me in a suitable spot. And do it when Si-hoo is nearby, too.
Then Si-hoo would fall into the dungeon with me to rescue me, and we'd end up fighting together in the dungeon. Doesn't that sound great?
Deceiving him is a little iffy, but if it works, Si-hoo can rapidly gain real combat experience. That's growth too.
I'll just pretend to get caught up in it and blatantly farm the dungeon.
I'll have to bring that up.
* * *
After that, nothing particularly happened. The final exams and assessments were all over, so I was just attending classes normally and waiting for vacation.
While living that daily life...
ㅡShwoop!
"Gah!"
Kitty appeared again while I was showering!
"Hohoho, Geun-cheol. Seems like you're naked every time we meet these days. That's a problem."
"You're the one showing up at this time!"
I shouted, immediately covering myself.
She had zero manners!
"Geun-cheol, aren't you embarrassed?"
Kitty reacted like she was having the time of her life.
"Well... I'm not that embarrassed. You're just a kid, Kitty."
A kid's nothing to be embarrassed about.
"Kid?"
In an instant, Kitty's expression turned cold— Ah!
ㅡSwoosh!
Kitty's body grew right away!
"Then how about this?"
"Hey, hey! What are you doing, this is embarrassing!"
"Is this embarrassing? Huh?"
"Please!"
Now I'm embarrassed!
A kid's just a kid, but if she gets this big, isn't she a woman!
"Hehehe, Geun-cheol embarrassed? Want to shower together?"
"Oh my god, this brat! Hey! Do you wanna get scolded to death!"
"I don't want to get scolded..."
ㅡSwoosh.
Only when I raised my palm threateningly did Kitty revert. She took ten years off my life, but I endured it. This cheeky brat.
"Anyway, Geun-cheol? Tomorrow's Saturday, right?"
"Yeah."
Tomorrow's my volunteer day.
"Tomorrow noon. I sent you the location by text. Just go there and take care of it."
"Ah, you came to tell me that."
"Yep. Do a good job. It's scary when my sister gets mad."
"..."
Kitty, having said all that, left.
"Why does it have to be tomorrow."
I'll have to cancel my volunteer plans with Leona.
* * *
A pause.
Lee Si-hoo, entering the shower room, sensed something strange and stopped for a moment.
"...Strange."
A peculiar energy lingered faintly.
'What was that?'
He tried to trace the sensation. Right, that time.
The female monsterkin who had been on top of Geun-cheol. The energy she gave off when she created a gate and fled... a trace of it lingered. Lee Si-hoo's pupils widened as she realized.
'She invaded.'
That bastard invaded this place.
When we were out? When was it?
'Is she up to something? Well, I didn't think she'd do nothing. She must be scheming.'
His wariness spiked and his fighting spirit seethed. She's targeting Geun-cheol. Sneaking back into the home he is protecting... and doing something.
Unforgivable.
'That idiot Geun-cheol didn't seem to notice, but she can't fool me. She definitely invaded once when we were gone. For what? Is she setting up to kidnap Geun-cheol?'
Thinking that, Lee Si-hoo suddenly felt a stab of anxiety.
'Or... has she already secretly contacted Geun-cheol and threatened him? I need to keep that possibility in mind too.'
Having thought that far, Lee Si-hoo decided to watch Geun-cheol's actions even more closely from now on.
And the next day.
In the morning, after Geun-cheol had washed up, he said,
"Si-hoo, I'm going out for a bit. Stay home today."
"Yeah. You're going volunteering, right?"
If he's going volunteering, Leona will be there, so it's safe. But what came out of Geun-cheol's mouth wasn't that.
"Nah. No volunteering today."
"What?"
"What was it. I ran into an orphanage friend the other day, right? He wants to meet up. Don't worry. I'll stick to crowded places. You take it easy today."
"..."
Gut feeling.
Lee Si-hoo felt something like a hunch.
Geun-cheol's face. He looked strangely tense.
"Yeah? Well... you're not alone. If you stick to main roads, there shouldn't be a problem. That monsterkin can't use a gate out in the open."
If that ability were exposed, it'd be a national emergency. If the monsterkin has any sense, I don't think she'd use it recklessly.
"Right?"
"Then go. Send me a text once in a while."
"Okay. I'm off, then?"
"Yeah."
Whatever it is, it's suspicious.
ㅡCreak.
Geun-cheol went outside, and Lee Si-hoo also prepared to go out.
'Let's follow him secretly.'
Because there's a chance that monsterkin threatened Geun-cheol. Of course, the likelihood that he's not meeting her is higher, but Lee Si-hoo decided to trust her hunch.
'Tailing isn't great, but... it's to protect Geun-cheol. Eh, whatever. That idiot Geun-cheol isn't sharp enough to notice anyway.'
A sort of invisible guardian angel.
