Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Chuseok Family Gathering
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Korea's biggest holiday, Chuseok, had arrived.
Chuseok's origins had something to do with the major hurdle in farming before the harvest... Anyway, after paying respects to the ancestors, with the farming done and the weather nice, it was basically a holiday to relax and enjoy yourself.
With the whole family gathering, people kept coming to the house nonstop from the first day of the break.
“What'd you bring all this for~?”
“Sis, it's just some side dishes. Oh? Suhyun? You've gotten even prettier since last time~”
“Haha, thank you.”
“What? Suhyun? Wow—now that you're an adult, there's this glow to your looks.”
“Thank you.”
The adults pouring in were making my head spin.
On top of that, every one of them tossed a compliment my way as they passed, so I was bowing my head nonstop, thanking them until my neck hurt.
Then they'd praise my manners and hand me pocket money, I'd thank them again for that, and the cycle repeated until the living room was packed with adults.
Naturally, the kids and I ended up huddled in my room, where I'd shoved my merch out of the way.
“Hmm...”
First, Kim Bu Jang's cousin siblings, middle and high schoolers.
Kim Nam-seok (17), Kim Yu-na (15).
Then Mrs. Jang's cousin little sisters.
Jang Yul (3), Jang Uri (8).
Kindergarteners to high schoolers, all of them. Plus me, the adult—like a assorted gift set.
“Alright, kids, the adults have some stuff to talk about in the living room, so we're gonna play by ourselves.”
There were little ones around, so no talk of illegal gambling or whatever. I'd volunteered to watch them anyway—what to do?
“Waa, sis is a princess?”
“Yeah, yeah, sis is a princess.”
But it didn't look too tough.
Jang Yul (3) and Jang Uri (8) were right at that age where they loved pretty things, weren't they?
They were already totally distracted by me, just staring blankly.
Our puberty-stricken siblings were awkwardly glued to their phones.
Huh? Wasn't there nothing for me to do?
The puberty siblings' looks were a bit off, though.
Delinquents? They both had that clearly above-average Kim family attractiveness, but Kim Nam-seok (17) had dyed his hair brown, and Kim Yu-na (15) had gone blonde.
On top of that, Kim Nam-seok (17) even had a piercing in his ear.
Hmm...
Not my place to interfere.
Middle and high schoolers these days were scary, anyway.
He seemed pretty normal when I was a guy—was this the butterfly effect?
No older cousins around at holidays to play with, so they ended up like this?
Could be my bias.
Maybe they just liked dressing up.
Look at Roa—looks the most delinquent on the outside, but pure as can be on stream.
As I observed quietly, Kim Yu-na (15) glanced up from her phone, our eyes met, and she flinched.
“Why, why?”
“What school do you go to?”
What? Why so jumpy?
Female Kim Suhyun's memories didn't have much on her cousin siblings.
I'd holed up in my room during holidays.
So I was relying on guy-era memories, but damn, they were different.
“Dajang Middle School...”
Dajang Middle? Same as back when I was a guy.
The Kim siblings lived nearby even though they were cousins, so I figured we'd gone to the same middle school.
Then high schooler Kim Nam-seok (17)—which high school?
“You?”
Only then did Kim Nam-seok (17) look up from his phone at my question.
He still couldn't quite meet my eyes, of course.
Yeah, a high school freshman was still too green for someone like me.
“Dajang High...”
“Hmm, a junior.”
He'd gone to the same high school I'd graduated from.
Two years since graduation—had it changed much?
“Who were your teachers?”
Might as well break the ice.
Talking teachers should work with a high school junior.
“But... are you, like...”
“Yeah?”
“Famous? I know you.”
“Me? Me?”
“Since middle school.”
Me? Famous? Well, in a town this small.
Kim Suhyun, the celebrity-basher—probably famous since student days.
“Yeah? Teachers all know?”
“Yeah, and seniors too.”
“Seniors? Who?”
“The third-years.”
Third-years? So when I was a third-year, these guys were first-years?
“Why would they know?”
“They just... do?”
Heard it from my classmates, now their seniors?
But digging through memories, female Kim Suhyun's school life was nothing special.
Sleep when sleepy, pay attention in class, cram during exams.
No dating or anything cliché—just hung out with same-sex friends, a clean student.
“I didn't do anything noteworthy?”
“Really?”
“Yeah, wasn't running around wild or anything. What'd they say?”
“No, they were just... really nice to me.”
“To you?”
“From middle school, the older brothers and sisters came by and were super nice.”
Uh... that... good?
No, no.
Why were they so different from guy-era memories?
Only difference was me.
“Hmm, so why the hair and piercing?”
Just checking, in case it was my fault.
“Huh? The bros said it looked good, recommended it.”
Hmm...
“Then you, Yuna?”
“Me? The sisters too.”
Shit.
It really was my effect?
“Okay.”
This knot I tied.
Only right I untie it.
Good thing I'd withdrawn cash.
Pulled out the thick wallet from my pocket, took out ten 50,000-won bills, split them half-and-half.
“Huh?”
“What's this?”
Not a total fix, but this should do for now.
They seemed like good kids anyway.
“Alright, right after Chuseok, dye your hair black first thing, and take out the piercing.”
Luckily, Kim Yu-na (15) was young enough not to have one.
Kim Nam-seok (17)... well, it kinda suited him, so no more from now on.
“Huh?”
“Short on cash?”
“N-no.”
Sudden money had them flustered.
But I was more flustered?
Good kids back when I was a guy, now juvenile delinquents...
“When I say untie, you untie.”
Not saying those older ones were bad.
They had their motives, but it was goodwill—they were treating the kids well, and the kids looked up to them.
But this? No.
Kids couldn't go astray.
“This sis is nothing special—no halo effect allowed.”
On top of that, I had zero intention of doing anything for those seniors.
Why should I? I ignored my own classmates—two years their junior.
And while I was at it, pulled out two more 50,000-won bills from my wallet and shoved them at Kim Nam-seok (17).
“Huh? More?”
“Yeah, if sis has to step out later, you're on kid duty.”
A 17-year-old high school boy—perfect age to put in some work.
The little sisters were already getting bored of just watching and starting to cling.
If my stamina gave out later, he'd earn his keep.
“Yeah, sure...”
“Yeah, sis'll play with the kids now, so you two just chill on your phones like before.”
I'd said it with a relaxed smile to put them at ease, but Kim Nam-seok (17) and Kim Yu-na (15) startled and shoved their phones away, striding right over.
“N-no, we'll play with them. We did last Chuseok too.”
“Wow, if you insist, that'd be great.”
“No, sis, just rest.”
Hadn't pressured them at all, and they volunteered to watch the younger ones.
Guess I misjudged them as delinquents? Nice kids.
With the middle and high school cafeteria siblings each taking a little sister, what was I supposed to do?
Wow, unavoidably twiddling my thumbs?
Unemployed for now—might as well lounge on the bed?
Wasn't shirking my promise to Mrs. Jang.
Just smart delegation.
They volunteered, even.
Yeah, this was positive circulation.
Now I got why big corps subcontracted.
Corp: no hassle, great.
Subcontractor: makes money, great.
Little Jang Yul (3) occasionally lost control and charged toward me on the bed, but I could handle that gently.
And wasn't she cute?
Chubby cheeks—fun to poke.
“Uh, sis, what country's princess are you?”
Smart kid too—talked so well.
At three, usually just mom and dad, right?
“Sis is a princess from the sky.”
“The sky?”
“Yeah. Rules over tens of thousands of subjects up there.”
“Wow...”
Just tossed it out there, but her eyes sparkled intensely.
Well, not wrong.
Understated, even?
My NerTube subscribers.
“M-me too! Wanna be princess like sis!”
“Hmm, Yul's too young still.”
“Nooo?”
Pouted like she might cry.
Gonna die of cute.
After dealing with the ill-mannered mirodan leg-hair fans, this kid's innocence was purifying my soul.
“Not no—just gotta wait a bit.”
“How long?”
“Hmm... sleep a hundred nights from now?”
Hundred nights sound about right? Heard kids didn't know numbers past that.
“That many?”
“But after that, you'll be a princess.”
“Really?”
“Yeah~ really.”
Might not happen, but by then I wouldn't be around anyway.
Sorry, uncle, aunt—console her if she cries about wanting to be princess.
“Alright, wanna go play with bro now? Bro's a knight~”
“Yes!”
Protected the kid's innocence with a white lie, then handed Jang Yul (3) back to her assigned handler, Kim Nam-seok (17).
This kid-wrangling stuff was a breeze?
Mrs. Jang needed to reflect on ragging on me for this.
Handled the kids like a pro, and as dinner time rolled around, I headed to the living room.
The table was already mostly set—pretty far along.
Noisy bunch, but they'd gotten it done quick?
“Daughter? Kids behaving?”
“Watching kids is a cinch. Dinner's all set? Without calling me?”
“No need. Adults had stuff to chat about, and you seemed to have it handled.”
Fair enough—I'd been killing it with the kids.
“So, dinner time now?”
“Yeah, call the kids.”
Today's duties basically done.
Tomorrow had its own stuff, but nothing tough-looking.
Toss Kim Nam-seok (17) a hundred thousand won and ship 'em to a PC bang or playground?
Playground better with the little ones.
Headed back to the room for now.
“Alright, kids, dinner... Huh?”
But.
“Wow! This is so fluffy!”
Why was that open?
My eyes caught the wide-open soundproof booth.
And innocent Jang Uri (8) plopped in the chair inside.
I'd been gone less than a minute?
What happened in that minute for Jang Uri (8) to slip control, open the booth door, and climb in?
“Wow... this graphics card is insane.”
Meanwhile, Kim Nam-seok (17) was geeking out over the computer.
Yeah, prime age to obsess over that.
Computer was fine, but...
“Two monitors too... this a cam? Mic's here.”
Kid knew way too much. Please stop right there.
No more sleuthing... even cousins had limits...
“Sis, do you stream?”
Ah, shit.