Chapter 53

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 53

Chapter Title: Neighborhood Stroll for Joy

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Do I really need to agonize over whether I'm some kind of superhero or whatever? I've already got two right here next to me.

What's so special about superheroes anyway? They save you in a crisis. That's it.

"Oh Hana, just in case—don't go showing off your usual tacky side even when you're out there, okay?"

"Tacky?! You should say 'lovely' in situations like this, sis."

"Like hell... Ack!"

Han Ae-bom clapped both hands over her mouth in horror at the curse that had slipped out reflexively. Oh Hana's eyes crinkled in delight at the sight.

"Ehehe! You're pretending otherwise, but deep down, our sis is getting more and more influenced by me! I'm amazing! Oh Hana is amazing!"

"......"

Even in front of Han Ae-bom, who was trembling with what looked like genuine anger, Oh Hana didn't let up on her teasing.

Then—crack—came the sound of wood splintering.

"Gah!"

Before I knew it, Han Ae-bom had delivered a brutal low kick that sent Oh Hana sprawling. Holy crap. That kind of power from those skinny legs?

I thought she'd crumple like a paper doll for a second there.

"I-It's... nothing..."

She popped right back up, but Oh Hana's left thigh was twitching nonstop like it had been hit by an earthquake.

"Pfft-hahaha!"

"Haha."

Yoon Sua and I burst out laughing as we watched from the sidelines. These two really keep things from ever getting boring. They always make me smile.

I glanced at Yoon Sua, who was laughing along as I added the memo to my schedule. So what about Yoon Sua, then?

I have no idea why I got a quest like this. But they say 'know thyself, win every battle,' right? More than that, it didn't feel like this quest popped up for no reason at all.

Suspicions? Plenty.

"Ah... our instant rice is running low. Since we're at it, how about we buy a rice cooker?"

"Rice cooker?! Awesome! Honestly, I'm sick of all this preservative-packed stuff too. Sis! It's not bad, but something's off, you know?"

"Hehe. Plus, if we get one, I can make all sorts of rice varieties or even cakes sometimes."

First off, as Han Ae-bom pointed out.

Yoon Sua hadn't stepped out the front door once since moving in. Her cooking and cleaning skills were ridiculously good. Stuck at home all the time, she ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was a pro at online shopping too.

And most importantly...

"Hehe, since you all gave me money this time, I'll buy the rice cooker and rice with my own cash."

"Woohoo! Hooray!"

...She had zero material desires, to a creepy degree. She acted like giving to others was the most natural thing in the world.

"You're kidding, right?!"

Maybe that's why.

While Oh Hana accepted Yoon Sua's kindness at face value, Han Ae-bom was especially strict with her.

"We're all living together here. A rice cooker is basically communal property. Why buy it with your money? Charge each of us exactly one-fourth."

"B-But I wanted to. And I'm grateful to you all."

"I said—!"

Whoa. Like I mentioned earlier, ironically, Han Ae-bom treated the ever-kind, ever-yielding, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ever-considerate Yoon Sua even more sharply than Oh Hana.

Her shout just now had my heart skipping—even I flinched, and I was right next to her.

"I told you before, Yoon Sua."

"Yes..."

"We're equals living together here. No more subtly putting yourself down like that."

"...Got it. Thank you."

Funny thing is, Yoon Sua adores Han Ae-bom for it. She might even be repeating behaviors just to hear that from her.

"Purchase complete. With the 5-year warranty."

"Isn't five years too long? No guarantee we'll be here that long."

Yoon Sua replied with a fond glint in her eyes to Han Ae-bom's words.

"Just... the price difference between two and five years was only a few hundred won. So I went with the longer one. And who knows? We might live together for five years."

"Hm, probably not, but life's unpredictable. Good call. So each of us sends you ₩41,000."

"Yes. Thank you."

No matter how I look at her, she doesn't seem like a bad person. If she were hiding some dark side, it'd shatter my faith in humanity for real.

Either way, today was perfect for clearing Yoon Sua's epic quest. Solid excuse and all.

"Anyway, spring's really kicking in now. How about a light group walk? Not many cherry blossoms in the neighborhood, but they're starting to bloom a bit."

"A walk? Sounds fine."

"Walk? Great!"

My focus was entirely on Yoon Sua right now. That's why I caught it.

"Walk..."

The moment I suggested it, her pupils dilated round with excitement for a split second. Then, just as quickly, they shifted to despair and sorrow before settling into resignation.

"...Hehe, I get cold easily. I'll go out once it's warmer. You three have fun."

Oh Hana opened her mouth, looking disappointed, but I beat her to it.

"No. All four of us. That's what makes it meaningful. Bundle up, and it'll be fine, Su-a."

"......"

At my unexpected push, all three women stared at me, stunned. Even I wondered if I was overdoing it. But quest aside, Yoon Sua's eyes when I first suggested the walk—pure, childlike anticipation—stuck in my head.

The kind of sparkle you forget by age ten, shining in a 26-year-old Yoon Sua.

"I..."

After a pause, Yoon Sua's lips trembled, then curved into her usual wistful smile.

"...don't have much stamina. I walk slow."

"I'll match you."

"Might not last long."

"I'll carry you on my back if I have to."

I didn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠know I had this in me. But with the clear justification of a 'quest,' I could pour real sincerity into it.

My first epic quest, no less. Fail, and it's gone forever.

Watching from the side, Oh Hana grimaced.

"What's with you today? So clingy... Ah!"

She gasped belatedly.

"Right! Sis, come out with us! We'll carry you in a sedan chair if needed!"

This girl—remembering our earlier talk, trying to help. Sedan chair? What the hell's in that head of hers?

"Su-a."

"...Yes."

"What matters is if you want to. Or not."

Oh Hana might've said it first, but in this cramped one-room with us four, nothing cut to the heart like that. We were all here because of our flaws, dressed up however.

So—do you want to? Don't you? Asking herself that would reveal the truth.

"I..."

If that sparkle I'd seen wasn't fake...

"I want to."

...Yoon Sua's answer was set.

As the weather warmed, one fully bundled woman waddled out amid the three of us in light layers. Those breasts only somewhat concealed that way... No, I recalled Yoon Sua right before we left the one-room.

She looked terrified stepping out. Afraid, specifically. Social anxiety? Hikikomori?

But that didn't explain living with us. And she'd shown excitement at my first suggestion.

"Um... I really don't have stamina. Walk slow. Won't I hold you back?"

"No ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠way."

I grinned at Yoon Sua.

"It's not about distance. It's about strolling together. Like I said, I'll carry you if needed. No worries."

Maybe because I had the quest goal, my words to her rang with deeper sincerity.

Her eyes crinkled softly.

"Yes. Thank you."

Seeing her reaction, my hunch might be right.

"Tell me anytime if you're tired. I'll piggyback you right then."

Honestly, with stamina +2 and strength +1, no clue my limit. Tried piggybacking my drunk little sis once—anything near 50kg was a struggle after a minute, no joke.

Heavy, slippery, chafing.

Still, gotta do it.

First warning message since that New Year's blessings quest. Not a huge penalty for me, really.

Fail? Just no reward. Nothing taken from me.

What's the deal with this thing, anyway?

I knew it wasn't a scam ages ago. But free favors like this in the real world? Not from my mom these days—she expects something in return.

Yeah. So how do I start?

Ah, like that?

"Whoa! Come to think of it, even with three of us, we didn't walk this much. Been a while. Alright, let's gooo!"

Super hyped, Oh Hana bounced ahead with light steps.

"Spring means cherry blossom pension, right? Oh you~ Oh you~"

Whoa, even singing?

Not that annoying, though. Han Ae-bom covered her face with one hand but didn't stop her. No harm to others.

"Hand in hand, just the two~ Walking side by side~"

If anything, Oh Hana wasn't the problem—onlookers were.

I'd pictured a peaceful stroll.

"Whoa, check that out."

"What? Photoshoot? Nah, music video?"

"Girl group? Hey, snap a pic and reverse image search. Gotta be. They're gorgeous."

"What girl group? Never seen 'em."

"Trainees then. Manager's a dead giveaway. See the squid guy in the middle?"

Squid? Manager? Me?

"For real?"

The guy who said 'for real'—at attention, now.

Shoulders hunching under the stares, face burning. Wait, that's not the issue. People are actually gathering?