Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: No Other Beast Like Her
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"Yuna, honey. Is there anything you want?"
"Huh? Something I want?"
What was this? I'd been lounging on the sofa, planning to slack off a bit while watching the news with Dad, when Mom came out of the master bedroom and casually asked me.
Had I done anything lately worthy of a reward from Mom?
Nope. The most recent things were slamming Jeongu two weeks ago or still tutoring the kids every weekend.
The latter might count, but the former? No way that could be called a good deed, even politely.
"Yeah. Remember our promise? If you got first in the class, I'd grant you a wish. And your birthday's just a few days away."
"Oh."
"Oh."
I'd completely forgotten.
And apparently, so had Dad, because he reacted the same way... only to get a sharp glare from Mom.
Yeah, fair enough. A daughter might forget her own birthday, but a dad forgetting? That's on him.
Come to think of it, I vaguely remembered making that promise with Mom before my elementary school entrance ceremony.
Bonus points: I must've been born around this cozy season, right? Probably?
'But I can't think of anything I want right now.'
No smartphones in this era yet, and buying a computer now would be premature.
Besides, if I asked for one, I'd just hear, "Doesn't Dad have a computer for work?" Yeah, but I can't exactly say I need it to blow people's heads off in games...
"How about a little sibling, then?"
"Huh?"
"??"
So, yeah. Might as well ask for something reasonable.
"For my birthday present, make me a little sibling! You said you would last year, but then you ignored it!"
Treating a sibling like a gift was a bit much, but I remembered Mom getting lonely when Dad and I weren't home.
Bonus: I'd love a little sibling too.
"No, Yuna. Not a sibling... Isn't there something else you want?"
"Nope. I'll save this first-place win for later."
Maybe around sixth grade? Asking for a smartphone then might work better.
Or no—should I demand Wi-Fi at home first?
Mom gave a wry smile, fidgeting anxiously at my firm answer.
Dad gripped my shoulder with his chin, shaking his head seriously.
"Yuna, a sibling doesn't just pop out because you want one, you know."
No kidding, Dad. I know that much.
I'm just nudging you to get started on baby number two.
"You're making babies with Mom in your room every night. I learned all about it at school now!"
Of course, school wasn't teaching adult love to us tiny first-graders yet.
I'm the only one with an adult mind from a lonely bachelor uncle who's seen and learned it all.
But going to school makes excuses like this easy.
Just blame it on school lessons, right?
I stood up awkwardly, pretending to thrust my hips at the air, and Mom's face turned beet red while Dad clapped like a seal, impressed by my reenactment.
"Wow, they teach that in school these days? Makes sense for sex ed. Better to show how babies are made than just saying 'No! Don't! Bad!'"
Classic forward-thinking Dad, dropping the right words ahead of the times. I nodded vigorously.
Man, this was fun.
Thrusting at the air in front of my parents, dropping sex jokes like a fiery dutiful daughter—Dad's reaction was great, but Mom's was hilarious. Made me want to push it further.
"Huh? Then why hasn't a sibling shown up yet? Oh, don't tell me... condoms... Aaaah!!"
Whack!!
"I'll make one, okay?! Stop! Just stop! Yuna! You can't say that stuff in front of people!!"
"Puhahaha!! Alright, alright. If Yuna wants it that bad, we'll make a second one! You bet!"
Mom's face looked ready to explode as she flicked my forehead hard.
Dad rolled on the floor, clutching his belly, laughing like this daily chaos was the best.
I pretended it hurt, collapsing and shivering on the floor, but my lips curved up in a big grin.
Yeah. Birthdays aren't that big a deal.
Honestly, my birthday isn't even for me—it's the day my parents suffered to bring me into the world.
The day their love bore fruit outside.
So, spending that day with the fruit of their love—their peaceful, everyday routine, but making it fun and meaningful—that's the right way to celebrate, right?
'A simple "Thanks for giving birth to me" on the day should suffice. Whatever.'
Bonus: If I personally make seaweed soup and beg for a healthy baby from her belly, she'd love that, right?
Sounds better than I thought.
"Heading straight home again today?"
"Even on weekdays, if I tutor, the Dojang Master keeps calling me to kick stuff."
"You like that stuff."
True. I did.
Having people clap and react, showering me with attention? Pretty nice.
Still, the Dojang Master's hot, pure 100% gaze—like he was trying to seduce me, creepy but not dangerous—was a bit much.
Just satisfy him with my weekend tutoring and performances, dude.
The school bell rang. I folded the parent notice from the teacher into my planner, left my bookbag at home now that a month had passed, and stuffed necessities into my indoor shoes bag—the only thing I carried.
"Not heading straight home. Got plans to hang out."
"?? You don't have friends."
"......."
Hold it together. Stay rational, inner self.
After nearly turning Jeongu into Jeong/woo, if I lost it here and went feral like a roe deer, even his aunt who worships me as a great nation wouldn't defend me.
Plus, hanging in this weird almost-friend-not-friend zone with Jeongu, I could tell he wasn't picking a fight—just speaking innocently without malice.
"...Let's study how to talk nicely later."
"?? Talk nicely?"
"Yeah. Once I get permission from your aunt, we'll start."
But innocent or not, it wasn't okay. If anything, worse.
Bonus: Yuri's jabbed at him before too, so we could team up and teach him.
Tell his aunt nicely: "Jeongu seems a bit rude sometimes, so I'll add a little tough love to straighten him out." She'd approve, right?
Normally, a big brother in the family or neighborhood would beat the lesson into you. But from what I knew, Jeongu only had sisters around.
"Dad's nearby, so we're going to the PC bang together."
"Oh. That place for uncles and big brothers?"
"Yeah."
Well, first-graders don't exactly clack away at keyboards there.
"What do you do there?"
"Play games."
"Oh......"
What else is there to do at a PC bang besides games?
Too dark, noisy, and smoky with cigarette stench to be a study spot.
Me? Past life total nerd, no anti-smoking bias here!
Heart pounding at the thought of gunning around with Dad after so long, I grabbed my indoor shoes bag and stood...
"I wanna go too."
"Huh?"
"I'll just watch. Curious what you do."
"You do taekwondo?"
"4 PM's fine."
No, but really. Showing a kid blood spray, gunfire, or throat-slitting okay... for me?
'Wait, my body's a kid too.'
Even in my past life, I'd thundered with kids as an elementary brat.
...... Hmm.
"Do what you want. Just don't bother anyone."
"Got it."
He's pretty calm and mature for his age anyway, so maybe it'd be fine?
They'd even given him advanced classes and genius education. Now gaming lessons too.
Stick with me, kid—you'll take two or three steps while others take one.
So, dragging Jeongu to the PC bang Dad mentioned—the one where I'd shot up with him and filmed basic knife assassinations...
Oi? Not just Dad—other uncles too?
"Daughter! Over here! Here!"
"Uh, uh, hello."
Last year, the Yuri's uncle who'd gotten wasted with Dad at Turtle Rock, plus another guy from back then. Bowed politely first.
Wow, Dad. Must've kept in touch after that drinking binge. Even gaming buddies now.
"Huh? Uh, yeah. Wait, you said 'someone,' but it's your daughter?"
"What, you doubting my girl now? I'm teaming with Yuna—let's see what you got."
"Hah. Fine. Bit intense for a kid, but whatever. Loser pays, right? Gonna eat big today."
'Ah.'
That explained it. Not the weekend, weekday morning before school, and he wants to game?
Making bets with the uncles.
Hmm. Respect. Real men find hidden sincerity and courage in bets.
Dad, pulling a wild card like me? Uncles'll feel bad.
Been a while... Time for some civilian slaughter...
"...Huh? Jeongu? What're you doing here?"
"Watching Yuna play. But why're you here, Dad?"
"......"
Ah. That uncle's Jeongu's dad.
The uncle dodged his gaze at Jeongu's question.
Recently calmer Jeongu frowned suspiciously, glaring.
"Snuck out without Mom knowing, huh?"
"...Son. Need allowance?"
Oh boy.
Looks like this uncle staked his life on the bet.