Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: There Are No Such Things as Special Beast Girls
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...
This Suyeon had no idea whether she should be angry or happy about the scene unfolding right in front of her.
"When it's time to eat, you wait until the oldest adult or the most important person picks up their chopsticks first!"
"...We learned that in school, too."
"You start eating before I even get a bite."
"No. What does that have to do with anything?"
"I'm better than you! Who am I? Top of the whole school! And you, Jeongu? Second place?"
"......"
You pick up your chopsticks after the adult does.
She had a point.
It was one of those little manners you could easily overlook—something school or people around you might teach you—but ignoring it would be rude. Yeah.
Come to think of it, our daughter had never picked up her chopsticks first.
She'd wait until her big brother took a bite, then she'd start eating.
But Yuna? Bragging about being top of the school like that...
I wondered if Yuna was bullying Jeongu, but looking at his face, he just had this exasperated look like he was used to it by now...
"Huh? So, Yuna, if the three of us are eating together, does that mean you two can't eat until I do?"
"......Huh?"
"Oh."
Huh? Listening to Yuri, that actually makes sense in its own way...
Yuna, who had been chattering away smoothly like it was nothing unexpected, suddenly clamped her mouth shut. Jeongu blinked in surprise, clearly impressed.
Well, yeah. Among the three, Yuri was the oldest.
"Ahem! Ahem! N-No, wait! Even so, I teach Yuri how to study, so I'm way more amazing than her!"
"But I'm older. I'm the big sister!"
"Urgh! So what if you're older?! You'll be called an ajumma a whole year before me!"
"Hey! That's too much!!"
Whoa.
Our daughter. I never expected her to bring up age like that.
If she'd said that to Yuri twenty years from now, Yuri might burst into tears.
She didn't seem too mad right now, but if a younger sibling said that to me, I might feel a sting and want to give them a smack.
"......Can't we just be mindful around adults when eating with them? Isn't that right, ma'am?"
"Yeah? Exactly. Jeongu's right, sweetie. Don't worry about it between friends—just be a little more careful when eating with adults."
Watching them now, Jeongu might actually be the most mature of the three.
So calm, never raising his voice... I was starting to doubt he was the same age as Yuna.
Jeongu's mom says she wishes her kid was half as capable as Yuna...
I wish our Yuna was half as well-behaved as Jeongu.
"See? The lady says so."
"Wh-What?! Why ask our mom instead of listening to me? That's cheating!"
"If you don't know, asking an adult is the surest way. It's way better than you and Yuri fighting it out."
Jeongu's comeback left her speechless. She puffed out her cheeks in frustration and glared at him... What? That's adorable. Our daughter can make faces like that?
At first, I was a bit worried, wondering what kind of trouble she was stirring up.
When I heard out of the blue that her friends were coming over to study, I thought, Ah, makes sense—our girl's so good at school, her friends probably want to study with her even during break...
But when I learned it was "life lessons" instead of schoolwork, I couldn't help feeling a little uneasy.
She's definitely our lovable daughter, cherished by all the adults and perfect in our eyes, but Yuna's like a ticking time bomb—you never know where she'll go off.
And it's not just her personality; she's so ridiculously healthy that she turns idle thoughts into action.
What if "life lessons" meant climbing a rocky mountain or jumping into the sea like when she was little? Just imagining it made me dizzy...
"Hmph! Fine, next lesson! Hmm~ You might not need it right now, but it'll be useful when you're older, so I'll teach you something good to know."
But seeing Yuna now, all rowdy but genuinely happy... Maybe I worried for nothing.
Of course, when I heard she'd spank them for messing up, I was shocked. But still.
She couldn't have meant it seriously. It had to be a joke.
......Right? A joke?
Even if she wanted to play, she was worried about leaving me alone if they went all the way to Dodong.
That's why she brought them here to play at home.
And instead of running around wild, they're sitting nicely, chatting away... I can feel her thoughtfulness toward me.
Why did I even worry?
It's so heartwarming. Seeing Yuna grinning ear to ear, playing with her friends right here—it brings a smile to my face.
Unlike me as a kid, she gets to hang out with close friends every day like a normal child.
Sometimes I think she's too grown-up for her age, but moments like this? Pure eight-year-old kid...
"Okay~ Someday, you might end up drinking with parents or some uncle or aunt you don't know well, so I'll teach you how to sip politely!"
"??"
"......Huh?"
??
...What did I just hear?
Yuri, Jeongu, and I all blinked in confusion, frozen in place. Meanwhile, Yuna came back from the kitchen with a bottle of soju and some glasses.
She set a glass in front of the big teddy bear with her big brother's face photo taped on it and twisted open the bottle cap.
Huh? Huh??
"Okay~ First, when pouring a drink, cover the label with one hand and pour with both hands!!"
No way, Yuna? How do you even know that?
I'd never taught her drinking etiquette at home, and hearing it now felt like a hammer to the head—my mind went blank and dizzy.
Glug glug.
"And when receiving a drink, lift the glass with both hands politely~ Just wet your lips lightly, then set it down... Kyaa?!"
Clang!!
"Yuna!! Please don't teach your friends weird stuff... Oh dear."
I couldn't help it—watching her fill the glass in front of her and bring it to her lips, I grabbed the stainless steel bowl with bananas and apples in it and bonked her on the head.
Unlike the usual soft fist taps that rang clear and bright.
She didn't roll on the floor laughing like she recovered instantly from those. Instead, her body shuddered...
"Hee hee."
And she flopped straight onto the floor, passed out.
......
Did I go too far with the soju?
No. Jeongu turned out to be more grown-up than I expected in ways I didn't know, so honestly... I was running out of things to teach, and soju came to mind.
Yuri's dad, Jeongu's dad... and even my own dad love their booze, so eventually, Jeongu and Yuri will end up at adult drinking parties naturally.
I was just sharing the life hacks and etiquette I learned the hard way in my past life, slinging drinks for my boozehound boss while he gave me unwanted advice...
But I never imagined Mom would smash my skull with a stainless steel bowl over it.
I was braced for a light smack... but a full-swing stainless bowl? No way. What the heck.
My brain and skull buzzed like they were doing a frantic tap dance, eyes rolling back—that dizzy feeling... Ow. Never again.
"A-Are you okay?! Not hurt anywhere?!"
"Yup. I'm fine."
Less than a minute later, I came to and sat up. Mom immediately started checking my head all over, looking for injuries.
Hmm, nothing hurts, really.
It stung when it hit, but now? Perfectly fine.
No bruise or anything... If it was cracked or broken, pressing on my scalp like a cat kneading dough would've made me scream, right?
"......Yuri sis. Did that really happen?"
"Yeah. Yuna's tough, so she's okay... probably?"
"No. What do you mean?"
"Jeongu doesn't know? Yuna can poke holes in trees with her fingers!"
"??"
No, Yuri? Even for you.
Even with my healthy, invincible TS body, it's not like I defy nature with my physique, okay?
How could a person poke a tree with their finger... a tree...
......I did, didn't I?
What the heck. How did I even do that?
Thinking back, I just pressed hard and it dug in. I remember that much.
The beast girl defying nature was right here.
"Hmm. But then... do I have anything to teach?"
Honestly, Yuri doesn't seem like the type to study as hardcore as Jeongu or me, aiming for top 1-2 in school.
And doing an "elementary math domination project" just with Jeongu would leave Yuri feeling left out.
If we're doing this, better teach something they both get something out of and can bond over.
But finding something that'll satisfy both isn't easy.
If I aim for Jeongu's level, it's too tough for Yuri. If I go for Yuri's level, Jeongu counters everything like he's already figured it out—uncannily spot on.
I even tried lecturing on surviving society without naively getting splashed by hot water, but he already knew it all.
Sigh. What now? Anything good?
Like, say, those field trip experiences from before break, wandering all over.
Others call it a picnic or whatever, but surprisingly, those irreplaceable experiences matter more than you think... or something?
Experience?
That's right! Experience!!
"You two free this weekend?"
"Huh? Me? Yeah! I was planning to come every weekend anyway, even if daily's too much!"
"Me too. Mom said to hang out with you even if it means skipping taekwondo."
Great. Both good to go?
Dad'll be home on the weekend, so I can head out till dinner, right?
This is for Yuri and Jeongu's experience boost!
"Then let's meet in Sadong this Saturday!"
Not 100% sure, but... I bet they'll say yes.