Chapter 19: Encounter (7)
Chapter 19: Encounter (7)
Han Shin had adamantly insisted on making dinner himself, stopping Kang Yujin from doing it. As soon as she went to wash up, he hurried to the kitchen to start the preparations.
Now that I’m healthy again, I should be the one making dinner for Noona.
Until recently, Han Shin’s only role had been to set the spoons and chopsticks on the table, forced to sit and wait as Yujin instructed. But now, with his body restored, he was more than capable of cooking for her.
“Han Shin-nim. I will help as well.”
“Sure, thanks.”
Having grown closer to Grace in the meantime, Han Shin didn’t refuse her as he might have when they first met. Through training together and fighting side-by-side in dungeons, they had naturally become close.
Furthermore, it was significant that Han Shin, who used to wallow in self-deprecation because his past injuries left him unable to even look after himself, had regained his confidence. He had learned that blindly refusing someone’s kindness could actually be a form of rudeness.
The sounds of clattering dishes, boiling water, and a knife hitting a cutting board began to fill the kitchen.
Not many words passed between Han Shin and Grace, but they both began to grow conscious of one another.
Grace was a knight from a world that had already met its end; her life had been far removed from ordinary domesticity. Even after becoming a knight, any cooking she did was usually outdoors for the sake of survival, hardly what one would call preparing a proper meal.
Experiencing the preparation of a meal with someone in such a peaceful, relaxed atmosphere felt special to her.
The stew bubbling in front of her was a dish she had grown somewhat accustomed to. One might assume that a platinum-haired, fair-skinned female knight with such an exotic appearance wouldn't handle spice well...
But surprisingly, Grace had a high tolerance for it. Perhaps it was because she had grown up as a commoner and ate whatever was available, but her lack of pickiness relieved Han Shin.
He hadn't thought about it the first day they met, but later on, he had worried whether the food suited her palate. He feared she might just be saying it was fine out of politeness even if she didn't like it...
However, Grace was someone who had struggled through a dying world, consuming food for survival rather than flavor. Contrary to his worries, she ate with genuine relish.
“Han Shin-nim. Shall I take the stew to the table now?”
“Wait a second...”
Though she was helping, Grace didn't yet fully understand the recipes or the cooking process, so she checked with Han Shin every step of the way. In a sense, she was learning how to cook from him.
Considering she acted as his swordsmanship instructor, they were essentially exchanging knowledge and filling in each other’s gaps.
At Grace’s call, Han Shin immediately tasted the stew to check the seasoning.
“Yeah, you can take it over now.”
“Understood.”
Grace, wearing pink oven mitts, lifted the pot with both hands and headed for the table.
Coincidentally, that was the exact moment Kang Yujin, having rushed through her shower, stepped into the kitchen.
She saw Grace, dressed in a white tracksuit and pink oven mitts, placing the stew on the table.
In an instant, Yujin’s eyes narrowed into a sharp glare.
From her perspective, the scene in the kitchen was infuriating. She saw the back of her brother, Han Shin, busily chopping something at the counter, and Grace setting the table—it looked exactly like a pair of newlyweds.
The worries she’d had while washing up began to crawl back into her mind.
Endure it... Shin-a will think poorly of me if I don't...
Yujin wanted nothing more than to snap at Grace, asking who she thought she was, or even use her psychokinesis to forcibly eject her from the kitchen. But she couldn't. To Han Shin, she had always been the gentle, kind-hearted older sister.
Ever since they became an orphaned family relying on each other, Yujin had made a desperate effort to show only her best side to him. Despite being family and having the comfort to show her flaws or laziness, she never did.
Shortly after meeting him, she had set her heart on him and meticulously planned a life together. That was why she hadn't changed her surname to match his, even though they were legally family.
Yujin’s goal in life was to stay by Han Shin’s side as his sister, knowing everything about him and molding herself into his perfect ideal.
Furthermore, while attending the same schools, she had thoroughly blocked any "pests" from swarming around him without his knowledge. The reason Han Shin had few close friends during his school years—and absolutely no female ones—was because Yujin had cornered them behind his back and warned them off.
When Yujin, the genius who excelled at everything and was loved by all, pulled someone aside with a terrifying expression and told them never to approach her brother again... any girl who had even a slight crush on him had no choice but to give up.
They couldn't even spread rumors about it. Yujin’s reputation was so flawless that any such claims were dismissed as the malicious lies of those jealous of her.
For a woman like her, seeing another female acting domestic with Han Shin was beyond irritating.
Yujin tried her best to suppress her anger, but Grace had already sensed her gaze and the shift in the atmosphere.
The two women locked eyes in a silent exchange. Grace watched Yujin with a near-expressionless face, while Yujin maintained a sharp, hostile glare.
Grace had encountered all sorts of people in the ruined world of Nippur. She realized that while Kang Yujin was Han Shin’s sister, she wasn't just a sister.
The hostility she was projecting wasn't the protective worry of a sibling...
She sees me as a romantic rival.
It felt like the resentment of a woman who hated someone for flirting with the man she loved.
Grace had never had anyone in her heart before coming to Earth, and naturally, she had never been in a relationship. However, as a noble female knight of great beauty, she had been admired by many men—and had experienced this kind of reaction from the women who liked those men.
Since Grace had to serve Han Shin from now on, she needed to maintain a smooth relationship with his sister. The best choice would be to tell Yujin directly that she had no feelings for Han Shin and that there was nothing to worry about.
But... I don't want to.
Logically, it was the right move, but a deep sense of defiance rose within Grace. She didn't want to back down.
Why am I being like this...? But I really don't want to.
“Oh? Noona, you’re done already?”
Han Shin, sensing Yujin’s presence, turned around and spoke.
“Yeah, Shin-a. But why are you preparing dinner without me? I told you I’d do it.”
Before Han Shin could see her, Yujin’s expression shifted into a bright, radiant smile. It was hard to believe she had been projecting such hostility toward Grace just a second ago.
Han Shin smiled back at her.
“You just got back from work, so I should do it. Besides, being able to prepare a meal for you like this once I got better was one of my biggest wishes.”
“Shin-a...”
When Han Shin looked away slightly in embarrassment as he spoke, Yujin was deeply moved. To have her beloved brother care for her and want to treat her was the greatest gift she could receive.
The dark delusions of Grace and Han Shin doing something improper, and the blatant hostility she felt toward the knight, vanished in an instant.
Yujin rushed forward and threw her arms around Han Shin.
“Whoa! Noona, I’m holding a knife. You’ll get hurt!”
“I won’t get hurt, Shin-a. I’m just so glad you’re healthy now. Thank you for thinking of me.”
Perhaps because she had just showered, a fresh floral scent wafted from her, making Han Shin feel pleasant. Since she might get cut, he carefully set the knife down on the cutting board and patted her back a few times.
“I’m the one who’s grateful, Noona.”
At his words, Yujin tightened her embrace slightly, pressing her body closer to his.
Through the thin fabric of her clothes, Han Shin could feel the soft pressure of her large breasts. The sensation of her supple body made him feel like he might lose his composure if he wasn't careful.
“Noona, let’s eat now.”
“Okay, let’s.”
Yujin felt a bit reluctant to let go, but she had to remain the "good sister."
As she stepped back and watched Han Shin turn to finish the cooking, she shot a mocking smirk at Grace, who was standing behind them. It was a clear declaration of victory.
Grace’s expression didn't change, and she didn't even blink at the provocation.
Though she seemed unfazed on the outside, Grace suddenly moved toward Yujin.
Yujin tensed, ready to use her psychokinesis at any moment, but Grace simply walked past her and stood right next to Han Shin.
“Han Shin-nim. I will take care of the scraps.”
“Oh, thanks, Grace.”
As if to show Yujin, Grace stood right at Han Shin’s right side to help him. Inwardly, Grace had decided not to take Yujin’s provocation lying down.
“Shin-a, is there anything I can help with?”
Realizing she couldn't let this continue, Yujin quickly moved to Han Shin’s left side and asked.
“Uh... I’m almost done...”
“Han Shin-nim. I will go dispose of the food waste.”
Grace pointed out a task that still needed doing. Han Shin noticed the food waste bin, which had piled up quite a bit.
“Oh, right. But Grace, do you know where to take it?”
“I do not... but if you show me, I will take it immediately.”
“Then let’s go together.”
Yujin bit her lip slightly before brightening her expression again.
“Shin-a, I’ll take care of that. It’s a simple chore, isn't it?”
“Hmm... Alright, Noona. Thanks.”
As she headed out to throw away the trash, Yujin felt like Grace had landed a blow on her.
Yujin always strove to be the helpful sister. If she didn't volunteer to take the trash instead of Grace—who didn't even know the area—her offer to help would have looked like empty words. She had been forced to step up.
Ha... so that’s how it’s going to be...
Yujin confirmed that Grace, despite her stoic exterior, had feelings for Han Shin and had no intention of losing to her. If she hadn't cared, she would have bowed to Yujin’s dominance.