Chapter 9 - She Doesn't Clean

Evangeline sunbae, I'm sorry. Please play the villain just for a moment. Later, I'll stake my life to wash away this filthy stigma for you.

'It wasn't human experimentation at all—it was pouring mana into curing my "Loathing Curse".'

This scenario is perfect. I've lived my whole life ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠enduring baseless hatred. Intellectuals like the academy's female professors wouldn't miss the 180-degree change in my aura.

'The genius mage who volunteered as the villain to heal a cursed commoner.'

If I just sync my story with Evangeline sunbae's later on, the derogatory title of "witch" will flip to "hidden saintess" in an instant. This is true turning misfortune into fortune—my grand design.

Above all...

'Now I've become the school's official "witch's slave".'

The perks of this title are tremendous. Even if I pop in and out of the Old Annex constantly, show up late to class, or skip cafeteria shifts, people will just think, "Ah, he's off suffering under the witch again," and pity me. Until her misunderstandings clear up, it's the perfect alibi.

'Phew, now I can relax, build affinity, and heal her.'

Freed from labor, I bolted straight to Evangeline sunbae's place.

Knock, knock.

"Sunbae, it's me."

The door creaked open, and Evangeline sunbae peeked out.

"Ah, Evan-nim!"

Her face lit up in an instant. Her freshly cut hair swayed charmingly. She'd probably been cooped up at home, but she'd clearly put thought into her outfit.

"Come in! The academy... was it okay?"

"Yeah, I sorted it all out perfectly."

I grinned and shut the door behind me.

"Professor Werner said from now on, as Evangeline sunbae's dedicated assistant, I have to serve you with all I've got."

"I... dedicated assistant?"

"Yep. Cafeteria shifts are out—my official duty now is making sure sunbae eats properly."

"Why?"

"It was to clear your name... sort of. I'll explain later."

Her eyes went wide like a startled rabbit's, then softened into a shy smile.

"So... we'll see each other every day from now on?"

I flashed my oiliest smile and stepped closer.

"Heh heh, do you want to see me every day?"

"Ah..."

She froze. Realizing her inner thoughts had slipped out unfiltered.

I drove it home.

"Is that it? Evangeline sunbae? Come onnn, answer me."

"Agh!! I don't know, seriously!!"

She whipped around, ripe as a beet, her ears burning red even from behind.

"I'm going inside first!"

She scurried off like she was fleeing. Ah, so cute.

"Haha, pardon the intrusion."

For some reason, I just wanted to tease her nonstop. Her reactions were so predictable. Touch her lightly, and she crumbled—pure satisfaction.

Whistling, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I followed her in.

'Someday, I'll remodel this place so I take my shoes off at the door!!'

The moment I stepped inside, my brow furrowed. Pitch black. Even in broad daylight, triple-layered blackout curtains blocked every ray of light. Vampire hybrid or not, this was excessive. Depressed people need vitamin D—sunlight—most of all.

Whoosh!

I yanked the curtains open without hesitation. Dust danced like gold flecks in the pouring sunlight.

"Ugh..."

Evangeline sunbae shielded her eyes from the glare.

I scanned the room. Paper scraps on the floor. Water glasses abandoned on the table. Since I'd last cleaned, entropy had ticked up just a bit more.

'As expected.'

She hadn't lifted a finger. She'd been waiting for me, curled up in the dark. Classic apathy symptoms.

"Phew... let's get started."

I grabbed the broom like always. She jumped in front of me in a panic.

"No! It's fine!! Put the broom down!!"

"......"

My brain fogged over. 'Yeah, if our goddess says no, who am I, her slave, to defy her...' The thought crept in.

But I bit my tongue hard, snapping back.

'No.'

Cleaning isn't just chores. It's creating an environment for her, retraining her broken daily rhythm. I'd heard a million times: the first step in treating depression is 'cleaning.' Sure, I'd do it at first—for affinity and to make her rely on me. But I couldn't do it forever. Otherwise, she'd stay a shut-in 'witch' who can't function without me.

She had to rejoin society eventually. Form a party with me, smash the demon king's skull as our ultimate fighter.

'It starts with cleaning. Ultimately, she has to do it herself.'

I set the broom down and moved to the sink. She blocked me again, voice trembling.

"Evan-nim... I can't impose anymore..."

She strained to shove me from the sink, face full of guilt.

'Ugh... can't keep bickering every time.'

I needed to ease her guilt. Give her a reason to accept my service as natural—joyful, even.

I set the dishes down and opened with the world's most serious face.

"Evangeline sunbae."

"Yes..."

"Truth is, I've had a chronic illness for a long time."

"Huh? An illness?"

Her eyes widened.

"Y... yeah. A really serious one. Circumstances I couldn't tell anyone... even doctors gave up on me."

I swallowed dryly. Not a lie. A century of dysfunction. A death sentence as a man. Worse than cancer.

I met her gaze squarely.

"But after eating that stew you made, it vanished like magic. No joke—energy surged through me like never before."

Yeah, surged so hard it exploded.

'Gah, she's my true lifesaver!!'

Words couldn't capture it. My body would have to show it.

Thud!

I slammed my forehead to the floor right there. A thunderous, perfect dogeza.

"I've been reborn! Thank you so much!!"

The floor shook. Bargain for saving my manhood—grand prostration would've been cheap.

"Kyaaah?! What are you doing? Get up!"

"Yes."

I sprang up like a spring.

"......"

"......"

She scanned me up and down in confusion, then flushed crimson.

'Huh? Still so shy...'

Her fidgeting was adorable. I sealed it.

"So, no need for guilt. I've been overpaid already."

"But... making you work too..."

"Sunbae, I'm a commoner. No money."

I spread my hands, emphasizing my poverty.

"All I've got is this body. So how else do I repay such a huge debt?"

"Ah..."

"Let me clean, at least. It puts my mind at ease."

Logical(?) pressure. The soft-hearted girl froze at "repay the favor," lips flapping silently.

Good, hooked.

I grinned and grabbed the broom again.

"Alright, agreed then. Cleaning resumes."

"Ah... okay, I'll help too!"

"Heh heh, follow my lead."

"Pardon?"

A duke's daughter and hikikomori? No way she knew housework. Time to flex my expertise in cleaning, cooking, all homemaking basics.

"For mopping, push forward, not back..."

"When prepping veggies..."

"For sorting underwear, roll them like this..."

"Kyaaaaah!! I'll handle underwear myself!!"

"Watch close, this is the trick."

"????"

*

Wake up, head to the Old Annex in the Abandoned Forest for "work": clean, cook and feed her, walk her, praise her, home by evening. Three straight days all-in on her.

Classes? Useless for a regressor like me. Just hit attendance minimums.

Now was time to focus on my lifeline—her.

But one issue.

"......"

Another sigh as I opened the door today. After I left for "work," she reverted to perfect feral mode.

'Time to get tough.'

"Sunbae."

"Y-yes?"

"If it's not clean next time I come..."

I paused, then declared coldly.

"I won't come again."

"......!!"

Thud—like a despair sound effect from her.

'Of course, I'll come every day.'

"We'll see. Later."

I turned my back coldly and left down the path through ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Abandoned Forest.

"Ah... Evan-nim..."

*

Evangeline watched Evan vanish into the Abandoned Forest from the doorway until he was gone.

'My prince...'

When he'd come to her home on his own, she'd felt like she owned the world. Even though she was shunned as a witch... he'd sought her out by choice.

'Even after I bit him half to death...'

No anger—just cleaned her filthy house, cooked warm meals. Too sweet. She wished this moment would last forever.

She wanted to live up to his expectations. Clean with effort, return to the academy someday...

That moment.

Creep—

Black fog-like memories slithered from her feet, strangling her throat. Hate-filled glares. Horrid whispers calling her witch from behind.

The memories ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠took form—spears and blades gouging her heart.

"Hah, huff..."

Terrifying. People's stares, the coming condemnation.

She resolved hundreds of times: muster courage, repay his heart.

But what truly broke her wasn't fear of the world.

'Wait... if I get better?'

A chilling thought struck.

He came to "help" her. Because she was pitiful, broken, helpless alone.

So if she got fine? Cleaned herself, lived independently?

Debt repaid, he'd have no reason to visit.

The thought chained her—couldn't move a finger.

So she didn't clean. Couldn't.

Stay messier, more broken, and he'd care for her.

As expected, he came smiling. Taught her gently, like coaxing a child. That tender attention was too sweet; she grew complacent without realizing.

This was wrong. Deceiving him.

But... losing him scared her more than death.

Today, his eyes cold as ice: [I won't come again.]

"Ah......"

Her heart plummeted. His gaze was real. Her petty scheme exhausted him. Her selfish dependence pushed him away.

"N-no...!!"

Evangeline's red eyes filled with terror. Abandoned. Her sole light gone. Left alone in that cold, dark abyss.

Imagination alone choked her.

"I'll do good... I'll, I'll do it..."

She rushed inside, trembling hands clutching the broom.

Fear? Apathy? Irrelevant now.

Clean or he'd never come.

That fact ignited every instinct.

Swish, swish, swish!

She swept like a maniac. As Evan taught—forward, with body weight.

"Hic... sob..."

Tears soaked the floor, but the broom didn't stop. Her eyes burned not with vacant gloom, but eerie obsession.

'Clean... perfectly...'

So he'd praise her. So he wouldn't leave.

Moonlit living room center. The witch swept till dawn, palms raw, mopping alone.

All to cling to her prince.