Chapter 182: Loot (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 182: Loot (3)
“What are you gonna do when you get home?”
We were on our way back to the penthouse after leaving the Maengju building.
Walking with her arm linked through mine, Cheon Yeo-wool asked in a voice full of anticipation.
What do you mean, what am I gonna do…
“Sleep, of course…”
I answered with a yawn.
To be honest, I was still a little tired.
My body had been lying down for two weeks straight, so even the slightest movement brought on a wave of fatigue. A little more sleep, and I felt like I’d be perfectly fine.
At my answer, Cheon Yeo-wool’s lips jutted out in a pout.
“Aww, no fun.”
She shook my arm, whining like a child.
“At least eat something before you go.”
I chuckled, trying to placate her.
At my words, a bright smile bloomed on her face.
“Are you going to cook?”
“Of course I am. Who else would?”
Was she suggesting I eat something she cooked?
Hmm…
I had no desire to become a patient again.
“I can do it!” Cheon Yeo-wool replied, her voice brimming with confidence.
“I’m good. Please.”
I really didn’t want to be poisoned.
“…Something feels off here.”
Seeing my desperate reaction, Cheon Yeo-wool narrowed her eyes and began to watch me with suspicion.
We took the car Kang A-rin had sent for us and headed to the Portal Clearance Office. There, we boarded a portal bound for Gaon.
Whirrrrr…
The familiar sensation of space twisting around us.
The next moment, we had arrived at Gaon’s Portal Clearance Office.
The second I stepped out of the portal, I felt all eyes on me.
Students, faculty, even active heroes who were here for missions.
Everyone in the clearance office stared at us as if on cue.
For a moment, I wondered if I’d done something wrong.
“Can’t be helped,” Cheon Yeo-wool said quietly, standing beside me.
“You’re probably more famous than most active heroes now.”
Murmur, murmur…
Before she even finished speaking, the clearance office began to buzz. Every gaze, every whisper was directed at me.
‘Ah.’
It was only then that I realized.
After the succession of Bulgaram, the Hero Association had officially announced my existence to the world. And while I had been lying unconscious, the news had been chattering on and on about my exploits.
The annihilation of the Evil God’s Apostles, Barcus and Belial.
Humanity’s consecutive victories against the Apostles.
And the fact that I had been at the center of it all.
On top of that, as far as the world knew, I was still in a ‘comatose state.’ Down for the count after sustaining heavy damage in the battle with the Apostles.
So, of course, they were shocked to see someone who was supposed to be bedridden standing right before them on his own two feet.
Murmur, murmur…
The stares were getting uncomfortable, and I started to walk faster, wanting to get back to the penthouse quickly.
But just then, someone ran toward me.
“Min-ha, wait…!”
A woman who appeared to be the child’s mother shouted urgently from behind, but the boy paid her no mind.
He was just a little kid.
In his hand, he clutched a figurine of Park Gwang-cheol.
The boy stopped right in front of me.
He looked up at me with clear eyes full of curiosity.
“Mr. Hero! Are you okay?”
At his innocent question, I nodded.
“Yeah. I’m okay.”
I leaned down, gently patting the boy’s head once with a smile.
The child smiled brightly back.
Leaving the stares behind us, we set off for the penthouse.
It was still the middle of the day, with the sun high in the sky.
Just about the time to get hungry.
“Let’s buy something on the way.”
I said to Cheon Yeo-wool, who was walking beside me.
Two weeks…
The ingredients I had packed the penthouse fridge with were probably not in the best condition. There wouldn’t be anything to eat if we went back now. If I wanted to cook, I had to go grocery shopping first.
Delivery was an option, but to celebrate my return, I just wanted a warm, home-cooked meal.
Cheon Yeo-wool responded to my suggestion.
“Okay, let’s go shopping.”
We headed straight for the massive grocery market located inside Gaon.
“What do you want to eat?”
I asked Cheon Yeo-wool, who was sticking right by my side, as I pushed the cart and picked up a head of crisp lettuce from the fresh produce section.
“Hmm… I don’t know…”
She seemed to ponder for a moment, then linked her arm with mine and whispered.
“You.”
“…”
“Anything you make is good…” she added.
“…Let’s just eat whatever.”
I lightly tapped her on the forehead with the lettuce I was holding.
“I was talking about food.”
At my words, she pouted as if disappointed.
I ignored her and pushed the cart toward the meat section.
I was thinking of grilling some steaks and serving them with a ricotta cheese salad.
Some top-grade, mana-infused Korean beef…
I picked out a cut of sirloin with the best marbling from the display case and was about to put it in the cart.
“Did you know?” Cheon Yeo-wool said, leaning her arms on the cart and watching me.
“Eel is actually not as good for your stamina as beef.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I guess it was just a superstition. Scientifically, they say beef is better.”
“…I see.”
I recalled that night not long ago when I was surrounded by women and forced to eat an endless amount of eel.
So you’re saying that was all for nothing…?
My beef…
I’ve learned something new, I thought, and put the sirloin in the cart…
“And.”
But before my hand could even touch the package of sirloin, Cheon Yeo-wool’s slender, white fingers gently grasped my wrist.
“Tenderloin is better than sirloin.”
She picked up a block of deep, crimson tenderloin that looked to be of the highest quality.
Then she naturally placed it in my hand.
I stared blankly at the block of tenderloin in my hand.
“Right…”
I just accepted it and put it in the cart.
After we finished all our shopping, we finally headed home.
“I’ll start grilling. Can you go see if the others are in the penthouse and bring them over?”
I said to Cheon Yeo-wool at the front door. Since she also needed to change into something more comfortable, we decided to stop by our respective rooms first.
Home, after so long.
It really felt like I was back.
I set the grocery bags on the kitchen table and went straight for the refrigerator.
First, I had to clean out everything inside. After two weeks, it was probably in a terrible state.
I have to do this first…
Click.
“Huh…?”
But when I opened the fridge door, the inside had already been neatly cleaned.
The vegetable drawer, which should have been full of rotting produce, was empty, and there was no sign of expired milk or drinks.
“Who was it?”
It seemed someone had already cleaned up everything.
How on earth did they get in?
I was grateful, but…
At the same time, it was a little creepy.
Well, that was one less thing to worry about.
I gave up trying to figure it out and took out the blocks of tenderloin we’d bought, placing them in olive oil to marinate.
Pepper, salt, and rosemary. A simple marinade.
The others would probably start gathering soon.
I took out five generous portions.
I washed the lettuce and vegetables to prepare a salad, then took out a frying pan and began to heat it up.
Ssssss…
The butter melted on the pan, releasing a savory aroma.
As I took in the smell, I felt the happiness of a peaceful, everyday moment for the first time in a while.
Just then.
Ding-dong~
Someone rang the doorbell.
I immediately headed to the front door to let them in.
And I opened it.
“You’re here…?”
But there was only one person before me.
Cheon Yeo-wool, who had changed into a sports bra and short dolphin shorts that revealed every curve of her body.
She looked like she had just finished showering; steam rose from her damp hair, carrying a sweet fragrance.
She peeked her head past me, checking to see if anyone else was there.
“No one here either…?”
She tilted her head.
“Where are the others?”
I asked Cheon Yeo-wool about the whereabouts of the other kids.
But Cheon Yeo-wool just smiled brightly and answered.
“They’re not here. No one is.”
Then she brushed past me and casually walked inside.
Her bare skin grazed my arm.
“Really?”
I stood there dumbfounded for a moment, watching her back, before asking urgently.
Wait, why is no one here?
“Yup. They must have all gone out.”
She flopped onto the sofa as if throwing herself down and crossed her legs.
“…For real?”
“Yup.”
And then, the corners of her lips curled up into a smirk.
“For real.”
“…”
I instantly understood the meaning behind that smile.
“Hae-in.”
“…Yeah.”
Cheon Yeo-wool got up from her seat.
“What are you doing?”
She walked past me and reached a hand out behind my back.
Clack.
Beep.
The front door slammed shut. And was locked.
She leaned against the door and looked back at me.
“You have to close the door.”
She added, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“What if a thief gets in?”
Swoosh.
And then, she slowly brushed past me.
