Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: A World of Reversed Lord and Servant
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"Hoo, hoo, haa."
The cool broth I hadn't tasted in ages.
It had been so long since I'd had proper soup rice that I slurped it down mindlessly without even realizing.
"Hee hee."
"Ack, pfft, cough...!"
"Damn it, gross!"
"Mi-Minho! Cough, cough!"
Across from me, Min-ji and Ji-eun were bickering again, but I had no time to pay attention.
My hands wouldn't stop because it was hot yet so delicious, and my vision was flashing before my eyes.
"Not too hot?"
Ga-eun offered me a glass filled with ice water.
I took it without hesitation and gulped it down.
"Phew, thanks. But it's seriously good."
I quickly thanked her and buried my face back in.
Since I'd only mixed in a little rice, the grains were starting to not float well anymore.
My hands were small, and the stone pot was too hot to pick up, so I was leaning in to eat.
Truth be told, even adults would struggle to lift and eat from it.
"Eheheh, your whole head's gonna fit in there."
Click.
My friends laughed as they snapped a photo of me.
Is it that funny...?
Every little action of mine got such a huge reaction that I couldn't tell if I really looked ridiculous or if they were just messing with me.
As I hesitated at their laughter, Ga-eun gently pushed my forehead with her finger, pulling my head out of the pot.
"Ahem, look, do it like this."
Ga-eun wiped the broth off my cheek, then slightly lifted one side of the stone pot, using the height difference from the saucer to tilt and steady it.
"Whoa."
I was impressed.
It didn't wobble, and all the contents gathered on one side, making it easy to scoop.
"Genius? How'd you even think of that?"
"Someone taught me."
"Amazing..."
Now I wouldn't have to eat like a clown.
"Try the blood sausage too. It's good."
"Told you it'd be. Heh heh heh."
"...Why are you so proud of it?"
At that, I picked up a piece of blood sausage.
Unlike regular ones stuffed with glass noodles, this was filled with meat and blood clots, pitch black in color.
The blood sausage had a plump, chewy feel overall.
Chew chew.
The texture was unique too.
No chewy glass noodles or skin like regular sausage—just soft and springy.
It felt like chewing well-stewed dumplings.
A nutty flavor filled my mouth, and the deep, rich taste of blood sausage enveloped my tongue.
"Whoa, it's amazing."
I mumbled without even finishing chewing, and Ji-eun across from me grinned ear to ear.
She was that happy just because the blood sausage got praised?
What a weird sense of pride...
'But I get it.'
I grabbed another piece, and the rich flavors danced in my mouth again.
Su-hyeon had eaten an enormous amount for the first time in a while.
Lately, she'd been getting by on one meal a day and photosynthesis for the rest, so she thought her stomach had shrunk. But nope—it still held plenty.
Though she couldn't finish it all.
"Ugh, I'm stuffed..."
Even the slightest movement felt like it would make everything spill out.
"Should've ordered mine mild and shared. Right?"
I shook my head vigorously at Ga-eun's words.
I wanted to enjoy the full menu that came out just for me.
Besides, splitting like that wasn't proper restaurant etiquette.
"Wasting food and money— isn't this better than that?"
"Ah..."
Was it because her balance had some leeway now?
Normally, she never would've left anything behind.
She'd split it over days before throwing any away.
Going to toss it was a hassle anyway...
Sorry, piggies... Sorry, farmers... Sorry for wasting Grandma's pocket money...
"She's off in weird thoughts again. Let's go."
Ga-eun grabbed Su-hyeon under the arms as she started spiraling and headed for the car.
"Wait, who paid, anyway?"
"Huh? Me."
"Ah..."
Ga-eun answered as she carried me along.
But it was too early to be disappointed.
"I-I'll! I'll send it to you. How much?"
"Stay still, it's dangerous. What if you fall?"
"Guh."
Wasn't the senior supposed to treat in situations like this?
I flailed to fulfill my duties as the junior and elder... but it was no use.
"It's fine. I make money."
"......"
Suddenly, Ga-eun—who'd been streaming since high school—seemed incredible.
Compared to me, who did nothing until 23 and collapsed...
Afterward, Su-hyeon complained of motion sickness and misery from overeating, so their dessert crawl sadly turned into coffee at a nearby chain cafe.
Then, after her afternoon liberal arts class, they headed home.
Su-hyeon's KakaoTalk had a brand-new group chat for the first time in forever.
She walked along grinning at the posts about today's events and photos—mostly of herself, but that just excited her more.
The thrill of new connections and belonging.
Savoring the day's afterglow, she reached the alley near home.
'...?'
There were a bunch of unfamiliar people near the house.
What was going on?
I have to pass through here...
She tried to sneak by, but locked eyes with one.
"Hey, there! She's here!"
The man pointed and shouted.
Heads turned in unison, and they all rushed over.
"Wh-what?"
Startled, she tried to run, but a wall blocked the rear. She just froze, not knowing what to do.
"Su-hyeon-ssi, how did you escape the exhibition hall terror?"
"Y-yes?"
"Can you describe the situation in detail?"
"What did you see at the terror site?"
"Are you an Awakener? What's your rank?!"
Reporters?
The alley was narrow, so not many big cameras, but regardless of age or gender, they wore badges around their necks and thrust mics forward.
"Is it true you were at the department store incident too? Any connection between the recent two events?"
This was a whole different level of frenzy from students approaching at school.
No hint of consideration at all.
How did they find my house? Why me out of all the victims? And how do they know my name?
I distinctly remember they let the kid go without interviewing.
"Um, excuse me..."
"What's your actual age? A mutation-type ability user?"
"Any clashes with the terrorists?"
Frightened, shocked, and flustered, she didn't know what to do—then a man shouted from the house across the way.
"You lot gonna scram or not?!"
A bellow full of rage.
The reporters paused briefly but soon ignored him and focused back on Su-hyeon.
"Say something!"
When the reporters pretended not to hear, residents started coming down one by one, arguing with them.
"Making such a racket in the neighborhood! Blocking the way—what's this?!"
"Is this alley your private property?"
"And you're not even a resident of this villa, lady—what business is it of yours?"
"Call the cops!"
"Already did."
"We're here to uncover the truth!"
"Truth my ass—look at yourselves!"
When the aunties and uncles didn't back down, a nearby reporter grabbed Su-hyeon's shoulder.
"Su-hyeon-ssi, this is the public's right to know. Please cooperate."
Then the fishmonger uncle roughly yanked the hand away. Sorry for always running from the fishy smell...
"Let go right now!"
"Tch!"
The reporter roughly shook off the hand and tried to shove the uncle, but the size difference meant he didn't budge.
"Who are you to boss us around?!"
"And who are you to—!"
"—!"
The shouting match intensified, and Su-hyeon, caught in the middle, felt her vision going white.
Clang—
Then a loud noise echoed from the metal stairs.
"...?"
There stood a pitch-black figure looking down at them—
"Helmet...?"
A stunning figure in a skin-tight suit, covered in pouches that screamed middle-schooler edginess.
Topped with a sleek helmet.
The reporters froze at Brüel's appearance.
"What is this?"
A polite but icy tone.
"Oh, miss! Look at these guys right now...!"
The residents eagerly tattled, seeing their chance.
One reporter snapped out of it and tried to explain.
"Ah, we're reporters, just here for a quick interview..."
"Why here?"
"It's related to a resident—"
"So?"
"Pardon?"
Brüel cut off another mid-sentence as she descended the stairs step by step, dropping barbs.
"That's your selfish issue."
Thud.
"Rude."
Thud.
"Impolite."
Thud.
"Noisy."
Thud.
"Shameless people."
Thud.
"Why should I care?"
Brüel normally moved silently.
She was deliberately making noise now to build an intimidating aura.
As Brüel strode forward, people parted, and she reached Su-hyeon.
She silently stared at the reporter who'd grabbed Su-hyeon's shoulder.
An inexplicable pressure made him step back slightly.
"Wh-what... If you touch me... Eek!"
He flinched pathetically as Brüel raised her hand.
Brüel let out a deliberate snicker for him to hear.
Then she placed her hand on the exact spot on the man's body where he'd grabbed Su-hyeon, and slowly, pat pat, brushed it off.
"So...
Dirty."
And finally tapped his shoulder blade.
"Looks like you got some dust on you?"
"S-sorry."
The man, completely cowed, apologized.
Brüel hadn't wanted an apology to her, so her mood didn't improve, but she let it slide for now.
She turned, clapped her hands sharply, and spoke in a tone like shooing kids away.
"Alright~ Everyone go home now. And don't come back."
Her arrogant tone irked a reporter steeped in Confucian values.
Impressive dedication to keep at journalism into that age.
"Such a young thing, so rude— who do you think you are? How old are you?"
"Hm?"
Unfamiliar with the culture, Brüel briefly puzzled over the sudden age question but politely answered.
"Definitely older than your grandma."
"Wh-what?!"
A savage burn delivered oh-so-politely.
Protests erupted from elsewhere.
Strength in numbers breeding courage, perhaps?
"You've been trying to chase us off— who are you to do that? What authority do you have?"
The classic "Who are you to?!" again.
Versatile for when you have nothing to say or lack justification.
Its sister phrase: "For the people," turning flimsy morals into noble duty.
"Landlord."
"Pardon...?"
"I'm the owner of this building. And the land."
"Eh...?"
......?
The reporters were thrown again by the unexpected landlord reveal.
Who shows up as landlord in an outfit ready to whip out a laser gun?
"Questions over? Get out."
"Come on, miss..."
Some belatedly switched to pleading, but it fell on deaf ears.
"Out."
Brüel chased them off, heel-kicking shins—not hard enough to break, but enough to draw yelps of "Ow! Argh!" everywhere.
"I said out!"
"Okay, okay! Stop kicking...!"
Police sirens finally wailed in the distance.
Groan, can't fight the landlord...! The reporters fled.
"Su-hyeon-ssi, we'll visit again. Please give an interview next time!"
"There won't be a next time."
One shouted a last plea before vanishing.
"Disperse now! Ah, they're running!"
The two cops from before hurriedly chased after.
Those two are always busy.
"Haa..."
Su-hyeon slid down to the ground right there. Catching her breath, she looked around to see some residents watching her worriedly.
"You okay? Must've been scary— those heartless bastards!"
An auntie helped her up and dusted her off.
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you so much."
Su-hyeon bowed her head.
"Tell us anytime something like this happens. That's what neighbors are for."
"That miss sure is something. This building's yours?"
"Wait, wasn't this villa that real estate Kim lady's?"
"You didn't know? She barely shows up."
Su-hyeon sincerely thanked the aunties and uncles who'd fought like it was their own problem and sent them home.
The cops were getting the full story from the reporting auntie.
Once things settled, Su-hyeon and Brüel returned to the room.
"Sorry. I'll check where the gap came from."
Jingle.
Somehow, a bunch of reporters' badges dangled from Brüel's hand, clinking.
Shattered memory chips from cameras were wedged between her fingers.
Su-hyeon turned silently, faced Brüel, and prostrated flat on the floor.
"Wh-what!!"
Stunned by the unforeseen scene, Brüel bowed back in panic.
"Sorry for everything up till now."
"Pardon? No, why are you doing this?! Please lift your head!"
"Sorry for being rude to the landlord all this time."
"Landlord? I'm your faithful servant, Su-hyeon-nim! Please don't!"
To Su-hyeon, being a landlord was the ultimate evolution: printing money without working.
No comparison to some fisherman napping with a meager catch.
President? CEO? Top Hunter?
Pointless—they all had to work.
Behold the landlord.
Money rolled in without lifting a finger.
Creating something from nothing—the pinnacle of power...
Su-hyeon's view of the seemingly airheaded Brüel flipped 180 degrees.
"A mere tenant daring not to recognize the sky-like landlord..."
"That's not it! How could I ever!"
Brüel even did a handstand. Impressively steady without removing her helmet.
Su-hyeon tried too but her puny physique turned it into a clumsy forward roll.
"Hngh."
"Su-hyeon-nim!"
Her soft sole smacked and stuck to the back of Brüel's helmeted head.
"!"
Even with the helmet, placing a foot on someone's head...
For some races, a grave insult, even to a master.
But not for Brüel.
If anything, not bad...?
Only after Brüel removed her helmet and calmed Su-hyeon down did the farce end.