Chapter 54
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: What's with This Uncle?
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What's with this guy?
Waah—
Su-hyeon gripped the burger tightly with both hands and opened her mouth wide.
She had taken off her frog raincoat and hung it on the chair across from her.
She held it firmly to keep the ingredients from spilling out, but the burger still looked enormous by comparison.
One big bite, and the tangy juice from the tomato spread through her mouth, followed by the soft egg crumbling apart.
Crunch crunch.
Her cheeks puffed out busily with every eager chew. Was she actually a squirrel instead of a frog?
Plop plop—
Bits of bacon that couldn't fit through her small mouth tumbled onto the tray.
Su-hyeon quickly scooped them up with her pinky finger and popped them back in.
Her cheeks and the corners of her mouth glistened with sauce and grease.
Her pink tongue darted out to lick around her lips, but it was no use.
"This is delicious."
"Told you it is. Oh, it's even better if you dip the fries in it, but it's a shame they don't have fries right now."
'Huh?'
The voices of people chatting by the window drifted over from afar.
Su-hyeon, having polished off her burger in no time, glanced toward the table where the sound came from.
Two people were happily chatting away, each sipping a milkshake.
"Min-ji and Ji-eun said it was good too."
Su-hyeon pondered for a moment before heading back down to the first floor.
A short while later.
"Here's one milkshake to go."
She took the shake from the staff member flashing another bright smile and returned to the second floor.
Sitting back down, Su-hyeon cautiously put the straw to her lips and took a sip. As the cold, creamy milkshake filled her mouth, her eyes widened round.
'Delicious.'
It felt like it was cooling down her overheated insides from the hot, humid weather.
Her leaves rustled gently.
**
"One milkshake to go."
"Thank you."
After finishing her milkshake, Su-hyeon ordered another one.
This time, it wasn't for her—it was to go.
She planned to bring it to Min-ji, who was working at the PC bang.
She felt a little guilty remembering how she'd hogged the full beauty salon course last time.
Su-hyeon slipped her raincoat back on and was about to head out with the bagged milkshake when...
Whirr—
With the door open, she had no choice but to pause.
"Uh..."
The rain was coming down even harder than before.
'What do I do?'
This was beyond what a raincoat could handle. She might need an umbrella after all...
But holding the milkshake in one hand and an umbrella in the other felt precarious.
If she were taller, she could hook the bag on the umbrella handle.
Actually, she wouldn't even need to worry about that if she could just hold an umbrella with one hand.
Whirr—
The door opened again, and Su-hyeon stepped hesitantly outside.
Pour—
Plop plop.
The raindrops pounding her raincoat were thicker than before.
As she debated opening an umbrella, a familiar voice came from beside her.
"Lady Su-hyeon."
"Brüel?"
It was Brüel, helmet on as always.
"Allow me to escort you."
With that, Brüel took the umbrella from her hand.
"Hm, pardon the intrusion."
Then, with one arm scooping under Su-hyeon's thighs, she elegantly unfurled the umbrella with her free hand.
It was a fluid motion, like flowing water.
"Eep."
Her eye level shot up abruptly.
Amazingly, there was no shaking at all, but for peace of mind, Su-hyeon rested one hand on Brüel's shoulder.
"My raincoat's all wet."
She said it out of worry for the arm supporting her butt getting soaked.
"It's fine. It dries quickly."
"Really?"
Hm.
Su-hyeon peered at Brüel's helmet right in front of her.
She'd worried Brüel might have been waiting in the rain, but surprisingly, not a single droplet clung to the helmet.
"Where to?"
Looking around at Brüel's question, Su-hyeon spotted their reflection in the shop's glass window. It looked just like a painting.
Well, more precisely, Brüel carrying her did.
A slender woman cradling a small child in one arm, holding an umbrella primly with the other—it evoked a scene from a noir film.
The all-black umbrella and outfit only enhanced the effect.
"To that PC bang we went to before. This is for Min-ji."
She rustled the bagged milkshake for emphasis.
Dew was beading on the cold surface in the humid air.
"Understood."
Brüel strode forward briskly.
"Welcome~ Oh, Su-hyeon?"
Min-ji, who had been tidying up, spotted Su-hyeon being carried in by Brüel.
"Hey, Min-ji."
"Hey! Here to game again today?"
Min-ji paused her cleaning and came over to the counter.
"Oh, you're that lady from before, right? Um, Niel or something?"
"It's Brüel."
"Brüel! Ahaha, I wasn't sure with the helmet on! Wow, your figure is unforgettable, but without seeing your face... haha."
Min-ji's friendliness was something else.
She could cozy up to even someone who gave curt replies.
Well, Min-ji was a normal social butterfly as long as she didn't do anything weird.
That's why she worked at this PC bang, infamous for hiring based on looks.
"Here, this is for you..."
Su-hyeon handed over the bag she'd been hugging.
"Gasp...! You bought this for me!?"
"Yeah. You gonna check what's inside?"
Min-ji seemed more touched by the fact that Su-hyeon got her a gift than the contents themselves.
"Su-hyeon got me a present... Sniff sniff."
"No, it's just..."
Min-ji covered her eyes and pretended to sob.
It was only a milkshake, but her over-the-top reaction made Su-hyeon feel embarrassed.
"......"
"Brüel?"
Su-hyeon called out, noticing what seemed like tension in Brüel's grip.
"Yes, Lady Su-hyeon."
But she turned back with an expression that said nothing was wrong (hidden by the helmet, of course), leaving Su-hyeon unsure.
'Was it my imagination?'
She shook her head side to side.
"It's nothing. Anyway, you can put me down now. We're inside."
"I'm fine."
"No, put me down..."
"......Yes."
Unlike when she'd picked her up, Brüel set her down with oddly deliberate slowness.
Time passed, and Su-hyeon and Brüel sat side by side at the PC bang stations.
It was the weekend, so there were some people around, but plenty of empty seats.
Su-hyeon gripped the mouse with her small hand, clicking furiously. On the monitor, a massively muscled male character wielded a shield and sword against a huge monster.
With her eye-catching hair color and tiny arms barely reaching the desk, she naturally drew glances—but they quickly averted upon seeing Brüel beside her.
A woman wearing a pitch-black helmet indoors?
No way she was right in the head.
That was the type you didn't make eye contact with.
"Ooh!"
Right on cue, Brüel's heals and buffs landed perfectly.
The reckless Brüel who used to charge in blindly was gone.
"Brüel, you're way better than before."
"Thank you. It's all thanks to your guidance, Lady Su-hyeon."
As they played, a man's voice cut in.
"Hey, little kid playing this game too?"
A man who looked like an office worker had taken the seat next to them before they knew it.
He was in his early thirties, handsome with a gentle smile.
He looked utterly harmless, but to Su-hyeon, he was just creepy.
"...Uh, yeah."
'Why's he acting all friendly out of nowhere...'
The moment the man spoke to Su-hyeon, Brüel's body stiffened.
A familiar voice.
The man from the exhibition hall.
'When...'
Days had passed since then; there was no reason for him to tail her now.
'On purpose? Or coincidence...?'
If things escalated to a threat against Su-hyeon, even her power might not be enough to protect her.
"Isn't this an 18+ game? Parental account?"
"It's mine. And I'm an adult, so don't worry about it."
As she quietly raised her guard and prepared to call for backup,
their eyes met.
A smirk.
The man flashed a smile that seemed to mock, 'Why so scared?'
It rubbed her the wrong way, but he didn't seem aggressive.
'Not me—he's after Lady Su-hyeon...?'
Brüel desperately tried to deduce his intent.
Meanwhile, the man kept pestering Su-hyeon.
"Nah, no way you're an adult. Then I'd be a grandpa."
"I really am a college student. Just do your own thing, mister."
"See? Even adults don't call me mister unless there's an age gap. So you're a kid."
"What? College students look about ten years younger than you."
"Psh, I can pass for mid-twenties. Admit it?"
"Sigh..."
A needling way of talking that got under her skin.
Provoking emotions drew out honesty.
A bit annoyed, Su-hyeon snapped back snarkily.
"Fine, but I can't just call you 'hey you' like that."
"What? Uhihihihi! This kid's hilarious."
"......"
"Oh? Mad 'cause I keep calling you kid?"
"......"
Su-hyeon clamped her mouth shut, deciding to ignore him and focus on the game.
"Kuhuhu, this uncle's been at it a while. Want me to show you some real skill?"
Twitch.
'Show you some real skill?'
She couldn't ignore that.
To an outsider, it might seem like a kind veteran offering tips to a newbie.
But among veterans, it was an insult: 'You're trash. Just leech quietly.'
"No thanks. This is my alt anyway."
"Oho? Wanna raid with my main then?"
"Nope."
"Why not? Did it already?"
"No? I do it solo."
"Come on, raiding with a group is faster. Why waste time?"
"Ugh, I just don't wanna."
It was odd for Su-hyeon to chat this long with a stranger.
Her irritation made her unusually bold.
After tormenting her a bit longer, the man stood up with a satisfied grin.
"Man, teasing you kids is fun."
"Dressed in a suit to game on a Sunday morning..."
Su-hyeon kept ignoring him, moving her mouse.
"Kuhu, yeah yeah. Bro's heading out. Have fun."
"Ugh, seriously!"
His "bro" finally broke her composure. She shot him a look of utter disbelief, but he was already at the counter.
"What a weirdo."
He was slick as could be.
Still, just annoying—no real malice upon reflection...
It was strange.
And oddly, Brüel had stayed quiet.
She usually bristled at anyone approaching Su-hyeon.
Like with Min-ji earlier.
Maybe because Su-hyeon hadn't seemed scared this time?
"Brüel?"
Su-hyeon glanced at the unusually silent Brüel.
Brüel was staring intently in the direction the man had gone.
Even with her head turned, she played flawlessly—a real prodigy.
"What's up?"
"...Nothing. Just some things on my mind."
Sometimes it's better not to know.
You could leak info through actions without realizing.
With nothing confirmed yet, Brüel decided to hold off on revealing the man's identity.