15. The Jangsan Tiger Smiles
Yeongchun let out a deep sigh.
She had just been dealing with mischievous goblins who had illegally occupied the graveyard.
The criteria for hiring grim reapers are those with empty hearts in life.
So she couldn't understand why she was chosen.
I'm a melodramatic F-type who cries watching melodrama, why turn me into a grim reaper!
The administrative work in the afterlife is perfect as per heavenly will, but the reason she was picked was likely due to the shortage of grim reapers.
There's no reason to pick someone like her who is kind-hearted and teary-eyed otherwise.
“237th guest, food is ready.”
“It’s here!”
Yeongchun walked briskly to the serving area and got the food she ordered.
Grim reapers aren't visible to human eyes, and they don't operate in the shadows.
Most of the time, like ordinary office workers, they eat lunch at nearby restaurants during lunch break.
Her ordered food was Japanese tonkotsu ramen, a dish she had enjoyed quite a bit even in life.
Forget the idea that grim reapers must eat Korean food! Grim reapers are people too!
In the old days, there was only Korean food, so they ate that, but now grim reapers are seen eating steak at Western restaurants.
Moreover, her outfit was neither hanbok nor suit, but a plain T-shirt over a hoodie and jeans.
Humans, even if they searched with their eyes closed, wouldn't realize she was a grim reaper.
“Hmm~ Ramen sounds delicious.”
“......Um.”
Just as Yeongchun was about to pick up the noodles and take a bite, someone spoke to her.
“Excuse me, but can I sit here? There's no seat left...”
It was exactly 12:30, lunch time. The restaurant might have no seats, but asking to sit together...?
Yeongchun looked around.
She realized that only she was eating alone.
All tables in this restaurant were for 4 people. It would be awkward for both of them to eat alone at a 4-person table.
“Please, sit down.”
“Thank you!”
If it were another grim reaper, they would have refused sharply, but she couldn't refuse.
By the way, this kid is really cute...!
The person sitting across from Yeongchun had an appearance even cuter than an idol.
Clear features in a small face, long hair reaching the waist with some white highlights that looked like a pattern on a landmine, perfectly suited.
Even though she's still young, with looks like this, it's impossible to imagine what she'll be like when she grows up.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Sanbeom! Um, what about you, unnie?”
“Yeongchun.”
“Your name suits you well.”
Suits me well?! I've heard that for a few hundred years!
She has a complex about her own name.
Even she thinks 'Yeongchun' sounds too plain.
She couldn't change her name because changing names is troublesome in the afterlife bureau.
“Do you really think my name suits me?”
“Yeah! It's a sophisticated and cool name like yours.”
This kid thought I was just cute-looking... but her heart is this kind too! This is something that should exist in anime or webtoon, not reality!
“Ah, my order is ready.”
Sanbeom came back from the serving area with the food.
Sanbeom ordered the same tonkotsu ramen as Yeongchun.
“Do you like ramen?”
When asked, Sanbeom hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
“Actually, I've never tried this kind of food today.”
“Really?”
“While looking for a place to eat lunch, I followed 'pretty unnie' to see what she would eat.”
“Pretty unnie... is it me?”
“Yeah!”
Cute! So cute! So cute! ... I want to sit her on my lap right now and pet her hair wildly!
After answering, Sanbeom covered her face with both hands shyly, but even that was so cute it could make one nosebleed.
A gumiho wouldn't be this cute, is this really a human?!
When eating, normally she would put her phone on the table and watch videos, but now just looking at the person opposite made her happy.
Thinking about it, today is a weekday. You're not going to school?
“Ah, that's because today is the school opening anniversary. I don't go to school.”
“I see. It's a holiday... I'm envious.”
“You don't have days off?”
“That's right... My job is very important, so I can't rest even on weekends.”
Hearing that, Sanbeom pondered deeply and smiled.
“Can't rest on weekends and work! Unnie is amazing. I don't know what that 'work' is, but it's definitely an important job that only you can do.”
That's right... Although the work of a grim reaper is tough, there must be a reason she was chosen.
Yeongchun felt her heavy shoulders lighten a bit from Sanbeom's words.
“Thank you.”
“No problem.”
This kid in front of me is actually not human, but a fallen angel sent from abroad? That fallen angel messed up and drank a forgetfulness potion, lost her memory, and is sitting in front of me.
Although the true appearance of a fallen angel is quite hideous, it doesn't matter! If I bring this kid to the side of the fallen angels, they would definitely be confused if there was a lost fallen angel.
...
...
...
Sanbeom finished her soup completely, as if the food matched well.
“Did something get on your mouth, unnie?”
“Really? Where?”
Yeongchun was startled and wiped her mouth several times, but each time Sanbeom shook her head saying it's not there.
“I’ll wipe it for you.”
Yeongchun nodded in agreement, and Sanbeom gently wiped the red pepper powder from the corner of her mouth.
“Now it’s good.”
“You could have just pointed it out...”
“Otherwise, I might stick to you forever.”
Puff!
Yeongchun couldn't help but laugh at Sanbeom's unexpected joke.
“Unnie, if it doesn't bother you, can I pay for your meal too?”
“Eh...? You want to calculate it?”
“That's... My parents gave me a lot of money for lunch saying to eat with friends. Actually, I don't have even one friend. I'm pretending to have friends to my parents...”
A kid this cute and kind-hearted doesn't have even one friend?! Too cute and kind, so she gets left behind by her classmates?
“Moreover, I forced you to sit with me. I want to pay for the meal at least.”
Sanbeom looked at Yeongchun with earnest eyes.
Those eyes were like the eyes of a baby kitten in a box labeled 'please take care of me' in the rain.
I can't refuse! It's embarrassing for an adult to make a child pay, but... this time, isn't it okay?
In the end, I let Sanbeom pay for the meal.
From the counter, Sanbeom's mouth corners lifted as she handed over the card for payment.
“Unnie! Where are you going next?”
“Me? Why?”
“I want to go to a place I want to visit with friends... but unnie is busy doing important things...”
“No! I can go! I have time until 8 PM, so I can go anywhere!”
“Waa!”
For the sake of this kid, using break time to play is easy.
...
...
...
“This place... is Mt. Jang, right. Was this the place I wanted to go with friends?”
“Yes! I really wanted to come with friends. I ended up coming with unnie.”
Mt. Jang... Normally, people go to amusement parks or karaoke? What a peculiar taste this kid has.
I don't really like hiking, but since it's close to Sanbeom's home, it wasn't bad.
While climbing Mt. Jang, Yeongchun spoke to Sanbeom.
“Sanbeom. Do you know that there's a scary monster living in Mt. Jang?”
“A scary monster...?”
“Yes! It's a tiger that has lived in the mountains for over 1000 years called Jangsanbeom. It mimics voices to lure people and then eats them!”
“Hwaaang! Suddenly it became scary!”
Sanbeom pressed her body close to Yeongchun.
How cute and innocent! Did such kids exist even now?! Too cute!
“Don’t worry! When Jangsanbeom appears, unnie will smash it and protect Sanbeom!”
“Really?”
“Of course!”
The next words would definitely be 'Unnie is cool!' or 'Unnie is the best!'
But unlike Yeongchun's expectation, Sanbeom didn't say anything for a while.
After a while, Sanbeom muttered softly.
“Goblins, you did well. Thanks to you, I could bring you to this place where there are few people. Hahaha!”