Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Harmonious Family (1)
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Ring-a-ding-ding.
The alarm blared energetically.
I'd been lying there wide awake, unable to sleep a wink, so I got out of bed as it rang.
I'd tried to catch at least two hours of shut-eye, but after everything that happened yesterday, sleep just wouldn't come.
"Ugh..."
Feeling a twinge in my lower back, I opened the door and stepped out.
First stop, as always, was my little sister's room.
She'd probably only managed a couple hours herself, peeking nervously at our eldest sister's watchful eye. Waking her felt wrong.
But no matter how empty our schedules, our family rule was to rise early and share breakfast together.
With that in mind, I opened her door apologetically.
"..."
The room was thick with that same humid aura again.
There in the middle of the bed, my little sister slept sprawled out, her pale belly fully exposed in the most unladylike way.
"Mm..."
She let out a soft groan, scratching at her stomach.
Even after crashing late, she'd still made time for her "happy hour," it seemed.
I'd told her to air out the room, but nope.
How does she have such insatiable libido? I marveled—
Oh, right. I'm worse.
I remembered how I'd given in to my own urges and done something insane with my second sister.
Time for some self-reflection.
Compared to me cumming all over second sister's stomach, my little sister handling things solo was downright wholesome...
A wave of self-loathing hit me.
You absolute cock-whipped lunatic.
What the hell had I been thinking?
"Haa..."
I let out a deep sigh, abandoning my plan to wake her. Instead, I just stared.
She was sleeping so soundly; it felt too cruel to disturb her.
"..."
After a moment's hesitation, I pulled down her hiked-up clothes, tucked the blanket up to her neck.
"Sorry about this."
Murmuring my apology, I slipped out of the room.
Breaking our harmonious family rule gnawed at me, but surely even eldest sister would understand today of all days.
"..."
Skipping second sister's room for the same reason, I headed straight for eldest sister's.
She always stuck to a disciplined routine, so I figured she'd be up even on a day like this.
If she was asleep, I'd sneak out quietly. If awake, I'd suggest bending the rules just for today.
Slide.
I eased the door open carefully.
To my surprise, the light was still on in her room at this hour.
And there she was, slumped over her desk, fast asleep.
"..."
Seeing our ever-perfect family head in such a disheveled state felt like glimpsing something I shouldn't.
Yet it also revealed a new side to her I'd never known, which made me oddly happy.
"Hmm..."
I sat across from her, pondering for a bit.
Leaving her like this felt wrong, but moving her to bed? She'd definitely wake up midway.
If only I had the strength, I'd scoop her up easily and tuck her in.
But my workouts only kept me at average joe levels.
No way I could lift our muscled-up eldest sister without a struggle.
What to do...
After agonizing, I decided to let her be.
Knowing her personality, she'd refuse to go back to sleep once awake.
She'd hardened her resolve to hold our parentless family together.
It might be uncomfortable, but letting her squeeze in extra rest was the right call.
Might as well enjoy the view?
Chances to stare at her like this didn't come often.
Her senses were so sharp, she usually woke at my footsteps when I tried rousing her in the mornings.
And when she was awake? Intimidating aura made it impossible to gawk.
So for once, I drank in her face, committing it to memory.
The more I looked, the more I marveled.
Our family's eldest, yet her skin was the fairest, most supple.
Her nose perfectly straight and refined.
Her eyes deep and captivating.
"So pretty, yet she's never even dated. Our sister."
Full of affection, I stroked her cheek.
In school, she'd been wildly popular.
Suitors lined up; agencies swarmed to scout her.
Even guys begged me to play wingman.
But she'd turned down every confession.
Never spotted her on a single date.
Surely she wanted romance like any woman.
"Always sacrificing for us..."
We all knew why she rejected them outright.
She was head of our orphaned family.
Bearing the full weight of protecting us.
Fresh guilt washed over me.
Youth doesn't come twice.
Yet she kept giving it up for us.
Now we were all adults; second sister and little sister secure as S-rank Hunters. She could cut loose a bit.
"Snore..."
As I caressed her face, she started snoring lightly.
I'd never heard her snore before.
She must be exhausted lately.
Makes sense—Yongin Dungeon Break cleanup was recent.
And she'd pulled an all-nighter today too.
With gratitude and apology, I stroked her hair and whispered,
"Thanks for always giving everything. I love you, sis."
A confession I'd never dare when she was awake, too scary.
I whispered it softly, then slipped out.
Consciousness slowly returned.
I'd bid eldest sister goodnight, returned to my room, and crashed back into bed.
Must've passed out right away.
"..."
Always so disciplined, sleeping in like this felt strangely off.
I checked my phone with a vague unease.
Somehow, it was already 1 p.m.
"Ah."
Realizing my blunder, I bolted out of bed.
Breakfast might've been skipped with everyone asleep, but someone had to be up by now, hungry.
Least I could do was fix lunch.
I flung open my door in a rush.
And froze.
The savory aroma of bulgogi marinade wafted from the kitchen.
What? Did someone order delivery?
Never seen bulgogi delivery, but these days, anything goes.
Some spot I didn't know about probably offered it.
Sorry, guys...
Scratching my head, guilty for shirking meal duty, I headed to the kitchen for side dishes at least.
"Huh?"
I froze again at the sight.
Eldest sister was in my kitchen.
Wearing a frilly apron, no less.
"..."
Am I dreaming? I pinched my cheek.
Ouch. Pain confirmed reality.
Swallowing hard, I approached.
"S-Sis?"
"Yeah."
Calm as ever, like this morning's chaos never happened.
"Y-You're... cooking?"
"Yeah."
Without missing a beat, she picked up a piece of bulgogi and held it to my lips.
What the—? This is freaky.
Since we divvied up chores, I'd never seen her cook. Not once.
Last time was over a decade ago.
And now this.
"..."
She stared blankly, chopsticks hovering with bulgogi dangling precariously.
"You want me to... eat it?"
"Yeah. Eat."
She's even feeding me.
What is happening?
Head spinning, I obediently took the bite.
Ugh.
Bitter assault the moment it hit my tongue.
I desperately schooled my face, brain racing.
Bulgogi should be sweet. Why bitter?
Not burnt or anything.
What's causing this?
"How is it?"
"Uh... delicious."
"Good."
Couldn't be honest if it sucked, so I forced a smile, eyes darting.
Something was off with the cooking...
Eyes rolling, I spotted the culprit.
Chopped garlic.
That stuff. Too much.
"Worried since it's been ages, but glad you like it."
A faint, almost imperceptible smugness crossed her face. The kind only family would catch.
She's gonna be crushed if she tastes it...
First cook in forever; didn't want to dent her confidence.
What now? I patted her shoulder.
"You handle the rice? I'll set the rest."
"Okay."
She headed to the balcony for instant rice, no suspicion.
Now's my chance.
I grabbed fixings at lightning speed.
Pear juice from that nameless guild master.
Sugar.
Quick toss of the bulgogi back in the pan, ingredients in, low heat for a minute.
-Ding.
Microwave chimed perfectly; rice done.
Back to the dish, reset the table.
Drizzle of sesame oil finale.
"All set."
She emerged with steaming rice, none the wiser.
"Should I wake Yu-rim and Da-jeong sis?"
"Nah, let them sleep."
"Ah, yeah."
Just us two for lunch.
Awkward after so long, but...
"..."
Watching her quietly savor her own bulgogi, satisfied...
It felt healing.
I picked up a piece with chopsticks and popped it in.
Eldest sister's bulgogi had a subtle, intriguing flavor.