Chapter 60
Chapter 60
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: But My Rank is Super High Though
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Chae-ah unnie... Of course it's tough..."
"Unniiiing~ What should I dooo~"
Chae-ah unnie's ultimate killer aegyo attack was blocked by Chae-rin unnie's barrier. Chae-ah unnie could get anything in the world with just a pretty smile, but unfortunately, her opponent this time was a bit too strong.
"Let's behave today. Come play again later."
"Tch, fine."
In the afternoon, I got hit with that intentional accident from the Nguyen crew, and I even nearly got finished off afterward. There's no way I could just head to some infinity pool and splash around having fun after that.
Chae-ah unnie seems so chill about it all. I'm still kinda shaking, honestly. Like, what if there's some weirdo around?
"Heehee, it's nice having Ophelia here."
"I'm relieved to have you in sight, Princess."
"Did you finish all the housework?"
"I've handled most of it, but since it was an emergency with you in danger, Princess, some tasks remain."
"I see..."
I wonder if Ophelia got pulled away from her chores because of me. But then again, isn't it natural for her to come rescue me since I'm the princess?
"Were you working too, Minium?"
—Clank!
"Heh, looking cool."
Anyway, we're definitely crashing at the Busan Signiel for the night. It's better to travel in the morning when the sun's up than at night. Chae-rin unnie said she'll be in Busan until tomorrow morning, so it'll be good for us to stick together here too.
"Eve, bummer huh? You were so excited that today was a 'no bath since Ophelia's out' day."
"Ack."
"Is that true, Princess?"
"N-No!? I never said that!! Chae-ah unnie?!"
"Eheheht."
Ophelia started staring at me after Chae-ah unnie's sneak attack. Okay, sure, I did say something like that, but it was just a joke. Of course I'd shower after walking around outside all day.
"I-I'll shower..."
"Understood."
I hate Chae-ah unnie now.
"Eve~ Want some of this?"
"No thanks..."
"It's super yummy though?"
"What is it..."
"You know Dubai chewy cookies?"
"Gasp..!"
Dubai chewy cookies—the dessert blowing up on Instagram Reels lately. I've always wanted to try them, but they're crazy expensive and usually sold out anyway..!
"Will you make up with unnie?"
"If... if you give me two..."
"Heh, deal. Here, two of them. Shake on making up with unnie."
Chae-ah unnie held two Dubai chewy cookies in her left hand and extended her right to me. It's not like I'm forgiving her just for snacks or anything. I'm doing it 'cause I'm mature. Forgiving means winning, right?
"A-ah, handshake..."
"Make-up hug."
"Hug..?"
We shook hands, but then Chae-ah unnie upped the difficulty to a hug. I don't usually do this stuff, but since we were out playing and I'm in a good mood today...
"Aww, good girl~ Now you're all made up with unnie?"
"Yeah..."
What was that? Feels like I got played somehow.
Ophelia and I got separate rooms, while Han Do-hee and Chae-ah unnie shared one. Chae-ah unnie wanted to bunk with me, but sorry, I prefer sleeping solo—I'm an independent type.
"Awooooohhhgrrr..!!!"
"Awake, Princess?"
"Hnggh..."
The view from the room window was stunning—an ocean vista. I was wiped from all the running around yesterday, so even though I don't sleep well away from home, I crashed hard. Or maybe because the golems were around?
Glancing at the time: 9:18 AM already. Later than my usual wake-up. My body's all languid—went to bed at 11 PM, so that's 10 hours? Wild.
No morning shower today. I already did one late last night. Just brush teeth, wash face, and head home.
"Did you sleep well, Ophelia?"
"Yes, I got sufficient rest."
Thinking about it, Ophelia's a machine? Golem? She looks so human though. Does she even sleep? At night, she closes her eyes and stays still sometimes. She said it's for organizing her thoughts.
"Doggo, up you get."
—Beep...
"Oh? No breakfast?"
—Beep..!
Doggo jolted at the word "breakfast," rolling around on the bed before hopping up. Always starving, this one.
Oh, right—she did fight hard yesterday. For like, a super short time, but still.
"We'll have a light breakfast and head back to Seoul."
"Got it... What're we taking?"
"Nova Guild's vehicle."
Han Do-hee's car we took to Busan is basically totaled. Every window shattered, sides and undercarriage smashed everywhere—might as well scrap it.
Sucks for Han Do-hee. Her beloved fully-loaded Maxcruz might have to say bye-bye.
"What if I turn it into a golem, heal the golem, then turn it back? Would it fix it?"
"It's possible."
"Whoa, really? Just throwing it out there."
I only asked on a whim, didn't expect it to actually work. I was rolling around on the bed when Chae-ah unnie and Han Do-hee knocked, so I let them in.
"Whoa, Eve in PJs?"
"Hehe.."
"Going for breakfast? Gotta go early if we wanna eat."
"Yeah?"
Breakfast ends at 10, so yeah, might miss it. Han Do-hee's in a black mask and cap pulled low. Chae-ah unnie's already full makeup and hair done.
People always call her a hill dragon or whatever, but she diligently hits famous gates whenever she can, heals, posts on Insta, gets sponsorships and ads. Kinda hardworking, huh.
"Mm! I gotta hustle too!"
"Huh? Hustle at what?"
"Uh, j-just... stuff..."
Back home: shower, eat, phone-scrolling Roblox, rolling around. Yesterday was rough, so shield mode for a chill day. Not like any day's truly chill anyway.
"Mm."
And so, today—the grand super Earth holiday, Christmas Day. After sacrificing two noobs who didn't show in the gallery yesterday to appease the dawn gallery, the Awakening Bros are still burning up the place this afternoon.
"Ugyaaah!! What're you noobs doing ㅡ !!!"
Lately, with my super high-spec computer, gallery browsing has me falling for Ophelia's ultimate bracelet block way too often. Okay, fine, clicking titles like that is on me, but they're so tempting.
"What's this now.."
Mindlessly clicking random Awakening Gallery posts, munching Dubai chewy cookies with nothing to do. But deep down, I'm wrestling with a huge dilemma.
'What should I say...'
The ultimate Earth holiday national rule: gifts from elders to kids!
Of course I'm an adult? Sure, lots of teary moments this year, but those were justified tears. Santa's gotta cut me some slack.
And yeah, I know Santa's not real, but so what? Does knowing mean no gifts? I grew up too fast and mature, that's not my fault. Can't just ask Ophelia straight-up like "No Christmas gift?"—that's too childish.
Pondering how to hint at gifts without being obvious. One idea hits.
Season 9999: vowed to live diligently yesterday, yet here I am on Christmas, sitting at the PC playing around with jobless Awakening Bros...
Of course, seasons 1 through 9998 were vows like greeting convenience store customers loudly, cringing if no reaction, then bailing. No real difference now.
—Creak
"Princess?"
"O-Ophelia? What's up?"
No way. Did she already see my gallery post? It's past 1 PM—maybe the gift she prepped just arrived? Or do Christmas gifts come at night??
I've never gotten one, so idk.
"You have a schedule, so I'll help you change."
"Wahng."
But no gift like I imagined.
"Prepared for improving your abilities, Princess."
"Hoek."
Ophelia overheard my "live diligently" vow and signed me up for an Awakened training ground membership. A whopping 2.8 million won a month—insanely pricey top-tier spot.
Excluding big guild private facilities, it's Korea's largest private training ground. Location's some Wirye I never heard of, but it's in Seoul, not too far from home.
"That was just mumbling..."
"With the recent incident, improving your abilities seems necessary."
"Hng. But what do I even train?"
"This first. Your Christmas gift."
"O-Oh..!"
Ophelia handed me a gift box about pencil case size—a bit big on me. Knew she had a gift! I trusted her all along.
"What's this..?!"
"Open it and see."
"H-Hwahh..!"
Too excited, heart pounding. Kinda small though. What's inside? Feels a bit heavy. Not wrapped paper—ribbon-tied box that splits top and bottom.
—Rustle
Unwrap the box, lift the lid...
"This is..."
Like a phone box—neatly arranged simple item inside.
"A g-gun..?"
"A low-power rubber bullet pistol designed for low-rank Awakened."
I got a handgun for Christmas.