Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Beautiful Flowers Have Thorns 2
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“Hello. I'm Yoo Seon-woo, Han Min-jeong's husband.”
“Greetings. I'm Kang Ihyeon, the Care Supporter assigned to Han Min-jeong.”
I shook hands with Yoo Seon-woo's long, slender fingers, which were smooth without a single callus.
Han Min-jeong deftly set down a cup of black tea in front of her husband, and he thanked his wife with a gentle gaze and warm voice.
They were a couple who clearly respected and loved each other.
“In truth, being a Care Supporter doesn't involve much difference from what you're used to. Aside from doing my utmost to prevent Han Min-jeong's flaw from manifesting, I absolutely will not interfere in your private lives. So please rest assured.”
Just as I'd learned in training, I started by emphasizing respect for their privacy—the area they were most likely to be wary of.
They already knew this information since there had been a previous Care Supporter, but by mentioning it again anyway, I was also playing the role of shedding my newbie image.
Yet upon hearing my words, the couple smiled faintly, exuding a troubled air.
What’s going on?
A sense of discomfort washed over me.
It wasn't as if I'd said anything wrong, so the kind couple's awkward and embarrassed reaction was unexpected.
Was repeating what they already knew making them uncomfortable?
If it was anxiety stemming from the word "privacy," that made some sense.
“Shall we start by sharing a bit about ourselves?”
“You're so young. The previous Care Supporter who handled my wife was a middle-aged man, so I never imagined such a fine young man would come.”
Han Min-jeong and Yoo Seon-woo seemed more interested in hearing about my background or personality first, rather than details on the Care Supporter role.
It didn't feel like a stiff interview; more like they wanted to gauge each other's inner thoughts and get a sense of the kind of person I was, so I went along with it.
I talked about my life background, favorite foods, the delicious texture of the salad I'd had for breakfast that morning—endless trivial, unrelated-to-work topics, delving into both the mundane and the serious.
Honestly, I'd planned to just show my face as the Care Supporter, hear about the flaw, and head out, so I was a bit flustered but put in sincere effort to earn their trust.
“Hoo...”
We'd been talking nonstop for nearly two hours.
Having exhausted every possible conversation topic until my throat ached, I took a sip of black tea—uncountable cup number whatever—and let out a small sigh.
Han Min-jeong and Yoo Seon-woo seemed to sense it was time to wrap up the chit-chat as well; after each sipping their tea, they began whispering to each other, low enough that I couldn't hear.
What are they talking about?
I couldn't get a read on the couple's intentions at all.
The more we talked, the more I could feel on a gut level that they were good people.
From their polite speech and kind demeanor, even after all that conversation, it was clear they weren't wearing false masks with me.
If anything, it was surprising how two such virtuous people had found each other.
Once the casual talk ended, the two looked at me with serious expressions.
“Kang Ihyeon.”
Han Min-jeong called my name with an unprecedented gravity, tightening the string of tension in my weary mind.
Her fresh, grass-green eyes stared straight into me, as if peering into my soul, and continued.
“Through all our conversation, I've felt that you're an exceptionally good person. And though you're a bit naive, you're not someone who treats others lightly.”
A groan escaped me at Han Min-jeong's blunt assessment.
I'd been feeling the sting of being called "naive" lately more often than not.
Like how I hadn't noticed Se-ah Sister's struggles despite our long bond, or how I'd gone wild with lustful impulses toward Cha Ye-rin until her flaw manifested, doing such things.
Life is full of regrets like that upon reflection.
It was clear the couple had sensed my shortcomings and immaturity.
Han Min-jeong asked gravely, powerfully, as if signaling the final turning point before I could back out.
“So, will you faithfully commit to my care, trusting you as my new Care Supporter and hearing about my flaw?”
“Of course, that's why...”
Yoo Seon-woo abruptly cut off my ready agreement, as if I'd come here for exactly that.
“Kang Ihyeon. Once you hear my wife's flaw, there's no going back.”
In our short time together, I'd already sensed he was the type to listen attentively rather than interrupt, so I was a little taken aback.
It showed just how seriously Yoo Seon-woo viewed the Care Supporter assigned to his wife.
These were upright people who seemed like they'd follow morals and norms even without laws, yet here they were sharpening their edges—it made cold sweat break out, as if I'd done something gravely wrong.
“Please think it over carefully and answer, Kang Ihyeon. My wife's flaw is low-grade 'Low,' but the care method is problematic.”
“Let me say it once more. Once you hear my wife's flaw, you can't quit as Care Supporter or switch assignments over personal reasons.”
The couple's emphasis was clear.
Once you hear the flaw, you can't arbitrarily change the Magical Girl you're assigned to.
I'd come here aware of the special condition that, barring injury or unavoidable circumstances severe enough to quit as Care Supporter, I had to remain Han Min-jeong's until the end.
What kind of flaw could it be to make them this intimidating?
Some Magical Girls changed Care Supporters frequently if they didn't like them, but Han Min-jeong wasn't one of those.
On the contrary, in the 13 long years since retiring as a Magical Girl, her first assigned Care Supporter had stuck with her unwaveringly—unusually so.
I couldn't access the previous Care Supporter's info due to security, but something unavoidable must have been at play.
“......”
The couple stared piercingly at me with serious eyes.
For me, newly minted as a Care Supporter, this level of pressure was unprecedented; honestly, I wanted to run.
But I had my own desperate reason to remain one, just as much as they did.
I wanted to stay by the side of Yoon Se-ah, the woman I loved, until the end.
Moreover, goodwill welled up toward this couple treating a rookie like me so earnestly, so I straightened my back, composed myself, and answered politely.
“I fully understand your concerns. To put your minds at ease even a little, I'll give you a firm answer. I will handle Han Min-jeong's care with utmost sincerity.”
Was it thanks to my serious demeanor?
Or did they glimpse the fragment of desperation in my heart to remain a Care Supporter?
The couple's strange pressure faded, but in its place settled an odd sense of incongruity.
Just like when the flaw was first mentioned, an unsettling, uncomfortable air began to take hold.
“Seon-woo...”
Han Min-jeong chewed her lip as if she had much to say to her husband.
Yoo Seon-woo soothed his anxious wife by clasping her hand over his own, a touch brimming with infinite trust—as if telling her it was fine and to make the final call as the person involved.
Han Min-jeong gripped her husband's hand tightly, as if drawing strength from it, fell silent for a moment, then opened her firmly shut lips.
“Then, Kang Ihyeon. I'll tell you my flaw, so I look forward to working with you. You can't take it back once you hear it.”
“Yes. Don't worry, please go ahead.”
“My flaw... the flaw is...”
Han Min-jeong bit her lip as if she could hardly bring herself to say it aloud, then finally revealed it.
“Sadism.”
“Sadism...? Like tormenting or harassing something?”
Rather than the gravity they'd built up, it was a flaw within comprehensible bounds, leaving me puzzled instead.
At the same time, it was a disposition utterly unsuited to Grace Flower, who lacked even spells to harm monsters, or to the married woman Han Min-jeong.
Han Min-jeong smiled faintly, as if she might vanish any moment, and added more explanation.
“More precisely, it's sadism that requires seeing blood.”
“Blood... please tell me to what extent.”
To care properly, I couldn't leave it vague, so I asked directly despite any rudeness.
“For small animals, to the point of death. For people, injuries severe enough for a four-week hospital stay.”
“That's...”
A bit serious.
When the flaw manifests, she must draw enough blood to kill small animals, and wound people badly enough for a four-week recovery.
What I'd taken lightly now felt harshly real.
I desperately tried to keep my negative, flustered emotions from showing on my face.
Considering Han Min-jeong's gentle nature, the mental damage must be even greater.
A quiet, kind woman running a flower shop, forced to bloody her hands.
Thus, the guilt and self-loathing surging when the flaw subsided would be immense.
But why put so much weight on just hearing this flaw?
Serious, yes—but not some heavy secret preventing a switch in assignment.