Only to Me...
“Haa...”
I'd retired from being a hunter and switched to police work, but honestly, there were more than a few things I regretted. Well, maybe regretted isn't the right word—laziness was closer to the truth. Aside from the occasional fieldwork catching criminals, most of it was desk work, making it way more laid-back and peaceful than hunter life.
The problem was having to show up every day and handle at least the administrative stuff. At first, I liked that routine and didn't mind, but now it made me anxious beyond belief. Thinking about Seol-i alone at home right now, I couldn't help wondering if quitting the police job altogether might be better.
“She'll be fine... right?”
I'd told her to call if anything happened, and that she could text me if she wanted something to eat. But leaving a little kid alone in that huge house filled me with unease like nothing else.
I propped my chin on my hand, wondering what she might be up to, when my phone suddenly rang.
“Huh?”
Who could that be? I picked up my phone and checked the caller ID.
Seol-i? What's going on? I answered in a hurry.
“Hello? Seol-i?”
Considering her personality, I'd figured she wouldn't call, but here she was, reaching out way sooner than expected.
- ...
Why isn't she saying anything...? She'd usually speak up right away if she had something to say, but there was just silence on the line.
“Seol-i?!”
Did something really happen? My urgent call got a startled response from her, followed by a little “mmph” like she was pondering, then a sigh.
What is it...?
- Um... sis...?
“Yeah, Seol-i? Is something dangerous going on...?”
- N-no, nothing like that... just... one favor...
“A favor?”
What kind of favor...? Bzzz.
“Huh...?”
Vibration? Wondering what was up, I told Seol-i to hold on a sec and checked the screen.
A message from someone. Huh.
“Authentication code... 734923...?”
- Th-thank you...!
Click.
“Wha—?”
What just happened? I'd muttered the code aloud without thinking when it popped up from nowhere, and Seol-i thanked me and hung up right away. Staring blankly at my phone, it finally hit me why she'd called.
“She must want to do something...”
No idea what, though... An authentication code, huh.
“I used to do that all the time back in school...”
Now here I was, the one providing them. I let out a sigh, suddenly feeling my age.
Niiiice!!! As expected of sis... I knew she'd get me...!
Everyone's gotta have been a total noob kid back in the day, so I figured she'd overlook something like an auth code with her big-sister heart. I was just gonna ask for it outright, banking on that one thing, but sis beat me to it and read it off first.
Damn... I knew I could count on her... I nearly teared up from the感動 right then...!
I mean, sure, I go around using magic and stuff... and yeah, I've even got a disciple, so this witch thing looks kinda pathetic from the outside, but whatever. Even a great archmage can't make an enemy of a whole country. When in Rome, right? I'm originally a Korean citizen, so I just followed the law like a good girl. Obviously.
“Now for the rest...”
Account created. All that's left is figuring out controls... Running the game like this would be impossible for sure.
“Maybe swap out the mouse...?”
Honestly, with these tiny hands of mine, any mouse would feel the same. So swapping it wouldn't help—I'd just have to get used to the feel. But this wasn't about getting used to it; precise control was straight-up impossible.
I'd lucked out on the account thanks to sis, but the mouse? Pure physical limits. What to do...?
I closed my eyes and racked my brain.
Ah. Aha!
That's it! Why'd I forget after using it once last time and struggle like this? I handled chopsticks like a pro back then—why not a mouse?
I'd levitated them with mana and ate just fine. Recreate that feel, but tweak the mana for smooth mouse control. I'm a witch, after all—endless possibilities with magic.
Controlling a mouse? Piece of cake. Especially now that things have come to this—I gotta pull out all the stops.
I focused hard, gathering mana. I can wield it freely, after all. Last time, I even mastered tricky chopsticks. Sis saw and brushed it off like no big deal, which bummed me out a bit, but magic's my proud domain.
A mouse might even be easier than chopsticks. Those need individual control; a mouse is just gripping the chunky thing and nudging it precisely. Way lower difficulty. At least, definitely easier than chopsticks.
“O-oh...”
Success...? I gingerly moved the mouse. Compared to fumbling with my solid little hand before, this was stable and comfy.
Having to use mana every time I game is a downside, but this amount barely registers on my reserves. Normal people struggle to maintain solidified mana for long—it's exhausting—but I've got so much mana packed in here, it's no issue.
If it were, I wouldn't have done it for meals last time. I still solidify mana for chopsticks when needed. Sis offered kid chopsticks, but my pride wouldn't let me. Finger holes for easy grip? No way, too embarrassing.
“But this works...!”
Game time at last. All problems solved. Nothing's impossible for a magic-wielding witch like me.
Sure, I had to beg sis for the account, but she was a noob kid once too, so she gets it—no harm done.
Now, just unleash my overwhelming skills and massacre the newbies. Heh heh.
Games are the most fun when you're slaughtering noobs. Especially carry-friendly ones like this—the dynamic amps it up, making newbie wipes insanely satisfying.
That's why they even have a term like “trash game” for this one. But trash games have limits too, and I'm just starting out—server full of newbies.
Massacre incoming. Feeling pumped, I grinned and launched the game.
“I wonder what Seol-i's up to.”
On the way home from work, I punched in the passcode with practiced ease. I'd rushed to clock out early enough to make dinner, but still worried she might be hungry. I'd stocked up on side dishes too—hope she likes it.
Click.
“Huh?”
Why's the living room dark? She sent that auth code earlier, so she clearly wanted to do something alone... Maybe still at the computer in her room? If she's been gaming all day, I'm scolding her.
Gotta set firm rules from the start. Putting on my stern face, I headed upstairs, called her name softly, and eased the door open.
There she was, slumped in front of a game defeat screen, looking all gloomy. From what I'd overheard about trash games and no newbies, she'd adapted to modern stuff fast.
“Hmm...”
Better leave her alone for now...? Definitely sulking over a loss. Usually, you don't comfort kids over that. Plus, if she realizes I know she lost, she'll be mortified. Best not to go in.
I quietly closed the door. I'll call her once dinner's ready...