Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: The Yandere Fairy's Gaze is Strange
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"Y-you crazy bastard! Just you wait!"
"Shut up! I'm going up!"
The dazzling multicolored city lights stood in stark contrast to the eerily quiet rural night, punctuated by the sound of running water from the rooftop.
Ungseok, who usually couldn't get enough of horror and mystery stories, bulged his eyes, kicked his chair back, and bolted toward the rooftop.
If Ungseok ran into the Silver Fairy, that would be bad enough.
But if he crossed paths with the Gold Fairy?
Fuck! He didn't even want to imagine that disaster.
I might get a pass since I'm the golden landlord, but Ungseok had zero connection to them.
From the fairies' perspective, the rooftop bath was their private sanctuary, and he'd be barging in uninvited.
They might get so pissed off they'd never come back.
A few days ago, I wouldn't have minded, but now that I'd tasted the sweetness of those "bath fees"...
How delicious had it been?
Plus, I'd gone all out and installed a sauna. I couldn't afford to close up shop empty-handed.
Ha...
They hadn't shown up for a while, so I'd let my guard down...
A massive blunder.
Somehow, massive Ungseok was sprinting like the wind—I couldn't keep up with his speed as he charged up to the rooftop.
"Guh!"
Ungseok's startled yelp echoed from the rooftop ahead of me.
With alcohol in my system and the sudden sprint, my breath was already ragged up to my chin.
I hurriedly climbed the stairs, squeezed my eyes shut, and yelled.
"U-Ungseok! Close your eyes!"
"...Huh? Why?"
It was an unexpected reaction.
Shouldn't he have panicked with something like, "Who the hell is this?"
At the very least, a scream should've rung out. What the hell was going on?
I cautiously cracked open my tightly shut eyes.
Drip... drip... drip... drip... drip...!
The bath, which I'd expected to find filled with the Gold or Silver Fairy soaking in it, stood empty, greeting me with its hollow state.
The faucet was still trickling—clearly not fully turned off.
"Ha..."
The tension drained away, leaving my legs feeling weak.
I plopped down onto the floor, but oblivious Ungseok was scanning the rooftop and letting out exclamations of awe.
"Whoa! So this is the bath and sauna you built?"
Should I use my next wish to kill this guy?
I bet I could savor a Heavenly Peach real nice after that.
While some of us nearly had to greet the Jade Emperor and King Yama, you think this is funny?
I let out a deep sigh and opened my mouth.
"The sauna was installed by a professional service."
"But you built the bath yourself, right?"
"Like I said earlier, Dad started it and then dropped it, so I finished it."
"Either way, putting a bath and sauna on the rooftop? Impressive as hell."
I'd racked my brain on the way up, thinking up excuses for the fairies, so this was a huge relief.
Junseok, who'd seen the bath before, gave a lukewarm reaction, while Soeun-i gushed admirably just like Ungseok.
"Is this the bath Oppa mentioned earlier? It looks totally professional! Huh? But why are you sitting on the dirty floor?"
My heart had been pounding so hard moments ago that the praise barely registered.
How did someone like Kang Jua, living a life of sin, even cope?
Just having one secret you couldn't let anyone see was this nerve-wracking.
"Haha... Must be the booze. I slipped on the way up."
"You okay?"
"I'm fine."
"...Then, Oppa, can I try the bath?"
"The bath? You didn't bring a change of clothes."
"My house is right next door. I can run home quick."
Seizing the moment, Junseok shot his hand up.
"Soeun-ssi, night roads are dangerous. I'll go with you!"
"It's just around the corner... No one's like that in our neighborhood anyway."
"No, no. People from other areas might come by. Better safe than sorry."
Soeun-i looked at me with eyes asking what to do.
The shock from earlier hadn't worn off, and I had no energy to play matchmaker, so I waved limply at the air.
"Junseok's right—better safe. Go together. It's dark out."
"Ah, okay."
Good, actually perfect.
Instead of nervously drinking while worrying about water sounds giving it away, occupying the space was better.
The fairies would spot people on the rooftop descending from the sky and head back up.
Ungseok stepped forward and raised his voice too.
"Haeseong-ah, lend me some clothes?"
"Your house is close."
"It's just for a quick dip. Why bother going home? You'll lend 'em, right?"
The whole mess started with that leaky faucet, but why did Ungseok look so punchable today?
I made a face, still worn out.
"Might not have anything that fits your build, but do whatever."
Soon, Soeun-i and Junseok returned from the house with clothes in hand.
Ungseok was already in the borrowed outfit, sweating it out in the sauna.
Peering through the glass door, he'd committed to the bit—sitting there post-10-rounds like a boxer, a white towel draped over his head.
Seeing the bath now steaming hot, Junseok and Soeun-i slipped in and called out together.
"Haeseong-ah, get in here! Beer tastes amazing like this!"
"Oppa, come on in. It's so warm!"
"Nah, I'm good. I use it plenty."
My troubled heart eased a bit.
Though unintended, everyone looked so innocently joyful, like kids at an amusement park.
A smile crept onto my lips too.
Holding a beer from home, I murmured softly toward the sky.
"...Thanks for not visiting tonight."
"Where's Grandma Choi?"
"Evenings, she usually plays go-stop with the neighborhood ladies."
"So Grandpa mans the store alone at night?"
Grandpa Hong sighed deeply, fanning himself with a fan painted with traditional Eastern artwork.
"I'm old now. Gotta do whatever the wife says."
"From what I remember, you listened to her even when you were young?"
"Ahem! Wh-when did I ever!"
Maybe because I knew Grandma Choi's personality so well?
I felt a pang of pity for Grandpa Hong.
"Grandpa, I asked Grandma for some hangover relief last time. Did it come in?"
"Hangover cure? Let me see... Here it is!"
"Oh, already stocked."
"But you're not even going out drinking, kid—why need hangover stuff!?"
"It's an equal society these days. You living with Grandma Choi might not get it..."
Grandpa Hong paused while handing over the hangover relief.
"You rotten punk... All grown up and teasing your elder now."
"Not teasing. As a fellow man, I finally get it."
"Drink in moderation, you hear? Manage your health from a young age."
"Haha! Thanks for the advice!"
I downed the hangover relief with a vitamin drink right there, grabbed jugs full of water in both hands, and headed home.
Screech—clunk!
Thud—!
Oof, exhausting.
Hauling water every time was a chore. Maybe time to get a water purifier.
Money wasn't an issue.
Straightening my back, I slowly scanned the house.
Last night, Soeun-i had enjoyed the rooftop bath party before heading home late.
I'd sobered up Junseok and Ungseok—who'd crashed here—early in the morning, then seen them off by evening. The lively chaos of last night felt like a lie in the now-profound quiet.
'At least Soeun-i saved me from cleaning all day.'
Feeling bad for the mess, she'd insisted on sorting the recyclables despite my protests.
Her stumbling around drunk while cleaning had been so cute...
And watching hearts fill Junseok's eyes was endlessly entertaining.
Anyway.
This week, I needed to head to Seoul a day early before the reunion—shop around and prep to meet Kang Jua.
That meant being away at least one night, two days. But oddly, no sign of the fairies visiting.
Gold Fairy aside, even the frequent Silver Fairy hadn't shown in a week.
Something happen up in fairyland?
'Should I leave a note when I go?'
Nah, whatever.
They bathed on their own terms, landlord or no.
Gurgle... gurgle... gurgle...!
Gurgle... gurgle... gurgle...!
Gurgle... gurgle... gurgle...!
Then came the sound of rushing water.
Nothing like last night's faint drip—I knew it instantly. A fairy on the rooftop.
After so long, a spark of excitement hit me.
Last night had been heart-stopping tense, but today, no complications, so I felt totally at ease.
Creak—tick—!
I glanced at the wall clock, patiently waiting for the fairy to finish her leisurely shower.
About thirty minutes later?
I rose from the sofa, grabbed a cold drink from the fridge like always, and climbed the rooftop stairs.
'Wonder if I can score a Heavenly Peach from the Silver Fairy today?'
As the saying goes, what goes around comes around?
With the cool drink she'd requested in hand, anticipation swelled as I ascended.
"Whoa! Silver Fairy, it's been a whi—"
"Silver Fairy? Wanna die?"
I hurriedly waved away the steam and saw it was the Gold Fairy.
Half-reclining in the bath, arms spread wide, brazenly baring her upper body—like the epitome of a "top-shelf" woman.
And those pink nipples of hers glared at me sharply, like a hawk spotting prey.
No matter how many times I saw them, I never got used to it.
'Where's the angelic Silver Fairy, and why does the bitchy Gold Fairy keep showing up?'
Ha... yeah.
Why's life gotta be so bittersweet?
Occasional bitterness completes the human experience.
Resigned, I sighed deeply, and the thoroughly irritated Gold Fairy's voice rumbled heavily.
"...Hey, why does the bath smell like a human woman!?"