Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The Yandere Fairy's Gaze is Strange
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"I'll enjoy the drink."
The Silver Fairy took the beverage with a beaming smile.
Bathed in the soft moonlight, she looked nothing short of fantastical.
"I even bought an extra fridge just to keep the drinks cold, so why have you been coming by less lately?"
"Sorry about that. I've been swamped with work."
Was it because I'd only seen the Gold Fairy recently?
Gazing at the Silver Fairy, whose graceful figure overflowed with pure innocence, a wave of joy washed over me.
It felt like the kind of normal conversation you'd expect between a shop owner and a customer.
Swish.
The Silver Fairy clutched the empty soda can, her face flushing red as she glanced around uncertainly, unsure where to put it.
If it had been the Gold Fairy, she might've chucked it straight at my head with a thwack!—and I'd count myself lucky if she didn't. This was a moment that really highlighted their different personalities.
I held out my hand with a gentle smile.
"Just hand the can to me."
"...Thanks."
"How's the drink?"
"It's so refreshing. Anyway, how have you been, Haeseong?"
For a split second, the Gold Fairy flashed through my mind.
I was tempted to spill the beans, but no way was I risking that—especially not when 'financial therapy' was on the line.
I flashed a bright grin and scratched the back of my head.
"Thanks to the upgrade you gave my looks, I've been doing even better."
"Just like you said, it really seems like appearances are everything in the human world?"
"Sadly, yeah. And it's only getting worse."
"...Is there someone you're trying to impress?"
"Nah, more like someone I need to get revenge on."
The Silver Fairy's eyes widened like a startled rabbit.
"Revenge?"
"Someone criticized my looks."
"That's weird. You were already so handsome before the change."
"Haha... Hearing that from you leaves me flustered."
"Why me?"
"Because you're beautiful."
A conversation with my dad from way back popped into my head.
He'd asked what kind of woman I liked.
It came out of nowhere, especially since we were in the middle of eating.
I was young and just brushed it off with, 'Pretty ones, obviously.'
Dad had given a knowing smile and continued.
—Right, then do you know when a pretty woman is at her most attractive?
I tilted my head, said I didn't know, and he chuckled before answering.
—When she doesn't realize how pretty she is.
Back then, it hadn't really hit home.
But looking at the Silver Fairy now, I finally got what he meant.
This woman truly had no idea how stunning she was.
And that innocence made her all the more pure.
The world was growing more obsessed with looks by the day.
Kang Jua was a perfect example.
A beautiful face came with a price tag.
Not long ago, I'd accepted that as natural—you had to put in the time and effort to maintain such beauty.
In a world where being born unattractive branded you as lazy.
That's the place I lived in.
Born and raised here, I followed the rules like everyone else: 'When in Rome.'
When the Silver Fairy said she couldn't give me money, I'd picked 'looks' without hesitation, right?
But still.
Look at her now—blushing and at a loss from a simple compliment on her beauty.
In this looks-obsessed world, could there be another woman with such a pure soul?
"W-Why are you staring like that? It's embarrassing."
"No, no. I just feel blessed."
"Blessed?"
"Meeting a customer as wonderful as you."
"Hmm..."
The Silver Fairy pondered for a long moment, then nodded as if she'd made up her mind.
She pulled out a Heavenly Peach from her Celestial Robe.
"Fine, you're beating around the bush about wanting 'bath money,' but what choice do I have?"
She was so innocently naive...
It was a lucky misunderstanding, but no way was I passing up this golden opportunity.
"Could you maybe turn back time?"
This was the wish I'd agonized over after meeting her and getting another Heavenly Peach.
Back before my marriage—or even if not exactly then, before Dad died. If I could go back and save him...
But the Silver Fairy shook her head regretfully.
"Sorry, but I can't break the laws of all creation."
Figured as much.
Making a wish like that would require at least the Jade Emperor or King Yama.
So, only one option left from my list.
"...You're really going to wish for that?"
"Yes, definitely."
"Ha!!"
Thwack.
I must've said something wrong again—her face twisted in disgust as she hurled the Heavenly Peach right at me.
It flew straight from her hand and smacked me square in the face.
"Ack! Why are you—"
"Whatever! I put the wish in the peach, so next time, have some tasty snacks ready!"
Without giving me a chance to reply, she shot me a contemptuous glare and soared into the sky.
'What the hell!! Why?!'
She faded into the moonlight.
All that remained was the Heavenly Peach, lying forlornly on the ground.
—You know about this weekend, right?
The phone blared in my ear first thing in the morning. I picked up, rubbing sleep from my eyes with the back of my hand, already irritated.
—Quit calling already? You think I'd forget?
—It's not with me—it's with Yerim. I'll keep calling so you don't flake.
—Ha! Threatening me like a hitman? Forgetting would make me an idiot.
—I just told her about you from back in the day. Why make it sound so shady?
Whatever.
Even if it started as Junseok's good intentions, I was the one suffering.
Now I had to attend some chaebol's birthday party. That said it all.
—Must be nice. How would a chaebol buddy understand?
—Hey, you made some cash from stocks!
—Sure, but not like you, Yeoksan Group royalty.
—Y-You bastard! I kept it quiet knowing you'd mock me.
—Fine for you, but what about Ungseok? You gonna explain it to him? With his temper, he'll headlock you like a dog.
Junseok let out a deep sigh—he clearly hadn't thought of that.
—Damn... Maybe I need to hire a hitman myself.
—Dealing with Ungseok? You'd burn through a fortune.
—Shit, I knew it'd be like this. Can't you at least pretend to be excited? Most people would kiss up for a chaebol friend.
—What do I get out of you being rich?
—Still... having a chaebol pal might come in handy someday.
Was I too stuck in my own bubble?
I'd been shocked when I learned Junseok's family ran Yeoksan Group, and at first, having a chaebol friend felt novel.
But that was it.
My life wouldn't change because of it.
—Thanks to my chaebol friend, I'm crashing a birthday party at 28 I never dreamed of. Super helpful. Yup!
—Ugh! What's the point of talking to you? Oh right! With Ungseok and Soeun there last time, I forgot to ask—what happened with the fairy?
—Nothing since. Probably saw a ghost or something.
—Aw, I thought you'd set me up on a blind date with her.
Since I'd just seen Junseok the other day, there wasn't much to say. We traded a few jokes and hung up.
'Woke me up early for that.'
I scratched my messy hair and shuffled into the living room.
Come to think of it, it was already morning.
The day after eating the Heavenly Peach from the Silver Fairy.
"Alright!"
My heart raced as I headed to the mirror.
If my guess was right, things should've changed.
Last time, I'd eaten one, slept, and woken up transformed.
"Nothing's different...?"
I stood before the full-length mirror, heart pounding, but even a quick glance showed no change.
What?
Last night, I'd clearly told the Silver Fairy, 'Make me 4cm taller.'...
Currently, I was 173cm.
Not short, but definitely not tall.
Even at the reunion, I'd overheard whispers that my height didn't match my looks.
So, I'd wished for something reasonable—a modest upgrade that wouldn't defy nature.
Why just 4cm?
Think about it: jumping from 173cm to over 180cm overnight? Suspicious as hell.
I'm 28, way past puberty.
Sure, I planned to gradually hit 180cm eventually... but this? No noticeable difference at all.
'Did she mishear it as 0.4cm?'
My legs felt oddly heavy, maybe from just waking up.
I decided to talk to the Silver Fairy later, then reached down to empty my bladder.
"F-Fuck!! What the hell is this?!?!"