Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: The Yandere Fairy's Gaze is Strange
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"...Huh? How'd you get here?"
I gave an awkward smile as I looked at Seo Yerim, who'd shown up at my house completely out of the blue.
I tried to keep my usual calm expression, but a subtle twitch pulled at the corner of my mouth, and bewilderment seeped into my eyes.
Swish.
Pretending to be nonchalant, I averted my gaze and glanced quietly at Seo Junseok, her twin brother.
'What's going on?'
I mouthed the words, and Junseok shrugged his shoulders with a troubled look on his face.
Like he was saying, 'How should I know?'
And on top of that.
Seo Yerim was casually looking around the house as if nothing was wrong.
Then she nodded with a faint smile.
"You've got the place fixed up nicer than I expected."
My mind was a total mess from the sudden visit.
I cleared my throat and spoke to Seo Yerim, who was still surveying the interior.
"How'd you even get here?"
She pointed at Seo Junseok with an expressionless face.
"I tailed him."
"...Huh?"
"I asked him to bring me along when he came to your place, but he said no, so I followed him."
Her brazen attitude left me flustered.
Junseok stared at her in disbelief before letting out a deep sigh of exasperation.
"Hey, are you seriously insane?"
"What?"
"Who tails people like some criminal?"
"So why not just bring me along from the start?"
From their conversation, it seemed Junseok really hadn't noticed her following him.
Finally, he gave up and pulled a key from his pocket.
"You show Yerim around the rooftop or whatever. I'll get dinner ready."
It was still too early for the fairies to show up, so this worked out.
Junseok still looked annoyed, but he nodded reluctantly, probably taking responsibility for getting tailed.
Meanwhile, Yerim's eyes lit up with interest.
"I've only ever seen country houses on TV or the internet. This'll be fun."
And just like that.
Junseok and Yerim left the living room side by side, so I headed straight to the kitchen.
An unexpected guest had arrived, but since Junseok was already planning to come over anyway, I had plenty of ingredients.
'Guess I'll stick to the plan and make spicy pork stir-fry.'
I pulled pork shoulder from the fridge.
The meat was fresh, cut to a good size, with just the right amount of fat for tenderness.
I sliced it a few more times along the grain, then tossed it into a big bowl.
Slice—slice—
I kneaded it with my fingers so the marinade seeped deep into the meat, then threw it in the pan with some veggies and stir-fried.
Sizzle—!
I plated the finished spicy pork stir-fry nicely and sprinkled sesame seeds on top.
For the finale, I whipped up some soybean paste stew to go with the wrap veggies and set everything neatly on the table.
'Now she's got me all nervous for no reason.'
If it was just us guys eating and drinking, this spread would've gotten applause.
But with a woman in the mix, unnecessary tension crept in.
Creeeak.
Right on cue, Junseok and Yerim came back inside after checking out the rooftop.
She sniffed the air, her face full of curiosity as she passed through the living room toward the kitchen. Spotting the pork on the table, her eyes sparkled.
"...What's this?"
"What?"
"Did you make this?"
At her surprised question, I crossed my arms and nodded coolly.
"You'd be shocked over spicy pork stir-fry?"
She sat down and tilted her head.
"Isn't this pretty advanced cooking?"
Junseok, who'd been watching from the side, plopped into a chair and chuckled.
"Hey, of course she's shocked. Dude still can't even boil ramen."
"Can't boil ramen?"
I mean, come on—ramen?
This chaebol life felt even more out of touch than in dramas or movies.
I blinked in disbelief, and Yerim fixed Junseok with a stare, chopsticks in hand.
But he ignored it completely, grinning casually as he kept talking.
"For real. Can't even get the water right. Follows the package to the letter and it always turns into Han River ramen—Aaack!"
Junseok suddenly yelped.
He clutched his thigh and twisted a bit.
"Th-that was true! Why pinch me!?"
Yerim ignored his pained expression and calmly picked up some pork with her chopsticks, then looked at me.
"Grandpa said ramen's bad for you, so I never had it as a kid."
"Oh... really?"
"And I hate salty food, so I always add extra water. To make it milder."
"R-right."
Worried it'd backfire on me, I nodded quickly. She took a bite of the meat on her chopsticks.
As the juices and spicy sauce filled her mouth, her expression shifted subtly.
Junseok, though, had no time to notice—he was still gripping his thigh in agony.
"Whoa... this is really good."
'I made it a bit salty, though. Didn't she just say she likes it mild?' The words tickled my throat, but I swallowed them and grabbed soju and beer from the fridge, setting them on the table.
"Let's start with some somaek tonight."
I filled the glasses, and the drinking session kicked off naturally. The clink of glasses echoed through the living room.
Clink—
Junseok downed his in one go and smacked his lips, eyeing Yerim regretfully.
"Sigh... If you weren't here, Haeseong and I could've talked girls and had a blast."
His tone was playful, but a hint of real disappointment laced it.
Guys often loosen up with some light girl talk, but with his twin sister right there, it felt awkward.
Thud—
Yerim set her glass down the moment she heard him.
Her movement was graceful, but a chill settled over the room.
"Girls? You mean Kang Jua?"
Her words made me freeze mid-sip.
Junseok's eyes flickered subtly too.
"...Hey, Seo Yerim."
He shot her a troubled glance.
She looked utterly emotionless.
"What?"
"Why bring up Kang Jua here?"
"You said girl talk..."
"So why drag my ex-wife's name into it outta nowhere?"
Her face said, 'What's the problem?'
The mood iced over for a split second.
But.
Yerim caught my gaze and—though just for a fleeting moment—her eyes wavered before she bowed her head.
"...Sorry."
Honestly, it didn't sit great.
But had Seo Yerim ever had to read the room in her life?
Apologizing late was impressive enough.
I raised my glass and looked at Junseok.
"It's fine. Drop it."
"S-sorry. She's so sheltered she lacks tact—"
Before he finished, Yerim lightly poked his side with her hand.
It wasn't hard—Junseok just winced a little without real pain.
I chuckled at the sight.
"It's really okay. I know what Yerim's like."
"R-right? Her mouth's a bit sharp, but her heart's in the right place."
After that, the vibe warmed up nicely.
Hanging with friends like this healed the daily grind of meeting fairies and Yama Kings.
Refreshing now and then wasn't bad at all.
"Yerim's already out?"
"Sigh... Where's she sleeping?"
"I cleared the small room."
Junseok carried the passed-out Yerim from the table to the small room and sighed shortly.
"Cut her some slack."
"Something up?"
"Well, with me gone from home, it must be tough on her."
"Shouldn't she be thrilled you're out?"
I tilted my head, and Junseok sipped his drink with a wry smile.
"We lean on each other more than we let on."
"Oh... I thought siblings fought all the time."
"Not that bad. Seeing each other every day would be unhealthy anyway."
What was even true anymore?
Still, I envied it.
If I'd had siblings, the divorce and Dad's death wouldn't have left me this lonely.
Gurgle gurgle gurgle!
Gurgle gurgle gurgle!
Gurgle gurgle gurgle!
Water sounds from upstairs. Junseok looked up in surprise.
"Wh-what? Why's the water suddenly on?"
"Ah... I set it to auto-clean the rooftop at night."
"Whoa! They have that feature now!?"
Total lie, of course. But I could say it so smoothly because I'd prepped a whole manual for fairy visits on the roof. I stood from my chair casually.
"Hang on, I'll check it quick."
"Why?"
"First time running it—wanna make sure it's good."
"Got it."
I locked the rooftop door securely from inside—just in case—and climbed up. There, the Fairy of Fables came running at me naked and dripping wet, throwing herself into my arms.
"Donghwa, you looked into what I asked?"
"I got the details!"
I stroked her head gently. Still holding her, I curled my lips into a wicked grin.
"...Good girl."