Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Lobster Tails and Smile Happiness
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"Han Ga-eul has started broadcasting"
🔴 LIVE CHAT "My babies. Don't do anything weird in Euna sister's room. Come on over."
"Gasp! Winter—no, Ga-eul, your voice changed. So that's your real voice."
"Yeah. I deliberately changed it when doing Vtubing."
— ⚔️ Viewer Home sweet home! (･`◡´･)ゝ — ⚔️ Viewer (･`◡´･)ゝ — ⚔️ Viewer LOL, should've turned it on ages ago — ⚔️ Viewer Ahh, so cozy. Home is the best "Whoa. Viewer count just plummeted. Thought I had viewbots for a sec."
Euna sister was peeking over from the side, chattering away as she snooped on my phone.
"So, Ga-eul, that means you have over ten thousand viewers?"
"Nah. Wasn't always like this. They piled up recently."
"How many piled up?"
"Uh... how many was it? Thirty thousand?"
"Gasp. Thirty thousand!? Ga-eul, you're either feast or famine. No wonder everyone's rocking real Blue Steel swords. Wild."
"Yeah. Oh, and say hi to this one."
I peeled Boksul off the back of my head and held her out to Euna sister.
"My partner. Boksul."
"Eek!"
Everyone's first reaction to meeting Boksul was pretty much the same.
Euna sister, hand over her mouth, stared at Boksul before slowly extending her palm.
"Ohhh. Baby bunnyyy. How? Where'd this cutie come from?"
"She dozes on my head and sometimes slides down to my nape. She's smart, so she doesn't run off. Say hi."
"O-okay. Hi, Boksul?"
True to form, the prejudice-free Boksul raised a front paw and bobbed it.
"Gasp! She said hi. Did you see?"
I nodded to Euna sister, who was gazing at me with sparkling eyes.
"Pet her. She's so fluffy and warm."
"C-can I? Baby, mind if I touch just a little?"
Watching Euna sister pet Boksul with a blissful smile, it hit me—people all over the world loved cute things, race aside.
"Sister, you eaten?"
"Not yet."
"Cool. Know a spot with killer food. Wanna go?"
"Heck yeah!"
I wrapped up loose ends, then headed out with sister to a food street full of old memories.
As we strolled, food stalls and restaurants lining the central street soon came into view.
"Little further, there's good stuff."
"Ooh, exciting. Everyone, we're hitting the food street with Ga-eul. Smells amazing everywhere. Butter, I think? Love it."
Euna sister had nailed even the multiple personalities and sword dance bits like a pro.
Watching her handle the stream up close, her streamer chops were no joke.
"Kids. Here to grease up the gut."
— ⚔️ Viewer Watch and learn, cutie next door — ⚔️ Viewer LMAOOOOOOOO "Rough crowd, babies."
— ⚔️ Viewer That's our boss lady lol I felt eyes on me and glanced over—Euna sister was staring, wide-eyed with surprise.
"Ga-eul, you're so casual with your viewers?"
"Hm? Yeah? They're just my friends."
— ⚔️ Viewer Aww, shy much — ⚔️ Viewer Blushy~ Chatting with sister as we walked, our original target came into sight.
"Sister, there. Lobster tail butter grill! Super tasty."
Approaching the stall with anticipation, two guys were kicking the advertising board under it.
Bam! Bam!
"Boss. This is gonna ruin our friendship, you know?"
"No, that doesn't make sense."
One guy brazenly kicking the stall, the lobster boss flustered and helpless.
As I moved to step in, sister grabbed my arm.
"Huh? Why, sister?"
"Ga-eul, dignity! Isn't that the place you mentioned?"
"Yup. Tasty as hell."
Sister lowered her voice, scared the guys might hear.
"No, tasty's not the issue. They look like thugs. Call the cops."
"Huh? Why cops? If they feared 'em, they wouldn't act up. You're too pure, Euna sister."
— ⚔️ Viewer Boss lady off to stir shit again — ⚔️ Viewer Bless those fools' future. Amen — ⚔️ Viewer Amen Dragging sister—who was scared but wouldn't back off—to the stall.
"Hey boss. Long time no see. Two butter grills, please."
One thug eyed me like I was nuts, then shooed me like a fly.
"Miss. We're busy. Come back later, yeah?"
"What the fuck, shitmouth. Who said you could open that stank trap?"
"...What?"
"This is my turf. Who the fuck let some limp-dick asshole muscle in? Scram?"
"Hah..."
The dumbfounded guy clicked his tongue and reached for my shoulder.
"Miss. You need to learn how the world..."
Crunch.
"Gaaahhh!"
I grabbed his hand as it landed and twisted—bones grinding loud.
"What is this fucker? Comedian?"
Crack. Crack.
"Guhhh. H-hand. P-please."
"Hand what, bitch? Speak proper."
Snap.
Bones crumpling real-time, guy bawling snot and tears, out of it.
Finally let go—he collapsed, clutching the mangled hand, shaking.
"You too. C'mere."
"M-me?"
"Yeah. You."
His buddy rolled his eyes, lost, at my gesture.
"Who runs first? Get caught running, I'll slice your balls sideways. Come nicely."
— ⚔️ Viewer Holy fuck world Glancing at his twitching buddy, he shuffled over slow.
"Cheek scars. One, two, three. Third-year?"
"..."
"Answer."
"Y-yes. Third-year..."
"Sniff. Sob."
Up close, seeing the crushed hand, his pupils shook like an earthquake.
"Hey, third-year."
"Yes."
"Who the fuck are you?"
"Huh?"
"Dickhead. What do you do?"
"Uh, c-collection..."
"Collections? You a moneylender?"
"Y-yes..."
He mumbled, head bowed low.
His nape itched my palm.
Smack!!
I held back.
"Gak."
"Sorry. Reflex. Too tempting."
Hand beat brain.
"Boss. You borrow from these clowns?"
The hesitant lobster boss answered carefully.
"Yes. Needed cash for card bills."
"Couldn't pay back?"
"No, paid long ago. But interest ballooned past principal. Can't."
"Why use loan sharks? Parasite fucks leeching off folks."
I eyed the staggering guy, dizzy from the nape hit.
"Third-year. How much boss borrow?"
"Th-three mil. Paid 2.1 upfront after advance interest. 600k weekly after."
"Fuckin' bullshit. Fart-talk. Wanna die?"
Guy shut up, head down again.
Smack!!!
"Gahhh."
"You're quick on uptake, so you live. Spill all you know."
Stumbling, he steadied his legs and stood before me.
"Boss of your outfit. Quiet."
Quick guy whispered.
"Smile Happiness Loans. Instructor tied to Seven Snakes Faction. Dangerous."
"Seven Snakes my ass. Bank deets. Now."
Deposited boss's loan into the account third-year gave—now swollen to ten mil.
"Third-year."
"Yes."
"You get the gist?"
Onlookers, who'd fled scared, now crowded, buzzing.
"Boss's balance cleared. Go office, tidy it clean."
"Yes."
"Drag this bait back, toss him. You? Run far before word spreads. Don't wanna get sandwiched."
"...Thanks."
"Here. Cab fare."
Third-year was freakishly perceptive.
No rush to jump a tiny girl causing chaos—just read the flow sharp.
I handed over a few 50k bills; he took 'em no hesitation, bowed once, hauled the writhing guy, and vanished quick.
"Boss. Paid in full."
"Th-thank... How to repay?"
"Not free. Coming eat ten mil's worth. Make it tasty each time."
"Heh. Naturally. Super... super tasty."
"Cool. Two now."
Boss lifted head—face mixed joy and pain tears, unreadable.
Watching him cook, Euna sister approached.
"Ga-eul, you okay?"
"I'm fine. Those guys? Not so much."
Even my joke didn't lift her worried face.
"They're thugs. What if they do bad stuff later?"
"It's cool. I'll clean it up neat. No worries."
Her concern was valid, but feeling it overkill showed how broken I was.
"Sister, Smile Happiness Loans. World where one smiles, another cries. Easiest way to live. Fucked-up world, right?"
"..."
No answer to my non-question.
"Sister, got lobster tails butter grilled. Gonna hit the john quick. Hold my phone?"
"Huh? Want company?"
Hugged her anxious self; she calmed.
"Back soon."
"Okay! I'll watch 'em grill. Go!"
Slipped off street into alley—mountain-sized foreigner greeted, flustered.
"Hello?"
"...How'd you know?"
"Saying you hid well with that build?"
"I was careless."
Quick admission.
Not careless—ghost-level presence hide.
Just my honed senses post-return kept catching him.
"Uncle Herman sent you?"
"You know well. We're Melville Police's private muscle. Hong Society dispatched to guard you. Sorry no prior notice."
"What'd the junkies say? Gramps worries too much."
"Only you call Hong Society that."
'Miss' again so soon, head spun.
"Got a favor. Saw? Those loan sharks—clean up so they don't hit local merchants. Tough?"
His stoic face twitched at the ask.
Hit his pride.
"We're ex-military, mercs from bullet storms. Child's play. But priority's guarding you."
"Won't take long."
"Understood."
Reluctant nod.
Heading back to sister, curiosity hit.
"Name?"
"Albert Lawrence."
"Cool."
Albert handed an item from his pocket, deadpan.
"Gun?"
"Lord Kamar's personal request. Insisted delivery. Ammo to your place."
Jet-black pistol Uncle Kamar always flashed.
"Sigh. Why gramps do this."
Pocketed it—into sub-space, really. Back to sister; she beamed, lobster butter grills in hand.
"Sister."
"Ga-eul! Look. Tasty, right?"
"Yeah. Told ya I brought you right."
"Hwah. Butter smell drooling!!"
"Sit there, eat. Then my place after?"
"Huh? Already?"
Short stay, now leave? Her face questioned.
Guilt over her forced bright smile hiding unease.
"My place, grill meat. Rooftop. Samgyeopsal and soju?"
"Hot! Meat, soju!! Love beer too!!"
"Beer too, then."
Her big eyes sparkled like nothing happened.
"My babies booze up too."
— ⚔️ Viewer Hell yeah booze mukbang!! — ⚔️ Viewer Drinks all gone — ⚔️ Viewer Barkeep!! Gimme a bowl of takju! Peeked at Euna sister's phone—her calm fam couldn't keep up with my bandit kids.
"Euna sister's fam, bring booze too."
— Viewer Ooh, let's go! — Viewer Yes!! What booze? Switching phones, whiplash hit hard.
— ⚔️ Viewer Lol only chill peeps? Pour it on "Sigh, beast bastards."