Chapter 74
Bang!
….
Bang, crash!!
…….
Thud-!
“Soi….”
I finally couldn’t hold back and bit my lip.
I tried my best to maintain composure and attempted to keep a gentle smile on my face.
“I’ll take care of dinner for myself today.”
“……Yesss.”
The child’s voice sank weakly.
Soi had a pot that fit perfectly on her head turned upside down.
It looked cute on the outside, but….
I know.
How hard Soi tried. What kind of struggle she had been through here until just now.
I know.
Because I know, I tried not to interfere as much as possible.
Really, as much as possible.
I just wanted to watch….
‘This is a bit……’
Isn’t it?
Just now, my eyes caught the sight of numerous kitchen utensils strewn haphazardly on the floor in the wake of Soi’s path.
A devastating scene as if an ‘intensity 5’ earthquake had swept through.
A scene perfect for someone unfamiliar to misunderstand that burglars had broken into the house.
And,
Exactly 10 minutes before this chaotic kitchen commotion.
*****
“Please leave the meal preparation to me!”
Soi left a note for me, who had returned home after a long time, saying that she would prepare a meal for me as usual.
While tightly gripping the paper with her small, cute fist.
Tap!
As she struck her chest with that small fist, she truly looked determined.
That confidence saying to just trust her!
So I also trusted and left it to her.
Even though her body had become smaller, Soi was not an ordinary child. She was a ‘ghost child’.
‘She’s a ghost after all.’
She would be different from an ordinary child.
That’s what I thought.
And,
This is the result.
<‘Intensity 5’ kitchen status.>
-Not an earthquake, for reference.
In the scene where all the kitchen utensils seemed to have gained consciousness and moved around, Soi with a pot perfectly fitting her head turned upside down was currently.
…sobbing.
She was crying,
Looking at me with pitiful eyes.
Those eyes that seemed like they would run back into my arms and burst into tears at any moment.
“….”
Screech-
I got up from the chair I was sitting on. I began organizing the utensils scattered on the floor one by one.
And honestly.
In reality, it might have been unreasonable to have Soi, who had changed into a body like a young child, cook.
I may be at fault for accepting and allowing it, but….
‘Today I’ll take care of the food myself.’
Fortunately, there was a convenience store near the intersection.
Come to think of it, when Park Yeon-jeong was living alone, he always had convenience store food for meals.
It wouldn’t be a big deal if Soi didn’t eat a proper meal for just one day.
And these days, convenience store food is quite good.
After cleaning up the utensils scattered on the floor, I was planning to quickly go to the convenience store.
Grasp-
?
While in the middle of cleaning up, I felt someone grab the hem of my pants, and when I looked down.
Grasp-
There, I saw a small child holding a large kimono sleeve with one hand, and tightly gripping the hem of my pants with the other.
Moreover,
With lips pushed out like a cute duck bill.
With a dejected look and tears welling up in her eyes, she stood before me.
‘…Could it be.’
Did she think she was just being a nuisance?
“……”
It really was like looking at a young child.
I put down the items I was holding and gently placed my right palm on the top of dejected Soi’s head.
I spoke with a warm voice.
“You don’t have to worry so much. Just having you here is enough for me.”
“……Weally?”
She probably meant to say ‘Really?’
I responded to Soi’s answer by reading the situation.
“Of course.”
And fortunately, judging by Soi’s slight smile with her eyes….
‘Yes, I got it right.’
My answer seemed to be correct.
After that, with Soi’s help, I was able to quickly finish cleaning up the kitchen, and just as I was about to leave the house to buy dinner.
Pitter-patter-!
The cute sound of footsteps brushed past my ears, making its presence known as it approached me.
Soi ran to the front door with her short legs. She quickly unfolded a paper in both hands.
“Master. Is there anything else you would like me to do?”
“Something to do?”
Even if there was something to do….
In Soi’s current smaller body, most household activities were nearly impossible.
I didn’t particularly want to make her do anything difficult.
Sparkle-!
…Those sparkling eyes that looked like they would cry if I didn’t give her something to do.
Looking at Soi’s beautifully sparkling eyes made me feel like I should give her something to do.
I held my head for a while, thinking deeply.
‘……Ah, that’s right!’
At that moment, I took out our three teddy bears from my employee ID card, which came to mind as soon as I saw the smaller Soi,
And immediately handed them to Soi.
“Could I ask you like last time, perhaps?”
I wanted to ask Soi to repair our teddy bear trio that had been damaged in the recent battle.
And Soi’s response was.
“Yes! Of course!!”
The fact that she now had something she could do brought joy clearly visible on Soi’s face.
Grab-
Soi, who took the teddy bears, hugged them to herself happily.
Pitter-patter-patter-
And immediately she moved to repair them,
And seeing Soi’s happy face, I was able to go to the convenience store with peace of mind.
My dinner that day.
I had a meal with our reliable ‘Chef Baek’s lunchbox’ and a simple ‘cup ramen’.
Fortunately, I was also able to take a shower.
……Achoo!
It would have been nice if it was hot water.
But it’s a thousand blessings that it wasn’t rusty water, right?
Really, after overcoming numerous unexpected happenings, when my steps headed back to the bedroom.
Swoosh-
Soi, despite her small physique, still had excellent sewing skills.
‘As expected, she’s fast.’
Honestly, even when I came back from the convenience store, I was worried that she might get hurt somewhere.
But in that brief time I went to the convenience store, she had already finished repairing our first teddy bear.
And currently.
Swoosh-
Just before going to sleep.
Soi had cleanly finished repairing all three teddy bears.
Clap, clap, clap!
“Amazing!”
“……”
Shrug!
Soi silently shrugged her shoulders, happy to have proudly shown that she could do it.
After that, I put the fully repaired teddy bear trio back into the employee ID card.
Now that I finally realized that all the tasks for today were done.
Yawn~
A late wave of drowsiness hit me hard.
I was in a state where I felt I could fall into a deep sleep as soon as I lay down.
My eyes immediately turn towards the bed in the bedroom.
An old, worn-out bed frame and a somewhat unstable-looking appearance of the bed.
‘……I wonder if it might collapse to the floor while sleeping?’
With a bit of concern, I lightly place my hand on the bed.
Creaking-
Cracking-!
The sound of wood splitting just struck my ears.
‘…Well, this will definitely collapse while sleeping.’
Without even needing to think about it, I turned my steps toward the living room.
Fortunately, thanks to Soi who had shown me where the bedding was that could be laid on the floor, I would somehow be able to sleep.
Thud!
After laying the bedding on the floor, I immediately threw myself down as if collapsing. With the feeling of my eyes closing as soon as I lay down.
‘Now…I’m really at my limit.’
My eyes began to slowly close.
Sink.
?
Just a moment before falling asleep.
Along with a warm sensation felt at my side. I turned my heavy gaze.
There was Soi, who had gently nestled against my side, burying her head in my embrace.
Flutter!
And she unfolded a piece of paper for me.
“Good night! Master!”
“…Right.”
I was truly at my limit now.
Soon my heavy eyelids came down, and darkness as black as ink came before my eyes.
As if the light of consciousness was turning off.
I fell into a very deep sleep.
*****
Deep in a dream. Somewhere….
When I opened my eyes again.
The place captured in my gaze.
Was on a grassy field covered with dense fog.
Sitting on the soft grass.
Smelling the scent of grass.
I waited.
I waited for that child to come.
Thinking only of the girl in the red robe, I waited again for a meeting with her.
Endlessly.
With all my senses concentrated on my ears.
I held…my breath.
And,
Step-
….
Step-
As soon as I heard the sound of footsteps treading on the grass brushing past my ears. I got up, though my body had been heavy until just now.
In time with the sound of my pounding heart.
Without hesitation, I moved toward that place.
And,
When my steps stopped again.
There was.
No red robe.
Not a girl.
There was…
Someone else standing there.
However,
The atmosphere was exactly the same as that girl.
The same scent brushes my nose.
My attention was focused on this unidentified child who emitted the same scent as that girl.
The child turned to me.
And softly spoke.
“…It’s you.”
Just one phrase.
With only that phrase, the child smiled a faint smile.
Beyond that faint smile.
While hiding killing intent like a deep shadow in their bosom.
The child’s voice extends to me again, and the killing intent hidden in the shadows raises its head.
“These evil beings are tormenting us again.”
Those words contained in the smile, along with the child’s light touch.
Swish-
My body at that spot.
Bang-!
Exploded.
To the extent that the form could not be recognized, my body was scattered in all directions.
“One original sin is enough.”
With that pain that penetrates the bone engraved throughout my body.
“So remember it with your body.”
My consciousness was also severed.
【Do not approach my Eve anymore.】
*****
“Ahhh!”
I screamed.
I raised my upper body and immediately examined my body.
I touched my face.
Continuously.
Repeatedly touching all parts of my body.
Fumbling.
…They’re there.
My body’s form still remains.
All my body parts were still attached to their original places.
For a moment, the sensation in the dream was so realistic that I had the illusion that my body had actually been blown away.
And there was someone else who responded to my scream.
“Master, are you alright!”
Soi, who had been in the kitchen, heard my scream and rushed over hurriedly.
“Ah, no. I just had a bit of a nightmare.”
“…Master. I think it would be good for you to rest thoroughly today.”
“I should……?”
!?!?!
‘Who am I having a conversation with right now?’
As I stared blankly at Soi, instead, Soi tilted her head expressing doubt.
“Master?”
“Soi, you……your body.”
My gaze was focused on Soi’s body.
Until yesterday, Soi had a child’s body, but currently.
A body shape like that of a middle school student.
Wearing a neat kimono that fits her body perfectly, Soi was holding her characteristic shy smile.
And Soi once again adjusted her posture and.
Bowed toward me.
“Yesterday, due to unfavorable circumstances, I was unable to tell you.”
Bow.
A faintly spread smile and warm voice extended toward me.
“Thank you for returning to my side, Master.”
Fortunately, Soi seemed to have regained her body to some extent, and with Soi’s affectionate greeting.
This morning I was able to eat the breakfast prepared by Soi.
Well then.
Now what remains is, I was thinking of spending time leisurely at home today…but.
My footsteps, as always.
Headed toward the front door.
Seeing me like this.
“You’re going out again!”
“Huh? Well, since it’s a day off. I also have some places to drop by…”
At that moment, I was intimidated by Soi’s loud voice.
Although Soi had recovered her body to some extent, her physical appearance was still that of a middle school student at best.
Perhaps because of that.
Each action was exactly like what children of that age would do.
Puff-puff-!
With her cheeks filled with air, Soi was looking at me with eyes full of dissatisfaction.
“Haah…I understand. Master is also a person with schedules.”
But fortunately, she understood quickly.
The current time was exactly.
Just past 10 AM.
‘If I go now, I’ll arrive right on time.’
Click.
I opened the front door without hesitation and gave a brief greeting to Soi.
“I’ll be back.”
And after hearing my words, Soi also, as if it had never happened, with a faint smile on her lips.
Sent me off.
“Yes, have a good trip. Master.”
Tick-tock-
Along with the faint sound of the second hand brushing past my ear.
I left the house like that.
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