A Basement-Dwelling Loser, the Inquisitor – Chapter 11

“…So, are you not going to clean, unni?”

Bora drove a nail into my heart.

I was trying to extend a goodwill gesture worth 22,500 won, and I never expected to hear such words in return.

Of course, looking into Bora’s bright and clear eyes revealed that her question was innocent curiosity, devoid of malice… which made it hurt all the more.

But if you ask me whether I accepted Bora’s words willingly, the answer is absolutely not.

No. To be honest, it’s rather unfair.

It’s not like I’m avoiding the vacuum cleaner or neglecting the trash.

No matter how you slice it, I vacuum at least once every two days, and I always make sure to sort my trash meticulously before putting it out on collection day.

So… everything in my house is something I have use for.

“Um… Bora? Bo, Bora-ya?”

“Yup? Just call me Bora comfortably!”

“Uh, well. It’s not that I’m not cleaning, it’s just that I’m not organizing….”

Right.

I’m not avoiding cleaning; I’m just disorganized.

Those scattered items aren’t trash; they’re just conveniently within my reach.

“Those things over there have a reason for being where they are….”

“…But it still looks messy! Mom said I need to keep the clothes I don’t wear tidy!”

“But those are clothes I wear at home….”

“Even so, Mom said they should be organized when you go out….”

But such excuses didn’t work on a six-year-old who sees the world only in right and wrong.

I felt an overwhelming pang of guilt.

“Should I help you clean, unni? I clean at home all by myself every day, so I’m really good at it!”

“I-I’ll do it myself….”

Bora’s eyes sparkled as she said that, but I felt like accepting real help would turn me into a completely useless adult.

Not that I’m a true adult, but…

Anyway, after quickly tidying up some clothes and items under Bora’s watchful gaze, I laid out the chicken on the table.

It was slightly cooled down but still radiated warmth.

On top of that, the savory smell of chicken and the fizzing cola beside it just made it a perfect combo.

“Is it really okay if I eat it, unni…?”

“Yes. Eat as much as you want until you’re full.”

“Can I eat it all?”

“Yes. It’s okay.”

Of course, this chicken is meant to last at least until dinner tonight.

Though I said that, in truth, I hoped at least two pieces would be left over.

…Well, I do tend to eat a bit myself, and Bora’s young, so she probably won’t eat too much either.

There’s no way at least two pieces wouldn’t remain, right?

“Thanks for the meal!”

And thus, we started our meal by each grabbing a chicken leg.

Watching Bora munch on her chicken leg with her tiny mouth, I savored the taste of the chicken that I hadn’t had in ages.

Sweet, salty, savory…

The taste of chicken that I hadn’t had in a long time—definitely a flavor that would ruin my health, no need to explain.

So delicious….

I felt like I might cry…

But I couldn’t show such a pitiful sight while eating chicken in front of a child.

I needed to appear composed….

I had to show this grand gesture of generosity as if sharing the chicken was no big deal…!

“Is it delicious?”

“Yes! It’s super tasty! Thanks, unni!”

I’m glad she likes it.

Of course, her taste might not match, but she could also be just saying that as a courtesy.

Still, if she said that because she appreciates the effort of the person who bought it, she must have had good upbringing.

★

“Thanks for the meal!”

Just as I predicted, Bora, who declared she’d eat the whole thing, surrendered after the third piece, and I ended with four.

And as for two pieces left? Please, there were a whopping nine pieces left.

This means I could comfortably eat until breakfast tomorrow.

“Well, now we should slowly head home….”

“Unni, mom comes back at six, can’t I stay with you until then?”

As I tried to propose to walk her home, Bora looked up at me and pleaded.

“Uh, um… I don’t think that would be possible… no, it’s not that it can’t be done, but I don’t really have anything to do….”

“You can just chat with me!”

Does she know that’s currently the hardest thing for me to do?

Maybe… I don’t know. Hm….

“I don’t mind, but… Bo, Bora-ya, I think you’ll find it boring….”

“But I told you, you can just call me Bora comfortably!”

“Ah, yes… I’ll try my best….”

I made an effort to send Bora home somehow, but with her bright eyes showing interest in me, I finally had no choice but to give in.

“Ah, right! I’ve been curious about something since earlier, can I ask you, unni?”

“Ah, yes….”

“Why do you wear a hat and sunglasses at home?”

I can’t tell her it’s because of her, right?

I want to be a kind person to this kid.

“It’s, uh, fashion….”

“Is that so?”

“That’s right.”

“Isn’t it uncomfortable to wear that at home?”

“…A little uncomfortable, yes.”

Well, I could probably take off the hat and sunglasses now.

After all, I originally wore them hoping not to attract anyone’s attention, and there’s no need to keep them on for just Bora.

Definitely not because Bora’s gaze feels burdensome.

It’s not because I think she’s waiting for me to take them off.

I’m not yielding to Bora’s enthusiasm.

Yeah. I really thought it was uncomfortable. Really.

“Hm….”

“Wow….”

As I slowly removed the hat and sunglasses, Bora gasped, as if surprised.

Do I really look that strange?

Both my silvery-white hair and red eyes aren’t common colors.

An older person would probably consider me a delinquent, and kids definitely would find me more peculiar.

That’s why I thought it was only natural for Bora to be surprised or scared.

“You’re pretty, unni!”

“…Huh?”

But the reply I got was something completely unexpected.

“You’re super pretty!”

“R-really…?”

Bora nodded, her eyes shimmering brightly.

It felt as if her gaze confirmed that her earlier words were no lie.

…Thank you.

After a recent experience that crushed my self-esteem, I felt a little healing from this.

“Hehe….”

“But unni, can I ask you one more thing?”

“Ah, yes! Ask away!”

It’s the first time I’ve received such compliments regarding my appearance.

Honestly, I think my appearance is quite excellent now, but for some reason, people around me seem to think of me as strange.

Well, it’s not that I can’t understand either.

Objectively speaking, if I saw myself, I’d probably be surprised for various reasons.

Anyway, if it’s a question from Bora, who complimented my appearance, I could receive it all day long…!

“You said earlier you’re 20, right? So that makes you an adult?”

“Ah, yes… An adult? Yeah, that’s right.”

To be precise, I’m actually 16, but that’s not a point I need to worry about.

In my past life, I lived to 29 and had always been told I was mature.

Well, given that my ID specifies me as 20, what more is there to say?

“So, you’re really an adult, Rene unni!”

“Yes. Are you curious about what it means to be an adult?”

I thought for a moment that at that age, such things might indeed be curious…

“But then, unni, if you’re an adult, why are you home at this hour?”

“…Huh?”

Once again, Bora drove a nail into my heart.

“Dad said adults should work hard outside on weekdays, except for Saturday and Sunday.”

“Ah, uh… uh… ah…?”

Another wave of direct attacks.

In just two sentences, my mind felt crumpled.

Was her earlier compliment a setup for this assault…?

But even so, I couldn’t just let this little girl overpower me.

Now was the time for my counterattack.

“Um, I actually have a job that lets me work from home….”

Hmm. It’s not exactly a lie.

Playing games and making money can be easily done at home.

“But unni, you’re not working right now, are you?”

“Th-that’s because I’m with Bora right now….”

“Oh, I see…. Sorry, unni!”

“If you understand, then it’s alright….”

“So can I see you work then?! I’m curious!”

“Ah… that, um….”

Just when I thought I had managed to brush it aside, Bora’s next question caught me off guard.

What should I say?

Should I say that I sell items acquired from playing games for money, which is hard to show?

Or just tell her it’s a job that’s too difficult to show her?

Is it alright to lie like that to this innocent and carefree child…?

In my heart, conscience and face battled fiercely.

“Actually, I… don’t have a job yet and am unemployed….”

And the ultimate victor was… the conscience I didn’t want to win….

★

As I kept getting pounded by Bora under the guise of curiosity, time eventually reached six o’clock.

It was now time for Bora to head home.

“If my daughter caused you any trouble, I truly apologize.”

Bora’s mother was exceedingly kind.

She showed no signs of being surprised by my appearance and even bowed her head to me, who is much younger, saying she would repay me later.

Thanks to that, I began to feel healed from the emotional battering I had taken from Bora.

“It’s alright. I also had a somewhat… enjoyable time….”

“Yeah! I played with Rene unni!”

“This girl, come on! You shouldn’t talk like that to unni!”

No, it’s true. Bora’s words were entirely accurate….

Having no friends, no job, and no money, it was actually Bora who played with me…

Yep. That’s really how it was…

“Haha….”

With my meaningless laughter, Bora’s mother bowed her head to me once more.

Beside them, Bora smiled proudly, looking both adorable and a bit infuriating.