“Are you alright, Uncle?”
“Me…?”
Noah looked down at me with a worried expression. I responded by giving him a thumbs up.
“Somehow…”
Noah had rushed over after finding me lying face down on the bed. When he was asked how he entered, he said the door wasn’t even locked.
That confirmed it for me.
‘I must be really tired…’
When I tried to get up, my arms trembled. Noah stopped me, saying “Rest a bit,” and laid me back down.
Then Noah lightly patted my shoulder.
“Ouch…that feels good.”
“You really do seem like an uncle.”
“I am one… At twenty-two, I’m definitely an uncle.”
“Pfft, you’re still young.”
“Military uncles are like that. So if they are, then I am too.”
After patting my shoulder for quite some time, Noah spoke.
“I’ll give you another massage later tonight. I’ll do it properly this time, so please wait.”
“Thank you.” “No problem.”
Noah continued the massage for a while longer before leaving. The kid had to meet Athena’s team members today.
‘A week?’
After Noah left, I rolled around in the quiet house, smiling contentedly.
I pulled a small bottle from my pocket. In my hand was a sticky liquid resembling mucus.
‘This is something I never want to hear again…’
Speaking of which, this is Mandrake root juice. A solution made by blending the screaming kid in a blender.
After filtering it repeatedly, there was only enough for one drink.
“Kkomkmu.”
“Yes?”
“Can I ask you for this?”
“Seriously? I won’t take responsibility for whatever happens afterward.”
“It’s fine. Somehow, it’ll work out.”
Kkomkmu stared at me intently before sighing.
The kid then began making the drink by moving its tentacles.
Listing the ingredients one by one.
“Hatseven, Monster, Gurosan.”
Energy drinks with intimidating names just by hearing them. Kkomkmu mixed them together.
Like a witch brewing a potion.
And finally, the finishing touch.
Mandrake juice.
Drip. The droplet that fell onto the surface causing ripples soon disappeared as it mixed in.
“Here you go.”
“In that case, Kkomkmu.”
“Yes?”
“What happens when I drink it?”
Recalling a trailer of a game I saw before, I delivered a line. However, the kid, who couldn’t understand my joke, explained the effects of the drink in detail.
“First, the high caffeine content isn’t good for your body. Mandrake juice temporarily boosts magic power, but the fatigue that follows can be intense.”
Chug.
Kkomkmu’s tentacle pointed at me.
“Given Shin Hyun’s current state…there’s a possibility of collapsing from overwork.”
“What’s the probability?”
“The probability is always fifty-fifty.”
You might collapse, or you might not.
“But you’ll definitely last through today. That’s for sure.”
“…In that case, let’s drink.”
Today will likely be a pretty rough day for me. There’s also the possibility of being captured midway due to lack of strength.
Getting caught by Noah and revealing that I’m the villain…
‘Worst-case scenario.’
With that thought, my hand moved on its own.
The drink flowed down my throat.
“Faa…”
It was cloyingly sweet, but with this, I should be able to make it through the day.
What I have to do today is attack Blackheart among the Athena team socializing at the shopping district.
This will be the first phase of my plan.
+++++
Noah approached a group with a slightly hesitant look.
“Did you come?”
There were people welcoming him,
and others ignoring him.
A feeling of going back and forth between hot and cold water.
With that, Noah sighed and urged Seo Jin-a forward. He hadn’t come here for emotional battles; he’d come for work.
“Let’s go, sister.”
“Should we? Is everyone okay?”
To which Lee Tae-hwa replied “Yes,” but Yoo Yul remained silent.
‘Talent for ruining the mood.’
Apparently, she’s the child of some wealthy family. Must’ve been spoiled and pampered because of poor education. It’s not like bratty rich kids are anything new.
While thinking that, Noah took a step forward.
Today’s task is spending time together.
In short, bonding.
“What are you going to do, Tae-hwa?”
“Hmm… Suddenly having free money makes me unsure.”
“How about you, sister?”
“Um… Maybe buy some clothes?”
“That would be good.”
Talking to that brat wouldn’t yield any pleasant conversation, and might even make me angry.
However.
“Anyway, we’ll have to deal with her going forward.”
Whether liked it or not, they’d have to work together as a team going forward.
Noah sighed slightly and approached Yoo Yul. Her small frame flinched.
“What are you going to do?”
“I… I…”
After hesitating for quite some time, Yoo Yul opened her mouth.
“Use mine too. Since there’s plenty of money at home anyway.”
Noah nodded.
‘Really from a wealthy family, huh.’
Turning down free money from the government.
‘She knows what she’s doing.’
Since she refused, there’s no need to insist. Not much reason to anyway.
“Alright. Then do as you wish.”
Yoo Yul nodded.
That ended the conversation. Following the leading Lee Tae-hwa and Seo Jin-a, they walked silently.
Their first stop was a large supermarket.
Entering the massive building, they started shopping individually.
Noah headed towards the health and beauty section.
‘I wonder if I should get this or this…’
Lately, the uncle seemed a little tired. He originally looked somewhat tired, but it’s gotten worse recently.
Since he’s human too, not properly repaying him once would be wrong.
That’s why he’s choosing health supplements now. He picked a few decent ones and moved on.
To the section marked with oil.
“Since I promised to give a massage…”
Somewhere, I heard that using oil is better for the skin and more effective.
‘Which one would be good?’
While browsing around, a voice called out from behind.
“No~ah.”
“Huh!?”
It was Lee Tae-hwa.
“What is it? What are you doing here alone?”
Her face broke into a mischievous grin.
“Why are you buying massage oil?”
“To give a massage.”
“To whom?”
“T-the uncle…”
Tae-hwa nods knowingly. The look she gave Noah was playful yet serious.
“…Something like that should be approached carefully.”
“What…?”
“Because first times only happen once in life.”
“…What do you mean…”
As Noah trailed off, he looked around and understood. Most customers were young couples.
They probably think it’s for that kind of use.
“…It’s not for that.”
“Hmm…”
“It’s not!”
“Alright. If it’s not you, then it’s not.”
“Strangely annoying…”
Suppressing his inexplicable frustration, Noah put the oil in his cart.
He received a message from Seo Jin-a around that time.
[Hey Noah, can you come to the clothing section for a moment? I have a favor to ask.]
At the same time, Lee Tae-hwa’s phone rang.
It was also from Seo Jin-a.
“Shall we go?”
“Yeah.”
The two headed to the clothing section and witnessed the scene.
“Try this one too.”
“No way.”
“C’mon, it’ll suit you.”
“I already said no! I’ve tried one, that should be enough!”
“Trust me. Styling is my hobby, you know?”
Clothes were being forcibly dressed onto Yoo Yul by Seo Jin-a.
“Oh! You guys are here?”
“Sister… What is this?”
“Outfit recommendation! Can you evaluate it for us? How does Yul look?”
“How…?
Suddenly asking such a thing…
“…She looks cute.”
“Right? Yul looks good in everything since she resembles a doll.”
“T-that’s enough! No… Stop it please!”
“Nope. You owe me for calling me ‘chicken coop.'”
“Sorry… Sorry!”
“Come out wearing this~”
Holding a large cardigan, Yoo Yul entered the fitting room with a sullen face.
Meanwhile, Seo Jin-a hummed a tune while picking out clothes.
“Hey… Sister?”
“What is it, Noah? Oh! Do you want help picking out clothes too?”
“No, rather…”
Trailing off, Noah continued.
“Sister, are you okay?”
“Huh?”
“Don’t you mind that she talked to you so harshly?”
Seo Jin-a paused her humming briefly before answering with a bittersweet smile.
“You know? Sometimes, there are really annoying kids. Like, why do they talk like that? Why are they so irritable?”
“Yeah… They sometimes appear.”
“Right. But most of the kids I’ve seen had some sort of story behind them. Acting so nastily is a form of defense mechanism.”
Seo Jin-a continued as she hung the clothes.
“Give them more time. Whether they were born with a twisted personality or if something happened. But from my experience, it’s mostly the latter.”
“…Ah.”
“So, Noah, bear with her until then. If she truly has a twisted personality, I’ll try to fix her somehow.”
“How do you know all this? Just because you have younger siblings doesn’t mean you’d know this much…”
“Do you trust me, Noah?”
“Huh?”
“Sister is in the psychology counseling department.”
“Psychology counseling department?”
“That’s right. So trust me. I’ll try to rehabilitate Yul.”
Saying that, Seo Jin-a winked.
What should I say?
‘She’s an adult…’
Unlike myself, who gets angry immediately and throws punches, I never imagined she could think this deeply.
When will I become an adult like that?
Thinking that, Noah sighed.
“Huh? Why the sigh?”
“Just… I want to become an adult quickly.”
“Really? I miss my teenage years though.”
“Is that so?”
“But if you told me to go back to high school, I’d probably get mad and punch someone.”
Laughing softly, the two noticed something.
“Huh? Yul! Where are you going!”
“Don’t follow me! I’m going outside! I’m too tired to be with you guys!”
Watching Yoo Yul disappear quickly.
“Should we follow her?”
“Hmm… Let’s wait a bit. Rushing might backfire.”
“I see…”
“Then, Noah? Want a styling session from me? Mr. Shin Hyun, right? I’ll help you win his heart!”
“We’re not like that!”
+++++
Yu Yul clenched her fists. She saw her teammates happily picking out clothes and laughing without a care.
Just seeing that made her mood sour, and she stepped outside.
Only when she reached a secluded alley did Yu Yul let out a sigh.
“Idiots.”
How could they act so foolishly, without a single care in the world, just laughing and chatting?
Wasting precious time like that!
Why bother picking out clothes? Why bother dressing up prettily?
There was none of that in her life, nor would there ever be.
To rise above others, one must trample on them, using their bodies as stepping stones.
Yet, there they were, giggling away.
The sight was truly…
“…Envious.”
Without realizing it, those words slipped out. Yu Yul slowly closed her eyes.
“…Envious?”
“…!?”
Then a voice reached her ears.
“Lonely maiden.”
“Who’s there?”
Yu Yul’s gaze turned toward the corner of the street. From beyond that corner came a voice. Simultaneously, the characteristic sticky sound of slime began to echo.
Soon, a figure appeared, cloaked entirely in black robes. Around him writhed octopus tentacles.
Someone she recognized.
“…Kraken!”
S-class Villain Kraken.
He had revealed himself.
It didn’t make sense.
“Aren’t you after Iris?”
“That’s correct.”
“Then why show yourself to me?”
“An offering.”
“What?”
“The sacrificial lamb to summon Iris. If a comrade is found in a terrible state, she would surely confront me with full force. I desire that very outcome. Simply put, you are the scapegoat.”
“…So the news was true. You really are…”
Ksshing!
Yu Yul momentarily disappeared into darkness before reappearing as a different girl.
A twin-tailed girl with crimson eyes.
A Gothic Lolita-clad Magical Girl, Black Heart.
“You’re insane.”
“Most unfortunate.”
“I’m not soft like Iris, so prepare yourself!”
“As you wish.”
“Black Out!”
Upon Black Heart shouting the technique name, the surroundings plunged into pitch-black darkness.
A darkness so thick it was hard to see even a few steps ahead. However, Black Heart was unaware yet.
“My condolences in advance, maiden.”
That she was already within his grasp.
