Chapter 76

“Out of the four of us living together, two people are missing, but I was wondering if we should set house rules… Anyway, since there are four of us, how about each person is responsible for cleaning and cooking two days a week, while one person only handles it for one day. That way, there shouldn’t be much complaint.”

Yumina said this while absentmindedly drawing with a ballpoint pen, creating seven slots as she marked them.

“Personally, I feel like having someone only do it for a day would drive me crazy.”

“True, that seems like something our young lady might do.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“So, wouldn’t it be best if we assign that single day to our young lady?”

“…Somehow considering my character too seriously is making me feel bad. I may not have the best temper, but I’m not a bad person, am I?”

She felt hurt.

“Just a joke!”

Yumina laughed, “Heehee.” Hmm, it was definitely a joke, but now she’s curious how much truth was in it.

“Really just a joke! Since one person is overly benefited by this setup, it could also work to rotate the duties, but simple rules are easier to follow. So how about the homeowner only handles one day? What do you think?”

“So, it’s not because of my personality?”

“Also, no one really expects our young lady to handle cleaning and cooking, so even one day might produce fewer complaints.”

“You seem to think I’m incredibly incompetent, but that’s not true at all.”

She sipped her Americano. Ugh, it’s tasteless.

“Do you really think you could live independently and still eat well?”

“Cleaning and cooking are the basics of living alone. Sure, there may be some misunderstanding, but I’m actually quite skilled at cooking and can clean effortlessly using magic. And with experience from my previous life, I have more than enough knowledge of living alone. I’m sure I can handle it better than the teenager here, though we’re the same middle schoolers.”

Yumina smiled faintly and scribbled something. “Two days each for responsibility. However, our Young Lady only does one day.” This girl is named Cha Haneul, yet she’s referred to as ‘young lady.’ It’s unclear why.

“Wait a moment. Why should I do only one day?”

“Hmm? As I just said, this seems to be the best option. Once we start rotating, it’s bound to get tangled up. Moreover, if there are issues, we can always revise the rules later.”

“Let me explain again. Why should I only be responsible for one day? Think about it, I’m the one providing the house.”

She gestured expansively around the living room.

“So…?”

“I won’t do it.”

Yumina’s mouth dropped open.

“Not like I have any particular interest in cooking or cleaning, so why should I have to do it?”

“But that…”

“It’s not that difficult anyway since it’s only for one day.”

“Exactly!”

“So, why not let another person handle it during this time? It’s not that hard.”

Yumina’s gaze wandered around.

“I might not have any particular interest in cooking or cleaning, but among the three of us, surely there’s someone who finds it more agreeable? That person should take charge. If not, they should use this opportunity to develop a new hobby.”

Yumina used magic to lift the ballpoint pen she was holding and drew cancellation lines on the existing writings. Below, she wrote the new rule: Dividing the duties of cleaning and cooking among three people weekly. The person for whom cleaning and cooking fits their preferences or competencies will handle it a bit more.

After pausing the magic, the pen rolled away.

Yumina silently stared at the newly written rules.

“What do you think?”

Instead of an answer, an awkward smile returned.

Silence descended.

Not much reaction.

“Joking of course. I simply retaliated since you kept teasing me.”

“…As I expected!”

Her hand firmly grasped.

Startled briefly.

“There’s no way our young lady would create a prisoner’s dilemma scenario just by living alone and provoke a structural conflict!”

You are thinking in such a way.

Yumina nodded exaggeratedly to herself, tearing the paper on which the rules were written. She wasn’t satisfied just by tearing it once; she folded it carefully and tore it multiple times. Why?

“Apparently, there are problems if just the two of us decide.”

“Among four, two people is a majority, right?”

“Nope! It’s not a majority.”

How nitpicky.

“Anyway, smart and rational two people should be enough.”

“Living with four people, what if two are missing?”

“Once rules are established, people will naturally follow them.”

Yumina grabbed her shoulder and started shaking her vigorously. The view swayed in all directions. Gaaaaaak.

“No! Immediately call Doyugeon!”

“Hold on, you’re getting too excited.”

She was let go.

“Ugh….”

She roughly tidied her tousled hair.

Are you asking me to summon him? He’s currently dueling with Grandpa.

Why do we live this way?

I just want to sleep on the bed.

Isn’t it possible to just go to sleep?

Ah, yes.

I should go home.

“…Where to?”

“Home.”

She was about to leave the house when her shoes were kicked off, and she was dragged to sit on the sofa. Can’t even go home, how pathetic is that?

“Why are you blocking me from going home?”

“We’re calling Doyugeon now to establish the rules. You go ahead and make the call.”

“But if Laplace isn’t here, that means one less person, right? It would be meaningless to set rules without everybody present. Today doesn’t seem like the right day; let’s do it next time.”

“Laplace sent me in her place, so with Doyugeon joining, it’s the same as all four of us.”

“Well then, if currently three out of four people are represented, that would still be a majority right? So, can the two of us decide?”

Yumina shook her head wildly.

“By the way, how have you been tormenting Laplace? She seems to have lost her will to live. She could use spatial magic to teleport here, but she’s delegating her authority instead of coming personally.”

Even though I shouldn’t use body relocation through magic due to the high risk involved, Laplace has been quite adept at it.

“…She’s ill.”

Yumina murmured gloomily.

I wonder if this isn’t real sickness but a fabricated excuse stemming from self-respect. After having lost a particular privilege, she’s been lying low, trying to preserve her dignity. She missed the right moment to bow down and admit it, now trapped in the process of accumulating a negative history and suffering in bed at night.

Besides, she had mentioned to me that she felt like she wasn’t long for this world, but she’s still alive despite it. It must be embarrassing to meet people after boasting to be a terminal girl with a limited time frame. Though, she’s still just a middle schooler anyway, and she’s managed life unlike Doyugeon. No, wait, she didn’t attend school at all, so she’s not technically a middle schooler.

“By the way, how old is Laplace anyway? I don’t remember if I’ve ever heard.”

“I don’t know either. She’s a little taller than our young lady, so maybe she’s a year or two older?”

“…”

She got hit on the head.

Ouch.

“Ugh… Never been hit even by my parents.”

“That’s how it should be. Anyway, call Doyugeon.”

“But we’re observing social distancing!”

“Our young lady makes too many excuses.”

“First place, he doesn’t respond to calls. Why should I make the call? He’s playing sword games with Grandpa. He’s not a kid anymore.”

…Well, he is technically a kid but…

Still, we are the same age technically. Of course, I am a junior high school girl, soon to be in high school.

Yumina sighed while pressing her forehead.

“Young Lady, grow up a bit.”

Taken aback by the unexpected comment.

“What…do you mean me?”

“Who’s the other young lady here?”

“Firstly, you are a rich young lady too.”

If other magical girls were asked, they would definitely confirm that she is a young lady. The logical structure and cultural knowledge absorbed naturally from a high-class family itself is enviable. She must have benefited abundantly when Seoul was unified. Yumina lacks understanding of cultural capital. This is why she has gold spoons.

“Don’t dodge the question; call him now.”

She lazily threw herself onto the sofa.

“I’ll just not grow up.”

Yumina froze in bewilderment at the unexpected answer.

“How about this? I wish I weren’t even in high school. Why must I grow older? Should we skip eating rice cakes this New Year? Would you eat my rice cake instead?”

“No way.”

—

*

Depressed. It’s unavoidable to have a life swayed by others, but it shouldn’t begin so early. Where are risk management and self-control?

Holding a flowerpot, she climbed over the gate. As she went further in, the clashing sounds of impact and swords became progressively louder. Without much effort, she could feel magical energy emanating from behind the mansion. Rather than going closer, she walked around the garden. The trees here are pretty. How about planting some green onions here?

The secretary walked by and approached her.

“Young Lady has arrived.”

“Though I didn’t make an appointment, saying ‘you’ve come,’ I’m unsure how to respond.”

The secretary briefly laughed.

“Follow me.”

“I know where it is too.”

The secretary smiled faintly.

“Considering I’ve been assisting the chairman for quite some time, may I offer you a piece of advice?”

“One piece is fine.”

“Ignorance is a sin. Are you afraid of the price you may have to pay?”

…

When she looked at the secretary, he simply let out a hearty laugh. The laughter of others often seems irritating to her.

“Your understanding of the age trends is slightly off. In this era of information overload, strategic ignorance is becoming the norm.”

“Perhaps that may be true.”

“Isn’t it? The brain has its limits; receiving excessive information can lead to losing rationality.”

They felt a pulse of magical energy. Words ceased as she looked toward the clearing. Upon noticing a burst of magic, Doyugeon was flung back. She hurriedly raised her own magic to assist but before she could, Doyugeon slammed his sword into the ground. The earth groaned as his momentum was stopped.

Doyugeon propelled himself with his sword, causing shockwaves throughout the field. Tremors rippled through the ground.

“Come here!”

In response, excited shouts were heard from the grandfather, and a mound of earth arose forming a wall. Doyugeon rushed over the wall, and flaming arrows descended from all directions.

Doyugeon’s sword charged with energy.

In one swift strike, the flow was disrupted.

Then the distance was bridged, creating space.

With strikes that knew when to cut and when to stop, Doyugeon’s sword technique shone through.

Doyugeon redirected a single flaming arrow towards the ground, diving down with powerful intent. Swords clashed, along with their energy currents. Wind howled violently, sweeping through the garden and scattering dust.

I can’t see.

It wasn’t the dust but my lack of sufficient vision. I thought it improved with gaining levels, but I still can’t see it.

She briefly rubbed her eyes to remove the dust grains. Closing her eyes, she focused on her senses.

Doyugeon thrust upwards with his sword, causing his grandfather’s blade to be pushed aside. Fragments of the sword’s energy remnants scattered.

A gap occurred, and he immediately pulled back, repositioned his sword, and then lunged forcefully. The sword tip darted swiftly toward the armor.

Just as the sword energy was about to collide with the armor, sparks emitted from it, disrupting the incoming energy. The shattered sword collided again with the armor. The impact shattered the sword.

Grandfather’s sword strike thundered downwards.

Doyugeon used the broken sword to block the blow while simultaneously snatching the flying shards with his other hand. In the split second when his grandfather’s energy slice severed the broken blade, the shard glowed with energy and pierced towards the armor.

The energy from the shard collided with the armor.

The armor dented where it was repeatedly struck, and magic flared up emitting a shockwave. However, this shockwave traveled not towards Doyugeon but towards the grandfather, who smoothly absorbed it, flipped back, and landed.

Doyugeon stood in a stabbing stance, gazing dizzily at the grandfather, before throwing the hilt and blade fragments to the ground.

“Uaaaaah! What is this?! This is so unfair! Where does this come from?!”

He pulled his hair in exasperation.

“This isn’t unfair; it’s just worth it. Premium quality is always better.”

The grandfather chuckled, displaying signs of dementia.

“Indeed, isn’t it?”

The nearby secretary quipped.

This is what?

—

---