Chapter 86

A conventional life has many turning points.

The period of elementary school when one must grow into a separate personality from one’s parents.

The period of middle school where one must adjust to changes in the environment and fluctuations in interpersonal relationships.

The period of high school where amidst social pressures and parental expectations, one must determine the first version of oneself.

The period of university where while economically dependent, one must define goals under the obligation to choose.

The period of dating where one must establish sustainable rules of communication as individual personalities meet.

The period of early employment where one experiences the thrill of economic independence and must overcome shifts in the rules of the life game.

The period of established adulthood where one must reorient one’s self-esteem in accepting the collapse of lofty ideals.

The period of newlywed life where one establishes and maintains the characteristics of spousal and family identities.

The period of deciding between childbirth and childrearing while navigating agreed terms with a spouse and the realities of the situation.

The period in management positions where one must reconstruct consciousness healthily through guilt and rationalization for structural wrongs as a leader.

The period of a child’s rebellious phase where one must endure emotional turmoil without projecting it onto an absolute weaker party.

The period of children’s supplementary education where one tightens family finances, handles marital conflict, and tightropes children’s mental health.

The period of retirement when one must resolve the dependency on career-based self-esteem and plan a new chapter of life.

Facing the permanent severance of memories in the death of a parent, accepting the finiteness of life.

The period of old age, resolving generational shifts and societal alienation through wisdom and accumulated capital.

And finally, the historical judgment that comes after death.

Life is predictable, and risks are manageable.

Theoretically, at least…

“Seems like the financial burden after marriage is missing. Like buying a house or such.”

Laplace, lounging on the sofa, pointed this out.

“It’ll do, even if it’s small, living in the house you get upon becoming independent. Or you can add a little money and move to a bigger place.”

“What? I feel like I just heard something utterly presumptuous!”

At the high tone of voice, I looked up from my phone to Laplace, who met my gaze with a look that was not favorable. Why do people these days often look at young ladies as if they lack maturity? It’s rather unfair. Is it because my head has grown larger?

Especially Laplace who keeps quiet about their age, yet says things like this. They seem younger based on their height, which is only slightly taller than mine. Growth speed tells all. Still in your growth spurt, aren’t you?

“There seems to be some misunderstanding, but I didn’t say everyone just receives a house. When one becomes independent, parents generally support with a deposit or such. That’s enough to roughly resolve any issues.”

This life is excessively comfortable, but in my previous life, I toiled. I’m not the person who gives economic advice with disdain to youngsters who haven’t even entered the workforce.

“I don’t have parents though.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

Since the explanation seemed sufficient, I returned my gaze to the phone.

I tapped on a book that caught my eye.

The Theory and Practice of Sex Education.

I scrolled down to check the table of contents.

A dry but broad list caught my eye.

Uh…this feels too serious.

I pressed the back button.

Rather than academic works, I was looking for mass-market books.

Typically, people who anticipate and prepare for life’s turning points are referred to as adults. Those who flounder in surprise are considered immature, but helping those who do falter is a virtue of adulthood.

Since Doyugeon is now a high school student, it’s natural for him to develop interest in such topics. Yes, yes, though wasn’t the reason this issue arose because of his earlier actions? Anyway…

Yes, perhaps I wasn’t very adult-like. Such matters should have been anticipated and prepared for in advance.

But, in the end, I’m just a high school girl; thus, not an adult, right? I’m only in my teens. Wasn’t I entitled to not handle it?

Still, I need to do something about it. There are a lot of gaps in family education because Doyugeon’s parents both work. Or is this public education’s territory? Would it be okay if I didn’t worry too much? Maybe this was something the educational policies should address? Should I just not get involved? Should I?

“Rather than reading books like this, should we worry about having sex? It’s just sex anyway.”

The kid is pretty open about it.

It’s impossible not to feel a sense of responsibility seeing the embodiment of failed home education like this. But is this not also proof of a failing public education system? Since they don’t attend school either. Is this evidence of family policy failures?

Laplace doesn’t attend school. Even though it’s mandatory, they don’t go. While mandatory education targets are usually monitored by the state, skipping school usually results in repercussions for both parents and the child. But Laplace skips school entirely.

Though I didn’t inquire further because I wasn’t too curious, I could roughly guess why. The fact that I started calling Laplace “Laplace” was at my initiative, but their reluctance to reveal their true name was their own decision. I call the white-haired student in class “white-haired” but I wouldn’t do so casually with someone I live with. I’m not that reckless.

Hmm. Yes.

Even so, the reason Laplace allows themselves to be called by whatever absurd name is likely because they qualify as an obligatory education subject. They probably avoid using their real name out of concern that their parents or the state might track them down.

Considering the spatial magic abilities of a magical girl, it’s possible they aren’t originally from Seoul. They could have teleported here from somewhere in the provinces, leaving no CCTV or electronic records. In that case, if they were presumed dead after some high-profile incident like goblins appearing, their identity might have already been processed as deceased.

“Let’s boil it down: are you going to have sex or not? A simple yes or no.”

Laplace’s voice interrupted my wandering thoughts. What kind of nonsense is this?

Judging from their nonchalant tone, they might have killed someone and fled. Lying sprawled on the sofa, utterly devoid of vitality, they might have caused some trouble.

“Do you dislike it or find it less unpleasant? What is there to contemplate? There are only two choices.”

Laplace twitched their finger.

“You keep life simple.”

“No, ordering a book without pondering the matter is simpler. Ignoring the essence and reflexively buying a book, does that resolve the issue? You’re probably not even going to read it anyway. If you contemplate now and the answer is ‘yes’ or even ‘no,’ either way, the matter is resolved.”

It started as nonsense, but it began to sound convincing as I listened.

Laplace raised their torso slightly, then jabbed at me with the hand holding a cookie.

“Answer one thing: are you going to do it or not?”

“Hmm…there isn’t much to think about. Do I necessarily have to say this?”

“Everything’s on the table. Just saying it now marks the beginning of a worry-free life.”

“I probably won’t do it. Am I insane?”

“Probably? However you put it, fine, it’s resolved! Now go tell them!”

What?

Laplace suddenly pointed at Doyugeon’s door.

“W-What?”

“Go in there and tell them you’re not interested in having sex with me, and if they don’t like it, they can leave my house.”

“What did you say?”

“In other words, go in and tell them-.”

I stuffed a cookie into their mouth with magic.

Not intending them to repeat it.

Perhaps the magic was too strong, as Laplace spatial-transported to the kitchen and gagged over the sink. Karma gets us all.

“Clean up the sink.”

After a small jab, I fanned my reddened face gently. This doesn’t seem like an issue to be handled while thinking rationally. Perhaps it’s just less about adapting.

My gaze unconsciously shifted to the kitchen table. Yumina’s wine, left unfinished, was still there. Yumina, who was sitting there just a moment ago talking to us, retreated into her room when Laplace changed the subject.

Quietly standing, I picked up the wine glass, but suddenly a magic array appeared, swallowing it whole.

“Taking one sip, and you’re drunk already.”

Looking perfectly normal now, Laplace swayed the wine glass.

“I wasn’t planning to drink anyway. And my tolerance for alcohol is good.”

After retrieving the glass back with spatial magic and carefully placing it back, I couldn’t help but feel that it was a bit of a setup.

“Isn’t this a convincing story?”

Although the words sounded lighthearted, the expression was anything but. The statement wasn’t made with the intent for me to believe it completely, but somehow my mood felt strange.

Since the start, I’ve been feeling overly underestimated. Should I kick them?

Laplace clicked their tongue.

“Usually quite defenseless, why start feeling embarrassed now?”

“Are those supposed to be the same?”

The former is about you dealing with it and the latter is about us discussing the issue together.

Candidly, I’ve had a past life too, so even though it’s awkward discussing this together, it’s not like I’m dying of embarrassment or anything. The problem is that the other party in “together” is a minor. That makes me feel odd.

Hmm. No.

Actually, I don’t quite understand why I feel so weird. I’m obviously a genius high school girl; why can’t two people of similar ages have a conversation about something risqué? Yes, that’s exactly it.

Reflecting, I realize it’s because Laplace is failing to gauge the atmosphere, causing me to feel this way. Feeling embarrassment akin to encountering someone gossiping about risqué topics in a formal setting like the Parliament building is quite normal.

Ordinarily, people who make one feel uncomfortable in such a way are called under-socialized individuals who can’t distinguish private and public spaces. Or else, they’re adolescents in the throes of puberty.

And there’s one right in front of me.

I locked eyes with Laplace, who met my gaze with a peculiar intensity. Checking closely, they weren’t blinking.

Is this a staring contest? How childish.

After a moment, Doyugeon came into view to the side. He poured a glass of water, glanced alternately at me and Laplace, then balled his empty hands and spoke toward me.

“Erm…keep it up?”

Don’t cheer for a staring contest.

Doyugeon drank his water casually and left, and the door clicked shut.

Ugh, my eyes hurt. I closed them tightly. Even in my past life, wasn’t it? Surely, I haven’t developed dry eyes already despite not reading many books or doing office work.

Laplace casually hummed as they passed by.

And they’re enjoying this little thing.

Too childish for me to entertain anymore.

I retreated to my room.

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