Episode 26
“Is that the setting, then…?”
Hwan-yi oppa clicked his tongue. Then he looked behind me with a not-so-nice expression. Wondering what it was, I turned around and saw Il-won standing there.
“Here, Tosoon.”
“It’s Tosoon ah!”
I dramatically hugged Tosoon, who Il-won handed to me.
“Our Tosoonie was so scared, weren’t you~?”
“It’s not Tosoon you should be saying that to—what about me?”
At oppa’s words, I widened my eyes.
“Oppa was scared too?”
“Anyone would be, if the kid who’s supposed to be here suddenly disappears.”
“Oh.”
That was true. I’d also be surprised if Tosoon, who should be with me, suddenly disappeared.
“Dat wath my fauwt… (That was my fault.)”
“……”
“Im thowwy. (I’m sorry.)”
At my sincere apology, Hwan-yi oppa sighed and held his hand out toward me.
A sign of reconciliation!
Still holding Tosoon, I leaned into his arm. Oppa naturally supported me with one arm and spoke toward Il-won.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
As we headed toward the dining room, a sweet smell filled the air.
What’s that?
Sniff sniff—my feet started kicking in excitement. And on the table was…
“Penkaykeu! (Pancakes!)”
A pat of butter sat on top of the golden-brown surface. Maple syrup flowed down, filling the air with sweetness.
“Hurry, let’s go!”
“We’re going.”
Unlike earlier, Hwan-yi oppa smoothly settled me into a children’s chair.
“Looks yummy…”
“Hoho, Grandma made it just for you.”
Grandma Goseong said as she cut the pancake for me.
“The CEO always needs rice in the morning. Since he’s not here, I made something special for our baby.”
I stabbed a bite-sized piece of pancake and chewed. The taste of maple syrup and perfectly cooked sweet bread spread in my mouth.
“Sho good…”
“How good?”
“So good I almot wanna cwy. (So good I almost want to cry.)”
“That much?”
Oppa scoffed like he couldn’t believe it, then handed me a small cup as I sniffled for real.
“Drink some milk too.”
“Mm.”
With determination to grow quickly and strongly, I attacked the milk aggressively.
Right at that moment—
“Aigoo…”
Uncle Shin-jae came in, groaning. He still wore his wrinkled suit—it was obvious he worked until morning and came home just now.
“No rice today?”
“Well, since the CEO isn’t here, I made a special meal for our baby.”
“You did great. I’ll have some too.”
Uncle Shin-jae yawned and stretched his neck. Then, his phone rang from his pocket.
“Ah, seriously.”
He clicked his tongue, pulled out his phone, and narrowed his eyes at the caller ID.
“…Yes, this is Kim Shin-jae speaking.”
He gestured to Grandma and walked away to take the call.
“Yes, yes… what? ”
A startled expression flickered over his face.
“That may be true, but the situation is…”
The person on the other side spoke for a long time. Eventually, Uncle Shin-jae sighed.
“Understood. We’ll discuss it on our end and get back to you.”
He hung up and walked back with a troubled look. Grandma asked worriedly:
“Oh dear. The CEO can’t even eat?”
“No, it’s not that…”
Uncle Shin-jae was looking at—Il-won.
“?”
“So, apparently… Il-won is supposed to be in compulsory education.”
“What?”
Manager Lee muttered in visible shock.
“Well… not wrong, but… compulsory education? Out of nowhere?”
“Well, I think information about Il-won reached the Awakening Bureau…”
“No way. Are they using ‘school’ as an excuse to kidnap—”
“Suhan, stop. The kids are listening.”
But even though he stopped her, he didn’t deny it.
“What are you going to do?”
“We make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“Chungcheon will tear us apart for not letting an awakened minor attend elementary school.”
“We’ll figure something out.”
Uncle Shin-jae shrugged and spoke to Il-won.
“For now, don’t worry, Il-won. Just keep living here like usual. The adults will take care of the complicated stuff.”
“…Yes.”
Uncle Shin-jae barely touched his food, then changed clothes and came out again.
“Uncle going to wuk again?”
“Don’t worry, little lady.”
Manager Lee answered coldly.
“The CEO has been far too relaxed lately. Paying the price is only natural.”
“Mmm, I shee…”
“Stop saying that to the baby!”
Uncle hurriedly put on his shoes. Holding Tosoon, I walked toward the entrance and looked up at him.
“Be cawefw. Come back shafely.”
“Haa…”
Uncle’s expression melted.
“Seriously, only our Ayoon cares about me. Ayoon-ah, kiss for uncle!”
I puckered my lips and planted a kiss on his cheek.
“Uncle fully recharged. I’ll be back soon, Ayoon.”
“Okay. Bye-bye!”
“Mm, mm. Bye.”
“Stop bothering the baby and go.”
Manager Lee coldly pushed him out.
“Uncow weft.”
[system] Your contractor grumbles, saying: why are you giving him such a heartfelt send-off—he’ll be back by evening anyway.
‘If you go somewhere, I’ll say bye-bye to you too, Manager-nim.’
[system] The great Administrator of World Law snorts, pretending not to be pleased.
[system] He vows that someday, he will absolutely fix this impudent system.
Right. Exactly the sort of threat only someone who gave a system self-awareness would make… or so I was thinking when—
“I Ayoon.”
“Huh?”
Suddenly, Hwan-yi oppa called me.
He motioned me over. Confused, I went closer.
Kneeling to match my eye level, he asked seriously:
“Who do you like the most in this house?”
Why ask that out of nowhere?
I blinked, flustered. But oppa wasn’t backing down.
“Why can’t you answer right away?”
“Cuz I never thwought about it…?”
“Why haven’t you thought about it!”
His eyes sparkled strangely.
“Who plays with you the most here?”
“H-Hwan-yi oppa…”
“And who took a nap with you yesterday?”
“That was Hwan-yi oppa too…”
“Then who do you like the most in this house?”
Just then, someone tugged my clothes.
“Il-won-ah?”
“……”
Il-won looked at me blankly, like he didn’t mean to grab my clothes either.
“Why… grab?”
Before I could ask, Hwan-yi grabbed my cheeks and turned me back to face him.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
“What wath the question again…?”
Somehow, when I look at Il-won, all the context just evaporates.
Hwan-yi frowned and repeated:
“I asked who you like most in this house.”
“Dat’th obviouthly my contwact pwe-sent.”
“……”
[system] Your contractor, the great Administrator of World Law, rolls on the floor laughing hysterically!
Anyone could’ve seen that answer coming, yet Hwan-yi fell silent like he never expected it.
Thinking he didn’t hear me, I kindly repeated:
“I wuv my contwact pwe-sent da most.”
“…Fine. I can accept that.”
He nodded stiffly, then asked:
“Then who do you like second the most?”
[system] The wolf pup proves persistent. Your contractor is getting annoyed.
Oh no.
Now I understood exactly what answer he wanted.
But!
If I say Hwan-yi oppa, he’ll boast to Uncle Shin-jae.
Then Uncle will kick me out of the house!
But if I say Uncle Shin-jae, Hwan-yi oppa will sulk for sure.
I thought hard.
Ah!
Perfect.
I threw my arms around Hwan-yi oppa and rubbed my head against him.
“I wike Hwan-yi oppa a wot!”
Then I kissed his cheek—smooch.
“Hehehe.”
“……”
Did it not work?
I kissed him again. Smooch.
