Chapter 13
At her younger brother’s words, Kim Soyoon flinched and snapped her head toward me.
“What? Then where have you been staying all this time?”
“No, it’s not like I don’t have anywhere to sta—”
“No way! How can a minor wander around outside without a home? At least for now, you should stay at our place—well, the main house is sealed, so not there.”
It was as if my words had tripped and fallen halfway to Kim Soyoon. They didn’t get through to her at all.
After thinking for a moment, Kim Soyoon suddenly grinned and slung an arm around my shoulders. As she started walking like that, I was dragged along with her.
“Come with us. That kid’s rich, so one extra freeloader won’t matter.”
“Aren’t we going to Aunt’s place?”
“It’s too far. I borrowed a nearby house from a friend who isn’t using it.”
And just like that, I was swept along and ended up getting into Kim Soyoon’s car.
I thought Kim Igyul would sit in the passenger seat, but instead he climbed into the seat next to me as the car started moving.
While driving, Kim Soyoon glanced at the fox through the rearview mirror. Anser was sleeping soundly on my lap.
“Serin, is that fox your pet?”
“Yes.”
I was about to say that meant we didn’t need to go, but before I could, Kim Soyoon burst into hearty laughter.
“It’s fine. No one has a fur allergy.”
She must’ve just been curious—after saying that, she looked forward again, and I lost my chance to refuse.
“You really don’t have to worry about me. It’s not like I don’t have anywhere to stay.”
“Really? Then do you have a guardian?”
I had nothing to say to that.
Since I’d already told Kim Igyul I had amnesia, naming anyone would sound strange.
It was a rushed excuse, but it worked well. Right now, going to Jin Sehyuk wouldn’t be good. I needed to stick to the original story.
When I didn’t answer, Kim Soyoon quietly added,
“It’s because you’re about the same age as my younger brother. I can’t help but worry.”
“Ah…”
Now I couldn’t refuse.
I swallowed a sigh without showing it and nodded to show I’d go with them.
It really was nearby. We hadn’t driven long before she said we’d arrived.
“Oh.”
The moment I saw the house, admiration slipped out on its own.
What stood before us was a two-story house.
It wasn’t huge, but it had a yard, and the house itself looked upscale.
She’d said it was an unused house, so I’d imagined an officetel or an apartment. This completely shattered my narrow expectations.
Apparently, I wasn’t the only one thinking that way. Kim Igyul looked at Kim Soyoon and said,
“You don’t even have friends, noona. Whose place is this, and how is it unused?”
“So now you’re disrespecting your noona?”
The teasing tone, the jab, and the retaliatory smack on his back flowed naturally. It really felt like everyday life between siblings.
The two of them had bickered several times even during the short trip here.
Most of the time, Kim Igyul stated facts, and Kim Soyoon told him to shut up.
Maybe because of that, I was already getting used to it.
At first, I’d thought they were seriously fighting and got a little scared.
Well… it wasn’t like they never actually fought.
Even Kim Soyoon, who brought us here, looked slightly surprised, but she pretended not to be.
“It’s better when you’re older.”
“I’m the one who has to clean.”
“Serin, should we go in first?”
So Kim Igyul was in charge of housework.
Kim Soyoon, clearly annoyed by her brother’s nagging, dragged me to the gate and opened it. A loud sigh came from behind us.
…Is this combination really okay?
* * *
It was not okay.
This combination was extremely hazardous. I realized it on the second day of living together.
On the first day, Kim Igyul took the first floor, while Kim Soyoon and I took rooms on the second floor.
The second day wasn’t bad either. We went out together to buy necessities and got through it without incident.
…That was a careless and hasty judgment.
The long-awaited third morning.
Kim Igyul knocked sharply on the door at exactly 8 a.m.
Unlike me, who came out immediately without sleeping, Kim Soyoon’s door showed no sign of opening.
“Let’s eat. I’ll wake noona up. Go down and start eating.”
She probably won’t wake up…
But seeing the firm determination in Kim Igyul’s eyes, I nodded.
How long had I been eating breakfast?
Soon, the sound of them bickering reached downstairs.
“Hey, I told you I don’t eat breakfast!”
“Noona, you never eat breakfast. You need to eat to be healthy.”
“Do you think I don’t know that? I’m going back to sleep! I told you not to wake me!”
Listening to them, my eyes wavered slightly.
…Was this really a conversation between a 26-year-old older sister and a 19-year-old younger brother?
Just from the dialogue, Kim Soyoon sounded like the younger one.
Seeing that another argument was about to start, I quietly put my spoon down and tiptoed back to my room.
I walked over to Anser, who was grooming itself on the bed.
“Anser, what are you supposed to eat, anyway?”
⌈Huh? I don’t need to eat anything. Aren’t babies the same?⌋
“That’s true… but you can eat, right?”
⌈Hmm. When I was very young, I manifested and ate sometimes. But it’s not very good for stars.⌋
Anser added that human food wasn’t good for stars and continued grooming its fur.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t felt hunger since becoming a constellation.
Even when I ate just a little, I didn’t want more. If I ate more than that, I’d probably get sick.
While I was talking with Anser, the noisy sounds outside quieted down.
Thinking the siblings’ fight might be over, I cautiously opened the door.
“Aren’t you going to work?”
Kim Igyul’s voice sounded normal at first, but I could tell he was irritated.
“Our association lets us rest for a week after business trips, you little brat.”
“Yeah, then eat.”
Despite Kim Soyoon’s sarcastic tone, he stubbornly insisted on breakfast. In fact, it was Kim Soyoon who seemed more irritated by him.
After facing mornings like this for a whole week, I was mentally exhausted.
Since it felt awkward for me, as a freeloader, to say anything directly, I asked through a constellation message instead.
Constellation ‘Nobility Returned from Death’ says it would be better to just leave noona alone, and that it’s too noisy every morning, so they’re covering their ears.
When did I ever say that, System?
One day I’m turning off your mistranslation function.
“No. Mom told me to make sure noona eats breakfast.”
I had nothing to say.
…Yeah, parents’ words are important. He listens well. I’m jealous. It’d be nice if he listened to constellation words too.
While thinking of another solution, Kim Igyul’s rank came to mind.
…If one of them isn’t here in the morning, problem solved.
It could also help raise his stamina. Morning running—no, training.
I’d been wondering when to start anyway. Building stamina first sounded good.
Constellation ‘Nobility Returned from Death’ tells you to run around the neighborhood every morning at 8.
“Suddenly?”
Kim Igyul asked suspiciously.
Constellation ‘Nobility Returned from Death’ advises that patrols are also part of training.
It didn’t seem likely that anything would happen around here, but it couldn’t hurt to be careful.
“But I just said I need to make noona breakfast.”
I hammered the point home at the grumbling Kim Igyul.
Constellation ‘Nobility Returned from Death’ recommends mornings as the best time for mental training.
A long sigh came from downstairs. It sounded like Kim Igyul’s after reading the message.
* * *
After successfully driving Kim Igyul out in the mornings, I thought he would stop cooking breakfast.
But he was impressive—he started waking up even earlier, making breakfast, and then leaving.
That breakfast must’ve been the minimum line he refused to cross.
After that, Kim Igyul stopped waking Kim Soyoon and began going out to run instead.
Thirty minutes after he left, Kim Soyoon woke up. On days she had work, she got ready, picked at the breakfast on the table a little, and then left the house.
The breakfast war that had gone on for several days finally seemed to reach a ceasefire.
Everything was perfect…
…except for the occasional look of complaint Kim Igyul sent toward me, a constellation.
