TLTS~32

Chapter 32

Chaeri quickly pulled herself together.

For a moment, it seemed like she had been swept away by a child’s instinct, but she soon steadied her heart. It seemed she had gotten too excited about her date(?) with Kim Myeong-ja.

“I, Chaeri, understand.”

Chaeri knew well that Kim Myeong-ja couldn’t favor her alone. Favoritism breeds jealousy. A leaky ladle will eventually leak outside too. Kim Myeong-ja was always acting like a teacher should. Not too distant, not too close. But kindly. Chaeri also thought Kim Myeong-ja was right.

“What is Chaeri understanding?”
“Kim Myeong-ja cannot only like Lee Chaeri.”

It was disappointing, but there was nothing to be done. She had to let go of a child’s desire for monopoly.

“But still, I’m happy we can continue to be close.”

This was sincere.
Her heart was pounding, *thump-thump*.

‘I won’t be able to forget her face!’

If she saw her every day, she wouldn’t need to rely on the photo. That was truly a relief.

* * *

Kim Myeong-ja suddenly felt a pang in a corner of her heart. This little child was understanding adults again. There was no need for that. She could just be honest and voice her desires. If she was starved for affection, she could just ask for it.

‘She’s become mature too quickly.’

Kim Myeong-ja was lost in thought for a moment. How could she give this child more of the appropriate love? There was no right answer. They just had to spend time together, step by step, and figure it out.

She decided to change the subject.

“Who did your pigtails? Did your mom do them?”
“No.”

Kim Myeong-ja tilted her head. Then who? A face suddenly came to mind.

‘It couldn’t be Mr. Sbvida, could it?’

At that moment.
Davith was sitting in the seat across from them, like a ghost, next to the yellow van. By now, both of them were used to these kinds of entrances, so they weren’t surprised.

“Lee Chaeri did it hersel……”

Then, Davith cut in.
“Yes. I did it, Teacher Kim Myeong-ja.”

His tone was somewhat challenging.
But Kim Myeong-ja just nodded without much reaction.

“Your skills have improved a lot.”
“How about it? Do you feel a little sense of crisis?”
“Huh?”

She didn’t feel any sense of crisis. Chaeri had become cute, and that was enough.

“Of course not.”
A master recognizes another master. Davith’s pigtail-making skills were incredibly impressive.

‘He said he was all thumbs at first…’

For an unmarried bachelor to be able to style a child’s hair so meticulously meant he had practiced far more than one could imagine.

Davith remained challenging.
“It was a long and arduous process. But I succeeded in the end.”
“You’re really amazing. Is there anything Mr. Sbvida can’t do?”
“……”

In that moment, Davith wavered slightly.
He was being sincere, but she didn’t even see this as a challenge.

‘Is this the composure of the absolute powerhouse…’

“How does it look to you, Teacher? Is it perfect?”
“Yes, it’s really perfect.”

Kim Myeong-ja stroked Chaeri’s head again. The sight of Chaeri slightly shrinking her neck was really adorable.

“Since Mr. Sbvida is so good at pigtails… Teacher will do a princess hairstyle for you next time.”

Chaeri’s eyes grew wide. The word “princess hairstyle” lodged itself right in her chest!

“Chaeri. You know Elsa, right?”
“Fro-Frozen!”

While Chaeri was gulping down her saliva, Davith’s expression twisted very subtly.

* * *

Choi Deok-gyu was greatly shocked.

‘Chaeri’s tip was correct.’

Overshadowed by the so-called ‘Legendary Seat’ or ‘Legendary Hyung’, but steadily clearing the lower floors using standard methods and maintaining the 2nd place spot—a super rookie. His name was Kang Se-hyun. He was five years old.

‘His home is a mess…’

His mother ran away. His father didn’t take care of the child at all. A so-called ‘Tower junkie’. A case of someone addicted to conquering the Tower while neglecting reality.

“Come with me, kid.”

The process of bringing him was simpler than expected. In fact, his father said it was for the best and handed the child over to the Seoul Guild. After various administrative procedures, Choi Deok-gyu became Kang Se-hyun’s temporary guardian and legal representative.

“You can’t go to the Tower today.”
“But……”
“If I say no, it’s no. You might not feel it well, but your spirit is hurt. Understand?”

He hadn’t even said it that harshly, but Se-hyun flinched slightly. He felt unnecessarily sorry. But speaking kindly was really difficult. Choi Deok-gyu changed the topic in an awkward way.

“What do you want to eat?”

He was wearing a white apron with frills. It was an extra-large size available on the market, but it was still too small for Choi Deok-gyu.

“…gg.”
“Speak up!”
“Sc-scrambled eggs!”
“What? Scrambled eggs?”

Choi Deok-gyu rolled his neck and loosened up his body. *Swoosh, swoosh.* Just the sound of it made it seem like he had the aura to destroy a chicken farm, not make scrambled eggs.

“Wait. I’ll show you the most delicious scrambled eggs in the world.”

His tone was clumsy, but when it came to cooking, he was sincere. Flashy hand movements. Skill without any unnecessary fuss. The special king-sized scrambled eggs were completed. He even embedded black sesame seeds instead of eyes into the sliced sausages. Adorably.

“If there’s anything else you want to eat, just tell me.”

After dinner.
Choi Deok-gyu kept an eye on Kang Se-hyun. If left alone, he might sneak into the Tower again. Only after confirming that Se-hyun had fallen fast asleep did Choi Deok-gyu turn on his phone.

“Hmm.”

The parent observation class was in two days. Choi Deok-gyu fell into thought. Is he going alone? I don’t like that. His mom obviously won’t come, and his dad… I’ll let him know, but he probably won’t come either.

‘Is it right for me to go?’

The image of Kang Se-hyun sleeping soundly lingered in his mind.

“Ah, damn.”

Well, there’s no help for it. The time has finally come to use the paid leave he’d never used before. With his pot-lid-like hands, he carefully tucked in the blanket.

* * *

The day of the parent observation class.
The kindergarten was bustling all day. The children were excited that their moms and dads were visiting. Amidst all this, there were two quiet children.

“Kang Se-hyun oppa!”
“Yeah?”

Chaeri grabbed Se-hyun’s hand firmly.
“Let’s the two of us brave this harsh world together.”

Chaeri was desperate. Kang Se-hyun was a world-class hero candidate. He was definitely a reliable lifeline for the impending apocalypse.

‘I need to manage his mental state.’

Managing the male lead’s mental state is one of the possessor’s duties.

‘Isn’t today the day he gets really hurt?’

It’s also mentioned in <The Final Black Mage Was Human>. Today, Chaeri and Se-hyun are the outsiders. The only difference is that Chaeri had one mental pillar named Medusa? But Se-hyun was thoroughly alone. This day remains a big scar in Se-hyun’s heart.

Se-hyun opened his eyes wide.
“The two of us? Together?”
“Yep.”

Chaeri looked at Se-hyun with a firm gaze. It was a look meant to give him courage.
Se-hyun nodded.
“Yeah.”

In that moment, Se-hyun felt strangely reassured.
‘If I’m with Chaeri, maybe it’ll be okay.’

Even if mom and dad don’t come. Even if I’m alone.
It felt like things might be okay.

Chaeri stuck right next to Se-hyun and watched the situation closely.

‘Kim Woo-joo’s dad will play the villain role.’

Se-hyun’s magic tic is an unfamiliar concept to ordinary people. There were even baseless rumors that the tic was contagious. The parents weren’t too happy about their children hanging out with Se-hyun. Among them, Kim Woo-joo’s dad was the most direct and violent.

‘Ah, shit. How are the teachers here managing the kids? Will you take responsibility if the tic spreads to my child?’

He was supposed to cause a big scene. Because of this, Kang Se-hyun’s magic tic worsens. The trigger is when another child nearby happens to show symptoms similar to Se-hyun’s magic tic. An incident occurs where the adults, watching their words, move their children away from Kang Se-hyun.

Without letting go of Se-hyun’s hand, Chaeri said.
“Oppa, I, Chaeri, will protect you.”
“I’ll protect Chaeri too.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Promise?”

It was a good thing the male lead was young. It was so easy to coax him. You have to get a perfect promise out of him at a time like this.

“Don’t ever forget. That you’ll protect me, okay?”
Chaeri stuck out her pinky finger.
Two small fingers linked.
“…Yeah.”
“I feel good because we promised.”

Kang Se-hyun’s face turned red.
Chaeri chuckled. *Hoo-hoo*. Maybe I really am a scheming female lead?

* * *

And not long after.
A slightly unexpected situation unfolded.