TLTS~50

Chapter 50

As expected of an L-rank children’s quest, the lineup of participants was impressive.

Choi Deok-gyu and Kim Myeong-ja even joined in.

Choi Deok-gyu and Kim Myeong-ja simultaneously made a sudden visit to Chae-ri’s house. (From Chae-ri’s perspective, it looked like a date.)

Kim Ha-seon’s eyes went wide.

“Excuse me? After-school care program?”

“Yes.”

Of course, such a thing didn’t actually exist.

“It’s a pilot program at the Seoul Guild level. If you participate, a small stipend will also be provided.”

Choi Deok-gyu pointed at Kim Myeong-ja.

“Teacher Kim Myeong-ja will actively take care of the children…”

“I’ll participate.”

Before he could even finish, Kim Ha-seon eagerly accepted with a bright smile.

Of course, Chae-ri could handle everything on her own, but just knowing someone else was around gave her peace of mind. Especially now, being pregnant, she was even more sensitive.

And now, someone was volunteering to run the after-school care program for her.

‘As expected, my little one is a little blessing!’

Choi Deok-gyu fell silent for a moment.

They say you can’t throw words at a smiling face.

Today, though… it seemed like he could.

‘At least I could say something like trying to talk to Chae-ri, even if just on the surface, right?’

With a slightly stiff expression, he continued,

“All right. Please refer to the official notice for the exact details.”

“Thank you very much!”

And so, the first step of the “Children’s Cozy Haven” quest was set.

Meanwhile, Chae-ri was inspecting a document in her room, her expression unusually serious.

“This is….”

[Certified Copy of Real Estate Register]

A rare document she had never held even in her past life. L-rank awakened Chae-ri (4 years old) had successfully secured her own home.

Administrative matters had been handled by the Seoul Guild.

Then suddenly, kugukung—the ground began to shake.

‘Huh?’

Books fell from shelves, and a picture frame on the wall toppled.

“E-Earthquake?”

Something not described in the novels was happening.

Wiiing~! Wiiing~!

A siren blared.

[An emergency gate has appeared. Citizens, please move immediately to the nearest safe shelter.]

Chae-ri was frightened by the loud siren.

It was only when Davis entered the room that she calmed down a bit.

“Chae-ri. Did that scare you?”

“A little.”

Davis patted her head casually, as if it were nothing.

“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen.”

His calm attitude put Chae-ri at ease.

He picked her up in his arms.

“But just in case, let’s move somewhere safe.”

“Mom?”

Her mother, Kim Ha-seon, was definitely in the living room.

“Oh, your mom….”

The moment the siren went off, she had jumped up.

Choi Deok-gyu and Kim Myeong-ja had hurriedly taken the terrified Kim Ha-seon to the underground shelter.

‘They didn’t come for me in the midst of all that.’

“She said she’d go to the shelter first. That’s why I came.”

“Mm.”

Chae-ri buried her face in Davis’ chest.

‘I guess they didn’t even think about me.’

But it was strange.

Yesterday, a single question about whether she felt lonely brought tears to her eyes.

‘But today… I’m okay?’

The door to the heart of the little child, which had seemed always open, slammed shut.

Emergency Gate Appearance.

A monster swarm capable of causing earthquakes struck Seoul.

The damage was unusually severe, and countless buildings collapsed.

Chae-ri’s home was among them.

“No, no!”

Kim Ha-seon sank to the floor.

The apartment that had been fine yesterday had completely collapsed.

They had lost their home.

“Are… you okay?”

“Do I look okay?”

Ji-seok Lee was just as frustrated.

His dermatology clinic building had also collapsed, leaving him temporarily unemployed.

Chae-ri chewed Jelly anxiously beside Kim Ha-seon and Ji-seok Lee.

‘My house…?’

She had just succeeded in securing her own home!

Her mind reached that thought, and she flinched.

‘Mom is crying like that… and I’m fine?’

It was strange.

Before, she would feel upset even if her mom was slightly uncomfortable.

Now, she was… somewhat okay.

“They’re checking hotels. Don’t worry.”

But even that was not easy.

Seoul’s tower raids had become so popular that countless awakened beings were flooding in.

Seoul’s accommodations were already full.

The Seoul Guild was frantically moving to handle the aftermath.

[Tower Rankings]

[South Korea]

…

5th place: Seoul

…

8th place: Busan

Because the tower wasn’t cleared properly, Seoul’s rank had dropped two levels.

[Hahaha, Seoul is finally returning to its rightful place.]

└ Except for Legend-hyung, nothing else matters, right?

└ With Legend’s help, it went up to 3rd place.

└ By the end of the season, it’s back to 8th place lol.

At the time of Seoul’s trials, Chae-ri remained relatively calm.

“My Chae-ri hideout is intact!”

She stepped into a stylish standalone house with a small garden.

A tiny swimming pool floated with an inflatable duck!

Although the surroundings were in ruins, this house remained untouched.

Chae-ri was slightly excited.

“Is this thanks to Davis and Pika-chu?”

Perhaps they had cast some kind of protective barrier.

Davis shook his head.

“I didn’t do it.”

He had planned to set up a barrier, but time had been too short.

Davis and Chae-ri’s eyes naturally turned to Pyraion.

Pyraion also shook his head.

“I didn’t have time either… hmm? Chae-ri, why are you looking at me like that? I am capable, you know? And besides, when Davis speaks, you just nod, but why look at me like that? That’s a bit… unfair.”

Anyway, the hideout was safe.

Davis checked just in case.

“Do you want me to bring your mom and dad here?”

“Secret hideout.”

Chae-ri shook her head.

Ji-seok Lee and Kim Ha-seon were staying in temporary accommodations provided by the Seoul Guild and the government.

They were half-homeless, sleeping in tents at the school auditorium.

Winter was approaching, and they were growing worn out by the hour.

“If you want, you can invite anyone here anytime.”

Chae-ri nodded.

To be honest, she wasn’t entirely indifferent.

‘So, you’re Chae-ri, huh?’

When she first met her mom and dad, the warmth had been etched clearly into her memory.

But Chae-ri knew for certain:

‘I have to cut them out of my life.’

Through all of this, they had been nothing more than “children they happened to be responsible for.”

Or, months later, she would become an unpaid babysitter for the little one about to be born.

Even today, they had just abandoned her—didn’t even think of her.

Chae-ri had people who were truly important to her.

“Davis, Kim Myeong-ja, Choi Deok-gyu, Pyraion, and Chae-ri’s hideout.”

…Why am I last?

Pyraion nearly got offended.

[Children’s Cozy Haven settings applied.]

[Only Davis, Kim Myeong-ja, Choi Deok-gyu, Pyraion, and Chae-ri can enter.]

[This setting can be adjusted anytime by the registered guardians and child.]

[Secret hideout capacity: 13 people]

Chae-ri unconsciously held Davis’ hand.

His hand was warm.

“Davis.”

“Yes, Chae-ri.”

“If I had been a real child, would my parents have cared for me?”

Even wise Davis could not find words to answer.

Meanwhile, in the temporary shelter, Kim Ha-seon suddenly thought of Chae-ri.

“Chae-ri?”

“She must be at kindergarten.”

Ji-seok Lee also remembered her.

“Wasn’t she at the after-school care program or something?”

“That’s right.”

Kim Ha-seon got up from her seat.

“I have to go check the kindergarten.”

“To the kindergarten?”

“They’re using a Seoul Guild building, right? It’ll be much more comfortable than here.”

The school auditorium was noisy and dirty. She couldn’t stay there.

It was bad for her pregnancy.

“It won’t be a problem to give a little space, right?”

“Hopefully.”

So the two went to the Seoul Guild, Chae-ri Building.

However, they couldn’t enter at will.

“Well, you see… my child goes here! She’s in the after-school care program!”

“Please wait a moment. We need to verify.”

“I’m Chae-ri’s mom! Aren’t you guys being ridiculous?”

During the commotion, Kim Ha-seon spotted Eom So-young.

“Oh? Here! So… So-young! Over here!”

Guild members tensed up.

Eom So-young was a powerful figure in the Seoul monarchy, a sub-monarch.

“Y-You know the sub-monarch?”

“I guess… I remember a little.”

Eom So-young brushed past the Kim couple.

Next was the Jeju Monarch, Lee Cheong-ha.

“Jeju Guild Master Lee Cheong-ha!”

“Shut up.”

He tried to ignore them as well.

Just as he was passing through… he was blocked at the entrance.

“Hey! Don’t you know who I am?”

“Jeju Monarch said not to let anyone in.”

“Choi Deok-gyu, come out!”

In the commotion, Choi Deok-gyu took the elevator down personally to explain.

“Chae-ri is doing well.”

He even showed photos and videos of her.

The space was much more comfortable and cozy than the school auditorium.

Kim Ha-seon said,

“I want to take care of Chae-ri myself.”

“You, her mother?”

“Yes. After all, it’s best for a child to be with her mother.”

Choi Deok-gyu shook his head.

“She doesn’t want that.”

His tone was polite, but his gaze was sharp.