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Chapter 05
“Ugh, why did I even go and save that brat? What a nuisance, a real nuisance.”
Hart grumbled nonstop as he closed the door made of bookshelves and came down to the first floor.
“Wasn’t this the same person you said was your one and only puppy?”
“She wanted to live alone and went out, so why are you expecting something else! Tsk tsk, what’s the point of raising a kid? She ran off to try living by herself.”
On the surface, he looked like any other grandfather worrying about his granddaughter.
But his true identity was one of the few grand mages on the continent. Hart Opeloa. A master of spatial magic and the benefactor who raised me after my parents abandoned me.
“Hmph, my legs hurt! Just sit already!”
Of course, at this point, he was just a tsundere grandfather who couldn’t express his feelings honestly.
Even now, though he acted indifferent, the slight upward curve of his lips betrayed that he was genuinely pleased I had come home.
“Sit! My legs hurt.”
Following his words, I moved toward the table and plopped down in any chair. Then milk and bread flew over from the kitchen and neatly set themselves in front of us.
“So, what brings you here, Louisa?”
“Ah, it’s nothing, but… Grandpa, do you think it’d be alright if a child lived here?”
Hart’s eyes went wide in surprise at my words. Then, as if under some misconception, he couldn’t hide his joy, twitching the corners of his mouth.
“…Hmm hmm. Well, you’re still a kid too. Yep, 19 years old is still young!”
No, that’s not me.
I opened my mouth to correct his misunderstanding, but before I could say anything, my hand was grabbed.
“Why do you even ask such things? This is your home. Just come in and live here!”
I said it’s not me!
“You’ve been through so much, huh! The world outside is dangerous, Louisa. Now live safely with me. And stop all that sword fighting!”
Now he even had tears in his eyes as he pleaded with me.
“Grandpa, listen to me—”
“Let’s relearn magic too. You have talent!”
…But he got angry at me a month ago, saying I was the least talented child he’d ever raised.
“I even prepared beginner books that a two-year-old could use. Don’t worry.”
…Yet now he laments that I have less talent than a one-year-old?
“No, Grandpa. I…”
“Come on! Really easy! You don’t have to do that sword nonsense!”
This is way too one-sided…
Sighing deeply, I yanked my hand free. Then he grabbed it even tighter.
The warmth radiating from him was comforting. From that warmth, I could feel his heart. Honestly, at times like this, it made me wonder if we were really bound by blood.
Suspicious, I squinted my eyes.
“Grandpa…”
“Hm?”
“Your name… it’s not Hart, it’s Seojinhak, isn’t it? Just tell me honestly. I can really trust you.”
Yeah, maybe my real grandfather from Korea somehow possessed Hart’s body.
Looking at Hart reminded me of my real grandfather in Korea.
His personality was so identical that whenever something good happened, he’d rush to buy it for me. Before I entered university, he’d still treat me as a minor, but when I passed the university entrance exam, he finally smiled contentedly.
Even his tone and actions toward me were eerily similar to Hart’s.
But Hart didn’t like Korean-style names. He frowned and scolded me for using such a strange name, saying I wouldn’t escape.
“That was my real grandfather’s name.”
“…A most noble! A most noble name indeed! Yes yes!”
No point in sugarcoating it now, Grandpa. I already heard it all.
“Hmph! So, when do you plan to come live here again, Louisa? Starting today is fine… there’s a bit to tidy up, but it’s okay.”
It was obvious he was trying to change the topic, but I let it slide generously. Instead, I corrected his misunderstanding while taking a bite of the warm bread in front of me.
“No, not me. Another child.”
“What?”
Hart’s expression went blank, as if he misheard.
“I happened to pick up a kid about thirteen years old.”
“…What?”
“Please take care of them. You like kids, Grandpa.”
“You want me to… take in another child instead of you? And then… you’ll go back home?”
“That’s right.”
I nodded lightly and took a sip of milk. I could see Grandpa clenching both fists tightly.
His fists seemed to be trembling… was I imagining it?
Then, suddenly, my body floated and I was thrown out the door in an instant.
“You! Have you ever seen such a damn little brat! Get out! I don’t even want to see you!”
I looked up and saw Grandpa pointing at me with a staff I didn’t know where he got.
His voice was furious, but his face said the opposite.
Wait, I’m being kicked out, but why does he look like he’s being abandoned?
“I absolutely will not take another child! So find someone else!”
Bang!
The door slammed shut as if to never be opened again.
“You should at least listen before closing the door!”
Bang bang!
I pounded on the door so hard that the whole alley echoed. But the firmly closed door showed no sign of opening.
As if he wanted to be mischievous, the electric shock from knocking on the door grew stronger with each hit.
“You’re the petty one, Grandpa.”
“You’re even more petty, you brat!”
So he even talks back?
I let out a hollow laugh at his attitude and crossed my arms.
“No matter what, I won’t change my mind! Go back!”
Did he install CCTV on the door or something? Every little action got an immediate sharp reaction.
“Fine. I’ll come with the kid next time.”
“Don’t come!”
“Oh, right. They haven’t awakened their magic yet, so your magic could kill them instantly. So turn it off, Grandpa.”
“No way, you brat!”
Ugh, he’ll probably send a note telling me to come in a few days anyway.
But today just didn’t feel like my day, so I turned and left.
Coming out of the alley, I noticed a new corpse draped in front of a statue that wasn’t there before. Even in the dark night, it was horrifying, but I just glanced and passed by.
Any woman who would be startled by that had long since disappeared from this world.
If anything came to mind when seeing the corpse, it was that if I hadn’t saved the little kid, that could have been them, drowning in that fountain in a miserable state.
“Doing something human for the first time in ten years.”
I wondered if I had truly become a monster.
I had killed to survive. Even if it was only those filled with malice toward me, in Korea, the number of murders I would have committed would be unthinkable—hundreds, thousands.
After ten years, my once righteous heart from Korea was long gone.
Yet the faint gaze of that insignificant child seemed to awaken the weak emotions buried inside me.
“…Was saving them really the right thing?”
Even that tiny sliver of guilt toward the child kept me from becoming a more merciless human. If the possession ended and I returned to Korea, I might have been considered a psychopath.
As I imagined what I’d be like back in Korea, I shook off the delusion.
“Now I’m back in Korea, huh? I’d better just hope for the best.”
I erased thoughts of my grandfather and friends and walked toward my next destination. Hart had refused, but I still had a second choice.
Walking toward Rivael’s house. Unlike other places, this alley was unusually clean.
He couldn’t stand filth, and being the most ruthless man in the area, no packs of wild dogs dared to approach his home.
“Hmm. Quite a pleasant environment.”
It was perfect for the little kid to live here. I rated various aspects as I arrived at his house.
Rivael’s house wasn’t particularly strange in shape, unlike my patched-up home or Hart’s house with the door facing the alley.
“The bad taste remains.”
It was just that this house was a temple.
Two statues of goddesses stood guard at the entrance. Unlike the blood-stained statues in the streets, these were pristine white.
Each goddess held a weapon: one a sword, the other a staff.
As I stared at them, the statues seemed to notice and swung their weapons at me.
Clang!
I easily leapt over the flying weapons. Then the statues’ pupil-less eyes turned toward me in unison.
In the silent standoff, a gentle voice came from behind.
“Oh dear, who’s angered our goddesses at this hour?”
Even though he surely knew it was me, he spoke with a sly, mischievous tone. Turning, I saw a man in pristine white priest robes approaching with a soft smile.
Even at night, his dirty-blonde hair and dark gray eyes shone brightly.
“You’d better stop if you don’t want to see your goddesses’ necks broken.”
“Haha, Louisa. How dare you so naturally speak the words that would anger the gods?”
Doesn’t what you’re doing now seem like it would anger the gods even more? Who in their right mind would pour divine energy into a statue just to see the gods move?
I didn’t need to speak, but my expression probably betrayed my thoughts. Rarely, he cleared his throat and restored the statues to their positions.
“Do the goddesses even realize you’re wasting divine power on fan service instead of saving people?”
“Well, perhaps they’re enjoying it?”
“Shall we go in?” Rivael led me before I could say anything more.
Today, I had a favor to ask him, so I stayed silent and followed his lead.
We arrived at the reception room. Even though few people visited the temple, the room was spacious and inviting. He poured warm chamomile tea and sat across from me.
“So, what brings you here?”
After leisurely sipping his tea, he spoke first. His white robes matched his calm, gentle smile. On the surface, he looked truly generous.
“It must get pretty lonely here?”
“Hm. Is that so?”
It seemed he didn’t expect the question, as his compassionate expression faltered slightly.
“It’s perfect for being alone, but if you’d like, Louisa, I can prepare a seat for you.”
…Why does it seem like everyone is so eager to have me sit in their house the moment I speak?
