Maybe I can just buy it and let the store hold onto it until I come again later?
…Yeorum thought that, but it lasted no more than 5 seconds.
Belatedly, she remembered that the purchase records that were done through the credit card were all sent to Yu Jitae’s watch. If he happened to see how she bought [Tankoubon: The Prince’s first love is me?], Yeorum seriously had to ponder between leaving the house and killing herself.
Her brain froze after realising that, and not knowing what to do, she somehow ended up holding a baseball bat which she didn’t even need.
“You know what. I seriously hate you.”
“Why.”
“I seriously, seriously hate you so much. You’re annoying. I’d love to bash the hell out of you if I could.”
“What’s wrong with you now.”
“What? What’s wrong with me? You want me to tell you how I’m feeling right now? Let’s say you were dying to drink a can of sprite.”
A sprite?
“I don’t really want to…… Anyway, and what.”
“Be honest. Even if you didn’t drink a single drop of water for 3 days? Even if you ate three sweet potatoes in a row?”
“…Yeah. I would like to drink one.”
“Right? But if you drink sprite, you have to burp. Which you can’t do in front of others. Suddenly you have the chance to drink sprite by yourself. But it’s all doomed! It’s all doomed because of you!”
What could this be about. Yu Jitae contemplated before asking her.
“You want sprite?”
An extremely serious expression appeared on her face.
“No! Ahh! So annoying!”
She swung the baseball bat around in an intimidating manner. With a frown, Gyeoul walked away from her and when the nearby cadets glanced at them, Gyeoul explained herself.
“…I don’t, know this person.”
“I don’t know you either okay?” shouted Yeorum. Her temper was worse than usual, but looking back, Yeorum was somewhat similar to a cat and often exploded in anger by herself for no reason.
In any case, she needed something other than sprite. Yu Jitae asked after some thought.
“Anyway, you need something. Right? What do you need.”
“Nothi…!”
In the middle of her shout, she suddenly turned quiet. She pondered for a second before asking with a calm voice.
“Allowance.”
“Allowance? Don’t you have a card.”
“Not that. Just, something separate. Give me an allowance.”
“You mean cash?”
“Yeah.”
She turned docile when he took his wallet out like a bulldog waiting for a treat. In that moment, the Regressor realised once again that he had gotten closer to daily life than before.
Now that she was being meek, he didn’t want to give it.
“Why should I.”
“What?”
“You didn’t do anything well so why should I give you money.”
“What are you saying. Give me money.”
“Don’t want to.”
“You serious?”
Gyeoul, who was listening to the two of them speak, gestured to Yu Jitae after realising something. When he turned around, the child placed her fists on her cheeks and blinked her eyes, acting cute.
She was giving him a signal. Although he didn’t know that much, he took out a 1 dollar note and gave it to Gyeoul.
“…Hihih.”
After receiving it, she waved the note in front of Yeorum with an excited look on her face. Yeorum glared at her dumbfoundedly before turning her gaze to Yu Jitae.
“What is this about?”
“What do you mean.”
“Why are you being so childish? Do I have to act cute in front of a little kid at my age? Why don’t you tell me to lick your toes instead?”
“You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to.”
“Yeah yeah, whatever. I don’t need it. Farrking hell~.”
That was when Gyeoul moved once again after a glance. She wrapped her arms around Yu Jitae’s waist and buried her forehead into his stomach. When he gazed down, she slowly lifted her head and looked into his eyes with a desperate gaze of cuteness.
He gave her another 1 dollar note. Gyeoul took the money and waved the two notes in front of Yeorum’s eyes.
Seeing how Gyeoul was suppressing the urge to raise the corners of her lips, Yeorum had to reflect on her rage control training.
Finding it funny, Bom giggled before asking her.
“What’s wrong? Don’t you usually do the same thing yourself?”
“It’s not the same thing, is it?”
“How is it different?”
“Dunno. Ahh, this is annoying…”
On the way to a restaurant, Yeorum glanced around before placing her fists next to her cheeks. She was usually good at doing this, but it was hard to make herself do it consciously.
That was when her eyes met with stupid Gyeoul’s, who then sneered after seeing that. Yeorum moved her lips silently and swore at her, ‘Stop acting up, you little rat.’ In response, Gyeoul mumbled, ‘…Two, dollars,’ and giggled out loud.
If Bom didn’t break the mood by bringing up a different topic, stupid Gyeoul would have been dead for sure.
“Oh, right. Ahjussi. I have to go somewhere for a bit.”
“Go where.”
“The magic studies professors were looking for someone to help with the firework preparation and I applied for it.”
“Why.”
“I asked them if they could turn a blind eye to all the classes I skipped at the start of the winter semester.”
“Did they agree to it?”
“Yes. Only because it’s me.”
The start of the winter semester was probably when Yu Jitae was making her draw and sculpt in search of her dream. During that time, she hadn’t been going to school.
“I thought you weren’t interested in grades.”
“Well? I’m not that interested in getting good grades but attendance is a slightly different issue. I’m an earnest dragon after all…”
“Got it. See you later then.”
“Ah, and also, can you please come pick me up later when it’s time?”
“When?”
“When the fireworks are about to start. I should be near the rear entrance of Hilton Clocktower.”
“Right before the start?”
“Yes yes. Maybe that’s not the best time? Anyway, you don’t have to worry about it if you can’t, so please don’t worry too much about it.”
Bom waved her hand after nonchalantly saying that, so he waved back.
After that, Yu Jitae took Yeorum and Gyeoul along to enjoy the festival. There were more people in the afternoon and consequently, there were more stores and attractions available. In the world where magic existed, there were plenty of elements in a festival that was a delight to look at.
A palm-sized cat wearing socks jumped for afar and landed on Gyeoul’s hands.
“Aht…! The pretty blue-haired little friend over there! You were chosen!”
A superhuman magician walked up with a bright smile.
“…Chosen?”
Gyeoul asked while rolling her blue pair of eyes. A cat made from chocolate was dancing on top of her hand.
“Yes. Since you were chosen as the butler, you must take it with you.”
“…Ohh.”
“Hahat. Do you like it?”
“…Yes.”
“That will be 10 dollars please!”
“……? …You were after, money?”
“Sorry?”
With a darker expression, Gyeoul returned the chocolate, causing the magician to be flustered.
“…”
Yu Jitae paid for the money, and only then did Gyeoul shove the cat’s head into her mouth with a bright expression.
Attached to the tail of the chocolate cat was a heart-shaped red jelly, and her eyes sparkled whenever she stared at it. Gyeoul slowly ate from the body and kept the best for last but Yeorum suddenly came up and broke the tail before throwing it into her own mouth.
“…Uh? …That’s mine.”
“Oh was it? Sorry?”
Yeorum chortled while Gyeoul bit her lips.
The two of them fought regardless of the time and place.
Time flew by in an instant. Yu Jitae took Yeorum and Gyeoul for lunch and enjoyed watching a musician busking in the streets. Since Yeorum always spent her time in either a training room or her own room, she appeared to be enjoying herself and Gyeoul was also happy after receiving the plushie he won at one of the attractions.
The sun was starting to set when Gyeoul grabbed Yu Jitae by the pants.
“Why.”
“…Look at that.”
What was it.
Turning his head, he found a male and female behind the bush of the park, hugging each other with touching lips. There were lots of people nearby but they were in a different world by themselves.
“…What are they doing? What’s wrong?”
“They’re in a relationship.”
“…Weird.”
Without a real reason, Gyeoul looked at Yeorum. She was fidgeting with her watch but after noticing the couple, she raised her head with a surprised look on her face.
“…?”
Is she going to swear at them? While Gyeoul was in doubt, Yeorum stealthily looked away from the couple but proceeded to glance at them in secret.
What was wrong with her? Gyeoul had no idea.
But suddenly, Yeorum started whining about the allowance again.
“Ahh, just give me some money. It’s about to be night time already. Come on.”
“Like I said, you haven’t done anything well so why should I.”
“Wait, did you actually mean that?”
After some hesitation, Yeorum tapped her hair.
“Well, I was born well. Hella pretty even if I don’t do anything.”
“…”
“What. What the fuc* is with that silence.”
“Yeah.”
“‘Yeah’? ‘Yeahh’?? Maybe you don’t know how to appreciate my beauty ‘cuz you see me everyday, but back in Askalifa, if the red dragon lady appeared in the streets, everyone from the king down to little stray dogs all came out to watch, you know that?”
“…Puph.”
“Don’t fuc*ing laugh. I’ll smash your head.”
“…Hing.”
“Ahh, just give me some money!”
When Yu Jitae firmly ignored her, she scowled before standing in front of him. Like a burglar, she pointed the bat towards him but this discouraged him from giving her money even more.
The two stood still and stared at each other.
But soon, her bat slowly came down.
Dropping her head, she gazed at the ground. After scratching herself on the back of her neck, Yeorum heaved out a deep sigh.
Right when he was starting to wonder what she was trying to do, Yeorum looked up and bluntly opened her mouth.
“I’m gonna do it then. Okay?”
“…”
“I’ll show you my cutest killer move. I don’t take responsibility for your eyes, okay?”
“…”
“F*ck…”
She pushed her lips out.
Yu Jitae stood still nonchalantly like always, but Gyeoul on the side was excited about teasing her. It was time to watch Yeorum embarrassedly act cute.
However, Yeorum suddenly grabbed Gyeoul’s hat and pulled it down to cover her eyes.
In a fluster, Gyeoul hurriedly lifted her hat back up and stared at Yeorum, but everything was already over at that point. Yu Jitae was taking his wallet out with a disapproving look on his face.
“…Wat.”
Gyeoul grumbled from the boring turn of events.
It was then. Yeorum suddenly reached out and snatched the wallet from his hands.
“This is my wallet now.”
When Yu Jitae tried to take it back, she slapped his hand away. Then, she opened her jacket before placing the wallet inside her sports bra.
She then pushed her chest forward.
“Now. Try taking it if you can.”
“Yu Yeorum.”
“Huh? It’s a crime if you touch me there, you know that?”
“Give me back my wallet.”
“You. Just because you have a little bit of cash, huh? A human dares to make a dragon act cute? Are you out of your mind?”
“Like I said. Give it back.”
“Don’t you think you have to do something yourself then?”
After saying that, Yeorum turned towards Gyeoul and after understanding what she was trying to do, the child gave a bright smile.
…They were going to make Yu Jitae act cute!
“…”
However, Yu Jitae started walking away with a hazier gaze, and didn’t say anything even when Yeorum teased him from the side.
“What are you doing. Are you trying to be cool?”
“…”
“I’m not going to give you the wallet back then.”
“…”
“Ah, so fu*king boring.”
Then, after saying that there was a place she had to go to, Yeorum turned around with a 10 dollar note. She sneakily handed the wallet over to Gyeoul before walking away.
“Where are you going.”
“Who cares~ I’ll be back in one hour.”
She soon disappeared into the crowd.
Yu Jitae looked at Gyeoul. It was just the two of them now. She was holding the wallet preciously with her two hands but when Yu Jitae turned towards her, she immediately threw the wallet into her singlet in a fluster.
As always, she was quick at learning these strange things. Shaking his head, the Regressor reached out.
“Give me my wallet back.”
“…Nnnn.”
“You’re not going to give it back? It’s mine.”
“…Don’t want to.”
“Why.”
“…Cuter.”
Crouching down, the Regressor matched his line of sight with the child. Hugging the wallet around her chest, she looked at him with expectation.
“Why do I have to act cute.”
“…Cuter.”
“I’ll buy you something nice. Give it back.”
“…Cuter.”
“Yu Gyeoul.”
“…”
He stared directly into her eyes and although she flinched a little, she didn’t avoid his eyes. She was stubborn and wouldn’t relent without seeing it.
Do I do this, or not.
He could do it, if he were to simply copy the movement.
“…Have you, acted cute before?”
“No.”
“…Never?”
“Yeah.”
“…Then, is today, the first time?”
After saying that, her expression turned even brighter.
Put in an awkward spot, he contemplated a bit more.
Something similar happened before but he was always put in an awkward spot whenever the kids made such requests. Why did he have to do this? However, Gyeoul was staring at him with expectant eyes, and it wasn’t like he could snatch the wallet or scold the child.
With a sigh, he carefully placed his fists around his cheeks. If someone else saw it, they would think he was about to go on a boxing ring instead of acting cute, but a smile bloomed on Gyeoul’s face.
Was it because he said that it was his first time doing this? Seemingly happy from the bottom of her heart, her smile was the brightest he had ever seen.
It was then.
Something spread like the ocean waves in front of his eyes.
Since his eyes were always hazy, he was starting to forget it but Gyeoul’s hazy face appeared clearer. The blue eyelashes, the blue irises and pupils that formed the bright smile became vivid.
With the smiling Gyeoul at the centre, a filter that made everything hazy seemed to have disappeared and the festival at the background regained its colour. The ground, people, the sky turning darker and the magic kites flying in the darkened sky.
This was ‘that phenomenon’.
It always happened when the dragons felt extremely happy because of something – the authentic feeling of life that neared him as if to prove that the iteration was heading towards a positive direction.
He had felt it from Bom, Yeorum and Kaeul, and now he was feeling it from Gyeoul.
Meanwhile, Gyeoul lifted her singlet and took the wallet out from around her stomach. Frozen stiff, he received the wallet when she walked up and embraced his head.
The vividness was not simply limited to his sight. Her small hands that touched his cheeks and the tender skin was felt vividly with his sense of touch.
While he was taking in the purely innocent sensation that didn’t allow a single dirty feeling to seep in, something else occurred.
<The Authority, [Vintage Clock (EX)] is flustered.>
<The Authority, [Vintage Clock (EX)] observes the creation of a new [Room] inside [Vintage Clock’s Workshop]!>
<The Authority, [Vintage Clock (EX)] confirms the possibility of a new growth!>
A message he had never seen in the previous six iterations appeared in front of him. His hazy eyes opened wide.
A room?
A possibility of new growth?
What in the world did these things mean.
<[Vintage Clock (EX)]:( ﾟДﾟ)??>
<[Vintage Clock (EX)]: ??(ﾟДﾟ )>
And why are you surprised.