Chapter 70

At the association, there exist 3 great mysteries (not really).

The first was Seorin’s talent.

The second was the mystery of my tail moving on its own accord.

And finally, the third mystery was what on earth could be inside Chae-a’s pocket.

‘Among these, I’m about to uncover the most intriguing one—what’s in Chae-a’s pocket.’

I thought with anticipation as my eyes sparkled.

While pondering this, I glanced at Chae-a.

Chae-a stood smiling brightly and confidently declared,

“Chae-a too!”

Everyone was now intensely curious about Chae-a’s mysterious pocket!

As such thoughts filled the air, Spirit Master Uncle quietly observed with a serious look.

“Shall we check then?”

“Yeah!”

Chae-a boldly stared into her pocket while Han Arin approached and reached inside, pulling something out.

It turned out to be countless flower petals!

Petals of every color imaginable. Watching the hallway transform into a park-like scene made me wag my tail happily. Nearby, Yuna whispered to me in awe,

“Chae-a-ssi is amazing.”

Though unsure exactly what part impressed her, it was comforting to see Yuna admire Chae-a so much. However, just then Han Arin gasped loudly and pulled something else from Chae-a’s pocket.

“Wormy wormy!”

It was Sister Worm, Chae-a’s friend and elder sister.

Sister Worm greeted everyone with “Wormy wormy!” before disappearing somewhere instantly.

Chae-a casually waved goodbye, but those around us exchanged bewildered glances.

“If worms can fit, what else could possibly be in there?”

“Could there be other living creatures?”

Since Chae-a had always shown affection for insects, everyone began discussing their worries.

Just as I started wondering if everything was okay, Han Arin continued pulling things out:

Caps, plastic bags, broken chopsticks, buttons, leaves, faded ribbons…

Expecting some shocking food mess, I was surprised by how clean it all was. Then Chae-a smiled cheerfully and said,

“All the snacks? Sister Worm ate them! Sorry?”

After thinking for a moment, she added mischievously,

“Next time, Chae-a will find and share them! Know that?”

Deciding this sounded like a good idea, everyone chuckled as Chae-a skipped off. Han Arin quickly scooped her up and announced,

“It’s surprisingly clean. Apparently, Sister Worm isn’t an ordinary worm.”

Considering Kamangi and other bugs nearby, I nodded, suspecting Sister Worm might actually be a spirit.

Then someone suggested,

“We should still wash it once, right? What do you think?”

“Not dirty, but washing wouldn’t hurt.”

“Ah, then let’s wash Hae-un’s and Chae-a’s pajamas this time, and buy new ones for Yuna too?”

Everyone agreed, nodding and chatting amiably.

Meanwhile, Yuna turned to me with a bright smile,

“Yuna also wants animal-print pajamas!”

Her unusually cheerful expression hinted she’d been longing for such pajamas. As I pet her head approvingly, Seorin voiced a question,

“So, what kind of animal pajamas should Yuna get?”

This sparked serious discussions among everyone:

“Cats are cute, aren’t they? Though seeing cats reminds me of how adorable mine are…”

“Cat? Fox would be better. After all, Yuna is a nine-tailed fox, so a fox design fits perfectly.”

“Eh, sticking to the same animals lacks originality. How about chick-patterned pajamas instead?”

Their extremely earnest expressions and tone reminded me of how hunters usually conduct meetings half-heartedly, ending with “Let’s go!” This contrast made the situation oddly amusing.

Just as I blinked in confusion, someone proposed,

“Dinosaur… Dinosaur onesies would be best!”

Everyone immediately fell silent, then simultaneously nodded in agreement, praising dinosaur-themed pajamas.

“Of course, dinosaur onesies are the best! They’re super cute!”

“My cousins love dinosaurs too!”

“Wow, Yuna has a great eye for clothes!”

They subtly complimented Yuna, making sure her mood stayed positive. Impressed by their adult-level kindness, I decided to emulate them someday. Meanwhile, Yuna, though enjoying the compliments, seemed shy under all the attention, fidgeting and faintly smiling.

“When it snows, I used to envy kids wearing dinosaur onesies walking with their moms and dads.”

At the mention of snow, the hunters’ faces hardened. Hearing that a child barely five years old had been trapped in ice and envied others spending time with their parents wasn’t easy to overlook.

When no one dared speak, Yuna gently grabbed my hand and shyly admitted,

“But now, I’m not envious anymore.”

Relieved by her words, the hunters sighed deeply. Her lack of envy meant she felt sufficiently cared for within the association. Everyone nodded understandingly, easing their expressions.

Just then, Han Arin spoke calmly,

“Then we’ll make sure Yuna never feels envious of anyone else, alright?”

Yuna hesitated briefly before responding proudly,

“I’m not a baby. Ha-euni is the baby.”

Han Arin countered,

“You’re a baby too, and so is Hae-un.”

“Huh?”

Why was I suddenly brought into this? Feeling slightly wronged, I perked my tail stiffly, but everyone ignored it in their busy chatter.

“…I miss the viewers…”

If the viewers were here, they’d surely notice my plight. Determined to turn on the stream tomorrow, I sulked silently when Spirit Master Uncle posed a question.

“Until when will we keep letting the kids sleep in the hospital room?”

Everyone startled momentarily, turning to him.

“No matter how safe and healthy it is, keeping them here too long doesn’t seem right.”

Agreement rippled through the group. Watching this, I felt a sudden unease and slumped my tail, checking the atmosphere.

‘So… leaving the hospital means leaving the association?’

Reflecting honestly, the endless generosity didn’t quite add up. Providing such excellent rooms free of charge or extending such kindness without expecting anything in return…

Still, I couldn’t argue if we were asked to leave immediately… except…

‘Chae-a and Yuna are children. They shouldn’t be driven away.’

Deciding that if we were expelled, moving our base to the Lair would be best, I resolved to negotiate with others and settle there.

Nearby, Yuna suddenly exclaimed with shock,

“I don’t want to be chased away again. We’ll behave well…”

She understood similarly. Reassuring her, I held her hand tightly, but she remained anxious, hugging me with her tail and saying,

“Even if Hae-un gets hit, please let Yuna stay here. I can endure pain.”

Han Arin reacted immediately, horrified upon realizing Yuna’s past as an experimental subject and her entrapment in ice.

Clamping her mouth shut after recognizing the truth, she chewed her lips before speaking kindly,

“Don’t worry. If Yuna wishes, you can live wherever and however long you desire.”

Yuna’s face brightened considerably. Observing this, I felt the need to clarify any misunderstandings. Nearby hunters exchanged serious looks.

“Seems like she’s been subjected to violence like Hae-un.”

“Really, we should’ve wiped them all out.”

“Please, children are listening. Lower your voices.”

“Sorry.”

Hearing this, I concluded we wouldn’t be expelled anytime soon and sighed in relief.

‘Still, just in case…’

Preparing essentials like beds and necessities at the Lair seemed prudent.

‘I may manage alone, but I must take responsibility for Chae-a, Yuna, and Seorin too.’

Resolved to strengthen myself, I steeled my determination.

*

After a brief conversation with the hunters, we returned to the hospital room. Perhaps due to our earlier discussion, staying in the hospital despite being fine made me feel increasingly apologetic.

‘What should I do?’

My mind grew complicated, plunging me into melancholy. I nibbled on my tail, trying to soothe myself, when a forgotten memory resurfaced.

‘Cure ability and magic.’

Mastery over these two skills might ensure acceptance anywhere. Surely, once proficient, people would treat me as a respectable adult rather than a child.

With this resolve, I sent Perseus a text message.

[ Strange characters ]

“Beep!”

Again, I messed up, panicking when Somtul appeared, grinning smugly, and pressed send.

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