*
〈 Chapter 181 〉 Chapter 180 – Back Home with Everyone.
*
The current situation: being dragged to the police station for reporting my ethnicity as a Korean-Chinese.
Fortunately, I was released quickly by the police.
Well, that’s because I passed their strict tests to prove my identity as a Korean-Chinese without any issues.
“Say ‘Xi Jinping, son of a dog.’”
“Xi Jinping, son of a dog!”
“True Chinese are?”
“The Tank Man who stood up to the tank in front of Tiananmen.”
“What’s the best song in China?”
“I love Beijing Tiananmen (？北？？？）.”
At the end, I quickly played that song on my mobile phone.
As the beautiful melody concluded, the police station erupted in applause, and some even wiped away tears.
Amidst everyone’s cheers, the police officer who brought me there shook my hand.
“You’re not Korean-Chinese. Thank you for your cooperation.”
“I’m glad I could help.”
Luckily, they didn’t inspect my phone.
They decided it was meaningless at that point since I had already passed the strict tests.
What a relief…
[Seriously, f*ck! Why do you carry such idiotic stuff on your phone!?］
As soon as I stepped out of the police station, Jeong Ahyeon appeared.
“Hey! Long time no see!”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Jeong Ahyeon responded coldly.
“You’re too harsh.”
“Harsh, f*ck! I told you not to carry weird things around!”
I heard the same words from Piis about my phone.
It seemed that the last time was quite a shock when I got caught up in that mess.
Jeong Ahyeon sighed and complained to me.
“Sometimes, I think the one who’s fallen for you is the real idiot.”
“Don’t worry, Jeong Ahyeon. You’ve already become a great idiot yourself.”
At that moment, Jeong Ahyeon suddenly clung to me.
And with her fierce gaze, she glared at me.
“And you’re calling me Jeong Ahyeon when I’m calling you ‘you’. Isn’t that a bit too much?”
“Then what should I call you?”
At my words, Jeong Ahyeon suddenly lowered her head and twisted her body.
With a wistful look, she softly said in a crawling voice.
“Please, call me by name.”
It seemed like while I was calling Hyeji by just her name, Jeong Ahyeon didn’t like me using her full name.
That made sense.
I smiled slightly and replied to Ayeon.
“Alright, Ayeon.”
“Yes, darling.”
“……”
Suddenly hit with a critical strike, I was at a loss for words.
[It really is an idiot. Getting flustered over such words.]
‘Damn it, I’ll escape quickly.’
When it was just the two of us, Ayeon would call me by other titles.
Just then, I spotted my companions coming from afar.
Seeing that, Ayeon asked me what our next destination was.
“Where to now?”
“I’m going home, how about you?”
Then Ayeon took my hand and intertwined our fingers.
With a faint smile.
“Wherever you are is good enough for me.”
Of course, Ayeon’s actions didn’t last long.
Thanks to the sudden interruption by Hyeji and Elcia.
“Hey, f*cker! You’re giving off a female vibe because I’m not around!”
“Unicorn! Unicorn! Hurry and bring Unicorn over!!!”
“I’m not done yet! I could show you the ‘Cheonma Maiden Technique’ if needed!”
“Can’t we just kill these horny bastards?”
Anyway, all the members were gathered.
Since I had a long-term exit permit, there was no need to return to the academy.
But since I didn’t know what the others were up to, I decided to speak to Elcia.
“Elcia, where are you going? I’m going home.”
“I’ll follow my husband! The Forest of Elves is gone, and the academy isn’t much either!”
Surely, as Elcia said, there was no home for her to return to.
If there was anywhere to go, it would be the academy.
However.
If I went back, it would be just me.
I didn’t want to put her through such loneliness.
Now that she’s my girlfriend, I also had to take responsibility for Elcia.
I then turned to Hyeji and asked.
“Then Hyeji, what about you?”
“I want to go to your place too. I’d like to pay my respects.”
Since Hyeji was already familiar with my parents, she could be a big help in getting our house door opened.
It’s unlikely they’d let me in by myself, but with Hyeji, the chances would increase.
Then Hyeji suddenly asked me.
“Are you going to greet my dad this time?”
“……I think if we meet him all at once, it’d be too overwhelming.”
[He probably wouldn’t try to kill you, would he?］
‘Damn, I feel like he would.’
Of course, Hyeji would step in to stop him, but it didn’t feel like it would end well.
So I planned to meet Hyeji’s father later.
Some day.
Anyway.
It was time to head back.
Homeward.
“Why the f*ck aren’t you asking me?”
“Oh, right.”
I almost forgot to ask Caressy.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to the Beastman Kingdom this time. I’ve got a bit of a tricky issue.”
Caressy looked a bit troubled.
It seemed we wouldn’t be going together anyway.
“Then why the hell were you causing a fuss about not being asked, you damn cat? I’m already pissed off that I can’t summon Kyarlu.”
“I was thinking it’d be better to take a taxi, so I was going to lend you my card.”
“I might not be able to summon her! Thank you! Lady Kyarlu!”
I quickly butted my solid yet light head towards Caressy.
My pride didn’t matter.
Hyeji and Ayeon gave me cold looks.
Meanwhile,
“Furry brother! This Ear Goblin has knelt before you!”
Elcia knocked her head next to me.
So Elcia-like.
*
Caressy entrusted her card to us and left first.
It wasn’t the usual black card but rather a cute one with a cat paw printed on it.
It seemed like a personal card.
Of course, Elcia was after this.
“Spend whatever you want, but if that brat gets involved, she’s dead!”
“Yes.”
That was a call from Caressy, who probably expected this.
Her voice was completely serious, as if she put aside her usual character.
I hastily answered, afraid she might stop me.
Of course, Elcia kept begging me.
“Darling! Please just this once! I’ll pay 10,000 won!”
Elcia clung to me persistently, but I wasn’t falling for it again.
In the end, Elcia, who failed, made a dissatisfied expression and clicked her tongue.
[Even worse, it wasn’t in won, but dollars.]
‘That f*cking brat.’
After much ups and downs, we finally arrived home.
Everyone seemed tense somehow.
In such times, it’s important to show the calm demeanor of the protagonist.
After all, revealing my identity wouldn’t get the door opened, so I decided to reuse a method I had used before.
“It’s a delivery.”
“F*ck off. I’m not falling for that again.”
But my mom was too clever.
Just as I was growing, she, too, aged and seemed wiser.
However, just being recognized as home was already enough to start the serious talk.
“Actually, I brought my girlfriend.”
“You little Korean-Chinese brat, if you don’t get lost, I’ll kill you?”
“Damn, reporting me was a pain in the ass.”
“Should I report you again?”
She didn’t look the least bit convinced.
She didn’t even treat me like her son.
But I had anticipated such behavior.
Therefore, I bolstered my claim by saying I brought a girlfriend.
“I’m serious about my mom.”
“I’m your mother, you little brat!!!”
The door swung open, and suddenly my mom’s kick struck deep into my abdomen.
It was an unexpected ambush.
As I gasped for breath, Piis earnestly pleaded with me.
[Can’t you just die quietly?］
‘Silence, that hurts like hell.’
Soon, my mom was scanning the area with bloodshot eyes, checking for any Korean-Chinese around.
Then she spotted Hyeji and suddenly looked startled.
“Oh my! Hyeji! You weren’t kidnapped, were you?”
“Thank you for worrying, but I’m fine.”
“Good, what brings you here? Is it vacation already?”
“Actually, I came to greet you as Shinwoo’s girlfriend.”
Seeing my mom’s increasing surprise, she stammered her words, unlike her usual self.
“…Re-really? You’re not joking, are you?!”
“……Yes.”
Hyeji barely managed a response, her face turning bright red.
Then my mom suddenly grabbed my collar.
“What kind of dirt do you have on Hyeji? I didn’t raise you to be like this!”
“No, f*ck.”
“Ah, no! I confessed first!”
Hyeji hurriedly stopped my mom.
Then mom paused for a moment and said.
“Thank you! Really, thank you! I was so worried about that idiot!”
She grabbed Hyeji’s hands with both of hers and started shaking.
Seeing tears well up in her eyes, she truly seemed moved.
Soon, mom noticed Elcia and Ayeon around her.
Her eyes narrowed.
She probably mistook them for cultists or Korean-Chinese.
Before any other words could come out, Elcia and Ayeon answered quickly.
“Hello, Mrs. Shinwoo. I’m Elcia, soon to be your daughter-in-law. I may be lacking, but please treat me well.”
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Shinwoo. I’m Jeong Ayeon, your soon-to-be daughter-in-law.”
[……Who are they?］
‘Damn it, this isn’t April Fools!’
Elcia and Ayeon were showing completely different sides from their usual selves.
I found it hard to believe, but my mom must’ve been even more shocked.
Mom broke down.
Her expression was blank.
She wasn’t even breathing.
A few seconds later.
“Please don’t let this be a dream!”
Mom collapsed onto the ground, sobbing.
Strangely enough, it seemed more realistic than a dream, or so my mom’s words hinted.
Then the heroines gently hugged my mom.
Mom began to realize, from the warmth she felt, that this wasn’t a dream but reality.
Soon, with a radiant smile, mom began to usher the heroines inside.
“Welcome. It’s a small house, but make yourselves comfortable.”
Then suddenly, she sent me a cold glare.
Unlike usual, she truly looked scary.
“What kind of nonsense have you been up to?”
This time, I wasn’t shut out.
That was a huge relief.
[At this point, don’t you think half your life has already gone down the drain?］
‘Shut up.’
This time, I returned home without significant issues.
It had been a treacherous journey.
*
