Chapter 111

“Oh dear~…”

“Did you get a herniated disc or something? Why are you slouching like that?”

“…I twisted my back trying to lift something at work.”

“Ugh…”

As soon as Saturday arrived, Daeyoung came running early in the morning.

Since the others said they’d come later in the morning, Daeyoung is now sitting alone on the sofa, munching on some snacks.

It seems he can’t sit comfortably because of his back.

“Ah, right. Can’t you fix this with Recovery Magic?”

“Why, want me to fix it?”

“Really?! Then do it… I’m going crazy because of this…”

“…There, all done.”

“Whoa, oh… Wow… That’s insane…”

Daeyoung can’t stop laughing as the back pain, which he thought would last a long time, disappears like it was washed away.

I’ve never twisted my back, so I don’t know how painful and annoying it is, but it must be quite bothersome.

“Ah~! My back feels so much better, so how about a glass of whiskey first!”

“Stop talking like an old man. Don’t drink now. Wait until the others arrive.”

“Eh~ One bottle won’t hurt. Right?”

“Stop messing around.”

“Ah! Ah~ That’s so unfair. Stop using Telekinesis~.”

“Who cares? Just hold on. Chubby said he’d make some food that goes perfectly with the whiskey I bought.”

“…Really? Then I’ll definitely wait.”

Judging by how he stopped at the mention of food, he must be really looking forward to it.

Well, our Chubby’s cooking skills are amazing now.

Plus, all I have to do is pet him as a reward sometimes, so it’s really convenient.

…Speaking of which, both Diamond Dust and Yura seem to be sleeping in today.

Yura drank a bottle of whiskey and passed out in her room, and Diamond Dust… probably stayed up late playing games.

That kid, on days she doesn’t go to school, she stays up all night gaming.

“By the way, why is there so much bread at home?”

“That’s because Chubby got so into baking that he’s still piling up mountains of it in real-time.”

“Crazy… Ah, then can I take some?”

“Sure. But take a reasonable amount. We’re sharing with the juniors too.”

“Good.”

Come to think of it, that kid really loves bread.

Back in high school, he used to buy and eat tons of bread from the school store.

And yet, he doesn’t gain any weight… What does he even do?

Does he exercise at home or something?

Well, with those muscles, he must be exercising.

“By the way, did you eat breakfast?”

“No?”

“…At least eat some bread.”

I always think this, but Daeyoung seems to eat a lot.

Probably because he’s the only one among us who exercises.

The other two don’t have much muscle to speak of.

Especially Jin, he feels a bit soft when you touch him.

Well, now I’m the softest!

Damn it…

“By the way, what did they say about that black Crystal Stone?”

“That thing? …It’s related to a witch, but they don’t know why it was dropped into the human world.”

“What? So they don’t know anything about it.”

“Well, yeah. They might have just thrown it away without thinking, or maybe they had some plan… It’s hard to know.”

“No, I mean, what about its function?”

“Huh? Ah… Well, they said it’s the Crystal Stone of a dead witch. So it probably has the same function as the Crystal Stones left behind when we Magical Girls die.”

“Oh… Is it dangerous?”

“Yes.”

It might have the same function, but witches are basically those who have grown abnormally strong by absorbing the power of monsters.

So if a normal person uses it, who knows what problems might arise.

And if someone absorbs it, what would happen then…

Plus, if a Magical Girl uses it, what effects would it have… There are so many things to consider.

That’s why it’s impossible to figure it all out in just a few days.

So for now, all we can say is that it’s dangerous.

“Ha~am… Huh?”

“Oh~ It’s Ayun, right? Long time no see. Go clean your eyes first.”

“Uncle, why are you here?”

“To drink.”

“…Typical uncle. Are all uncles like that?”

“Pretty much.”

“Just assume these guys are here to drink, so no need to ask.”

“Okay…”

Diamond Dust woke up first between the two.

What is Yura doing that she’s still not out?

She didn’t even eat breakfast, and it’s already past 9.

…Should I go wake her up?

No, if I go wake her up and she’s masturbating in the morning, it’ll be awkward again.

No, no, who masturbates first thing in the morning without even leaving their room?

I should just go wake her up.

“Hey, Jeong Yura!”

So I swung open Yura’s door and called her name.

Sure enough, there she was, drooling in her sleep… but for some reason, she didn’t look too good.

Probably because she drank a whole bottle of whiskey last night.

But whiskey is distilled, so it shouldn’t give much of a hangover…?

“Hey, Yura. Wake up. It’s morning.”

“Ugh…”

“What did you do yesterday that you can’t wake up?”

“…Actually…”

“Actually what?”

“I think I drank some beer last night…”

“Stop talking in that cutesy voice. And don’t drink beer in the early morning. What kind of state is that?”

“Ugh… You’re stricter than Dad…”

“What’s strict about it? Who wouldn’t worry seeing you like that?”

“Eek… Don’t pinch my nose…”

“Then wake up.”

“Ugh…”

Ugh, who sneaks out in the early morning to chug beer?

I should put a lock on the alcohol storage.

But do fridges even have locks?

No, there’s no way a fridge would have such a feature.

“Anyway, wake up and eat something. Skipping meals is the dumbest thing you can do.”

“Okay…”

“Chubby! Prepare some food for Yura and Ayun!”

“Yes!”

“…Hey, what about me?”

“You already ate bread. After eating that much bread, you want a full meal too? Isn’t that too much before we even start?”

“Ah, right. Sigh… Too bad, but I shouldn’t get full already.”

Well, Chubby’s food is delicious, so I get wanting to eat… but you already ate so much bread, so no.

The others will arrive soon, and we’ll be drinking whiskey with snacks, so if you fill up now, you’ll really suffer tomorrow.

Of course, I don’t have that problem.

“Ugh… Sis… Help me with this hangover…”

“No. This is your punishment for chugging beer in the early morning, so just lie there.”

“Ugh…”

“If it weren’t for that, I would’ve flirted with you by now, what a shame.”

“If you even joked about flirting, I would’ve smashed your head.”

“You saying that makes me think you’d actually smash it…”

By the way, that kid is nibbling away.

Well, as long as she eats it all, it’s fine.

At least she’s not eating messily.

“By the way, did I come too early?”

“You did come early.”

“…Then I’ll take a nap. Ha~am… I’m a bit sleepy.”

“Then take a nap.”

“Make me coffee when I wake up…”

“Make it yourself.”

“Chubby is… here…”

“…Did she fall asleep?”

This kid, is she seriously asking Chubby to make her coffee now?

She probably thinks we have drip coffee or something, but we don’t have that at home.

We only have instant coffee, so drink that.

I’m not really into coffee.

…By the way, I envy how she falls asleep as soon as her head hits the pillow.

It takes me about 10 minutes to fall asleep.

“Sis. Do you have coffee?”

“Coffee? We only have instant.”

“Eh~…”

“If you don’t like it, buy your own.”

“If I buy it, will Chubby… no, Meriol make it for me?”

“……”

“Maybe?”

If it’s Chubby… I feel like if he learned how to make coffee, he’d become a master at it in no time.

Huh? Then if we leave all drink-making to Chubby, we could have premium drinks anytime, right?

……This is good.

“Chubby. Do you want to try being a barista?”

“A barista? I’ll give it a try!”

“Good. Then I’ll buy it.”

Then I should buy it right away.

Let’s see… Ah, but I don’t know where to buy those machines.

I’ll have to ask around in the community later.

“…By the way, Daeyoung oppa, seeing him like this, he’s really fit…”

“You’re not falling for him, are you…?”

“Of course not~! I’ve seen how he acts since way back, so falling for him now would be crazy…”

That’s a relief.

If she had fallen for him, I would’ve had to beat some sense into her.

“…This uncle really has a great body. Wow, washboard abs…”

“Hey, don’t lift my clothes to look. That’s rude regardless of age or gender.”

“Ah, sorry…”

Why are they all gathering to touch Daeyoung’s body…

Why do girls have no hesitation when it comes to touching guys’ bodies?

No, is it because society coddles girls so much that they have no self-awareness?

If the genders were reversed, it would be a sexual crime.

Well… if you’re good-looking, it’s forgiven…

You guys, be thankful you’re good-looking.

“By the way, do you guys have any plans today?”

“Nope.”

“None.”

“Then… are you going to drink with us here?”

“Yes. I’m curious about the whiskey.”

“I’ll drink!”

“…Alright.”

They’re really eager to drink whiskey, these kids…

Especially Diamond Dust, you… you’re a minor.

Is it okay for you to already be so into alcohol…?

Well, whatever… since you don’t get drunk, it’s fine…

“Ah, then until those oppas come, I’ll just hug sis~.”

“Why are you hugging me? Go away. Get lost.”

“Why~!”

“Hey, go hug Max over there. So get lost.”

“No~. I’ll hug sis~.”

“Then I’ll hug Max.”

“These kids… Ugh.”

Damn it, Yura, you’re lifting me up and hugging me, what are you doing?

Ugh, really… I can’t even hit her…

“Sis has such baby-like skin~!”

“Right. It’s softer and smoother than mine.”

“Meow?”

“……”

“Sis, and you too! You don’t even do skincare, yet your skin is like that! Ah~ I’m so jealous~!”

“Then ask Chubby to take care of it. He doesn’t have much to do besides cooking, so he can recommend some items.”

“…But those are things only Magical Girls can buy.”

“…I’ll buy it for you.”

“Yay~! Meriol~!”

“Yes?!”

“Recommend some skincare items for me~!”

“Got it!”

It’s not like I have much use for points besides snacks and ice cream, so it’s fine.

Plus, I have an insane amount of points saved up.

Well, since I’ve been hunting monsters since I was a kid, it’s no wonder I have so many.

It’ll probably last until Yura dies of old age.

…Should I have made Yura a Magical Girl?

No, if I did that, I’d have to make her fight too, so it’s not good.

Ugh… what a headache.

Can’t do this, can’t do that… It’s better to just leave things as they are.

―Ding dong.

Ah, Jin and Jinsu must be here.

Let’s put these thoughts aside and focus on drinking with these guys.