Chapter 120

The method for doing pull-ups is simple…!

First, grab the pull-up bar somehow.

Somehow reach that pull-up bar…

You know, the pull-up bar…!

I realized my hands wouldn’t reach the bar no matter how I stretched and froze in place.

It also felt foolish for subconsciously thinking my hands might magically reach it, and embarrassing because I had declared I’d show everyone how to do pull-ups.

As I felt my face heating up and wished I could hide my tail, Yuna trotted over and said:

“Yuna will help you!”

Then, with a grunt, she tried lifting me up so I could reach the bar. However…

Because Yuna was also very short, not only did my hands fail to touch the bar, they didn’t even come close.

“It’s okay.”

Realizing it wouldn’t work, Yuna drooped her tail and ears before hugging me tightly and whining. I patted her back while pondering how I could possibly reach the bar.

“Magic?”

The first thing that came to mind was magic, but the problem was I’ve never learned magic, so flying wasn’t an option. Setting that aside, I thought about other possible options…

“There aren’t really any.”

Trying hard to think, the only idea that came to mind was bringing over a chair and awkwardly hanging from the bar, but even climbing onto the chair would be difficult. Carrying such a big chair here would also be exhausting, so it seemed better to look for another way.

“What should I do…”

As I worried, I heard giggling beside me and turned to see Seoa climbing upward on many Somtuls.

“Huh?!”

Seoa used the Somtuls to climb high, then proudly placed her hand on the bar and looked down at us smugly. While marveling at this unexpected method, Chae-a jumped around excitedly shouting:

“Woo! Seoa is amazing! Let Chae-a try too!”

At this, Seoa giggled and used the Somtuls to lift Chae-a, Yuna, and me closer to the bar. Worried the Somtuls might feel heavy, I petted their heads and thanked them, but they only chirped happily: “Pee! Pee pee!”

“Thank you.”

Even though I felt apologetic, I thanked the Somtuls by patting their heads, then looked at the bar.

“It’s been a while since I’ve done pull-ups.”

Thinking this wasn’t something familiar, I grabbed the bar and tried hanging from it, but due to my weak strength, I quickly fell back onto the Somtuls. Realizing there was nothing else I could do, I decided to use my ultimate move.

“The reverse grip…!”

Though it might be considered cheating and wouldn’t be recognized by those who know how to properly do pull-ups, since this was the only easy way to hang, I shamelessly (?) used it and managed to lift myself up just a little.

“Haeuni is amazing! So talented!”

Yuna quietly clapped at this, making me feel proud for a moment before realizing how silly the situation was and nervously laughing. After all, boasting about my pull-up skills in front of kids was incredibly embarrassing.

“Maybe it’s because my body has gotten smaller, or maybe because everyone treats me like a child, but I feel like I’m becoming a kid.”

Thinking this shouldn’t happen, I shook my cheeks left and right, then resolved to act more mature.

*

After doing pull-ups, we immediately returned home and collapsed on the living room floor. It was tiring, but relaxing in the warm sunlight and cool breeze made us feel great.

While lazing around looking at the ceiling, Han Arin, who had been busy and rarely seen lately, giggled as she approached us.

“What are you kids doing here?”

At this, we all sat up and explained everything that happened in turn.

“Just now, we did pull-ups this high! There were so many Somtuls like waves that lifted us up, and they went ‘Pee!’ But wow, it’s scary being so high. I almost cried, but since Chae-a is the older sister, I endured!”

“That’s right. Haeuni hung on the bar for a long time. Haeuni is amazing.”

“!”

Han Arin listened to Chae-a, Yuna, and Seoa in order, then smiled calmly and replied to the children’s explanations.

“You did pull-ups? That must have been fun!”

At this, the kids nodded simultaneously like meerkats and smiled brightly. Han Arin, seeing this, happily hugged all the kids and said:

“Why are our kids so cute!”

“Pyaah~”

Seoa giggled delightfully while being hugged by Han Arin. Thinking this warmth was truly happy, I chuckled when Han Arin shared some good news with us.

“Remember the magic you wanted to learn before? I’ll teach it to you.”

Specifically, the magic they wanted to learn was as follows:

Chae-a wanted to move quickly.

Yuna wanted a warming magic.

I wanted cleaning magic, which wasn’t grand but extremely useful.

Excited that I’d finally learn cleaning magic, I gleefully sparkled my eyes as Han Arin lightly explained how she’d teach us.

“Chae-a is a Spirit Beast, so she’ll get help from the Spirit Master. Yuna’s case is a bit complicated, so I’ll explain later. Lastly, Hae-un, I’ll teach you step by step, so look forward to it?”

Happy for a moment, I worried about Yuna’s case being described as “complicated” and stared silently at Han Arin. She waved her hand reassuringly and explained.

“It’s nothing serious. Since Yuna is a nine-tailed fox, she was born with ice affinity, so there were issues using magic incompatible with her constitution. Thanks to Hae-un, we found a solution.”

“Thanks to me?”

Confused, I tilted my head as Han Arin grinned widely and revealed the method.

“It’s called mana circulation.”

I blinked, surprised that mana circulation would come into play.

Wondering how mana circulation could enable someone to use magic opposite to their nature, I stared blankly, prompting Han Arin to briefly explain the process.

“To put it simply… gradually adapt your body to fire-element mana through mana circulation.”

Still unclear, I continued staring blankly until Han Arin elaborated further.

“For example, imagine adding red dye to a bucket of blue dye and blending them harmoniously.”

“…?”

Though still unsure what she meant, I figured asking wouldn’t help me understand anyway, so I nodded.

“Anyway, in conclusion, Yuna can now use warming magic!”

“Amazing!”

Yuna seemed delighted by the possibility of using warming magic, slightly smiling… Wait, smiling?

Realizing Yuna, who was always expressionless, was actually smiling, I quickly tried taking a photo, but the smile disappeared the moment I pulled out my phone, leaving me disappointed.

“Such a missed opportunity.”

Despite this, thinking Yuna might smile again next time, I gleefully sparkled my eyes when suddenly Han Arin picked me up, hugged me like a plushie, and said:

“And starting today, I’ll teach Hae-un cleaning magic. Are you excited?”

“Ye-ep!”

“Good girl.”

Resolved to help people everywhere once I learned cleaning magic, I strengthened my determination.

“I’ll help Seorin and clean around my Lair too…”

Thinking about all the things to do, I chuckled when someone rang the doorbell.

“It must be the Spirit Master. Can Chae-a open the door?”

“Yup! Sure!”

Excited to learn the fast-moving magic from the Spirit Master, Chae-a ran faster than usual, helped by the Somtuls, to open the door for him.

“Ah, it’s Chae-a?”

“Yeah…! Amazing!”

“So, let me see. Chae-a wants to learn the fast-moving magic?”

“Exactly! How did you know!? Yeah, Chae-a wants to move super fast to hug Hae-un, hug Yuna, and hug Seoa quickly too!”

“Wow, impressive. Then I’ll do my best to teach you.”

Watching them, I thought they matched well, likely because Chae-a is a Spirit Beast. Smiling happily, I slowly turned my gaze toward Han Arin.

“While the Spirit Master teaches Chae-a, shall we study magic too?”

Thrilled that our real magic lessons were starting, I vigorously nodded my head.

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