Chapter 128

“No. You don’t have to do that.”

At my firm words, Eve looked at me with a puzzled expression. “Huh?” she seemed to say. I thought she’d immediately agree, thinking it was a great idea.

“Eve, thanks for thinking about it, but you really don’t have to go that far.”

It’s something only those involved would understand.

Back when I was invited by Escario to the Light Realm, the reporters had asked that question—whether Escario was related to Kabe by blood.

If Eve were to revert to being a man and someone took a photo of him coming and going from this house, who knows what kind of mess that would cause or how it might affect Kabe.

Not to mention, all the things Eve has built up over the ten years of living as a woman could vanish in an instant.

To burden Eve with all those handicaps just so I, Kabe, Dusik, and Sohee could live a bit more comfortably—I can’t do that.

“Well, it’s just that my standards are too high, so finding a house is tough. I’ll handle the house myself. Just lend me that land near Suwon at a cheaper rate.”

Right. If that’s resolved, things will work out.

The Rose Garden is stunningly beautiful. Gardens like that aren’t common in Korea.

If I could just bring that down to the human world, open it up, and start charging admission, everything would be solved.

“Alright. If that’s what you want. I was just a bit disappointed.”

At Eve’s words, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Geez, if you’re already like this, what am I supposed to do? Do you like me that much? Huh? So much that you don’t want to part ways?”

“Yeah.”

“Just kidding… what?”

I expected her to tell me to stop joking, but that wasn’t the case.

Eve was looking straight at me. Her eyes were piercing through me, not missing a single moment.

“It’s disappointing to live apart. It felt lively, like a house full of people for the first time in a while, and the thought of you all leaving is terrifying. The idea of returning to an empty house with only servants, washing and eating alone—it’s just too disappointing.”

Eve paused for a moment.

“That—”

As soon as I opened my mouth, Eve cut in as if she’d been waiting.

“Especially, the thought of being apart from you, Mother-Body, is incredibly disappointing.”

Wow. That was a straight shot.

Ugh. Why does she keep saying unnecessary things that make people uneasy?

As I scratched my head and opened the master bedroom door, Dusik was right there.

“Eek?!”

Why are you screaming when I’m the one who got startled? As soon as the door swung open, Dusik jumped back in surprise.

“Scared me.”

“Oh, unnie.”

“What’s up?”

His face was red, so I wondered if he had a fever and touched his forehead. No fever, but maybe he’s just blushing?

“Uh, I was thinking of ordering chicken… and wondering if you and Eve unnie would want beer…”

“Why are you dragging it out like that? Hey, Eve, we’re ordering chicken. Want beer?”

– Yeah~!

Hearing Eve’s voice from the bathroom, I turned back to Dusik.

“You heard her? I’ll have beer too.”

“O-okay.”

Dusik’s retreating figure felt awkward. Why is he like that? Did he hear something…?

Probably not. We weren’t talking loudly, so it’s not like he could have heard…

Come to think of it, Dusik had confessed to me before, but I never gave a clear answer.

Did I? Or didn’t I? I can’t remember, but it definitely wasn’t a positive response. I never thought of Dusik that way.

Hmm, it’s complicated. Difficult. How should I interpret Eve’s words—

“Why are you standing there spacing out?”

“Oh, you’re done washing already?”

“Yeah. I wash quickly.”

“While you’re at it, wash Kabe too.”

Washing Kabe too really drains me. Since she’s a kid, shower time is half playtime, half washing, so it’s no easy task.

“I’ll wash her tomorrow.”

“You’re coming early tomorrow too?!”

“Yeah, yeah. You must be really happy. Your voice went up.”

Of course, I’m happy. Naturally, I’d be happy, right? Knowing how hard she’s been working alone, it’s such a relief to hear she can come home early and rest.

“Alright, come home early and rest. Don’t worry about Kabe, I’ll wash her.”

How hard can it be to wash a kid? It’s not like I’m that busy at home.

– Unnie, the chicken’s here~!

Dusik’s voice echoed. The house is so big that his voice reverberates.

“The chicken’s here.”

“Let’s go. You haven’t brushed your teeth, so you can eat.”

“I’ll do it later with Kabe.”

“Okay.”

Someone once said that chicken and beer are heaven.

I’m convinced that’s wrong. The heaven humans talk about is the Light Realm, but that’s no place to live.

If there’s chicken and beer, the human world is heaven.

“Hey, Eve, don’t pick out the breast meat and eat it all?!”

I glared at Eve as she took a bite and then put down what turned out to be chicken breast.

“Ugh… I hate dry meat…”

“Come on, what kind of adult picks and chooses chicken parts? Ugh… I feel like I’m raising two kids. Give it here!”

I took the chicken breast Eve had put down and started eating it. Honestly, I don’t like dry meat either, so I’m not a fan of chicken breast. It’s probably the least favorite part for most people, so it’s unavoidable.

“Ugh… Sorry, unnie. I thought it was boneless, but I must have been wrong…”

Seeing Dusik’s red face, I couldn’t show my displeasure.

“Dusik, it’s fine. I like chicken breast. See, I’m eating it.”

Eating it, my foot. It’s sticking in my throat, seriously.

“Oh, really?! Hey, hey, here’s another one.”

In the midst of it, another chicken breast—with a bite taken out of it—was placed in front of me.

“What is this, are you a kid? Eve, are you really going to keep doing this?”

“You said you liked it!”

Fine. No need to continue this conversation.

“Mom, eat this.”

A piece of chicken skin popped into my mouth. Kabe was smiling at me.

Yeah, this is why I live.

“You’re worse than a grade-schooler.”

“Why?!”

*

“So, Eve made that suggestion?”

“Yes.”

This time, it was inside the God Temple, in Edell’s office. She told me to come alone, but then changed the meeting place. I didn’t get lost since I took the cart, but her antics are annoying.

“Heh, she’s quite clever.”

Edell put down her coffee cup and leaned back on the sofa.

“That’s actually not impossible.”

“It’s possible?”

That’s even more surprising.

“Right. What’s there to stop it? If Eve cancels her transformation, she’s not a Magical Girl or anything—just an ordinary person. Living together wouldn’t be a problem. Right?”

Edell smiled faintly. It’s a complete loophole, but the fact that it works is amazing…

“But what good would it do to keep using loopholes like that? Besides, a new betting round is about to start, and it wouldn’t have a good impact.”

“New betting round?”

“Oh, you didn’t know? Well, you didn’t have time to hear the details.”

Once a month, a new betting round opens. So, it’s not that a new round starts with each generation of Magical Girls and the Mogmog Group, but rather a new betting round opens every month.

The winner is determined by the occupancy rate at that time, and the distribution is made accordingly, then the betting starts again… That’s how it works.

“So, when the occupancy rate is completely skewed…”

“Well, you can’t bet anymore. So, you shake things up and start over. That’s how it’s always been done.”

I never had a reason to hear about this. So, I didn’t know.

“But this time, I’m thinking of setting up a new kind of bet. A big one where you can only bet once.”

“What are you planning now?”

Narrowing my eyes, I glared at Edell as she took a sip of coffee.

“Oh my, our Vesprede. Is your old personality coming out? It won’t work on me, so keep your eyes wide open, okay?”

Edell smiled faintly. I relaxed the tension in my eyes.

“What kind of bet are you planning?”

“Oh my, it’s a secret. But it’s just a gambling bet, and it won’t harm humans. I guarantee that.”

“Hmm…”

Doesn’t matter… As long as it doesn’t affect the human world, it’s not my place to say anything. Wait, it shouldn’t affect the Dark Realm or the Light Realm either.

“It shouldn’t affect the Dark Realm.”

“Okay. I promise.”

“Or the Light Realm.”

At my words, Edell’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Why the Light Realm? Don’t you dislike Escario?”

Of course, I dislike Escario. Why even ask?

“Eve just managed to stabilize things, and if there’s a negative impact, she’ll be pulling all-nighters and overtime again. No, no.”

“Oh… That’s the reason?”

“What other reason would there be?”

“Alright, I promise that too.”

I like her straightforwardness. There’s a certain charm to her decisiveness.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

“Okay, be careful. See you next week.”

“Yes.”

*

Watching Vesprede’s retreating figure from the window, Edell smiled faintly.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event for the new generation. How could I miss such a big opportunity? A fierce battle for the position of the Goddess’s companion… Heh, the smell of money is really strong.”

Edell’s smile didn’t leave her lips.

“Miracle Princess Eve, understand. Right now, you’re at too much of an advantage, so this handicap is unavoidable.”

Heh, Edell chuckled quietly.

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