Chapter 17

I must have done something crazy.

“Are you coming to your senses?”

It felt like the thread of rationality snapped.

When I think back on it, it wasn’t that big of a deal.

At that moment, I couldn’t control myself.

“Thanks to you,” I said.

I lightly looked around.

The calendar showed that a day had already passed. It only felt like I had been lying down for an hour or two.

“The doctor said you still need to rest.”

“I can’t be a burden any longer.”

“I should contact my parents first since they’ll be worried. Do you have their phone number?”

“I don’t have parents.”

The professor flinched and dropped his phone.

“I don’t mean they aren’t home, I mean they aren’t in this world.”

I preemptively clarified, just in case he might misunderstand.

I kicked the blanket aside, folded it haphazardly, and put on my shoes.

“If you can tell me your home address, I can take you there.”

“I don’t have a home either.”

What am I supposed to do if I really don’t have one?

“If you really insist on taking me, please take me to Arabel Elementary School.”

Thinking back, I wouldn’t have known where this hospital was and would have left without care. I accepted the professor’s kindness, and he quietly proceeded with the discharge procedure afterward.

The professor’s car was an old model that looked like it could be displayed in a museum. It didn’t use mana, and artificial intelligence was nowhere to be found, a relic of the past.

However, the interior was decorated in an antique style that matched his taste.

“If you don’t have a home, where do you sleep?”

“I stay at the PC bang.”

“Do you sleep there every day?”

“It’s been about half a year.”

“Do you have any money?”

“I earn enough to pay for the capsule.”

As the conversation paused for a moment, I added,

“I’m not doing anything weird. I just earn money by broadcasting on the internet.”

When will I finish eating all of this?

While talking, I had been continuously gulping down the mana potions I had brought from the pharmacy, and this 1.5L plastic bottle showed no signs of emptying.

As always, I couldn’t really feel it was bad due to withdrawal symptoms, but the aftertaste was quite disgusting.

“You’re already in the second grade of elementary school?”

“You saw my student ID. Well, I wasn’t too worried about it; it was probably just necessary information for the admission process.”

“To be honest, I was surprised. I never dreamed that my top student would be such a young child. How did you learn magic?”

“I learned as the teacher taught me.”

“That teacher must definitely be taken in for child abuse.”

Despite my mumbling, he responded with a pleasant joke.

Even though he was a curious person, I felt comfortable talking with him.

“Does the school know? That you’re living in a PC bang?”

“If they knew, measures would have been taken sooner.”

“You’re aware of what you are doing, then.”

“But I don’t want to go back to the orphanage. I don’t want to participate in the kids’ silly hierarchy games. I also need to earn money to buy potions.”

Believe it or not, I’m living quite strategically.

Considering that just last year, I had to play games twenty times a day to extend my life by a day, this is a significant improvement.

Cough, cough.

Ah, it hurts…

“Do you like crepes by any chance?”

“Crepes?”

“The ones sold in Dongdaemun are really delicious. There’s not much of a line today, so I thought of buying some. I was wondering if you wanted to eat some too.”

He pointed to a street vendor with a sign featuring a picture of crepes outside the window.

“… Then I’ll graciously accept.”

“Okay, just wait a moment, and I’ll buy two, one for you too.”

Crepes… It’s a specialty of the Britannia Republic, and I had eaten it once when I was dispatched as a diplomatic envoy.

Is it that women’s bodies crave sweetness?

Originally, I never even glanced at sweet things, but during my previous life, I couldn’t work without sugary snacks.

Professor Cheon Kyujin came back with two large crepes in his hands.

I hurried to take one served in a small paper cup, fearing the contents would spill.

“It’s a bit different from the crepes I know.”

Back then, I definitely ate it cut like a steak with a fork and knife.

“Since it’s street food, it’s different. It should still taste good. Because it’s hot, you should blow on it as you eat.”

I brought my mouth to the cream drizzled with chocolate syrup.

The sweetness and fluffy texture soothed my tongue that was suffering from the potion.

Is there strawberry inside? I took a small bite of the crepe filled with fruit.

“How is it? Is it good?”

“Yes, it’s delicious. It’s sweet and tasty.”

“This is a place I stop by every time I go home. It’s good to eat for dinner when I’m feeling lazy.”

As I finished the last bite of the crepe, familiar sceneries began filling the view outside the window.

“Arabel Elementary School is a right turn.”

“Oh, I took the wrong road.”

“Professor, you’re bad at lying.”

“What do you mean?”

“Why are we going in the direction of the orphanage?”

I spoke with certainty.

He never really intended to take me to the PC bang.

“That doesn’t change my mind.”

“Then what does?”

“Do you perhaps…”

The professor suddenly trailed off. For the first time, the calm man showed a hint of fluster and made a fist.

“Are you considering being adopted by me?”

“Pardon?”

“I don’t want you to treat me like a father. I prefer our relationship as professor and student.

I just thought that it would be nice for you to live in a better environment.

Did I ramble too much? I’m sorry for not expressing it clearly.”

“It’s surprising. I’ve never thought about it before.”

If I were to be adopted by someone, it would mean that something about me appealed to that person.

For example, that man who adopted Min Woo and Arin noticed their efforts and potential.

He may not have shown it, but he couldn’t hide the fact that he observed several children whenever he visited the orphanage.

Of course, Professor Cheon Kyujin may also appreciate my abilities, which are beyond my peers.

But isn’t that the same for me? It has been ages since I’ve met someone with whom I can communicate using my magical knowledge.

After thinking for a long time, we soon arrived at the front gate of the orphanage.

The professor held the steering wheel and didn’t look my way. He seemed a little tense too.

The crepe that he couldn’t eat while driving had melted in the warm cream, turning the dough soggy.

What does it matter whether it’s sincere or not?

People cannot be hastily judged after just a few meetings.

What’s certain is that I still have the sweet taste of chocolate lingering on my tongue.

“Isn’t it a bit too old to be called ‘father’ now, professor?”

* * *

The adoption procedure was completed swiftly.

Aunt Park Young Hee, who had always overseen the orphanage, took charge of it.

Even when I suddenly disappeared leaving only a note, and when I said I was being adopted by a suddenly white-haired old gentleman, she always seemed indifferent.

What a truly mysterious person.

“Oh, that detective Ma Beom-il asked where you went. And also, someone—some male college student came looking for you.”

After finishing her words, she returned to her office without seeing me off.

Professor Cheon’s residence was located farther away than I had expected.

Traveling via the downtown expressway, we headed south of Seoul. The night view of Seoul from a high place was beautiful.

Seeing several drones busily maintaining protective magical circles without colliding with each other was also quite a fresh sight.

“You chose the path of a true educator by not having a family.”

“Is that a compliment or an insult?”

The professor’s house, in his late fifties, felt empty.

It looked to be around 40 pyeong, but with only one person living there, it felt twice as lonely.

“Do you really have no belongings?”

“All I have is my uniform.”

“I can’t even imagine how you’ve been living.”

“It’s rude to think of it as filthy… I always cast cleansing magic except when I’m sleeping. Although it’s somewhat outdated, nothing else is as clean.”

“Let’s save mana from now on and instead aim to shower every day.”

“I’m not someone who hates washing, I assure you.”

It felt like he had a seriously misguided opinion about me.

“Here’s your pajamas. There’s a bathroom next to your room too, so hurry up and wash up. You need to get ready for bed today.”

“But it’s only 10 o’clock.”

“Going to bed early helps you grow taller.”

How petty of him to use my height against me!

Reluctantly, I took the clothes and toiletries he offered and crawled into the room.

Inside, there was simply a bed, a drawer, a wardrobe, and several large boxes whose contents were unknown.

It seems like it was originally an empty room and probably used as a storage space.

After hastily taking a quick shower, I dried my long hair instantly using heat manipulation magic. It would take ages to use a hair dryer.

In the mirror, my unattractive body, with nothing but bones left, reflected back at me. I definitely look too skinny.

All of this is due to mana addiction. Eating potions makes my stomach swell, taking away the hunger that was there.

‘What’s this…’

I vaguely recall choosing pajamas that fit my shape from a children’s clothing store, and the ones I received had rabbit ears on the sleeves.