Chapter 176

I was momentarily stunned, staring blankly at the restaurant door when I noticed a piece of paper taped to it. It said that the chef had been in a traffic accident on the way to work this morning, so the restaurant couldn’t open today.

Seeing that, I turned on my mobile phone and realized, belatedly, that my reservation had been canceled. I never imagined things would get this tangled.

“Manager.”

When Si-ho called me, I paused and apologized first.

“Sorry, Si-ho. Things turned out like this. I’ll find another place right away.”

Who knew the first button would get so messed up?

As I held my phone, Si-ho hugged my arm.

“Manager.”

“Yeah?”

“I have another idea. Would you like to hear it?”

I blinked once.

Since the restaurant plan was already ruined.

“Okay, what is it?”

With time to spare, talking wasn’t a big deal.

Seeing me like that, Si-ho leaned in as if sharing a secret.

As I tilted my head slightly, Si-ho brought her lips close to my ear.

“Si-ho, can we bend the rules a little?”

What rule is she planning to break?

Though momentarily flustered, I nodded.

Given Si-ho’s personality, she wouldn’t do anything too outrageous.

Hearing my response, Si-ho smiled briefly, then closed her eyes while holding my hand.

Seeing that, I thought she might be asking for a kiss, but suddenly, the surroundings changed.

What appeared in my vision was none other than the Eiffel Tower.

Could this be Paris, France?

As I looked up at the Eiffel Tower, having suddenly been transported to Europe, Si-ho made a soft sound.

“This is our little secret.”

“Won’t this get us in trouble?”

“Nope, I tweaked it a bit, so we won’t get caught.”

Well, if that’s the case, it’s fine.

Since I had already agreed, I patted Si-ho’s head once.

If we get caught, we’ll figure it out.

“Anywhere we go here would be delicious, right?”

Indeed, food abroad always feels special.

Knowing that well, I started walking through the streets of Paris with Si-ho.

Somehow, we ended up in a foreign country.

The unique feeling of being in another world made it feel like it was just Si-ho and me.

“Being like this reminds me of when I was on a deserted island with you, Manager.”

Si-ho brought up the past, and it seemed she felt the same way.

“Yeah, back then, it was pretty overwhelming.”

From the responsibility of being Si-ho’s protector to the need to survive, many things came rushing back.

“Si-ho felt so relieved back then because you were there.”

“Haha, looking back now, it seems like I was mostly bluffing. I was just stumbling around, not knowing what to do.”

“Would someone who bluffs risk their life for others?”

Hearing that, I awkwardly laughed.

“That’s just the kind of person I am.”

I’ve improved a lot since then, but back then, I was in a precarious state.

It was only after I barely stepped out into the world that I had the chance to look around.

That’s when I met Si-ho.

To me, she still seemed young, but she was strong and mature.

Though I wasn’t mature myself, I learned a lot from Si-ho and grew alongside her.

“Meeting someone like you, Manager, is the best thing that ever happened to Si-ho.”

Si-ho smiled softly and leaned her head slightly against my arm.

“To Si-ho, you were the most wonderful prince.”

The most wonderful prince to Si-ho.

I decided to accept Si-ho.

Because I could no longer push away someone who loved me so much.

“Then I should become someone worthy of Si-ho.”

“You already are.”

If that’s the case.

Si-ho and I found a restaurant in Paris.

Fortunately, I knew a bit of French, so I managed to order food using gestures and broken phrases. Money wasn’t an issue since I had a card for overseas support as a Hunter.

The food was excellent.

It seemed France’s reputation for food wasn’t for nothing—there was a unique flavor here that couldn’t be found elsewhere.

Especially watching Si-ho munch on her food was quite the sight. How did all that food fit into her small mouth?

“Si-ho, I’m done eating.”

“Did you enjoy it?”

“Yes, it was delicious.”

“I enjoyed it too. Thanks to you, Si-ho, I got to experience a place like this.”

As I said that, I looked out the window.

There, a crowd of foreigners was passing by.

As I took in the scenery of Paris, Si-ho sat down beside me.

“Since we’re already here, can we bend the rules a little more?”

“You want to visit other countries, huh?”

“My birthday is December 31st next year, so I want to make it a special day.”

“We’re already in Paris. One more won’t hurt.”

With my permission, Si-ho happily walked out of the restaurant with me.

Then, using her Space Movement ability, we began traveling to various places overseas.

In a way, it was a world tour only Si-ho could pull off.

By the time we returned to Korea after visiting famous spots around the world, it was already night.

Maybe because we had dinner in between.

I wasn’t very hungry, so I smiled at Si-ho, who was still tightly holding my hand.

“Did you have fun?”

“Yes, Si-ho had so much fun.”

It turned into an illegal overseas trip, but it was definitely fun.

I turned on my phone to check the time.

It’s already 11 PM.

It felt like the new year was approaching.

“Manager.”

At that moment, Si-ho called me.

Hearing her call, I turned my head, and Si-ho looked up at me with an excited expression.

“Si-ho, can I start learning about alcohol now?”

Well, Si-ho was less than an hour away from becoming an adult.

Besides, I had promised to teach her about alcohol.

“Alright, I promised.”

It seemed Si-ho would become an adult before we even bought the alcohol.

So, I decided to head to a convenience store first.

Since they sell liquor and wine at convenience stores, I started browsing the selection.

I figured Si-ho might develop a dislike for alcohol if it was too bitter, so I focused on sweeter options.

Of course, I also picked up a bottle of beer and soju.

I wanted her to try a variety of drinks.

Meanwhile, Si-ho was curiously watching the bottles being packed into a bag.

After buying the alcohol, I walked outside.

Then it hit me—where should we drink this?

Should we go to my place?

“Manager.”

Just then, Si-ho tugged at my sleeve.

I looked down, and she was pointing somewhere with her finger.

Following her finger, I saw a motel.

My pupils shook.

At the same time, Si-ho showed me her phone.

“Si-ho, since I’m an adult now, we can go in.”

12 AM.

As soon as I saw that, cheers erupted from the people around us.

“Happy New Year!”

Of course, most of them were just becoming adults themselves.

“Manager, Happy New Year.”

“…Si-ho, you too.”

As I belatedly wished her a happy new year, Si-ho smiled faintly and tightly hugged my hand.

“Si-ho, you’re twenty now.”

“Congratulations on becoming an adult.”

“Yes, Si-ho is an adult now.”

Si-ho beamed with joy.

Her smile was incredibly beautiful and cute.

Seeing her like that, I patted her head, and Si-ho quietly looked up at me.

“Manager.”

And I knew better than anyone what Si-ho wanted from me.

Instead of the sullen eyes she had when we first met, the eyes looking at me now were the most loving in the world.

Who wouldn’t love someone like her?

I placed my hand on Si-ho’s cheek and gently brushed away the hair stuck to her face.

Seeing that, I slowly smiled.

My heart had been open for a long time.

I just hadn’t expressed it to her, using adulthood as an excuse.

Both Si-ho and I knew each other’s feelings well.

Even someone like me, Si-ho still loved.

So, I decided to go through our final confirmation process for her.

“Si-ho, I like you.”

Somewhere, fireworks went off.

It seemed like there was some kind of event on the streets for the new year.

As the fireworks burst and red light painted the sky, I faced Si-ho, her face bathed in the red glow.

Si-ho’s face, always beautiful, was now flushed red.

From the moment I said those words, Si-ho’s already large eyes widened even more.

At the same time, her hair seemed to stand on end momentarily.

Seeing Si-ho’s face turn red for the first time, my eyes also widened.

For some reason, my limbs felt tingly.

The person in front of me loves me.

That thought came from deep within my mind.

Her moist eyes looking only at me.

Her flushed cheeks.

Her crimson lips.

Her trembling body.

Each of these felt like a signal to me.

It felt like my heart was racing uncontrollably, as if struck by lightning.

Though I had confessed, I didn’t expect such an intense reaction from Si-ho. I pursed my lips.

“…Manager.”

Then Si-ho called me.

It was just her calling me, but it felt incredibly special.

Tears welled up in the corners of Si-ho’s eyes.

Those tears slowly rolled down her cheeks.

Seeing her smile so beautifully, I couldn’t help but smile too.

“Si-ho likes you too.”

It felt like ink had been spilled in my mind, leaving me somewhat dazed.

I never thought a simple “I like you” could hit so deeply.

So this is what a confession feels like.

In that moment, I realized how much courage Seol-hyang and Ayu must have mustered to confess to me.

Then, Si-ho’s small lips came into view.

In that moment, it felt like only the two of us existed.

Facing Si-ho’s lips, I slowly raised my hand and cupped her cheek.

Si-ho, as if she had been waiting, gently closed her eyes.

My head slowly lowered.

As it did, Si-ho’s face came into view right before me.

Our breaths touched each other’s noses.

Facing her closed eyes, I covered Si-ho’s lips with mine.

*Chu-*

The sound of our lips meeting echoed.

Even though I had kissed Ayu and Seol-hyang several times before, this felt different.

As my lips slowly parted, Si-ho’s eyelids lifted.

Tears welled up in Si-ho’s eyes, and she began to cry slowly, as if overwhelmed with happiness.

“Manager, what do I do?”

And Si-ho said with a slightly sweet breath.

“Si-ho is so happy.”