Chapter 181

EP.181 The Saintess and the Reaching Tentacles #4

Clunk!

The passenger door opened, and Adelle, wearing a slightly oversized lavender hoodie, light-colored jeans with a slightly wider hem, and white sneakers, got into the car.

She had seen something somewhere and tilted her hat slightly to the side for a stylish touch.

It suited her well. A perfect outfit that matched Adelle’s lively image.

It gave off a very active vibe, and the way the oversized hoodie’s sleeves slightly covered her palms was adorable.

I noticed Adelle’s nails were painted white as she fastened her seatbelt and asked, “Did you get a manicure?”

“Yes! How does it look?”

She bent her fingers like a cat and showed them to me.

Her crescent-shaped eyes were so beautiful.

Ah… Is it normal to want to devour her? It must be normal, right?

“It looks pretty. What about Silvia? Is she at home?”

“She went to the salon. She saw my nails and said she wanted to get hers done too. She’s so silly.”

“I see.”

“But you asked if dawn was okay, right? It’s 5 PM now.”

She meant, “You said you’d call at dawn, so why are you here now?”

I shrugged and answered, “I had a headache.”

“You should have prayed! That would have helped!”

No way. If I prayed, I’d probably get a headache I didn’t even have before.

“Of course, I did pray. That’s why I feel a bit better now.”

“You really have the attitude of a believer! Well done!”

“Thank you. Shall we go?”

“Yes!”

With a satisfied smile, I started the car.

Adelle was still looking around at the scenery when she tilted her head as the car entered an unfamiliar road.

“Huh? Jihyuk! You took the wrong road!”

“This is the right way.”

“Huh? The Study Café isn’t this way.”

“We’re not going to the Study Café today.”

“Then where are we going?”

“To the laboratory.”

At that, Adelle’s eyes widened.

“Laboratory…?”

“To be precise, the headquarters. The Beast Slayer Headquarters.”

Clap!

A sudden, crisp sound effect.

I glanced to the side, startled, and saw Adelle with her hands on her cheeks, mouth wide open.

“Wow…!”

Her expression was pure astonishment. It looked like she was so happy she slapped her own cheeks.

“Are you happy?”

“Yes! So happy! Finally… I can finally enter the forbidden zone!”

Forbidden zone…? With that action just now, the more I get to know her, the more I realize she’s a bit of a weirdo.

That’s why I like her even more.

“Don’t get your hopes up too much. You might be disappointed. So, calm down.”

“I can’t calm down…! Jihyuk, give me that candy! The mint candy that helps you relax!”

I chuckled at Adelle’s exaggerated reaction and opened the console box to show her the candy jar.

Adelle gleefully grabbed the jar, opened it, popped one into her mouth, and asked, “Do you want one too?”

“I’m good.”

“Come on, have one. Let’s cool down together!”

Adelle held out the candy as she said that.

I hesitated, reaching for the candy, but then just opened my mouth slightly.

Adelle then popped the candy into my mouth.

A natural action. I glanced at Adelle through the rearview mirror.

Even in these small moments, you can get hints about relationships.

But Adelle is so kind, cheerful, and eccentric that it’s hard to figure her out.

That bright smile she’s wearing now is just her usual expression.

If she had hesitated even for a moment or said something, it would have been easier to read her mind… Too bad.

‘As long as things keep going like this, it should be fine.’

But one thing is certain: her affection for me is steadily growing.

That’s enough for now.

**

[Biometric authentication complete.]

Whoosh-!

The massive doors slid open, revealing the laboratory located underground in Eunpyeong-gu.

Adelle, who had been tense, immediately gaped when she saw the lab hall.

“Wow…!”

“Go on in.”

“Yes, yes…!”

Adelle hesitantly stepped forward.

She clasped her hands together and looked around the entire lab.

As I operated the panel near the entrance, I watched Adelle poking around and called her over.

“Adelle.”

“Yes!?”

She jumped as if she’d seen a ghost.

I chuckled and gestured for her to come closer.

As Adelle approached, I pointed to a large scanner with a faint red glow.

“Step in front of this light.”

“Why?”

“What did I do when I entered the lab?”

“Hmm… I tilted my head up. Then the door opened. It was so cool…”

“That’s biometric scanning. The machine reads my registered information and grants me access to the lab. I’m doing the same for you so you can enter anytime.”

Adelle’s eyes sparkled.

“Really!?”

“Of course. It’s only right. Don’t worry, just stand still.”

Adelle nervously nodded, swallowed, and stood in front of the scanner.

Then she asked, “Can I move?”

“No.”

“Got it!”

I couldn’t help but laugh as she stood at attention, completely still, and operated the scanner.

With a whirring sound, the red light scanned Adelle’s entire body, and soon,

Beep-!

A short, cheerful notification sound echoed through the lab hall.

I closed the panel and said, “You’re all set.”

“Huh… That’s it?”

“Yes. Try going out and coming back in.”

“What if… I can’t get back in?”

“That won’t happen. Even if it does, I can just open it from inside.”

“Come with me! The hallway is dark and scary!”

Use that golden divine power to light it up.

I agreed and took Adelle out of the lab.

Then, I had her stand in front of the scanner on the ceiling and tilt her head up.

And then,

[Biometric authentication complete.]

A mechanical voice sounded, and the door opened.

“Wow!!”

Was it because she was officially registered in the lab?

Adelle cheered, then turned to me and bowed her head.

“Thank you, Jihyuk! Now I’m a proper warrior too!”

“…..”

“What?”

“Nothing, nothing. Shall we study?”

“Introduce me first! I want to know everything about this headquarters.”

Right, that was necessary.

Adelle’s curiosity was boundless, and she might touch things she shouldn’t.

I’d have to teach her everything and then have her guide Silvia when she came to the lab.

I spent quite a while showing Adelle every corner of the lab, ending at the workbench where devices were being made.

Adelle showed immense interest in the devices being crafted.

She knelt, leaning forward to examine the skeletal frame of a completed device, then turned her head.

Her face, filled with curiosity, was flawless. I wanted to pinch those chubby cheeks right then.

“Jihyuk, is this what we’ll be using…?”

“Yes. A device.”

“I can’t touch it, right?”

“Not right now.”

At my firm answer, Adelle’s shoulders slumped.

Then, as if a question popped into her head, she clapped her hands and asked, “Jihyuk! I have a question.”

“Go ahead.”

“How do we charge the device? Tell me now!”

No way. That’s beyond what you can handle right now.

I’ll tell you when you start seeing me as more than just a friend.

I quickly changed the subject. “I’ll tell you when it’s fully completed. We have about an hour left. Shall we study?”

“An hour? That’s all?”

“Why? Is that not enough?”

“It’s not about the time. It’s about faith. But… I’m a bit disappointed…”

“Why are you disappointed?”

“Just because…”

Adelle stared at the lab floor, tapping her feet.

She’s so cute.

I sighed softly and asked the disappointed Adelle, “Should we postpone work?”

At that, Adelle’s head shot up, then quickly drooped again.

Then she subtly scolded me. “No… You said it was important. I just wish you’d called me at dawn…”

“That’s when I’m too sleepy to focus.”

“Still… Sigh…”

Adelle let out a cute sigh and said in a dejected voice, “I’ll wait in the lounge… Bring the Bible…”

“Got it.”

**

On the way back to Uijeongbu after class.

Adelle insisted on studying in the car, trying to get me to preview what I needed to learn, but she suddenly stopped.

“My enthusiasm must have been too much… I’m sorry.”

Adelle apologized, squeezing her hands between her legs.

I just smiled in response.

Reinvigorated by my reaction, she asked, “Are you studying tomorrow too? Should I come to the lab?”

“No. I’ll come to your place in the evening. Tomorrow, we’ll study at the Study Café.”

“I don’t mind either way. Oh, and I didn’t see Dr. Cash today… Where is she?”

She asked quickly.

“She wasn’t feeling well. She said she’s resting at home.”

“Ah… Did she catch a cold?”

No. Her crotch hurts.

She’ll probably be like that today too.

“I’m not sure. I don’t know the details.”

“Would she get mad if I called?”

“She definitely wouldn’t. But it’s best to let her rest properly.”

“That’s true. I’ll do that. Oh, Jihyuk.”

“Yes.”

“What food do you hate the most?”

“Food? I don’t really have any dislikes… What about you?”

“Eggplant! I hate it so much!”

“Have you tried it?”

“No.”

Talking to Adelle sometimes drains all my energy.

This is one of those times. Her absurd answers make me slump.

Wait, maybe it’s because of how it looks.

I shook my head quickly to regain my composure and said, “You hate it without even trying it?”

“Yes! It looks like those gross vegetables I ate as a kid.”

Right. You have to listen to the end with Korean.

Still, that’s too harsh on eggplants. I like them because they look like dicks.

“Don’t be picky. You won’t grow tall.”

Adelle bristled.

She clenched her fists and showed them to me, shouting, “What did you say!? I’m average height! 163 cm!”

“Yes, I’m sure you are.”

At my slightly mocking response, Adelle rummaged through the candy box and popped three candies into her mouth.

Then she huffed and chewed loudly.

I must have hit a nerve. I quickly apologized. “If I upset you, I’m sorry.”

Adelle’s expression softened considerably. “It’s okay. People used to treat me like a kid because I’m short, so I’m a bit sensitive. Please be careful next time.”

Well… It’s not because you’re short…

“Got it. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“That’s why I’m really grateful to Silvia and you. You treat me like an adult. Oh, and Dr. Cash and Sehwa are great too. I really want to meet Yuria soon…”

“Yuria’s been busy lately… But I’ll make sure you meet her soon.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

As we chatted, we arrived in Uijeongbu.

I carefully parked the car in front of the annex, and Adelle unbuckled her seatbelt and said, “See you tomorrow.”

“I’m really sorry about the height comment. I just like petite women.”

“You said you’d be careful, so I’ll forget about it! Hehe… Goodbye!”

“Yes, go on in.”

Adelle got out of the car and hurried toward the front door.

As I stepped on the gas and drove away from the annex, I watched Adelle’s reaction in the rearview mirror.

I’ve been subtly showing interest, and now I’ve made it obvious. Will she notice?

As I slowly drove away, I saw Adelle, who was entering the password, suddenly look up and stare at the back of the car. I smirked.

‘She noticed.’

She covered her mouth with her hand.

Her eyes were too far away to see, but that was definitely her processing what I said and being surprised.

Good reaction. Things are going to get interesting from tomorrow.

To be continued―――――――――――――――――――――

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