Chapter 182

EP.182 What are you doing!?

“Are you taking the day off again?”

When I asked incredulously, Dr. Jennifer Cash weakly shook her head.

“Yeah… I’m tired…”

Even though she said that, a smile lingered on her lips as she pulled the blanket up to her neck.

She must be making that face because I satisfied her thoroughly yesterday with great care.

Of course, it was my plan. To spend a long time with Adeline.

With a smirk, I stopped dressing and climbed on top of Dr. Cash.

Then, she burst into laughter and tried to push me off.

“Don’t do this… I’m tired…”

“You don’t look tired at all.”

“I really am… I can’t move.”

“Want to do it once now?”

Dr. Cash, pulling the blanket up to her chin, shyly replied.

“No… I want to rest…”

She must have been really tired yesterday. For Dr. Cash, who has a high libido, to say this…

Amused by her reaction, I poked her sides with my index finger.

Watching her squirm, I said, “You said you couldn’t move?”

“This is just ticklish, so it’s instinctive…”

“Liar?”

“…I’m sorry… Uh, hurry and go to work.”

I silently brought my face close to hers.

Then, as I leaned in for a kiss, she kissed me with a loud smack.

She even stuck her tongue out and lightly licked between my lips.

Satisfied with her actions, I smiled and got out of bed to finish dressing.

“I’ll be back.”

“Okay… Oh, can you buy some tomatoes on your way back?”

“Why tomatoes? Are we out?”

“I used almost all of them making Italian food yesterday. Please.”

“I’ll do that. Rest well.”

“Okay…”

After leaving the house, I drove straight to the laboratory, where I was working on a device when Dr. Cash called.

Startled by her asking if I had eaten, I checked the clock.

It was already well past lunchtime.

I had been so engrossed in welding that I didn’t notice the time. I must have been too enthusiastic.

I lied that I had eaten and hung up. Feeling my eyes rapidly tiring, I went to Dr. Cash’s lounge and lay down on the bed.

The human body is really inconvenient.

Just need to drop Adeline… So, just endure a little longer.

Resting my arm on my forehead, I was lost in thought when my phone vibrated.

[Mr. Jihyuk! Are you at the lab? You didn’t forget today, right?]

It was a message from Adeline.

[I know. I’ll be there by 6.]

[Okay! Fighting today too!]

Staring at the message, I was suddenly overwhelmed by an inexplicable sense of emptiness.

I felt a hollow mood. Like something was missing.

Why is this?

Tilting my head, I smiled warmly at Adeline’s next message.

[(*•̀ ᴗ •́*)و]

So that’s why. Damn it… To be tamed by such an emoji.

My pride is taking a hit.

[Adeline, fighting too. See you later.]

[Oh, I have a request!]

[Go ahead.]

[I asked Sehwa what her favorite food is, and she said she likes tteokbokki the most. I want to try what Sehwa eats. You’ll buy it for me, right? (๑❛ڡ❛๑)]

I’m not sure if I’m peeling Adeline or if she’s peeling me.

But did she not notice my indirect confession yesterday?

Or does she notice but just thinks of it innocently?

I don’t know. I’ll find out when I meet her.

I quickly typed back.

[I’ll buy it.]

**

Arriving at the annex on time, I rang the doorbell.

Ding-dong! After a while, Silvia opened the door and greeted me.

“Welcome. What’s in your hand… tteokbokki?”

“Yes. Adeline wanted to try what Sehwa eats, so I bought it… but it’s cold now.”

“So that’s it? You’re such a pushover.”

Pushover? I’m sweating bullets for your welfare, and you say that? That’s too harsh.

“Where do you even learn such words?”

“Movies, dramas, the internet… it’s everywhere. Come in first.”

Going to the living room with Silvia, I waved as Adeline, who was eating ice cream and watching TV, ran over.

“Hello, Adeline.”

“Mr. Jihyuk! Did you bring tteokbokki?”

This girl! The master has arrived, and you’re talking about tteokbokki before greeting?

I’ll have to scold her.

Pointing to the bag on the table, I replied.

“Yes, here.”

“Wow! How many servings?”

“Three.”

“We can all eat together! Sehwa said to transfer it to a bowl and heat it in the microwave!”

Adeline, talking like a machine gun, hummed as she opened the kitchen cabinet and brought out a large bowl.

I used the plastic knife included with the tteokbokki to open the package and handed it to Adeline.

Watching this, Silvia muttered quietly.

“You really are a pushover.”

“I can hear you.”

“I said it so you could hear. If you keep fulfilling Adeline’s requests, there’ll be no end. Be careful.”

Adeline, transferring the tteokbokki, glared at Silvia.

“I can hear you too!? Get me a fork!”

“Okay… got it.”

You’re the same, wagging your tail, yet calling me a pushover. What nonsense.

Muttering complaints, I noticed Silvia’s nails were painted black and my eyes lit up.

As expected of a future Evil Valkyrie, she chose the most perfect color, black. I like it.

Adeline blew on the not-so-hot tteokbokki before putting it in the microwave.

Shaking her head at such childish behavior, Silvia placed three forks on the table and sat down.

As I sat across from Silvia, she let out a long sigh.

“Ha… I still can’t get used to living like this every day. It’s peaceful…”

“Peace is good.”

“But it’s fake peace. Tairat is lurking.”

“I agree.”

“I want to finish everything quickly and settle down on Earth…”

That won’t do. You have to help me conquer the entire universe.

Silently accepting Silvia’s words, Adeline brought the heated tteokbokki and placed the bowl in the center of the table.

Then, she grabbed a fork and started eating.

“It’s delicious…”

Watching her savor the tteokbokki with her eyes closed, Silvia and I exchanged a wry smile.

Without a word, we both picked up our forks.

**

“…Ahem…!”

Silently reading the Bible at the study café, I looked up when Adeline coughed.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah… I was wondering if you had any questions…”

After three hours of silently reading the Bible, it’s understandable she’d think that.

Chuckling inwardly, I replied casually.

“Not really. I understand everything.”

“Ah, okay… Good job.”

“Thanks.”

I turned my attention back to the Bible.

A while later,

“Hmm…! Ahem!”

Adeline coughed again.

This time, I raised my head and slightly furrowed my brow.

“What is it?”

“Are you sure you understand…? You haven’t asked a single question in three hours.”

“You’re not thinking I’m up to something, are you?”

“T-then, I’ll quiz you! What weapon did Rosario use when fighting the pure evil Helix?”

Adeline asked, dragging out the end of her sentence.

Feeling my heart melt, I answered.

“The Sword of Light. It was created from Rosario’s energy, with a sun at the end of the hilt and a blade burning with golden light. She used it to cut through the darkness Helix created, stabbed his heart, and destroyed him. Thanks to that, peace returned to five galaxies, including the Rongel Galaxy.”

Hearing my fluent answer, Adeline pouted.

A sulky expression. So cute.

Smirking at her, I asked.

“Right?”

“Yes…”

“Got any more?”

Confidence dripping from my tone, Adeline frowned and quickly asked.

“Rosario’s first representative! Her name!”

That girl? I know her well.

Helix, an ancient evil similar to me, seduced the first saint and made her his subordinate. I remembered clearly.

“Priscia. She fell for Helix’s schemes and betrayed Rosario. She tried to stab Rosario in the back but was destroyed.”

You’ll end up like Priscia, stabbing Rosario in the back… No, swinging a hammer.

“Second!?”

“Cassandra. Because of Priscia’s betrayal, the church didn’t recognize her, and instead recognized Cassandra as the first saint.”

“Third! And fourth!”

“Third is Elise. I don’t know the fourth.”

Hearing that, Adeline seemed to seize the opportunity and snorted.

“How can you not know Mariam? Saying you understood everything! Mr. Jihyuk, you lied! Your attitude towards learning is terrible!”

“Calm down. The fourth saint hasn’t appeared yet.”

Adeline bit her index finger, lost in thought.

She seemed to be comparing my progress with the Bible.

After a while, her eyes widened, and she looked crestfallen, realizing her mistake.

“R-right…”

“See? And if you keep biting your finger like that, your nail polish will chip.”

“Ah…!”

Adeline quickly pulled her hand down.

Smiling softly at her, I turned my attention back to the Bible and asked without looking up.

“Did you think my learning attitude was bad?”

“N-no… It’s excellent…”

“Thank you.”

Ending the conversation, I read the Bible for nearly 30 minutes. When Adeline started paying attention to various objects in the room, I looked up.

Then, I said.

“I’d like to take a short break.”

Adeline readily agreed.

“Okay! I was just about to go to the bathroom too!”

You don’t have to say that so enthusiastically.

“Okay, go ahead.”

After Adeline left the room, I rested my arms on the desk and got lost in thought.

Aren’t we going to talk about yesterday’s confession? This is disappointing…

But I did let her know I like her, so I should take comfort in that.

Getting up, I operated the coffee pot in the room.

While preparing coffee for two, Adeline came back with wet hands and stood next to me.

“Mr. Jihyuk, what are you doing?”

“Making coffee.”

“Ah!? Teach me too!”

Adeline was wiping her hands on her sweatshirt.

With a tired smile, I took out a tissue and handed it to her.

“Use this. Don’t wipe it on your clothes.”

“Thank you!”

Adeline, beaming, wiped her hands with the tissue.

But the soft tissue tore and stuck to her fingers.

Should I step on the gas here? Or take a step back?

My dilemma didn’t last long.

Gently holding Adeline’s right wrist, I started peeling off the tissue pieces stuck between her thin fingers.

If Adeline reacts strongly here, it means she’s conscious of my confession yesterday.

Why? Because Adeline never showed any resistance when I touched her head, patted her back, or even massaged her shoulders.

The old her wouldn’t have panicked just from holding hands.

And Adeline…

“…..”

She was stunned.

Her already big eyes widened even more, and her mouth hung open wide enough to fit an egg.

She’s conscious of it. That confirms it.

After peeling off all the tissue, I let go of her hand.

Then, her arm, with no strength, dropped and hit her pants with a thud.

“The paper towels in the bathroom are much better for wiping. Remember that.”

At my emotionless words, Adeline snapped out of it and shook her head several times.

Then, pulling the hand I had held close to her body, she shouted.

“W-w-what are you doing!?”

Your reaction is too honest… It’s sad…

To be continued―――――――――――――――――――――

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