Chapter 261

EP.261 Stop Nagging Already

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Silvia, who spent time not knowing if the food was going into her mouth or her nose, rejected Jihyuk’s offer to walk her home and took a flying taxi instead.

After entering her destination, she sank into thought.

Honestly, she thought Jihyuk would explode in anger.

But he was calm. As if he had anticipated her sudden actions.

What does this mean? Is he saying he’ll accept her feelings?

Or did he just let it go, thinking it was a mistake?

‘I don’t know…’

She couldn’t figure out what Jihyuk was thinking.

But it seemed like a positive reaction, so Silvia held onto hope.

Leaning back in her seat, she suddenly banged her head against the front seat.

She thought of Adelle.

Then,

[Please do not damage the interior of the flying taxi.]

A mechanical voice came from the taxi’s speaker.

Furious, Silvia glared at the internal black box.

“Damage? What damage! Is my head made of stone? Am I breaking the seat?”

[Please do not damage the interior of the flying taxi.]

“I’m not damaging anything!”

[Please do not damage the…]

As Silvia argued back and forth, an overwhelming sense of guilt washed over her, and she let out a hollow laugh.

What am I even doing… I’m pathetic.

In the end, she quietly arrived at Uijeongbu.

Even though it wasn’t her destination, she stopped the taxi, buttoned up her thick jacket, and started walking home.

‘It’s cold…’

The wind was biting.

They say autumn is the season of loneliness, and her sides felt chilly.

Winter is coming soon… It’ll be even colder then.

Silvia, sighing deeply, stopped by a convenience store to buy an energy drink and some snacks.

“Hello, Silvia.”

The always cheerful clerk greeted her.

Silvia, with a gentle smile, took out her card.

“Hello. How’s your day going?”

“Good. How about you?”

“I’m… good too. How much is it?”

“5,600 won.”

After paying, Silvia was about to leave the store but hesitated.

“Is there something else you’re looking for?”

The clerk asked kindly.

Silvia hesitated for a moment, then looked at the clerk’s face.

“No… um…”

The clerk looked to be in her early 20s.

Her heavy makeup gave her a sexy vibe, but unlike Adelle’s puppy-like face, she had a cat-like face like Silvia herself.

She had a ring… a couple ring on her left fourth finger.

The convenience store was empty. It was a quiet neighborhood, so it seemed like no customers would come for a while.

After assessing everything, Silvia asked cautiously.

“Um… if it’s not too rude, can I ask if you have a boyfriend?”

“Yes, I do. Why do you ask?”

“Oh… it’s just that… there’s a guy I like, and I was wondering how to develop the relationship. Do you have any tips?”

Normally, she wouldn’t have asked such… uncharacteristic questions.

If she didn’t like Jihyuk, that is.

What is love…? Her heart felt complicated yet fluttered.

“The guy you like? I think anyone would accept you if you confessed… you’re so pretty…”

Silvia gave a weak smile.

That wasn’t the kind of answer she wanted.

The clerk was being sincere.

But Silvia wanted practical advice.

Did her sincerity get through?

The clerk hesitated, then spoke.

“Hmm… just kidding. I don’t know if this will help, but for me…”

Silvia perked up her ears and listened intently to the clerk’s words.

**

“Yoo Seunghyun is gone?”

“Yes. I contacted the room salon manager… he quit about a month after breaking up with the queen. He just said he was going down to Geoje Island.”

Geoje Island… Is he planning to do manual labor at the shipyard?

“What about his old place?”

“A new tenant has moved in.”

So he gave up the room. Well, if he’s going to Geoje, he’d have to.

After hearing Marcella’s report, I shook my head.

“Got it. Don’t move directly, use humans to find him.”

“Yes, if we hire several private investigators, we should find him quickly.”

“How’s the Aiter replication going?”

“It’s slow but steady.”

“What about the demon realm?”

“No idea. Should we send retainers again?”

Damn, I can’t even go to my hometown because it’s too dangerous. This is ridiculous.

What if the demons start a rebellion?

Am I, the Demon King, supposed to protect Earth?

The more I think about the demon realm, the more my anger towards Rosario rises.

Why did she bring this unfamiliar divine power and annoy me like this…

“Send them. This time, spread them out and send them for reconnaissance for a day, then recall them. I hope at least one comes back alive.”

“Yes, understood.”

Bzzz—!

While plotting with Marcella, I received a text from Chae Boyeong and picked up my phone.

[I’ve finished preparing for the concert. Let me know if you have a preferred date.]

[Any time is fine?]

[I’m thinking of renting an outdoor venue or a small art center for a surprise concert. Today and tomorrow are too short notice, but anytime after two days is possible.]

Perfect conditions for just familiarizing myself.

I didn’t plan to pursue Stella now.

But it was necessary to imprint Aiter’s owner.

To prevent it from going to some unnecessary person.

[Set it for three days later in the evening. Avoid outdoor venues; there are too many weirdos. Let’s go with an art center.]

[Okay. Since it’s a hall, selling tickets would look good. I’ll talk to the agency.]

[Do that. Did you talk to Stella?]

[I told her we’d introduce her at the concert soon, and she’s super excited. She’s currently focused on practicing.]

[Got it.]

Come to think of it, I forgot to deal with the paparazzi around Boyeong.

I got up from my seat, stretched my stiff body, and gave an order to Marcella, who was kneeling respectfully.

“There are paparazzi around Chae Boyeong’s house. Turn them into retainers and send them to the demon realm.”

“Yes, Demon King.”

“Go back. Good job.”

Marcella bowed once and disappeared through the portal.

The empty living room. I feel a bit eerie, but it’s good.

I’ve already decided who to take to the concert.

It was Silvia.

Why? Because she’s definitely holding onto Aiter.

Also, if Adelle meets Chae Boyeong, there’s a risk of the evil energy being detected since it’s still insufficient.

I immediately called Silvia.

The phone rang less than once before she answered.

-Speak.

Her voice was quite bright.

Is she like this because she let the kiss incident slide?

“Want to go to a concert?”

-A concert…?

“Yes, you know Chae Boyeong, right?”

-I know. She’s the most famous singer in Korea. I’ve listened to a few of her songs.

“She just switched agencies. She’s renting an art center soon for a surprise concert. The agency’s CEO is a close acquaintance, so I got the info early.”

-Really…? You’re asking me to go with you…?

“Don’t want to?”

-I, I’d like to… let’s go.

An immediate agreement.

I, lying on the sofa scratching my legs, replied.

“I’ll let you know the details once the date and place are set.”

-Okay.

“Did you have dinner yet?”

-Not yet… I’m about to start cooking. What about Adelle? Is she with you?

“No. She’s still playing with Sehwa. I’m at home now. If you’re free, want to meet at the lab?”

-I’d like that. Should I skip dinner and come?

“You said you were about to cook. Pack a lunch and come.”

-Got it. I’ll make it quickly and come.

“Okay, be careful.”

After hanging up, I grabbed my coat.

**

Click.

Opening the lid of the thermal lunchbox, steam rose.

Fried rice with bacon. It looked delicious.

Taking a spoon from Silvia, I took a bite and nodded.

“It’s good. Well-seasoned.”

“That’s a relief…”

“But no vegetables?”

“Huh, vegetables…? They’re in the fried rice.”

“How can you stay healthy eating just this? You can tell a person’s eating habits by their food. Don’t just eat greasy food, eat some vegetables too.”

“What nonsense…”

“I’m saying this because I’m worried.”

Silvia replied in a subdued voice.

“I’ll take care of it…”

“Take care of it how…? You should eat too.”

“Okay…”

We ate the fried rice in silence in the lab.

Silvia would take a bite, glance at the device, and repeat.

She seemed restless.

Like a girl about to be scolded by her dad.

‘She transformed.’

It was obvious.

The question is why she transformed… Let’s ask after we finish eating.

I silently finished the fried rice and waited for Silvia to finish.

After she put down her spoon, I asked.

“Why do you keep glancing at the device? Let’s check the charge.”

“Huh…?”

Her panic was obvious.

If you’re going to act, do it properly…

“It was at 89% last time, right? Press the button.”

“Why should I…? Why do I have to?”

“You’re acting suspicious. Press it.”

“No…?”

I clicked my tongue, grabbed Silvia’s right wrist, and placed it on my knee.

‘Ah…!’ Her face showed dismay as she let out a gasp.

I pressed the device’s charge display button.

Click.

Seeing the [88%] that appeared in the air, I frowned.

“What’s this? Why did it drop 1%?”

“…..”

Silvia kept her mouth shut.

She seemed determined to remain silent.

But seeing my probing gaze, her resolve crumbled, and she confessed with a sullen face.

“I, I transformed to calm my complicated feelings…”

She had transformed before charging for similar reasons, relying heavily on the device.

I get it. In her current state, she needs to calm her mind or she’ll go crazy.

“Even so, after charging so hard, isn’t it too careless to not feel any sense of crisis?”

“Sorry…”

“1% is precious to you, Silvia. Don’t you know that?”

Silvia flared up.

But she couldn’t argue with me because she was guilty.

All she could do was whine at me in a small voice.

“I know… I know… so stop nagging…”

“I haven’t even started yet. Why are you acting like this without a plan?”

“I have… a plan…”

“Don’t try to cover up with lies.”

“I, I do…! I have a plan… that’s the problem…”

“Really? Then let’s hear it. What’s the plan?”

Crossing my legs, I prodded Silvia, who fidgeted with her lips before asking.

“Will you help if I tell you…?”

“I’ll do my best to help.”

“…. Okay. I…”

Her lips trembled.

She seemed to have something to say but couldn’t get it out.

I tapped the grater next to the keyboard, urging her.

Seeing my probing gaze, Silvia, with an awkward expression, closed her eyes tightly and raised her voice.

“I’m going to charge with you…! Ah, from now on.”

Tap.

As Silvia’s words ended, my finger stopped moving.

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