Chapter 45

“Hey, everyone! Chae-a clutched her head with both hands and started shaking like a leaf when she heard the word ‘baldness’!”

“In no time, she crumpled up and clung to my back.”

“I’m trying my best to soothe Chae-a hiding behind me so she doesn’t cry, but Han Arin quickly interjected with a flustered expression.”

“Just kidding, kidding! Baldness doesn’t come from bumping your head.”

“At those words, Chae-a slowly peeked out, sniffled, and looked up at Han Arin.”

“Then she grinned sheepishly, glanced between me and Han Arin…”

“And with tear-streaked cheeks, began whispering excitedly:”

“Well then, I’m fine! My head is super tough, not even a little bit hurt!”

“Really? Our Chae-a is amazing, huh?”

“Yeah! So I can do it again!”

“Huh…?”

“She’s so happy about being praised that she declares she’ll do something absurd again!”

“As I watch her, worried she might really bash her head against the phone again, I shake my head and say honestly:”

“Chae-a, it’ll make my heart ache if you get hurt… Please don’t do it anymore, alright?”

“The moment I said I’d feel sad, Chae-a shot up straight, quickly nodded, and hugged me tightly.”

“It seems she feels bad, so I gently pat her head and tell her it’s okay.”

“After calming Chae-a for a while, I decide to return to my main task and glance at my phone.

“By the way… Could someone help me decorate Lair?”

[Seorin-Seorin – Oh no ㅠㅠㅠ What happened to Chae-a’s forehead? I’ll definitely help if there’s anything I can do!]

[DaramSquirrel – Of course!]

[MasculineManSpecial – This guy loves interior design and decoration.]

“Everyone is so kind, readily offering to help.”

“Grateful, I bow deeply and thank them before explaining my second reason for going live.”

“And if anyone has furniture they don’t need or are throwing away, you can totally boss me around and share it with me—I’d be very grateful!”

(And if anyone has old furniture or things they don’t need, feel free to use me as much as you want, and I’d appreciate it if you shared!)

“Feeling apologetic for making such a request, I crouch down and practically lie on the floor bowing. Everyone kindly reassures me there’s nothing to worry about and says they have plenty of work (?) for me.”

“Knowing all this kindness makes me slightly embarrassed, so I curl my tail protectively while Han Arin adds a comment beside me.”

“Then, Hae-un-ah, would you like to help first? Hae-un needs some assistance.”

“Yes!”

“Luckily, the first job comes quicker than expected.”

“Wondering what kind of job it could be, I look up at Han Arin with an anxious yet excited expression. She chuckles softly and boldly asks:”

“Sister, give me a kiss on the cheek.”

“……”

“No matter how you look at it, that’s just too embarrassing!”

“As I wrestle internally with my wiggling tail, refusing by shaking my head, Chae-a—probably trying to protect me again—steps forward and offers:”

“Then I’ll do it!”

“Every time she jumps in to help me, it’s so touching.”

“Just as I’m about to praise her by patting her head, Chae-a suddenly dashes forward and bites Han Arin’s cheek instead of kissing it!”

“Hmm?”

“A better description would be ‘chomp and stretch’ rather than ‘kiss.’”

“While I can’t help but giggle at the sight, a new chat message appears that seems to genuinely need my help.”

[AnimalLover – Hey Hae-un, could you help treat some animals?]

“Intrigued by the mention of treating animals, I gaze at the chat intently.”

[AnimalLover – I recently found a creature in the dungeon that looks like cotton fluff. It won’t eat or let its wounds be treated, so I thought maybe Hae-un, who’s good with animals, could make a difference.]

“Though technically Chae-a is better with animals, now isn’t the time to bring that up, so I nod silently. AnimalLover sighs in relief and tells me where to go.”

“Memorizing the location, I nod again, signaling I’ll head there right away.”

*

“Just in case, I’ve brought along some flowers from Lair, cradling them carefully as I head toward the place AnimalLover directed me to.”

“There’s no particular reason; I just thought if my healing abilities don’t work, maybe these flowers could provide some regenerative effect nearby.”

“With great care, I carry the pot almost as big as myself, staggering under its weight as I walk. Behind me, Han Arin catches up, voicing her concerns.”

“Are you sure you’ll be okay without me helping?”

“To be honest, even saying it’s not tiring would be a lie. But since this is my responsibility and I don’t want to inconvenience Han Arin, I shake my head politely and refuse.”

“It’s fine. This is my job, so I should handle it.”

(Geez, it’s fine. This is my job, so I’ll do it.)

“That… That’s true, but I still wish you’d let me help, sister.”

“Groaning under the strain, I shake my head again, and Han Arin follows me guiltily, trailing behind like a shadow.”

“Anyway, getting back to the point, I’m heading to a research lab.”

“Han Arin explains that it’s a place where items and creatures from dungeons, gates, and towers are studied.”

“They also develop items here, conduct performance experiments, and improvements.”

‘So, normally, the security is so tight you couldn’t enter without permission, but…’

“Thanks to our helpful viewer, who apparently holds a high position at the facility, we’re granted access surprisingly easily.”

“As we step inside, the first thing I see are modern research facilities, strange plants growing everywhere, and countless researchers bustling about.”

‘Plants…?’

“Before I can ponder why such things are allowed to grow here, a man in a pristine white coat approaches me with a smile.”

“Ah, Hae-un, you made it.”

“Assuming this must be AnimalLover, I bow deeply in greeting. He greets me warmly and introduces himself.”

“Call me Uncle Jae-Hyun.”

“Yes!”

“Alright, let’s cut to the chase. Do you see that fluffy white lump over there? I’d like you to help treat it.”

“Hearing this, I look toward the distant bundle of white fluff. Its adorable appearance resembling a ball of yarn sparks my interest, making my tail wag uncontrollably. Han Arin notices and begins stroking my head as she speaks.”

“Before we proceed, one quick question—is it dangerous?”

“Of course not! If it were dangerous, I wouldn’t have asked Hae-un for help.”

“Well, that’s fortunate… But what exactly is this creature? I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Normally, such a question might sound arrogant, but coming from Han Arin, the top-ranked adventurer, it’s more of a reasonable inquiry. Uncle Jae-Hyun chuckles awkwardly.”

“We’re still investigating, but we don’t have detailed results yet, so it’s hard to say.”

“You mean it’s ambiguous? And yet you assigned the job to Hae-un?”

“His tone grows icy, prompting Uncle Jae-Hyun to wave his hands frantically.”

“We’ve already conducted safety checks dozens of times—it’s safe. Plus, we have safety personnel on standby, and we plan to outfit her with protective gear just in case…”

“Judging by his explanations, it seems they’ve prepared thoroughly. Hearing this, Han Arin relaxes slightly and addresses him.”

“Alright, I’ll keep an eye on things from the side then.”

“That would be greatly appreciated.”

“Apparently, an agreement has been reached as they both nod in unison. I blink at them before turning my attention back to the tiny fluffball huddled far away, trembling pitifully.”

‘It looks so sad…’

“I’m not sure if it’s because of its behavior or if I can somehow sense its emotions, but I feel an overwhelming urge to comfort it. Still, I can’t act recklessly and violate safety protocols, so I press my face against the glass watching it.”

“Peep!?”

“Suddenly, the fluffball shakes its fur violently before rushing toward me and licking the glass enthusiastically, as if reuniting with a long-lost family member.”

“Seeing this reaction, I turn to Uncle Jae-Hyun with a request.”

“Can I go inside?”

“He hesitates for a moment before handing me some safety equipment.”

“If you wear this.”

“It feels less like wearing gear and more like having something placed on top of me. Despite this, there seem to be no major issues, as everyone only comments on how cute it looks.”

“Alright, let’s have Han Arin, three security officers, and Hae-un enter.”

“As I continue staring at the fluffball enthusiastically licking the glass, I hear a familiar voice behind me.”

“Cotton Fluff!”

“Cotton Fluff?”

“Yeah!”

“Looking at the fluffball again, the name Cotton Fluff does seem fitting. Curious if Chae-a knows something about it, I ask her, but she confidently replies:”

“It’s soft and cute!”

“Ah, I see.”

“She doesn’t know either.”

“Gazing at the sparkly-eyed Cotton Fluff, I follow Uncle Jae-Hyun’s lead and step inside.”

“Still observing the glass-licking antics, I notice Chae-a, similarly dressed in oversized safety gear, wobbling up to me.”

“It’s Cotton Fluff…!”

“Cotton Fluff?”

“Yeah!”

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