Chapter 47

The building had been completely incinerated, leaving not a trace behind.

Amidst the ruins, Perseus stood, boots crunching against the ash as he received a report from his subordinate.

“We’ve uncovered substantial evidence proving they were planning the terror attacks, and we’ve also pinpointed the location of their new lab.”

On paper, it was good news. But the revelation of a new lab caused Perseus’s expression to stiffen. It meant countless victims were still trapped in suffering. With a grimace, he brushed ash off his shoes and channeled mana for an instant teleportation spell—proof of his status as a high-tier mage.

“Let’s head back first. We should consult with the Hunter’s Guild.”

“Yes sir!”

“And… one more thing…”

Just as he was about to speak, something odd caught his eye—a strange liquid shimmering far away. A teal substance tinged with red, its color shifting unpredictably. Intrigued yet suspicious, Perseus hesitated before stepping closer.

“Why didn’t I notice this earlier?”

It had been three hours since he began investigating the area, yet somehow he’d missed such an obvious detail. Two possibilities came to mind: either someone left it there recently, or it had been hidden until now. Whatever the truth, Perseus felt certain this discovery could lead to significant progress in uncovering the terrorist plot.

—

This body, barely older than three years old, was way too sensitive to emotions. My nose and eyes burned, and I couldn’t help but feel deeply embarrassed as Seorin scooped me up and started cooing like I was a baby.

“Poor Hae-un must be so sad! Oh no, my poor baby, my heart hurts too…”

Though comforting words were well-intentioned, being treated like a toddler made me blush furiously. Still, I tried to compose myself, thinking that even though I’m technically an adult, letting these little things bother me wouldn’t do any good.

But then…

Wiggle wiggle!

Seorin’s tail refused to cooperate with my resolve, swaying wildly from side to side as if celebrating her victory over my frown.

“Ah…”

Thinking I needed to calm down, I reached out to grab her tail—but it darted away, growing longer and stronger with every attempt. Irritated by its antics, I glared at it, only for it to slow down and curl into my arms instead.

‘Can she really read my thoughts?’

Her actions seemed almost telepathic. Though puzzled, I decided focusing on calming her tail was more important right now. As I hugged it tightly, Somtul suddenly approached, chirping loudly.

“Pii!”

(I’ll help!)

What?

Before I could ask what was going on, Chae-a bounded over confidently and declared,

“Somtul said she can reinforce all sorts of things! Hae-un asked her to upgrade the lair.”

She grinned proudly, leaning close to demand praise.

“You did great, Chae-a! Good job!”

“Yay!”

Smiling awkwardly, I patted Chae-a’s head while turning my attention to Somtul, who looked expectantly at me.

‘Does Somtul want praise too?’

Probably. Just in case, I gave her a quick pat and compliment, causing her to leap joyfully and exclaim,

“Piii!”

Her enthusiasm radiated through her chirps, promising to strengthen anything I desired. Grateful for her kindness, I giggled softly.

—

Back at the lair, I stared at the pristine white chair delivered earlier from the lab. Untouched, still wrapped in plastic, it gleamed under the light. At first, I politely declined when offered, feeling guilty about taking something so nice. But after seeing stacks of unused chairs piled high, Researcher Jeong Jae-hyun assured me it was fine, alleviating some of my guilt.

I admired the shiny surface, wiping it clean with a cloth before proudly showing it off to Seorin.

“This is my first reward ever…!”

(My very first reward!)

Receiving payment for completing a mission filled me with pride despite lingering embarrassment. Sure, I hadn’t exactly excelled during the task itself—I mostly caused trouble—but receiving rewards always brought joy.

“Oh my goodness, our Hae-un has grown up so much already… I might cry…”

As Seorin clapped and praised me enthusiastically, I laughed nervously, declaring the chair hers and inviting her to sit. Suddenly, Somtul leapt onto me, wrapping herself around my body before bouncing toward the chair.

“Pii!”

Had she taken a liking to it? Wondering whether to designate it as Somtul’s chair instead, I watched curiously as the chair emitted a soft blue glow. Wisps of sparkling smoke curled upward, enveloping the furniture in a mesmerizing haze.

“What…? Did the chair get upgraded?”

According to Jeong Jae-hyun’s explanation, this was indeed possible thanks to Somtul’s abilities. Stunned, I blinked repeatedly, marveling at how effortlessly she’d enhanced it.

“Amazing…”

Excitedly stroking Somtul’s fur, I turned to Seorin for details about the upgrade.

“What does it do now?”

After pondering briefly, Seorin explained:

“It says resting here improves recovery effects several times over.”

“Wow!”

That sounded perfect for Seorin, who appeared increasingly exhausted lately. Inspired, I grabbed a pen and scrap paper, writing carefully despite shaky fingers:

[Seorin’s Special Chair]

Though my handwriting wobbled unevenly, it remained legible enough. Satisfied, I stuck the label onto the chair just as Seorin noticed and teared up.

“Did you put this here for me…?”

“Yeah. You look tired, so I wanted to encourage you.”

Touched, Seorin pulled me into a tight embrace. Returning her affection with a gentle pat on the shoulder, I reassured her silently. Meanwhile, Somtul watched from the sidelines, trembling slightly.

“Pii?!?!”

(Pfft! What about me?!)

Apparently upset that I hadn’t acknowledged her contribution, Somtul fluffed her fur indignantly and spun around dramatically. Startled, Chae-a gasped.

“Somtul’s mad…”

Attempting to defuse the situation, I apologized sincerely.

“I’m sorry, okay? I’ll make sure to thank you next time…”

Fortunately, my heartfelt apology worked. Somtul softened immediately, rubbing against me affectionately. Breathing a sigh of relief, Chae-a joined us.

“Thank goodness…”

Even Seorin chimed in, praising my newfound maturity.

“Our Hae-un is so grown-up and responsible!”

Feeling validated, I nodded confidently.

“That’s right!”

Though her comment about wanting me to stay young forever sounded strange, I chose to focus on proving my adulthood further. Determined, I resolved to continue improving.

‘I need to try harder.’

Eventually, curiosity got the better of me. Pointing at the chair, I suggested,

“How about you give it a try?”

Wondering just how effective the enhanced resting properties would be, I eagerly awaited Seorin’s verdict.

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