Chapter 57

“Mother-Body.”

“Call me Mom, you brat.”

“Right now, that’s…”

“I said, call me Mom.”

“…Mom.”

“Good.”

I went down to the basement floor where the Production Device was located, drew a large target, and picked up Bedel to aim at it.

From a distance, it’s a rifle.

I rested the stock under my armpit, pressed my cheek against the barrel, aimed through the sight, and fired at the target.

Holding it with one hand, I fired with the muzzle pointed at the target.

It didn’t hit dead center, but there were bullet marks within the target area.

Up close, it’s a one-handed gun, a handgun.

I got close to the target, held the handgun with one hand, and fired.

Fired from the waist area.

Again, it didn’t hit dead center, but there were bullet marks on the target.

Since it’s a handgun, I could shoot point-blank, but I also needed to find another way to deliver physical damage.

“That’s also possible.”

“What is?”

As soon as I asked, Bedel disappeared and then reappeared.

Long, black, matte material.

The handle is relatively thin for an easy grip, and it gradually thickens toward the front. It’s something you can easily find and obtain, but it has excellent lethality and destructive power. A basic weapon.

“That’s a baseball bat.”

“Correct. It’s primitive and basic, but when you swing it, it delivers a satisfying impact and inflicts excruciating pain on the opponent.”

“Weren’t you a gun?”

“Whether you get shot or hit, you die either way. If the result is the same, does the method really matter?”

Well, that’s true.

But even so, your essence is an Ego Rifle. Transforming into an Ego Bat feels a bit off, don’t you think?

During my last battle with Aquamarine, I realized how lacking my combat skills were.

It wasn’t that Bedel’s performance was lacking.

When I shot Aquamarine outside the water, the damage was significant.

The first shot turned her shoulder into a bloody mess, the second blew off her wrist, the third hit her chest, and the fourth struck her forehead.

The damage was there.

But near water, Bedel, which consumes magic power, couldn’t deal damage. This baseball bat could.

Rocket Punch alone wasn’t enough.

Rocket Punch is also based on magic power, so if Aquamarine was unharmed, it wouldn’t have dealt much damage.

That’s when a weapon that can deliver physical force is needed.

Swinging it around, the sound of cutting through the air is really refreshing and satisfying.

Ah, yes. This is it. How satisfying would it be to smash someone’s head with this?

Aquamarine, you’re done for.

—

After testing Bedel and hitting some tires, it was already past 9 AM.

I came down to the basement around 6 AM, so I’ve been here for three hours.

Kabe seemed to still be asleep.

What should I do today?

Come to think of it, I wonder if the minions are eating well. Since they’ve been here, they’ve been using separate rooms, so I haven’t been paying much attention to their meals.

Since we can’t eat together like before, I decided to let them handle their own meals and include food expenses in their salary, as Keru told me. But still, I feel like I’ve been neglecting them.

Hmm.

Well, maybe I should show off my skills for once.

With about twenty people, something that everyone can enjoy regardless of their preferences would be curry, right?

Smartphones are really great.

I searched for “curry for 20 people” online, and everything from ingredients to recipes popped up.

The only problem is, buying and carrying all these ingredients might be a bit heavy.

Even for a man, it seems like a lot to carry alone.

I thought about calling Dusik but decided against it.

After last night’s incident, it felt a bit too much to take Dusik to the mart.

It’s too heavy for me to carry alone.

What should I do?

Maybe I’ll use Twenty-Seven. Yeah, that’s a good idea.

I looked at the minion room assignment chart in the living room.

Twenty-Seven… Twenty-Seven… Room 207.

…Room 207? Isn’t this room assignment a bit too convenient, Dusik?

I put on my training pants and a parka since it’s getting cold, and took the elevator.

It’s the weekend and still early in the morning, so I didn’t run into anyone on the way down to the second floor.

“Where’s Room 207?”

I got off the elevator and turned left. Since Room 201 is on the right, Room 207 should be on the left side.

The sound of my sneakers echoed in the hallway.

The chilly morning air. But since it’s already past 9:30, it’s not exactly morning, but let’s say it’s still morning since it’s the weekend.

*Click.*

I placed my thumb on the fingerprint scanner, and the lock clicked open.

All the doors in this officetel have my fingerprint registered.

It’s like a master key. Thanks to Dusik’s slightly bizarre philosophy that no place should be off-limits to the boss, there’s no room in this officetel I can’t enter with my fingerprint.

I opened the door and stepped inside. The studio layout meant I could see the entire room from the entrance…

Except…

The blackout blinds to block the sunlight… that’s understandable. But why is there a print of me on the blinds, standing on a podium shouting “Count Open”?

Why is there a bromides of me holding Kabe hanging behind the TV?

Why is there a can badge with my face on it stuck to the fridge?

Why are my photos densely pasted under the glass of the island table?

And even the blanket this guy, Twenty-Seven, is wrapped up in while snoring has my face printed on it.

“Hey.”

I nudged him with my foot.

No response.

“Hey.”

I nudged him again.

“*Hrk!*”

Oops.

I thought he was waking up from the sound of his breath hitching, but it was just him snoring.

“Twenty-Seven.”

“*Groan…*”

“Your big sis is here. Wake up.”

“I don’t have a big sis… hehe…”

Oh, really?

“Mom’s here, you brat. Get up now!”

—

“So, is that the trend now?”

“Yes!”

After that, nothing much happened. Twenty-Seven jumped up at my shout, saw me standing over him, and panicked even more. When he noticed my gaze on the blanket he was wrapped in, he tried to flip it over, but it was too late.

So now, he’s walking with me to the mart, awkwardly adjusting his hat.

“Ah, no. MPE only sells photos. Those kinds of goods are sold by Juttak. They even take custom orders for things like blankets and dakimakura. But we agreed not to buy dakimakura.”

“Dakimakura? What’s that?”

“You know, those hugging pillows. Life-size pillows.”

“Ah. Yeah, that’s a bit much. Don’t do that. Blankets are already pushing it, you know?”

“Yes!”

I don’t know what to say.

Of course, it’s embarrassing. Obviously.

Being treated like an idol when it’s not in my fate is bound to feel awkward.

But if you think about it, if their fan devotion for me helps them unite and increases their loyalty to the organization…

Then so what if it’s embarrassing? Shameful? Who cares?

Having my photo on blackout blinds? No problem.

Bromides hanging around? No problem.

Can badges stuck everywhere? No problem.

There’s no issue at all.

No problem whatsoever.

If it means these kids fight hard and come back alive, I’m willing to even model for them openly.

But I do need to meet this Juttak person.

If they’re making money off my likeness, we need to talk about profit sharing.

“Anyway, today you’re my pack mule. Got it?”

“Yes!”

“No complaints? If you have any, I’ll have a word with Dusik.”

“N-no complaints!”

Well, one way or another, Dusik seems to be managing the minions well.

Given how they react when I mention reporting their room’s state and their merchandise habits to Dusik.

I bought the ingredients generously.

I’m good at cooking, but that’s usually for 1-2 servings. Making 20 servings is a different story, so I bought extra just in case.

The recipe online said adding a bit of coffee to the curry makes it tastier.

I was a bit skeptical, but the comments said it really made a difference, so I bought a six-pack of canned coffee.

It’s for 20 servings, after all.

Next, the meat… pork is good for curry.

“Chilho.”

“Yes, big sis.”

“Do you guys prefer big chunks or small pieces in your curry?”

“Hmm…”

Chilho thought for a moment, then cautiously answered.

“I think small pieces are better.”

“Why?”

Usually, people prefer big chunks in curry, right?

“Because big sis has a small mouth.”

Look at this guy.

Such smooth talk.

I wish Eve could learn a thing or two from him.

Saying small pieces are better because I have a small mouth.

Hahaha.

The more I think about it, the more I can’t stop smiling.

—

“Is it heavy?”

“No, it’s fine. I can carry it with one hand.”

Ah.

These guys are minions, so their strength is incomparable to a normal person’s.

I’m a minion now too, so why am I different?

Weird.

It didn’t seem like a lie, as Chilho was carrying the shopping bags with one hand and still had a relaxed smile.

“I gained another bragging right today, big sis.”

“Bragging right? What?”

“Going shopping with big sis alone will make the others jealous to death.”

“Stop talking nonsense. If they think I’m playing favorites, what will I do? It’s troublesome.”

“Ah, right. Then I won’t tell anyone.”

“Good. Keep it a secret. Tell Dusik I said to gather everyone around 1 PM.”

“Yes! Got it, big sis!”

He saluted and quickly disappeared toward the elevator.

I watched him go, then carried the shopping bags to my kitchen.

Huh. It’s not that heavy after all.