Chapter 63

“Oh. You came? I thought you’d call, didn’t expect you to show up in person.”

“Ha. Guess you’re just a brat who can’t learn manners, huh? Your hospitality is a joke.”

Aquamarine, fluttering her water-colored sailor uniform, plopped down on the sofa across from me.

Looks like her pride took a beating.

I could tell just by looking at her face.

“Did you patch up the hole in your forehead yet?”

“Thanks for your concern. Thanks to you, I got to air out my brain again, feels refreshing.”

“Good for you. Want me to pierce your temple next?”

“Shut up.”

“Malfoy?”

“Not a single word, damn it.”

“Of course not. There’s no way I’d lose to you.”

I leaned back on the sofa, crossing my legs.

“All of you, get out. Make sure Kabe doesn’t come in here.”

It was a bit of a sudden visit.

I didn’t expect Aquamarine to show up like this either. I didn’t even anticipate it.

If Eve hadn’t warned me beforehand, I would’ve been caught off guard too.

But Eve did warn me, so I quickly sent Kabe to Dusik’s room and got ready to receive my guest.

“Dusik and Sohee, get out. Minions too. This isn’t your place. Ah, Chilho. You stay and bring some drinks.”

“Got it, boss.”

“Alright, what are you all doing? Get out already.”

With Dusik’s gruff voice, the commotion faded away. Meanwhile, Chilho placed coffee in front of me and green tea in front of Aquamarine.

“Is he your pet? Looks pretty sharp.”

Pet? Really?

“Do you have some kind of affection deficiency? You treat my daughter like a pet, and now my subordinate too? Say that one more time, and I’ll turn you into paste.”

“Is it a crime to say what I see?”

“For you, it is. Every time you open your mouth, karma piles up. Chilho, you get out too.”

“Understood.”

Chilho saluted and quickly left the room. Now, only Aquamarine and I remained in the house. Well, technically, Eve owns the house, but since I live here, I call it mine.

Aquamarine took a sip of her green tea and glared at me.

Her eyes, tinged with a watery hue.

They’d be pretty if she weren’t so temperamental.

“What are you staring at?”

“You.”

“Anyway, you played your cards well. Whether I accept it or not, I ended up looking like a fool. Even if I lose—which won’t happen—I’ll be humiliated. And even if I win, it’s not exactly something to brag about.”

“You already lost once, remember? Or did your brain cells fly away?”

“Ha.”

Aquamarine was starting to get annoyed.

But guess what? I’ve been annoyed since earlier.

If it comes to it, I’m ready to throw down right here.

“I didn’t expect you to film it. Didn’t you know broadcasting inside the Dark Realm is prohibited?”

“Didn’t know.”

“Ha, figures. Just like the kids who kept losing for 10 years, you don’t know anything.”

“Right? Thanks for breaking that losing streak. Appreciate it.”

“Hey!”

*Bam!*

Finally reaching her limit, Aquamarine slammed the table and shot up from the sofa.

“Boss!”

“Older sister!”

The kids must’ve been waiting outside because the door burst open, and they all rushed in.

“Aquamarine, how dare you cause a scene here…!”

Dusik growled, clenching his fists.

He looked ready to throw a punch, but that wouldn’t end well.

Besides, Dusik, you’re no match for her.

“Get out. Kwak Dusik. Take the kids and leave.”

“But, boss.”

I just stared at him.

Dusik stared back, unflinching.

“Get out.”

“Boss.”

“Do I look like a boss who’d lose to some magical girl brat? Do I look like someone who can’t handle things without your protection? If not.”

I gestured to the door with my chin.

“Get out.”

“…Yes. My apologies, boss.”

After the kids left, I turned my glare back to Aquamarine.

“Aquamarine.”

“Sit down.”

“You…”

“I said sit.”

“Who do you think you’re ordering around…!”

“Aquamarine.”

I slowly stepped forward.

Objectively speaking, my record is 1 win, 0 losses.

I have no reason to be scared.

As I stepped closer, I pressed my earring.

A familiar sensation enveloped me, and I looked down at Aquamarine, who was much shorter than me.

I leaned in close, staring straight into her eyes.

“Even a neighborhood mutt knows to back off on someone else’s turf. This is my home, and you’ve already lost to me once. So, if you want, we can settle this right here. What do you say?”

“Crazy b*tch…”

Aquamarine glared at me for a moment before slumping back onto the sofa.

Seeing that, I released my transformation and sat down on the opposite sofa.

“Let’s see these first.”

Aquamarine rummaged through her bag and pulled out something.

It was a stack of papers, and as she laid them out one by one—

“Child Rights Protection Association, Animal Rescue Association, Adoption Rights Protection Center, Single Mother Care Center… What is all this?”

Aquamarine crumpled the papers, her face twisting in frustration.

“Don’t you know?!”

“I don’t, that’s why I’m asking. So, what is it?”

If I knew, why would I ask?

Aquamarine glared at me, grinding her teeth.

“These are protest letters I got because of your little stunt on TV!”

“Did I send them? Did I tell them to? Then why did you mess with my daughter? You dug your own grave, and now you’re blaming me? Are you on your period or something?!”

“Per—!”

Aquamarine’s face turned bright red.

“Ah, is it that time of the month? My bad.”

“No, it’s not!”

Ah, this crazy b*tch. Just talking to her makes me feel like I’m losing my mind. Aquamarine muttered as she threw the crumpled protest letters into the trash.

“Anyway, fine.”

“I don’t like you.”

“I don’t like you either! It’s called banter, banter!”

Man, her fuse is so short.

“Alright, I’ll accept your challenge.”

“For someone who’s 1 win, 1 loss, you’re awfully cocky, huh?”

“You…”

Aquamarine closed her eyes, pressing her temples.

“Can you just shut up and listen to me for once…”

“…”

“Why aren’t you saying anything?!”

“You told me to shut up.”

“Ah, seriously!”

After downing a glass of water, Aquamarine finally seemed to calm down, taking a deep breath.

“Anyway, fine… no. Anyway. I’ll accept your challenge. But are you sure about the location?”

“Yeah. Even if we fight somewhere advantageous for me, you’ll just make excuses if you lose. So, I’ll let you fight on your home turf. If you lose there, you’ll have no excuses.”

“You’re really confident you’ll win, huh?”

“Obviously.”

As the Mother-Body, I possess the highest magical power, even surpassing Eve.

Sure, I can’t use magic, but with this much magical energy, I can manage somehow.

“Your combat power was impressive last time, but I’ve already figured out your weakness. I’ll win.”

I took a sip of coffee.

Chilho brewed it, so it tastes good.

The rich aroma filled my nose…

“Is that instant coffee?”

“Yeah.”

“Get something better. Instant coffee? Really?”

“This is Gold Mocha, okay? It’s good stuff.”

Wow, she’s really annoying.

Is she rich or something?

“Anyway, fine… no. Since you threw down the challenge, I assume you have some prize in mind?”

Oops.

I didn’t think of that.

No wonder something felt off.

I only thought about avenging Kabe, but I didn’t consider what I’d demand if I won.

“Did you not think about it?”

“…”

“You really have a few screws loose, huh?”

This time, I had nothing to say.

It was too true.

“I’ll state my demand first. If I win, you become my maid.”

“…What?”

“You don’t know what a maid is?”

She picked up her phone.

It’s a new model, just released…

“That’s a FinePhone, right? The Signature Blue? Those are hard to get these days. How did you get one?!”

“Huh? I just got it from the store…”

Before I could say Dusik got it for me, Aquamarine’s eyes lit up.

Is that the infamous materialistic sensor or something?

This is dangerous.

“You have one, and I don’t? How humiliating…”

She’s feeling inferior over the weirdest things.

These people are impossible to understand.

Anyway, I opened a browser, searched for “maid,” and showed her a suitable image.

“You want me to wear this and serve you?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

I mean, come on.

I could’ve demanded a public apology or made her testify that she’s not a child abuser or animal abuser, but no, she just wants me to be her maid?

Wearing this?

Are you insane?

“I thought about making you apologize publicly, but that didn’t seem fun. Instead, showing everyone that I made you my maid and having you serve me would be more satisfying.”

“Wow.”

“Impressive, right? My creativity.”

“No.”

She’s clearly not in her right mind.

“I don’t like that. It’s outdated. A maid? We’re not European nobility. If you want a maid, go to Akihabara or something in Japan.”

“Hey, that’s different!”

“A maid is a maid. What’s the difference between a maid in China and a maid in Korea?”

“Idiot!”

“Ah, whatever. Anyway, I don’t like it. Seems like we’re on the same level, so let’s just grant each other one wish. That should do it.”

“You don’t understand the romance of a maid…”

“That kind of romance is something you usually outgrow by middle school.”

“Talking to you makes me feel like I’m losing my mind…”

Look who’s talking.

Aquamarine shook her head, clearly fed up.

Then she started packing her bag. It looked like some fancy brand—guess she’s loaded.

“Anyway, I’ll release an official statement tomorrow or the day after. The Association’s PR team is already preparing it, so you’ll see it in the news or papers.”

“About what?”

“That I’ve accepted your challenge.”

“Ah, right. Could you stop cutting your sentences short? Just say everything at once. If you just say you’re releasing a statement, how am I supposed to know what you’re talking about?”

“You…!”

Aquamarine looked like she was about to yell but then let out a deep sigh.

It’s frustrating for me, but why is she the one losing it? I can’t understand.

“Yeouido Hangang Park. The date is exactly one week from today, Saturday. Time is 7 PM. Any objections?”

Not really.

The location is what I suggested, and since it’s the weekend, we can fight in the evening after the kids have played during the day.

“None. Oh, and by the way. The broadcasting station will be coming into the Dark Realm to film.”

“What?! Why are you telling me this now?!”

Yang Jong-chul, the head of the broadcasting department, suggested it.

He wants to bring filming equipment into the Dark Realm and capture the fight.

Of course, they’ll attach waterproof cameras to my clothes for dynamic shots and even fly drones.

The pay was pretty good too. Not that I’ll tell Aquamarine that.

“Why? You don’t like it?”

“Like it? I need to book a salon appointment in advance!”

“Fine then.”

Honestly, I can’t understand her.

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