Chapter 75

After parting with Prilly, I finally realized my mistake.

‘I didn’t ask about the odds!’

I didn’t ask how much I’d get if I won! What an idiot!

But it was already too late. I don’t know Prilly’s contact info. I didn’t save her number on my phone, and I have no idea where the business card she gave me went. Plus, calling just to ask about the odds would be a bit weird.

On the way back home after parting with Prilly, the shadows stretched long, very long, as the sun began to set at the crossroads.

Has it already gotten this late? After having lunch together and playing with the kids who begged to stay longer, we went to the playground and then the park, and before I knew it, it was already sunset.

With the sun setting behind the western mountains, closing today and promising tomorrow, we walked the path. No longer alone, the shadow now became three. The long, long shadows walked side by side in harmony.

“Nuna!”

“Huh?”

Another shadow joined. A shadow taller than mine stretched out and flew to my side, walking with me.

I looked up at the shadow and smiled. A smile without any pretense or worry. I looked at the owner of the shadow.

When our eyes met, the shadow’s owner also smiled back at me.

Ah, you were here. I had forgotten about you for a while. The one who makes me feel at ease. The one I can smile and talk to happily. The only one who treats me without any ulterior motives.

I spoke to such a person.

“Where have you been?”

Chilho scratched the back of his head, looking a bit embarrassed.

“It was stuffy staying inside, so I just went out for some fresh air. Where are you coming from, Nuna?”

Chilho smiled at me, and I couldn’t help but smile back.

“Yeah, sometimes you just feel like going out for a walk.”

Chilho clapped his hands together. “Right, right,” he chimed in, agreeing with me.

“But there’s nowhere really to go.”

Right. Sometimes you just want to go out and wander aimlessly. I feel like that sometimes too. But I rarely act on it.

“So.”

We clicked perfectly. Talking with Chilho is never boring. It feels like having a close younger brother, being with him is comfortable and fun.

“Hey—”

Just as I was about to say something, I felt a hand tugging at the hem of my blouse from below.

“Mom, buy me snacks.”

Kabe’s gaze was fixed on me. Her fidgeting fingers seemed to say, “My mouth is bored, and my hands are bored,” which was cute.

“Hmm.”

“Snacks?”

“Yeah.”

“Hmm…”

Is it okay? She has cavities, you know. Eating too much sugar isn’t good. But thinking about it, she didn’t cry at the dentist today and was well-behaved, so maybe she deserves a little reward.

Besides, the cavities are still in the early stages, so it should be fine.

“Alright, then—”

“Uncle will buy them for you! Nuna, is that okay?”

Chilho stepped forward confidently, patting his chest. Wow, impressive.

Uncle, huh? That sounds pretty good.

Hearing that, I unconsciously smiled warmly.

“Alright then. Kabe, Uncle Chilho will buy you snacks.”

“Yay! Uncle is the best!”

Kabe jumped around happily, while Bedel, who was also happy but trying not to show it, stood behind her.

Hmm.

I don’t know why Bedel looks so down. He hasn’t done anything wrong, but he always seems to be on the outskirts, which is kind of pitiful.

Maybe I’ve been too hard on him. Keru gets treated worse, but no, comparing him to Keru isn’t fair.

He was annoying when he first appeared, but now he’s like a son to me, and I haven’t really scolded him since then. I don’t know why he’s so down.

I should do something about it… but what?

Just then, I suddenly felt a chill run down my spine, like my hair was standing on end. It felt like a very unpleasant gaze was licking my entire body.

“What?!”

I quickly looked around, but there was only Kabe, Bedel, and Chilho around me. And a few people hurrying somewhere, but no one was paying attention to us.

In fact, Chilho was looking at me strangely as I suddenly glanced around.

What is this? I’ve never felt this unpleasant before. It’s a disgusting, vile feeling.

“Nuna, is something wrong?”

“Uh… no. Nothing’s wrong.”

Is it just my imagination? No, it’s not. I’m not that dull. I definitely felt someone staring at me in a very unpleasant way…

But there’s no one around, and no evidence, so it’s hard to say anything. I rubbed the back of my neck and forced a smile at Chilho.

—

The kids were excitedly playing with the snacks they bought, each holding a bag, while Chilho and I followed slowly behind.

Before we knew it, we could already see the house.

“We’re already here.”

It wasn’t that far, but somehow it feels a bit disappointing.

“Shall we walk a bit more?”

Chilho seemed to read my mind perfectly, suggesting it at just the right time. How does he always know what I’m thinking?

Ah, what a sweet guy.

“Shall we?”

As if he had anticipated my answer, Chilho pointed behind the building with a smile.

“There’s a walking path in the park back there.”

“Oh.”

Sure enough, following Chilho, we found a well-maintained, charming park with a walking path circling it, made of packed earth and sand, with wooden blocks filling in like bricks.

“Will your feet be okay?”

Oh right, I’m wearing heels. But I’m used to them, so it’s fine.

“Why, if it’s not okay, will you carry me?”

“Of course I would. Shall I carry you?”

Chilho crouched down in front of me, and I slapped his back playfully and laughed.

“Get up, you. People are watching.”

A lie, of course.

It’s quite cold now, so there’s no one on the walking path. Chilho and I walked side by side.

A little birdsong. The distant sound of children playing. The sound of the wind rustling the branches.

A little, a little, a little.

These little things came together to create a strangely harmonious melody as Chilho and I walked in silence.

“Nuna.”

“Yeah?”

Chilho broke the silence.

“Why are you so good to us?”

Was I good to them? I’m not sure. Did I treat them well?

“I don’t know if I was good to you. But if you felt that way, then I guess I was.”

But you know.

“People should treat each other well by default, don’t you think? If you want to be treated well, you should know how to treat others well too. And if you receive kindness, you should return it.”

“Is that so?”

That’s what relationships are about. If there’s giving, there should be receiving, and if there’s receiving, there should be giving. That’s how relationships are maintained.

Relationships where only one gives or only one receives—can such relationships continue? No, they can’t.

I always try my best when dealing with people… or so I think. I’m human too—well, maybe not, but I’ve lived as one until now. There might have been times when I was lacking or insincere, but I always did my best.

“But, Nuna.”

Chilho turned to me. His tall frame looked down at me slightly as he smiled.

“You’re the first. The first boss who cares for us so much and always thinks of us first.”

“Is that so?”

“This is my eighth time being summoned into this fight.”

“Really?”

Chilho counted on his fingers and smiled, showing his white teeth. Eight times.

“So, you’ve experienced death seven times?”

“Well, not exactly. For us, death isn’t really a thing. We just return to our mother’s magic power and get summoned again. I’m used to it, but for those who die for the first time, it’s like a panic…”

“Being used to death, what kind of talk is that?”

That’s not a good thing. Who would be happy being used to death?

“Well, that’s how it is.”

“Stop talking nonsense. Let’s go in. It’s cold.”

I dressed lightly thinking I’d just go to the dentist and come back, but now that the sun’s set, it’s cold. The chilly wind brushed past my collar, making me shiver.

“Here, take this.”

Chilho draped his white padded jacket over my shoulders.

“Aren’t you cold?”

“Why would I be cold? I’m not even human.”

“Well then. I’ll take it.”

It’s warm. Whether it’s the jacket or something else, I’m not sure.