TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 239
Mikhail followed Ricardo.
From the moment they left the cafe until now, Mikhail had been tailing Ricardo like a stalker.
He couldn’t explain the reason for following him, nor could he come up with a plausible excuse, so he simply followed him silently, being a nuisance.
Even at the cafe.
-Then, I’ll be going now.
Even at the store selling Mandrake Candy.
-Why do you keep following me?
And now, even here at the Tteokbokki Shop, Mikhail was trailing behind Ricardo, being a bother.
With a towel wrapped around his head, Ricardo walked toward the kitchen, bidding farewell.
“Well, I’ll be off to work now.”
“…”
“Until you come back to see me, think about why you came to find me.”
With those words, Ricardo disappeared.
“…”
Friends of Forest Tteokbokki Shop.
[We repay the money you give us with flavor.]
Sitting in front of the Tteokbokki Shop, which displayed excellent entrepreneurial spirit, Mikhail wore an awkward expression.
“…”
Mikhail felt frustrated. The longer he spent time with him, the more exhausting it became for the devotee as well.
‘I just want to finish this quest quickly….’
Blaming his lack of conversational skills, Mikhail stared at his rough hands.
“…”
-You’re beautiful.
‘Beautiful…?’
The words Ricardo had said, calling him beautiful despite his rough and unremarkable self, lingered in his ears.
Though he knew it was a joke, though he knew it was just an empty facade without sincerity, it was the first time Mikhail had ever been called “beautiful,” and he couldn’t easily shake off the thought.
‘No.’
What’s so great about being called beautiful by Ricardo?
Shaking his head, Mikhail resolved to focus on the main issue. To stay steady and complete the quest.
1. Show Ricardo your original form. (1/1)
2. Go on a date with Ricardo. (0/1)
3. Hear Ricardo’s true feelings. (0/1)
With only two steps left to face the truth he desired, Mikhail took a calm breath and lifted his head.
-Vice President, three sets of Tteokbokki.
-Am I the Vice President?
-Yes, the Proprietress told us to call you that.
-Oh…
Ricardo was bustling about.
In a position where he had shed the job of a student, he was moving busily.
And.
-…Excuse me, Vice President, you should come over here.
-What’s going on?
-There’s someone who dined and dashed.
Noise began to emanate from one corner of the shop.
Mikhail looked toward the source of the commotion. A pair of siblings, appearing about five years old, were rubbing their eyes and crying as he quietly observed them.
The boy, who seemed to be the older brother, extended filthy hands holding coins, while the girl hid behind his back, crying.
A familiar sight.
Mikhail, overlapping the children with memories of the past, stiffened his expression as he watched Ricardo approach the young child, holding his breath.
For sure.
-Plod, plod.
If it was the Ricardo he knew, he would drive the little kid away. Mikhail held his breath and watched Ricardo’s evil deeds.
Since he had no money to help them himself, he pressed his lips tightly together.
‘I’m sorry.’
Removing the towel tied around his head, Ricardo crouched down in front of the young child. Then, showing a side Mikhail hadn’t expected, he smiled.
“Kid.”
“I’m sorry….”
“What are you sorry for?”
“…For coming to eat even though we don’t have money.”
“Why do you say you don’t have money?”
Ricardo took the coins the boy held out and patted his head.
“This is more than enough.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. When I was your age, I used to dine and dash.”
“…That’s bad.”
“I know. That’s why I did it.”
Ricardo was talking with the little kid. In a small voice that couldn’t be heard, he was kindly conversing, making the little kid smile.
Mikhail couldn’t hide his confusion, wondering if this man was really the Ricardo he knew.
‘Lies.’
As time passed and Ricardo approached him, Mikhail thought. That appearance was filled with lies.
-Clench.
Mikhail hated Ricardo.
Because he tormented people with a smiling face and enjoyed it, Mikhail couldn’t trust Ricardo’s smile.
However.
Watching the young child smile, Mikhail felt that something was off. A fundamental sense that something was wrong.
“Thank you for waiting.”
“…”
“This is the capital’s most famous Tteokbokki.”
Ricardo approached, holding steaming red food. It was spicy, the same dish he’d brought last time when he ate with Ruin and Yuria.
“…”
Because it was food made by him, Mikhail felt even more reluctant to eat it.
“Do you like children?”
“Children?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t like them.”
“Then why did you help them?”
“Ah…”
“Just because.”
Strangely, he felt the illusion that Ricardo’s food looked delicious.
*
I smiled as I looked at the woman before me.
A woman I was meeting for the first time but felt very familiar with.
And a woman who knew me.
I smiled as I looked at the woman full of secrets.
“Does it not suit your taste?”
“Huh…?”
“You’re not eating, are you?”
“Ah…”
The woman lowered her head and stared blankly at the now-cold Tteokbokki. Without moving the hand holding the fork, she simply stared at the Tteokbokki, swallowing her breath.
Looking at her, I voiced my question. Because I thought I knew why she wasn’t eating.
It wasn’t because it tasted bad.
Or maybe, you just hate me.
Thinking it must be one of the two reasons, I cautiously asked her for the reason.
“Is it because I’m too handsome for you to eat?”
“What?”
The woman responded with a furious voice. I couldn’t blame her for her honest reaction, but as a handsome man confident in my looks, I couldn’t help but feel a little wounded.
Smiling faintly, I speared a piece of Tteokbokki with a fork and held it out to her.
“Ah….”
“Ah?”
“I’ll feed you.”
The woman glared at me with eyes that looked like she might hit me at any moment.
“I made it less spicy.”
“…”
“I’m the one who made this Tteokbokki.”
“So what?”
“Isn’t hunger the saddest thing in the world?”
“As if you’ve ever been hungry.”
At her aggressive answer, I smiled.
“True.”
I answered naturally, without intentionally provoking her.
“Maybe it’s because I’ve met a lot of people who’ve been hungry.”
“Lies.”
“I did grow up quite privileged.”
Smiling faintly, I once again held out the fork with the Tteokbokki to her mouth. As the red sauce dripped, a moment of silence passed, and the woman let out a long sigh.
“It’s not poisoned.”
The woman reluctantly opened her mouth.
-Chomp.
Like a foreigner trying Pupa for the first time, she frowned, moved her jaw, and flinched her shoulders as if she might throw up.
I don’t particularly enjoy tormenting others, but seeing the beautiful woman in front of me suffer made me feel like a sinner.
“Is it very spicy?”
“…No.”
“That’s a relief.”
The more she chewed the Tteok, the more her expression softened. Her face clearly reflected a mix of relief at having finished it and enjoyment of its taste.
‘Still the same.’
That expression that can’t lie.
That gluttonous love for delicious food.
It matched perfectly with someone from my memories.
Doubt gradually turned into certainty.
Smiling faintly at her, I asked.
“How does it taste?”
“…It’s delicious.”
“Isn’t it?”
The woman’s fork began to move slowly.
She ate the fish cake. She ate the Tteok. She even ate the egg.
Although I was the one buying the food, I found her selfish behavior of not offering me a bite a little annoying, but seeing her eat so well lifted my mood.
As the Tteokbokki plate emptied.
I decided to address the unfinished business I couldn’t before. Even if I pried, I felt she wouldn’t tell me why she had sought me out, and I didn’t know how to deal with her either.
There were still many unresolved things.
My heart hadn’t fully opened to accept the changes.
Smiling faintly, I spoke to her.
“Hey, Secret Girl.”
“Yes?”
“I don’t know your name. So, Secret Girl it is.”
“Ah… Yes.”
Seeing her stiffen her expression, I extended my hand slightly. Like a Young Noble asking for a dance at a Ball, I politely and firmly sought her consent.
“Can you tell me now why you came to see me?”
“…”
“We’ve had our meal, and I’ve run out of things to do. I feel like spending more time would be a waste for you, Secret Girl.”
Nodding toward her, I said.
“If there’s something you want to say, I’ll listen.”
“…”
“If you want to curse at me, I’ll take it.”
“…”
“If you need an apology, I’ll give it. Judging by your expression, you don’t seem to have a good impression of me. Of course, I enjoy seeing a beautiful woman, but it doesn’t seem to be mutual.”
The woman shook her head, not responding.
“Is that so…”
Slowly, I rose to my feet. Time was precious. To make a choice that would benefit both her and me, I decided to leave.
“Then, I’ll be going now.”
“Wait a moment!”
The woman tightly closed her eyes and revealed the reason she had come to find me. It seemed hastily put together, but it was convincing enough.
“Well…”
“Yes.”
“Actually… I heard about the Mentor from Senior Hanna….”
“Ah… Miss Hanna?”
“Yes…! I asked how to improve my swordsmanship quickly! So… so…!”
Fiddling with the sword hilt at my waist, I gave a playful smile.
“Miss Hanna said that?”
“Yes. Please don’t tell Senior Hanna…. I came on my own without permission.”
Seeing the woman’s face flush with embarrassment, I smiled faintly.
‘So that’s the reason….’
Turning to her, I said.
“You’re quite full of secrets.”
“…”
“Even your name is a secret.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Hmm.”
Folding my arms, I fell into thought.
“I’m someone who has a schedule too, you know.”
“…”
“I don’t live in the capital city, and thanks to my looks, I’m quite popular.”
“…Annoying.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing.”
It was a decent proposal. The idea of mentoring her. But I wasn’t particularly inclined to do so.
‘Mikhail will grow on his own.’
Speaking firmly, I turned away.
“I’ll think about it for now.”
The woman grabbed my sleeve and spoke in a timid voice.
“Today…!”
“Yes?”
“Please stay with me today.”
“What….”
“I’ll persuade you.”
So.
“Go on a date with me.”