chapter 38
38 – Fairy (2)
Two slightly enlarged eyes.
Confirming that Claire had found the fairy through that insignificant little change, I put her down again.
My legs touched the floor and I let go of my hands from the waist I was holding on to.
As she came down to the floor, she looked up at me and pursed her small lips, as if she had something to say.
It seems that he misunderstood that he shouldn’t speak loudly because I whispered a little while ago.
‘Well, if it’s a roar like an explosion, the story will be different.’
A fairy who fell into hibernation to the extent of talking normally would not wake up. At least that’s how I remember it.
First, I closed the open attic door, then grabbed Claire’s hand as she was staring up at me.
“ah… … .”
“Go out.”
“Yes… .”
When I opened my mouth first, the way he answered quickly made me think of Baek Ha-na from the past, and I laughed a little.
Fortunately, I had my head down, so I didn’t have to force the corners of my mouth as usual.
I quietly stepped on the stairs and came out with her.
At this point, it would be okay to say what she was about to say a moment ago, but she was still looking down at the floor with her head slightly lowered.
From the moment I held her hand, I knew that my body temperature had started to rise abnormally, but I didn’t think I would be so embarrassed that I couldn’t even lift my head.
I thought that since we had walked together from dawn until now, we must have adapted and developed tolerance. But looking at that reaction, it seems that it wasn’t at all.
“Claire.”
“Yes… … .”
Her gaze, which had been facing the floor, slowly moved upward, and only then did she stare straight ahead.
If possible, he wanted to make contact with the fairy before she moved her nest, and she needed her help to do so. Her divine power would be helpful in easing the wariness of a fairy who was as timid as she was curious.
Most of all, fairies like handsome men and beautiful women. After that, I like fun things.
Claire is a beauty that anyone can recognize even if you look at it objectively.
And I’m wearing these funny glasses on my face.
I think it’s a good enough combination to attract the attention of fairies.
Of course, I plan to prepare a little more than that.
To do that, I tried to let go of the hand I was holding on to have a proper conversation with Claire first.
tight.
But she didn’t let me go.
“ah… … .”
She lets out a short exclamation and then hurriedly releases her hand.
“Sorry, sorry… Thinking about something else for a second… ?”
I grabbed her cheeks and stopped her, who was about to bow her head over something really insignificant. Then, after leaning back slightly, I made him look up at me, and called my name.
“Claire.”
“No… … ?”
Her transparent blue eyes trembled dizzy, and hot heat was transmitted from her cheeks that touched her palms.
“I’ve said it many times already, but I’ll say it one last time. Don’t bow your head. Seeing that makes me even more uncomfortable.”
“Uh, uh… … .”
Claire pursed her lips even redder than her flushed face and gave a quick nod in response.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes… … .”
No matter how awakened you are, if you harm your body, you will be damaged. That’s why even she who just chewed her tongue will be in quite a bit of pain.
I let go of the hand that was holding my cheek as she closed her eyes tightly and nodded her head a little while ago.
Tadada-!!
She stepped back in an instant, and a soft glow shone from her body for a brief moment before fading. Then she spoke, pulling her pursed lips out.
“Really, it’s okay… It’s okay… … . Yes… .”
“Looks like it.”
“ah… … .”
As I take a step closer, Claire takes a step back, startled.
I opened my eyes wide as if I was surprised by what I had just shown.
“sorry… … .”
Out of habit, he tried to bow his head to me, but he hurriedly lifted his head, straining his neck as if he remembered what had happened a while ago.
‘The method was a bit excessive, but it sure seems to have worked.’
As a kind of shock therapy, I tried one of the methods I used often when Baek Ha-na was still young, and it seemed to work.
“Claire.”
“Yes, yes… … .”
Obviously, the eyes were on my face, but if I looked a little closer, it was easy to see that Claire was looking at my lips, not my eyes.
I felt the need to refresh the atmosphere a little, and I had something to bring just in time, so I said to Claire.
“I would like you to bring me some shiny trinkets. It doesn’t matter what shape it is, as long as it sparkles.”
“accessories… … .”
“Please.”
“Ah, yes… … I’ll get you soon.”
I continued talking towards her back as she turned away from me as if running away.
“You don’t have to rush. I will prepare something to eat too.”
“… … Yes.”
However, unlike Claire’s answer, she quickly moved out of my sight.
– Woo woo woo~!!
Vibration in your arms.
When I put my hand in and took out my smartphone, the screen turned on on its own and vomited out loud sentences.
[ (^∀^*) Ah, sweet, sweet!! ]
[(•ω<)☆ Please continue to be active as you are now!!]
The screen that was turned on on its own turns off on its own.
‘It would be okay to destroy at least one stone statue.’
Thinking of giving back as much as I received, I tried to put what I had in my hands into my arms.
-Tiriling.
The screen that had been turned off turned on and the only notification sound I had set came out. He flipped his hand over and looked at the screen that lit up.
[ Hana Baek : (Photo) ]
[Baek Hana: You said you two weren’t dating. ]
I glanced at the picture of Claire and I arm in arm, then moved my finger.
It’s enough to tell the truth as it is without any excuses.
“… … .”
I was about to send the mail, but I erased everything I had written. Then he called Baek Hana.
To prevent intruders from getting in the way.
**
– Claire.
“Calm down, calm down… … .”
At the low voice that could be heard in her ears even if her concentration was slightly distracted, Claire eventually chewed the inner cheek lightly and cut it.
It was a judgment I made because it seemed that I would never be able to come to my senses without giving him pain like that.
In fact, as the fishy smell began to spread in my mouth along with the sharp pain, the voice I had been hearing gradually became smaller and was no longer heard.
“Sigh.”
The confused mind began to calm down, and Claire decided to leave the wound in her mouth unhealed, thinking about the situation.
‘This… … Lee Ye-sol gave it to me.’
From the moment she left as if running away from Baek Woo-jin, Claire’s memory was unstable.
Through the luxurious envelope in her hand, she managed to retrieve her memory.
Upon receiving Baek Woo-jin’s request, he headed to the temple first to get a shiny accessory. And I met Lee Ye-sol, who had just finished eating, and Lee Ye-sol approached me with a bright smile as soon as she saw her face.
It was a smile that was so bright and full of pure emotions, but for some reason, Claire had the thought of wanting to hit the approaching Lee Ye-Sol for a moment, then quickly let it go.
Afterwards, the circumstances were briefly explained, and Lee Ye-sol put the earrings and necklaces she had originally purchased with the intention of dressing her up in an envelope for Claire, who provided a very sweet dessert after the meal, and handed them over.
I got what I wanted, so I headed to the old alchemy workshop where I was going to meet Baek Woo-jin again, and that was right now.
‘… … It’s pitiful.’
Even if he showed a good figure, he not only stuttered, but also showed laxity in chewing his tongue.
Honestly, I was in such a disgraceful and embarrassing state that I wanted to get into the futon right now, stop all activities for the time being, and have time alone.
However, Baek Woo-jin’s request was more important than personal feelings, so he persevered and moved to the promised place.
Claire, who was able to have enough alone time in the middle because it had been a long time since people had stopped walking, was able to gather her mind.
As she got closer to the rendezvous, she was able to find Baek Woo-jin holding something in her hand.
“professor.”
Thinking that I had made him wait, I moved my steps quickly and only then did I properly recognize what was in Baek Woo-jin’s hand.
A small brown basket.
It was the basket that Baek Woo-jin used when Baek Ha-na was still young and was in the mood for a picnic because she couldn’t stand Baek Ha-na’s childishness.
“Let me put it down for a moment.”
“… … Yes.”
I barely made up my mind, but as soon as I heard his voice, my heart trembled again. At the same time, the hand that touched my cheek came to mind.
– Claire.
“Claire.”
Once again his voice… … .
“… … !!”
After being dazed for a moment, she realized a beat late that Baek Woo-jin had actually called her name, and her shoulders trembled. And he could see Baek Woo-jin’s hand facing him.
The hand was pointing exactly at the paper bag he was holding, and then turned to the floor.
It was only then that Claire realized that she had only answered and not taken action, and quickly put down what she was holding on the floor.
“hand.”
“… … here.”
Claire reached out her hand to Baek Woo-jin, and Baek Woo-jin gently grabbed her extended hand.
Swoop.
Through their touching hands, Claire could feel the slightly special magic power she had become accustomed to seeping into her body.
It was one of the measures Baek Woo-jin took when he needed to avoid the attention of others.
It is unknown what principle it is, but as long as Baek Woo-jin’s magical power circulates in his body, he was able to hide himself as if his existence itself was erased.
Baek Woo-jin was using the kind of thing that made him a little afraid, with no presence, sound, or even smell leaking out.
“Follow me.”
“… … Yes.”
Claire retrieved the envelope she had put down and stood next to Baek Woo-jin and walked side by side.
[Confirmed.]
The door opened and I entered the dusty workshop again.
When his heart, which had barely subsided from the warmth of his hand, showed signs of trying again, Claire moistened her dry lips and opened her mouth.
“… professor.”
“Let me speak.”
“I would like to ask what you intend to do with the fairy.”
“nothing.”
“… … Then what about these?”
“They are tools for friendship.”
“… … .”
Claire carefully looked at the envelope in her hand and the basket in Baek Woo-jin’s hand.
It’s true that fairies like shiny things, but she knew from experience that they couldn’t be friendly with just that.
That’s why I was curious.
How to close the distance with the fairies with these things.
profit.
The warehouse door opened with an unpleasant sound, and the two went inside.
Baek Woo-jin, who entered the warehouse, put down the basket right under the attic door, took out a slightly larger glass jar of jam from it, opened the lid, and set it down on the floor.
Then, he put his hand back into the basket and pulled out a small container containing the ‘Essence of the Black Queen Slime’ that he had bought at an auction house one day.
Click.
When the lid was opened, a sweet smell that made my nose dizzy spread out in an instant and began to fill the surroundings.
I thought I bought it for Baek Ha-na, who likes sweet things, but that wasn’t the case. Baek Woo-jin put the black jelly in the bottle into the glass bottle.
“Are these the ones you used?”
“Oh, no.”
At Baek Woo-jin’s question, Claire quickly shook her head and held out the envelope.
He received an envelope from Claire, took out the appropriately sized trinkets from inside, and started stacking them one by one so as not to touch the essence of the slime in the glass bottle.
“… … It will be fine.”
Then, he lifted the glass bottle and stood up with the lid of the glass bottle and the envelope containing the jewelry.
Baek Woo-jin handed the envelope back to Claire and told her.
“To go to a corner.”
“… … Yes.”
Claire followed Baek Woo-jin’s words and walked to the corner of the warehouse. Baek Woo-jin then reached out to the attic and pulled the door open.
When the attic door opened, Baek Woo-jin put his hands behind his back and distanced himself from the glass bottle.
How long did you wait in that state?
– Peek out.
A small fairy cautiously poked her head out from under the wide-open attic.
The fairy blinked several times to see if she hadn’t woken up yet.
The fairy, who had been staring at the attic for a long time after revealing herself, carefully moved her wings and came down.
Each movement was so small and lovely that Claire completely lost her gaze to the fairy.
The fairy who came down like that held the spout of the glass bottle containing the sweet-smelling essence of the slime with her tiny hand.
– Beep!!
He flapped his wings and tried to bring the glass bottle up. However, the glass bottle only moved its hips a few times and did not get dragged into the fairy’s hand and stood firm.
-Beep… … .
After grunting for a long time, the fairy stretched out as if exhausted and then pushed herself into the glass bottle. Then, holding in his hand some of the jewelry Baek Woo-jin had piled up, he went back up to the attic.
-Beep~!!
The fairy, who seemed exhausted just a moment ago, smiled broadly like an excited child and moved to the attic without missing earrings and necklaces.
Finally, when there was only the essence of the slime and the necklace left in the bottle, the fairy went into the bottle and sat down.
– Beep
Then, holding the black jelly with both hands, he opened his small mouth and began to eat the muddy jelly.
Click.
– Beep?
“… … ?”
The fairy and Claire tilted their heads at the same time. And at the same time, the two opened their eyes wide as they looked at the glass bottle that had been capped.
– Beep?! Beep!! Beep, Beep!! Beep!!
The fairy held the jelly in one hand and made a fuss here and there, but the lid did not open and only the glass bottle tilted and rolled riotously on the floor.
Claire, who had been watching him blankly, cautiously asked Baek Woo-jin, who had approached him before he knew it.
“For sure… … I’m close, I’m tired… ?”
To her question, Baek Woo-jin calmly nodded and answered.
“If you rescue me when you’re tired, at least you won’t be wary.”
“… … .”
That was right.
It was right.
– Beep!! beep… !! beep… ! beep… … .
“Um…”
Claire couldn’t nod her head this time.