Chapter 38

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: The Super Shy Kid is Looking for Dad 134

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Tiye had come to this realization because of a certain incident from the past.

Precisely, an event from the year before Dad went missing.

That day, Tiye had come home from kindergarten and was hanging out with Grandma from room 107.

Suddenly, the owner of the big moving company down the alley came barging over and started pounding on the door of Tiye's house with a loud bang.

"Kim! Get out here! I know you're in there, so come on out, you bastard...!"

Tiye jumped in surprise at the curse word the man spat out.

But Grandma from 107 didn't bat an eye, true to her status as the boss of Gold Apartments.

Instead, she leisurely stepped outside, hands clasped behind her back, to deal with the man.

"What brings you here, Mr. Choi?"

Peeking through the cracked door, Tiye saw that the moving guy’s face was beet red.

"Hey, Kim! How am I supposed to make a living if you snatch up every damn job around here?!"

"Jobs?"

"I'm talking about the morning delivery runs to Sing Sing Mart! That was my gig, and you swooped in and took it! Doesn't that guy have any business ethics? He didn't even talk to me first—just lowered his rate and disrupted the whole market, you know?!"

Grandma let out a baffled chuckle.

"Why don't you just lower your daily wage too, huh?"

"Listen here, ma'am! How much do you think I even make? And that shopping district sewer that clogs up every time? I was the one charging per job to unclog it! But Kim goes and does it for free!"

"......"

"Same with the flophouse moves in the neighborhood! All jobs I handled, and he undercuts the price and steals them! If I starve to death like this! If my business goes under, you gonna take responsibility, huh?!"

Only then did Tiye realize the man kept calling "Kim, Kim" was referring to her dad.

Thinking back, she remembered how Dad had seemed busy day and night lately.

Meanwhile, Grandma snorted and shot back.

"Serves you right for messing with someone who works honestly. Yeah, messing with him. Tsk."

The moving guy’s eyes went wide in disbelief.

"What'd you say?"

"You brag about hiring shady folks with no background checks. But when it comes time to pay up, what do you do, Mr. Choi? Slash it to a third? Not even half—is that any way to treat people?"

"Ah, no, that was..."

"Hey, don't underestimate that young guy in 106! Even if trash like you stabs him in the back a hundred times, he just keeps grinding away! Raises his daughter to be the smartest kid in the neighborhood!"

Grandma never backed down to the moving guy.

"...Fine, whatever. I'll make sure to tell his new wife about your drunken antics at the bar."

Tiye didn't understand what Grandma's parting shot meant.

But for some reason, the moving guy turned pale and hightailed it out of there.

And he never showed up at Tiye's house again.

Grandma came back inside, patted Tiye's back, and said,

"It's okay, sweetie. People always kick up a fuss when their rice bowl gets smashed. That guy's got a rotten temper—might as well starve to death this time... Oh lord, what am I saying in front of a child."

That day, Tiye learned something.

When someone's rice bowl gets taken away, even a cricket jumps.

So no matter how she thought about it, the only way to get Dad to come find her himself was this one method.

'Tiye's gonna cut off Dad's rice bowl!'

It didn't have to be literally cutting off his rice bowl—as long as Tiye's group outdid Dad's mercenary corps.

Because now that she knew Dad's identity, several clues came rushing back to her.

'Hey kiddo, isn't Dad cool? Isn't he? He was the number one holy knight, you know.'

'Yeah, cool.'

'What's with that reaction~ Say it like you mean it. Say Dad's the best.'

'Yeeeah, Dad's the best! But... does Dad like being number one?'

'...Well? It wasn't so much 'like' as it was the only way I felt secure back then.'

'Secure?'

'Yeah, it was a tough time. If I didn't throw myself into some goal, it'd be hard—too many stray thoughts.'

She hadn't understood back then, but now Tiye got it.

'Dad's in his wild ambition phase right now!'

So even if he'd lied about his job, his talk about aiming for number one was probably true.

Tiye looked at the mercenaries with eyes full of conviction.

"Tomorrow, Tiye's gonna buy a ton of teleport circles and enchant magic stones super super super fast! Like, really really fast!"

Then she pumped both fists in the air by herself and shouted spiritedly.

"Agaveert's gonna be number one—fighting!"

The next day.

All the Agaveert mercenaries were forcibly woken at 6 a.m.

Tiye, up at the crack of dawn, had neatly dressed herself and opened Ppu Ppu's subspace.

"Blackie! Here!"

Lukarion was waving his hand this way and that on Tiye's command.

Each time, sacks full of gold coins floated through the air and stacked neatly onto the cart.

"Kid. What's all this?"

Veil, still groggy from sleep, asked, and Tiye shrugged her shoulders.

"I told you yesterday. Tiye's going to buy teleport circles."

"Where do they even sell those?"

"At Selina's house!"

At those words, Raoul and Enzo froze midway down the stairs.

Nordics, who had been up early reading in the kitchen due to his light sleeping habits, poked his head out too.

Tiye continued innocently, oblivious to it all.

"Selina's mom and dad sell a lot of teleport circles, and they've got tons in the basement! You just pay and take 'em. Friend sale!"

"Friend sale? Hold on. Even so, you mean the house next door right now?"

"Yup! Selina's probably waking up soon, so hurry!"

Veil looked around at the mercenaries with a troubled expression.

"No matter how you slice it..."

"Alright, let's go!"

But by then, Tiye had flung open the front door and was heading out.

Lukarion followed right behind, pulling the huge cart.

"...Pew!"

Ppu Ppu stood proudly at the front of the cart, sniffing the air with swirling nostrils.

Watching the scene, Basto quickly stepped forward.

"Veil. You go with her."

"What?"

"Can't send the kid alone, but if me, Raoul, or Enzo go, it'll spook 'em. You're the least suspicious, so tag along."

Basto tossed an overcoat to Veil.

Veil scowled but caught the coat and headed out.

Tiye and Lukarion were already past the gate.

They crossed the quiet street and arrived at the house opposite. Without a moment's hesitation, Tiye rang the bell.

A little later.

"...Who is it?"

A woman crossing the garden peered down at Tiye through the iron gate like she was sizing her up.

Tiye gave a proper bow at the waist first, then said,

"Hello! I'm Selina's friend, here to see her!"

"...The young miss's friend?"

"Yessiree!"

The woman narrowed her eyes.

She glanced once at Veil and Lukarion behind Tiye.

"...Come in."

Reluctantly, she opened the gate.

Tiye skipped across the garden with Ppu Ppu, full of pep.

As the front door opened, Selina appeared in the first-floor hall, still in her pajamas.

"Selina!"

"Tiye?"

Selina looked around in surprise.

Then her gaze fell on Lukarion behind Tiye, and she eyed the cart Tiye had dragged along with curious eyes.

"What's up so early in the morning..."

That was when it happened.

"Ugh, what a pain—suddenly wants to eat breakfast! Could've just grabbed something yourself. No childlike innocence, sneaky like an old fox..."

Someone coming down the stairs spotted Tiye's group and stopped dead.

"...Ah."

Then they clamped their mouth shut and hurried back down as if they hadn't seen a thing.

Tiye stared blankly before turning her head.

Selina's face was utterly drained of energy.

She looked like she'd just woken up, but her hair was neatly tied back as always, and her clenched fists were oddly pale.