POSSESSED 6

Even if I have managed to block the biggest threat, Jang Taeyeon, by possessing him, there’s no telling what might happen. Trouble could break out at any time because of someone else. I shouldn’t let my guard down recklessly.

But then, is there anything I can even do even if I don’t let my guard down? I’ve mastered Jang Taeyeon’s abilities in theory, but I’ve never actually used them.

While I was lost in my own thoughts, Yeonji tapped my shoulder. Gathering my senses, I looked at Yeonji.

“This one too…”

In the hands of the child who had finished reading one book was another. It was a book called Thump-Thump-Roll-along Tomato. How could even the thing she picked be a cute tomato?

“Alright, teacher will read it to you.”

Taking the book, I looked at Yeonji. After whining like a puppy that needed to go, the child approached, turned her back to me, and sat right on my lap.

She’s so cute I’m going to lose my mind!

I bit my lip hard as I looked at her small, round head. Only after barely suppressing the urge to dote on the child was I able to find my voice properly.

“The roll-along tomato set off on a journey.”

I opened the book in front of the child sitting on my lap and began to read. It was a story about a young tomato experiencing all sorts of ups and downs—flying through the sky, swimming in the sea, and climbing trees—before meeting a banana friend. At the final scene where he meets the banana, Yeonji even clapped with her little hands that looked like fern brakes.

Setting everything else aside. Since the child is this cute, isn’t it only natural that I become weak for her?

“This time, would Yeonji like to try reading Tomato? It’s a different kind of fun than when teacher reads it.”

With a nod, Yeonji took the book and lay down on the floor. While observing the child peering intently at the book, her untidy hair caught my eye.

Should I try doing it? It’s been the other teachers’ responsibility until now, though.

“Yeonji, shall teacher tie your hair for you?”

As soon as she heard my words, Yeonji spun her body around and shot a look at me. Her eyes, sharp with distrust, brought on a needless wave of nervousness.

“Teacher can tie hair well too, you know. Want to give me a chance?”

“…Yeees.”

Even though she said she would, her voice was somehow ambiguous. I flashed a purposefully confident smile at Yeonji, then brought over the box containing spare hair ties and pins prepared for the children.

Only then did Yeonji relax her gaze and show interest in the box. Yeonji wiggled closer and sat down in front of me. Perhaps because it wasn’t her first or second time having an adult tie it, she took the position skillfully.

I began brushing carefully so as not to hurt the child, and decided to ask something that suddenly came to mind.

“Does uncle tie Yeonji’s hair every morning?”

“Yeees…”

“How is it? Does uncle tie your hair well, just the way Yeonji wants?”

The child nodded. While briefly finding her answer unexpected, I parted her hair into two sections. Then, I began to braid them one by one from top to bottom.

“He ties it just the way Yeonji wants? Uncle told teacher that he didn’t think he was good at tying Yeonji’s hair, and that he felt very sorry toward Yeonji.”

“That’s not it…”

“It’s not? Then teacher should tell uncle the truth.”

“He can’t… tie it prettily… like HaChuPing…”

Like HaChuPing?

I was confused for a moment but understood immediately. It was one of the cartoon characters popular among children lately.

“But Yeonji… likes it when Sam-chon ties it…”

“Even if uncle can’t tie it like HaChuPing?”

Done. At the same time I asked, I finished the braided pigtails.

I turned the child’s body to face me. I wondered for a moment if I should undo the braids because of the HaChuPing story, but I decided to leave them as they were and tidied up the stray hairs.

Yeonji looked up at me with innocent, pure eyes. It was fascinating. Yeonji’s gaze reminded me of the look in Baek Joomyeong’s eyes I encountered not long ago. Since family is family, their eyes looked alike.

Anyway, so it’s okay even if uncle isn’t good at tying hair?

If that’s the case, Baek Joomyeong has it wrong. He said that Yeonji hated it when her hair wasn’t tied well, more than anything else.

Children are beings that seem simple yet are difficult. Even if they seem so crystal clear that they reveal all their emotions, they hide their true inner feelings away tightly. Especially children who are gentle like Yeonji, or those who have already experienced the loss of their parents, tend to submerge their true intentions even deeper.

I’m telling you, I’m not just wasting my time as a daycare teacher.

“Then do you remember being angry at uncle before?”

“…”

“I’m not trying to scold Yeonji. Teacher is just curious about the reason Yeonji was angry…. In teacher’s eyes, it didn’t seem like our Yeonji was angry because of her hair, right?”

“…Noo, it’s not…!”

Yeonji, who stood up by grabbing my knees, cupped her hands over her lips and whispered the reason she had been angry into my ear. And as soon as she finished her words, she trotted over to the mirror attached to the wall.

“Wow. KkuraePing hair!”

Watching the child smile brightly at the hair I tied, I felt satisfied myself, but I also let out a secret sigh at the complicated feeling that followed.

So, that’s what it was.

Baek Joomyeong arrived. He was wearing his Wolhwa Guild uniform today as well.

Baek Joomyeong was in his uniform every time I saw him. Therefore, I hadn’t been particularly moved by it, but wow, he looks different today for some reason. He looked a bit more formal.

Is it because he’s coming from a regular meeting?

Unconsciously, I scanned him from head to toe. An identification tag hung from his neck, and a silk cummerbund was wrapped around his waist. Several medals were pinned to the collar of the uniform. I didn’t know what they signified, but they likely indicated that he was a great Hunter.

Whatever the case, a uniform is quite cool.

Baek Joomyeong first greeted Yeonji, who came running in her socks the moment he arrived, and then apologized to me.

“I am sorry. I should have picked Yeonji up on time.”

“Not at all. That can happen when circumstances arise.”

“Still, I am sorry. I should have looked into it more carefully.”

“You have absolutely no reason to be sorry. As you know, Hunter, if circumstances arise, you can leave her in the full-day class anytime. There are quite a few children like that since their parents are Hunters.”

“Ah…”

“By the way, Hunter, you must be quite worried about Yeonji’s drop-offs and pick-ups.”

He is merely doing his job as a Hunter. Even though he is only doing his part as the world expects, the grudges of villains against him must be piling up. Knowing that and still taking on the responsibility of raising his niece is truly a great decision.

“…Teacher, how do you go home?”

“I walk. My house is nearby.”

Why is he asking that all of a sudden? Is he going to offer me a ride? If that’s the case, it would be right to refuse.

Contrary to my thoughts, that was all for Baek Joomyeong. He didn’t say anything about giving me a ride. When I realized I had jumped the gun, I felt awkward.

I almost became the guy who drank the kimchi soup before it was served.

“Yeonji, have a good weekend with uncle, and let’s see each other with a smile on Monday.”

The child nodded her head. For some reason, her expression was bright. Since a child wouldn’t have the concept of finishing school or work, it wasn’t that she was happy to leave the center; looking at how she kept fiddling with her hair, it seemed she quite liked the braids.

I softly looked at Baek Joomyeong. As soon as his eyes met mine, he followed the child and nodded his head. It seemed he was about to leave.