GTLTGIDES chapter 52

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‘Did I do something wrong? Did I come back too late?’

I quickly checked the time… but it wasn’t that late.

It was a bit late to be having dinner, but could that really be why he was upset?

Eunsoo isn’t the type to get angry over trivial matters.

Whatever it is, it must be something I’ve done wrong.

‘I’m not sure what it is, but I’d better apologize anyway.’

As a sid echaracter with no wealth, appearance, honor, or abilities, I have to follow the main character’s words to survive.

With as much reverence as I could muster, I prepared myself to accept whatever scolding was about to come, ready to beg and plead for forgiveness.

“Ahjussi, you lied to me.”

“Huh?”

“You tricked me! About what I made today!”

“Oh…”

So that was it.

‘I didn’t think He’d find out so quickly…’

I made sure not a single drop was left, even did the dishes myself. But how did he figure it out?

Should I deny it?

Do I have a chance?

I was quickly calculating my options when Eunsoo’s face twisted into a look of impending tears, and he glared at me sharply.

“Don’t even think about lying. I tried making it again myself… It was way too salty… It wasn’t even edible…”

“You made it again? Why?”

“I… I really thought you enjoyed it!”

Eunsoo shouted, his eyes welling up with tears.

“Ah.”

When I realized how Eunsoo had found out the truth, I almost teared up myself.

He tried to remake it for me, thinking I’d be happy.

Damn it.

My precious angel, the only one in the world.

He’s already beautiful, but his actions and heart are so pure.

“Eunsoo, thank you…”

“What’s with the sudden thanks? What are you grateful for?”

“You tried to make it again just to make me happy.”

“…”

Eunsoo’s face twisted even more, as if upset that I didn’t understand his feelings.

Feeling sorry, I smiled and gently wiped the corners of his eyes, holding his cheeks.

Eunsoo, who didn’t pull away and just looked at me quietly with his clear blue eyes, cautiously tugged at my sleeve and asked,

“Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Liar. You only came back after you felt better. When you left the house, you looked so pale…”

What should I do?

My kid is too smart and quick-witted. As an inexperienced guardian, I’m completely exposed.

“I’m really fine.”

But it’s true that my body is okay now.

I spoke with confidence, but Eunsoo stared at me with worried eyes for a long time.

Do I look that weak?

Well, I suppose I do seem that weak… But it would be nice if he trusted me.

I want to be a reliable guardian for Eunsoo.

I’ll only be able to stay by Eunsoo’s side for about half a year, and it would be too sad if he had no one to rely on because of my shortcomings.

I put on the most reassuring smile I could muster.

But Eunsoo’s expression remained cold.

…How did his trust in me end up so low?

“Why did you do it? Why did you eat it?”

“Because it was the first thing you made for me, and I didn’t want to waste it.”

“Are you an idiot? Just for that stupid reason, you ate something that salty? Even mine too? Almost three servings?”

“…But.”

“If you’d told me it was salty, I could’ve made it taste better and given it to you! Why would you eat it? Why are you so stubborn?”

That’s a lie.

Even though he acts tough and indifferent, Eunsoo is actually a very sensitive child who gets hurt easily. his pride is strong, so if I had pointed it out, he might never have cooked again, let alone remake the dish. It wasn’t a small mistake—it was that salty.

So, the choice I made this time was the best I could do for Eunsoo.

Even if I felt a bit remorseful, I didn’t regret it.

“The fact that your heart was in it made it taste good enough. That’s why I didn’t say anything. Honestly.”

“…You’re really an idiot, Ahjussi.”

Yes, I am an idiot.

If it took his only half a day to figure out what I was hiding and it made his twice as upset, then I’m definitely an idiot.

I should have confessed sooner.

That way, I might have been able to soften the blow.

Still, it seems my words have eased Eunsoo’s mood a bit.

The tense, prickly atmosphere lingering in the air has dissipated.

Eunsoo, out of habit, grabbed my hand.

As he fiddled with each of my fingers, he asked,

“Ahjussi, do you like me that much? Enough to eat something that salty?”

“Yes.”

“…What do you like about me so much?”

Eunsoo asked in a slightly shy tone. How cute.

If he hadn’t been wearing such a sad expression, I might have smiled foolishly again.

But I couldn’t completely hide my affection for this lovely child.

“Eunsoo, I’m not cold-hearted. How could I not like you when you got up early and made breakfast for me? Right?”

“…”

“Right? I might have been so excited that I couldn’t even taste it properly and just gulped it down, right?”

“Ugh…”

Eunsoo’s face turned bright red as if it was about to explode.

Oh no. Did I push his too much, considering He’s still not good at showing he likes someone?

“Oh, seriously, it’s a big problem how much Ahjussi likes me.”

Fortunately, Eunsoo quickly switched back to his bragging mode.

Even though his face was still bright red, he tilted his chin up and spoke confidently, still holding my hand tightly, his blue eyes filled with me.

“No matter how much you like me, if something like this happens again, don’t eat it and just tell me. You’re not in the best shape. I won’t make any more mistakes, but you never know…”

“Okay.”

“I started this to make you eat something good, but if you stubbornly eat something bad for your body, then what’s the point…?”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

When I apologized sincerely, Eunsoo finally smiled bashfully.

It was his happy smile, with a healthy flush on his cheeks, that I loved more than anything in the world.

“I couldn’t make anything, but let’s eat together anyway. I’ve been waiting to eat with you, Ahjussi.”

“Should I order some delivery food?”

“No, I just want to eat what we have. I’m sure delivery food won’t sit well with you…”

“I also prefer eating home-cooked meals with you, Eunsoo.”

“Right?”

Because Eunsoo was too shocked after realizing the truth this morning, he couldn’t make anything else, so there wasn’t much to put on the dinner table except for some side dishes bought a few days ago, fried eggs, and a can of tuna.

But it was more than enough.

Even if the food on the table wasn’t grand, the child sitting beside me and the conversations we shared enriched the dinner table more than any gourmet feast ever could.

The deception of the seer who glimpsed the future—this morning, it was beef radish soup.

It wasn’t just boiled in plain water but a dish Eunsoo had carefully prepared from scratch since last night, even making the broth from scratch using the high-quality beef that arrived at dawn.

However, there was one problem.

It was bland. Excessively so. It tasted like the salt had merely brushed by rather than being added.
As soon as I took a sip, I was struck by how impossibly bland it was, a shock of a different sort from yesterday.

But unlike yesterday, the circumstances were different.

If yesterday’s dish was a result of a mistake, today’s might have been deliberate.

No way would Eunsoo, of all people, make a similar mistake twice in a row.

As soon as I sent a puzzled, questioning look, Eunsoo replied indifferently.

“Bland food is good for your health.”

“Mm…”

It’s something Eunsoo made for me, so I can’t dare complain. I should just eat it as it is, right?

As I swallowed my tears, Eunsoo, sitting beside me, took a bite and immediately grimaced.

“Wow, it’s really bland.”

He quickly sprinkled salt into his portion of the soup.

As I thought, this is too much.

I subtly pushed my bowl forward…

“Why are you looking at me like that? You’re on a sodium ban for now, Ahjussi.”

“…Mm.”

…I decided to just eat it. Right. People eat rice with water, so what’s the big deal about blandness?

This blandness is a measure of love.

Still, since it wasn’t made with just plain water, and when eaten with side dishes, it wasn’t entirely inedible.

It felt like eating rice soaked in water with bits of ingredients floating around, and with the beef, it was slightly greasy.

“Oh, right. I got a call this morning. They want us at the Management Bureau today.”

“…”

“You’ll come with me, right?”

As we were almost done with our meal, Eunsoo asked me. his tone was casual. This visit to the Management Bureau was actually a set procedure. They probably want to hear directly from her, separated from me, about how living with me has been.

It’s something they do for the child’s safety, so there’s no reason to refuse. Of course, I’ll go with him. But…

‘Is that really all they’ll ask?’

It bothers me.

Polwel.

A family of espers that holds sway over the world.

The head of such a family has come to Korea.

Just for sightseeing?

Impossible. In the original story, they weren’t even supposed to come to Korea at this point.

It can only mean that the change in events has brought about a specific “purpose.”

There’s no way such a prominent figure would come to Korea without notifying anyone.

The Management Bureau must know about his visit and its purpose. If that’s why they called Eunsoo today…

“Eunsoo.”

“Yes?”

“…”

I called her, but I didn’t know what to say.

Should I tell his to be careful? Of what? How could I know why they came all this way to Korea?

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you coming with me?”

Eunsoo looked at me quietly as I remained silent.

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