I Became a Raid Boss-Chapter 230: Confession (2)

"So when are we going?"

I asked, and Da-eun answered.

"How about we go tomorrow without dragging it out?"

"...Tomorrow?"

"You know the saying, 'strike while the iron is hot.' That's why I'm suggesting tomorrow. Is that a problem?"

"It's not so much a matter of preference... it's just that this isn't about my likes or dislikes."

I don’t have anyone who could be called a real friend, but even I know it’s rude to visit someone’s house without warning.

For Da-eun, it’s probably fine since she’s the real daughter of both parents, but for me, I’m just a member of the family, not really part of it.

They might welcome me on the outside, but there’s no guarantee their feelings match their actions.

"...Don't you think that’s not quite right, Kana?"

Da-eun shook her head in disbelief when she heard my words.

"Didn't you see mom's gaze? Her eyes were dripping with honey. If someone who didn’t know saw it, they’d think I was the daughter, not you. If that was acting, then my mom should've been an actress, not a housewife."

"That wasn’t acting back then. But now, things are different."

"Exactly, and that’s why we’re going to check it out now. Are you going to keep running away?"

"I’m not running away. I’m saying we should set a definite date."

"Aish... Just call tomorrow morning, what’s with all this talk about a promise? Is this something Kana would do?"

By my standards, no matter how I thought about it, it didn’t seem right.

Yet, with Da-eun insisting so firmly, I waved the white flag.

In truth, as Da-eun said, she knew her parents much better than I did.

"And you can’t always show your perfect side to your parents. Sometimes you need to act a little childish too, so they’ll like you more."

"...Isn’t that usually the opposite?"

Shouldn’t I sometimes show some maturity to reassure them while acting childish?

But as I mulled over Da-eun’s words, I couldn’t help but smile.

‘Well, I guess I’m not one to talk.’

If I really knew better, I wouldn’t have regretted it when my father left.

I threw a fit and cried, making a scene, shouting that I was right and they were wrong. What did it get me? Only laughter.

"Alright, let’s go tomorrow."

"Is that a promise?"

"You’re the one who said promises aren’t necessary..."

I accepted Da-eun’s suggestion.

Seeing her so confident, I figured no matter what happened, she’d take care of things.

And so—

The next morning.

Normally, I would’ve been having breakfast and lounging around on the sofa, but Da-eun was busy moving around.

Crash!

"Ah?!"

Smash!

"Kwekk!"

With every noisy sound.

It seemed like she was going to return the stacked food containers to her parents' house, but from the sounds, it was like she was in the middle of a war.

Actually, wasn’t she just trying to break all the household items instead of organizing the food containers?

What kind of benefit could that possibly bring...? Well, I don’t know, but maybe she thought it was worth it.

Crash!

"Screaaam!"

Before I could finish my thoughts, Da-eun, who was on tiptoe reaching for the high cabinet, was pelted with snacks.

I gave her a quick jab while she clutched her head, groaning in pain.

"I told you to put those things at the bottom."

"If I put them at the bottom, you’d eat them all! I’m worried you’re already eating too much as it is...."

"You won’t ruin your body with just that much."

Da-eun’s snack storage had gone through two phases.

At first, she’d kept them in a high cabinet where I couldn’t reach, but after I broke a bunch of plates, they were moved to a lower spot.

Then, after I ate too many snacks, she started keeping most of them at a higher place and only leaving a few at the bottom.

But, isn’t she thinking about it wrong?

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‘Why does she think putting them at the top would stop me from taking them?’

Just the ones at the bottom were enough. If I wanted, I could sneak some from the top any time.

"...."

To be honest, if I’m being completely honest, I’ve stolen a snack or two, though it wasn’t often.

I didn’t have what I wanted at the bottom, and when I checked, there were some at the top, so I took a few.

So, to sum up, Da-eun’s efforts were in vain.

The reason I caused trouble back then was that my body wasn’t in perfect condition, and now that I’ve fully recovered, there’s no need for me to stand on a chair.

"Good luck."

There’s no real reason to stir things up, and only a fool would do that.

I may not be the smartest, but I’m confident that I’m not a total fool, so I wasn’t planning to do that.

Why would I say I stole something when nothing good would come from it?

"Hey, I feel like there are fewer snacks."

"..."

"Well... It’s probably just my imagination."

I hid, holding my breath, trying not to be spotted by the predator.

After a bunch of noise and fuss, Da-eun finally finished preparing.

"...Was there this much?"

She looked at the large bag, filled to the brim with the food containers, in a daze.

"A bag big enough for just Kana to fit in...."

"Why am I in there?"

"Just saying it’s that big. ...No, is it small... Aah!"

At that moment, I teased Da-eun in return.

As I walked with the bag, Da-eun hopped after me like a bunny, holding her injured leg.

"It’s heavy. Let me carry it!"

"It’s not heavy. And even if it were, I’d carry it better than you."

"That’s true, but you know, people’s eyes are a thing, right?"

"...?"

"When a little kid is carrying a big bag, and someone’s standing there empty-handed, what do you think people will think? They’d definitely think I’m being abused...."

"Oh, that kind of gaze."

In the end, since she didn’t want to be mistaken for an abuser, she said she would carry it herself.

I had a feeling that’s what she’d say.

But since I knew that wasn’t really her true intention, I didn’t stop her from taking the bag from my hands.

Even if our identities were exposed, I didn’t want to be bothered in my everyday life.

Although we were hiding our faces to avoid being seen, luckily, we didn’t run into anyone until we loaded the car in the underground parking lot.

"I feel like a celebrity doing this."

Da-eun, sitting in the driver’s seat, took off her sunglasses and grinned.

"Honestly, I’ve always kind of wanted to try this. Like hiding my face and walking around, and if someone recognizes me, I’ll just pull my mask down and sign something...."

"If you want people to recognize you, just go around without hiding your face."

"Ay, that’s different. If you’re always showing your face, it loses its value. You need to hide it so that when you do reveal it, it’s more valuable."

"Ah, right. Okay."

"Now that we’re at it, maybe I should make a cool signature again..."

"I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I’d recommend not doing it."

What Da-eun was thinking was probably something that had a very low chance of success.

Da-eun, who grumbled about how unfair I was, started the car.

With a soft hum, the car smoothly left the parking lot.

When the bright sunlight replaced the dim lights of the underground parking lot, Da-eun, who had been comfortably leaning back while letting the car drive itself, squinted.

But it wasn’t because the sunlight was too bright.

"Such devotion."

What I saw as we left the parking lot was a group of people, cameras and broadcasting equipment in hand, gathered in front of the building.

They kept their distance so they wouldn’t block the path, but I was sure they would rush toward us the moment they saw our faces, like a pack of hungry dogs.

"How did they figure out where we live? The security guard must be having a hard time. I should bring him a drink sometime soon."

"Is it annoying?"

"It’s a bit bothersome, but... when Kana says things like that, it feels ominous, so don’t say it...."

"...Why would I."

I really just asked out of pure curiosity.

But Da-eun responded as if she was being chased by a killer.

Whether she knew I was looking at her annoyed or not, Da-eun sighed and said.

"I knew there’d be limits to just personal streaming. I didn’t expect much to begin with."

She placed her hands on the steering wheel, muttering her complaints, then smiled at me.

"Well, let’s just think about it after we come back. No need to spoil the mood by worrying about it now, right? We’re going to eat something good, and mom’s sharpening her knives to make something delicious."

"Your mom...."

"How about it? Are you excited?"

"..."

"Huh? Are you saying you’re not excited? Should I tell mom?"

"When did I say that?"

"Your answer wasn’t immediate, so that’s an automatic ‘no’."

Even now, the news about the dimensional beasts and my story were all over TV. She must’ve heard about it from our phone call, and it was obvious she knew I was going along with Da-eun.

Hearing her say ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) that, I was momentarily speechless.

Of course, since it was Da-eun speaking, there was a high chance she exaggerated a little...

"...I am excited."

I couldn’t bring myself to deny it, so I turned my gaze out the window.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, we quickly got out of the car and rushed into the building.

It was definitely suspicious behavior, but since no one was watching, there was no one to make an issue of it.

"This feels like a stealth mission...!"

"You’re always so positive, Da-eun. It’s nice."

"...That’s weird. Why does it sound like an insult even though it’s a compliment?"

Da-eun made a disgusted face, and I stepped off the elevator.

A home’s entrance came into view.

It was the same door as when I saw it a few months ago.

But I felt like the door in front of me now was different from the one I saw then.

It was a cold door that blocked my way as if it were telling me to turn back.

"Haah..."

But.

I had to knock on this door, if only to prove to Da-eun that I wasn’t scared.

I quietly looked up at the door, stood on tiptoe, and—

Ding dong—

The cheerful sound of the doorbell rang out.