Chapter 1105 – #263_Holiday(2)
#1099
1.
Ten years of struggling to pay off debts in this life.
It was more eventful than living with a notorious in-law family.
I’d done all sorts of part-time jobs, including working at a convenience store, lived in a crumbling rooftop room, and spent nights searching for homunculi while handing out flyers….
Even Sharon, who had never been told, “Why are you so gloomy?” found it a tough environment.
Why is the world so hard on me? I wish my debts would evaporate when I woke up, I wish I could win the lottery 50 times.
Those were the kinds of thoughts that naturally came to mind during those difficult days.
Looking back, it was thanks to that that I met a wonderful boyfriend like Siwoo and became Sharon Evergreen, the head of the Department of Elemental Studies at the 21st level of the Hessed Society of the Uranium Witch.
But honestly, that’s just something I can say because it’s in the past and I know the outcome.
My life as a debtor could never be a fond memory, not even as a figure of speech.
The more difficult and challenging life is, the more envy grows.
I, too, had many things I envied.
For example, the eccentric CEO who manipulated market prices with a single line on social media to make a profit (I still can’t forgive this guy).
For example, the experts who could read stock charts and copy money (in some ways, this is more amazing than magic).
For example, couples who casually bought expensive Häagen-Dazs from the ice cream display (especially the strawberry flavor).
For example, YouTubers who got paid to eat delicious food (at this time, the influence of Duke Keter was still present, making it difficult for witches to engage in public activities).
For example, the high school girls who came to the convenience store and gushed about how pretty I was. (More precisely, the bright future that emanated from their innocent expressions).
Oh, man.
When I think about it, it’s a really tearful and impoverished feeling, but I can sum up my childhood as being filled with a saltiness higher than the Dead Sea.
Oh, and one more example….
It was the sight of people spending joyful holidays with their families or friends.
On Lunar New Year’s Day or Chuseok, when the boss gave me 100,000 won as a bonus, I would stare blankly at the slightly quieter streets from the counter, and customers who were different from usual would come in one by one.
Due to the nature of Sinchon, near the university district, there were many college students, but during the holiday season, there were quite a few customers who came with their families.
Grandparents and grandchildren, parents and children, cousins and nephews, families connected by strong bonds.
Looking at the backs of customers who were much brighter than usual as they paid for their items and left, I couldn’t help but lament, “Ah, I’m really alone.”
Perhaps it was because it hadn’t been long since I had lost my teacher that I felt that way even more.
“That’s why I prepared this!”
Sharon’s Chuseok event!
It was also a housewarming party for Amelia, who would be lonely on her own.
Amelia herself seems to be hiding it, but part of the reason she didn’t stay at the Hessed Society was because she didn’t want to take up Siwoo’s time, who had been incredibly busy lately.
We didn’t realize it during our first meeting because we were bickering over Siwoo, but Amelia was a very kind and considerate person.
…Even if she sometimes made strange sexual harassment jokes, showed her quirky side, or suddenly went off the rails.
This Sharon’s eyes can’t be fooled, that’s what I’m saying.
“Teacher Sharon, but what exactly is Chuseok?”
“Good question, Odette! Chuseok is also called Hangawi. It’s the biggest holiday in our Siwoo’s hometown, where they pray for a good harvest before the harvest season.”
“Hmm, is it like a harvest festival?”
“It’s similar. Harvest festivals are about giving thanks for the harvest, while Chuseok is about praying for a good harvest, so there’s a difference.”
“Ah, I see.”
Well, it wasn’t a particularly difficult concept, so Odile and Odette both nodded.
One thing that was a bit disappointing was that Siwoo was a little late….
Well, it couldn’t be helped.
As I also work as Siwoo’s secret secretary, I know how much work he does.
Back when we lived together, I thought, ‘Wow, he’s really smart. Is this what a genius is?’ But after watching him by my side for several years and seeing what he did with the Hessed Society, I was convinced.
Siwoo wasn’t just a genius, he was a monster-level genius, and an incredible hard worker.
He even enjoys suffering over problems he can’t solve.
That must be why the researchers in the basic department are groaning.
Of course, it’s not like I dislike this time just because Siwoo isn’t here.
I can also get the feeling of spending the holiday under one roof with the cute Amelia, the lively twins, the mischievous L’Riel, and the adorable Duke, and most of all, I can also build friendships with Linne and Dorothy, who have newly joined the Gehenna pot.
It’s always good to be friendly with everyone!
“Okay, everyone, gather around.”
After finishing our tea time with the bread that Amelia and I had worked hard to prepare, we sat around in the living room of the cabin (?) and took out the gifts I had prepared.
What’s an essential item for Chuseok?
It’s Hanbok, of course.
Goodbye to the poverty I had shared with my half-life as a department head and secretary.
I wanted to get them all custom-made at Flora’s Dress Shop, but….
‘You want me to modify traditional clothing? There’s no clothing I can’t make, so it doesn’t matter, but the estimate will be a bit high.’
‘…Is it possible to pay in installments?’
‘No.’
As soon as I saw the estimate she gave me with her usual indifferent expression towards customers, I humbly gave up.
…No matter how I think about it, I chose the wrong major.
So, a few days ago, I asked for their sizes and just ordered them from a custom Hanbok shop in the current world.
Since it’s a really, really annoying outfit to wear in its original form, it was a modified Hanbok that emphasized convenience and practicality.
The colorful fabrics and elaborate gold embroidery made them as elegant as something you’d see in a fashion magazine.
I also matched all the personal colors.
For me, it was a deep teal like a pond, for the twins, it was violet, for the Duke, it was a light cherry blossom color, for L’Riel, it was a navy blue like the sea, for Dorothy, it was pure white, and for Linne, it was a beautiful black.
It was clear that they all looked great in their outfits, since they were all good-looking people.
Of course, including me, Sharon.
Giving gifts and observing their reactions was also a small point of fun.
“Oh, oh…. It’s… just… just clothes.”
The eldest of the triplets, L’Riel, seemed to have had too high expectations.
She immediately showed a reaction that was a bit of a letdown.
It wasn’t like L’Riel was doing this for the first time, so I could just look at her with a cute heart.
After all, there was someone else in charge of discipline.
“Hey! You can’t say that after receiving a gift!”
“Apologize to Sharon right now!”
Odile and Odette, who were always beaming like the fashionistas they were, wearing new pretty clothes every day, glared at her and began to punish her.
“Sharon, you always give us many clothes as gifts. I am always grateful.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Duke, you look especially beautiful today. Please show us your figure!”
The Duke wiggled his toes, looking awkward in his beoseon (Korean socks), and then turned around slightly, saying, ‘Like this?’
The bickering twins clapped and cheered, and he smiled as beautifully as a single crabapple blossom.
“Sharon, how do I look?”
Next to him, Amelia was looking at her outfit, looking a bit awkward.
As Siwoo’s sunflower, Amelia seemed to be very fond of the fact that it was ‘traditional clothing from Siwoo’s hometown.’
“I was originally debating whether to use gold or sky blue fabric, but since your beauty is already so dazzling, the simple colors suit you well.”
“Really? You look pretty too, Sharon.”
“Would you like to come here? I’ll put a hairpin in your hair too.”
“Yes.”
After tying up her hair and securing it with a hairpin, Amelia looked at herself in the mirror several times, seemingly pleased.
Next was Linne.
“Sharon Evergreen. Thank you.”
“Wow.”
I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.
It’s true that no matter how good a witch’s figure is, the matching of the atmosphere and costume is important.
Perhaps it was because Linne was so well-suited to Eastern clothing, but she exuded an atmosphere like a virtuous young lady from a noble family.
“The atmosphere is definitely important.”
“……”
Linne didn’t say anything in particular, but she nodded her head.
But judging from her softly relaxed lips, she seemed to be in a very good mood.
Isn’t this exactly like Amelia from the old days?
Suddenly, Amelia-style sexual harassment thoughts popped into my head.
What would the stoic Linne be like in bed? It was a terrible curiosity.
“Sharon, how do I look?”
The moment I saw Dorothy’s outfit, I was speechless.
This was definitely a Hanbok.
The full skirt and jeogori (Korean jacket) were both loose-fitting garments that covered the body to some extent.
“Uh… it’s a Dongtan Chuseok look.”
“Ahahaha!”
But Dorothy’s monstrous curves offset that.
It was truly the expression of motherhood that had created a sense of crisis from the very first time we met.
Anyway, with this, the preparations for a harmonious Hangawi were complete.
Now, there was an important event to do before Siwoo returned….
That was making songpyeon (half-moon rice cakes).
We sat in a circle on the floor, bringing out the soaked glutinous rice dough, sesame filling, red bean filling, and so on, and in the kitchen, we placed a steamer with plenty of pine needles.
“What is this?”
“It’s songpyeon. Like making dumplings, you do this and this, fill it with the filling, and steam it in the steamer. By the way, this is a very, very important task.”
While everyone started making songpyeon without complaint, I paused for a moment and told them a superstition as if I was telling a very important secret.
“They say that if you make songpyeon beautifully, you’ll have a beautiful child. Well, looking at Amelia, we might not know, right?”
“……!!!”
The moment I started talking about a rumor while also sharing some random knowledge, the friendly atmosphere turned sharp.
“……”
First of all, Amelia stopped blinking.
She hadn’t even been breathing for a while now.
“……”
Linne on the right also showed a sharp focus, pinching the dough carefully like a master craftsman making their final piece.
“Oh, God….”
Next to her, Dorothy closed her eyes and prayed softly, then reverently took out the dough.
“Sharon, is this how you do it? Please look at it. How does the shape I made look? It looks a bit squished…. Isn’t that not supposed to happen?”
Even Duke Eloa, who didn’t seem like he would, was fidgeting in his seat.
“Heeup!”
“Hey, hey! That’s cheating!”
“Get out of here, you rookies. This is a matter involving the succession of the Nukelavi Dynasty.”
“No, but are you using magic? I’ll do it too!”
“Huhu, my magic is on a different level than you rookies. Have you forgotten who almost killed the Witch of Gold?”
L’Riel was using her unique telekinesis as a great witch to create songpyeon with the golden ratio, despite the twins’ protests.
The others, who would normally have a wry smile, were cautiously watching to see if they could use telekinesis as well.
Amelia, who couldn’t use magic, was groaning and carefully asked.
“Sharon, does that tradition say that it’s okay to use magic? Isn’t it not supposed to be okay?”
Well, witches tend to be vulnerable to superstitions.
Perhaps it’s because they are people who explore the ‘mysterious.’
Still, it’s fun.
It’s so, so enjoyable.
I feel like this is the holiday and family that I had only watched from afar through the convenience store window.
I was holding back my laughter at the sight of everyone making songpyeon so enthusiastically when.
“Oh, I’m sorry I’m late. I had some work… what is this?”
My love, Siwoo, who was surprised to see his lovers all dressed in Hanbok, had returned.
