Chapter 28

< Perfect Caregiver >

“...I’m in my thirties, no, my twenties.”

He said blankly. Grandfather... I never thought I’d be called that by someone older than me. My hair is still black. My skin is still smooth and wrinkle-free. Just where did you see a grandfather in me?

[I know, but I saw my grandfather in you when you were drunk yesterday. Grandfather used to say he loved someone when he was drunk, too.]

“Ah, so...”

Even if you say that, it’s still weird! If a girl I was dating said she loved me when she was drunk, would you call her grandmother or grandfather?

“Still, you’re not drunk now, and there’s no reason for you to get drunk, so there’s no reason for me to think of my grandfather, right?”

Especially, I have no intention of saying I love you again. It feels like I’ve already said it for a lifetime, damn it.

[...That’s true, I suppose.]

Kim Sung-han’s voice was unusually hesitant.

[But I still feel like you’re my grandfather.]

“No, even if you say that...”

[Is it not okay?]

“...What?”

[Don’t worry, I won’t say anything like that in front of others. Just exchanging greetings and occasionally visiting should be enough. Since we’re in the same guild, it won’t be a bother.]

...Are you asking me to take on the role of a grandfather? I really don’t understand. Did something go wrong with the alcohol I drank yesterday? What kind of brain structure does someone have to think of their grandfather when they hear someone say they love them... Oh...

‘...Wait a minute. If it’s a grandfather who raised you...’

A caregiver.

I said the keyword "love" to Kim Sung-han when I was drunk.

Kim Sung-han thought of his grandfather when he heard the keyword.

The person who raised him, not a parent, friend, or lover.

And he saw that caregiver in me.

The puzzle pieces started to fit together.

I thought of Yelim, who showed an unusually close affection towards me. I also thought of Myung-woo, who kept clinging to me.

And from the moment the skill was applied, my brother’s overly protective attitude towards me...

‘...Damn, what is this?’

The puzzle was solved, but my head was even more confused.

It’s too perfect to deny. The strange changes in attitude from Yuhwan to Kim Sung-han are all explained.

If the hidden effect of the Perfect Caregiver title or my "My Child" skill is that the affected person sees me as the best caregiver they know, that’s insane.

[Han Yujin, if you don’t like it...]

“No, no, it’s fine.”

I held my throbbing head and tried to brush it off.

“I still have a hangover... I need to go wash my face.”

[Are you feeling very unwell? You should go get an IV.]

“No, I’m fine. Just a splash of cold water will do.”

[It’s hot, but cold water...]

“I’m fine, really. I’m still in my twenties. I’ll end the call here.”

I forcibly ended the call with Kim Sung-han, who kept worrying about me like an old man.

In the silence that followed, I kept brushing my bangs back.

Let’s... let’s organize this.

Organize... organize...

‘...What the hell is the system creator doing?!’

If this were a real game, I’d leave a one-star review on all platforms and communities and write a twenty-page A4 complaint.

I don’t even know if it’s a skill effect or a title effect. It seems like a skill because of the keyword, but the effect fits the Perfect Caregiver title.

Ah, whatever.

I took a few deep breaths to calm down.

‘First... when the keyword is applied, the person thinks of me as the person who raised them... Is that right?’

Kim Sung-han, as I just heard, was thinking of the grandfather who raised him when he saw me.

In Yuhwan’s case, since I was already his caregiver, his feelings towards me became more intense. His worry and anxiety doubled, which explains why he tried to lock me up.

No, doubling is too mild a reaction. He did let me go eventually. Maybe it’s more like a 1.5 times increase?

‘I thought he suddenly became strange.’

It was because of my skill or title. I’m sorry, Yuhwan.

Myung-woo... sticking to me like a brother. His attitude was definitely not like how he treats his parents.

Finally, Park Yelim.

‘...Is she my dad?’

The most likely possibility is that she sees me as her dad. ...I want to think that.

But usually, especially for girls...

No, there are daughters who are close to their dads. Maybe Yelim’s father was particularly domestic. Maybe she grew up with her dad because her mother was the sole breadwinner. That must be it. It has to be.

‘It didn’t feel like she was treating me like a mom, right?’

Right, if she thought I was her mom, she would have reported Myung-woo to the police instead of just feeling creeped out. It’s definitely because she saw me as her dad. For sure.

I took a deep breath and opened the "My Child" skill window. I examined it closely.

[※Cannot be applied if the target is aware of the keyword’s effect]

This line caught my attention.

I used to overlook it, but now that I know the new effect, it feels different.

‘Does “aware of the keyword’s effect” mean the target knows why they see me as their caregiver?’

If I tell someone who sees me as a parent that their feelings are due to a skill, they’ll naturally feel betrayed. Losing their trust means losing the qualification of a Perfect Caregiver, or something like that.

‘Yuhwan would be fine even if he found out, and Myung-woo would probably let it slide if I explain what I did for him.’

But Park Yelim and Kim Sung-han are the problem.

Of course, it’s fine if they don’t find out. It’s an L-grade title with an L-grade skill. To notice something strange, their mental stats would have to be SSS-grade. As long as I’m careful, there’s no way the affected person will realize the keyword’s effect.

...Of course, I won’t get drunk again. I might even gag myself to prevent sleep-talking.

‘I should only use it on monsters, not people. If they can’t communicate, it’s safer.’

Saying "I love you" is scary. I won’t be able to confess... Wait.

Hold on. What if I really fall in love with someone?

‘Will I become her dad the moment I confess...?’

I might even become her mom.

If I seriously say "I love you," and the other person blushes and says, "Yes, I love you, Mom," that’s insane!

‘Okay, okay. I just won’t say "I love you."’

For life. Not even by mistake, not even in my sleep, not even casually.

If I slip and say it, my wife of many years might suddenly say, "Mom, I’m sorry, but you’re still my mom," and leave to find a new man. And then come back with her fiancé to introduce him to me. Ask me to sit at the wedding and light the candles? Have the new husband bow to me as his father-in-law? What?

This is a story that even a soap opera wouldn’t dare to write.

Cold sweat was pouring down, and I felt like it was even coming out of my eyes.

‘If I really meet someone I want to spend my life with, I’ll just cut my tongue off.’

I’ll cut it off cleanly. I’ll say I had an accident in a dungeon. ...What if Yuhwan heals it for me? A-grade healers can regenerate tongues. Do I have to become a madman who refuses treatment?

...I don’t know, I really don’t. Anyway, my love life will be zero for the next five years. I won’t think about it.

‘Lower-grade skills didn’t have so many effects...’

Sure, even A-grade skills had a couple of hidden effects, so L-grade would have more. But it’s like a minefield. I’m afraid to use the skill.

‘Shouldn’t such important effects be explained? Just one more line, like “The target sees the skill user as their caregiver.”’

Perfect Caregiver, My Child, Growth Buff, I Love You, Enchantment. There were hints, but how was I supposed to figure it out? I’m not Sherlock Holmes.

Looking at your blue tie, I can tell you had bean soup for breakfast, recently broke up with your partner, and started quitting smoking with your left hand. Wow!

I should raise a monster instead. It’s safer and more peaceful.

I organized my thoughts and got out of bed. Wait, I feel like I forgot something.

‘Oh, right.’

I texted Kim Sung-han to come visit before entering the dungeon. Since the skill is applied, I should help him grow. And... that’s it, right?

The hangover is gone, but my head still hurts. I need to take a shower and go out to train new hunters. What time is it? It was definitely 10 AM... Damn, I’m late!

“It’s 2 PM now.”

I rushed out of the room, and Myung-woo poked his head out of the kitchen.

“More importantly, the cat has been restless since last night...”

“Cat? Peace?”

“I carried him in when you were in no condition to greet him. He seemed startled.”

Oh, right. I couldn’t explain that he was just drunk and had a brief taste of the world.

I ran to the living room. There, I saw Peace huddled against the glass door, not in his usual comfortable spot.

“Peace!”

- Mew, mew! Meow!

Seeing me, Peace scratched the glass and whined pitifully. There, there. My baby. You were worried, weren’t you?

I quickly opened the door and hugged Peace, who clung to me.

“You were scared, weren’t you? I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

- Purr

“There, there. My Peace.”

If I get drunk again, I’m a dog, a dog.

“Here.”

Myung-woo approached me with a tray of cups. Why are there four cups? The drinks in them are slightly different colors.

“What’s this?”

“Hangover remedies. The leftmost one is for your brother, Mr. Kim Sung-han, Miss Park Yelim, and the one I bought.”

I appreciate it, but I don’t need it.

“I’m fine, as you can see.”

“I need to confirm you drank them.”

“Who’s going to confirm?”

“All three of them.”

Why do they need to confirm... Right, it’s my fault for using the skill without fully understanding it. It’s not a big deal, just drink them, I thought, but I hesitated.

“Will you tell them which one I drank first?”

“I’ll have to answer if they ask...”

Myung-woo answered uncertainly. Of course, what power do you have to refuse?

Let’s see, Kim Sung-han should be fine. But my brother and Yelim are the problem. We already had a fight.

I doubt they’ll fight over this, but just in case.

After a short consideration, I picked up the cup Yuhwan sent. When in doubt, it’s best to side with the strongest.

“By the way, do you have a close older brother?”

I asked as I finished the last cup. I still need to confirm the skill effect.

“Brother? No, I don’t. Just older sisters with a big age gap.”

...Could it be a sister? The way he clings to me makes it seem possible. A sister is better than a mom, but I don’t like it.

“Did you get along with your sisters?”

“No, not at all.”

Phew, that’s a relief.

“Then with your parents?”

Myung-woo gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

“If I had a good relationship with them, I wouldn’t have signed a slave contract. I got a lot of pocket money when I was young, but that was because our family was well-off then. Still, with both parents working, I rarely saw them, and my sisters ostracized me and later treated me like a servant. They’ve all been married for a long time, so we don’t keep in touch.”

If not family, who does he see me as? A relative? A teacher? Some neighborhood elder?

“Hmm, is there anyone you think of when you see me?”

I asked directly. Myung-woo looked confused.

“No, not really.”

No? What’s going on? Did I guess wrong?

“Is there anyone who has helped you the most or who you particularly rely on? There should be at least one person.”

“Of course there is.”

Myung-woo said, a bit embarrassed.

“It’s you, Yujin.”

“...Me?”

“Yeah, of course it’s you. Who else could it be? Sure, the guild stuff is one thing, but going to rescue you from a gang of thugs? Even family would hesitate. My family would have ignored it.”

That’s true, I guess.

But I only rescued Myung-woo after the keyword was applied. Before that, I just calmed him down with a few words. It wasn’t enough to be seen as a caregiver.

If there was no suitable caregiver, would the effect not apply?

‘Thinking about it, I don’t really have a caregiver to speak of.’

Of course, I wasn’t completely neglected. But there was no one like Yuhwan or Kim Sung-han, who I could recall with affection and gratitude.

No matter how great an L-grade skill or title is, it can’t force an effect where there’s nothing to work with. So, Myung-woo must genuinely like me and cling to me...

“Why are you backing away suddenly? Is your hangover still affecting you?”

“Huh? Oh, a little...”

I need to maintain a proper distance for privacy and mental health.

‘So, in the end, it’s just Yelim left.’

Yuhwan’s feelings just intensified, but he still sees me as a brother, so it’s impossible to confirm. Only Yelim is left.

...Dad, please, Dad. I believe you, Yelim. I believe your father was definitely domestic.

< Perfect Caregiver > End

ⓒ Geunseo

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