TLCTS | 09

Chapter 9

Chaeri bent her waist in a polite bow.

“I am sowwy.”

In the world of adults, proof didn’t matter much.
It wasn’t about who was right or wrong—
only about who shouted louder, who had more power.
That was all that counted.

“Is that how you apologize?”

Seo-ah’s mother snapped, and Chaeri, like a little robot, bowed again.

“I’m sowwy. Sowwy, Seo-ah unni. I won’t do it again. I’m weally, weally sowwy.”

Lee Ji-seok also chimed in.

“I’m sorry, Seo-ah. I’ll make sure Chaeri gets proper discipline.”

“Hmph.”

Chaeri’s eyes trembled slightly.
She hadn’t thought it would hurt this much.

Her head knew all of this already.
If you expect things, you get hurt.
She wasn’t their real daughter.
No one would ever take her side.

Even so—

“If only someone… had just asked me once what really happened.”

But no one here would ever do that.

“If I endure it, everyone else stays comfortable.”

It was familiar. She’d always been on her own anyway.

“It’s better if I’m the only one who’s upset. Then everyone else can move on.”

That was the most convenient ending—for Ji-seok, for the kindergarten, for Seo-ah’s family.

“Life’s a solo game anyway.”

Except… it wasn’t.

There was one person.

“It’s not true! It’s really not true!”

A little girl clutching a pink magic wand—
timid, stuttering Kang Se-hyun.

With fists clenched, eyes shut tight, she shouted,

“Seo-ah fell down all by herself! Chaeri tried to help her! I saw everything!”

In the end, Kang Se-hyun got scolded.

For being rude.
For daring to interrupt adults.

And, of course, no one ever suggested checking the CCTV footage.

Once things were “settled,” Chaeri gently patted Se-hyun’s shoulder.

“Still, thanks, Kang Se-hyun oppa.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Funny how that—just that—felt comforting.

“I’m fine now.”

She’d been upset at first, but it was okay.
If you don’t expect anything, you don’t get disappointed.
It was a rational way to save emotional energy.

She tapped Se-hyun’s shoulder again.

“If you get mad at evewything, you age fast.”

Chaeri didn’t see it.

How Se-hyun, like a spell, was repeating in her head:
“Life is survival of the fittest. Life is survival of the fittest. Life is survival of the fittest.”

If she got stronger—
maybe then she could protect Chaeri.

And Se-hyun’s thoughts began to deepen.

Chaeri, though she hid it well, wasn’t really okay either.

That night, she told Davith everything.

“So that’s what happened. Chaeri, were you very upset?”

“Yes. Supew duper upset.”

Late at night, drained both mentally and physically—
but Davith was always, without question, on her side.

Her mouth loosened easily.

“Davith. Would you like to see the perfectly collected evidence on Chaeri’s kids’ phone?”

“Yes, please show me right away!”

She showed the video.

“See? She just fell on her own.”

“Yes. She clearly tripped by herself.”

Davith bit his lip tightly.

“I’m so angry right now. What’s your friend’s name again?”

“Shin Seo-ah.”

“That must’ve been so unfair for you, Chaeri.”

His sincere empathy made her feel a little better.

Picking Davith was really the best choice.

If it had been Medesa instead?

‘There’s no reason to let such evil live.’

That scene had existed in the original novel too.
But after that, the narration skipped ahead.

Seo-ah’s family was never mentioned again.

“A mysterious incident strikes a family in Seoul…”

That was all the news said.

If the novel hadn’t been rated PG,
it would’ve been far worse.

Davith asked,

“Then why didn’t you show them this evidence?”

“’Cause if I just put up with it, everyone’s happy.”

“But Chaeri, you’re not happy.”

That was fine.

The less-troublesome adopted daughter role suited her best.

“I’m used to it.”

“Chaeri, may I see the video once more?”

“Yes.”

She was yawning, so she didn’t notice—
Davith’s expression had turned as cold as Medesa’s.

“Chaeri, shall we take the day off today?”

“You pwomised, wemembew?”

Chaeri was firm.

“I’m going to the tower’s third floor.”

Davith tried to stop her but gave up.

Tonight, Chaeri needed that sense of accomplishment—
something to make her feel good before sleeping.

[Entering the Tower (Seoul) – 3F]

Fox monsters roamed about.

[Quest: Defeat the Red Foxes.]
[Clear after defeating 10.]

Nothing unusual about the third floor.

[Kids Safe Filter activated.]

Poof! Sparkle sparkle!
White butterflies fluttered like starlight.

[You have cleared the Tower (Seoul) – 3F.]
[Clear Rank: L (Legend)]

The foxes turned into butterflies and ascended—was that enlightenment?

[Your clear record has been added to the Tower’s 3F Hall of Fame.]
[Would you like to register a nickname?]

“No, thank you.”

[Nickname not registered. Displaying as ‘–’.]

[Hall of Fame – 3F]
[Republic of Korea]

1. – : Legend (Seoul)
2. …

It was Chaeri’s third L-rank clear.

[Level Up!]
[Level: 3]

Level-up reward: one card enhancement point.

[You received a “Well Done” sticker.]
[You earned 100,000,000 Diamonds.]

She had made another hundred million.

Without realizing, Chaeri muttered,

“Money thewapy. Amazing.”

“Chaeri, I’ll say it again—the card enhancement point…”

He was going to tell her to save it.
To invest in continental- or world-class heroes, not him, a mere imperial-class aide.

But he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

“If my manifestation time increases by one more hour… I can stay by Chaeri’s side a bit longer.”

Chaeri needed someone by her side.
Her foster parents, her teachers—none were real guardians.

“You did well today, Chaeri.”

“You did well, Davith.”

10 p.m.

Sleep was tugging at her, but she didn’t forget her nightly routine.

[Enhancing Davith’s Card.]
[Davith +3]

[Imperial Aide of a Fallen Empire +3]

Manifestation Time: 6 hours
Cooldown: 21 hours

Davith gently patted her head.

“Thank you, Chaeri. Sleep well.”

“Yes. See you tomowwow.”

Once she fell sound asleep, Davith’s face hardened.

“Time to do my job.”

Shin Seo-ah—that was the name, wasn’t it?
He remembered the face perfectly.

The next day—
Korea was shaken to its core.

[Seoul Tower cleared up to 3F with continuous L-Rank!]
[How far will this momentum go?!]
[Legendary Awakener still unidentified!]
[Seoul Guild launches all-out search!]

The entire nation was in uproar.
Other regional guilds jumped in, unable to sit still.

[Daegu Guild dispatches Vice Lord!]
[Busan Guild: “Seoul’s #1 belongs to Busan. Ready to recruit the L-Rank Awakener!”]
[Incheon Guild: “We have unlimited funds ready.”]

└ “Look at the guild masters losing their minds lol”
└ “Legend-chan is absolutely cracked lol”

But amid all that hype, Chaeri was hit with another surprise.

Seo-ah apologized.

With a proper bow this time.

“I’m sorry, Chaeri. I was bad.”

Even her mother came.

“I’m so sorry, dear. I got angry without knowing the truth.”

“Huh?”

Their faces were pale, hands trembling, backs hunched.
Anyone could see—they were truly afraid.

“Please… please forgive us.”

“Yes. I forgive you.”

“Really? You mean it?”

“Yes. I can say it twice.”

“T-then, just one more time—!”

“I forgive you.”

“Th-thank you… thank you so much… Seo-ah, apologize too!”

Color finally began returning to the woman’s face.
Her hands still shook.

“What on earth did Davith do?”

She had no way of knowing.

“Whatever. I’m tired.”

The mental exhaustion from yesterday hadn’t worn off.

“I’ll just sit in my corner.”

That corner, as always, belonged to Kang Se-hyun.

As she approached, she overheard the teachers whispering.

“Did you hear?”
“A new sponsor appeared. The director’s over the moon.”

A “Tall Uncle” had shown up, they said—
someone named Svida, who had just donated 100 million won.

Chaeri sipped her banana milk quietly in the corner.

A mysterious new figure—Svida.

That name hadn’t existed in the original story at all.

“Hmm… but Svida… sounds kind of familiar somehow?”