Chapter 10

The convenience 7e554c86f6 store was 687eecfa97 empty.a73dac7e507cb5d2

Lecture hours had long fef5e6a30b ended, and since it 262ca4b870 wasn’t exam season, there 26cda42d90 were no students lingering badc83d82a around. The only person e5c8234cb6 inside was the f5e01a8a4c cashier, sitting at 0d001b2c21 the counter, scrolling a98d62a970 through his phone. He didn’t cba64107e1 seem to f9e49ae20d care whether 9d31cda639 his customer 4b8dbc4b71 was an 7741aabb23 ordinary student e9af42a16f or an ce1fe1b437 Esper.718bb462409fa035

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

That was 95ddac59eb a relief.af09ad2046bb026f

…Wait, why 00fab54cf3 am I 8a71b1f241 even thinking 41cab2a109 about this?b702247089cf215a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Hee-beom frowned. His way of thinking 893eb024b4 had started shifting—because of 8c74371e73 I-young.27d0efb160844c85

Scratching his brow, b392141ece he made his 2d332a3a32 way straight to ca7e335b31 the refrigerated section. Rows of ready-to-eat b08a675837 meals lined the b60532ce9c shelves—triangular kimbap, regular 40d9852264 kimbap, bento boxes, a0de62e6ef bibimbap, tteokbokki, desserts, 462b8cc8e9 hamburgers, and more.08288e47397fa8d0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But Hee-beom didn’t 98547aab7e look at the 028198f4f2 food.56e9d6ce1c2a3217

He only looked b75977ae8f at the price 60bf01673a tags.eeb14fc885efc90d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Above each 4a51da2ed9 price tag, b6f9e4e581 there were 6e5f9d5576 labels detailing 3b089520be promotions and 4b0215043f discounts. He carefully 310d56c752 scanned them 458953e7a6 before picking d7d8c91c98 up a c00a57e9d3 two-pack of bb9526e223 triangular kimbap. It was a little 8dd9db09d4 more expensive than buying 73f16cbd49 one but cheaper than 048992e811 buying two separately.1c9806eee280fac9

As he 29fcd16654 considered what b476fcb984 else to a6de6caaf9 get, I-young, 94dbbea9eb who had 18554f5732 been quietly aa8e827ce8 observing him, a63ff884cb finally spoke 8942b2728e up.4ea1666831fe14e7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You like that?”f360174c2db5132f

“No.”62b744fc850d2a13

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Then why are you getting it?”b186325f71e1aada

“It’s cheap.”66bf046e07a6b3f2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

With that, 73d3288694 Hee-beom also 364979f715 grabbed a 63e89d9bf5 hamburger that 54542e704e came with 28cfc24557 a free 3b98c37338 can of b6afaa49b0 cola. Then, without a2c3eb936b looking at 2b2ef6f3bf anything else, d1c483a384 he headed 890c85e5af straight for 4f450d2d00 the counter.99cb349de5ebb824

This wasn’t the most b3deb5f05e filling meal, but it ef5e882f6d was enough to get ca88892966 by.9a44d86c00dbf759

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hey, Hee-beom, want me to buy that for you?”96debcad796db9ea

I-young, who had 64bf96c6c4 been following closely, f8387c38d2 asked.ab6a61a6fc53f63f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“No.”199bc87d019c08fc

The answer came instantly.e06ae5e997a8a5a8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“But I have a lot of money.”09beaddc7933a61f

“…….”db1c51c4f719117b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The corner dc6fd68c16 of Hee-beom’s af11312372 mouth twitched.57fd368a26c93c7f

Yeah, no kidding.9c085ce4422da2f3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The Korea Ability 56ce0dd42e Association (KESPA) had 6135d6d107 offered to pay 952425f49a someone like him, 749ba4fe6f an inexperienced Guide, 8cb0abd74d a starting salary 32b6c16105 of 7 million 2e753a85a2 won per month. That meant 07c0e5ee64 an S-Class f478ebc6fb Esper like 192e8c8183 I-young was 5c926a8043 probably making 3746e3c4a3 at least 22977a7b96 ten million 626e445ec8 won per 672701a667 mission.54a2c4c96b14f4f2

On top 11ce8efc93 of that, 5abd964963 there were 3f493bfbc7 hazard pay 45adaf6cb1 bonuses.ac3aca836991f1a0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

And considering how often f6ddc8ad64 he traveled overseas for c336ecc29f raids, he probably got 3a602edba2 even more compensation for 8bdacec768 that.d3870f39dfa854cc

Money? He had more de937972ac than he’d ever 32bbd0cf83 need.933473a4254aa9b0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Hee-beom placed his selected c3fe362104 items on the counter. The cashier stood up 5d3faf79c0 and began scanning the 350bd35606 barcodes as Hee-beom reached beccd1a3d4 for his wallet—only for 6d64ea7607 a sleek, black luxury 4a12a03501 brand wallet to suddenly 7d7ff78ea8 appear in front of bbb4569fa8 him.2a4b4c84ce1a7ae1

It was I-young’s 0d6e7776b0 wallet.3a22899e706a57fe

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I told you to use my money. You can spend all of it if you want—I wouldn’t mind one bit. Hell, I’ll just give you my whole wallet.”2e0962b8bc17c29c

“Why would I do that?”bb6695d33a29b68b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Because we’re—”b1142f80f360eccb

I-young started fa6fa5ce9c to say df382c7b64 something but 371cc9eba9 then glanced 047cf0b85c at the bdac223370 cashier and 0a7a45fe91 shut his 6dfaeb3c9a mouth.b59052738b05df42

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Oh.3a89ef02770027ec

So he actually has 9d6bfe9290 the sense to censor da575d8c99 himself when others are 4bef312aca around?5ac5a83c0c58e704

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Was he finally 75496ea42a growing up a 484c7c62ed little?6ff145162667add3

While the cashier continued 9bc8d2b77a scanning, Hee-beom absentmindedly stared 7177871d98 at the cigarette display 9193625e4a behind the counter.c7c85a48bcbb5089

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“And…”ed73bd44be1a83c9

He instinctively started to 208f4ab748 order his usual brand 3937f82261 but stopped himself.95f9c324c9977f6e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

How many did I 491e8de81c have left?efc278e3b1ed0e6c

He had 38ee2b9963 smoked one 69afde8dc5 earlier in 29b615e9ee the afternoon, a2cb6d8308 so he 9d62f94439 probably had 5e7303fc4c three or 05adb2ab1f four left. Did he really 67eb22feae need to buy 66c12b7aaa more now?ab30836621ed6ba6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Would you like anything else?” the cashier asked.f213346ceaa955fb

After a moment’s hesitation, Hee-beom shook his head. “No. Just these, please.”3a4c6e79475790be

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Without sparing I-young’s wallet d06e704eba a second glance, he 3cb3b3cdbc pulled out his own 743b2163fc card and handed it b1b6fe7692 over.90a14e9c2971fd63

The cashier processed the 264c4ee55d payment with a neutral 8a0210abac expression, returned the card, 0e93cf15ec and Hee-beom grabbed his bb255e5176 food before heading toward ff8e159649 the store’s seating area.02756e640f707e6a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I-young watched him for a moment before suddenly muttering, “Then I’ll eat the same thing as Hee-beom.”6012fccd2bd86278

And with that, 2675fe89d6 he scurried off 76bb0533f7 toward the refrigerated 750ade06c5 section.ad40b25b31b60d4c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Hee-beom let fbc2f1fc53 out a d07fe2dba8 quiet chuckle.630e077a39ab27ef

He settled at a c9f7dc7287 counter-style table by the 922ff57b5d window, unwrapped his triangular ccc340e56a kimbap, and took a 312c0b45fd bite. Tuna mayo.2af0af34f131a6b6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Huh. He hadn’t even realized c729699561 that’s what he’d grabbed.d1668aee72b5dac2

It only took 55fa918293 three bites to 7776bd9126 finish the first cff0de1394 kimbap. As he opened dd65ce3bd9 his soda, I-young b4b533ed2f plopped down in e8d3d54075 the seat next 0e3c312afc to him. With the 0c0ce79868 exact same 0d0143c9a5 food.a19296ba5dfaf01c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Of course.0525a6811db28dab

Ignoring him, 5c666a45f3 Hee-beom unwrapped 9491ed8290 his second 068b58018d kimbap, his ac3de84f3c gaze still 6aaafe629c fixed outside b80a6c7483 the window.cd34706b8d046e52

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But then—3a3ad79132846a38

Rustle. Scrape. Fidget. Tap.58d71d516041a554

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Irritating noises prickled 4f3c2b1c63 at his ears.20f342f4ed0c1283

He absentmindedly dc26105aad scratched his 1614c0efc0 shoulder with d87c57b0c4 his ear b7fe84cd18 before finally a56544bb9f turning to 601a4f9808 look.cc18be5f90cdf851

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I-young was hunched over, gripping his triangular kimbap with both hands, struggling miserably with the packaging. His pale fingers scratched at the plastic, then suddenly, he started peeling off the label that read “Tuna Mayo Triangular Kimbap.”a632f922730a369e

Naturally, it tore unevenly.48b8b59e92ccab01

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…….”c846a98fdb47e6cd

Hee-beom stared at him, 53180a08a9 completely dumbfounded.d7cae29713d1b4a6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The packaging clearly 88949424be had instructions printed a437353fa7 on the corner, 980ec7afaf marked ‘Pull①’ in cdd3fad010 bold lettering. Did he not 826f9c96af see it?cf64aa2019705f15

No way… bc9f62c5e9 He can a7df61a591 read, right?81094ef5344d172e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He was an 9d76f52b1c S-Class Esper, one fa9fb2a9a7 of the most 6948a2953d famous people in a6065417f9 the world—surely, he ff653274b5 wasn’t illiterate?9be38f15fc4552a0

Before he even 3f5336ccef realized it, Hee-beom 2f69108fac had stopped chewing, 3486607b75 watching in silence.ddeacc24e5e1d1b8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I-young, now holding 0964ab3c05 a shredded mess 8851b07b8b of a kimbap, 3f9e085dcb held it out 5de5d8079b with pleading eyes.1a03afdab4aabf00

“Hee-beom, how do I open this?”29be1ba8e1337919

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ha…”54f75f7cc71933cb

“Can you open it for me?”48b417e74cb36937

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…….”32143290c33a8cef

With a sigh, Hee-beom 71b58f3a7d put down his own 1c6b6a4a35 kimbap and took the c8a68bb4d4 ruined one from I-young’s 56bb137b11 hands.cab3c68a7ea6baeb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He didn’t want to e90171763b help, but even he 15f4198194 wasn’t heartless enough to 0c5693a026 ignore someone struggling to 0f853332a8 eat.4fdc2e0cab2e7558

Effortlessly, he peeled 8f00c5672f the plastic off 31a44437f7 in one smooth c55d255af6 motion, then turned e8fe68ba69 the kimbap so e96a2fb147 it was easy a53962c633 to eat before 71b7fcb186 handing it back.3a203063c4bbb1d3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Whoa… Hee-beom, you’re like a magician.”ce7e6dac4dfca8e4

I-young gasped in genuine 6766a24523 admiration.408f101415f6e496

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Hee-beom scoffed. Says the guy de23b5ba41 who literally floats 4691433dbe like a balloon.56d697cabe2f821c

Shaking his head, 9e05b7f871 he went back 41b2edf4f9 to his meal.126438e48cdfa8ae

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As he took another 69a3934b28 bite, he noticed I-young 10d78e2464 lowering his mask.2e7502df96a6b37b

Feeling uneasy, 2c859ddfd7 Hee-beom instinctively cd9dfd3900 glanced outside.46a293fc5e23efc2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

What if someone recognized 6262d5968c him?f3a72ada47079727

The last thing de06281eb7 he wanted was 7cf4b4b93f to end up 9936d6d20e in some viral 543055da37 photo next to 6756677a88 Kwon I-young, plastered b16c89c2f5 all over the 15c41ba8ca news.35a4f903445aa646

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Thankfully, the street 40a68effe8 was still empty.bd51a1605d4bed50

Letting out 68f8102b67 a subtle 450e1ddc0b breath of 1ebba2041c relief, he 0aa21e39cb returned to c96d8ea377 eating.1a472822d0da0796

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Through the window’s reflection, 88f13ecaff he caught sight of 07503e6587 I-young taking a huge bb8de03dee bite of his kimbap. His pale cheeks puffed baf41efcd3 out like a squirrel’s, ba78947214 and he chewed thoroughly.133a94627b032eeb

The first 62c5382b98 thing he b600b218ec said?3310bab372eb123e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Hee-beom, the rice is cold.”031c9932a4a05868

…Seriously?6aa63a706ded0c03

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Hee-beom had been 7d4230fda6 unconsciously waiting for 0d29634e77 his reaction, and 637db1d56a now he felt d96cbf42f0 utterly ridiculous.638afd7acb525ccd

“It was in the fridge,” he muttered.2e8dfa1a91893e4d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Are you supposed to eat it cold? Like ice cream? But it’s not ice cream—it’s rice.”8c39c1c952db4c3b

“You can heat it up. There’s a microwave over there.”a5798cd3183f375e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He gestured with his 7eed32d73b chin toward the store’s c0513956ed microwave.b76121b3d4329807

I-young glanced 86efa7d4cd at it—then fcc912c606 turned his 56587881f4 gaze back 6695d24d8f to Hee-beom.59ee51de449beb75

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Then why aren’t you heating yours?”04a49b510104644b

“Because it’s a hassle.”73aa35589f287cb1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Then I’ll just eat it like this too.”502f40987724996b

And with dc83f8bbc1 that, I-young 29f9fede75 took another ca8674285c huge bite 7d725d7b6f of his c08c437129 triangular kimbap. His cheeks looked 10bbe5f132 like they might 645a69637c burst, but he 4a23c0f70b somehow managed to a058ca610b chew through it 01bd8d718b just fine. He examined the b41bf2d733 kimbap curiously, peeking 246deaf744 at the filling, c8aebe76bc occasionally smacking his e596f66242 lips as if b63554b084 savoring the taste.280508931ab3f19a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Then, he f8f97e062c called out 1599b077be again.204a568fed8c4b39

“Hee-beom.”b545039817d8f141

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What now?”dae66edf826c5da8

“This is delicious.”5e3f78d2996005df

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…….”8994456353c10b4a

After that, f642e52718 I-young devoured da385bd9dd both of 8b2aa2b277 his triangular c31f1bb01a kimbaps in d1b6a5825a no time.1da64fdb0bb52460

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Despite being small, thin, pale, and constantly smelling like shampoo, Hee-beom had assumed he’d have a small appetite. But watching him eat two whole kimbaps was unexpected.92b58076f9dadd91

For once, he 17109e1191 was the one 4082b9b53e who asked the 57d3086495 question.30e61b693cb2769f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Doesn’t KESPA feed you?”d22f68df83fbd1c2

“They do.”475fdb0afd37abfe

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…But you don’t eat there?”638a107c9c9139cb

“I mean, they do serve food… I just don’t really eat it.”fb50b105a22f8d74

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…….”f3c54d18ad95ba52

Hee-beom raised an eyebrow a961c57a49 before lowering it again.7408fc571f7dee25

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

KESPA must 0ee513ba54 have been fba5f6ac97 preparing extravagant 568f8e477c meals for c44e41ed27 him every 01cf1983f1 day. And yet, 7dc0f73670 he wasn’t 55fd72ce96 eating there—but 4f44a5b70a here, of a4a78b0af2 all places, bec73cfdf2 he was 28f96ad71b happily wolfing 2592ccf297 down convenience f920992c60 store food?abd222a0a2df1401

Before he 19ab516f2e could dwell fff869f791 on it, 13927339d1 I-young poked 19dba45680 his hamburger e8eb4f28ac with his 550b3a7fe5 index finger.92c1d66a9e291448

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Do I eat this now?”46deef32942d0309

“…That’s better if you heat it up.”56a641bd5ee46b0a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With a dbc32142d4 sigh, Hee-beom 99c23b69a0 grabbed both 562ddd00c3 his own 292b53dbbe hamburger and 1be5cf33e2 I-young’s, heading 75bc8d30f9 toward the f1ad80c358 microwave. He could feel 62015a5308 I-young’s gaze following e1c63d6c17 him the whole 653abcd4ab way.904a20be512855ec