Taming a Munchkin

“Ah, NyangPapa, you’re also here.”

The duo, who’d only brushed by each other during their first meeting without a chance for proper introductions, quite simply took to calling each other as ‘Fairy’ and ‘NyangPapa’ one day.

“Is Meow doing well?”

“Yes. Thanks to you, she’s getting a healthy diet and growing up well.”

Meow was the cat Law carried around in his arms night and day.

‘She’s a cute one.’ Kynemeia, who liked animals, had taken it upon herself to provide food and snacks for Meow. Law fished something out and presented it to her at that moment.

“This is a present for you, Miss Fairy.”

Ta-dah—he unveiled a knitted scarf and a pair of mittens made of soft wool. The backs of the mitts and the ends of the scarf were appliquéd with a pink rabbit stitched across a pearly grey base. So pretty! She accepted the gifts eagerly.

“We’re having a freezing winter, so please be sure to wear them.”

“Yup, yup. I’ll put them to good use. Thanks.”

Law nodded enthusiastically.

‘He’s like a big puppy.’ Smiling in satisfaction, Kynemeia held out the jellies the alchemists had given her.

“Wanna eat this together?”

“With pleasure.”

They promptly popped the jellies into their mouths and bit into them.

“Uhm…”

“…”

As she began chewing, her eyebrows drew into a grimace.‘This tastes a bit… like the ginseng in folk medicine…’

She stole a peep at Law and noted he was chewing away without a change in his expression as if the jellies suited his palate just fine. ‘Why does he seem to be enjoying it far more than me when I used to be a Korean who survived on tonics?’

As if reading her befuddlement, a slight smile touched his lips.

“I’ve been eating a lot of these jellies since I work here.”

“You’ve been working here?”

“Yes, because I’m attending Master.”

‘By Master, he means Xuan Tian Orabeoni, doesn’t he?’

She tilted her head. Now that she thought about it, what on earth was NyangPapa’s identity? She’d never read anything about Xuan Tian having an acolyte in the original novel. Kynemeia cast her mind back to the contents of the original novel once again. ‘Hmm…’

No matter how much she thought about it, there was no mention of Xuan Tian’s disciple. ‘Then who is he?’

Was he just an extra? Because a transient extra wouldn’t be fleshed out in the original plot.

‘What’s so good about that?’

Eian held Kynemeia in his peripheral vision, decked out in her new woollens and showing them off to Law. When the man complimented her adorable and pretty appearance, her cheeks went scarlet and joy suffused her face.

‘That’s something she hears daily, so what’s so good about it?’

Since earlier, he’d been feeling this discomfort like something was pricking his nerves with a nail. Was it because that less evolved primate had dodged his spell? Or was it because Kynemeia was delighted by that crummy ball of yarn? He was stumped for an answer.

Yeah, the root of this displeasure came from that—not knowing. Then, all he had to do was find out.

Story 7 Lotto Dungeon

• Ryan is no longer on probation from today.

On the other end of the transmission sphere, Eian’s teacher once again drummed his fingers restlessly. Tap tap tap, tap tap tap. Teacher resumed speaking, continuing to tap away on the table.

• Be cautious. That lad has lofty ambitions, so we can’t be sure he won’t stir the pot again.

“Is that soo?”

Eian answered tepidly, running his hand all over the ball of yarn. He was in constant motion throughout their conversation as he unravelled the skein and looped the yarn around the needle.

• You rascal! Pay attention when your teacher’s speaking!

“You’re well aware yourself, Teacher, that even if Ryan’s resolved to die, he can’t hold a candle to me.”

• …

‘That’s true, but…’ Teacher pursed his lips.

But that was precisely why Ryan unleashed hell on Eian; on top of his nasty attitude, he resented that he couldn’t ever catch up to Eian’s innate talent and unlimited scope of skills and composure.

‘He’s a disciple who makes an enemy of everyone at every turn, so it only exacerbates my worry.’ Teacher heaved a deep sigh. He had no doubt this brat was the reason he’d been suffering stomach issues lately.

‘The poh-tion from Hyeminwon has become sought-after lately, maybe I should sample it,’ he mused, then squinted at the boy and asked,

• Is there still no sign of the advent of your 2nd Awakening?

“Lately my joints have been feeling stiff.”

• So that is also a problem.

Teacher clicked his tongue. With the best will in the world, he couldn’t even offer a word of advice as symptoms of the 2nd Awakening varied from person to person. They could only hope it would pass.

• Anyway, what the deuce are you doing with that snarled up skein of yarn?

Eian finally lifted his head.

“I’d like to ask a question, Teacher.”

He was wearing an uncommonly serious look, knocking his teacher for six as this was the boy who’d smirked even while under attack or having his sides pierced.

• What is it, that you’re acting all solemn?

Eian bit on his lips for an instant before asking in a hushed voice,

• How do you knit?

Is there no way to do it using magic?He groused under his breath.

Why would Einsane knit?!’ Completely poleaxed by his question, Teacher involuntarily switched to using the boy’s nickname from the Magic Tower for he couldn’t even begin to reconcile knitting and Eian Krosch. They were 400 million light-years apart! Did he mean to knit people? Was he planning on knitting two individuals together to practice adhesion magic?!

• No, forget it! I won’t allow you!

“Why?”

• To think you would practice such ghastly business!

“Since when is knitting a ghastly business?”

Eian cocked his head to the side in puzzlement, which drove his teacher to adopt a much calmer approach.

• …Actual knitting?

“Yes. I’m talking about making something with yarn and snagging the attention of small entities.”

• What does ‘snagging the attention of small entities’ mean exactly?

Eian didn’t acknowledge that particular question and prompted him again,

“Do you know? How to knit.”

• Of course not.

How could a mage of the Magic Tower have the remotest understanding of knitting? In no circumstances would his ignorance in the craft be a disservice to the world, after all.

“Tch.”

Eian merely clicked his tongue, his eyes betraying his impression of the man, ‘You’re really a useless mentor’.

• You imp! I took you in, fed you, and raised you so what’s with those eyes—!

Click.

The transmission was terminated before Teacher could even finish grumbling, leaving him to thunder after his student,

“EIAAAAAN—!”

“…”

Staring vacantly at the snarled yarn, Eian slipped into a contemplative mood. He was someone who’d grown up hearing that he was born with every imaginable talent; there was nothing he couldn’t accomplish once he gave it a try. He could even grasp it even if he didn’t have the inclination to. However…

His gaze refocused, settling on the skein. To think he would struggle with this coil of wool. It suddenly felt like his life, though short, had amounted to nothing. When he picked up the needle, the snarl straightened out.

‘I need to examine it.’

Why did he feel so awful over the fact that the Lady had smiled his way only once? He frowned, remembering the dumb and less evolved primate.

‘…Should I just obliterate that one.’

Contemplating the more straightforward, deadly method and the chore that was knitting, Eian caught the ball of yarn in his hand.