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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Xrecker
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Thanks to Ruche, I’d learned a lot about Spacetroe’s allowance system.
There were ways to help Blue with her housing situation, and if she accepted my offer, things would proceed smoothly.
While she’d probably refuse initially, I’d try my best to persuade her, and if she still declined, I’d respect her decision.
I mentally prepared my explanation for Blue, took out my phone, and called her. It was a sudden request, but she readily agreed to meet, and we arranged to meet at a cafe in Seoul.
I arrived early, ordered a coffee, and waited for her. I’d gotten her a standard Americano, unsure of her preference.
I also received a text message from Green and replied.
[Are you busy?]
Having exchanged messages frequently, I’d learned to sense their moods through their texts. I’d first noticed it with Yu-bin, and now, having texted with several people, I could read their emotions more clearly.
[I’m out on an errand. Are you at home?]
[I’m on my way home after a meeting.]
Ever since I’d learned she was a superhuman, Green had become more open with me, telling me about her daily activities in detail, which allowed me to keep track of her.
While I couldn’t be certain, I felt Green’s emotional state improving day by day.
[Are you going to the park again?]
[No, I’m going straight home today.]
While Green still went to the park, she went less frequently now, probably because her father wasn’t home. I was genuinely happy that her home was no longer a place of fear but a place of refuge.
As I was texting, I saw Blue enter the cafe. I texted Green, saying I’d contact her later, and greeted Blue.
“You’re here. I ordered you a coffee, but I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I just got you an Americano.”
“Thank you. I’m not picky.”
She’d just come from a Hunter Killer meeting and smiled her usual gentle smile, but there was something different about her.
“Did something good happen?”
While her smile was as warm and bright as always, she seemed unusually happy.
“Is it that obvious?”
“A little.”
She smiled shyly and said her mood had improved after talking with her teammates. While she didn’t mention the topic of their conversation, it was probably about internal Hunter Killer matters.
For Blue, who’d been burdened with childcare and unable to attend meetings, even a casual conversation with her teammates must have been a precious moment. Seeing both Green and Blue, who’d been struggling, gradually improve, made me smile.
“?”
Blue, seeing my sudden smile, looked at me curiously, and I told her it was nothing.
“Ha-yeong, about the last apartment we saw yesterday…”
“Yes, the one you said I might be able to afford…”
Blue hadn’t understood my parting words after seeing the top-floor apartment and waited expectantly for me to continue.
“I do programming work, and I’m looking for a workspace.”
The sudden change of topic surprised her, but she assumed it was related to the apartment and listened patiently.
“I don’t really need a large workspace, so it’s not essential.”
I hadn’t actually planned on getting a workspace. I didn’t have that much work, and my laptop was more than enough for my deep space technology programming.
“But the company offered a workspace allowance, and I was thinking… I could use that allowance to help you with the apartment.”
Blue’s eyes widened in surprise, but she couldn’t find the words to respond.
“I know it’s a lot to ask, but I’ve been thinking about your situation, Ha-yeong. The apartment would be under your name, even with the allowance, and you can just repay the amount when you move out.”
Offering the allowance as a gift would only make her feel more indebted, even if it wasn’t my personal money. Unconditional generosity required a clear explanation, a sense of reciprocity, for the recipient to feel comfortable accepting it.
Unconditional favors, without a clear explanation, felt like either a burden or a scam, making it difficult to accept, even from a close friend.
“But it’s your allowance, A. Using it for my apartment…”
It was the expected response. Anyone would refuse in this situation. But I wasn’t going to let her decline.
“I have a few conditions.”
“?”
She looked at me, puzzled by the word “conditions,” and we continued our conversation, our eyes locked.
My conditions weren’t unreasonable.
First, she had to repay a portion of the allowance when she moved out. Having some form of repayment would ease her burden.
Second, she had to allow me to visit occasionally while she lived there.
It wasn’t out of any ulterior motives. I explained to Blue that I needed to check on her progress, her transition to independent living, since I was providing financial assistance.
I wasn’t planning to interfere with her life or visit unannounced.
Honestly, it was just a way to gather information, but I couldn’t tell her that, so I had to frame it differently.
And lastly,
“Don’t feel indebted to me.”
“Huh?”
She probably didn’t understand this one either.
But I knew, instinctively, that Blue would constantly feel guilty and indebted, living in an apartment partially funded by my allowance.
That wasn’t what I wanted. I just wanted her to live her life freely, without any burdens, with a little help from me.
Blue, after hearing my explanation, took a sip of her coffee and thought for a moment. She needed time to process everything. I didn’t want to interrupt her thoughts, so I waited patiently.
“May I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
She looked at me, her expression unreadable, then spoke slowly,
“Why are you going so far to help me?”
Her question made me think. Why was I helping Blue so much?
Technically, I was a member of Spacetroe, her enemy. Why was I using Spacetroe funds to help her?
The answer was simple. There was no reason.
I simply wanted to help someone in need, someone who was struggling. I didn’t think a deep connection was required to offer assistance.
For example, if you saw an elderly person struggling to carry a heavy load, you’d help them, even if you didn’t know them. There was no obligation to help, and no one would judge you for not helping.
People helped those in need if they could.
Of course, my current situation wasn’t just a small act of kindness. I was helping her find an apartment and even providing financial assistance.
I was doing it because I could.
There was no other reason.
But would Blue understand if I told her that?
Was there a better way to explain it, a way that would make her feel more comfortable accepting my help?
“Because I don’t like seeing you suffer.”
That was what helping someone was about. Seeing someone suffer caused you pain, too. You wanted to alleviate their suffering, to see them happy and at peace, and that empathy led to action.
Ha-yeong, listening to my earnest confession, just looked at me, saying nothing.
A brief silence hung in the air, filled with the cafe’s background music and the murmur of conversations, but there was no sound between us.
Then she smiled and nodded.
“Thank you. Then, may I ask you a favor?”
“Of course.”
“I’m looking for an apartment. Could you help me?”
“Yes, I’ll help you as much as I can.”
It would be better for both of us if she initiated the request, rather than me imposing my help on her. It wasn’t me creating a burden for her; it was her taking on the burden herself.
While it might sound like I was just shifting the responsibility to her, it was the best solution for both of us. Even if there was a better way, I didn’t know it.
After our conversation, Ha-yeong went home, and I returned to headquarters and quickly looked into the allowance procedures.
Thanks to my long service record, I was eligible for several allowances, and I spent the rest of the day researching the details.
I hadn’t done any physically demanding work, nor had I been forced to do anything I disliked, but I still felt exhausted by the end of the day. Eager to go home and rest, I took the elevator down and ran into Angelica, Team Leader 2, in the lobby.
“Team Leader Angelica, hello.”
“Oh, A, are you leaving?”
“Yes, I was just finishing up some work.”
“The thing you were working on before?”
Angelica, knowing I’d been researching superhumans, assumed I’d been busy with that today.
“No, I was looking into company allowances for a project.”
“I see. You’re always working hard, A, so I’m sure you’ll get plenty of support.”
Angelica’s warm and gentle voice, similar to Ha-yeong’s but more maternal, was soothing. I briefly wondered if my time under her command had been the most comfortable period of my military service.
“Did you find anything on superhumans?”
“I’m still looking, but no luck so far.”
“I might have some information. I’ll check and let you know. It might not be helpful, but…”
“No, I appreciate any help I can get.”
Team leaders, unlike ordinary soldiers like me, were busy and had a lot of responsibilities. I was grateful for her offer.
While I considered myself experienced, there were others at Spacetroe headquarters with more seniority, like Angelica, Team Leader 1, and the branch manager.
“Okay, good luck, A.”
I said goodbye to Angelica and headed home. The subway was crowded, and I felt the exhaustion weighing me down as I stood there, unable to move.
I arrived home, exhausted, entered the passcode, and stepped inside. Yu-bin, having just finished her shift at the convenience store, was lying on the bed, seemingly asleep.
“?”
As I approached her, about to check if she was deeply asleep, she suddenly opened her eyes and hugged me tightly.
“?! You weren’t sleeping?”
“I pretended to be asleep. I heard you come in.”
I hugged her back, the exhaustion of the day melting away.
Our eyes met, and we exchanged a brief kiss, smiling at each other.
“You must be tired.”
“Yeah. Did you come straight here after work?”
“Yes, I just got here, too.”
I reached for the remote on the bedside table, turned on the air conditioner, and was about to get up to shower when Yu-bin held me tighter, refusing to let go.
“I’m sweaty.”
“I need to recharge after a long day, Oppa.”
I couldn’t refuse such a request. I let her hold me, and we embraced, sharing warmth despite the hot, humid weather. The physical contact could have been unpleasant, our sweaty bodies sticking together, but the comfort of each other’s presence outweighed any discomfort.
“We should eat.”
“After we shower.”
The first thing we usually did when Yu-bin came over after her shift was to have dinner. But today, we were both tired, and we needed to wash off the sweat from the humid weather.
“Want to shower together?”
As I pulled away from the hug and stood up to go to the bathroom, Yu-bin’s question made me stop and look at her. I nodded silently, meeting her suggestive gaze.
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Ok so little blue will do it in her new apartment