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“So, hurry up and tell me how to open it before I break the lock.”

“…I’m telling you not to do anything weird.”

“Think about it. Whether I break the lock or you tell me how to open it, the refrigerator door will be opened either way. But wouldn’t it be better if it opened nicely instead of breaking the lock? Huh?”

“But… um…”

“Looking at your face, it seems like you’re curious too, so why are you holding back? Come on, let’s just take a peek. When else are we going to see this?”

“Is that… so?”

Iarin wanted to open the refrigerator.

Iserin was trying to stop her.

But the longer their conversation went on, the more Iserin got pulled in by Iarin.

Iserin began to show a curious expression mixed with her inner curiosity and Iarin’s persistent coaxing, as if she couldn’t resist the two together, and eventually she stammered as she hesitated, her gaze drifting off into the space, contemplating whether to use her power or not.

Jinseong, watching the two chatting in front of the refrigerator, reached out his hand into the air.

Then, two spoons on the table nearby floated up slowly, cutting through the air at a sluggish pace as they approached the duo. Both Iarin, who had sharp senses, and Iserin, who was so focused on Iarin that she didn’t even think to use her powers, were oblivious to this secret movement.

The floating spoons drew closer to them…

<Thud.>

Like a baby swinging a spoon, they gently tapped on their heads.

“Huh?”

“Uh?”

There was no pain.

But they could definitely feel someone tapping them on the head with a spoon, making them stop what they were doing.

Iarin and Iserin were startled and checked what had fallen on their heads. Once they confirmed it was a spoon, they tilted their heads in confusion. But soon after noticing that Jinseong was looking at them, they realized that the spoon had been sent by him.

“Uh, um…”

When Iserin’s gaze met Jinseong’s, she quickly averted her eyes.

But even then, feeling his gaze upon her, she gingerly raised her hands above her head and twisted her hair as if trying to hide her face. As if her hair were a blackout curtain.

But Iarin was different.

Unlike Iserin, who was embarrassed to be caught by her brother and was trying to hide her face, Iarin stared at Jinseong without a care in the world.

She wore an expression so bold as if she had a steel plate on her face.

In fact, she even shouted at Jinseong.

“Brother! There’s a lock on the refrigerator, could you please unlock it!”

Iarin confidently asserted with her whole being.

Claiming she had done nothing wrong and had nothing to be guilty about.

It was her brother who was at fault for putting a lock on the refrigerator, not her for trying to open it.

She looked at Jinseong with a shameless attitude that was almost outrageous.

Jinseong chuckled lightly at Iarin’s attitude and shook his head slowly.

“That won’t do.”

“Why not?”

Iarin tilted her head in confusion at Jinseong’s rejection.

Her hands clasped in front of her chest, and her wide, round eyes overflowed with the innocence of a child.

“Because it’s not the right time to open that.”

“Why? Are you fermenting kimchi in a vacuum sterilization state or something?”

“Haha. It may not be vacuum, but kimchi wouldn’t ferment under sterilization.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Iarin, innocently and freely asking her question, caused Jinseong to burst into laughter.

“Well, you’re not entirely wrong. Once pastries are unwrapped, they start to degrade from that moment, and food begins to spoil the moment it comes into contact with the mouth. The contents inside are no different; hence, in case the door opens accidentally and spoils the contents, I locked it.”

“Well… if that’s the case, I guess I can’t help it…”

Iarin stepped back from the refrigerator, feeling disappointed at Jinseong’s explanation.

If it would spoil if opened, what could she do about it?

She was curious about what was inside, but it wasn’t enough to risk spoiling it just to satisfy her curiosity. It was just a lightweight, frivolous curiosity.

You could say it was just a minor curiosity about whether her friend buys bottled water or if they boil tap water to make corn tea or barley tea, or whether they have a water purifier installed.

Tap tap.

She quickly gave up her trivial curiosity and, with a light and nimble movement, reached right in front of Jinseong. She pulled up a chair and placed it next to him, sitting down comfortably, putting her feet up on the stone.

That’s right.

That stone Jinseong was using like a bed.

Iarin, sitting on the chair with her feet propped up somewhere, looked like an active schoolgirl who slouched over a desk after sitting down.

She appeared so naturally like this as if she had done it countless times before.

And this image of Iarin was bound to irk those who usually emphasized etiquette.

“Hey! Don’t sit like that, it’s so unrefined!”

When Iarin put her feet up on the stone, her mother stepped in.

She started nagging about how inappropriate it was to behave like that and if she wanted to go back and receive etiquette training again.

Iarin waved her hands as if it was bothersome.

“Ah, Mom. We’re just among ourselves, so what’s the big deal? It’s not like I need to be careful in front of other people.”

“Etiquette should come naturally in daily life. Even if you are careful outside, I’ve told you repeatedly that your usual self will shine through. You need to go back and prepare to receive etiquette training again.”

“I’m not a child; I won’t go through that again. No way.”

“If you don’t know etiquette, how can you not be a child?! When Asha receives etiquette training, you’ll join too, got it?”

“…Hmm? With Asha? That might not be… okay?”

Iarin showed intense resistance to the mention of etiquette training but paused at the thought of attending with Anastasia and started contemplating for a moment.

Considering receiving etiquette training with Anastasia, whom she had fun with and created all sorts of mischief with at school, seemed like it could be interesting.

But soon enough, she shook her head.

No matter how much she considered it, she wouldn’t want to attend etiquette training.

From meal etiquette to walking and speaking… how many things were there to fuss over, after all?

At least they didn’t punish her with a switch like in some movies, but the strict nature of it, combined with overwhelming charisma, prevented her from being able to resist.

For Iarin, who considered herself a free spirit, etiquette training was the very lesson that contradicted her existence.

It felt like being forced to wear clothes that didn’t fit.

“No, I won’t take that. I don’t even have time for martial arts training, let alone etiquette training.”

“Seriously!”

Seeing that their conversation was heating up, Jinseong intervened between the two.

“Whether someone became a beast or not, one tends to relax at home, and it’s natural to want to throw off the pretenses and rest at home. So, please don’t mind Iarin’s attitude.”

Timing his intervention perfectly, Jinseong cut off their exchange.

Iarin’s mother wasn’t entirely satisfied with Jinseong’s words, but she nodded slightly as if she understood, and Iarin smiled brightly at the fact that her brother had backed her up in asserting her opinion. Then, as if performing a little show, she stretched, which looked like a cat stretching.

As Iarin stretched, her arms shot up and moved back, her back arched, emphasizing her upper body while her legs, resting on the stone, extended fully.

Indeed.

Right there, at the very stone Jinseong was using like a bed.

Iarin sitting on the chair with her feet resting on something reminded one of a lively schoolgirl slouching with her feet propped on the desk.

It seemed far too natural, as if she had done this a dozen times before.

And of course, this posture was bound to be irritating to anyone who valued manners.

“Hey! Didn’t I tell you not to sit like that?”

When Iarin propped her feet up on the stone, her mother chimed in.

She dished out a lecture about how wrong it was to behave unrefined and whether Iarin wanted to go back to receive guidance on manners.

As a result, Iarin waved her hands dismissively.

“Ah, Mom. We’re just among ourselves. What’s the issue? I just need to be careful in front of others.”

“Etiquette is something that should be expressed in daily life. No matter how careful you are outside, your true self will come out, haven’t I said that several times? Just be ready to go back and take etiquette training again.”

“I’m not a little kid; I’m certainly not going through that again. No way.”

“Not knowing etiquette makes you a child! You’ll have to join Asha and take the lessons with her, do you understand?”

“…Hmm? With Asha? Maybe that doesn’t sound too bad…?”

Upon hearing about etiquette training, Iarin displayed an intense reaction against it, but when she heard about training with Anastasia, she momentarily paused and began to think.

Going through etiquette training with Anastasia, the girl full of wild adventures and reckless fun, might just be entertaining.

However, she soon shook her head.

Even with Anastasia, there was no way she wanted to be part of etiquette lessons.

From dining etiquette to how to walk and speak… how many details did they expect her to adhere to?

While they didn’t resort to corporal punishment like in movies, their strictness and overwhelming charisma made it impossible for her to defy them.

For Iarin, who viewed herself as a free spirit, etiquette training was an entirely opposite concept.

It was like being compelled to wear ill-fitting clothes.

“Nope! I’m not going! I’m busy with martial arts training and won’t waste my time!”

“That is quite outrageous!”

Jinseong watched their conversation escalate and, sensing the rising tension, stepped in between them.

“Inherently, whether one has turned into a beast or not, being at home usually relaxes one’s guard, and one wishes to unwind without pretense. Therefore, I hope you do not take Iarin’s behavior to heart.”

Just as Jinseong cleverly interrupted, Iarin’s mother was not entirely pleased but nodded slightly to indicate her understanding, while Iarin beamed at the support she got from her brother. She then stretched her body in a way that looked just like a playful cat.

As she stretched, her arms reached upward and curled back, her back arched just like a cat showcasing herself. Her legs, extended on the stone, relaxed completely.

Indeed, the stone that Jinseong was using as a makeshift bed.

Iarin’s position, resting on the stone, resembled an enthusiastic schoolgirl lounging on her desk post-class, making it seem completely natural, as if she had done this many times before.

Certainly, such an image would irk someone who prided themselves on good manners.

“Hey! Didn’t I tell you not to slouch like that?!”

With that, Iarin’s mother clicked her tongue at her daughter’s antics.

“Respect that there are rules of propriety at home! You’re not in front of others, but you still need to behave properly.”

But instead, Iarin waved her hand dismissively, “Oh, come on, Mom! We’re just having a little fun. It’s not like anyone else is around to care!”

“Etiquette is formed in daily life! No matter how much you try to control your outer behavior, your true nature shows through! How many times have I told you? Just prepare to go back and take etiquette lessons again!”

“I’m not a kid anymore! Why do I need to do that again? No thank you!”

“Not understanding etiquette? That does indeed make you a child! When Asha gets her training, you’ll join her too. Understood?”

“Um? With Asha? Well… that could be… kinda interesting?”

For a moment, Iarin’s strong aversion to etiquette training faltered when the notion of training alongside Anastasia surfaced in her mind, leaving her pensive.

It might indeed be fun to engage in some proper training together with someone who shared in all her earlier escapades of chaos.

But soon she promptly shook her head.

Regardless of Anastasia, she had no desire to endure etiquette training rituals.

With all the specific expectations concerning eating manners, posture, and tone… it would be yet another obstacle to anticipate.

It was akin to trying to fit into clothes that were absolutely incompatible with her.

“Nope! No way! I’m too busy training in martial arts for that nonsense!”

“Seriously out of your mind!”

Having witnessed the escalating debate, Jinseong finally interjected.

“You see, whether a person’s nature is that of a wild beast or not, they retire into stability within the sanctuary of their home, shedding all facades. Thus, I do hope you will forgive Iarin’s mannerisms.”

With his timely interruption, Jinseong quelled the two’s escalating discourse.

Iarin’s mother displayed some dissatisfaction but yielded with an understanding nod while Iarin smiled broadly, knowing her brother had her back. Stretching her limbs as if showcasing a feline’s grace, she eased completely into her chair.

As she extended her arms up and arched her back, she appeared like an animated schoolgirl lounging comfortably, her entire demeanor seamlessly conveying a sense of relaxation and freedom.

 

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