Chapter 59: Slice-of-life

She had always spoken highly of Azaroth. Could there be more to their friendship than met the eye?

'Um Mm, don't think nonsense!'

Jinwoo shook his head.

As Azaroth and Jinwoo arrived at Jinwoo's apartment building, they stepped out of the car and made their way towards his house.

They took the elevator up to Jinwoo's floor, where they stood in front of his apartment door.

Jinwoo buzzed the intercom and Jinnah's cheerful voice replied "Eh? Oppa? You guys here already?"

She sounded flustered, likely still cooking. 

Shortly after, the door swung open.

What came into Azaroth's view was a beautiful petite girl with a fair face, glistening neck with some steam droplets... The girl really looked beautiful.

She had her hair tied in a ponytail and had worn a cute sponge-bob apron on top of her casual clothes with some traces of flour near her right eye. 

She cleared her stray hair from her eye and then first looked at Jinwoo.

 "Oh, y-you really came!" She said looking at Azaroth.

"Haha, you preferred me not to come?" 

Azaroth said in a sly tone while chuckling.

"AH!! No! I really like.. like that you came." She blurted out in a panic.

 "I... I thought you guys might come a bit later."

Jinwoo chuckled. "Sorry, we didn't want to keep you waiting."

Azaroth smiled warmly at Jinah. "Yeah, we came as soon as you called. Nice to see you again, Jinah. Thanks for having me over."

Jinah blushed slightly,

"Oh, um, come on in," she said, stepping aside to let them enter.

She was indeed a cute sister material.

So pure... I want to taint her...

As they stepped inside, the apartment was filled with the comforting aroma of her cooking.

Jinah busied herself in the kitchen, stirring a pot on the stove.

"Sorry for the mess!" she said, flustered.

"I'm still cooking dinner," she explained, glancing back at them with a shy smile. "I didn't expect you so soon. Ah! But don't worry. It's almost done!"

"It smells delicious already," Azaroth commented, his gaze lingering on Jinah for a moment longer than usual.

Jinwoo and Azaroth washed their hands and Azaroth was inside the washroom.

Jinwoo came near Jinah and said, "Wow Jinah, you really prepared a lot. And it really looks good—" 

Jinah just glanced at him, "Oye, idiot Oppa! Why didn't you...." She said through gritted teeth.

Question marks appeared on top of Jinwoo's head "What do you mea—"

Jinah glanced at the bathroom side to see if Azaroth was coming out. Not finding him she looked at her oppa with a horrifying gaze, "W-why didn't you tell me that you were giving 'him' the phone!" she hissed.

Jinwoo scratched his head. "E.. eheh.. My bad...?"

"I was nagging at him like some old harpy without realizing!" Jinah sighed despairingly.

Her voice slightly lowered, "I.. I was nagging at him like an old aunt.. wh.. what have I done.."

Jinwoo chuckled nervously. "Ehe.. H-He didn't seem to mind your tone much."

"And how do you know what goes on inside his head huh? "

Jinah glared.

Jinwoo raised his hands in surrender. "I'm sorry ok? Won't do that again."

Just then Azaroth emerged. Jinah schooled her face calm as Jinwoo whispered, "Forgive me?"

She huffed. "This time. But you owe me oppa!"

"Need any help?" Azaroth asked looking at them with a smile.

"Ah, no Azaroth.. you.. you please sit.." She said in a ladylike tone and then turned to Jinwoo, "Hey Oppa! Could you set the table?"

Jinwoo smiled, relieved. It seemed Jinah had forgiven him.

"Sure thing," Jinwoo replied with a grin, moving to grab some plates and utensils.

Jinah brought over the brimming pot of kimchi jjigae and they gathered round the small dining table. The rich aroma made mouths water.

Jinah served Azaroth first because he was the guest and then served her Oppa, finally serving herself she sat down and then looked at Azarot as she fretted quietly.

 "I-It's nothing fancy, I hope you don't mind."

Especially with this 'esteemed' guest being a renowned hunter and coming from wealth, she worried her cooking wasn't up to par.

She watched nervously as he lifted the spoon.

Azaroth took his first bite and suddenly paused. 

His expression..? inscrutable.

Heavy silence fell as Jinah's panic rose. What if he hated it? Her skills were nothing compared to a gourmet chef.

"...." the two brother and sister looked at him in anxiety.

"... This... " After a second or two, he opened his mouth "What is this!?" He said.

Jinah paled, heart dropping like a stone.

Looking at his sister's face Jinwoo tried to say something, "Ah.. A-Azat—"

"You call this nothing fancy?!" He stared into the stew, awestruck. "This is heaven."

Jinah blinked, hardly daring to believe. "R-really?"

Azaroth met her eyes with a smile. "Jinah, your cooking is truly a gift. This kimchi jjigae - not gonna lie but it's wonderful!"

Jinah broke into a radiant smile, like a flower blossoming. The worried creases on her forehead vanished, replaced by a glowing joy.

"Thank you so much!" she said, bowing her head shyly. "I'm glad you like it."

Beside her, Jinwoo beamed proudly. "Told you your cooking was the best. You were worrying for nothing."

He gave his sister an affectionate pat on the back. Which made Azaroth feel like Homelander when he was about to leser a bunch of people...

Calm down Azaroth... he is her brother..

Jinah glowed under the praise, a warmth filling her from head to toe.

This jjigae had been her mother's recipe. 

Her mom was also a great chef at a restaurant and she was usually complemented for her Kimchi Jjigae.

(A/N: Not in the original Manhwa.)

Jinah's mother was famed for her soul-nourishing stews. She had taught Jinah everything, from selecting the finest ingredients to balancing each flavor with care.

Though sadly under the Eternal Sleep Disease these past years, Jinah felt her mother was still with her through the meals she cooked.

During dinner, Azaroth engaged Jinah in conversation, asking about her day and complimenting her cooking. Jinah, still a bit flustered but visibly pleased, responded with shy nods and soft-spoken replies.

Between bites, Azaroth turned to Jinah with a smile. "I see your green thumb is as skilled as ever. Those flowers on your windowsill looked lovely from outside."

Jinah blushed. "Hehe.. It's nothing much.. I just don't forget to water them regularly."

"I'd love to see your plants closely someday~" 

Azaroth said and then Jinah looked shaken.

'Is.. Is he saying he wants to see my room..?!!'

"You absolutely should!" Jinwoo said with an enthusiastic smile,

"Her jasmine vines are the envy of the neighborhood! Do you wanna see them after dinner!?"

"Oppa!" Jinah swatted him with a face redder than a tomato.

'How dense could this Oppa be!' She shouted in her head.

Azaroth watched her cute flustered reactions with amusement."Jinah, you really are a curve ball, aren't you?"

"Hmm..? " Jinah finally managed to make eye contact with him.

"Athletic, fit, topper of the class, beautiful, plus with skills in both kitchen and garden! Damn!" He started counting on his left hand nonchalantly.

 "With your talents, any man would be blessed to have you."

'Wa wa wa wa.. what did he ssssss sayyy...' Jinah's head began spinning with smoke coming out of her ears...

Jinwoo was looking at the sight with confusion.

His sister, usually confident and spirited in front of him, was now bashful and blushing under Azaroth's charming attention....

This tomboyish nagging little goblin as a wife to someone.. he couldn't even picture that possibility.

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The lively neon streets of Seoul bustled at 10 PM. In front of a grand restaurant, a red BMW screeched to a halt.

A large man with a shaved head stepped out, his expensive shirt stretching at the biceps. Without a word, he tossed the car keys to the valet and strode inside.

The maître d' bowed deeply. "Mr. Hwang. Please, this way."

Weaving through the crowded dining floor, they arrived at a large private compartment. Inside, a beautiful woman sat smoking a cigar while having a wine.

She looked elegant as always but Dongsuk detested these kinds of women the most, fidgeting with her glass as Dongsuk approached. His glare said he'd prefer to be elsewhere.

"Rose. Now tell me, what was so urgent you insisted we meet?"

Dongsuk said brusquely as he sat down.

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