I Became the Eldest Daughter of 10 Siblings - Chapter 113

At this point, I'm confused.

I'm not sure if what I'm pressing is a hypnosis app or not.

An incredible scene unfolded before my eyes.

Every time I pressed the recruitment button with my finger, Han Suho shivered with joy like a cat high on catnip.

"Wow, what is this?! It appeared again!"

No, at this rate, it seems like my hand has been blessed with the touch of the Holy Spirit.

3-star characters kept popping up one after another.

There are already 3 girls in swimsuits.

Having screamed so much, Han Suho said in a hoarse voice:

"Is noona's hand divine? Or are you a goose that only lays golden eggs? Try this as a broadcast content! It's called proxy gacha and it's famous."

"I won't."

Just thinking about viewers whining for me to pull for them makes my head hurt already.

And I don't know what kind of delusions reporter Cha Yoonju would have if she saw that.

Clicking my tongue, I moved on to Han Sumin's room.

Even before opening the door, I could hear the soft sound of guitar playing and humming from inside the room.

Afraid I might disturb her, I quietly entered and silently enjoyed the performance.

The first thing I noticed was...

This kid is good.

She knows how to quickly transition between difficult high chords, and naturally incorporates rhythmic ghost notes unique to her style into the song.

The more surprising part is the composition.

It's just... a good song.

The top line leading the song is trendy and easy on the ears.

To the point where I find myself humming along without realizing.

She even knows how to use slash chords to smoothly connect parts of the song, and add tension with diminished chords.

...Did she study music theory?

If not, then she's a genius.

The corners of my mouth curved up at the sweet melody Han Sumin created.

And the moment the performance ended.

My hands instinctively clapped.

"Oh my, unnie!"

Han Sumin noticed me and a bright smile spread across her face.

"When did you come?"

"Just a little while ago."

"Sorry. I didn't hear you because I was practicing."

I immediately asked:

"Did you compose that?"

"Yeah. How is it?"

"It's really good! The jangling guitar riff is nice, and the melody sticks in your head."

At my praise, Han Sumin responded with a gloomy expression.

"Even so, it's not like people recognize me like they do you, unnie."

"You're still in middle school. Don't get greedy for success on your first try."

"I'd rather be full and have bad habits. But looking at how I'm starving, I guess I don't have outstanding talent like you, unnie."

Han Sumin gave a bitter smile and fiddled with her nails. Her fingertips were full of calluses.

Turning my head to look around Han Sumin's room, I could see traces of her effort here and there.

On the desk were scattered composition notebooks with staff paper scribbled on, and on the monitor was an English composition program open.

"Sumin-ah."

I spoke in a gentle tone, as if coaxing her:

"They say it's darkest before dawn."

"..."

Han Sumin, who had been silent, suddenly asked:

"Was it like that for you too, unnie?"

"Hm?"

"Before you made it. Did you feel like you were in a dark, foggy field like I do?"

"...Do you really want to know?"

"Yeah. I think it would make me feel better."

I bent down to meet Han Sumin's eye level. Then I calmly opened my mouth.

"I don't remember."

"What do you mean?"

"I woke up at dawn to deliver newspapers. When that was done, I worked at a fast food restaurant. I took short naps and went out to work like a dog again, so I have no memory of that time at all."

"Ah..."

Han Sumin slightly hunched her shoulders and pressed her lips together tightly.

She fidgeted with the pick in her hand nervously, then lowered her head and said:

"I'm sorry. Imagining how hard it must have been for you then suddenly makes my worries feel so small..."

I let out a faint laugh.

Because I found it touching.

"Sumin-ah. Don't worry too much. From what I heard, your song is really good. I'm not just saying that, I mean it."

As I comforted her like that, I looked at the guitar Han Sumin was wearing.

The body of the guitar, which had lost its luster, was worn smooth.

Seeing that makes me feel strange somehow.

Because in this world, my sister is using the guitar I used when I was a man.

Taking my eyes off the old guitar, I said:

"Should I buy you a guitar?"

At that, Han Sumin's eyes sparkled like a Chihuahua's, as if she had never been gloomy.

"Really?!"

"Hey. Your eyes are about to pop out."

"Reeeeally?!"

If I say it's not true now, she looks like she might hit me over the head with that guitar.

"Yeah. Really. You got into the arts high school too, so we should buy you a guitar. You can't keep playing on just an entry-level cost-effective guitar forever."

"Kyaaah! Unnie!"

Han Sumin put down her guitar and threw herself into my arms.

"Unnie... no, I'll call you Unnim!"

"I can't breathe."

"You won't die from not breathing for a few seconds! I'm going to hug you so tight your ribs might break!"

Han Sumin's eyes gleamed.

"Ah geez, what should I get? A Gibson Les Paul? A Rickenbacker 325? This is really hard to decide."

She already knows the good ones. She's only choosing expensive ones.

At that moment, I suddenly remembered something Han Sejun had mentioned in passing before.

About Han Sumin going out somewhere every night.

Since I remembered, I threw a fastball:

"By the way, you're not doing anything strange lately, are you?"

"...What do you mean by strange things?"

"According to my intel, there's a rumor that you go out every night?"

Han Sumin waved her hands and denied it:

"No, no! I did go out, but I went to practice with my friends!"

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously:

"Sounds suspicious..."

"It's really not like that!"

Anxious delusions rippled through my mind.

"You're not making weird accounts on Twitter and using fake names, are you?"

For a moment, Han Sumin flinched.

"That's... not it."

Her voice lacks strength. Uneasily.

"What do you mean 'that's not it'? Your answer is very unconvincing right now."

"Ah, no, what are you saying! I find those kinds of alter accounts disgusting so I don't do that!"

"It sounds like you're doing other kinds though."

"No, I'm not..."

"You know that if you do anything bad, not only will it affect your family, but it will also be like driving a nail into unnie's heart, right?"

"I know, I know..."

I gently patted Han Sumin's head and said:

"I hope that's not the case. Come out and stop fiddling around, we're going to eat."

"...Okay."

Finally.

I went to the room where the quadruplets were.

"Han Bom, Han Yeoreum, Han Gaeul, Han Gyeoul! Come down quickly, we're going to have dinner!"

Adorable replies were heard from here and there.

But...

One voice was missing?

"Why are there only 3 answers?!"

When I shouted, Han Bom's voice was heard from a secluded spot.

"Bom won't eat!"

Oh? How dare this private refuse a meal?

But I can't see Han Bom.

As I was looking for the source of the voice, my gaze stopped abruptly on a large box.

The box had "Bom's House" written on it in crooked letters.

"...What are you doing in there?"

"It's my house! Bom has run away now!"

Every day is spectacular. Really.

What kind of family is this, that there's not a single normal kid?!

Still, that sight was somewhat nostalgic, so I smiled.

That looks just like Dad.

That man who, when I was a man, would declare to Mom that he was running away at every opportunity and set up a tent in the living room.

Of course, due to Mom's forced demolition, he would crawl out like a sick cockroach in less than an hour.

"Excuse me."

I knocked on the box.

"Please come out quickly, princess."

"Don't wanna!"

"If you keep this up, I'll demolish it. If you're going to squat illegally, at least pay rent, Miss Bom."

"Bom has no money!"

...She's bragging.

"What's the sudden reason for this?"

Silence fell at my question.

Then sniffling sounds started coming from inside the box.

"No one likes Bom..."

Hearing those words, my mind went blank.

"Bom-ah. What are you saying?"

A tearful voice lamented:

"Mom, Dad, and unnie! They all left because they don't like Bom! They weren't here for Christmas or Bom's birthday! All my friends have moms and dads but only Bom doesn't..."

It feels like my heart has sunk.

I thought she was fine because she never showed it on the outside, but inside she was pretending to be calm.

"Bom-ah."

I said in a low voice:

"Mom and Dad are working hard in a faraway country, but they'll be back soon."

"Liar!"

"It's not a lie. Unnie will call them."

The inside of the box went quiet.

The sniffling sounds gradually subsided, and then the young voice was heard again.

"...Really?"

"Of course. When have you ever seen unnie lie?"

"Well, never..."

I stroked the box and continued speaking:

"Now, princess. Show me the prettiest face in the world."

Then,

The tightly closed box slowly opened. Through the gap in the lid, Bom's tear-stained face poked up like a baby mole.

"Bom, hello?"

"Mm..."

I wiped Bom's tears with my thumb.

Han Bom's delicate nostrils quivered as she held out both arms.

"Unnie."

"What is it?"

"Give me a piggyback ride."

I bent my knees to lower myself, and Han Bom climbed onto my back.

Her small, warm body temperature snugly overlapped on my back.

"Unnie."

"What is it, miss?"

"Sorry for getting angry earlier..."

Holding back laughter, I returned the words:

"Unnie is sorry for not being able to do enough."

"Sorry for always throwing tantrums."

"Unnie is sorry for making you feel lonely."

As we exchanged apologies back and forth,

Han Bom whispered in my ear:

"Sorry for trying to steal that oppa."

"...I never had him in the first place."

I came down to the living room with Bom on my back.

Son Yena, with red sauce on her cheek, held out a fork and said:

"Unnie! Try what I made!"

I put the rose pasta Son Yena made in my mouth and tasted it.

My brows furrowed involuntarily.

"It's too salty."

"Huh? That can't be."

This time, Hyun Junho next to her held out chopsticks and asked:

"How's my food?"

This one makes me furrow my brows for a different reason.

"...It's too bland."

"Really? It tastes just right to me. I'm sorry, but isn't Yujin-ssi eating too salty things?"

These cooking wannabes and their pride...

Son Yena, who throws in seasonings recklessly without discretion.

Hyun Junho, who pursues a bland and stable taste.

These guys' gaming habits show even in their cooking.

Before I knew it, the living room was bustling with people who had been scattered coming together.

The table neatly set with food looked quite abundant.

"Let's eat!"

Chattering voices and gentle laughter spread throughout the house.

It felt like my heart was warming up, to the point where I completely forgot about the cold air outside.

It was like a late Christmas party.

...Not bad. It's peaceful.

Just as I was thinking I wished this moment could last forever.

Bzzt!

A message came in on my silent phone.

[Jung Suhyeok: Come or don't.]

[Jung Suhyeok: Do as you please.]

[Jung Suhyeok: I have no intention whatsoever of granting your request.]

...How should I answer?

After deep contemplation while rolling the phone in my hand, I sent a reply.

[Han Yujin: Okay, I'll come see you now]