I Became a Raid Boss-Chapter 158: Can you do it? (1)

“Vrrr-”

“...”

“Vrrrrrrr-!”

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“...Hey, Kana?”

“What?”

“Isn’t that your phone ringing?”

“It is.”

And?

When I looked at her blankly, Daeun tilted her head, question marks practically hovering over her.

“Then why aren’t you answering it?”

“Too much trouble.”

It’s obviously a spam call. Why would I bother?

At first, I used to pick up without thinking. But every time it was the same nonsense—loans, internet plans, investment opportunities...

“Ohhh.”

Daeun nodded in understanding as if she sympathized with my reasoning.

“Spam calls are the worst. I used to get so many that I seriously considered just turning my phone off.”

“Then turn it off.”

“But then I’d miss important calls. Hmm... Well, I guess for you, Kana, since you don’t have many contacts, it’s mostly spam, huh?”

“Exactly.”

I hadn’t shared my number with anyone. While Daeun’s parents had my contact info, they’d only call in emergencies involving her, not out of the blue. So any incoming calls had to be spam.

Although, unlike most spammers who give up after being ignored, this one was stubbornly persistent. Still, if I kept ignoring it, they’d eventually tire themselves out.

Tilt.

As I thought this through, I tilted my head. Something felt off, though. Starting from the moment Daeun spoke up until now.

Replaying the conversation in my mind, I pinpointed the source of the oddity.

“How do spam calls even get through when I haven’t shared my number?”

I hadn’t signed up for anything either.

“...Oh.”

“Huh?”

“Kana, you shouldn’t dig too deep into the world’s mysteries.”

“You’re doing this again?”

“Doing what again? Why are you looking at me like I’m a sketchy snake oil salesman?”

“Wow.”

Clap clap.

“Bullseye.”

How did she read me so perfectly? I clapped my hands in acknowledgment of her sharp insight.

“That’s not a compliment! You’re mocking me!”

Daeun yelled in frustration but quickly calmed herself.

“Anyway, there are grown-up reasons behind this. Baby Kana doesn’t need to know just yet. I’ll explain later, okay?”

“...Baby?”

“Gasp! Kana’s acting cute?! Ugh, why wasn’t I recording this?!”

“Does this look like I’m acting cute to you?”

Clearly, Daeun wasn’t in her right mind. I shook my head as my phone, still vibrating endlessly, finally fell silent.

It seemed the caller had given up.

“If the vibrations annoy you, just flip your phone over next time. That way, it’ll go completely silent.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Occasionally, Daeun actually says something useful, so I try to listen when she speaks.

“Occasionally? Try to listen? Is that all my advice means to you?”

“That’s already a pretty generous assessment.”

“You’re awful!”

Daeun wailed about how I could be so cruel, but isn’t it the truth that hurts the most?

“Still, embracing harsh truths is what makes us better people.”

“And you’re just as weird with the things you say, Kana!”

“...Oh no. I’ve caught Daeun-itis.”

“Seriously, that’s too much!”

Daeun sniffled as she pretended to cry. I scratched my cheek.

“...Should I apologize?”

Not because I actually felt bad for making her cry. She wasn’t genuinely upset, and she wasn’t hurt. Look at her—she’s smiling even now. I sighed, noticing the faint grin peeking out from behind her hands.

Once, I asked if I was too harsh on her.

“Hmm? No, not at all. I actually like that Kana treats me so casually. After all, you only act like this with me, right?”

“...That’s true.”

“So it’s fine! It just means you feel comfortable around me.”

She smiled brightly as she said that. I had plenty of things I wanted to say, but her radiant smile made them all disappear.

Anyway, her mom also smacks her on the back when she starts rambling nonsense, so I don’t think what I said was too much.

So why was I hesitating to apologize? Because Daeun controls the snacks, of course.

If she wanted to, she could withhold my snacks as punishment. I don’t get sick from eating sweets, but since she pays for them, I’m at her mercy.

“Ahhh, I’m hungry... Should I eat some snacks? ...Huh? Where did all the snacks I bought the other day go?”

“...”

“What the—my chocolates, candies, and bread are gone! I swear I bought enough to fill a truck...”

“...”

“Excuse me, Kana? Stop avoiding my gaze and explain yourself!”

“...I didn’t eat them.”

“Then what? Did Mrs. Kim Yerim sneak in and eat them? Or did a hungry thief only take the snacks and run off?”

“...Maybe it was a mouse?”

“Ah, so we have mice now, huh?”

“...”

“Kana.”

“Y-Yeah?”

“Snacks are confiscated.”

“...!”

Honestly, even I had to admit I’d eaten too much. I’d meant to only eat a couple, but when I came to my senses, all that was left were empty wrappers.

The addictive power of those snacks was terrifying. Even while my memory of eating them was fuzzy, the thought of chicken was crystal clear.

After a dental check and a scolding from Daeun, the management of snacks was handed over to her.

That’s why, to keep today’s snack privileges intact, I kept my mouth shut. One wrong step, and I’d be crossing a line I couldn’t come back from.

“Da—”

~♪

“Huh?”

Just as I was about to call out to Daeun, her phone started ringing. It was the same song she’d mentioned liking during our last camping trip.

Daeun didn’t seem to notice my voice as she picked up the phone.

“Hello?”

She didn’t sound particularly warm. Must not be someone she’s close to.

“Who is this? ...Oh. But why are you calling me?”

Judging by her tone, it was someone she hadn’t expected to hear from. My curiosity faded quickly. I wasn’t one to eavesdrop on other people’s calls.

I sprawled out on the sofa, feeling oddly deflated by the lack of excitement in the air.

“Bruuuh—”

I buried my face into a cushion, letting out a meaningless groan. Maybe there was a hint of dissatisfaction in that sound, too.

“Kana.”

“...”

“Kana?”

“...Yeah?”

While I had my face buried, I felt Daeun tap me on the back. Was her call already over? It couldn’t have been long enough for me to fall asleep.

“Is it over?”

“No, that’s not it...”

Lifting my head, I saw Daeun giving me a troubled look. Or maybe she was just trying to gauge my reaction.

“They want to talk to you.”

“To me?”

Her words caught me completely off guard, my eyes widening in surprise.

Who could it be? Her parents?

I wanted to ask, but Daeun handed me the phone with an urgent gesture.

“...Hello?”

I answered stiffly, much like Daeun had earlier.

“-Hello? Really? That’s what you’re opening with?!”

“...Ow.”

The voice on the other end immediately shouted, nearly making me drop the phone. It was strangely familiar, though.

“Who is this?”

“Who do you think?! You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?!”

“Oh.”

So it was Edel.

Realizing the caller’s identity, I let out a short exclamation of recognition.

"Long time no see."

"..."

Having shared plans and spent a few days together, I greeted her warmly. However, there was no immediate response. After a long silence, Edel finally spoke.

"Ugh... I'd rather die than deal with this. So, why didn’t you answer the phone?"

"Phone? Was I supposed to?"

"You’ve got to be kidding me! You literally just got a call!"

"Oh, right."

The missed call on my phone had the same number as the one I was now speaking to.

"Sorry, I thought it was spam."

"Typical of you... If you’re going to call that much, you could at least check who’s calling."

"I did think it was persistent, but how did you get my number?"

"Well, I’m a god. I should know at least that much, shouldn’t I?"

"Mm..."

While it wasn’t exactly wrong, it still felt a bit ridiculous. Watching such an important being get upset over one missed call, I couldn’t help but find it lacking in credibility. Honestly, it seemed rather human-like.

"But, still, you could’ve just sent a message. Isn’t that what modern apps are good for?"

"What’s with the old-person tone?"

"..."

"You say I’m old, but still prefer to send messages. What happened to using the phone for what it’s for? It’s faster, you can exchange ideas quickly. Kids these days are afraid of making calls... and you’re proving it."

She went from calling herself old to calling me a kid. Which is it?

"Just get to the point already."

I cut off her rambling. I was tired of following her unpredictable conversational rhythm.