Don't Pick Up the Male Lead in the Apocalypse - Chapter 17
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“Give it to me.”
The man extended his hand through the attic entrance. I handed him the blanket I was carrying along with a thick winter curtain.
After taking what he needed, he disappeared into the depths of the attic without a word.
‘Because the stairs are steep, let me hold your hand and help you up.’
Why did I even entertain such a useless fantasy?
The attic, just as he described, followed the slope of the roof, with a large window in the center of the space.
It was a single large room, made even colder by the vast window than the first or second floors. It wasn’t just cold; every step kicked up dust from the floor.
Rubbing my arms against the chill, I approached the window.
“Wow, Mr. Moon is huge.”
I wasn’t sure if it was just tonight or if the moon always looked this big from here. The moon hanging beyond the window was indeed large and bright.
“People who refer to the moon so formally are a first for me.”
Walking towards a corner with the blanket under his arm, he responded.
“Is the moon a person to be addressed so respectfully?”
The man, without looking my way, spread a blanket on the floor and said,
“The moon is a person. You don’t know the Sun and the Moon story?”
“I don’t.”
It was natural for him not to know a Korean fairy tale, but I wanted to tease him a bit, so I replied with a slightly mocking tone,
“It’s a famous story about siblings who became the sun and the moon.”
“Well, first I’ve heard of it.”
“How do you not know that? Are you stupid?”
“Let’s say I am. Now, lay down here.”
-Tap tap.
He patted the laid-out blanket a couple of times with his palm.
What’s that supposed to mean?
My eyes naturally widened at his gesture, as if calling a dog over.
Caught between doing this or that and just wetting my dry lips awkwardly, he spoke up again.
“Come and sleep. Aren’t you tired?”
I am tired, of course. But why should I sleep on your blanket?
“……”
As I remained silent, the man stood up. With confident strides, he approached me.
“Wah!”
“Mommy!”
I was so startled by his loud shout and extended arm that I instinctively curled up.
Seeing my reaction seemed amusing to him, as a smile appeared on his lips. It was the kind of smile a schoolboy might have when teasing his crush.
Really, what a thing for a grown man to do.
“You’re misunderstanding something.”
“……”
“I’m not interested.”
“……”
“It’s cold here. Besides us, who else is going to generate heat? You’re powerless, aren’t you? Do you have any ability that’s useful for survival? Shouldn’t you at least act like a heater to be of some help?”
I wanted to retort that I could create murderous snowballs, but that was a power only given during the tutorial.
So, I stayed silent, my face full of dissatisfaction.
“Alright. To the stubborn and powerless lady, go and sleep comfortably. If you really don’t like it, I’ll just sleep here.”
“……”
Really? I looked up, wondering if he was serious.
He was smiling, seemingly having given up.
“Come on, quickly. Shalalang brrrong~ off you go.”
Ugh, why did I ever do that stupid shalalang.
If I continued to resist, I felt like he’d kick me towards the blanket while doing that cursed shalalang brrong again.
Eventually, I got up and quietly moved to where the blanket was spread. Leaning against the wall, I wriggled into the blanket, and its warmth enveloped me.
He stood up again and started hanging the curtain he had brought from downstairs on the large window.
“We need the curtain, don’t we?”
I asked, knowing the answer. After all, this wasn’t the only two-story house around.
I wondered if we could be seen from afar without the light, but it was better to be safe.
“No.”
It was the response I expected, and so I easily accepted his refusal.
He continued hanging the curtain quietly. I watched his side profile as he worked.
The prolonged silence must have felt awkward.
“Should I tell you that story?”
“What?”
“The tale from earlier, about the sun and the moon, the siblings who became the sun and the moon.”
“……Sure.”
“Hmm.”
I cleared my throat, preparing to spin the tale with flair.
