Chapter 36: Feel happy.

“Angel~ You’ve worked hard.”

“……”

“Angel?”

“I’m tired… I’m going to sleep….”

“Huh…?”

I slumped down.

Entering Hwang Gilsu’s private room, I collapsed weakly onto the sofa.
I felt Lee Hyejin, who had been talking to me, become flustered, but I didn’t have the energy to explain it to her right now.

After vividly experiencing all sorts of circus-like events disguised as prayer right before my eyes,
my mental energy was completely depleted.

‘Why did it suddenly turn into that….’

Lying prostrate on the sofa,
I buried my face in a cushion and briefly searched my memory.

But no matter how much I thought about it, I still couldn’t find the answer.
How could a counseling session suddenly become a talent show?
The gap between the two was too wide for me to even guess.

It started with a man who suddenly prostrated himself on the floor,
followed by someone who crawled out from their seat.
What was next…? Was it, like, a front roll…?

Anyway, the more I thought about it, the more my head throbbed,
all of them were equally absurd and unbelievable.

‘… I’ll just sleep.’

So, I finally gave up thinking and slowly closed my eyes…

Click.

Along with the sound of the door opening, Hwang Gilsu’s voice was heard.

“I brought the bingsu for Angel… Huh…? Hyejin, is Angel perhaps sleeping?”

“Oh, yes, she said she was tired—”

“No, I’m not sleeping yet….”

With a stir—

While Lee Hyejin was in the middle of answering,
I subtly raised my body and answered instead.

As expected, I saw Lee Hyejin become flustered again,
but tiredness aside, I desperately wanted something sweet.

Thud.

Thus, the mango bingsu from a familiar brand was placed before my eyes.
As I spooned it up, Lee Hyejin and Hwang Gilsu’s gazes naturally turned towards me,
and I suddenly remembered something I was curious about and asked.

“By the way, what exactly were you two talking about regarding that statue?”

“Oh, that? It was nothing much.”

Thump.

Lee Hyejin sat down next to me,
and continued speaking while raking her fingers through her tangled hair.

“We were discussing whether or not to sue the person who made that statue.”

“…… Huh? What? Suddenly?”

A completely unexpected answer.
I stared at Lee Hyejin with wide eyes.

I had clearly thought they were both just casually trying to peek at the underwear.
I never thought they were genuinely examining something serious.

‘Hmm, did I misunderstand…?’

Somehow, a slightly apologetic feeling arose in this situation.
Given their past actions… honestly, I couldn’t help but think that way.
Anyway, it made me wonder if I had judged too hastily because of it.

“Didn’t you really like it, saying it was well-made?”

So, out of curiosity about what the problem could possibly be,
I tilted my head and asked for the reason.

“Yes, that’s right. But the most important thing is… the inside was also made too well….”

“…?”

“Only I am supposed to see that, how dare they…. And that person must have seen it while making it, right!? I can never forgive them….”

…… Oh, that part?
Right, well, that’s just typical of you….

I immediately turned my head, pretending not to hear, and put more bingsu into my mouth.
As expected, I shouldn’t have held any expectations; it was a rather foolish action.

Reflecting on my own actions,

‘… Huh?’

Then, I suddenly noticed something.
Peeking out from under the white pastor’s robe that Hwang Gilsu was wearing, which looked like a gown…

“Excuse me, Gilsu.”

“That’s right, of course, that—Huh!? Yes, Angel!”

“Can you, uh, take off that white outer garment?”

“Yes, what? Why suddenly….”

“I just have something to check.”

“Uh…, um….”

Hwang Gilsu, who would normally immediately reply, ‘Yes, understood!’
He delayed his answer, and I saw his eyes trembling.

Despite that, instead of pressing him, I just smiled sweetly,
and seeing that, Hwang Gilsu flinched in surprise and hastily began to take off his pastor’s robe.

Then, what appeared…
was a T-shirt plastered with numerous enlarged photos of my face, stretched over his protruding belly.

It wasn’t even just one large picture like Park Gyutae’s.
It was completely plastered everywhere,
he was wearing something truly fitting the word ‘grotesque’.

“……”

“……”

A momentary silence descended upon the room, and

“Oh….”

Lee Hyejin’s brief exclamation.
I looked at Hwang Gilsu, who was profusely sweating, and asked.

“Honestly, you know it’s weird yourself, don’t you?”

If he were confident, he wouldn’t be so hesitant in the first place.
No matter how I looked at it, he seemed to know it very well himself, so when I asked,
Hwang Gilsu hastily waved both hands.

“No, no! I absolutely don’t think it’s strange! It’s a limited edition that only I possess! I’m proud of it, actually!”

… Seriously?
Can you really wear that outside?

“… Then why are you being so self-conscious?”

“Ah… w-well… I thought Angel might find it a bit burdensome…. And that you might think I’m being silly at my age….”

… Huh? Huh? You were someone who considered such things?
But…… why now…?

It was a situation where I was flustered when he made a sensible remark.
Perhaps it was because he was on the same level as Lee Hyejin.
As I pondered what to say, feeling the same way, Lee Hyejin spoke.

“Don’t worry, Gilsu! I genuinely think it’s awesome! What does age have to do with liking Angel!?”

“R-right? As expected of Hyejin!”

Clap.

Their natural high-five.
The two looked at each other with extremely satisfied expressions.

‘… Wow.’

How should I put it, a perfectly synchronized chemistry that evoked admiration.
Watching them, I felt somewhat displeased…

Tear—Rip!

Without realizing it, I telekinetically ripped the shirt Hwang Gilsu was wearing into shreds.
Pieces of clothing scattered everywhere, as if in slow motion.

“Kyaaah!”

Hwang Gilsu screamed and covered his upper body, and

“U-Ugh!”

Lee Hyejin also screamed and covered her eyes.
In that pandemonium, I smiled contentedly,
and quietly put more mango bingsu into my mouth.

“Oh dear… What a waste….”

Lee Hyejin sighed deeply, looking at Angel’s merchandise shop.
This place, including the room where photos were displayed,
was fated to disappear from the church forever by Angel’s command.

Beside her, Hwang Gilsu also clicked his tongue regretfully.

“There’s nothing we can do. Angel doesn’t want it….”

“Hmm, indeed. I had no idea she would dislike it this much…. It seems like the senior’s case was quite significant.”

“Senior… are you perhaps referring to Gyutae?”

“Yes, that’s right. He came back completely as an Angel otaku, and it seems Angel thinks it’s a problem with this place. But what exactly happened?”

To Lee Hyejin’s sincere question, Hwang Gilsu chuckled and replied.

“Actually, I didn’t do anything special.”

“No way, that’s impossible. There’s no way that’s true?”

“I really didn’t do anything special; we just had ordinary conversations about Angel for about 10 hours every day.”

“Ah, ahh, hmm… It really isn’t much, considering?”

“Right?”

Lee Hyejin and Hwang Gilsu, as if on cue, looked at each other and grinned simultaneously.
Looking back at the merchandise plastered all over the wall, Lee Hyejin asked.

“By the way, what do you plan to do with all this merchandise?”

“For now, I’m considering just giving them away to the devotees, but… what do you think?”

“Just…? Hmm, just like that…. That does seem a bit wasteful.”

“Right, isn’t it? But no matter how much I think, nothing comes to mind…. Do you perhaps have any good ideas, Hyejin?”

“Hmm….”

Lee Hyejin stroked her chin, deep in thought.
How to deal with these countless goods most efficiently and reasonably.
All for our cute and adorable Angel.

“Ah!?”

Then, an idea suddenly flashed in her mind.

“Gilsu, Angel clearly took issue with this being inside the ‘church,’ right?”

“Huh? Oh, is that it? I just thought she was displeased….”

“Oh come on, no way! She must simply think that a church should look like a church.”

“Hmm… in that case, that means….”

“Exactly. Instead of needing to dispose of them, wouldn’t it be solved just by moving their location?”

“Location… you mean location….”

The two naturally grinned at each other again.
Lee Hyejin said, full of excitement.

“Why don’t we build an Angel theme park near the church while we’re at it? And make the entrance fee church ‘talents’! How does that sound? I’ll try to get the budget.”

“Oh…!? N-no! Such an amazing idea…!? As expected, you’re incredible! I still have a long way to go to catch up to Hyejin….”

Hwang Gilsu, genuinely impressed.
He nodded in admiration several times before continuing.

“Ah! Then, we can also extend the photo room longer, as originally planned. Like… a 4-hour course. Actually, we had to reduce it in the church due to lack of space.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea too!? As expected, Gilsu is one of the few talents I acknowledge!”

Lee Hyejin gave a thumbs-up, and Hwang Gilsu scratched the back of his head.

“Hahaha, to be acknowledged by Hyejin… This is a bit embarrassing….”

“Oh come on~ It’s nothing, Gilsu, you’re truly worthy of acknowledgement. Anyway, this crisis has turned into an opportunity.”

“Indeed. I should also diligently start thinking about things to add from now on.”

“Yes, yes, as for construction… I’ll try to get it started as soon as possible, anyway.”

“Great…….”

The two continued to burn with enthusiasm for a long time,
and began searching for a suitable plot of land around the church.