Superstar 844

After breakfast.

The witch, the werewolf, and the black cat gathered in the living room.

“It’s fine. You don’t need to give anything.”

Watching Molly, who had somehow circled back to demanding Theo’s claws as payment, and Theo hesitating, modern-minded Claire spoke firmly.

“Why not? If we had werewolf claws, we could make something amazing, Claire!”

“Pulling out claws hurts.”

Claire shuddered when she saw Theo fiddling with his fingernails.

“We don’t need fur or blood, either.”

“That doesn’t hurt! It just feels like pulling hair. And blood—”

“Not needed.”

Ahhhh!

Frustrated by the young witch who couldn’t appreciate such valuable materials, Molly rolled across the floor in agony.

“Then how are you going to handle the fee? You’re going to do it for free?”

Molly jumped up and asked. Claire could feel Theo’s gaze.

“Well…”

Claire hesitated.

‘I do believe people should be paid for their work.’

But if the witch didn’t know the first thing about magic, wouldn’t it be Theo who was at risk instead?

Claire looked at Theo, who sat on the sofa.

The werewolf, sitting stiffly, wore the clothes Claire had bought for him yesterday. The thick outerwear had hidden it, but he had a strong build.

“Well then…”

Claire trailed off, looking at the penniless man who had only his sturdy physique and good looks.

“Would you help me with something?”

“…I don’t know any magic, though.”

Theo hesitated. Claire smiled gently.

“Not magic. Something else. Help me open a cookie shop.”

Both Theo and Molly blinked at the same time. Claire chuckled to herself at their matching expressions.

“A… cookie shop?”

“Yeah. The first floor is a shopping district, right? Next door are a clothing shop and a trinket store.”

Claire spoke with a bright expression.

“I’m thinking of turning the living room and kitchen on the first floor into a store. I’ll use the second floor as my living space.”

Claire glanced around, and Theo and Molly followed her gaze.

The living room where the witch, werewolf, and cat sat, and the kitchen connected to it.

Farther in were the laundry room, bathroom, a small room, and the staircase to the second floor.

“So I plan to remodel the living room and kitchen. Of course I’ll hire professionals, but I was planning to do it mostly myself to save money. I’d like your help, since there’ll be a lot of heavy lifting.”

Claire stood up and excitedly described how she wanted to renovate.

Listening to her, Theo asked,

“Really… that’s all you need me to do?”

“Yeah.”

Despite Claire’s confident nod, Theo looked slightly uneasy.

Then Molly chimed in.

“Claire, you can remodel the house with magic.”

---

The set had changed.

Previously, the set had included the living room, kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, small room, and stairs to the second floor. The new set added the cookie shop’s (pre-renovation, empty) hall and kitchen.

In other words, the size of “Claire’s house” had roughly doubled.

“Because it’s a witch’s house.”

Magic could expand the space.

In the movie, CG would be used to show walls shifting and dividing the house and shop—just like in the novel.

Seojun looked around the new set.

The cookie shop that “Claire,” “Theo,” and “Molly” were about to build together was still empty. He’d heard the art team would decorate it little by little during filming.

With a Hollywood art team on the job, it would probably feel like building a real shop.

“Cookies, huh…”

Maybe he’d try making some later and handing them out to people.

“Well then, we’ll start filming the next scene!”

First, he needed to focus on filming.

Seojun smiled and walked up onto the set.

---

And so, Theo paid for the request with labor.

‘But cleaning in the morning wasn’t part of the deal…’

Claire had only asked him to help with things like building shelves or tables or putting up wallpaper—things related to remodeling. She hadn’t asked him to clean the house and yard from dawn. Watching Theo wipe the windows, Claire scratched her cheek.

It was already the third day.

Theo wasn’t just cleaning—he was also helping with everything Claire did, often taking the initiative.

‘Maybe cleaning in the morning is normal for him?’

Seeing the house sparkling both inside and out, Claire wondered if he even slept.

“Theo. Get me some milk.”

“Okay.”

Unlike the slightly awkward Claire, Molly seemed completely used to things. At first she seemed cautious, but now she acted like the house was hers.

‘She won’t stop even if I tell her to.’

And since Theo himself said it was fine, there wasn’t much Claire could do.

Claire sighed inwardly and spoke.

“Molly. Theo. Let’s go buy ingredients.”

“Going out!”

Molly instantly jumped into the cat backpack placed in the corner of the living room. It was transparent plastic so she could see out.

Claire strapped it on and looked at Theo.

Theo avoided her gaze.

“You’re not coming today either?”

Since setting foot in Claire’s house, Theo hadn’t stepped outside once.

Even when told he could choose clothes or things he needed, he said it was fine—he didn’t need anything. Claire still bought him things anyway.

‘Is it because of money?’

“I’ll… stay and watch the house.”

Same answer today.

‘Can’t be helped.’

Seeing Theo’s resolute expression, Claire nodded.

“Okay. We’ll go on our own. Oh, and you don’t need to clean anymore.”

“…Okay.”

His slow response meant he was probably planning to clean again.

Why, though?

Claire smiled bitterly and opened the front door.

The yard and fence were neat, even without a lawn mower.

Theo had done all of it.

Claire looked around the yard briefly and opened the wooden gate to step outside.

Unlike the pristine interior, the outer wall was grimy and the ivy was untamed. Proof that Theo never stepped out.

It was only a few steps.

Why wouldn’t he leave the house?

Theo’s sneakers stood just in front of the gate. He never stepped beyond it.

“Take care.”

“Okay.”

Claire nodded at Theo’s words and walked toward the market. Then she looked back.

Theo was standing inside the gate.

He stared quietly at the wooden gate, as if something invisible was blocking it—like a barrier.

Then he turned and went back inside.

And Claire thought she finally understood why Theo kept working so hard, and why he wouldn’t leave the house.

---

“There’s still lots to do!”

Now fully convinced Theo was beneath her, Molly stood on his shoulders, back paws on one and front paws on his head, like a lion on a cliff, barking orders.

“Okay.”

And Theo, wagging an invisible tail, obediently followed every command.

When Molly pointed with her tiny paw toward the living room, kitchen, or shop, Theo moved like a machine built solely for Molly.

“Now this way!”

Riding the werewolf like a mount, Molly’s ego soared higher and higher, like a lion ruling the plains.

And the witch watched the black cat and the werewolf.

“These are great! Claire’s cookies are the best!”

Molly was even stealing cookies now.

She knew Theo had only tasted them for the first time a few days ago!

Sitting on the sofa, Claire sighed inwardly as she watched Theo stare enviously at Molly. It was time to speak up.

“Theo.”

“Huh?”

Just as Molly was joyfully munching on his cookie, Claire called Theo.

He flinched like he’d been caught doing something wrong and looked up at her, wearing a puppy-dog expression Claire had seen in TV shows or YouTube videos.

“That’s your snack. You should eat it.”

Claire’s tone was firm. Molly, who had been munching away, rolled her eyes, sensing something off.

Theo blinked, clueless, and replied,

“But Molly likes them…”

“You don’t need to give them up just to stay here.”

Theo’s shoulders flinched.

“You don’t have to wake up early and clean, or work all day, to be allowed here. I’d appreciate your help, of course.”

Claire smiled gently, her voice softening.

“You can even fight with Molly—as long as it doesn’t hurt either of you too much.”

Unlike Molly, who dropped her cookie in shock, Theo just stared blankly at Claire.

“And you can go outside too.”

For the first time, Claire felt like she was seeing Theo’s true face.

“I’ll always keep the door open so you can come back anytime.”

It wasn’t the face of the stranger who clashed with Claire, or the snarling mutt who fought Molly, or the timid werewolf offering up everything with a beaten-down look.

It was the face of a lonely child, as if hearing such words for the first time in his life.

“……”

Theo’s lips parted.

But he couldn’t seem to find the right words, and nothing came out.

Claire, as if understanding, smiled and said,

“So eat your snack. Don’t give it to Molly. And Molly, don’t take Theo’s.”

“I didn’t take it! Theo gave it to me!”

Molly leapt up, then sheepishly turned her head to look at Theo. Just as Theo was gazing at Claire, he looked down at Molly.

Heh—

Somehow, a mischievous smile crept onto Theo’s slightly tearful face.

Claire smiled too.

It definitely suited him better than that beaten-down look.

“Then I’ll bring some new snacks. I think there are still some cookies left.”

“Ah! Claire!”

Don’t leave me alone! Molly tried to dart after her, but snap! a swift hand grabbed her.

Molly’s yellow eyes followed the hand. Gone was the docile pup—what remained was the foul-tempered mutt from their first meeting.

“We’ve got a lot to talk about, Molly.”

No, judging by that smug smile, maybe the mutt had gotten more foul-tempered over the past few days.

“Claire!!”

Molly’s scream echoed behind her as Claire headed to the kitchen.

“Serves her right.”

It was the price for having worked Theo to the bone.

“The wolf is eating the cat! The wolf is eating the cat!!”

At Molly’s dramatic scream, Claire laughed.

With the thread bracelet and the witch’s house protecting them, he wouldn’t actually eat her. Molly surely knew that. She was just being dramatic.

‘Or maybe… she’s actually enjoying this?’

Cats do love hunting games, after all. Maybe this counted as one of those aggressive games. Come to think of it, Molly’s voice did sound a little excited.

Claire suddenly felt like the house was going to be very noisy from now on.

“Huh? Huh?”

Then came Molly’s voice.

“Theo? What’s wrong? Claire! Claire!”

This time, her voice sounded truly urgent.

Claire, who had been gathering cookies and milk, quickly put them down and rushed to the living room.

There, she saw a panicked Molly pacing, and Theo collapsed on the sofa.

“Theo!”

Theo was drenched in cold sweat, his face flushed red.

His entire body was burning hot.