“Peace! Peace!”
– Grrr
A childlike giggle rang out. Tiny feet bounded over the rumpled morning light–bathed bedding. Peace, irritated but obliging, grew to a larger size and gently caught Byul who was clinging on. He seed to have recognized that he had new little siblings.
“Careful, you’ll fall!”
Gyeol chased after Byul, clutching a large cushion, while Seol silently watched over him. Though quieter than Gyeol, her crimson pupils never left Byul’s movents for an instant.
“Of course I’m fine! Don’t worry, nothing will happen.”
Yerim, perched on the sofa pushed into a corner, was busy contacting friends—making calls, sending ssages, posting on social dia—while watching the kids.
“Let’s cook another batch of rice.”
She glanced at the rice cooker running in white rice mode. Usually one batch lasted a day, but with more mouths to feed and bigger appetites, it would be safer to make extra. Yuhyun nodded and took out more rice to wash. The breeding center staff had delivered groceries early that morning to the door.
“Why am I the one cooking when I’m barely moving these eggs?”
Seong Hyunjae, holding an egg nearly as large as his torso, looked back at . Then he tossed it high. Spinning in midair, the egg struck the rim of the bowl with a crack and split in two as cleanly as if cut with a knife, its contents pouring neatly into the bowl. Before the shell could fall in, Seong Hyunjae, chopsticks in hand, flicked it out.
“I concede that moving ingredients takes ti. Would you like another egg?”
“There’s a whole tray here. You know the kids eat a lot, right?”
Seong Hyunjae bowed exaggeratedly, as though asking to be entrusted with the task. In any case, he’d make sothing delicious. anwhile, Yuhyun, having finished washing the rice and soaking it, began chopping vegetables with a cheerful rhythm. Let’s see, we had boneless mackerel earlier. Since we’d be grilling at too, I fetched lettuce and sesa leaves and washed them. Waking up late ant this al would cover both breakfast and lunch, so it had to be hearty.
“Should I rinse the kimchi too?”
“That spice level’s fine, isn’t it?”
“But he’s still a kid. He likes sweet things. Seong Hyunjae-ssi, could you make sothing soft and slightly sweet, like a rolled olet?”
“I will prepare whatever you wish.”
Since I’d emptied the fridge before leaving, side dishes were on the shopping list too. I neatly unpacked them and arranged them on plates. As I laid out the side dishes on the table, Byul appeared at the kitchen entrance with Gyeol and Seol clinging to his sides, peeking in.
“Play a little longer, then co eat.”
“Is it tasty?”
“Yes, it’s tasty.”
Byul, relieved, dashed back to the living room. Perhaps having received his na, he seed fine to remain human for a long ti. At night he reverted to his beast form, though.
I served the rice, set a fresh batch in the empty cooker, and the soup was almost ready. Yuhyun brought out the grill plate and at. He grasped the handle of the grill plate with one hand and placed the at on it with the other. No need to light the fire—the hot plate sizzled as soon as the at touched its surface.
“Tasty!”
Drawn by the aroma of grilling at, Byul scampered in and wandered near Yuhyun. He doesn’t eat much at, but he sure loves the sll. Last ti he’d gone after the braised ribs.
“Here, Little Brother.”
“Don’t bother Uncle.”
Seol and Gyeol quickly pulled Byul away from Yuhyun. He could handle the heat, but the kids shouldn’t get too close to the fire. Just then, “pong,” bubbles of various shapes appeared before Byul’s eyes. Shimring with held mana, they floated enticingly. Byul, spellbound, chased them—Yerim had done it.
Perfectly grilled at, infused with mana and heat, piled on a stone platter. The plates on the table spun and turned. A sweep of fla passed over the grill plate, which, clean as if just washed, was now covered in seasoned duck. I felt myself getting hungry. Almost everything was ready.
“...What is all this?”
Seong Hyunjae, clutching his spatula with both hands, flung a fried egg. It flew through the air and landed atop a rice bowl. Beside him were rolled olet, stead egg, scrambled eggs, and an olette in a row. When did he even get the pizza cheese out? He put down the spatula and pretended to wipe invisible sweat from his brow.
“Now I just need to make the pudding.”
What else could he possibly make? But Byul would love it. I finished setting the table and called the kids. I gave Peace his portion too. Small and not yet skilled with utensils, Byul sat on my lap.
“Byul, you say, ‘Thank you for the al.’”
Gyeol, sitting across from him, told him to repeat after him. Byul, awkwardly holding the spoon, bowed his head and said, “Thank you for the al.” Then, as if impatient, he began stamping his foot.
“What do you want to eat?”
“That, that, that, that—”
He wants to try everything. Seol, sitting next to , stared at Byul without eating her rice. Then she fairly deftly picked up a piece of at with her chopsticks and offered it to him. Byul accepted it quickly, chewed, and swallowed. It wasn’t seasoned.
“Is it good?”
“So?”
Does he not like seasoned at? Or did Yuhyun’s mana go into it? When Seol said it was okay, I told her she could eat too, then fed rice to Byul. He ate whatever I gave him, but if it was too salty or spicy, he’d scrunch up his face. Still, he never spat it out. He especially enjoyed the seasoned duck—magical cooking really did taste good. Gyeol and Seol, and even Yerim, used chopsticks a lot to sample the at.
But as expected, what Byul liked best was—
“This.”
The fluffy, sweet rolled olet. Was he going to end up snacking on sweets all the ti? As long as it didn’t harm his health, he could eat as much as he wanted.
“I want more.”
Byul blinked and looked around. With several people here, he seed to think he should share. Seeing this, Yerim smiled and pushed the plate of sweet rolled olet toward him.
“You can have mine.”
“And mine too!”
“Eat it all. It’s okay.”
Following Gyeol, Seol nodded and said. Byul happily grabbed the plate and, with his spoon, eagerly scooped and ate.
“You should eat properly too. I’ll take care of him. I’m done eating.”
Before I could say anything, Yuhyun moved Byul and the plate of rolled olet onto his own lap. No, it’s fine. Seol glared at Yuhyun, then, dragging her chair, insisted on sitting next to him. Byul was still focused on the eggs.
“Wow, Han Yuhyun surrounded by children. It really doesn’t suit you.”
“Why not? It’s a nice sight.”
“You’re basically a bodyguard. You barely even look at them.”
Hmm... It did look like being forced into a promotional photo with unfamiliar kids. Everyone’s gazes were all over the place. Yuhyun was looking at , Byul at the olet, Seol at Byul.
“Yuhyun, don’t you have sothing to say to the Black Dragon? After all, you’re connected to him.”
You’re the one who convinced him to be reborn. Isn’t it odd you’re so uninterested? At my words, Yuhyun finally glanced at Seol. Seol t his gaze.
“Now the Blade of Dominion can grow, huh.”
...Hey.
“Yes. He’s not yet an independent being, but since he can manifest in reality, he can grow.”
Seol replied as matter-of-factly as Yuhyun.
“How long until he’s fully grown?”
“I can’t say. After receiving a na it goes faster, but reaching L-Rank will take quite a while.”
“Uncle, you two really are alike, not just in face.”
Yerim shook her head. Well... I had no response. Both fire-attribute; if left alone they’d generate quite a cold wind between them.
“Little miss, could you cool the pudding?”
Seong Hyunjae, who was having trouble eating at the mont, spoke.
“Byul’s a little miss now, right?”
“Then you wish to be called miss?”
“Ugh, fine! He has a na, after all!”
“Park Yerim, please.”
“Perfectly, sir! Uncle Seong made a pudding mountain for us!”
What? The table was cleared, and a pudding resembling an overturned rice cooker, glowing softly, was placed before us. Byul’s eyes and mouth grew wide. I considered grabbing him before he climbed onto the table, but let him be. What else could I do with a pudding that big?
Small puddings were given normally to Gyeol and Seol. Yerim, too, looking a bit weary, took one plate. Since the largest pudding was Byul’s, Gyeol and Seol wouldn’t try to snatch it.
“I’ll finish cleaning up, so sit tight.”
Yuhyun stopped when I was about to help. Then Seong Hyunjae offered the pudding plate.
“It’s for Han Yujin.”
Byul’s happy voice rang out. Pudding... it really is delicious.
“Hello!”
Kang Soyeong appeared, arms full of shopping bags, smiling broadly. Her fiery gaze flicked from Gyeol to Byul to Seol. Her trembling, raised lips quivered with excitent.
“I’m London’s finest babysitter!”
With confident shout, Kang Soyeong sidled up beside and whispered.
“Those two are dragonkin, you know?”
“The little one was originally a star dragon but now it’s not certain. The other is a large Black Dragon, fire–attribute.”
“Perfect!”
“Only Byul and Gyeol will stay, though. The Black Dragon cares for Byul so much. Please take good care of him.”
“Don’t worry! Here are the clothes you requested.”
Kang Soyeong set a shopping bag on the floor. Gyeol, being a fairy dragon handling illusions, could change clothes freely. Seol, an older dragon, could manage, but Byul couldn’t. As he gained independence and his link with Seol weakened, he only wore loose pajamas and struggled even with that. I had asked Soyeong to shop for him.
“I picked outfits for all three since we’re at it! Winter clothes. I spent all my allowance—”
“Not bad.”
“...Your guild leader will take them with you, right?”
I remained silent. Kang Soyeong, glowering at the Seong Hyunjae perched on my shoulder, quickly recovered from her pouting.
“Every love faces so obstacles, after all!”
She and Yerim then took the kids back inside. I heard Gyeol saying he was fine through the closed door.
“We have about five hours left.”
I looked at Pongpong sitting atop the display cabinet. If we eat dinner a bit early, it’ll be ti to leave. Maybe because it’s been a while since I was ho, or because I’ll have to leave the kids—it makes not want to go.
“...Brother.”
Yuhyun’s face held the expression of soone who didn’t know what to say. I patted his back lightly.
“Let’s think of this as the last ti, and co back safely.”
And when we return ho again, I’ll refrain from going far away. After all, there are little ones at ho now.
“Look at this! Isn’t it so cute!”
The door opened, and Byul, wearing a bright coat lined with soft fur, bounced in. All three had the sa design coat in slightly different colors.
“My sisters said I look pretty!”
“Yes, you really do.”
I laughed as I hugged the giggling Byul. Since they were dressed for going out, we all went up to the rooftop garden. When we first moved here it was sumr, alive # Nоvеlight # with insect sounds; now it was winter, bare branches revealed. Still, the evergreens were as green as in sumr.
“Yujin-ssi!”
Watching the children run across the dry grass, Noah flew over from the direction of the buildings. His golden wings beat in great strokes, and Byul froze in awe.
“Did Riette cause any trouble?”
Because Riette wanted to visit where Noah lived, the two of us had gone together to the building. Though she’s been more considerate lately, I’d worried. Thankfully, Noah nodded.
“No. Even if it weren’t for , it’s where Myung-woo hyung’s workshop is. They keep an eye on it. I’m with the Seokhayan team now.”
“Hayang-ssi must be pleased.”
“He is. We get along better than expected—”
Noah looked down. Byul was clutching the tip of his wing, eyes shining brightly.
“I like this. I want wings too.”
He even brought a feather to his mouth. I hurried to pick him up, but before I could, Noah bent down and smiled at him.
“If you truly desire them, you can have them.”
“Really?”
“Uncle didn’t have wings at first either. But step by step, without giving up, they changed, and in the end he received this wonderful gift.”
From twin fierce dragonkin overshadowed by his sister to standing alone as a Radiant Dragonkin. At Noah’s gentle words, Byul nodded seriously, then reached out to as if asking to be held. I held him, and he whispered softly.
“I wanted to be sothing else too.”
“Yes, Byul.”
“So I beca Byul.”
“Yes. And you always will. You can beco anything you want, Byul. What do you want?”
Byul hesitated, then shook his head.
“I don’t know. I did everything I wanted.”
“You’ll always find new things to do. And you can do anything.”
Gyeol, Seol—they all can.
Ti was short and there was much to do, so we handled only the urgent. Yuhyun dropped by Hayyeon briefly, then stayed ho with us. We all had dinner together again. This ti Noah and Riette joined, and Kang Soyeong was overjoyed.
[Return in 30 minutes.]
No sooner had we finished eating than the ssage window appeared. Though reluctant, I felt well rested. A simple, uneventful day—just the ordinary life I’d longed for most.
“Byul, you’ll be okay with your brothers and sisters, right? If you wait, brother and father will co ho. This is your ho now. Always.”
“Always.”
Byul nodded. Luckily his bond with Seol remained, so if Seol vanished first, he wouldn’t panic too much.
“Byul’s ho.”
“Yes, ho.”
When I said I was leaving, he got a little teary, but he bore it well. It seed not the patience learned before rebirth, but a genuine composure.
“Gyeol will take good care of you.”
Gyeol, though he’d rather stay ho, said without hesitation not to worry. Five minutes left. I squeezed Gyeol and Byul tightly.
“If anything happens, follow Soyeong-ssi. Father has told her everything.”
Of Hayyeon, of everywhere. I’d told Yun-yoon to look after our children. So they’d be safe even if Korea fell.
“I’ll be back soon! When I return we’ll all go to the amusent park!”
Yerim said cheerily. One minute.
“I’m off.”
With that final farewell, the two children vanished before my eyes. Yuhyun and Yerim—and Peace too—were gone. I arrived in a broad space and looked beside . The pre-return Seong Hyunjae also turned to .
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