Epilogue (1)
Just before her phone alarm could go off, Park Yerim’s eyes flew open.
The ceiling above her, unfamiliar for a while but now entirely routine, filled her vision. Sanho, who had woken with her, expertly tapped at the phone and dismissed the alarm just as it began to make noise.
– Morning, Yerim! Sleep well?
“Yeah. Did you sleep well too, Sanho?”
– Me? I’m always the picture of refreshed! I’m water, after all. I do wish the humidity were a tiny bit higher, though. I hope summer gets here soon. Monsoon season sounds like it would feel amazing!
When it was just the two of them, Sanho was quite the chatterbox. But his shyness around strangers was as bad as ever, and whenever they went outside, he would slip into the Earrings of the Mermaid Queen of Changlang like always.
Park Yerim rolled right out of bed. She resisted the unconscious urge to float and planted both feet on the floor. After roughly straightening the bed, she pulled over droplets of water and washed her face as she walked. Her pace grew faster and faster as she left the bedroom. The way she glanced at her reflection in the vanity mirror beside the bathroom, barely checking her face, made it look as though something were chasing her.
No. It was chasing her.
Han Yujin’s death.
It had already been more than three months. Park Yerim had returned to her own world, leaving Han Yujin behind. And not long after that, Han Yujin had died. That was how everyone perceived it.
“…Mister.”
Park Yerim stopped dead.
Han Yujin had died.
That sensation from back then came rushing back with terrible clarity, the chilling feeling of dropping straight off the edge of a cliff. It had clung to her like a shadow from the very instant she woke and opened her eyes. Sanho flung himself around the cheek of Park Yerim, who stood dazed in the middle of the living room.
– Yerim! Let’s go downstairs! Everyone’s probably waiting!
“…Ah. Yeah. Right.”
Park Yerim hurried on again.
Beside the front door, where the mini portal leading outside was installed, there was another door. When she opened it, stairs appeared. Stairs connecting to the floor below.
Not long after Han Yujin died, the question of Park Yerim’s living arrangements had come up. Part of it was that the house had grown cramped with three children added to it, but there was also talk that, now that Han Yujin, her guardian in all but name, was gone, it would not look right for Han Yuhyun and Park Yerim to keep living together.
In the end, weren’t they unrelated? Weren’t they a man and a woman without that much of an age gap? At that remark, Park Yerim had blown up. She said Han Yuhyun was just some pseudo–family-register-mate who made her irritated every time she saw his face, an o…ppa she didn’t even want to call oppa. Han Yuhyun, too, looked as though he considered the whole thing worthless nonsense, but he did agree that they needed more space.
So the house had been expanded into a second floor, and publicly, they announced that Park Yerim had moved out and become independent.
In reality, it was the same connected house.
“Han Yuhyun!”
Park Yerim shouted as she ran down the stairs as if she were flying. When she threw open the first-floor door, the delicious smell drifting from the kitchen wrapped around her nose. Park Yerim drew in a long breath. Then she teleported toward the kitchen.
Her vision blinked, the scenery shifted, and she saw a back turned toward her.
It was Han Yuhyun. Park Yerim stared holes into that back.
Good. He’s moving normally. He’s alive.
If Han Yuhyun was alive, then Han Yujin was alive too.
The black shadow that had been chasing Park Yerim scattered in an instant. The weight on her heart lifted, and the corners of her mouth slowly rose.
“Breakfast is almost ready. Are the kids still asleep?”
Only then, with a bright smile on her face, Park Yerim turned on her phone and opened the group chat.
[Han Yuhyun is alive today too!]
[Hyunah Unnie – Yeah. Wonder when the boss is coming back.]
[Noah Oppa – That’s a relief.]
Moon Hyunah and Noah let out their relief in response to Park Yerim’s message. Aside from the two of them, the chat participants also included Song Taewon, Kang Soyeong, and Liette. They were the ones who had been with Han Yujin in the final moments. For the past three months, Park Yerim had notified them every morning whether Han Yuhyun was alive or dead. More precisely, it was a report that Han Yujin was safe.
– Your delicious rice is ready!
The electric rice cooker announced that cooking was complete. Han Yuhyun opened the rice cooker lid and stirred the rice with a paddle. Park Yerim pulled out a chair at the dining table, sat down, and watched him.
At first, she had tried to help Han Yuhyun. But Han Yuhyun refused to borrow other people’s hands as much as possible when it came to the three children’s basic food, clothing, and shelter. Because it was something Han Yujin had asked of him. Except when he had to leave the house for work as guild leader, he handled everything himself, from breakfast to putting them to sleep.
‘Even being guild leader is ultimately because of Mister and the kids.’
He had to protect the place Han Yujin would return to. He had to protect, perfectly, the children who were anything but ordinary.
To do that, it was advantageous for Han Yuhyun to remain Haeyeon’s unshakable guild leader. A capable S-rank Hunter with powerful influence not only within the country but overseas as well. He had to maintain that position. And so, contrary to the worry surrounding him after losing Han Yujin, Han Yuhyun carried out his duties faithfully. He had simply reduced dungeon raids as much as possible and stopped going on business trips.
‘Mister, Han Yuhyun’s been solo-parenting for three months now!’
While working at the same time, no less.
Watching Han Yuhyun leave the kitchen to wake the children, Park Yerim shouted inwardly. If Mister had seen this mess, he would have sprung up out of his grave. Which meant he would probably come back safe before long. If it was Han Yujin, he absolutely would.
Another bed had been added to Han Yujin’s room. It was pressed right up against the original bed, with safety rails along the side and bottom. The three children were asleep side by side in that bed. The bed that had originally belonged to Han Yujin was currently being used by Han Yuhyun.
Peace, who had been lying beside the children’s bed, rose. The Flame Horned Lion stretched long, his body now roughly twice as large as he had been in his previous juvenile form. Because there was no longer anyone to pick him up and hold him, no one he wanted to be held by.
– Grrh.
Peace lightly shook his head and pricked up his ears. Two of the children’s sleep felt shallow, as though they were about to wake. The Flame Horned Lion’s golden eyes turned toward the bed.
Those were Daddy’s cubs.
Three months ago, Peace had perceived Han Yujin as dead. Park Yerim had held on to Peace and explained that since Han Yuhyun was alive, Mister was alive too, but Peace had not fully understood. Peace grieved, but he accepted Han Yujin’s death quickly.
Daddy had never been strong to begin with. Even so, he had worked hard to protect his cubs. It was common for a parent individual to die while protecting its young. All the more so when the young had become stronger than the parent. Those who went before departed, and the young grew and carried on after them. Peace instinctively understood that fact, and soon found what he needed to do.
The young ones Daddy had left behind.
Peace was an adult, more than ready for independence, and now that Han Yujin was gone, he no longer had a reason to stay. But several juveniles who had lost their main guardian remained in his pack. And they were not cubs picked up from outside, either. They were juveniles that carried Daddy’s scent strongly. The youngest cub even resembled Daddy especially much.
Han Yuhyun and Park Yerim were also in the pack. Han Yuhyun was an incomparably powerful adult, and while Park Yerim was not fully grown, she too possessed enough strength to protect the young. But the more adults there were, the better they could protect the cubs and raise them safely. Therefore Peace decided not to become independent until all the juveniles Daddy had left behind were grown.
– Grrr.
Han Yuhyun’s footsteps approached. It was mealtime.
Peace lightly jumped up onto the bed. At the shake of the mattress, Han Seol opened his eyes first, and Hangyeol soon blinked drowsily awake as well.
“…Morning, Peace.”
Still half asleep, Hangyeol bowed his head to Peace, while Han Seol quietly peered down at Han Byeol, who showed no sign of waking.
Almost at the same moment, the bedroom door opened. Han Yuhyun stepped inside wearing an apron.
“Good morning, Uncle.”
“Yes. Did you sleep well?”
Han Yuhyun returned Hangyeol’s greeting. To be precise, he was remembering Han Yujin’s behavior and imitating it. Han Yuhyun had no inherent sense of obligation that he ought to protect and care for young individuals. Whether they were newborn, approaching a hundred years old, or in the prime of life, they were all equally meaningless to him.
But these three children were Han Yujin’s children, and Han Yujin had entrusted them to him. Until Han Yujin returned. Han Yuhyun thought back to his younger self, and to his hyung caring for children, and moved by modeling himself after his hyung.
“Get up, Han Byeol.”
Of course, managing an attitude as gentle as Han Yujin’s was difficult.
“…Hiiing.”
Han Byeol grumbled, rolled onto her stomach, and buried her face in the blanket. Her raised bottom wiggled with complaint. If she had been in monster form, her tail would have been smacking the bed in displeasure. Han Yuhyun grabbed Han Byeol and lifted her up. Her tiny hands covered her face, and her feet kicked in the air.
“Squeee–.”
“You need to eat.”
“Okay.”
Han Byeol, who had been about to let out a shriek, nodded at the word eat. Hearing about food made her hungry. Food had become more urgent than sleep.
“Food!”
“Wash your face first.”
“No! I wanna eat!”
Whether Han Byeol flailed or not, Han Yuhyun silently headed for the bathroom. Hangyeol and Han Seol followed on their own. From inside the bathroom, Han Byeol’s protest rang out loud and clear.
– Kkyuuuu!
In the end, Han Byeol, having turned into a monster, latched onto Han Yuhyun’s hand with her teeth. Because of the difference in their ranks, she did not leave even a scratch, but as she diligently bit down and gnawed away, she calmed herself. Young Han Byeol still got worked up easily, but she settled down just as easily, and no resentment lingered afterward. Han Yuhyun skillfully washed the baby monster, who was now docilely focused on chewing his hand as though she had never thrashed around at all.
Hangyeol and Han Seol washed their own faces at the sink installed at child height. Since this disturbance happened three or four times a week, even Han Seol did not try to shield his little sister. Of course, that was after he had grown accustomed to it. At first, claiming that he would protect his sister, he had charged in, and Han Yuhyun had been forced to grab both Han Byeol and Han Seol, pull them apart, and calm them down.
– Auntieee!
Freed from the bathroom, Han Byeol hopped and skipped toward the kitchen. Park Yerim lifted Han Byeol, now transformed back into a little girl, high into the air.
“Our Byeol, did you sleep well?”
“Yeah!”
“Good morning to Gyeol and Seol too.”
“Good morning, Auntie.”
“Morning.”
Han Yuhyun began setting the table. Horang, who had woken earlier, sidled up beside Peace, who was sitting by the kitchen entrance as if guarding the young ones, and pressed his haunches next to him. Belare and the two snakes had not yet come out of Chirpie’s nest. Three months ago, when Han Yuhyun had taken out Rhanahi’s egg, Belare had looked at it, carried it into Chirpie’s nest, and begun guarding it. The two snakes had wrapped around the egg with her as well. Even though months had passed and the egg still showed no sign of hatching.
“Auntie, let’s slide! Water slide!”
“Sure, sure. After breakfast.”
“But breakfast isn’t all done yet?”
Han Byeol tilted her head. Park Yerim looked back at Han Yuhyun as if to say there was no stopping this. There seemed to be enough time for one round.
“Gyeol, Seol, you two come too.”
“Okay!”
Water surged into being around Park Yerim. The slide was attached to the loft where Park Yerim had stayed. Now, it was the room the children used as a playroom.
“Your clothes will get wet, so turn into monsters. Now, hurry up and get on!”
– Pyuit!
Han Byeol was first to leap onto the mass of water. Hangyeol and Han Seol, transformed into baby dragons, climbed on after her. The mass of water carried the children and floated gently up to the top of the slide. Then it went rushing down with a cool splash.
Park Yerim watched the beaming children with satisfaction.
When she left the loft where she had stayed for nearly a year, it was not as though she had felt no regret. Even though it was just the second floor of the same house, she had felt a little as if she were being pushed out. But when she saw the children inherit her room and play there, she ended up feeling the opposite.
She had passed down a space the children loved to children younger than herself.
Someday, when the three children grew up, another new child would use that room. Thinking of it that way made her feel an even stronger sense of belonging to this family. The room Auntie had used. The room Auntie had handed down. The slide Auntie had sent them down.
Even if one day she left this place entirely and stepped out into the wider world, Park Yerim would remain here, in this house, inside this family, like that.
“Kids, let’s eat now!”
The water clinging to the children’s bodies floated up. The water that had wet the floor was also cleanly collected. Unlike dragon scales, Han Byeol’s fur absorbed moisture and did not dry completely, but shaking herself off hard a few times was enough.
“Food!”
Han Byeol still sometimes leapt onto the table, used her hands instead of a spoon and fork, or suddenly went off to fetch a toy, so Han Yuhyun picked her up and sat her on his lap. Hangyeol and Han Seol took seats on either side of them. Park Yerim, sitting across from them, thought of the one person who was not in this seat.
‘Everyone’s doing fine, Mister.’
Three months ago, she truly had not known what they would do.
Back when she returned to reality, leaving Han Yujin behind.
Park Yerim woke from the dream.
The familiar scenery of the rooftop came into view. When she sat up on the cot, the children who had returned ahead of her came rushing over in a swarm.
“Auntie, are you okay? What about Daddy?”
“Yeah, Gyeol. Gyeol, your daddy, Mister, he’s okay. For real. He’s safe.”
Park Yerim hugged Hangyeol, whose face was full of worry. Han Seol’s eyes were slightly narrowed as well, as though he was a little worried too. Park Yerim pulled Han Seol and even Han Byeol, who did not really understand what had happened before they returned, into her arms all at once.
“Everything really will be okay.”
The kids might be shocked for a little while, but Mister had not actually died.
Beside the cot, Peace stretched out his body. Noah, Liette, Kang Soyeong, and Moon Hyunah also woke, and Song Taewon appeared on the rooftop. They had hidden what they truly felt in front of Han Yujin, but now their expressions were all complicated.
“First, everyone, please remain on the rooftop.”
Moon Hyunah stepped forward and spoke to the people who had been waiting for them there. It would not be long before Han Yujin was perceived as dead.
“Contact us if anything strange happens. Yerim. Let’s take the kids downstairs.”
“Huh? Uh, where?”
“There was a soundproof conference room on the first floor of the Breeding Facility, right? There. Once the Haeyeon Guild Leader appears, tell him to come to the first-floor conference room.”
Even flustered, Park Yerim quickly picked up the children with Noah and Kang Soyeong. Peace followed, and Song Taewon and Liette accompanied them as well. Moon Hyunah called Seo Kyunghoon and asked him to clear out the first floor of the Breeding Facility, then checked the area around the conference room. Once the door closed, Park Yerim asked why she was doing all this.
“Aren’t we supposed to wait on the rooftop and tell everyone Mister isn’t dead?”
“No, Yerim. Listen carefully.”
Moon Hyunah let out a short breath and looked at Park Yerim, then at the rest of the people gathered there.
“The boss. Han Yujin. He needs to be known as dead.”
Park Yerim’s eyes went round.
“What? Why? Mister is–!”
“Because that’s what Director Han wants.”
–TL Notes–
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