Chapter 813
Chapter 813
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 813
Chapter Title: Reunion with Family
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All slaves brought to Gehenna severed their 'connection' to the present world to prevent their inevitable deaths.
Siu, who should have died in that plane crash, was no exception.
No one who didn't know magic or the occult could think of Siu—not even his parents.
To his parents, Siu had become a child who never existed in the first place.
No matter how hard he tried to convince them that Siu was their son, they would forget within a few days.
"Hoo..."
Even so, Siu stood tensely in front of the 30-year-old apartment complex, his expression rigid.
An artifact that reconnects the 'connection' that can never be restored once severed.
He had picked it up during the great Hexennacht escape.
In other words, this was Siu's first chance in seven years to meet his parents—not as the son-in-law of strangers, but as their son, Shin Siu.
Gulping down his saliva, Siu stepped out of the elevator and punched in the code on the familiar yet strangely alien door lock.
-Beep beep beep beep beep beep
The door lock password hadn't changed—it was Siu's birthdate.
It was the weekend, so both of them should be home.
"I'm home."
The aroma of home-cooked food wafted out, right around mealtime.
The living room looked exactly the same.
Family photos, newspaper articles headlined "Math Prodigy Shin Siu."
It seemed Siu's existence, which had vanished during the reconnection process, had been restored.
In the kitchen right next to the left side of the living room, his parents stood with eyes wide open at the suddenly unlocked door.
Both looked much older than in his memories.
His mother, once the most elegant among her friends, now had wrinkles around her eyes, and his father, with his 80s macho actor vibe, was streaked with gray hair.
"Mom, Dad. Your son is home."
The moment Siu greeted them,
his mom dropped her chopsticks with a clatter, and his dad slurped his juice back into the cup.
Seven years since being taken to the witches' city.
He had finally returned home.
The family of three hugged and sobbed in joy at their reunion, but it was only for a moment.
"Where on earth have you been all this time? Do you know how worried Mom was...? And what's with your eyes?"
His mom was angry.
"Honey, what did I tell you? I said our son would come back swaggering one day, didn't I?"
His dad chuckled, patting Siu's back with reddened eyes.
"You're laughing right now? You, explain yourself—where have you been and what have you been doing?"
"Yeah, our boy looks so refined. Hurry up and reassure your mom."
Siu sat before a fruit platter piled so high it seemed they'd emptied every store, wondering where to begin his epic tale of adventure.
"The plane crashed, and I was taken to a place called the witches' city."
The stories started after lunch and dragged on past dinner.
Honestly, he thought no one would believe them.
Would anyone buy that he'd gone from slave in the witches' city to male witch after twists and turns?
Wouldn't it be more credible to think his long-missing son had returned with schizophrenia or something?
In fact, even after showing a small spell, his mom's face was still pale.
So he had prepared.
A thorough verification system.
"Hold on a sec—everyone's coming over soon. They all wanted to see you."
It's natural that multiple witnesses boost credibility more than one person.
Shortly after Siu made the calls, the small living room became bustling.
The lovers who came: Amelia, Odil, Odet, Sharon, Eloa, Lurye, Dorothy, Linne—a total of eight.
With eleven people crammed in, the room felt tight even with butts touching.
"Hello."
The daughters-in-law, each dolled up like flowers, greeted his parents politely.
The sight of kingdom-toppling beauties, moon-like graces, flower-like charms, and eternal stunners bowing to their in-laws was spectacular even from behind.
It was partly to explain to his parents, but as a son returning after seven years, showing them his wives' faces felt proper.
"Th-these are all... witches? Your girlfriends...? One, two, three..."
His mom, face puffy from crying and laughing, seemed at a loss how to react.
"Hahaha! I was worried when you wouldn't listen about getting a girlfriend, but look—you take after your dad! So popular, our son!"
"What are you saying too?"
"What can we do? He brought such pretty girls as daughter-in-laws—should I scold him?"
"Honey!"
In the confusion, Odil and Odet darted forward and bowed at the waist, introducing themselves briskly.
"Hello! The cute daughter-in-law you mentioned, Odil Jemernai!"
"Odet Jemernai, devoted to her mother-in-law!"
The twins' bubbly, idol-like intros belied their trembling voices.
They attended to greet the assistant's parents but were so nervous they needed calming pills.
"My goodness... twins?"
"Yes! That's right!"
"My goodness, my goodness..."
As far as Siu knew, his mom was reasonably cultured and utterly sensible.
Even for a son returning after years of hardship, bringing a Middle Eastern oil king's worth of wives wasn't enough—she was floored by him marrying twins too.
Granted, it was a fact he'd accepted without issue for so long, but from a normal view, even Casanova couldn't top this.
"Ahem."
Next to butt in was Lurye, clearly resolved to follow the twins' lead.
Siu knew her personality well—her occasional irrationality too.
Watching anxiously for some dizzying remark,
"Hello. I am—no, Lurye Nukelabi. No, I am. Argh...! I am."
Her stiff, wooden doll-like movements weren't much different from the twins'.
But not from nerves.
She was just fumbling her first-time honorifics, awkward as they were.
Glancing at the others, Sharon and Eloa nodded back, eyes met.
Good—they'd absorbed some K-Confucian ideas beforehand.
"It is my honor to enfeoff your son as imperial consort of the great Nukelabi Empire."
"......"
"But you too should express proper gratitude for such bliss."
"......"
"...Anyway, please take care of us."
Lurye glitched out in the end.
Sensing failure, she hid behind Dorothy, sulking.
"Even imperial consort's parents should show respect before the queen, no? Mortal etiquette disregards royal honor entirely."
Dorothy soothed her.
"You did great, Your Majesty~"
After the rest introduced themselves, they sat for dinner together.
Nothing fancy—just Mom's special kimchi jjim, which he'd craved so much.
His parents must have had tons of questions and confusions, but they showed none.
Didn't ask a barrage either.
Just wiped tears at times, smiled warmly at others, refilled his rice bowl repeatedly.
Acting like ordinary parents welcoming their son's wives.
Siu, knowing how much consideration and love that held, could only be grateful.
After dinner, he went for a walk with Dad.
"Son, wanna walk, just us guys?"
"Sure. But will Mom be okay alone?"
"You forget who your mom is after running off?"
"True..."
Mom's friendliness shone anywhere.
Neighborhood women's club chair, cafe owner chatting hours with customers...
Not sure if it's okay to say, but capybara auntie.
Walking the familiar path, he lit the cigarette Dad offered.
Father-son smoke sync—how long had it been?
Gray smoke filled his lungs and drifted long.
"Never knew my son had game like that. Told you, you could do it. Whose son are you?"
"Dad, quit smoking. Think of your age."
"You first, punk. Tsk tsk, not even ten years in."
"I won't die of lung cancer anymore, okay?"
Parents married right at 20.
Mom had him at 22.
Dad always felt more like a brother.
Mid-banter, Dad said,
"Leaving again?"
"......"
Why?
He didn't know.
But from entering home, he'd instinctively felt dissonance and disconnect.
This happiness was but a fleeting daydream.
Because his parents had passed, the childhood apartment long demolished for redevelopment, the charming tree-lined walk gone too.
Such moments wouldn't come, even waiting a lifetime.
"Gotta go. Might be a long time again."
"Yeah?"
"How'd you know?"
"Parents can't beat kids, but kids can't fool parents. We just pretend."
Dad hid disappointment well.
His slightly twisted lips, the burning cigarette—so real.
"Don't make that mopey face, man."
"When did I?"
Dad patted his back.
Homunculus magic or mere brain flicker—who knows.
But he knew his parents.
Dad, Mom—they'd act just like this, same face, same heart.
Even if illusion.
It comforted.
"Parents live for their kids' happiness."
"...I know."
"Go on, kid."
Siu pulled out the red branch in his hand.
Swinging it tore space like ripping cloth, revealing the beyond.
A dark forest thick with larches.
"I'll be back."
Sensing farewell, Dad shouted,
"I'm proud. My awesome son. You'll do great anywhere, never stray. I'll talk to Mom!"
Heat rising from his chest.
Before entering the dark path, he bowed deeply to Dad.
"I love you so much. Thank you."
Then, without looking back, he stepped forward.