Chapter 168
Chapter 168
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: Our Shiba... Has a Lot of Moms
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Shiba spoke.
"…Peep?"
The wriggling tadpole-like form of my daughter. My daughter, so precious that she wouldn't even hurt if I put her in my eye.
While I was tumbling through the past, she had learned to speak.
"Kyaa~ So cute! What do you think, Dongsang? Isn't Shiba amazing?"
Hwangdo made a huge fuss, slapping my shoulder repeatedly.
Shiba anxiously checked my expression with a restless face, and I sat down in front of her, reaching out to stroke my daughter's head.
Soft hair filled my hand.
"…Daddy?"
My heart swelled.
I hadn't done anything for her, so when had she grown so well?
She was still just a baby, yet she could even speak.
A child not even a year old calling "Daddy" in Korean... Isn't this a once-in-a-century genius?
I could confidently say even Harvard wouldn't be enough for her.
"Paa."
Shiba couldn't hide her anxiety as she watched my face.
It was because I had frozen in shock.
I crouched down to match Shiba's eye level.
"My daughter."
I smiled at her stiffening face and spread my arms wide.
Only then did Shiba's face brighten radiantly as she dove into my embrace with a puff.
"Peep~!"
Shiba rubbed her nose and cheek against my chest as if to start a fire.
Her tiny hands grabbed my collar and shoulders.
-Flash!
High into the sky. Even higher.
I lifted her up so our cheeks touched in a tight hug, and the delighted Shiba raised her voice.
"Daddy~! Welcome back, welcome back~!"
"Yeah, your daddy's back!"
Tears welled up.
I took off my shoes and entered the room, but I had no intention of stopping the conversation with Shiba.
"When did our Shiba learn to talk?"
"Peep?"
"She still can't do difficult words well. But... the first word she said was 'Daddy.'"
"Ah, paa!"
Shiba looked at me proudly and said "Daddy" again.
It seemed "paa" was more familiar than "Daddy" still. But what could I do about it? The important thing was that our Shiba had said "Daddy" to me.
Look at those sparkling green eyes full of all the hope in the world.
Who could speak of original sin while looking at this child?
With a smile fresh as sunlight, from a mouth too small even for a thumb, she whispered "Daddy" like to a leaf.
I lay on the bed without changing clothes, hugging Shiba, and she bounced excitedly on top of me.
"It's been three days, so she must be thrilled."
"Yeah."
I thought it would be awkward, but thanks to Shiba, the conversation with Hwangdo flowed naturally.
"Actually, Shiba was really upset. You have no idea how much trouble I had soothing her."
"Really?"
"Yeah. She wouldn't talk, wouldn't eat... 'Where's Daddy?' Peep! Peep! But seeing her talk, I wanted you to hear it yourself. Hehe. Big sis is the best, right?"
"Hwangdo sis is the greatest."
Of course, not as good as Shiba.
"So Shiba's been skipping meals this whole time?"
"…She absolutely wouldn't eat. Well, she did eat, but just one bite."
"Maybe because sis cooked."
"…What's wrong with my cooking?"
Hwangdo pouted her lips like a duck.
I set down the giggling Shiba and rolled up my sleeves, rummaging through the kitchen fridge.
There were a few leftover ingredients, so I decided to make a simple meal.
"Still, a kid shouldn't skip meals. Wood People can live on water alone, so maybe it's fine? Sis, what do you want to eat?"
"I like anything Dongsang makes!"
Rice cake slices for tteokguk that had been sitting for a while, beef, a tray of eggs, and slightly too few frozen dumplings for steaming.
Tteokmanduguk with kimchi on top sounded good.
Easy to make and perfect for a meal.
As I tied on an apron, Hwangdo's eyes lit up.
"…Apron."
Two pairs of eyes fixed on me.
I soaked the rice cakes in water ahead and brought a bowl, separating the eggs over it.
It had been ages since I held a knife in the real world. My most recent memory of cooking was occasionally making meals for Hong-yeon in the past.
Her dazed face tasting my food had been quite a sight.
Thinking I couldn't see it anymore felt a bit bitter.
I quickly mixed with chopsticks and fried the egg threads.
Just bachelor-level cooking. Humming, I stir-fried the beef next.
Suddenly, a soft sensation pressed against my side while cooking.
"Tteokguk?"
Hwangdo glanced at the stove and smooshed her cheek against my back.
"Don't like it?"
"Nng~ Anything from Dongsang is good."
She shook her head cutely with a coquettish voice.
Shiba was in the kitchen right now.
I gently pushed her away, and she puffed her cheek.
"Heh. Weirdly, eating food with Dongsang always makes my heart so calm."
She said as she did that.
I paused my busy hands for a moment.
"…Yeah?"
"Yeah. Feels like I'm back home. Even if it's gone now, hehe."
I smiled once while chopping green onions again.
"What, flattery?"
"It's sincere! You think I only have dirty thoughts?"
"Yes."
"…Busted."
The cooking wrapped up fairly quickly.
Tteokmanduguk topped with seaweed powder, egg threads, and beef.
At home, we add a lot of sesame oil, but since tastes vary, I skipped it.
For Baekdo, it'd be the same as my taste, so I'd add it, but Shiba and Hwangdo were different.
Kimchi with tteokmanduguk.
As we sat at the table, Hwangdo shoved a dumpling full into her mouth.
"Nng~!"
She hummed and stomped her feet right after eating.
Just like back in the Peach Blossom Paradise—no difference at all.
Identical to the little Hwangdo who followed me around calling "Oppa, Oppa."
-Tap tap.
While watching Hwangdo's eating show, a small hand patted my knee.
"Peep."
"Yeah? Got it."
Shiba, sitting on my lap waiting for her meal.
As if she hadn't skipped any, I blew on a dumpling and offered it; she chomped down heartily.
-Nom nom.
I wiped her mouth stained with broth, and Shiba cried happily.
"Yummy?"
They say guidance is key when teaching speech.
I enunciated "Say 'It's yummy'" clearly, and Shiba swallowed the dumpling whole, beaming.
"Yummy!"
"Good girl."
"Goo gi?"
I handed her a spoon, and now she ate on her own properly.
Hwangdo must not have eaten well without me either, as she wolfed it down.
Watching them eat quietly... Shiba was my daughter, and Hwangdo looked like a close little sister.
Even though we'd gone all the way in our relationship.
The image of Hwangdo smiling innocently with her head on my chest flashed by.
-February issue! Limited edition~ Kyaa! Oppa is the best!
That's how she was, and now she'd grown like that.
Her massive breasts stood out in light clothes... The youngest's development couldn't be ignored.
"Kindergarten's having a play soon."
Hwangdo's words snapped me alert.
"Ah~ That. I heard. Parents are required to attend."
"Yeah, but I won't be here then."
Now that I was back from training camp, Cheondo, Baekdo, and Hwangdo would soon leave for work.
This lively dorm room would be left with just me and Shiba.
"Peach Blossom Paradise has a ton of work piled up too. Gotta go work with Roshi, P, and Bap again."
Names I hadn't heard in a while.
Goroshi the potion-making Wood Person, P the Paprika broadcaster, and Bap from the baobab tree.
I'd indebted myself to Cornus with them, so I remembered.
"So what? Taking her alone?"
"Decided to go with Dalrae."
"Nng... Classmate? Don't tell me she's your little bro's girlfriend?"
"Yep."
-Clink.
The spoon stopped.
I added quickly before Hwangdo could say anything.
"…Dongsang, you meannn—"
"Of course, you're my girlfriend too."
"…??"
Hwangdo's eyes widened round, and she froze like time had stopped, mumbling incoherently.
"…M-me? I'm Dongsang's girlfriend?"
"Yes."
I answered while stroking Shiba's head.
Our Shiba... has a lot of moms.
Sorry for being a lousy dad.
"Don't like it? I have no plans to let you go."
Weird seeing the kid Hwangdo, so it felt off.
But I couldn't back out now.
"…Ung."
"We didn't finish that talk back then."
"Th-that was just something that came up... I thought."
"Anyway."
"Ugh, really! …Why'd you get so sly, Dongsang? You smell like a single dad uncle."
Lee Se-young said the exact same thing.
No plans to take it back.
Even if Baekdo or Cheondo were awake inside Hwangdo now, they needed to know what they needed to.
"…."
Surprised by my words, Hwangdo left her tteokmanduguk and fanned her flushed face repeatedly.
"…Playboy."
"That's a bit much."
I wasn't secretly dating anyone. And actually, Hwangdo was the one who jumped me first.
The responsibility was hers, not mine.
If she let me, I was confident as a househusband in housework along with support.
"Aigoo. Girlfriend. Girlfriend, huh. How many so far?"
"…."
Lee Se-young, Azalea... Hwangdo.
Oh right, Star.
Already four.
My head throbbed.
"Octopus legs."
"Not that far yet."
"You'll fill it soon."
How many legs does an octopus have?
Eight? Nah... no way.
Hwangdo seriously spread her fingers.
"Dongsang, wanna hear a prophecy?"
"Huh? What prophecy?"
"When me, Cheondo, and Baekdo finish work and meet again... You'll have at least six girlfriends by then?"
Two more?
No way that'd happen.
I had too much to do already... Couldn't add more women.
Especially without Baekdo or Cheondo, no one to add anyway.
"Bet on it."
I stroked my chin at her serious words.
One hand still petting Shiba, I quietly said.
Call.
"What's the stake?"
"…If I win, hug me all week."
Very Hwangdo-like wish.
But a week was long... Wouldn't I dry up?
Trust in the ranked-up Lewd Demon power.
"If I win."
"You don't have to hug me for a week."
"…??"
What? Miracle bet?
"Kukuku. That's your bet?"
"Heeng. More girlfriends just benefits you... We're already apart so much... Hard request? As you said, girlfriend perk~ Can't we make some rice together?"
Slyness met with slyness. Hwangdo melted my ear with a sweet voice.
If that's a request, sure.
I could grant it endlessly.
I swallowed some water and cautiously brought it up to Hwangdo.
"…Tonight after dinner, let's talk."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Kids are asleep."
Cheondo and Baekdo were asleep. Hwangdo came.
I put Shiba to bed too and quietly followed to the kitchen for a private talk with Hwangdo.
"…So why?"
"Got a favor to ask."
Changed into see-through loungewear, Hwangdo approached with a flushed face.
The anticipation in her eyes was blatantly obvious.
Especially the peach scent.
So strong it muddled the mind just smelling it.
"…It's been a while, hasn't it?"
"Wanna?"
"…I'm already wet expecting it. Hing."
She trailed a finger between her legs, and a dizzying moan escaped.
"Aang."
Soaked through; her finger was drenched instantly.
I brought it to my nose—thick peach aroma wafted.
Could go all out here, but... Shiba's here.
"Our daughter's here. Not here."
"Motel?"
"Favor first."
"…What?"
Looked like taking advantage, but...
Necessary.
The peach sisters who vanished in my known future.
Cheondo, Baekdo, Hwangdo—gone from my contacts, unreachable by anyone.
Missing was too mild; they could have died anywhere, anytime.
'…Cornus too.'
Only I could prevent it in advance.
I wrapped my arm around Hwangdo's waist.
"Sis."
"Yeah, yeah... Dongsang."
"…From now on, tell me in detail where you go and what you do. Without Master knowing. Coordinates would be best."
So I could go anytime.
Cheondo was too responsible; she'd never tell me if something happened.
Baekdo revered Cheondo, so she'd keep any secrets if Cheondo willed it.
Only Hwangdo would tell me.
Even if secrets are secret for a reason. Sometimes you gotta dig.
"What? Cheondo would tell you anyway."
"…Same body. And Master doesn't talk about her hardships usually."
"Cheondo... yeah, she is."
Hwangdo nodded in understanding.
But still puzzled.
"But... why?"
"Just... nothing much."
There was reason.
Couldn't say you'd die in the future, so I silently pressed my weight onto her, hugging tight.
"Dongsang? …Ah."
The hand supporting Hwangdo's back trembled violently.
Not from weight... from exhausted anxiety.
A symptom persisting from the past, familiar to me, but to Hwangdo, I might seem weakened.
"Something wrong?"
Let's change the future and live easy.
Worried I'd go bald at this rate.
"Got stuff to do. Can't tell sis."
"…Yeah? You have a lot on your mind, huh."
Hwangdo hesitated long before speaking.
"Okay, okay. Can't refuse my boyfriend's... Not a big deal anyway."
Just where they go and what they do.
That alone would greatly help alter the future, I firmly believed.
The one I couldn't control most was none other than Master. Cheondo.
"So now sex?"
….
"Gotta give and take! Thought it was something huge."
I mumbled weakly like a drowned rat.
"Sure."
Even if a favor, gotta repay with body?
Am I that pathetic?
Didn't change anything.
Today too... I'd wither away.