Come Back Home (1)
Pompeii clutched the Spirit King's wings in his hand, his voice heavy with self-reproach.
[I no longer deserve to hold these wings. Not only did I fail in my duties as the Fire Spirit King, but I even harbored resentment toward the Wind Spirit King deep in my heart.]
Pompeii managed a faintly sad smile.
[So take them. You, who conveyed the salamanders' true feelings to me—you deserve them. I'm sure the Wind Spirit King would think the same.]
Mandu glanced at Pompeii, then turned to me, his face uncertain about what to do.
I smiled and nodded. "You've earned them."
Mandu's eyes sparkled as he stared at the wings. At my approval, Pompeii personally attached them to Mandu's back.
[Until the next Wind Spirit King is born, I'm entrusting them to you.]
The wings, shaped like a bird's, transformed into dragon wings upon touching Mandu's back.
Flap! Mandu gave them a vigorous flap.
[Shi-sit!]
A beaming smile lit his face—he clearly loved them.
At that moment, the Spirit Shop chimed with a notification.
A new power awakens in the spirit.
Following me and Aqua, Mandu had gained a new power.
'The Spirit Realm lives up to its name.'
Mandu had acquired Growth Power. True to its name, his spirit power had risen from E-rank to D-rank. Mid-level spirits were said to match C-rank awakeners in strength, so Mandu now stood between low- and mid-level.
'Growth Power, huh.'
Mandu had gazed upon his homeland and achieved mental maturity. He'd even earned Pompeii's recognition. He was no longer just a baby spirit.
'Maybe that's why—grow quickly.'
Pompeii kissed Mandu's forehead. Mandu chirped happily.
[Shi-sit!]
After bidding Mandu farewell, Pompeii turned to me with an awkward smile.
[Thank you too, Kang Hyunwoo.]
Pompeii seemed about to say more, but words weren't needed. Instead, I slipped my hand under his armpit and hoisted him up.
[Wha—?!]
I pulled the startled Pompeii into a tight hug. His rigid body gradually relaxed.
"If things get tough, come find me anytime. You know where I live, right?"
[……Of course. Thank you.]
Pompeii's voice was a little choked.
First, I shoved the massive pile of yesterday's trash remnants through the passage. Sia had offered to take it, but Jang Gilsan had thriftily sent over metered trash bags, so I decided to handle disposal myself.
"Shall we head out too?"
[Let's go!]
[Ooh…….]
Terra's eyes sparkled. She was thrilled at finally heading to the human world.
I bent down, cradling Aqua in my right arm and Terra in my left—perfect for holding both.
[Eek?!]
[Whoa.]
We wobbled a bit while finding our balance but soon settled comfortably against each other.
[Shi-sit!]
Mandu flapped his new wings and hopped onto my shoulder. He was clearly smitten with them.
[See you!]
[Aqua! I'll visit the human world soon!]
The spirits waved brightly, as if there were no such thing as eternal goodbyes. We waved back one last time, then passed through the arch inside Aqua's protective barrier.
The spirit power that had wrapped around me like a second skin, warm and familiar, vanished in an instant. Before I could feel the loss, though, we were greeted enthusiastically.
"Hyunwoo!"
"Senior!"
It was my parents and friends.
Uluru's passage had opened right where we'd left the human world: the courtyard of Haynaru Guesthouse.
"We're back."
"You okay?"
"No injuries?"
Mom and Dad fussed over me. Jang Gilsan, Han Areum, and Han Deuri looked like they had a million questions but yielded to my parents first.
"I'm fine."
"Aqua okay too?"
[Totally fine!]
Their eyes shifted to Terra in my left arm. She leaned against my chest, facing them squarely.
"A new contracted spirit. Her name's Terra."
"Oh my. She's as pretty as Aqua."
Mom cautiously extended a hand. Terra eyed it for a moment, then offered her own tiny hand in a clasp.
Mom beamed.
"Son, another daughter now? No partner, but kids keep coming. What are we gonna do?"
"Ahahaha."
[Heeheehee!]
Aqua giggled like it was her own good news.
[Shi-sit!]
Mandu chirped for attention, proudly spreading his wings.
"Oh, wings grew?"
"Not a lizard—a dragon after all."
Mandu lifted his head high. That haughty pose was straight out of Aqua's playbook.
I chuckled, scanning the empty courtyard. No guests around. It was 3 p.m.—everyone was at the beach playing in the water.
Setting Aqua and Terra down, my friends approached.
"Looks like you had a blast, huh?"
Han Areum grumbled, eyeing the giant trash bags behind me.
"No idea how worried we were."
I knew that grumble came from pure concern.
"Sorry. Must've been rough?"
"Of course! No contact, no updates……."
Even as she spoke, relief softened her smile. Safe return—that was enough for her kind heart.
"Bro, everything sorted?"
"Thanks to you guys. We'll catch up properly later."
As we chatted, Terra busily surveyed her surroundings. I crouched to her level.
"What's so fascinating?"
[That's a human nest?]
Terra pointed at the guesthouse.
"Yep. We live there."
[Ooh……!]
Her eyes sparkled at the house. Then, a quest window popped up.
Terra Wants to Study
📍 Help Terra satisfy her curiosity in the human world.
🎁 Reward: Spirit Growth
A smile tugged at my lips unbidden. Perfect quest for the inquisitive, studious Terra.
[Oh! A quest!]
Aqua giggled and grabbed Terra's hand tight.
[Come on! I'll show you the human world!]
Aqua led Terra toward the house at a trot. She wanted to personally give her friend the grand tour.
[What's that?]
[It's a door! A wall that opens and closes!]
We watched their tiny hands clasped together, smiling warmly.
A few hours later, we gathered around the dinner table for the first time in ages—all of us together. Parents, friends, spirits: nearly ten people.
No room at our place for everyone, so we met at the inn where Jang Gilsan and the juniors were crashing temporarily.
"Whoa…… you made all this?"
I gawked at the spread. Normally, we'd all pitch in at home, but Mom insisted I rest after my long trip.
"Heeheehee…… We all chipped in. Your friends helped a ton."
"Nonsense, Mom did it all!"
A dinner prepared together for us.
[Ooooh……!]
Terra's eyes widened at her first human "table." Sashimi, spicy fish stew, pork stir-fry, fruit punch—dishes galore. I wondered what she'd like best.
"Dig in, then."
"Eat up."
"Thanks for the meal!"
"Looks delicious."
[I'll eat well!]
[Shi-sit!]
We dove in with chopsticks and spoons.
Aqua plopped her butt down near my right hand on the table—her fixed spot without a booster seat. Terra followed suit on my left, right next to Mandu.
I scooped fruit punch for Aqua first. Chilled milk-soda broth with floating watermelon and kiwi chunks.
[Thanks!]
Aqua slurped it down with a grin. Mom smiled warmly as white trailed from her mouth.
[Yummy!]
Aqua slammed her bowl down triumphantly. She loved it.
[Nuts savory-sweet!]
She popped the remaining fruits one by one, dutifully spitting shells.
"Heeheehee……."
Mom wiped Aqua's juice-smeared chin.
[Heeheehee!]
Aqua beamed at the familiar touch—like grandma and granddaughter.
[Shi-sit!]
Mandu was devouring grilled ham. The glutton loved everything, but ham had him hooked today.
"Ham's better with rice—it's salty alone."
I scooped rice onto a plate, topped with torn ham bits. Ham sushi.
Mandu gulped it down; his eyes crinkled happily.
[Shi-sit!]
Perfect for his taste. While I tended the spirits, everyone chatted merrily.
"Mom, this egg roll is art!"
"Heehee. Glad it suits you."
"Can I learn cooking from you while I'm here?"
"Cooking?"
"I'll assist during meal prep!"
Han Areum cozied up to Mom.
"Dad, a drink?"
"Sure."
Jang Gilsan poured pricey cheongju for Dad.
"Man, Samcheok seafood and meat both hit different? Clean air?"
Han Deuri hyped the mood nearby.
Everyone enjoyed the feast. After ten ham sushis for Mandu, I turned to Terra.
[Ooh…….]
She gripped her fork, scanning the table overwhelmed by options.
[Mm…….]
Finally deciding, her gaze locked on one dish: pork stir-fry. Probably drawn to the brown matching her skin.
"Here, I'll serve you."
I portioned some onto her small plate—out of her short-arm reach.
Terra awkwardly forked a bite and chewed.
[Oh. Grilled meat.]
In the Spirit Realm, only salamanders really ate meat among spirits. Gnomes could handle solids too, but preferred veggies.
"Meat seasoned and grilled."
[Seasoning?]
"Some plants have unique scents, right? Ground up and coated on. A bit spicy?"
Terra nodded slowly.
[This is spicy.]
"Spicy?"
[Spicy.]
I paused, thrown off. Her stoic face gave no hint of severity.
Then she stuck out her tongue. The cute little brown tip was red.
"Whoa, really spicy, huh."
I quickly scooped fruit punch for her—and chuckled despite myself. Tongue-out Terra was adorable.