Chapter 452: Dream
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 452: Dream
When I opened my eyes, the aftermath of yesterday’s debauchery began to fill my vision. The memory of the fallen hero Sarubia and the saintess was enough to make my face flush. It had been fun at the time, but looking back on it now, such memories only brought me shame.
I could occasionally welcome more common scenarios, like a nurse and doctor or a flight attendant and passenger, but I had to admit that I still wasn't quite ready to handle this kind of fallen hero setup.
However, contrary to my thoughts, Choi Seulgi, who was lying in bed wrapped in an embrace with Baek Ahyeon, looked utterly blissful.
She had released all the stress that had built up because of the Western Continent, and the war was as good as won, so it was no wonder she was in a good mood, regardless of last night. Even Baek Ahyeon, who was always an early riser, was still sleeping soundly. I quietly prepared myself and headed outside.
“Ah…”
Stepping out, I was met with the unexpected sight of Jung Hayeon. Judging by what she was holding, it seemed she had brought breakfast. I could see she had enough not just for me, but for Choi Seulgi and Baek Ahyeon as well. It was still early. She looked startled, as if she’d expected me to be asleep. I gave a slight smile and spoke.
“Those two are still sleeping. Let’s go to your room and eat together.”
“Ah… Yes! Taesung.”
Her voice was filled with delight.
“It would be best to leave their food here.”
I nodded and spoke again.
“What are Jang Ye Ri and Choi Eunju up to?”
“The Queen and Eunju-unni seem to have other things to attend to.”
It was a busy time, dealing with the aftermath of the war. Knowing how diligent those two were, I figured they were probably working without rest. If I were to rank the most diligent, Jang Ye Ri and Choi Eunju would have to be at the top. Baek Ahyeon was diligent too, but her efforts were almost entirely related to prayer or the temple. As for Choi Seulgi, she was meticulous, but she tended to act only on things that personally interested her. And there was no need to even mention the notoriously lazy Mev.
If I had to single out the most diligent among the women of the clan, it would be Jung Hayeon. The fact that she had prepared and brought breakfast at this hour was proof enough. I wasn't much of a breakfast person, but I wasn't enough of a bastard to refuse a meal she’d prepared.
After letting Choi Seulgi and Baek Ahyeon sleep a little longer, I entered Jung Hayeon’s room and was greeted by her unique fragrance.
The room was filled with various books and other objects. Plants were everywhere, perhaps a lingering effect of her presence or decorations she had placed herself. Vines snaked along the wall to the window, and flowers dotted the room. Standing in the midst of it all, waiting for me, Jung Hayeon looked like a princess straight out of a fairy tale.
“Beautiful.”
Considering I had just been with two other women, it was a pretty scummy thing to say.
But I meant it sincerely. Bathed in the morning sunlight filtering through the window, she was truly beautiful.
“Y-You’re embarrassing me, Taesung.”
She didn’t seem displeased, though, as she quietly set the breakfast on the table. The scene felt like watching a couple before one of them heads off to work.
“I went to see Lapra for a bit yesterday. Eunju-unni took me to the Land of Glory for a short while.”
“How is she doing?”
“She’s healthy. She’s grown so much since I last saw her, and it seems she misses you a lot, Taesung. Laveua, too.”
“Puhahaha.”
“It’s a relief the children are so mature.”
“You’re right about that.”
It was a relief the children were so mature. Laveua, who used to do nothing but throw tantrums, had grown into an older sister who knew how to look after her younger sibling. And Lapra, who used to ignore everyone else, had somehow learned how to get along with those less capable than her.
As for Ratga, he had been caught by Jang Ye Ri and was being forced to train diligently. They were all preparing to live their lives on this continent.
“It won’t be long before we can all spend time together. Once this is all over, let’s take a trip, all of us.”
“Hehe. I didn’t say that to hear you promise something, but it does make me happy.”
Jung Hayeon smiled, brushing aside her hair, which had now turned into plant stems. Thinking back to our first meeting, this situation felt completely surreal.
Things had turned out well in the end, but I suddenly wondered if she was truly satisfied with her body turning into a plant, if she truly felt good about her current situation. Unlike the other Green Skins, she had been human.
At the time, it had been a means of survival, but what did she think of it now? I seemed to recall asking her once before, but the idle curiosity raised its head again.
“How have you been lately?”
“I’m happy.”
“………”
“I’m incredibly happy. I never thought I’d become a mother… In fact, even back on Earth, I never thought I’d be able to get married. My body might be a little different from a human’s now, but being here in the same world as you makes even that a source of happiness.”
“Thank you.”
It was a little embarrassing. I instinctively avoided her gaze by putting some of the food she’d prepared into my mouth.
“It hurts my heart sometimes, having to share you… but if I think of it as our family growing, it’s not so hard.”
I had nothing to say to that.
“Come to think of it, you said you had a younger sister.”
“Yes. After I settled in a bit, I looked for her, wondering if she might have been summoned… but it seems she wasn’t. It’s for the best. She was a smart and bold kid, so I’m sure she achieved her dream even without me.”
“Her dream?”
“Yes. I’m not smart, so I don’t really get it, but she used to say there was so much she wanted to know, things like cosmology and physics. My Haeun… I miss her.”
I had heard her sister’s name before. Whenever we talked, she would sometimes bring up her younger sister. In her past, she had lived for her family. I remembered her saying she had given up on her own aspirations to work in a factory, earning money for her siblings’ tuition and living expenses, spending her spare time in the library.
I couldn’t help but wonder what she was like now.
I became curious about what Jung Hayeon was thinking as she lived her life today. She was devoted.
She was devoted to me, and she was incredibly devoted to our daughter, Lapra. That wasn’t a bad thing for me. She was always helpful and always put me before herself. She always gave the best things to her daughter and me, content to watch from a step behind.
In a way, her life now wasn’t so different from her life on Earth.
She was living a life of sacrifice for someone else, much like a traditional mother. It would be strange not to be concerned. I took a sip of tea before slowly speaking.
“Jung Hayeon.”
“What about you?”
“Me?”
I nodded silently. She had to know what I was asking.
“I heard you sacrificed a lot in the past. But it’s the same now. Just as you once sacrificed for your sister, you’re now sacrificing so much for me and for Lapra. I’ve heard about your sister’s dream, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard about yours.”
It was thoughtless of me, if I had to put it that way. It was true; I had no idea what her dream was.
“My dream.”
After thinking for a long moment, Jung Hayeon finally took a slow sip of her tea and spoke.
“My dream… it’s already come true.”
Her smile was beautiful. I still hadn’t heard what her dream was, but there was no trace of a lie on her face.
“To build a happy family with the person I love. I think that was my dream. What about you, Taesung? Have you achieved your dream? Are you happy now?”
“………”
“Of course.”
Of course, I was happy. I had reunited with Choi Seulgi, whom I had longed for, and I had attained a social standing unimaginable in my past. The man who once begged in back alleys now stood tall as the Great Tribe Leader representing an entire race. But when she asked if I had achieved my dream, I couldn't help but fall silent for a moment.
My memories of Earth were incredibly faint. Combining the ten years of my past life with my time here now, my memories of family and friends from Earth had become quite hazy. It wasn’t that I didn’t miss them.
But everything was a blur.
What kind of life I wanted to live back then, what I wanted to become… memories of such things were stained by a wretched life and the blood I’d seen and shed on the battlefield, to the point I couldn’t even recall them.
“My dream…”
My first goal was clearly to survive. This wasn’t about a simple future like on Earth. It wasn’t a question of what I wanted to become, but what I wanted to do.
Now, at this moment when I felt there was nothing left to achieve, what was it that I wanted?
Strength, wisdom, and honor. To kill and be killed on the battlefield. I knew what the Green Skins aspired to, but I had no idea what Kim Taesung, a man living as both human and Green Skin, truly wanted.
I wasn't a young man agonizing over his career path or a teenager going through puberty. Still, I couldn't help but sink into deep thought.
Jung Hayeon’s expression grew anxious, as if she thought she’d made a mistake. I squeezed her hand tightly and spoke.
“It’s not your fault, and you didn’t make a mistake.”
“Yes.”
“I’m happy now, too.”
This was an undeniable fact. I was happy now. Perhaps my anger toward the Western Continent was just me lashing out at those who had invaded my domain. There was no need to deny it.
“That’s a relief. I’m so glad.”
I gently placed a kiss on Jung Hayeon’s lips. I wasn’t sure if she was trying to seduce me, but she kissed me back as her roots began to wrap around me from below. Just as something was about to happen, we heard Lee Wanyong’s voice. Naturally, Jung Hayeon’s brow furrowed.
“Lady Jung Hayeon, is, is Lord Blood Dagger inside by any chance?”
“Yes…”
It seemed she wanted to lie and say I wasn’t there. The reason he was looking for me was obvious. I straightened my slightly disheveled clothes and went outside.
“Ah, just a moment.”
Apparently, my appearance wasn’t to her satisfaction. It was a scene straight out of an old drama, like a wife checking her husband’s attire before he leaves for work. I couldn’t help but smile faintly.
“I’ll be back.”
“Yes. Take care.”
The head of the failed alliance had taken the bait. I didn’t care what she was thinking, what she wanted, or what she hoped to achieve by starting this mess. But the price for messing with us would be steep.
The crime of invading my territory was greater than any other.
“It’s Maria. It seems you’ll be able to meet with her today.”
I gave a slight nod at Lee Wanyong’s words. A smile spread across my face as I slowly spoke.
“I can finally spit on that damn face of hers.”
“Hehehe. Absolutely, sir.”
From behind me, I heard the laugh of a truly despicable bastard.