Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Your Name Is
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While eating, I told the two of them about meeting the girl at the ruins today.
"...And that's how it happened."
"Ah, I get it completely!"
"Didn't you doze off early on? What was the name of that mushroom I found that forces the spines of stuffy academics straight?"
"Do I really have to hear about that kind of thing, me being a precious Balrog and all?"
"You're too much~"
Ihana shook her tail and looked at the girl sitting across from her.
Her golden gaze landed on the small black horn protruding from the girl's head.
"With only one horn, she's definitely a half-breed."
"Ugh?"
I finally wiped the girl's mouth, which had cleared half the bowl of porridge.
Her expression had long since relaxed into pure fluffiness.
She grinned.
Even while eating, she was adorable.
"Right, Ihana."
"Yeah?"
There was still a question left as she wrapped her flickering flame tail around her husband's arm and stir-fried some nuts.
The girl was a half-breed.
One thing was certain: she had Dokkaebi blood mixed in.
So what was the other half?
Her mana alone rivaled that of a high-rank species.
As a self-proclaimed scholar, I couldn't hide my curiosity.
"What species is this kid, exactly?"
"Yeah, I'm curious too. Can't you tell us, Ihana?"
Even Seha, her husband, chimed in with support.
He gently touched his wife's horns, melting her so she couldn't refuse.
"Hehe, shall I use a little power then?"
(A) Seller: Ihana (Balrog)
(B) Buyer: Blank (Nurarihyon)
A provides B with a delicious, easy-to-digest dessert after the main meal ends.
*Buyer's identity is unclear.
No family relations found. Please register a suitable guardian.
ㅡㅡㅡ
Ting.
Ihana snapped her fingers, and a flame bloomed in midair.
From the warm fire emerged a single sheet of parchment.
It was their contract document.
People often picture Balrogs as tyrants wielding flaming weapons.
But their true weapon is the contract.
Few other races can stake their souls as collateral, so their contracts are trusted absolutely.
You can't mix lies into a promise sworn on your soul.
Now, a question.
What's essential on a heteromorph contract?
That's right.
Name and species.
And since she was young, a guardian would be auto-registered.
Probably her parents' names.
In other words, this one sheet would reveal who and what she was.
"Hehe, mind signing for me, little one?"
"Whoa!"
The girl boldly stamped her handprint on the contract floating before her.
Were the characters the same in Hangul across languages?
"Huh, I was gonna have her guardian Yuan stamp it instead."
"Looking forward to that dessert~ By the way... Nurarihyon? Not Dokkaebi?"
"In hybrids, the contract shows the dominant bloodline. Turns out the Dokkaebi side is only about a quarter."
Nurarihyon.
A high-rank species more common in Japan than Korea.
Surprisingly human-like in appearance.
Rumor has it they mingled with humans even before gates fully opened on Earth.
They'd barge into homes, sip tea, act like they owned the place.
So brazen you couldn't even call them out, and too slippery to catch with their playful nature.
But there's a reason they're high-rank.
Supreme Commander.
Another title for them.
The one leading at the front of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.
"But you're a Nurarihyon?"
"Hua...?"
The girl just blinked round-eyed, clueless.
Her freshly washed, fluffy cheeks were pink, making her look even more bewildered.
"No name, though? You're not like some light novel siblings named 'Blank'."
"Honey? Don't go full otaku on us out of nowhere."
Ihana sighed, thwacking her husband's waist with her tail.
Still, it was nagging at me.
'Abandoned before even being named... but she's too big for that.'
No matter how small, she was kindergarten-age size.
And no family relations at all on the contract? Not just a runaway or lost kid.
"No clue what accident she went through."
"Maybe she got kamikakushi—vanished? New dimensions cause all sorts of weirdness."
"That's why they send seasoned heteromorph squads to scout new ones first. Her being there as a kid is weird enough."
"Could've been an illegal gate. Anyway, Yuan, you brought home a mysterious one."
This was getting seriously tricky.
If even her parents were gone from some accident...
Posting a missing person report online probably wouldn't help.
'Options are orphanage or adoption.'
I looked at the girl, who had polished off dessert too.
She clutched a small glutinous rice cake, cheeks puffed round as she munched.
Spotting me, the sweetness sparkled in her eyes.
"So, Yuan? What're you planning for this girl?"
"Yeah, Ihana. Promere has an orphanage, but..."
She could barely talk properly.
Would she adapt there, or just struggle?
Or ship her to Earth for a proper placement.
Then Seha said something unexpected.
"How about Yuan takes care of her himself?"
"Me?"
Ihana nodded along.
Her tail flame grew; she seemed to want it.
"Great idea, honey! Plus, Yuan... you don't want to part with her, right?"
"Reading my mind much?"
"Hehe, you're sentimental. Seha and I will help. Dorothy likes kids too, so no issue."
Like a demon, she fanned the reluctance in my heart.
Made me want to care for her even more.
"Ermu!"
The girl grabbed my arm.
Tight, one hand still eating rice cake, but her grip firm.
"You don't wanna go to an orphanage? You could get adopted somewhere better."
"Ugh!"
She puffed her cheeks like she understood, shoulders trembling—scared maybe.
Her whole body screamed she didn't want to leave me.
...No choice but to commit now.
"I'll take care of her. Treat her like my own daughter, truly precious."
Saying it aloud bound me with responsibility.
No half-measures.
This feeling was real.
The girl looked up silently.
Then squeezed my hand tighter, like agreement.
"Just one thing left—the most important."
"More to do, Ihana?"
"Obvious, Yuan."
She tapped the name field on the contract.
"Gotta name her. Can't keep calling her 'her' or 'girl' forever."
"Ah."
Almost forgot the basics of childcare.
A name is identity.
Plus, easier for daily life.
"What name's good?"
"You, her guardian, should pick. She's your kid now?"
"Passing it off smooth. Hmm..."
Follow my surname maybe.
Yu + An.
Take 'Yu' upfront, add something...
Unique.
One-of-a-kind, but she'd cry for a name change later.
Yumi.
Sounds like a cat slurping ramen in a ravine.
"Safest are Yuri or Yuno."
"Auu?"
I looked at the girl, dessert done.
Just then, her pale purple eyes gleamed like fireflies under the light.
'Sparkling.'
Couldn't look away.
One word came to mind.
"Hikari (Light)."
May she shine bright.
I stroked Hikari's head, telling the couple.
"No need for my surname. Call her Hikari?"
"Nurarihyon... yeah, nice name! Seha?"
He nodded.
And her too.
"Wu!"
She thrust her little hand out, shouting strong.
"She likes it? Good."
I smiled, holding my newly named child.
"Nice to have you, Hikari. Truly welcome here."
Meal done, Hikari started dozing.
Bob... bob...
Eyelids heavy as lead, but she shook her head stubbornly, hating to sleep.
Adorable.
"Makes sense she's tired. Busy day."
"Take her to bed, Yuan. Ihana and I'll clean up."
"Thanks~ I'll head out first."
I scooped Hikari up.
Her body went limp, plump cheek softly on my shoulder.
Half-asleep, she called to the couple.
"Ermu!"
"See you tomorrow, Hikari~"
Ihana waved her tail small, Seha smiled and waved.
Short time, but she'd warmed to them a bit.
'Feels kinda proud?'
Like that parent feeling I'd heard of. I chuckled.
Up the stairs to the second floor, past the lavish Balrog-style hall.
Door under the chandelier?
"Hua?"
"This is my room. Others tomorrow."
Plain room, save stacked reports and samples.
Laid Hikari on bed, put today's Sticky Mushroom from bag on table.
Changed to comfy sleepwear, flopped beside rolling Hikari.
"Hrmu..."
Flat on bed, she puppy-rolled into my arms.
Warm.
Small, fragile—precious for it.
Before I stroked much, soft snores.
"Raising a kid... not bad."
Mumbled that, dimmed wall light.
Sweet dreams, please.