Goodnight, Dad.
Goodnight, Dad.
***
A blade carved a razor-sharp white line through the air as it descended.
It felt like the line between day and night fracturing, a sword that could split the world itself.
Scang!
The black edge slashed through the sky like a signature, leaving monsters' heads dangling like trophies.
"Haa... Haa... Still... still not enough."
Mountains of monster corpses rose around him, and rivers of blood flowed red, staining the ground.
"Young Master Si-yun. Please stop. You've pushed yourself too far."
"No... not yet... not enough."
Seol Si-yun, once a lone wolf who slaughtered ten Celestials in his previous life, the genius of the end times who single-handedly took down half their ranks. After regressing, he returned from the Seoraksan Dungeon where his fight with Cheon Seong left his left arm's bones shattered. Now, gripping the sword with his right hand only, he had been swinging it nonstop ever since he finished healing.
"The wounds haven't even fully closed yet. You told us to use natural healing only because the healers couldn't keep up."
Seol Si-yun's injuries were recovering far too slowly, even when he summoned the best healers the guild could provide. Everyone kept muttering that some unknown force was blocking mana, forcing his body to rely solely on natural regeneration. His father, the Flame King Guild Master Seol Gang-hun, was tearing his hair out.
Of course, the guild's endless demands kept him away most of the time. But he always made sure one of his most trusted subordinates stayed by his side to handle any emergencies. Even among the old hands who had been with the guild for decades, the truth was common knowledge.
"Young Master... It's been five days since you last slept. At least give me a potion."
That was the part that terrified everyone. Seol Si-yun was the ultimate training maniac, the battle maniac who trained so obsessively that he didn't even notice the time. He only fought his true rivals and showed zero interest in anyone weaker.
That's exactly why no one worried about him. Among his age group, he was the strongest, and his only real rival was Yoo Hwa-young, the youngest daughter of the Flame King. Even she could only land a few scratches on him before losing. No one could truly call themselves his equal.
It was clear what would have happened... But after returning from the Seoraksan Dungeon, Seol Si-yun had thrown all caution to the wind and trained relentlessly. The rival he feared most had finally appeared.
"No... Time is wasting. I need to get stronger. This isn't enough."
"Who... who is that person exactly?"
Anyone who knew their identity could be brought in to spar with Seol Si-yun and be dealt with. But no matter how hard he asked, all Seol Si-yun ever said was the same thing.
"Name... I don't know. Just a mask. Super strong. Insanely strong."
"What do you mean, describe his appearance..."
"Um... Was he handsome? I don't know about that part... Yellow hair? Maybe? Um... Skin color... White-ish... I don't know."
That was all.
He couldn't even remember a single detail accurately. Hair color, height, face shape, skin tone—nothing. Just that he was terrifyingly strong.
"Um... Let's move to another location. Time is wasting."
"Haa... Yes, Young Master. But before that—"
Before Seol Si-yun could finish his words, Cheon Yu-seong pulled out a single potion, pinched Seol Si-yun's cheek until it puffed up like a goldfish, and forcibly pushed the potion bottle between his lips, making him drink.
'Haa... Are you my bodyguard or my nanny...?'
Ten years of working for the guild as his nanny had never felt this heavy until today, when the exhaustion hit him like a truck.
***
Yuna and Beatrice had fallen.
The towel tied around Cheon Seong's waist had come loose, and the suppressed magic had been released, exactly what Yuna and Beatrice had seen.
Snapping out of his thoughts, he first wiped the moisture from their bodies, carried them both to Yuna's room, laid them on the bed, and pulled the blanket over them.
He had wanted to dress them, but he lacked the courage to undress them himself. So he only wiped them down and covered them with a blanket.
"Haa... Damn it... How am I supposed to face their faces now..."
Having handled the situation with his best possible actions, the real problem was how to look at Yuna and Beatrice in the future.
"I guess we have to erase their memories... No, that's not right..."
He had briefly considered sealing their memories with magic, but the thought of using it on a first-class Celestial like Beatrice made him hesitate. He couldn't bring himself to hurt them, so he gave up.
"But erasing memories is the only way..."
[What are you thinking...?]
Cheon Seong sat on the floor, lost in thought, when Beatrice's voice drifted into his ear. Unable to meet her gaze, he kept his head bowed and asked quietly.
"Th-that... Beatrice. Did... did you see what happened just now?"
Beatrice remained silent. Then, with a soft rustle, the blanket slipped as she sat up, pulled Cheon Seong into her arms, and spoke in her mesmerizing voice, the same tone that could enchant anyone—like a siren calling sailors to their doom.
[Don't ask again. You've tried to bring it up before.]
Cheon Seong felt the warm, soft pressure against his back and the hard, unyielding something pressed firmly in the center. The hardness grew even more insistent, poking into his spine, and Beatrice's hot breath brushed his ear.
His body refused to move. It was the same sensation as standing in front of a predator—frozen, helpless.
"I-I can't... Beatrice."
[...Still. You don't seem to hate me, do you?]
The idea of Cheon Seong hating Beatrice was absurd. Beatrice would never betray him, never abandon him. The only possible betrayal was from her side.
Of course, if she ever did betray him, the shock would be unbearable. But Cheon Seong doubted he would ever come to hate her.
Rustle.
Beatrice's hand moved slowly, sliding from his neck down to his chest, then toward his abdomen.
"Beatrice, stop... I can't take any more."
He couldn't. If he didn't stop her now, he couldn't predict what would happen. He had to refuse her. Had to push her away... but his body wouldn't obey.
[You say you don't hate me, Cheon Seong.]
"...!"
The way Beatrice whispered his name was incredibly seductive. Cheon Seong couldn't move. He needed to reject her, to push her away, but his body remained frozen.
Rustle.
Her hand continued downward. Beatrice's breath grew hotter against his ear.
He's going to eat me. If this continues, I'll be devoured. By the Beatrice I love. In Yuna's room, with Yuna unconscious...
What should he do? How can he escape? Should he wake Yuna? But what if Beatrice doesn't stop? What if Yuna attacks him like Beatrice is trying to?
Waking Yuna might only bring more danger.
One attack from Beatrice alone could bring him down. If Yuna joined in... Could he possibly survive?
No. No way. He'd collapse the moment Beatrice made contact. Adding Yuna would make it impossible.
But... he had no choice left. Waking Yuna was the only way he might still survive, even slightly.
He had to trust that this decision would cut deep into his own throat, but there was no other option.
Beatrice's hand was almost at the point of no return when Cheon Seong made his final gamble.
"Yuna—!"
Kiiick
Just as he called her loud enough to wake her, the door to Yuna's room opened. Someone stepped inside.
"A-ah...?"
.
.
.
.
.
"Uuum... Dad... I came back."
"Haa... Hana? Weren't you sleeping?"
The door opened to reveal cute pink pajamas and a rubbing-eyed Hana.
Hana, who should have been fast asleep, had opened the door right before Cheon Seong and Beatrice were about to be devoured.
[...You woke up?]
Beatrice's voice carried deep sorrow. In an instant, she dressed herself, sat up, and approached Hana with a question.
"Uung... I felt like Dad was in danger... so I woke up."
Startled!
Beatrice flinched at the mention of danger, quickly looking away from Hana.
Cheon Seong felt a strange sense. It was too coincidental, too ordinary, yet it reminded him of how a pet would sense its owner in peril and react. He thought Hana was like that.
"Uum... Dad~."
With eyes still rubbing, Hana approached him. Somehow, thanks to her, Cheon Seong had escaped Beatrice's terrifying barrage. He laughed, opened his arms wide, and Hana grinned before running straight into his embrace.
Because she was still so small, she hugged his head tightly with her little arms.
A soft, baby-powder scent typical of a young child filled the air. It was nothing like the overwhelmingly seductive, pheromonal scent of Beatrice. Instead, it was the gentle, calming aroma of someone whose personality put his mind at ease.
"Hana. Want to sleep with Dad, Mom Yuna, and Mom Beatrice tonight?"
"Really~? Waaaaah!"
They had all slept together before—sometimes Beatrice, sometimes Yuna—so tonight was the first time all four had slept in one room.
And...
'This way, Beatrice won't be able to do anything...'
Using Hana was a selfish move, but honestly, Cheon Seong was terrified she would truly be devoured. Still... if Hana liked it, maybe it was fine.
After all... it was the love of his daughter.
.
.
.
.
"Uum... Dad?"
Just as Cheon Seong was about to be devoured by Beatrice in Yuna's room, Hana—who had been hugging Cheon Seong's fragrant blanket and pillow in his own room, lost in deep sleep—felt something and woke up.
"Dad... where...?"
She sensed that her beloved father, the prince who had saved her, needed help.
Her sleepy eyes rubbed as she walked toward the door where she thought her father would be, and the feeling of his need grew stronger.
Klack
The door opened. The first thing she saw was Dad looking surprised at her, and behind him, Mom who was hugging him tightly.
Hana watched quietly. The sense of danger faded, and she laughed before running to hug Cheon Seong.
'Hehe, I love Dad's smell.'
She hadn't bathed yet, but to the nine-tailed fox Hana, the warm, comforting scent of Cheon Seong felt familiar. She sniffed like a puppy clinging to its owner, then rubbed her body against his to spread her own scent.
The room's lights dimmed. Cheon Seong, who had no choice but to sleep with Hana for fairness, asked her.
"Hana, aren't you uncomfortable? Dad is sorry."
Thinking she might feel bad being pulled so tightly, he asked. Hana, nestled in his arms, rubbed her head against him and said,
"No, I like this the best."
"...I see. Then I'm glad."
Cheon Seong thought Hana was just being thoughtful. She hadn't told a single lie.
Unlike the soft bed, his muscular body was firm and uncomfortable, but right now Hana felt only the warmth and security she couldn't get from the bed.
"Sleep well, our daughter. Dad really loves you."
Kiss.
Cheon Seong kissed her forehead with the meaning of "sweet dreams." Hana smiled brightly in return, then kissed his lips with a cute, "Goodnight, Dad."
Kiss!
"Goodnight, Dad. I love you too."
Cheon Seong's lips curved happily, and another bright light shone on his dark chest.