Journey (1)
Journey (1)
After entering the waiting room,
I knelt before the smiling faces and laid everything out.
There wasn't much to lay out.
I'd cut the topics still hard to disclose, and anything I could share had already been confirmed by the emergency reports they'd seen.
How I'd briefly visited the Tower of Space and the Tower of Harmonization. How I'd somehow ended up inside the Tower of Harmonization and met its Tower Master...
"What do you mean there wasn't much to lay out?"
"Guguheck..."
[Gloomy]
Hands shot out and grabbed my cheeks, kneading them like rice cake.
The familiar bullying made my face crumple. Professor Liana and my master, both still squishing my cheeks, glanced at each other.
"If you mean the Tower Master of Harmonization, then you've met the Association President."
"So she was hiding in a tower after all... I'd wondered where she'd secluded herself."
"Then did our little one meet the Tower Master of Space too?"
"Mm-mm... Nope."
I shook my head at Professor Liana as she looked at me. The pronunciation came out a bit mushy with my cheeks still caught in their grip.
"The only one I met face-to-face was Lady Gracia... the Tower Master of Harmonization. I only went as far as the entrance for Lady Sierra... the Tower Master of Space, because I had something to deliver."
"Gracia Tehulin, Sierra Skariar? Hooh? Since when were you on a first-name basis with Tower Masters?"
[?]
"Mwehh? Mm, pffmphhffh."
For some unfathomable reason, my cheeks were pinched even harder.
When I finally wriggled free, I rubbed my stinging, hot cheeks with a sulky expression.
"My cheeks are burning from all the pinching."
"Running hot is normal for a Calamity Flame manifestor, Ha-yul."
Yeon-hwa chuckled and brushed a hand over my cheek. Beside her, Lee Ji-yeon tilted her head with a thoughtful look.
"A Taesan manifestor doesn't really have body temperature fluctuations, though."
"...I manifested Calamity Flame first, so it probably has a bigger influence."
"Hmm, but when I usually touch you, it doesn't feel hot..."
"What do you mean, 'usually touch'?"
"Ahem, it's just like that... More importantly, isn't it almost boarding time?"
At Lee Ji-yeon's pointed cough and added remark, I checked the time. Boarding time had indeed arrived.
[I'm a little late, aren't I. If I'd come sooner we could've looked around together...]
For me it doesn't matter, but Seo-yul, who'd come all the way outside, matters a lot.
As I thought that and let my eyes droop a little, Ellia shook her head.
"Don't worry, Seo-yul and the kids already did a lap with us."
"Ah, that's a relief."
"Right, right. And there'll still be time to look around after we arrive, you know? We can walk around together there."
"Mm-hm, Ellia's right."
My expression visibly brightened at that. Chuckling softly, Ellia picked up a scarf nearby and approached.
She knelt to meet my eye level and wrapped the scarf around my neck.
The hazy shape of the scarf briefly filled my vision, its soft fur tickling my cheek.
Once it was properly settled, my view cleared. Ellia smiled gently and pressed a light kiss to the bridge of my nose.
- Smooch.
"Shall we get ready to stand up, then?"
[Happy]
[Mmm]
"Hehe, yes!"
I couldn't hold back the grin spreading across my face as I stroked the scarf.
.
.
.
The current point is the first semester vacation. The season aligned with Siyoram is summer, but the place we'd just arrived was different.
- Whoooosh...!
A sharp, cold wind hit us the moment we stepped out of the Gate Terminal.
The sky was dreary and overcast. Piles of swept-up snow sat on the solidly frozen ground.
Totally different weather from the climate-controlled interior we'd just left. Senior Daera shivered slightly and adjusted her clothes.
"Whoof, I thought so while walking around earlier, but it's crazy cold."
A few steps ahead, Baek A-rin smiled at the fuss.
"That's because we're in the Changhae family's territory."
She was right. This place is Changhae territory.
To be precise, the southern part of Azure Sea. Near an area called Hamheung, which is north by the Korean Peninsula's standard.
'The meeting is being held in Changhae territory.'
It was originally scheduled to take place in Seoul.
Seoul isn't governed by any of the Three Great Families directly, but it's a neutral zone overseen by an administrator they jointly elect.
The largest Gate Terminal on the Korean Peninsula is also in Seoul.
For those reasons, meetings among the Three Great Families usually happen in Seoul.
'Right now, though, Azure Sea is in a tight spot.'
The Special-Grade Dungeon that appeared in Azure Sea's northern territory.
There's no sign of an immediate outbreak, but the Changhae family head is stuck nearby just in case.
As a courtesy to him, the meeting was arranged to take place within Changhae territory.
"I do know Changhae territory is cold, but... Seoul isn't even that far from here, yet the weather's completely different."
Senior Daera cocked her head. Baek A-rin flicked a finger.
"It's the influence of dungeons that have run amok. Ever since the Great Cataclysm, ice-attribute dungeons have been appearing and rampaging nonstop from up here northward."
"Aha."
Dungeons that rampage repeatedly eventually assimilate with the world.
The most extreme example of such assimilation is the Demon Realm.
Azure Sea isn't quite a demon realm, but it's a case where the surroundings have been altered and locked in to that degree.
"Thanks to that, most of the Changhae territory is winter all year round."
"Heh heh, living here is convenient in a way—you only need winter clothes."
Yeon-hwa replied with a shrug. As she did, she carefully adjusted the scarf around her neck.
A vivid red wool scarf... The scarf I'd made for her.
"Hm-hmm, this southern part is less affected, so it's not as cold. Just having a scarf is enough to keep warm."
"Heehee."
[Joy]
[Proud]
Hearing her say that made my lips curl up on their own, as the maker.
My master shot a sidelong glance at Yeon-hwa as she kept fussing with her scarf.
"You're a Calamity Flame manifestor. Aren't scarves completely unnecessary for you?"
"What a clueless thing to say. Our body temperature fluctuates extremely, so a scarf like this is very important, I'll have you know."
"Look at her, bragging about getting a present for the first time. It's so blatant it's funny."
"What'd you say?"
"Hmm? I didn't say anything~? You must've imagined it because of the snow sounds~"
Avoiding a fuming Yeon-hwa, Baek A-rin hurried lightly to the front.
I laughed softly at the sight and quietly looked to my side.
Seo-yul held my hand as she looked around. Right now, her gaze was fixed on a snowy mountain far in the distance.
- Look at that mountain. It's super tall.
- Is all of that snow? It looks like shaved ice!
- So many mountains and trees. But I don't think I could walk around because it's cold.
Small whispers tickled my mind. They came from Seo-yul and the fairies beside us.
'Since we're going out anyway, it'd be good if the fairies could come along too.'
The fairies also haven't gotten to see the outside world, so we brought them. Seeing their eyes sparkle, I'm glad we came together after all.
I smiled and gently swung my hand clasped with Seo-yul's.
[Seo-yul]
"Yes?"
Seo-yul turned to me.
She tilted her head, blinking those clear, pure eyes. I straightened out Seo-yul's slightly crooked scarf.
[You're not cold, are you?]
[Worry]
Seo-yul chuckled at the question.
"Dad, if it was cold enough to pierce my attribute resistance, no human could live here."
[Still. High resistance doesn't mean you can't feel cold.]
[Concern]
"Don't worry. With my level of resistance, I could even walk around naked—"
[Oh, no you don't.]
[You shouldn't say things like that.]
[Serious]
Walk around naked? In a freezing place like this?
This is the warmer southern part, sure, but an ordinary person would freeze to death here in no time.
At my words, Seo-yul's sunny expression turned a little odd.
"...Hearing that from you, Dad, feels strange."
[What do you mean by that...?]
[Question]
"It feels like I'm being scolded by a child."
[What do you mean by that...]
[Flustered]
My face went blank at Seo-yul's murmur.
As a parent, hearing that from your child stirs feelings hard to put into words.
'...I mean, I'm not exactly seen as a reliable parent figure...'
I took a moment to review the image I'd shown Seo-yul so far.
Being cradled in someone's arms and beaming, being patted to sleep with a soft snore.
Acting clingy, whining, making people worry, causing trouble and getting scolded...
When I thought about it, it was my own doing.
I pressed my lips together and held Seo-yul's hand a little tighter.
* * *
The party arrived at the train station adjacent to the Gate Terminal.
Dozens of attendants had come out to greet us at the station, and a train stood ready on the tracks, waiting to depart.
"Ooh, isn't this a pretty fancy setup?"
Hong Yeon-hwa, who had boarded the train, let out an exclamation.
The train was as large as it had looked from the outside.
The interior was just as spacious.
It was undeniably a train, yet stepping through the entrance revealed a lobby-like space.
Baek A-rin smiled brightly and shrugged.
"Of course, of course. Who do we have as passengers? Naturally, the family put our absolute finest on standby. But hey, Yeon-hwa, didn't you ride this once long ago?"
"Hmm, I feel like I might've... Anyway, we ride this all the way to our destination?"
"Yeah, there's no gate connected to the inner core, right?"
For security reasons, no Gate Terminal is installed in the territory's inner core.
"Arrival should take about two days. If we went straight without stopping, it'd only be three or four hours, but let's take it slow and enjoy the trip."
"Exactly! I've wanted to go on a train trip for ages, and now we all get to come together and enjoy it!"
Ellia beamed and clapped her hands. Matching her smile, Baek A-rin led our group to the car where we'd be staying.
'It's got everything we might need.'
Lee Ha-yul, observing the train, nodded to himself.
Given its scale, the train had all necessary amenities. It was even packed with recreational facilities like a billiard hall and a swimming pool.
It was, without exaggeration, the pinnacle of luxury trains.
'We won't be bored during the two-day stay.'
Residential car, rear section.
The train interior also had climate-control magic installed, keeping it pleasantly warm.
Heavy outer coats were taken off and hung on hooks.
After settling onto a sofa, Lee Ha-yul quietly looked to his side.
Seat right against the window. Lee Seo-yul sat shoulder-to-shoulder, watching the scenery flash by outside.
The sight of her watching alongside a fairy who'd perched on her shoulder or head was unbearably cute.
Letting out a small laugh, Lee Ha-yul patted Lee Seo-yul's shoulder.
When she turned her head, a cup was held out to her. Inside it was hot chocolate, steam wafting gently up.
[Would you like a cup of hot chocolate?]
"Ah, yes! Thank you."
[I'm keeping it warm with magic, so take your time blowing on it to drink.]
[If you want more, just say so and I'll make some.]
Lee Ha-yul then offered a soft smile to the fairies who had fixed their stares on him before he knew it.
[Do you want some too?]
- Yes! I want some!
- ...Rio, normally we're supposed to be making this for the King...
[It's nothing. Just a moment.]
Chuckling, Lee Ha-yul quickly made several cups of hot chocolate with telekinesis.
The fairies beamed, accepting cups as big as their own bodies, and cautiously blew on the hot chocolate before sipping it.
"......"
The train had just departed.
It glided forward smoothly without a single jolt.
The residential car suddenly grew quiet.
The ladies, who'd been chatting together moments ago, were now watching Lee Ha-yul intently with peculiar expressions. There was something different from usual. Lee Ha-yul was making hot chocolate for Lee Seo-yul and the fairies, then gently chiding them not to open the window too wide. The image felt oddly incongruous.
'No, is it really that odd?'
Liana, who'd had her arms crossed, tilted her head.
Lee Ha-yul is full of childlike clinginess. No one doesn't know that's what makes him adorable.
But he isn't always like that.
Because in serious moments, Lee Ha-yul is perfectly serious.
...This case is a little different.
He didn't look serious so much as gentle and at ease.
Rather than acting clingy, he was the one accepting and embracing.
The people exchanging glances all wore complicated looks.
That's right.
Lee Ha-yul, with Lee Seo-yul by his side to look after, was shockingly far less clingy.