Mom Is Gone...
Mom Is Gone...
- Prrrr...
A field bathed in gentle sunlight. A baby unicorn, sitting prettily, let out a yawn. I couldn't help but smile at its utterly carefree demeanor.
[You just woke up and you're already sleepy?]
- Pfrr.
[Alright, eat lots.]
The baby unicorn chomped down on the pile of potatoes beside it.
Bribes I'd given the sulky little unicorn after leaving it alone for too long. Grown with Taesan, the nutrition and taste were both excellent.
Since coming to the mansion, it'd been eating nothing but Taesan-grown crops, so its growth had been incredibly fast.
It was now roughly the size of an ordinary horse—calling it a "baby" hardly fit anymore.
Though by unicorn standards, it was definitely still on the small side.
- Swish, swish.
Even as I mused idly, my hand never stopped. The slender brush moved ceaselessly.
Each time the magic brush, which shifted color with the mana I infused, moved, the wide sheet of paper filled up bit by bit.
'It's been a while since I drew.'
In the past, the most I'd ever done was doodle a few sketches with a pencil, but after coming to this world, I'd tried it a little.
Not that I had the leisure for a hobby. It was to build proficiency for All-Rounder.
Even back then, the drawings came out surprisingly well.
The information I gained through Observation was incredibly precise, and my hands, guided by All-Rounder, drew exactly what I wanted.
'Hoo.'
I lifted the brush, let out a breath, and examined the picture.
A blue sky with soft white clouds like cotton candy. The grand Fairy Tree as the backdrop, the baby unicorn sitting in the field, and me leaning against the unicorn.
Balancing precision with instinctive lines and color as I pleased brought out a dreamlike elegance.
It was a noticeably better drawing than before.
...Admittedly, the mystical background and subject matter played a part, but it was the result of my drawing hand—more precisely, my Innate Talent—having grown.
- Whoa... the King is super good at drawing.
- Ooh, it's a unicorn.
- Shh, we mustn't disturb the King.
As I absently examined the drawing, the fairies perched lightly on the baby unicorn's body caught sight of my picture, their eyes going round.
Chuckling to myself, I inserted a fresh sheet of paper.
[Thank you for the compliments. Shall I draw you all as well?]
- Huh?! Really!? Yes, yes, yes! Please draw us!
The moment I casually dangled the bait, a lively fairy bit down hard. Then, as if realizing too late, it folded its wings and glanced nervously at me.
- Ah, do we have to stay still while you draw...?
[No? I've already memorized the scene, so you can move around as much as you like.]
- Okay!
- Euuung...! Then draw me too, please!
[Alright, I'll draw everyone soon, so wait a moment.]
Once one accepted, the other fairies, who had been pretending to be quiet, started fidgeting. I giggled and moved the magic brush.
I could feel the new drawing quickly filling the paper was an improvement over the picture I'd just finished.
My All-Rounder Innate Talent had grown while I was drawing.
'......'
The deeper a Unique Ability becomes, the harder it is to grow. Studying the Origin of the Innate Talent helps at this stage.
It was the same for me.
All-Rounder, the Innate Talent of my physical body.
By roughly examining the birth and origin of my body, my understanding of the Innate Talent had deepened. As a result, the growth of All-Rounder had accelerated.
'...Seriously.'
Filling the next sheet of paper, I gave a hollow laugh inwardly.
My birth is anomalous. The fact that my body and soul are different species is something I'd recognized before, but reality exceeded my expectations.
'To think the very concept of parents never existed.'
If I were to call the existence that induced my birth a parent, then strictly speaking, my parent is this world itself.
I was born from the Innate Talents that the world gathered together.
Both then and now, the species that blossomed the most diverse Innate Talents in the world was humanity.
Naturally, human Innate Talents were the most numerous and distinct. The possibility that gathered and blossomed from their strengths—that's me.
Since strengths and possibilities were gathered, I must be capable of anything.
All-Rounder.
As a reaction, flaws and malignancy were gathered too.
Beauty's Brief Life.
▶Mental State
「Beau?」 : ?
...
「Beauty」 : ?
Thus, the name the world gave my species is probably Beauty.
A higher species based on humanity.
But then, with a probability that even the word "atrocious" fails to describe, a fairy's soul blossomed in my body, and the enormous repulsion caused my spirit and flesh to separate and fly apart at the moment of birth.
Was it coincidence? Or intention?
This world, just like a Dungeon, possesses a will for self-protection and expansion, so maybe it produced something to counter an invasion.
I can't be certain. My current thoughts are just speculation; I'll learn the precise details later.
'It's absurd.'
I was alone from the moment I was born.
There was no kind, affectionate parent I had secretly hoped for.
My past self, hoping for parents who never existed from the start, is utterly laughable.
- Ding.
[The Tower Master of Harmonization frantically waves their hand.]
[S-Savior! How about trying something else besides drawing????]
[Player Correction System: Trading Window]
▶ Item: Soft and Chewy Glutinous Rice Cake
▶ Cost: 0.1 Points
▷ Detail: Rice cake made from top-grade glutinous rice full of vitality energy. The soft and chewy texture is exquisite.
[The Tower Master of Harmonization hurriedly works their hands.]
[Maybe while eating this?? It's really tasty, I wonder if it might suit the Savior's tastes???]
Unlike the dark thoughts inside, my exterior was perfectly composed, but it seemed I couldn't hide anything from the Tower Master of Harmonization connected through the Status Window.
'You don't have to worry. Truthfully, I'm not that disheartened.'
I smiled gently and shook my head.
'I don't have parents, but I have a family now. So I'm fine.'
[The Tower Master of Harmonization shifts their eyes hesitantly.]
It was true. Honestly, I wasn't completely unaffected, but it was absolutely not to the point of despair.
After all, how happy am I right now?
Learning some secret of my birth wasn't going to make me sulk.
- ...Ding.
[Player Correction System: Measurement]
▶ Mental State
「Dejection」「Disheartenment」「Sadness」「Despondency...」
'Get lost.'
Snap! I flicked away the Status Window that was nosing around in the corner.
'You don't need to show me that.'
Pouting inwardly, I handed over the finished drawings, and the fairies who received them squealed with delight.
The peaceful sight warmed my heart. I chuckled softly and leaned against the unicorn.
"You were here drawing pictures for the kids?"
I closed my eyes for a moment, and a warm presence approached. When they snapped open, Yeon-hwa was plopping down beside me.
"Yeon-hwa, you finished your morning training already?"
"Mhm."
"Huh?"
"Means not yet."
Yeon-hwa grinned mischievously and pulled me into a side-hug. As if I'd been waiting, I scooted closer and leaned against her, and her smile deepened.
"Hey, hey! Throwing a big move and running away first—where's the etiquette in that?"
Soon, A-rin came running from the direction Yeon-hwa had appeared. Furious, A-rin glared sharply, and Yeon-hwa snorted.
"You blasted me with the same thing, you wench. Why are you making me out to be the only bad one?"
"Hmph, Calamity Flame and Azure Sea are the same."
Grumbling, A-rin also naturally settled her hip next to mine.
Sandwiched between Yeon-hwa and A-rin in an instant, I blinked.
Yeon-hwa's side was toasty. Her body, heated right after sparring, felt like a warm rice cake.
A-rin's side was cold... no, quite warm. She must have manifested Azure Sea, but her heated body carried warmth too.
"Yul, has something been bothering you lately?"
"No, nothing at all."
Yeon-hwa, who had been gently stroking my shoulder, suddenly asked. I smiled gently and rubbed my head against her hand.
Then this time, A-rin asked.
"Ha-yul, you've gotten much better at acting lately, but you do know that people around you can see right through you, right?"
"Don't be ridiculous. And acting? Nothing really happened."
Truly, nothing happened. I just recalled some memories; there were no particularly harmful events.
The moment I murmured that to myself, the Confession Necklace clicked.
[Lie]
[Something disheartening did ha—bbububub]
[Bbubub... ex... ist... comfort... is need—]
[Cut]
"......."
Why's this thing gotten so resistant? Should I just quarantine it for real?
The temptation flickered through my mind, and languid gazes pierced me from above.
"I really have no intention of hiding anything."
"That necklace is great. Ha-yul, take off the necklace, quick."
"Ah, no..."
I shook my head frantically.
"Mm... then I guess there's no choice."
At my clear refusal, A-rin shrugged as if she had no choice, then abruptly grabbed me and rolled us across the ground.
"All that's left is force!"
"Gyaaahk..."
"We've waited for days already. Come on, spill why you've been moping around like a rained-on puppy!"
After tumbling several times, I ended up stuck to the ground.
"Urk."
Baek A-rin climbed on top of me. My limbs flailed under the heavy weight pressing down on my stomach.
"Hm?"
A-rin, having locked eyes with me, blinked. Then she took stock of her unilaterally superior position, and the corners of her eyes curved mischievously. At the same time, both her hands wriggled closer.
My eyes trembled at the ominous gesture.
"W-wait a moment..."
"Did you stop when I asked you to, Ha-yul?"
"No, that was— Hik, heeek...!"
The wriggling hands instantly surged to my waist. Chills shot up the skin where her fingers grazed.
"Hee, ahaha! Heek! S-stop...! I'm tick, heek! Tickliiiiish...!"
"Yap yap, spill it already!"
As the tickling expanded its range, I flopped like a fish, but A-rin just kept teasing me, squashing my stomach with her generous rear.
This was an emergency.
But the baby unicorn was sound asleep, and the gathered fairies, without the slightest intention of saving me, were giggling and happily looking between the drawing and me.
I knew well from experience that asking the fairies for help was useless.
So I stretched out my hand to Yeon-hwa.
Because Yeon-hwa would definitely save me.
"Hmm, I wonder..."
"Yeon-hwa...?"
Yeon-hwa, rolling her eyes around, subtly averted her gaze.
My eyes widened at the profound sense of betrayal, and right then, A-rin snatched the wrist I had extended to Yeon-hwa.
Then A-rin, having pulled my hand above my head, grinned broadly.
"You get it now, right? There's no one here to help Ha-yul."
"Such... heek, he-heeek...!"
Before I could even answer, the tickling continued.
"I'll t-tell...! Heek! I said I'll tell yooou! So, hic, heek, stop...!"
"Hmph. Should've said so when I asked nicely."
"Urk."
Only after declaring surrender did the lengthy torment stop.
Smiling broadly, A-rin stood up, dusted off her hands and rear, and turned to Yeon-hwa, sticking out her thumb.
"Mission complete."
.
.
.
"Species?"
"Beauty?"
Having heard the brief story, the two of them blinked.
A reaction that clearly showed they didn't understand. A natural reaction, and the one I'd expected.
"See? It's nothing much, and you wouldn't understand anyway."
I turned my head sharply, puffing out my cheeks.
At that, Yeon-hwa looked troubled and glanced sideways at A-rin.
"Hmm..."
A-rin placed a finger on her lips, deep in thought.
So deep that she didn't even notice Yeon-hwa's sidelong glances. Seeming to ponder something hard, she suddenly let out an exclamation and clapped her hands together.
A reaction as if she'd found the answer. When Yeon-hwa's and my gazes gathered on her, A-rin grinned and spread her arms wide.
"Starting today, I'll be your mom. Call me 'Mommy'."
"?"
"Oh."