There Are Many Moms
There Are Many Moms
"Stop teasing me..."
Lee Ha-yul pouted. Baek A-rin shook her head at his sulky face.
"Tease you? I'm not joking, I mean it seriously. Yeon-hwa agreed too, didn't she?"
"Hmm... I guess so."
"Yeon-hwa...?"
Hong Yeon-hwa, arms crossed under her chest, nodded along. Lee Ha-yul stared at her in bewilderment, and Hong Yeon-hwa continued.
"Why so shocked? Honestly, I have the right to claim I'm your mom."
"What does that even mean...?"
"The amount of milk I've personally fed you easily doubles what a normal baby eats. It's practically the same as raising you at my breast, so at this rate, I'm definitely your mom."
"......"
Hong Yeon-hwa nodded to herself, adding little sounds of agreement as she spoke.
At that shamelessly confident claim, not only Lee Ha-yul but even Baek A-rin, who brought up the topic, blinked in surprise.
"And you already call me 'Mom' sometimes, Ha-yul."
"Wh-When did I ever..."
[Wobble wobble]
"I heard it too. When we were all happily feeding you while you were split between spirit and body, you were acting all spoiled and crying 'Mom~ Mom~'."
Lee Ha-yul's eyes trembled at Baek A-rin's additional testimony. He had cast soundproof magic so the fairies couldn't hear; now he averted his gaze.
"I don't remember..."
Actually, he did. Forgetfulness was no longer easy for Lee Ha-yul, whose Authority of Knowledge and Observation had thoroughly blended.
"Really? Then want me to pull up your memories from last night with the Authority of Knowledge? Looking at what happened after ten o'clock should do it."
"Th-there's really no need for that, is there...?"
"Hmm? Why not? If I pull up the evidence it's proven, so why not?"
Hong Yeon-hwa narrowed her eyes and a nasal hum escaped her. Stammering, Lee Ha-yul carefully watched her reaction.
The sight was absurdly cute. A soft laugh escaped Hong Yeon-hwa as she opened her arms wide. Lee Ha-yul, who had been hesitating, brightened immediately.
"Now, come here."
"Okay."
Delighted, Lee Ha-yul crawled into her arms and snuggled right in.
Hong Yeon-hwa grinned as she naturally cradled Lee Ha-yul's head against her chest. Baek A-rin, who had lost her turn in the exchange, narrowed her eyes.
"You're getting quite good at this, Miss Yeon-hwa. Anyone who saw you would think you were the Azure Sea Manifester."
"Hmph, do you know how long I've been taking care of Ha-yul?"
Hong Yeon-hwa snorted. Even her breath carried a hint of pride.
It had been a year and a half since she first met Lee Ha-yul, and the period of holding him in her arms and doting on him was nearly a full year.
Hong Yeon-hwa took pride in being an expert at soothing and coaxing Lee Ha-yul.
"...Well, that is true."
Baek A-rin, wearing a slightly disgruntled expression, couldn't deny it.
Looking down at Lee Ha-yul nestled in her arms with the warmest smile in the world, gently stroking his head and back. That woman.
She looks like nothing other than a mother overflowing with maternal love and affection.
Who would think she's the same person as that fiery hellhound?
No wonder Choi Ji-yeon gets teary-eyed with emotion whenever she contacts them.
Baek A-rin, who remembered the young Hong Yeon-hwa suffering gravely from the impulses of the Calamity Flame, had no choice but to sympathize.
"A Beauty...? I heard Ha-yul's body race isn't human, but isn't a 'Beauty (美人)' basically just a human?"
"It's a bit different. It's based on humans, that's true, but the specifics aren't the same..."
"Hmm... I see."
Hong Yeon-hwa nodded, stroking Lee Ha-yul's head.
'What kind of race name is 'Beauty'?'
Honestly, she didn't really understand.
Lee Ha-yul's physical race. To anyone looking, he was human, but apparently he wasn't.
Lately, after fighting a dragon and turning into a massive dragon himself, she'd even worried a lot, thinking 'Is my husband actually a dragon?'
She'd embrace him with love no matter his race, but even Hong Yeon-hwa couldn't physically hug a giant dragon.
Thankfully, Lee Ha-yul wasn't a dragon.
Instead, he was a race called 'Beauty'.
'Makes sense, actually?'
Secretly, she thought the name fit perfectly.
It had been a while since Lee Ha-yul's appearance had exceeded a certain threshold.
Beyond simply being 'pretty' or 'handsome', he punches the concept of 'beauty' into your brain regardless of your age or gender.
To the point where it's utterly impossible to believe he exists in reality. If it was the influence of a powerful Innate Talent, she could understand it a little.
The issue was something else.
Apparently, Lee Ha-yul's body hadn't been born from parents, but was a type that had naturally formed according to the intent of the world.
'Born naturally without parents, huh...'
This was Lee Ha-yul, who craved affection no matter how much she hugged him, patted him, breastfed him, and put him to sleep all day.
To Lee Ha-yul, who suffered from such extreme affection deficiency, the existence of 'parents' must have been an object of intense longing.
But to find out there weren't even any parents in the background of his birth? It was enough to shock Lee Ha-yul.
How should she comfort him?
Top-tier Lee Ha-yul caretaker Hong Yeon-hwa patted the fussing Lee Ha-yul in her arms and racked her brain.
"Ha-yul."
"...Yeah?"
"How many kids should we have?"
"...Huh?"
Lee Ha-yul, who was melting into drowsiness while buried in her warm embrace, blinked.
When he peeked his face out of her chest, Hong Yeon-hwa stroked his head casually and spoke.
"Just wondering. Wondering what our plans for kids are later on."
"Th, th, that... so suddenly?"
"It's not sudden. It's a bit down the road, but it's good to start thinking about it slowly from now."
It was sound logic. Plans for children should be made carefully with plenty of thought.
"I... I suppose... but..."
"I think I want at least two. They'd resemble Ha-yul, so they'd be insanely lovable."
Hong Yeon-hwa's smile deepened as she said so. As if imagining that future, her already viscous maternal nature practically dripped out of her.
"Uh, um..."
"I want more than two. At least three, maybe? That way they won't be lonely."
Baek A-rin interjected before he could respond. Hong Yeon-hwa glared at her, but didn't snap at her, instead stroking Lee Ha-yul's head.
"What does Ha-yul think?"
"Uh, uhh...? Me...?"
He'd been venting about issues concerning his race, and suddenly they were talking about kids? The shift in topic was way too sudden.
Lee Ha-yul's eyes spun round and round.
That had been the intention.
The gloomy look in Lee Ha-yul's eyes faded, replaced with a mix of confusion, deliberation, and embarrassment.
'Did it work?'
'Looks like it.'
Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek A-rin exchanged glances.
Things flowed exactly as they had silently agreed. Grinning broadly, Hong Yeon-hwa swept the bangs back from Lee Ha-yul's forehead and pressed a kiss there.
- Smooch
"Mm..."
[Loves kisses]
This time the confusion in his eyes cleared, and happiness suddenly surged up.
A gentle smile bloomed on Lee Ha-yul's face, which had been stuttering as if buffering.
'So damn cute, for real.'
It was something she always thought, but Lee Ha-yul was really easy to handle if you just gave him affection.
If Lee Ha-yul had ever been bewitched by a bad person, the world would have been in grave danger.
Hong Yeon-hwa also kissed Lee Ha-yul's cheek.
"Huh. But maybe thinking about kids is a bit early? I mean, we already have a son and a daughter."
"...A son?"
Lee Ha-yul tilted his head.
He could understand the daughter being Lee Seo-yul, but what was this about a son—
"...I am not a baby."
Grasping the joke, Lee Ha-yul puffed out his cheeks. Even then, Hong Yeon-hwa's caresses and kisses suppressed it in an instant.
"Oh, tut-tut. You can't talk to Mommy like that."
"Yeon-hwa..."
"Tsk. Is it okay to call me by name? You should call me 'Mom~'."
Despite the continued teasing and demands, Lee Ha-yul only pouted and refused to give her the answer she wanted.
Judging by how his face was heating up, he seemed embarrassed to do it sober. Hong Yeon-hwa, the top-tier Lee Ha-yul handler, also knew the solution to this.
"Hmm... It's almost lunchtime."
"?"
Hong Yeon-hwa suddenly brought up the time. When Lee Ha-yul tilted his head, she tilted her own and rubbed her shoulder.
"Ah~ I'm hungry from all that intense training. I'm going to eat lunch, but I wonder what Ha-yul will eat~?"
"Eep..."
Her stilted, rigid tone was so obvious even a child could see through it. At the same time, shrugging her shoulders and subtly rubbing her chest towards his face, she clearly had no intention of hiding it.
"I know, right? Now that you mention it, I'm hungry too~ Everyone's probably still at the mansion, so shall we go and ask them to eat?"
Baek A-rin, who caught on immediately, chimed in. Grinning slyly, Baek A-rin patted Lee Ha-yul's back.
"Is there something you want to eat for lunch, Ha-yul?"
"......"
"Ah, for your information, num-num is only for babies, so grown-up Ha-yul can't have any."
Lee Ha-yul's shoulders trembled as he clung tightly to Hong Yeon-hwa's waist.
Despite that reaction, Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek A-rin weren't anxious. Because the answer was already decided anyway.
As expected, a mumbling sound leaked from within Hong Yeon-hwa's chest where Lee Ha-yul had buried his face.
"...M...om..."
"Hmm? What was that? Mommy's ears aren't so good, so she didn't quite catch that?"
Hong Yeon-hwa, who had shifted Lee Ha-yul in her arms, said with a grin. The trembling in her embrace intensified before a clear voice lodged itself in her ears.
"...Mom, I'm hungry."
"Aha, our baby was hungry?"
At the exact response she'd wanted, Hong Yeon-hwa smiled brightly. She lifted the hem of her top and guided Lee Ha-yul's head with her hand.
"That won't do. Now, shall we have some num-num and then head in?"
"I should have been the one to hug you first."
As Baek A-rin clicked her tongue softly and muttered, Hong Yeon-hwa instantly changed her expression and let out a snort.
"Shut it. There's no turn for you."
"Ha-yul eats so much, though. Isn't Yeon-hwa alone not enough?"
"Hmph, you're worrying for nothing. I've grown a lot too, so I can feed him until he's full."
"Ah."
Baek A-rin's eyes widened as her gaze dropped.
Compared to when she entered Siyoram, even a quick glance showed her chest had definitely swollen significantly.
"......"
[So happy]
[Mo...mmy]
[Loves being loved]
Listening to the two's familiar bickering, Lee Ha-yul buried his face in the voluptuous bosom.
The rising happiness and a sense of fullness crushed the earlier gloom.
* * *
'Happy.'
"Happy..."
[So happy]
My life these days could be summarized with the word happiness.
It's literal. My days were so satisfying and fulfilling that I might drown and die in happiness.
Training with Professor Liana and my teacher.
Being with Yeon-hwa, A-rin, and Ellia in the 2nd-year lectures.
Meeting and teaching Lee Ha-sol and Daera during mentoring practice.
I even shared several lectures with 3rd-year senior Lee Ji-yeon.
When I returned to the mansion, we'd eat dinner together, train, or I'd help with the Taesan family's work.
- [Isn't this a clan secret? I don't think it's right for me to check it alongside you...]
- It is a secret, but it doesn't matter anyway.
Anyway, it was a time so happy my stomach felt like it would burst.
Rubbing my full belly, I flopped down onto the grass.
"Ha-yul, you shouldn't lie down right after eating."
[Ack]
Lee Ha-sol's finger pressed firmly into my slightly chubby belly.
I squirmed and twisted my waist.
[Don't bully me...]
"Come on. I'm telling you, it's bad for your health to lie down immediately."
Lee Ha-sol shot a dissatisfied glare at my lips and my stomach, then urged me again.
[But my body structure doesn't work that way...]
"Oh? Tsk. Baby, you need to listen to your mommy, okay?"
[Gaaah...!]
[Intense embarrassment]
My body, which had been enjoying photosynthesis while my belly was being pressed on, snapped upright.
It had been good to vent my troubled feelings to Yeon-hwa and A-rin and to let go of my worries after being happily held.
The problem was that the source of my troubles had leaked to the outside.
After that, that playful title of 'Mom' is being overused...
'Ugh...'
Honestly, just a teeeny tiny bit, but I didn't hate it.
Because the moment I uttered that title of 'Mom', no matter who it was, they would hold and embrace me with even deeper, more intense affection.
'At this rate, I'm going to get used to the title...'
A sense of dread crept over me as I realized I was gradually getting used to that process. This kind of familiarity ends the moment you accept it.
"Heave, ho."
As I trembled, steeling my resolve once more, Lee Ha-sol, who was lying beside me, wrapped her arms around my belly from behind.
I pouted and turned my back to lie down. Lee Ha-sol giggled and patted my stomach.
[Warm touch]
[Stability]
[Happiness]
That touch was so comfortable and familiar.
At the orphanage, whenever Lee Ha-sol put me down for a nap, she used to hold me like this and pat my belly.
My memory and body reacted. Sleepiness crept in waves from the stability and drowsiness that naturally surfaced.
"It's almost time for the Tower Entry."
[...Yeah]
At the touch stroking my belly, I put away my pout and gave a small nod.
About a month had passed since the second semester started.
Meaning, the first Tower Entry of the second semester was just around the corner.
'What was the theme for this one again?'
The first Tower Entry of the second semester, second year.
Just as I was about to recall the information about it.
- Ding
An alarm rang.
It wasn't the Status Window; it was an alarm from my smartwatch.
Drowsily blinking my eyes, I checked the alarm.
[Contact: Vice Headmaster]
▶ Vice Headmaster: Greetings after a long while, Cadet Lee Ha-yul.
▶ Vice Headmaster: I am contacting you regarding a matter concerning the upcoming first Tower Entry of the second semester.