Our Mom is the Best

"Isn't doing it the very next day just way too much?"

"What's so surprising about that?" A voice thick with irritation and exhaustion. It was Seon Se-hwa, the Hunter Association President who was always dreaming of retirement.

"It's not just any difficulty—it's Hell difficulty!"

"It's the first one in eight years!" And that was her secretary, Lee Su-a.

"What? A newbie just entered the Hell difficulty Hall of Fame?" Se-hwa furrowed her brow and looked up. Her pink eyes were filled with clear annoyance.

"Isn't it amazing? Does this mean a new S-rank has appeared in Korea?" Su-a was still cluelessly buzzing with excitement. Her head must be full of flowers.

"S-rank my ass—it's just another uncontrollable pain in the neck."

"You always say that, President. S-ranks are such vital assets!"

"That's only if they can be controlled. Anyway, we'll talk about that later. What's the kid's nickname?"

"It was Our Mom is the Best."

A moment of silence.

"Haa... This one's probably another weirdo."

"The nickname alone screams anything but normal."

"It feels like something a kid would come up with."

She seemed too dumbfounded to even get properly annoyed.

"Nobody in the Hall of Fame is sane anyway." Se-hwa ruffled her hair.

"You're in it too, President."

"Why? Do I look insane to you?"

"No, ma'am."

"See? I'm the only normal S-rank out there."

"Hmm, now that you mention it, maybe not."

"What? This brat doesn't hold back with her boss, huh."

"Whatever. Did you try contacting them?"

"Yes, but they won't pick up."

"What, probably curled up in Mommy's arms throwing a tantrum."

"Should we keep waiting, then?"

"No, we need to track them down before some power-drunk rookie causes trouble."

Finally, I'd gotten my Awakener license and made it back home.

'Ugh... They say leaving home just means trouble finds you.'

What, you think I just sat around doing nothing? Sadly, I'm an extreme introvert, so even that drains me completely.

"Mom! Welcome back?"

Someone greeting me at home... Ah, not a person exactly—a vampire, but still.

"Mom, Judain didn't cause any trouble and was good!"

"Good girl. No injuries anywhere?"

"Nope! So hug me!"

Kids really are pure. It recharges my humanity meter.

Judain's body was cooler than expected.

'Vampires really do have low body temperature.'

I knew that in my head, but I still worried a bit.

'She's not cold, right?'

"Uuu, Mom's so warm... Feels amazing."

Judain's soft cheek pressed against mine.

'So squishy.'

Babies are all about the cheeks.

"Mom... I'm sleepy..."

Oh, right. Vampires are nocturnal.

I carefully scooped up Judain and headed to the bedroom.

'So cute.'

Is this why everyone loves kids?

I gently laid the now-sleeping Judain on the bed.

"Sleep well."

I quietly closed the door so she wouldn't wake and headed to the living room.

"What a day."

Woke up as a girl, awakened, and even got a kid.

'Not birthed one, but still.'

A drop of blood mixed in makes her family enough. Damn right.

'Oh yeah, I wasn't the only TS case.'

Not common, but they exist. Wonder if there's a gallery for that.

"Oh, here we go."

A place discussing TS and hunters... Let's browse some random posts.

Such a vibe in this gallery. No acquaintances for me, so no drama.

'Introvert win.'

Job? Quit if I want.

While browsing, a hot thread popped up.

'New S-rank?' I checked the Hall of Fame.

Really just five.

'But that new one's nickname...'

Suspicious. My gaze drifted to the bedroom door.

'Nah, no way.'

Even S-ranks start unstable. Clear the Tower right after I left while stabilizing?

'Too far-fetched.'

That eased my mind a bit. Back to TS gallery browsing.

'Everyone lives so colorfully.'

Not bad overall. Lost manhood but gained money-making power and a loving family.

'Being a girl might be okay.'

'Fml, being a girl is fine? Retracted.'

A refreshing morning. Not for me.

'Didn't know period cramps hit this hard...!'

Not unexpected. Knew it'd happen eventually as a girl. But day one? Way too rigged.

"Mom, what's wrong? Hurt? Mom dying?"

Judain had snuck up, on the verge of tears.

"Ugh... Y-yeah... I'm fine."

Lies. Total mess. At least there's a convenience store nearby.

I forced myself up and changed into clean pants, stuffing with tissue.

'Please don't leak on the way.'

"Gonna hit the store quick..."

"Yeah... Mom really okay?"

Rushed to the store, grabbed pads, paid in a daze, bolted home.

Pad on, downed painkillers immediately.

'Don't do this at home, folks.'

Random thoughts mean I'm out of it.

Painkillers kicked in, mind cleared.

'This every month?'

Insane. But damn, they worked! Liver's cursing me now.

"Mom okay..?"

Her worried face— she'd been fidgeting beside me.

'Must've been scared.'

How tough seeing Mom hurt.

"Yeah, all good now."

Being worried for felt nice. First time in ages. Embarrassing from the kid I protect, though.

"Waaah... I was scared... Thought Mom was in lotsa pain... Thought you'd die... So scary..."

'Whoa, crying?'

Didn't expect that. Kids' imaginations are wild.

'Worried I'd die.'

That pure heart was adorable.

'Gotta comfort her.'

"Judain, that scary, huh? It's okay. I won't die. How could I leave you?"

I hugged her tight, patting her back softly.

"Hic... Sob... Ung... Mom can't die..."

Her burrowing wriggled pitifully; I held tighter.

Minutes later, sniffling Judain spoke.

"Hungry..."

Almost burst out laughing. From serious to pure innocence.

'Kids are the cutest.'

"Yeah? Want Mom's blood again?"

"Can I? For real?"

"Of course. You're... my daughter."

First time saying it outright. Embarrassing but true.

'Feels real now. We're family.'

"Really? Mom's blood is the best!"

"You've only had mine—how do you know?"

"I just know!"

"Okay, okay. Eat up—you're hungry."

Permission granted, she carefully bit my neck.

Nom—not too painful, like last time.

Dunno if it's naturally painless or she's gentle.

'If she's doing it careful for me, kinda touching.'

Watching her drink brought random thoughts.

'Will she hit puberty later?'

'Rebel against me?'

'That'd hurt.'

'Only knows me now, but later dating, marriage.'

Lost in thoughts, her voice came.

"Mom, whatcha thinking?"

"Huh? Oh, just how you'll grow up."

"Yeah? I'll grow strong and live with Mom forever!"

Still that answer, cute.

"But Mom, didn't you say Tower today?"

"Oh, right."

Forgot amid morning shock. Painkillers holding now.

'Hates me leaving but tells me anyway.'

Thought she'd beg me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not to.

"Thanks for reminding me."

"Hehe."

'Normal has people, right?'

Better dress neat. Changed into clean clothes, selected Tower entry.

Safety first for debut.

"Be back soon."

"Yeah! Come back safe, Mom!"

Vision went white—back already.