Chapter 372: This is What a Miracle Is.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 372: This is What a Miracle Is.
I thought that perhaps she might not want to meet me.
I even considered that there might be some circumstance forcing her to avoid me.
I had run through every possible reason in my head, but even so, I hadn’t expected this.
Looking around, most of the others were trying to keep their expressions under control, but except for those skilled at maintaining a poker face, they couldn’t hide their agitation at all.
So, unless this was a truly cruel joke or a hidden camera prank designed to punish me for all the trouble I’d caused them, it meant she was actually here.
“…Really?”
Seeing everyone avert their eyes, I couldn’t help but think they’d never make it as actors. At the same time, a bitter feeling began to well up inside me.
This was… how should I put it? Honestly… it wasn’t okay.
Would it have been better if I hadn’t noticed? If I hadn’t known she was here? If I had just let it slide?
I wasn’t so sad that I wanted to wail at the top of my lungs, but I couldn’t just pass it off calmly either. I didn’t know how to react to this specific emotion.
If I had to put it into words… yeah. It felt unfair.
If I turned around and said I was fine, I knew everyone would look like they were about to cry. But if I kept looking forward, I didn’t know where to put my gaze, knowing my mother—whom I couldn’t even see—was watching me.
First, yeah. First, I felt like I had to say something.
Are you okay? No, I told myself I shouldn’t say I’m okay.
Is that really the only thing I know how to say? But then, should I say I’m not okay?
“That is…”
I needed to say something, but the words wouldn’t come out.
“It’s a shame I can’t see her directly… but at least I was able to show her my face…”
No, you idiot. You’re trying to say you’re fine again. I told you not to say you’re fine when you’re not.
My head knew it, but it was hard to shake a habit ingrained in my body.
Besides, there wasn’t really anything appropriate to say in this situation. It wasn’t like I was so upset that I was going to roll around on the floor.
Right, well. Maybe this wouldn’t last forever. Maybe another chance would come later.
“I’m really…”
“Excuse me.”
Just before I could say, I’m fine, the closed door opened, and a woman I’d grown somewhat familiar with over the past week appeared.
“Hm? I heard everyone was over here, but why is the atmosphere like this?”
The real Sun Wukong.
She didn’t have the Golden Hoop, and her hair wasn’t tied in twin tails, giving her a strangely different impression from the Sun Wukong I knew.
She usually maintained a fairly blunt attitude, but was the atmosphere here so chilling that even she felt the need to check the room?
The deity tilted her head and looked around, then nodded as if she understood the gist of the situation.
“Karma, I see. Receiving punishment for attempting more than what is permitted.”
“I see. For a mother to be sinned against just for doing something for her child… it’s a bit harsh, though not surprising.”
From my perspective, it looked like she was talking to herself after a short pause, but to Sun Wukong and the others, was my mother giving some kind of answer?
It hurt my heart to see everyone looking like they were on the verge of tears.
“To not even be permitted to speak through another’s mouth, eh?”
She pondered for a moment, then a tiny smile played on her lips.
“I felt bad because the reward seemed small compared to what you accomplished. This works out well.”
“…Pardon?”
Surely she wouldn’t joke in an atmosphere like this. Does she have a way…?
“Originally, I was just going to tell you that the distortion was corrected faster than expected and leave, but it is not the way of a deity to walk away when there is something I can do.”
Everyone looked at Sun Wukong with eyes full of anticipation.
“This is strictly a proposal, and the choice must be yours. This cannot be considered a blessing, and therefore, the price is not that great.”
Why was she being so hesitant?
Honestly, it was a little scary.
“You must take full responsibility for the outcome of your choice, and you won’t be able to undo it even if you regret it later. Still, I will promise you one thing. If you nod to my proposal now, you will be able to see the one you’ve missed with your own eyes.”
Honestly, I wanted to nod without hearing anything more.
I was that desperate. I had tried to give up, thinking it was impossible, but suddenly an option had appeared.
Anyone would be anxious in this situation.
“I will develop your unstable Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils to their limit.”
“…Yes?”
I shouldn’t be thinking this in such a situation, but isn’t that just a total win…?
“I know what you’re thinking, but it’s not that simple. Didn’t I tell you that I originally intended to remove your Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils?”
…Ah, she had cleared up the misunderstanding earlier. She wasn’t trying to gouge my eyes out on the first day after the incident was settled; she was just trying to erase the Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils.
She said the Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils were a more dangerous power than I thought.
“I’ll say it again: this power will make you see things you don’t need to see, and make you realize things you don’t want to know. Things you don’t want to be involved with will become involved with you.”
And she had said that once they matured, my pupils and energy would become one, making it impossible to turn them on and off like I do now, right?
“Do you still want it? Do you desire it so fervently that you would throw away your future peace?”
Of course I wanted it, but since she was warning me this much, wouldn’t everyone be worried?
— More nonsense.
…Huh?
Following the voice from outside, Sun Wukong’s voice echoed from within as well.
— If you’re hesitating like that, you must not be that desperate, are you?
…Aren’t you being a bit too blunt since it’s not your problem?
— Stop talking nonsense and just do what you want. If you try to be ‘considerate’ here, do you really think those girls will be happy about it?
Hearing that, I looked around. Everyone was smiling kindly at me, as if telling me to do whatever I wanted.
When I nodded, Sun Wukong stepped toward me.
“Fine. It is dangerous, but that is all the more reason it should be held by someone who can handle it well.”
She brushed my bangs up with her hand and slowly approached… Wait, why was she approaching?
“Many things will happen in the future, but you will be fine.”
Chu. Her lips lightly touched my forehead.
“Ah.”
“Huh?”
Everyone, including me, stared at the expressionless deity as if we’d been played. She still had that very faint smile on her face.
“…Did you really have to do that with your lips? Was there some ritualistic meaning?”
“No, I could have used my finger, but just think of it as a reward from me.”
“…A reward?”
“Are you not a hero who, in a human body, overcame the trial of the most wicked evil dragon and came all the way to Hell to win what you desired? It is only right that there be a fitting reward.”
Well, I like that you’re so confident, but could you have considered my position just a little bit?
“Wh-What kind of reward is that!”
Oh, while everyone else was frozen, Ga-eul recovered the fastest and pointed it out. However, Sun Wukong looked at Ga-eul as if she were puzzled.
“Hmm? Surely the most fitting reward for a hero throughout history is a beauty. What better way to commend one who has achieved great deeds than with a lady’s kiss? If a goddess’s kiss isn’t a reward, what else would be fitting for this child?”
Her attitude was so bold that Ga-eul ended up stammering, lost for words.
“It’s not like I kissed him on the mouth. You’re all exaggerating.”
Just as I was thinking her skinship was a bit too casual and that I should complain—
“So-hyun…?”
Honestly, a voice from behind me made all of that irrelevant.
“Hmm, do you have any complaints?”
Complaints? What are those? Who could possibly have a complaint against a god who bestowed such a magnificent miracle?
“I’m glad you seem satisfied.”
I was worried that there might still be no one there, that I might have just heard a hallucination.
But when I turned my head in my anxiety, the person I had always wanted to see was there.
In the spot where there had clearly been nothing, she was sitting so vividly…
“Didn’t I tell you before? A miracle bestowed by a god should be grand, and it should naturally inspire awe in those who experience it.”
The person I missed so much—though she was shedding tears, she was looking at me with a mischievous smile.
“My son! Want a hug from Mom?!”
And then, probably trying her best to hold back her sobs, she spoke to me playfully, exactly as I remembered her.
So, without even feeling embarrassed, I ran and hugged her.
“Only when an absurdity of this level is easily resolved can it truly be called a miracle from God, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Mmm, you’ve definitely grown a bit since I saw you at the sea last time.”
“Mom…”
I had so much to say, but my voice was trembling so much I couldn’t speak properly.
I needed to speak clearly, but I couldn’t maintain my composure at all.
The feeling of her hand stroking my hair was something I had missed so much. The memories that had been fading no matter how many times I revisited them seemed to become vivid again.
“Ugh… hic… M-Mom…”
The tears flowing from my eyes wouldn’t stop.
“My son is acting more like a baby now than he did when he was five! Do you like Mom’s arms that much?”
Our brief meeting before had been too short, and it had been too hard to honestly open my heart.
I couldn’t say everything I wanted to say, and all I could do was try my best to smile and say I was fine, swallowing my feelings because of a promise I’d made.
But not now.
This time is different.
So what if it’s embarrassing?
“Mmm, our So-hyun has a pretty smiling face, but your crying face is so pretty too, what should I do? It’s supposed to be ugly when you’re sobbing like that, but why is my boy so pretty~?”
She joked while wiping away my tears, and I felt like I was going to laugh.
Where in the world is there a man with a pretty crying face?
— Actually, I don’t think she’s joking.
Sun Wukong, why are you being like this too? Ah, seriously. They say you shouldn’t laugh while crying, but I feel like I’m going to.
— No, hey. The look in the eyes of the people watching you is slowly changing from touched to something else.
Ah, so what if I’m acting like a baby! I’ll take some teasing later!
— That’s not it… No, well. Fine. If you’re okay with it, let’s leave it at that.
“Hehe, Mom…!”
“My So-hyun~ are you done crying now?”
No, not yet, but I think it’s because I’m laughing more than crying.
According to Sun Wukong’s explanation afterward, staying together too long could cause karma to accumulate again. So, the limit for staying with my mother was until tomorrow, when I was originally supposed to return.
Perhaps because of that, I was given as much consideration as possible to spend time with her.
We ate, went for walks together, played simple games, and I even sang for her.
“My son is even good at singing! Is there anything you can’t do?”
I’m glad she enjoyed it!
“But you know, son.”
I lay down beside my mother, who said she would sing me a lullaby and asked to sleep together.
…Honestly, I didn’t want to fall asleep yet. We’d have to part again tomorrow.
Childish complaints came to mind, but at the same time, a part of me felt that I should be satisfied with such an overwhelming miracle.
“I was really curious. So, in the end, who are you going to marry first? Your first wife. You’ve actually decided in your heart, haven’t you?”
…Uh, um. Suddenly, I feel a bit sleepy.
“Aren’t you going to answer me~?”
“…Honestly, I don’t really know. I like them all so much. They love me so much. It’s not just about choosing one; being asked to set an order makes my head spin even more.”
“Hmm, I was curious, but if you don’t know, it can’t be helped. If you cherish them, think about it a bit more and choose slowly. Though if you make them wait too long, those girls might get tired.”
“…If you’re going to nag me, just nag me.”
“What can I do when my son is so cute to tease? This isn’t my fault~ Do you know how long I’ve held back from teasing you? But So-hyun, actually, the answer Mom was waiting for earlier was something else.”
“…What was it?”
“Why hasn’t my son once said he’s going to marry Mom?”
“…Whatever else I don’t know, isn’t that really not something someone my age should be saying?”
“You didn’t say it when you were little, either.”
…Now that I think about it, is that true? I didn’t really say things like that even when I was a kid. Because I was a transmigrator.
“Do you know how much I wanted to hear those words from my son~? You won’t say it? Really? Mom’s going to pout. Should I pout?”
Ah, seriously.
“I’ll say it. I’ll do it.”
“Oh, even if I had to pull it out of you, it’s not bad.”
“I’ll grow up more and marry Mom.”
“Yep! But Mom married Dad, so I can’t marry So-hyun!”
…Oh, she really gave that answer? After telling me to talk like a child?
But my mother’s mischievous smile didn’t last long, and she spoke again with a very serious face.
“Still, I’m going to pray that when my son grows up, he marries people who are prettier than Mom, kinder, who think of you more, who are good at cooking, and who suit you well.”
My eyelids are heavy.
…No, is it already decided that I’m marrying ‘people’?
I should say that.
“So.”
“I’m… not that sleepy yet…”
“Let’s go sleepy-bye today, my baby. Mom will be right here watching you.”
I really don’t want to sleep.
…Why am I so sleepy?