Overwhelmed by Happiness
Han Yeoreum flopped onto the sofa with a happy sigh. The gentle rise and fall of her chest showed she was still breathing. "U-um...?"
Her fist hadn't even touched me, so why had she collapsed like that? I hurried off the sofa and checked on her. Both hands covered her face, hiding her expression completely. I couldn't just grab her, so I tapped her forearm lightly with my fingertips. "Are you okay...?"
"Mmm... mmmph...!"
"Does something hurt?"
"Ugh...! I really can't hold it in anymore!"
Without warning, Han Yeoreum reached out. My beastkin reflexes could have dodged it easily, but I didn't bother. I knew she would never hurt me. After a brief moment of weightlessness, I was pulled in. She hugged me tightly, as if I were her most precious doll.
"......!"
My face was buried against her, so I couldn't see, but my other senses told me everything. She was bouncing on her feet and swaying side to side—the unmistakable movements of pure joy. What on earth had gotten into her?
I wanted to talk, but my mouth was pressed against her, so no words came out. Escaping had to come first. I tapped her cheek a few times, gently, not like an attack. "Ah, sorry. Did big sis smother you?"
"No. I could still breathe."
"That's a relief." Han Yeoreum patted my back softly, but she didn't loosen her arms. The hug was embarrassing, yet honestly... I didn't hate it. I'd spent so long alone that I must have been starving for affection. My resistance to it was probably lower than a newborn's. Just a kind smile from her was enough to make my tail wag. How could I possibly refuse a hug when I craved warmth this badly? It was a little awkward, but sharing affection wasn't strange. I knew the hug was excessive, but for now, I decided to simply enjoy the happiness.
"Did big sis suddenly snatch you up and surprise you?"
"No, it just felt awkward."
"Ah... it felt awkward?"
"Yes. I never liked people touching me before."
Her hand, which had been patting my back, suddenly pulled away. She must have been flustered—after all, she'd been touching me freely and then heard I disliked it. "Sorry. Big sis likes Winter so much that I... did you hate it?"
"No, I didn't hate it. You weren't trying to hurt me."
"Ah..." Han Yeoreum hugged me even tighter. Since I'd said I didn't mind, the embrace grew more intense. I could barely breathe. Maybe I shouldn't have said I didn't hate it. I wanted to escape, yet my tail kept wagging furiously.
Hmm... I'd just stay still for now. Struggling would only tire me out. Instead, I asked something that had been on my mind. "Um, I have a question."
"Sure. What is it?"
"Why did you suddenly collapse earlier?"
"Oh, that?" She laughed. Her mouth was right next to my ear, and the puff of air made me shiver. "It's a secret."
"Huh?"
She must have had a reason she couldn't say. I decided not to press. Just then, the children who'd been playing with Seol-i came running toward us.
"Ah! No fair! You gave a hug while Levinas wasn't here! Levinas wants a hug too!" Levinas stomped her feet beside us, then leaped onto my back. Saebyeok, who had been watching, climbed on top of her. "Urk...!"
One was fine, but two was a bit heavy. I felt like a human sandwich. Was Han Yeoreum okay? I glanced at her face—she didn't look strained at all. So I was the only one suffering. Even with Levinas pressing down on me, my tail still tried to wag, twitching beneath the weight. "H-heavy..."
"W-wait, kids, you're crushing Winter...!" Han Yeoreum waved her hands in panic, careful not to stand up and risk hurting them. "Meow?" Seol-i, who had chased the children into the living room, looked up at us. Tilting her head, she jumped onto Saebyeok's back as well. "Urgh...!"
Seol-i didn't weigh much, but the added pressure made it worse. Should I use mana to move them? While I hesitated, Seol-i started tugging at their clothes with her teeth. "Meow! Meow!" Get down. She was clearly saying it. Under Seol-i's not-so-threatening threat, Saebyeok and Levinas climbed off. Seol-i was definitely a genius cat.
"Sorry. I didn't realize it would be this hard on you." Even Saebyeok, who usually kept a blank face, looked apologetic. I didn't get angry—I knew she hadn't meant any harm. "It's fine. Normally it wouldn't bother me, but I'm really tired right now."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I guess being exhausted made it feel heavier. I should go to bed." I yawned. Levinas, who had been fidgeting, came closer. She seemed to feel a little guilty too. "Winter, wanna brush our teeth together...?"
"Sure. Let's do it."
"Hup! Levinas will squeeze the toothpaste!" Levinas dashed toward the bathroom. I followed after her. It looked like I'd be washing up and going straight to sleep tonight.
After finishing her shower, Winter stumbled out of the bathroom. Her eyes were more than half-closed. She kept nodding off, clearly exhausted. She must've had a tough day. Han Yeoreum watched her closely, worried she might trip. Thanks to her beastkin physique, Winter didn't fall. In that state, Han Yeoreum herself would have collapsed, yet Winter somehow kept her balance. Marveling at the incredible physical abilities of beastkin, she saw Winter wobbling straight toward her. "Winter, your room's that way." She pointed, but Winter was already half-asleep. In her drowsy state, she just kept heading toward Han Yeoreum anyway. "Oh dear." The poor thing couldn't even find her own room. She must be completely out of it from sleepiness. Han Yeoreum would have to carry her.
Just as she made up her mind, Winter flopped onto the sofa like a collapsing tower. She used Han Yeoreum's thigh as a pillow and instantly fell asleep. "Huh...?" It was a perfectly ordinary thing for a child to do. But coming from Winter, it felt different. Instead of her own bed, Winter had chosen to sleep in her lap. Because she felt comfortable? Or safe? Whatever the reason, it was clearly an expression of trust. Han Yeoreum's heart began pounding like crazy. She forced herself to stay still so she wouldn't wake the sleeping girl. In a half-conscious state, Winter had instinctively sought out someone she trusted enough to surrender herself to. How could one child be this adorable? Han Yeoreum gently stroked Winter's cheek and hair. A soft purr escaped the sleeping girl's lips. "Hehe..." Even in her sleep, Winter's tail swayed happily at the touch. Someone who loved being petted this much had once said she hated being touched. Knowing the reason, Han Yeoreum could only feel bitter. Most hands that had reached for Winter had been violent or accusatory—including her own at one point. Yet Winter had forgiven everyone. Not after finding happiness, but while still living in hell. She was a child impossible not to love. Han Yeoreum felt genuine respect for her as a fellow human being. ...From now on, let's only be happy.
Smiling silently, Han Yeoreum checked the clock. It was only ten at night. The children should be asleep, but for adults, the night was still young. She could train for about two hours. To protect Winter's world, she would practice fighting without mana. That was the plan, yet she couldn't bring herself to move. Winter sleeping on her lap was simply too precious. "Mmm..." Just ten more minutes.Twenty more minutes. In the end, Han Yeoreum stayed up the entire night.
Early the next morning, she woke up and went to the living room. The first person she saw was Han Yeoreum, looking utterly exhausted. "U-um..."
"H-huh...?"
"Are you okay...?"
"Yeah... Big sis might look like this, but I'm actually in a state of pure bliss... all my worries washed away..."
What did that even mean? Scratching her cheek, she sat beside Han Yeoreum. "You didn't sleep?"
"Nope... pulled an all-nighter..."
"Oh... Why don't you go lie down? It's your day off, isn't it?"
"R-right... I should..." Han Yeoreum trudged off to her room. Watching her worriedly from behind, she noticed Sofia, seated in her massage chair, chuckling softly. "Such a child of desire."
"Desire?"
"Yes, but a positive kind. That's how she became so strong."
"Hmm..." She didn't really understand. Her tail curled into a question mark. "Sofia, you're up early today."
"I had something important to do, so I rose early."
"Something important?"
"Yes. A broadcasting crew is coming to film. I woke up early to help prepare."
"Wow..." A broadcasting crew. The Yeomyeong Guild really was impressive. Without thinking, she glanced out the window toward the outside of the guild building. "Would you like to watch with me?"
"Is it okay if I go?"
"It doesn't matter. You're not a nuisance, Winter." If Sofia said so, then there was no reason to refuse. "Okay." Today, she decided, she would watch this world's broadcasting.