Chapter 49
Translator - Zofu
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Si-woo opened his eyes.
A ceiling that had become quite familiar now came into view.
"Ah...."
Before, he would have sat up the moment he opened his eyes. Just yesterday, even.
But now, he didn't even have the strength to get up.
'What's wrong with me...?'
His body felt heavy, his stomach bloated. He also felt like heat was boiling throughout his entire body. His nerves were on edge too. It was a barrage of phenomena with no discernible cause. Still, he knew what this kind of situation was usually called.
"Am I... sick?"
But it was strange.
Those who have awakened mana or possess divine protection basically gain strong resistance to disease or poison. Even if that weren't the case, this wasn't a situation where he would be afflicted by such things. In short, it was completely out of the blue.
'Ah, I need to greet her.... And eat....'
With a throbbing headache, Si-woo closed his eyes again.
And when he opened his eyes, Han So-young was looking down at him with worried eyes.
"Ah... Auntie?"
"Si-woo, are you okay?"
"......I... don't know...."
"Hmm, I see...."
So-young's expression darkened.
An "I don't know" answer, rather than a clear "I'm fine" or "I'm not," belonged to a truly dangerous category. Not understanding one's own condition was one thing, but usually in these situations, people's personalities would determine their response, and this was neither.
'Even the steward said she didn't know.... Hmm, should I call a doctor or priest?'
Her steward was a quite capable woman. Knowledgeable in medicine as well, she could handle most illnesses. Yet that steward had answered that she didn't know about Si-woo's condition. She hadn't been able to examine him since he was sleeping, but she also said his condition was ambiguous to be considered an illness.
'Could it be some venereal disease from the breeding facility...? Hmm. No, that can't be.'
Though a worry briefly crossed her mind, she didn't want to believe Si-woo was such a promiscuous boy.
'For now, I should observe until lunch.'
"Si-woo. Are you hungry? Just wait a moment."
"Ugh, yes...."
Si-woo closed his eyes again. He wasn't asleep; he'd simply closed them because his body was too hot.
So-young's hand rose to the young man's flushed forehead. It was hot without even needing to touch it. She wondered what disease could raise a mana awakener's temperature this much, but nothing came to mind immediately.
"Haa."
Han So-young let out a small sigh.
She placed a wet towel on Si-woo's forehead, then got up and left the room. Her destination was the kitchen. The chef was just bringing out a meal.
A bowl and spoon placed on a tray. So-young took it and returned to Si-woo's room.
She ran into the steward along the way.
"Is Young Master Si-woo's condition alright?"
"Not yet."
"Shall I call a priest?"
"...Let's wait a bit longer. If it gets worse this afternoon, then we'll call one."
"Understood."
The steward was perceptive.
The reason she, who poured so much attention on Si-woo, didn't immediately call a priest was simple. She wanted to nurse him herself. At least the steward had said it wasn't a fatal illness, which gave So-young some peace of mind.
"Madam?"
"Hmm? What is it?"
"How long has it been since Young Master Si-woo was summoned, you said?"
"Probably not even two months? About a month and a half?"
"Hmm... I see."
"Why? Does something come to mind?"
So-young asked with a hopeful voice, but the steward shook her head.
One possibility had occurred to her, but if it hadn't been two months yet, she deemed it impossible. That non-illness only occurred after at least three months. Before that, the body hadn't adapted to the other dimension yet and wouldn't be affected.
"No, nothing."
"Alright.... I understand. Still, let me know if anything comes to mind."
"Yes, I will."
"Good. ...Ah, and...."
"Yes?"
"That, um.... Don't come in until I come out."
"...Understood."
"...Good."
When the steward answered a beat late and bowed her head, So-young's face flushed for no reason.
She'd said it just so Si-woo wouldn't be bothered by other things and could focus on his nursing. At least Han So-young believed she'd spoken with that intention. Though no one knew her true inner thoughts.
Worried the porridge might get cold, she hurried back up to Si-woo's room.
"......!!"
That was close. She'd almost dropped the tray.
'Huh, what?'
She saw a spot on the blanket bulging out.
It wasn't just a slight bump. The blanket protruded to a level that could only be thought of as someone playing a prank. It looked like a child might be hiding under the blanket with their arms stretched out.
'Th-that can't be....'
She'd thought it would be impressive.
But she never imagined it would be to this extent.
It was truly overwhelming. An object possessing a magnetism that drew one's gaze as if attached by a magnet. Even looking at it through the blanket covering his pants, she couldn't imagine what it would be like to see the contents directly.
"......."
Han So-young carefully set the tray down on the bedside table. Then she sat in a chair.
'Probably about 20cm? With this much, his vigor must be incredible.... And on top of that, he's already awakened his mana.... He's truly a talent. He really is the level of talent worthy of entrusting myself to the candidate.'
Of course, she hadn't been sent to use her lower body for persuasion, but even excluding that, Si-woo was an incomparably capable talent. Knowing that, she wondered if perhaps the royal family might have had such thoughts.
What she didn't know was that the royal family actually wanted to interfere with Si-woo's mission, and that an intelligence agent dispatched to the mansion long ago had failed her mission and been thoroughly scolded by her superior.
"...Ah. I need to get a grip."
So-young, who'd been blankly staring at the protruding blanket, shook her head vigorously with a bright red face.
Her face was burning. She thought if she looked in a mirror now, her complexion might be similar to Si-woo's.
"S-Si-woo? Are you asleep?"
"...Uuuhm...."
"Auntie.... No, Mom brought some porridge. If you're going to sleep, eat first then sleep."
Even in this situation, So-young had no intention of hiding her desire.
Rather, now was her chance. In his half-asleep state, even if she slipped words in subtly, he wouldn't notice. And her thinking was correct.
"Huh, M-mom...?"
"Yes, that's right. I'm Mom...♡"
The moment the word "Mom" came out of Si-woo's mouth, So-young's body trembled.
It was an ecstatic feeling. The first time she'd heard it was about ten days ago, and now this was the second. She'd heard him call her "Mother" before, but that had been unsatisfying. So-young preferred the more familiar "Mom."
"Now, have some porridge."
"Porridge? ...How...?"
"The Cheonan Empire in the eastern continent has rice as its staple food. I sometimes crave it too, so I keep a little stocked in the kitchen. Besides, when you're sick, porridge is better than soup, right?"
"Haha.... Th-that's true...."
Si-woo, who didn't even remember that he'd called her Mom.
With So-young's help, he raised his upper body and leaned his back against the headboard. She also tucked a pillow behind his lower back so his back wouldn't hurt. All of it was So-young's careful consideration. After moving the fallen wet towel aside, she picked up the bowl of porridge.
"Now. Say 'ah.'"
"...Ah...."
"Huhu. Yes, just like that."
A smile rose to her lips at the old memory surfacing.
Good memories with her son. Usually, this would be painful each time, but if the person evoking that memory was Si-woo, she wasn't troubled—rather, she was delighted. It felt as if her son had come back to life and was with her again.
'I know I shouldn't be like this... but what can I do when it feels so good...♡'
Han So-young, who'd lost both her husband and son to the same illness and suffered great trauma.
That became the catalyst that opened her eyes to strange feelings. It wasn't a deviant sexuality. She didn't feel sexual desire just from being called Mom, but it felt good. However, she didn't know if it was exclusive to Si-woo.
'I'm sorry, Si-woo. Forgive Mom....'
Thinking that to herself, So-young busily moved the spoon.
Si-woo also ate the porridge well for someone who looked sick. Thanks to that, despite the considerable amount, he'd already emptied half the bowl.
"Are you full? Or do you want more?"
"...Haa, I can still eat more... Ugh?!"
Si-woo, who'd been nodding with a heated sigh.
Suddenly clutched his chest.
"Huh? Huh? Si-woo?"
So-young's expression turned serious. Though the steward had said it wasn't a fatal illness, she suddenly felt anxious.
Death wasn't the only source of suffering. There were countless situations that could cause problems: physical disabilities, persistent pain, mental illness. She feared that perhaps she had worsened Si-woo's condition.
'A priest! I should have called a priest right away! All because I tried to satisfy my own greed....'
"S-Si-woo! Just wait a moment! Mom will call a priest right—"
Han So-young, who'd hurriedly kicked back her chair and jumped up from her seat.
She started to turn her back but had to stop immediately.
"Uhh, Mom...."
"Huh, what? Si-woo, what did you say?"
"I... that place feels weird...."
"Th-that place?"
That place.
Though he didn't say exactly where, she unconsciously turned her head to the side. The blanket was still protruding hugely. No, it seemed even larger than before.
"......."
"Uugh. M-my heart is beating too fast... my chest is hot. And that place too...."
"...J-just a moment...."
As if hypnotized, So-young lifted the blanket aside.
"Ah...."
Then she saw his pajama pants. They were pajamas that seemed to match the top. But what captivated her eyes most was the crotch, fully erect with arousal. And at its tip, that thing was damply stained.
"Th-this is...."
"Haa, haa... that place, ugh... my cock... is hot.... Please... haa... help me...."
"S-Si-woo.... Uht, haa...."
She closed her eyes.
The reason Han So-young had been about to call Ena or another woman was because she was claiming to be Si-woo's mom. She liked being called Mom by him, and while hoping to be called Mom, she was about to have another woman handle his sexual desire. Wasn't that too strange?
Moreover, she was much older than Si-woo. 24 and 39. A full 15-year difference. So-young, who didn't know that Si-woo had already engaged in passionate pregnancy sex with women around her age, had no choice but to give up.
But Si-woo had asked her directly.
That changed things.
"...Okay. I understand, Si-woo.... M-Mom will... help you...♥"
Unaware of just how lewd her expression was, Han So-young grabbed the hem of Si-woo's pants.
She didn't know.
That her face right now wasn't that of a mother, but of a woman.
So-young's hands pulled down Si-woo's pants.
"Ah...♡"
A giant monster serpent entered her vision.
Thick, black, hot, hideous. But an incredibly lovely monster.
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