Chapter 194
Chapter 194
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 194
Chapter Title: Episode 64. What Happened That Night (2)
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The blue-eyed child was cautious.
She seemed to have something to say.
What could it be that she had to sneak over in the middle of the night? As Yoo Ji-tae pondered, he noticed her still peeking in from outside and told her to come in.
"……."
He sat up.
The small pajamas suited her perfectly. They were a set Spring had bought recently. The child slipped in quietly, glancing at Yoo Ji-tae a bit nervously.
"What's up?"
"……."
"Something to say?"
"…Yes."
"What is it? Can't sleep?"
"…No."
"Then?"
"…Fish tank."
"Fish tank?"
"…I want one."
"And?"
"……My room."
By the time Winter got that far, Yoo Ji-tae thought he knew what she meant.
Winter was a Blue Dragon. Of water and ice, rain and mist. Thick water-attuned mana flowed in and out with every breath. He'd heard once that the Blue clan nested near oceans or vast lakes. Naturally, she wanted to be close to water.
Until now, she'd been staying in Spring's room. Spring's space had a few potted plants to her taste—flowers, cacti, small grasses, and trees.
But then he remembered the fish tank next to the pots.
"There's already a fish tank. Where'd that come from?"
"…Spring unni bought it for me."
"So you have one. What's the problem?"
"…It's small."
"Need a bigger one?"
Winter nodded, glancing at him carefully.
This wasn't just about having a fish tank or not. Spring had been considerate, but after molting, the child probably wanted her own personal space.
Winter was only about two years old at most, but her body was already like a ten-year-old's, and sometimes her thoughts seemed even more mature.
"Why come at night, waking up for this? Why not say it during the day?"
"…Spring unni might get upset."
He didn't bother saying she could just tell him when Spring wasn't around. The child had her own reasons.
He thought it over.
Room 301 had no empty rooms left. But there was a storage room. They didn't really need one anyway.
It was small and messy now, but mess could be cleaned, and a sub-space pocket would solve the size issue easily.
Yeah. Got it.
As he was about to say so, a random thought struck Yoo Ji-tae.
Why was he reluctant to just give it?
It was something he could easily provide, as always.
Maybe because he'd teased Summer once before. He'd realized that giving things "as expected" felt awfully boring.
Following this inexplicable mood, Yoo Ji-tae spoke.
"Don't wanna."
"……?"
Confusion crossed Winter's face.
Dragons were territorial spirits. As she matured, Winter wanted her own nest too. Even sharing skin contact with Spring in her room, a corner of her heart felt unsettled.
When school friends mentioned having their own rooms, Winter hadn't shown it but was surprised.
But asking felt tense. Yoo Ji-tae rarely refused requests, but that was for jelly or trifles. Creating a room from nothing wasn't ordinary.
So the refusal shocked her.
But in her child logic, it was plausible.
"……."
Still, her heart hurt. Winter's mouth corners drooped.
Her eyes said: Even like this, you won't?
But Yoo Ji-tae, as if he'd eaten something odd, averted her gaze like he didn't get it.
Then Winter suddenly remembered something from before.
What to do when something's no?
Make it yes.
How?
"…Wait."
"Huh?"
"…Wait."
Winter said, then quietly left Yoo Ji-tae's room.
When she returned, her eyes were fierce. A gaze full of resolve.
"……."
She approached.
And thrust out her hand.
"What."
"…Hand."
Yoo Ji-tae placed his hand on her small one.
Winter glanced around sneakily, then placed a crumpled something in his hand and folded his fingers into a fist.
When he peeked, it was a bill.
A thousand-won note.
"……."
Winter stared fiercely, and the regressor let out a faint chuckle.
This is a bribe or what.
Well, bribe accepted, so maybe oblige. But today he felt persistently mischievous.
"A thousand won't cut it."
"……?!"
Shock in her fierce eyes. Winter tilted her head in confusion, scratching her nape.
"…Why?"
"Too small."
"…Is it?"
She still didn't grasp money well. Probably because she'd always swung around Yoo Ji-tae's bottomless card without asking.
Flustered, Winter fiddled with her pajama hem, looking up at him.
"…That's all I have. A thousand."
"Yeah?"
"…My whole fortune."
"Hmm."
"…Not enough?"
"Nope."
"…Corrupt official?"
"……."
Where'd she learn that? But time to stop the teasing. Winter hung her head, depressed.
Why was he messing with a kid? Maybe picked it up from Spring. As he thought to relent...
Winter rummaged in her pocket and held out something.
Another thousand-won.
"What. You said a thousand was your all."
She grinned sheepishly. Trying to negotiate with some brainpower.
"You tried to trick me."
"…This time, really."
"Hand it all over."
"…Really, all."
He felt anew how much sharper her mind was getting.
"But what now."
"……?"
So pettiness applied.
"Two thousand won't do either."
Apparently two thousand really was all. Winter despaired it wasn't enough. Finally, as she neared tears, Yoo Ji-tae promised to make her a room.
Only then did Winter hug him brightly and return to her room.
Soon, he'd have to make her that room.
But...
Tonight was weird.
The kids rarely visited at night. Maybe once every few months, one at most. But tonight, what wind blew? They came one after another. Three of them.
"Sleepy?"
...No, now four.
Probably the commotion from Winter woke that room's owner. Winter hadn't closed the door on leaving, so Spring knocked on the open one and came in naturally.
No sleep tonight. He sat up.
"What's this late?"
"Just... woke up."
"Woke up?"
"Yeah. Getting old maybe……."
Spring was expressionless as always, but no reserve now. She approached slowly and sat on the bed casually.
Bad time and place for a private talk. As he thought that, Spring stretched with a groan and lay on one side of the bed leisurely.
"Winter come by?"
"Yeah. How'd you know."
"Woke to rustling when she came in."
"Just briefly."
"What'd she say?"
"Just some worries."
"Mm……."
"I see." Spring replied nonchalantly, rolling to lie fully. The motion was startlingly natural. With eyes half-closed, she seemed ready to sleep again. Then suddenly, she widened her eyes, sensing something.
"……?"
"What."
"Autumn come by too?"
"Yeah. How'd you know."
"Ah, smelled her nearby……."
"She had worries too. We talked."
Her disheveled hair spilling across the bed shifted slightly. Spring lifted her head, looking up at him with leaf-green eyes.
For a moment, he wondered if she was mad. No, same blank face.
"Ah, the chick thing?"
"Yeah."
"She's weird. Always mobbing with spirits……."
"Seen something in Providence?"
"Yes."
"What."
"Mm…… Chickens and chicks. Lots of chicks……."
Spring trailed off. Her gaze went vacant. That's how she looked when she couldn't voice Providence aloud.
"Anyway. Go to your room if nothing else. Let me rest. Kids kept coming all night."
"Don't need rest."
"True."
"Can't?"
"You're here."
"Next to you?"
"Yeah."
Then Spring rose and headed to his desk chair. Leaning back, it reclined.
"……Huh?"
Spring sat up, blinking, and asked.
"Summer come too?"
"Yeah."
"…Why'd Summer come?"
"Misread a novel or something."
"Novel? Oh, right. Lent her my book."
"What'd you lend?"
"Horror novel. Romance author dominating contests solo for five years."
"She said horror romance."
"Yeah. Good writer originally. Did romance, now horror, sweeping contests."
"Impressive. You're entering contests now too. Gonna compete."
"Yeah. Time flies……."
She leaned back again. Body sliding down slowly.
Yoo Ji-tae recalled Spring tapping the keyboard daily.
What to say? He pondered, then spoke.
"Finish the story okay?"
"Not yet. Epilogue left."
"Pen name decided?"
"Mm. Not yet……."
"Any writing troubles?"
"Yes."
"What."
Silence cut the flow.
Spring sat up slowly from the chair.
And turned to him. An expression hiding unknown thoughts.
"Ajusshi."
"Yeah."
"When writing, if my story gets too good..."
"Yeah."
"It gets hard to keep writing."
"What do you mean?"
"Serialized to see reactions. If readers hate a story or character too much... gotta fix it."
Hm…….
Like that? He nodded, not sure.
Spring rose from the chair and approached the bed again. Slow but unhesitant. As she flopped down, he shifted to the wall side.
Lying on the bed, Spring placed both hands on her stomach.
"But... I can't."
Why? Yoo Ji-tae asked.
Spring looked at him, voice faint.
"My work got too... too good……."
Soft and tender voice.
At that, the regressor thought she'd found her true calling. Young as she was, Green Dragon kin. Creative type, so novel suited her. No big success in past rounds, but she'd enjoyed story-writing in her room.
"Don't overthink. It's just a novel. No need to get so serious."
"Right. Started as just a work."
Then Spring opened her eyes. Staring at him sharply. Something strange began.
"Started 'cause it'd be fun."
No mischief in her gaze, but Yoo Ji-tae felt inexplicable unease surging.
"Now why does my heart feel so weird."
Something chaotic, tidal, overwhelming crashed in.
Speaking, Spring slowly stroked her stomach with both hands. Watching that made the unease swell double.
So odd. Just about her work? Must be misreading. Yoo Ji-tae shook his head, pushing down the rising discomfort.
"What to do."
"What to do. Write."
"And then?"
"Finish it, no one can touch it."
"Mm."
"Then like it freely."
His casual words helped, apparently.
Unease ebbed like tide.
Spring nodded.
"Yeah……."
"Get it?"
"For now……."
Seemed settled.
Didn't know she cherished her novel that much.
Anyway, time to rest. He told Spring.
"Got it? Back to your room. Let me rest alone."
"No."
"What?"
Spring snapped her fingers. Snap— mana stirred, drawing the curtains.
God. Dawn had broken.
He stared blearily out the window, then at Spring. Giggling at something funny, she rose.
"Let's get breakfast."
So he followed her out with bleary eyes.
This was what happened that night.