Chapter 210
Chapter 210
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 210
Chapter Title: Episode 70. Within Breath's Reach, Seeping In (1)
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Clank...
While the guardian wiped the floor with a towel,
Yoo Ji-tae scooped up Yeoreum and headed to her room.
As he carried her, he locked eyes with Gaeul and Winter, who had poked their heads out from the gap in their door. It was evening, and everyone was home. Both of them looked flustered, gauging his reaction.
They must have been pretty shocked. He gave the kids a casual nod, pretending nothing was wrong. Still, their anxious expressions didn't fade.
When he laid Yeoreum on the bed and turned to leave,
"Peep..."
Gaeul startled at the chick's oblivious cry and grabbed the beak of the massive spirit beast in her arms.
He stopped in his tracks. Thump-thump. Her heartbeat raced.
He didn't know how to comfort scared kids.
But he had learned how to talk to them by now.
"No need to freak out that much."
"Uh, um..."
"...Why did you fight?"
"Yeah, yeah. Why'd you two fight?"
He didn't know the details.
But saying he didn't know right now probably wasn't the best idea. The unknown bred useless imaginations. It had been an efficient tool back when he ruled through fear, but now, a bit more transparency would help calm the kids down.
After a moment's thought, he squatted down in front of the two, matching their eye level.
"No need to worry so much. People fight when they have different thoughts sometimes."
"Different thoughts?"
"Yeah. I don't know the details, but it seems like you've had differences before."
"......"
"Don't sweat it. Fighting like this just shows you have different views. You can compromise or adjust on the rest."
"Why fight if thoughts differ?"
"Look at it now. Isn't that what you're doing?"
The chick wanted to cry, but she held its beak to stop it. A clash of differing desires.
Realizing this, Gaeul cautiously released the chick's beak. Then she mumbled, "Lost child..." The chick rubbed its fluffy round head against Gaeul's arm.
"It's just because people are different. It's natural, so no big deal. That's how relationships work—you fight and adjust along the way. Don't worry and get some rest."
"Yeah. Okay."
"...Okay."
After calming them down, he returned to Yeoreum's room. He sensed her presence.
Yeoreum had woken up, her excitement not fully subsided. She sat on the edge of the bed, breathing heavily through her nose. Clearly holding something back desperately.
When was the right time to speak?
He didn't know. So he sat beside her, waiting until she calmed.
Ten minutes passed. Thirty. An hour. Three hours flowed by on their own.
Finally, in the dead of night, Yeoreum caught her breath and flopped back onto the bed.
"Why'd you come?"
"Why'd you fight?"
"Just did."
"Speak properly."
"......"
Yeoreum flailed, pulling out the blanket crushed under her back, then covered herself with it.
"Dunno. We just fought."
"I've felt you were off since morning."
"......"
"Not for no reason. What were you thinking?"
"......"
Yeoreum stayed silent.
"Not gonna say?"
"......"
"We're living under one roof. Problems make it awkward for everyone."
"......"
"Yeoreum."
A deep inhale echoed.
Followed by an equally huge sigh.
"...I don't even know."
"What don't you know?"
"Didn't plan to fight. It just happened. I wonder why it ended like this."
"......"
"I was worried about Yoo Bom in my own way."
"Worried about what? Heart, laptop—what's that about?"
"......"
"The laptop—that time you messed with her pen name before?"
Yeoreum fell silent again.
Then she spoke in a much smaller voice.
"Hey."
"Yeah."
"She said she's lived a hard life. For a really long time."
"Yeah."
"Did that mess her up?"
"What?"
"Lately, ever feel your heart race seeing a girl?"
"Hmm... Why?"
"Ever want to have a girl? Or a guy, whatever?"
"Have people? What’s that mean."
"Why not? You might want to. If not mentally, what about this? If I moan or act sexy, you wouldn't lust after me?"
"Nah."
"'Cause I'm young?"
"I don't want that from you."
"Impotent?"
"Dunno. No desire for you now, or ever. No reason to."
"Kidnapper playing nice..."
"Our relationship isn't like that."
"What are we then?"
"Guardian and ward. I just protect you. Want you to do well. Only wish is for you to be healthy and strong."
"Why?"
"That's what you want."
"......"
Yeoreum went quiet for a bit. The blanket twitched—she was turning over.
"Weird. You some Santa? Or genie? Who lives just for others?"
"Me."
"Why live like that?"
"Some people do."
"No way. Super weird. Everyone lives for themselves. Life's about getting happier."
"......"
"What happiness do you get helping us?"
In truth, Yeoreum's view fundamentally differed from Yoo Ji-tae's.
To him, people didn't live to be happy.
But no need to correct her.
"Doesn't matter. You're not asking anything from me."
"...True. I just wanna get strong. Go back and fuck up my sister. That's my wish."
"I know."
"Then suppose. Suppose I don't care about getting strong. Suppose I just wanna have you."
"What?"
"You said granting wishes is a guardian's role. But if I want you. And want you to crave me bad. If I were some crazy bitch, maybe. Then what? Grant it?"
"......"
"Why silent? That's what the ward wants. By your logic, grant it."
"......"
"Guardian, right? Joo-ji-byu-ji Yoo Ji-tae."
Yoo Ji-tae sensed who Yeoreum was referring to indirectly.
Like the couple times before, it was a question he couldn't easily affirm.
He believed he didn't deserve happiness with the dragons.
Conversely, the idea of the dragons finding happiness with him was hard to accept.
Above all, he couldn't fathom why Yeoreum was asking this.
No obligation to answer, either.
"Why no answer?"
"......"
"Answer. Quick. It's important."
"......"
"Silence is golden, huh, fuck..."
Yeoreum let out a deflated laugh.
"So what're you gonna do now?"
"About what."
"You fought with Bom."
"What am I supposed to do here? I'm the fucking victim."
"For real?"
"Yeah? The perp should come apologize. Why should the victim do anything? I did it all out of worry for her."
"......"
"Even trying to hit her—she tried to kill me first. Right? Those fangs sticking out front, sides, back. Made from killing intent, yeah? I only went for a punch. Shouldn't I get praise for holding back?"
Yoo Ji-tae stayed silent briefly.
Her words could be right or wrong depending on perspective, leaving him annoyed.
Thinking back, Yeoreum trembled under her thin blanket, anger rising.
"Crazy bitch... Total psycho. Sure, I'm a moron too. But she's a real nutjob. Wanna tie her up and beat her like a dog, fuck..."
"Enough. Dial it back."
"Why?"
"You're worked up. Emotional words mix in mistakes."
"Not a mistake. I was shocked. Pissed."
"Enough—"
His stern tone startled Yeoreum.
"...Why? Why tell me to stop? Why only me..."
A bit aggrieved, her voice rose before cutting off. She let out deep sighs in succession, then continued.
"...Do you think I was wrong?"
Both were at fault, but saying it aloud seemed pointless.
"I was wrong too, sure. But if I offered a toothpick, she shoved a knife at me."
"Yeoreum. Not about blame. Rest first. Sort your feelings. You're really riled up."
"I'm not mad."
"Sure looks like it."
"Fuck, I am!"
"Yeah. And Gaeul's a vegetarian."
"What the hell..."
Yeoreum grumbled. The awkward joke flopped.
Yoo Ji-tae rose to leave her room. Then her parting shot grazed his ear.
"You going to her?"
"Yeah."
"Tell her to apologize to me first."
Yeoreum continued in a subdued voice.
It was a bit unexpected.
"Then I'll apologize too..."
He entered Bom's room.
It was 3 a.m.
She lay asleep on the bed.
He stood by her side, quietly watching the sleeping child.
"Ah...!"
Suddenly, Bom bolted up as if seizing.
Awake, she clutched her chest tightly, then scanned the room anxiously. The regressor followed her gaze. Sharp things glinted. Bom seemed entranced.
He called to her.
"Yoo Bom."
Bom jumped, turning to Yoo Ji-tae.
Sweat-matted hair clung to her face. She steadied her breath, brushing it behind her ear.
"Ajusshi..."
Bom couldn't meet his eyes.
He sat naturally on the edge of her bed. She pulled her exposed little feet under the covers.
The regressor didn't speak for a long while.
It was an incredibly complicated situation.
Yeoreum cherished Bom.
From what she said, she cherished Bom's very existence. Yet separately, Yeoreum was angry at Bom.
And Bom likely felt the same. Enough to try killing her. Using astonishingly sharp, concealed killing intent shaped into form.
They'd both wronged each other.
Resentments had formed.
Precious people aren't always on good terms. Even he, raising Yeoreum dearly, felt a twinge of irritation at her temperament now.
Preciousness and good relations don't always overlap.
What to do then?
"Sorry..."
"Sorry for what."
"...I feel like I just tired you out for no reason."
"You get that much."
"......"
"How you feeling?"
"Better."
"Wanna talk?"
"No. I'm fine. It's all my fault..."
Yoo Ji-tae peered into Bom's face.
"What'd you say?"
"Yeoreum did nothing wrong. My mistake was huge. I couldn't control my emotions then."
The reason for her emotions: possessiveness.
Yoo Ji-tae knew Bom wanted to possess him. She just couldn't distinguish if it was love or mere possessiveness.
"A while back. When you weren't home. Yeoreum messed with my laptop the same way."
"What happened."
"I hate people touching my stuff. Got mad suddenly. Almost threw the laptop... She apologized first then. So this time, I'll go apologize first. Keep trying till Yeoreum feels better..."
Bom glanced cautiously at him. When he met her gaze, she looked away again.
It felt off.
The regressor sensed something wrong with Bom's words.
They didn't ring true.
Why this feeling?
"Punish me if you want... I'll take it..."
Bom differed from the other hatchlings.
She always tried to help him.
From their first meeting, threatening abduction outright.
When bringing other hatchlings.
During academy life, when others struggled.
Even catching demons or Winter molting.
Who were all those actions for?
Even now.
If they let pride clash, living daily life in 301 with two hatchlings could get tricky.
Yet Bom bent her pride.
Who benefited most from Bom yielding?
Him.
Didn't it seem like Bom lived for Yoo Ji-tae?
That clashed head-on with his belief that he lived for Bom.
He thought she was lying now. No proof, just strong intuition. Why this hunch?
As his complicated thoughts churned,
Bom spoke in a worried voice.
"Ajusshi. I just had a dream."
"What dream."
"......"
She was even more cautious now. Her fidgeting hands. Blinking eyes.
"What's up. Tell me."
From Bom's slow speech, an unbelievable phrase emerged.
"...A dream of being confined."