Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: 24. Ajusshi is a Child (3)
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“What? She's showing signs of improvement?”
The boyish short haircut framed a sharp, lynx-like impression.
Minamoto Ai.
World Superhuman Ranking 13th.
This woman in her late thirties was one of Japan's strongest superhumans, a swordswoman with the Imperial Blade Special Unit.
Her moniker: "Sword of the Royal House."
She echoed back in disbelief to Myeong Yong-ha.
“Is that for real?”
“Yeah.”
Myeong Yong-ha, still dazed, ran a hand through his hair.
“Hey, you bastard. What the hell! If something that good happened, you should've told us right away!”
“……”
“No, you dog of a bastard. You looked so down, I thought something bad happened and my heart dropped. Don't scare people like that!”
“...Was it like that?”
A flush of color slowly crept into Myeong Yong-ha's blank face. Soon, he burst into laughter that matched his burly frame. “Uhahaha!”
He had just bowed deeply to BM the moment he arrived.
“Hey. Still too early to celebrate. She's not fully cured... We gotta keep watching.”
“Yeah, I know, but.”
A disease tied to ancient species was unpredictable—who knew what might happen next. Myeong Yong-ha reined in his urge to whoop.
“Still, what happened? Don't keep us hanging—spill the details quick.”
“Alright. That day I was boiling porridge here, right? I threw in the elixir BM gave me and some herbs I got as a gift from somewhere.”
“Herbs? Who gave them to you?”
“Mm, a guy I met on my trip. Seemed really strong.”
“Strong?”
Strong.
An easy word for some, but to them, it carried different weight. They were strategic national assets, each one.
Even BM, lounging on the sofa, perked up with interest and sat up.
“Yeah. Didn't fight him or anything, but he looked strong.”
“Who was it?”
“Dunno……”
Myeong Yong-ha recalled him.
Individually, incredibly powerful. Dangerous enough to make nature itself warn of peril. But with those little girls around, he felt oddly safe rather than threatening.
Like a thorny hedge, protective.
“Don't know his name. Anyway, the guy gave me these black root-like herbs, so I mixed them with BM's stuff and made the porridge.”
“Yeah, and?”
“Gave it to the wife, and……”
Myeong Yong-ha still remembered it vividly.
Since the disease worsened, she never had an appetite, no matter what. Even tasty food was bland; medicine or porridge, worse. Eating was forcing food down to survive, vomiting routine.
But his wife...
Slurp slurp...
Emptied the bowl in seconds and held it out for more.
Recalling it, Myeong Yong-ha grinned.
“Yeah. Asked if there was more. Said it was delicious and easy to eat... So I thought, no way. But during rounds, the doc said the ancient species virus concentration dropped... Signs of improvement……”
As he spoke, Myeong Yong-ha clenched his fists, overcome.
“Tears just came... That's what I'd been dying to hear.”
Congratulations didn't come immediately.
But they'd watched their comrade choke up for so long. Minamoto felt a similar swell unbidden.
“...Good for you. Damn it. For real.”
Savoring the moment, Minamoto murmured.
BM smiled warmly too, downing his vodka.
Actually, BM had come to ask his comrades about the man who'd visited his workshop. Of course, name "Yoo Ji-tae," but he planned to omit details and vibes—he'd asked for discretion.
But Myeong Yong-ha's story sparked new curiosity.
“Hang on. So whose stuff worked?”
At Minamoto's follow-up, Myeong Yong-ha sighed.
“That's the thing. Not sure. BM's elixir was amazing too. BM, seriously, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
BM waved it off.
“Whoever it was, must be impressive. Matching that drunkard's haul? SS-grade at least.”
“...More than that.”
BM countered meekly.
“Was gonna use it myself but handed it over. Cheers.”
So Myeong Yong-ha got something that huge as a gift from a near-stranger on a trip?
By then,
Their questions converged naturally.
‘Just who the hell is that guy?’
And Myeong Yong-ha harbored a fiercer wish.
‘Hope I see him again.’
He wanted to say thanks.
“I'm off to bed.”
Yeoreum left first.
“Me too, night!”
Gaeul stood too.
Yoo Ji-tae checked his pocket watch. 2 a.m. The baby dragons, synced to human rhythms, were way past bedtime.
“……”
Winter bobbed her head in his arms, unlike the others—this was real sleepiness.
“Bedtime.”
“...?”
Winter peered up with half-lidded eyes.
Then flashed a loose, screw-missing smile.
He carried her to Bom's room, laid her on Bom's bed. She reached up, so he handed her the blanket.
“Night.”
“……”
But she looked dissatisfied somehow.
She gripped the blanket tight with tiny hands and shoved it aside, repeating 'cause arms too short.
Finally cleared it all.
“No cover, you'll get cold.”
She shook her head vigorously.
Fair enough. She wouldn't get cold anyway.
As he turned to leave, Winter whimpered.
“...Ing.”
He looked back.
“……”
So forlorn, disappointment dripping from her eyes.
Come to think, Bom tucked her in every night. After that, out of his purview.
So he asked Bom, sprawled on the living room sofa.
“How do you put her down.”
“Huh?”
“Put her in bed, still won't sleep.”
‘Hmm……’ Bom pondered, then stood.
“Weird? She sleeps fine usually……”
Bom stroked Winter's head.
“Bedtime, our Winter.”
Shake shake.
“No sleep?”
Nod nod.
Strange.
Just drowsy-bobbing moments ago, now wide-eyed refusal.
“Then no need to sleep.”
The regressor's answer: simple.
Don't wanna? Don't.
“Right?”
Bom agreed.
“……!?”
Winter panicked for some reason.
Eyes wide, but half-lidded up close. Sleepy, yet resisting. ‘Why won't she sleep……’ The regressor puzzled over blue-head's logic again.
“Then sleep with unni?”
At Bom's words, Winter sneaked a glance at Yoo Ji-tae.
“Got it. I'll go.”
Winter shook head at Bom.
Bom read the kid's intent.
“Seems Winter wants to sleep with Ajusshi.”
“With me?”
A bit flustered proposal.
Still, just stay till she sleeps, probably.
Decided, the regressor lay on one side of Bom's bed. Bom slipped off slippers, lay opposite.
Winter finally content, loose smile, rolled toward Yoo Ji-tae. Side-sleep skill unmastered—back exposed. Half-buried face in blanket, one eye on him.
He lifted blanket, wrapped her gently.
Cozy. Warm.
“……”
But why not sleeping.
Nearly 20 minutes, just staring, no sleep.
Yoo Ji-tae eyed Bom.
Eyes: Why isn't she sleeping.
Bom's eyes curved slyly.
Eyes: lol
Eyes: What to do.
Eyes: Hmm……
Pondering Bom raised hand.
Not getting it, Yoo Ji-tae tentatively raised his.
Bom reached slow, took his hand, pulled to Winter's back.
Lips: Pat. Pat. Pat.
Pat the back, got it.
Yoo Ji-tae patted Winter's back.
Thump thump.
“...?”
Thump thump thump thump.
“……!?”
Winter, drowsy yet startled, eyes popped wide, blank-faced.
Yoo Ji-tae stopped.
Too hard, apparently. Thought he went easy.
“……”
Winter's brows furrowed in a V.
Sorry. Mistake.
Rough breaths. Bom snorted through nose, holding laughter.
Then tiny whisper.
“No. Who pats a kid's back that hard?”
“Never done it.”
“Gentler. Softer.”
Bom demoed.
Tok— tok— tok—
Sound different.
Bom's pats: steady, slow rhythm on Winter's back. Delicate—Winter's blinking eyes drowsied again.
Bom reached, guided Yoo Ji-tae's hand.
He moved careful.
Feather-light.
Tok……
Seemed good. Mechanical pats: Tok. Tok.
“Good.”
Bom nodded.
“Now even kinder.”
Tough order.
“Like stroking.”
No clue. How stroke while patting. Patting like stroking, maybe...
Still, silent, followed: soft, stroking motion.
Winter's hazy eyes drifted shut. Asleep.
Yoo Ji-tae relaxed—Bom's gaze met his.
“……”
Olive eyes softly curved, sleepy.
Come to think. He was in Bom's bed.
Bom whispered.
“What about me?”
“...?”
“I haven't slept yet……”
Yoo Ji-tae was learning Bom bit by bit.
This setup: prime tease time.
He'd decline.
“Sleep. You got morning class.”
“If it's canceled tomorrow...?”
Even saying it, same usual face. Why her intent's hard to read.
Puzzled what to say.
“Canceled, no sleep?”
“Still sleep.”
“Why?”
“Nighttime.”
“...Then tuck me too.”
“What?”
“Stroke my head, bet I'll sleep.”
“……”
Yoo Ji-tae felt awkward.
Speechless, delaying reply.
Bom's hand reached, touched his cheek.
“Hey.”
Then slowly stroked his hair. Incredibly gentle.
“What're you doing.”
“Demo.”
“Demo?”
“Can't rip my hair out.”
Bom chuckled lightly.
Then dreamy face.
“Gentle. Like this……”
Dreamscape gaze. “Like this, like this……” Murmuring, stroking nonstop.
He got more awkward.
Emotions unclear, but awkward full. Teasing, sure—yet no sign from her.
“You'll wake her.”
Excuse found.
“Don't you know? Once asleep, she stays out.”
Didn't.
“……”
“Quickly……”
Bom stopped there, withdrew hand.
But eyes stayed. ‘Even now, won't?’ Seemed to say. He wondered at green-head dragon's quirks. So composed usually—why tease him sometimes. As he pondered awkwardly.
Bom turned, buried head in pillow. Exposed nape.
“……”
What to do.
No choice, big hand to her head. Like petting tiny animal pup, cautious strokes.
Strands soft under hand.
But too cautious—Bom noticed.
“……!”
Finally lifted head.
Cheeks puffed. Eyes squeezed shut, trembling.
Then exploded, silent laughter.
...Teased again today.
Sighing regressor slipped out wordless; Bom bit hand-knuckle, stifling hysterics till he left.
Next morning. Bom came to living room bag in hand.
Bag for what?
“Where to.”
“Class.”
“Canceled, you said.”
Bom halted, turned.
Then giggled.
“Lied~”