Chapter 186: Family Service (4)
Chapter 186: Family Service (4)
An exhibition tucked away in a corner of the shopping mall.
It was only natural, but there wasn't a single visitor to be found, no matter how hard one looked.
It made sense. This wasn't an exhibition by a famous artist, but a simple showcase for university students—and the dinner hour had already passed.
Even the staff member in charge of guiding visitors seemed to have little interest; she glanced at us as we entered the inlet and then immediately returned to whatever she had been doing.
Well, I would have felt the same way if I were in her shoes.
Three young-looking women visiting an exhibition together wouldn't exactly be a striking sight.
Especially if two of them looked particularly young.
"Abstract paintings!"
Our cute Linshua seemed indifferent to such treatment. She displayed the peculiar skill of exclaiming in a whisper as she dashed toward a canvas.
Abstract art, huh?
To be honest, I didn't get it.
The white parts were canvas, the black parts were lines, the white parts were also lines, the red parts were lines, and the blue parts were lines.
Frankly, I felt like I could paint something like that if someone just handed me a brush.
Looking at the few pieces hanging on the walls, they all felt the same—only the colors differed. Nothing really resonated with me.
"Hmm? Ooh...?"
Of course, it was different for Linshua. She stood before the artwork, tilting her head as if deep in thought.
I suppose it looks different to someone who knows what they're looking at.
I just didn't know because I had no interest.
"H m m m m m m?"
Judging by how Linshua’s head was gradually tilting further to the right, she would likely be quiet for at least a few dozen minutes.
It seemed one of the artworks had stimulated her artistic soul.
If she weren't genuinely interested, she would have just skimmed through and immediately clung to me, complaining about being bored.
In that case, I might as well kill some time.
The chairs weren't particularly comfortable, as expected of exhibition seating, but this quiet, cozy white space was good for soothing a weary mind.
I was basking in a leisurely paradise, staring blankly at the ceiling lights, when—
Thud.
The leisure ended with the light sound of someone sitting down next to me.
"What are you doing?"
I heard the familiar voice of the Thunder God.
Still feeling like a puddle of mush, I opened my mouth.
"Counting dust motes."
Something I could never do under normal circumstances.
"You must be tired."
"Not really."
"I don't mean physically. I mean mentally."
"Not really."
Actually, mentally speaking, I was quite exhausted, but that wasn't something I could say to the very people who had provided that exhaustion.
"Don't act like you're fine. Linshua isn't listening, so you can be honest."
Hmm.
At those words, I stopped counting dust and looked toward Linshua.
In the meantime, Linshua’s head had tilted to the left instead of the right.
"H m m m m m m m."
Her humming continued.
Well then, I suppose I could be a bit honest.
"I am a bit tired... but it's more bearable than when I'm dealing with my disciple."
No sooner had I finished speaking—
Pow.
With the sound of a small air pocket bursting, an impact hit my back.
It didn't hurt, but it was surprising.
"In times like this, you're supposed to say no at least once out of politeness!"
The culprit of the surprise attack was, of course, the Thunder God.
Based on her words alone, she sounded angry, but I couldn't feel any such emotion from her.
Rather, her face wore a slightly twisted smirk.
She was likely enjoying herself by teasing me.
"You told me to be honest."
Knowing that reacting seriously to her teasing would only be a loss for me, I retorted bluntly.
Perhaps feeling she had enjoyed herself enough, the Thunder God also sat back and crossed her legs, speaking in a casual tone.
"I understand, though. Linshua is so energetic. It's enough to make anyone tired."
She rested her chin on her hand and stared intently at Linshua.
"I was a bit surprised when I heard she was a Mutant, but I guess a child is still a child. Seeing her every day, I wonder where all that energy comes from."
Hmm. Linshua’s behavior when I'm not around. This was actually quite interesting.
"What is she like?"
"Just... she'll suddenly get an idea and start kneading mud to make a dog, or she'll get bored while making something at The Society's request and run off somewhere, forcing me to go catch her. Or she'll grab me while I'm going to bed and demand I tell her stories about you. And when we get permission to go outside like today, she runs around so much that she disappears the moment you take your eyes off her."
The Thunder God vented her complaints one by one, but she didn't seem truly annoyed. She listed the events with a peaceful smile and a steady voice.
"I wonder if this is what it feels like to raise a kid."
A child, huh?
The topic had turned a bit heavy.
If I recalled correctly, the Thunder God was permanently infertile due to her physical structure.
In fact, it was the same for many Old Era Heroes.
Except for Prohibition. That guy was a different story.
I considered this for a moment and checked her face, but unlike me, the Thunder God didn't seem to have said it with any deep thought. Her expression hadn't changed much.
If I had to describe her expression, what would it be?
The look of an older sister watching a much younger sibling?
That kind of warmth was reflected in the Thunder God’s face as she watched Linshua.
Hmm.
In this warm atmosphere, could I say it?
"Thunder God."
"Yeah?"
"Um. Do you remember what you said at the beach?"
"How could I forget? I remember everything. Every word. Every inflection."
Right.
"Then, do you still feel the same way?"
"About what?"
"That... my justice is wrong, and that you'll expose it no matter what."
I knew it was a rather aggressive question.
Aggressive enough to shatter this warm atmosphere in an instant.
"Yeah. It's the same."
However, the Thunder God’s voice held no particular emotion.
As if she were stating the obvious.
"Even now, I'm fully intent on exposing you. It's just that Linshua is suppressing me regarding that specific part."
I see.
Feeling a bit bitter, I was about to take out a metal rod and put it in my mouth when—
"Actually, I can think of several indirect ways. The restriction Linshua placed on me isn't even that strong."
The Thunder God began to ramble, her tone rising slightly.
Even though I hadn't asked.
"But I won't go out of my way to do it. Hmm. How should I put it? The victor's right? That's how I'm thinking of it."
Was the Thunder God the type to think of things that only muscle-brains would consider?
Feeling a brief doubt, I looked at her. And she looked back at me.
With a faint smile.
"Even so, don't let your guard down too much. If Linshua falls... or if you start to completely run amok, I'm fully prepared to expose you."
Though she spoke of being my adversary, her voice still held no hostility.
"Saving me was like that. Leaving behind an element you'll regret in the distant future. Or should I put it like this?"
Giggle.
I heard a small laugh.
Then she began to elaborate.
"I'll stay with you until the end to see if your justice is right. Criticizing you, opposing you. Acting as a Hostile Signpost that ensures you always walk your path straight."
Having said that, the Thunder God giggled again.
But then, her face suddenly began to turn bright red.
"Ah. Well. It's not like I have any special feelings or anything. You know? What was it... I saw it in an American comic Linshua was reading. An arch-enemy? Um... that seems a bit different... that's not it..."
She then displayed a variety of reactions, her entire body practically radiating the onomatopoeia for 'flustered.'
She flailed her arms and legs, her face flushed, making strange gestures.
I watched her for a few minutes before finally speaking.
"Yeah. I'm counting on you. If the time ever comes... you must."
Just as the Librarian had been for me.
I trusted that the Thunder God would be that kind of existence for me as well.
* * *
On the way back after the exhibition ended.
I spoke to Linshua, who was skipping along with a grin, carrying a square object wrapped in cloth.
"Are you that happy?"
"Yeah! It's a pretty painting!"
Well, I wouldn't know even if I looked at it, but if Linshua liked it, that was enough.
"Is it by a famous artist?"
"Huh? No! It's by someone I don't know!"
So she really bought it just because she liked the painting.
Then again, considering the price and the fact that they just took it off The Wall and handed it over right there, the artist definitely wasn't famous.
"But they'll probably become famous! In about fifteen years!"
Fifteen years. That's not a short time.
Since Linshua said so, I hoped whoever it was wouldn't give up their brush for those fifteen years.
"So, did you have fun today?"
"Yeah! It was really fun! Dad was great, and Big Sister Thunder God was great too!"
"I'm glad to hear that."
We chatted noisily as we walked along the dark street.
After walking for a while, we reached a Fork in the Road.
To be precise, it wasn't so much a fork as it was the place where we had to part.
A corner of a building. The entrance to an alleyway that led to The Society's Korea branch.
The back alley, already dim, was now swallowed by the darkness of night, becoming a pitch-black void where one couldn't see an inch ahead.
I stared into that darkness and spoke.
"You should get going now, right?"
"Oh? Already?"
Linshua looked disappointed, glancing back and forth between me and the alleyway for the first time today.
"Yeah... I want to stay a bit longer."
Since it was late and dark, there wasn't much left to do, and Linshua likely knew that herself.
Even so, she seemed to want to stay with me, as she began to grumble.
It couldn't be helped.
Thinking that, I slowly stood on my tiptoes and stroked the head of Linshua, who was taller than me.
"We can see each other again later, can't we? Now that you have the charm, we'll be able to see each other much more often than before."
"Yeah... I guess so?"
Seemingly convinced by my words, Linshua smiled and pulled away from my embrace.
"Then, Dad. This is my gift to you!"
The energetic Linshua pulled something out from her person and held it out to me.
"Hmm? What is it?"
I naturally reached out and took the object she offered.
It was a small accessory.
A simple wrist ornament made of a sturdy leather cord and a black bead.
The only slightly notable thing was the yellow light glowing inside the black bead.
"I made it! While thinking of you, Dad!"
Hmm. It seemed a bit lacking in sense for something Linshua made.
Wasn't Linshua’s taste usually for things with softer lines?
I thought that for a moment.
But what did it matter?
I slipped the accessory onto my wrist.
"Yeah. It suits you!"
"Really?"
I couldn't really tell.
To see if it actually suited me, I shook my wrist once and checked it under the streetlamp.
Hmm. I still couldn't tell.
"Make sure you wear it all the time! Promise, Dad!"
Wearing it all the time might be difficult.
I fought so violently that I'd probably break it eventually.
Still, I couldn't say that to her.
"I will."
To soothe my daughter, I made a promise I might not be able to keep.
"Then! Dad! I had fun today! See you tomorrow!"
As soon as she heard the promise, Linshua ran backward into the alleyway.
Before long, she was swallowed by the black darkness and disappeared.
"Then, I'll be going too."
The Thunder God also waved her hand and vanished into the darkness.
* * *
And then, time passed.
I beat up my disciples... no, I trained them.
I took care of minor errands.
I visited the Librarian again.
That kind of rest continued for about two weeks.
Finally, a contact came from Al’shel.
"Two days from now. Please come to our office in the morning."
"I will."
A very simple contact via cell phone.
For someone heading to the Otherworld, it was an incredibly dry conversation.