Chapter 29
Chapter 29
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: The Family's Precious Daughter
-----------------------------------------------------------------
When I came to my senses, I was already sitting next to my father. Actually, someone had sat me down there.
"Our family's precious little girl."
"Her beauty is something else!"
"As expected, she's incredible!"
I had no idea what was so incredible about it, but surrounded by soldiers flashing thumbs-ups with both hands, I shyly raised my own.
"Haha!"
"She's the spitting image of her mom!"
The reactions to even my smallest gestures weren't half bad.
"Section Chief, my son's just started college this year, and he's single."
"M-Me too...!"
"...Hmm."
Sometimes pointless chatter popped up, but Father's grunt shut it down immediately.
But that silence didn't last long.
"Well, no ordinary guy would satisfy her anyway!"
"Like they say, only exceptional kids come from exceptional parents! She's the perfect example!"
"Hmph...!"
The soldiers were quick on the uptake. The moment the mood turned odd, they started flattering Father right away.
Forget calling these 'uncles' weird—they were great! The cheerful atmosphere had me oddly excited too.
Ah, of course, it had nothing to do with their flushed faces or the meal turning into a drinking party.
The second alcohol I'd ever tasted in my life wasn't as bitter as the first. It was actually sweet.
And Father's warmth around my shoulders wasn't bad at all.
"She calls people whatever because I raised her to be so tomboyish, so just go with it."
"As expected of you, Section Chief—a true man's man!"
Father commented on the "form of address" issue like that.
Ah, he probably didn't want to make a big deal out of it due to social perceptions. Or maybe because of how people look at me. Honestly, I wasn't sure.
Every time I downed the drink Father poured me, I felt my body heat up, and I kept nodding vigorously.
"It's the first time I've drunk with my daughter like this."
Yeah, right, yeah.
I tipped back the glass, now brimming and sloshing, sending the liquor down my throat. Gulp! This one had a strong aftertaste.
"Truth is, we never really had a chance to open up to each other, father and daughter."
Yeah, that's right.
And another round.
"I pushed you hard into the military academy because I worried you'd struggle to make ends meet otherwise."
Yeah, that was a bit much.
Another round.
"Back in school, because I moved us around so much, you didn't have any friends and..."
Hey, that's unnecessary.
After downing the last shot, I turned, pressing my index finger firmly against Dad's lips.
"Shhh, Daddy. That's unnecessary."
"......"
"Hehe... My private life is off-limits, okay?"
The mood suddenly quieted again, but I didn't care.
Who asked him to dredge up old stories!
My eyelids kept drooping, but to protect my privacy, I burrowed deeper into Daddy's arms. The warmth felt so good.
"Daddy...?"
A trembling voice came from above my head. What was with this family?
"Duh, I call Daddy 'Daddy'..."
"...Ahem."
Ignoring Dad's fake cough, I glanced around and spotted Haneul Lee with his eyes wide open. Ah, he was a problem too.
"Heyyy, Haneul."
"...What? Me?"
"You kept going 'what?' and telling me not to call you that and... no money if I didn't..."
My glass was empty this time.
When I held up the empty glass, a young-looking soldier across from me poured with both hands.
Nice, perfect.
I tilted the glass back. It filled up again.
"Haneul, you kept nagging about how I call you and... no money... Was that what you wanted to hear so bad...?"
Whoops. My body, leaning on Dad, swayed for a moment, and he pulled me securely back into his arms.
So warm.
I pointed accusingly at Haneul with the hand holding my glass. The financial support was appreciated, but overkill.
"All those lame threats...?"
"L-Lame?"
"Just call you 'Oppa' and it's fine...? Oppa, big brooo...?"
"......"
"Oppa, bro? Happy now?"
The clear, odorless liquid sliding down my throat was so sweet. Expensive booze really is different!
"...Uh, um. Dad, I think she should stop drinking."
I slapped away Haneul's hand, which was fumbling to take my glass, flustered for some reason.
"Hey! Who does Oppa think he is! I'm drinking fine... Right, Daddy?"
"...Right."
"See! Daddy doesn't mind, so why's Oppa bossing me around!"
"......"
"Always begging me to call you Oppa... Men are all... Mmph!"
The rest got cut off as Haneul suddenly clamped my mouth shut.
"...Men?"
And for some reason, a chilling voice from Dad echoed above my head.
"Pfft! Whatever, I'm tired...?"
But was that important?
I swatted away Haneul's hand blocking my mouth and burrowed back into the warmth of Daddy's arms.
"...My daddy's so warm. Hehe..."
The warmth just felt good. That was all.
"Y-Yes, your daughter's full of charm."
"Haha, I have a son too, but this closeness is something else."
"...Hmm."
As the mood sobered, the soldiers chuckled heartily again.
I looked up, and Dad still had that stern expression, but now I could see it!
"Huh? He likes it. Oppa, look—Daddy loves it!"
"......"
"Precious daughter's charm is killer~ Right~?"
"...Hmph. Hm?"
"Whoa, like glutinous rice cake! Oppa, feel this!"
Dad's cheeks, which I'd forgotten about in my haze, were so soft and stretchy.
And when I opened my eyes to birdsong outside the window, I was in bed.
What? When did they move me here?
"Urk!"
"Sheesh..."
"Uweeeck!!"
"......"
The sound of retching filled the bathroom. It'd tasted so good going down, but this hangover was brutal.
"Told you to drink in moderation."
Haneul, kindly rubbing my back, said it with a pitying tone.
"I-I didn't think it'd be this bad... Uweeeck!"
"......"
Even after puking up everything from last night and then stomach acid, the dry heaves finally stopped.
"Th-Thanks..."
"Say 'Thank you' properly."
"...Thank you."
That smug tone!
It annoyed me to no end, but I followed along quietly. No big deal, and it wasn't costing me anything.
"Anyway, do you remember what happened yesterday?"
"...Huh?"
As I wiped the traces from my mouth at the sink, he asked.
Yesterday? Remember? Unfortunately, nothing came to mind. Vaguely, the cheerful atmosphere...
'We ate well and parted ways nicely, right?'
No matter how I racked my brain, that was it. No clue.
Maybe reading my expression, he sighed deeply and patted my shoulder.
"Little sis. You can't drink."
"...?"
"Especially not around other guys."
"...Huh?"
I'd thought something like that once before, but hearing it from someone else felt surreal.
What now?
As I tilted my head in confusion, he nodded toward the living room. Mom and Dad were there.
"...Uh, um. Good morning?"
"Yeah."
Father was still stiff as ever. Nothing seemed different...
Maybe because of Haneul's words, I felt self-conscious for no reason.
As I timidly stepped out of the bathroom, Mom immediately shoved a packed container of side dishes into my hands.
It was so stuffed—pressed down tight—it was heavy enough to be a burden for me alone.
"Our daughter needs to eat well, okay?"
"...Yes."
And saying that, I couldn't bring myself to say it gave me chills or ask to just be called 'son'—so I just nodded.
Daughter, daughter...
"Take care."
"Ah, yes..."
Mom and Dad even saw us off at the front door. And then,
"Can't you carry it when your little sister's struggling?"
"Of course, I will."
Because of that, the heavy container slipped from my hands to Haneul's before I knew it.
"Our son will see her off safely, right?"
"Don't worry, I'll get her home safe."
Mom's voice was still gentle, but there was something off about it.
Why was the atmosphere suddenly so... weird...?
As I stood there confused by the inexplicable vibe, Haneul tapped my shoulder.
"Let's go. I'll drive you."
"Ah... Yeah, thanks..."
I ended up going with him in a daze. Before leaving, I bowed politely to Father as usual.
"Father, we'll be off..."
"...Daddy."
"...Pardon?"
"Call me Daddy."
"......"
Something was definitely off!
This wasn't how our family acted!
And what about Mom giggling beside him!
His bolt-from-the-blue words froze me mid-bow. For a second, I thought I'd misheard.
So I asked again,
"...Huh?"
"You should call me Daddy."
"......"
My ears seemed fine.
'What is this, a hidden camera?'
Wondering if it really was, I creakily looked up at Haneul. He was just smiling. No answers there.
Annoying.
So I asked him directly. But then...
"H-Hyung. What's going..."
"Hey, it's 'Oppa,' remember?"
"......"
Haneul—hyung—mimicked Father's tone exactly.
Something was seriously wrong.
Like a plague had spread.
'This is a dream.'
A terrible nightmare.