Liam the Ex-Soldier Returns Home
I sat quietly on the chair right after turning off the broadcast.
The sudden panic and embarrassment that had gripped me slowly faded, replaced by a deep sense of disappointment.
*One million won and I just ran away...*
My daughters had burst in unexpectedly, leaving me too flustered to do anything else but hit the button to end the stream.
I hadn't been able to properly thank the viewer who had donated such a huge amount, 'havant'. I'd said thank you, but that alone wouldn't be enough.
At this very moment, he was probably cursing at me. No matter what I said, I had nothing to say back.
I had ruined the most important first broadcast of my streaming life.
"Mommy, Mommy!"
"Let's play outside."
Meanwhile, Erina and Evaila, nestled in my arms, chatted with bright, innocent smiles, completely unaware of what had just happened.
Their cheerful faces, as if they had no idea what was going on, melted my heavy heart when I looked down at them.
*...They're so cute.*
I couldn't scold them. How could I punish such adorable little ones?
Normally I would have disciplined them with a firm voice, but this time I decided to let it go.
I couldn't really blame them in the first place.
Erina and Evaila were only five years old.
They were still innocent little children who found everything new and fun. Curious beings just starting to learn about the world.
Asking such young twins not to enter the room was too harsh. Especially since I had been talking loudly inside the entire time.
They probably couldn't hold back their curiosity any longer and had simply opened the door.
I had just remembered something similar from Greek mythology, though the woman there wasn't a child.
"Hey, what were you doing all by yourselves here?"
Erina asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
I gently placed my forehead against her bright twin's and smiled softly.
"I was praying to the goddess to take good care of you, Erina and Evaila."
"The goddess?"
"Yes. Even in another world, she is always watching over us."
"Why does she watch over us?"
Her question was answered before I could, and Evaila then asked in a quiet voice.
Instead of giving the direct answer, I turned the question back on her.
"Do you know why the goddess is called the 'Sun'?"
"Hmm... because she's so warm."
"That's partly right, but it's not quite the same."
I stood up with the twins still in my arms.
"The true reason is that she sends out warm light. She cares for us so we don't tremble in the cold because she loves us."
It had been a proper religious lesson tailored to their level, but the children blinked blankly, not understanding.
It didn't matter if they didn't get it. I had only said it to keep them calm.
"Remember that your mother loves you just as much as the goddess."
"Uh-huh!"
"Me too!"
Erina and Evaila threw their arms around me and giggled happily.
With that, I had successfully quieted them down. This was the parenting skill of a five-year veteran of raising twins.
Taking advantage of the twins calming down, I stepped out into the living room.
"Oppa, I'm sorry."
The moment I came out, Seoyun, who had been sitting on the sofa, suddenly apologized. But her face looked much more exhausted than before the broadcast.
Dark circles under her eyes and slightly parted lips. It was obvious she was tired.
I had a pretty good idea why she looked like that.
"How was your first time taking care of the children?"
"...It was tough."
Seoyun shook her head lightly and then glanced sideways.
"Oppa, oop."
Rohan, sitting beside her on the sofa, grinned and babbled cheerfully.
Then he spotted me and waved his short arms my way. Unlike Seoyun, his energy was still overflowing.
"Was it really that hard to look after them?"
"Our Rohan has more energy than other kids."
I sat the twins down on the empty sofa space and picked up Rohan.
Erina and Evaila didn't look jealous that their mom had been taken by her little brother.
"Rohan is laughing!"
"I'm watching."
The twins seemed to find their little brother rather adorable.
They also understood perfectly that he was still too young to take care of himself. Thanks to my own teaching of morals and etiquette.
"Tired..."
Eventually Seoyun let out a groan.
The memory of my own first time with the twins made me chuckle. I had been twice as exhausted back then.
"Should I cast a healing spell?"
"No, just a little rest will do."
Seoyun leaned back against the sofa and slumped, still looking drained. She looked up at me and continued.
"Oppa, I'm really sorry. Rohan kept fussing, so I couldn't stop holding and soothing him, and I didn't even notice the kids had gone into the room."
I smiled, since I had already expected something like this.
She probably hadn't been calm for even a moment.
Still, for a twenty-something unmarried office worker who hadn't been married yet, she had done a pretty good job. At least she hadn't made the kids cry, so I could call it a success.
"But while all that was happening, did you watch the broadcast?"
"I caught a few moments."
Seoyun waved the smartphone in her hand as she answered. It seemed she had been watching via the mobile app.
"I actually donated as well."
"Really? What was your nickname?"
"BadassGung."
"Ah, I remember."
Among the viewers who had joined the huge donation line, I instantly recognized the name.
"I'm a regular now, right?"
"Yes, of course."
A new follower with good character was always welcome.
Especially Seoyun, I wanted to say she had brought someone in.
After all, the goddess would probably approve of such a gentle soul.
I looked at the new follower with a pleased expression and cautiously opened my mouth.
"But what now? I still haven't been able to thank the person who donated one million won."
"Ah, right."
Now that the broadcast's final scene came to mind, Seoyun furrowed her brows slightly.
"Wouldn't it just be to double the reaction next time?"
"...Doubling it is too much. Especially since a saint appeared right after the first donation. It's harder to prepare anything more impressive than that."
"Why did you even do that?"
"I didn't want to either."
I explained the truth of what had happened during the broadcast to Seoyun.
Our goddess's sudden attack, the saint's descent, and the holy power vanishing in an instant. The predicament I had been in because of it.
After I summarized everything clearly, Seoyun muttered with a cautious tone.
"...That's intense."
"Because she's the Sun. Sometimes she flares up like fire."
Thanks to her human-like charm, she was popular, but I hoped she would calm down a bit.
"Speaking of which, I guess it's out that you're a married woman with kids?"
Seoyun narrowed her eyes and muttered.
"It might not be great though."
"But what exactly is the problem? Honestly, I don't know."
The reason I had been flustered was that I had no intention of featuring the kids on the broadcast yet.
Later, maybe, but right now I didn't want to waste such young children as content.
Seoyun seemed to think differently from me.
"Actually, thinking about it again, it doesn't seem that bad. You have different circumstances from other streamers."
"Is that so?"
"Instead, having the whole family on the broadcast together would be great too, right?"
"I don't want that."
I firmly refused, and Seoyun tried to persuade me with a disappointed look.
"Then at least having the in-laws on the broadcast? You two make a perfect couple."
"...You mean Liam?"
It felt like a curse. Suddenly my irritation rose.
"But where is Liam right now? Is he asleep?"
"I guess so."
"After I asked you to look after the kids, he went to sleep and avoided responsibility? This cute puppy..."
"What puppy?"
"It was just an expression."
The advantage of correcting my speech was that swearing in front of the children automatically got censored.
"I'll talk with you for a moment. Sorry, but could you watch the kids for me?"
I handed Rohan to Seoyun and immediately went to my family's room. Liam was lying there under the blanket up to his neck.
One guy was trying to earn money with a fresh internet broadcast, while his husband was just sleeping. I couldn't hold back anymore this time.
Just as I was about to close the door and scold him properly, Liam's face came into view. His complexion was extremely pale.
"...Liam?"
I rushed over and pressed my hand to his forehead. It was scorching hot, as if he was boiling. His whole body was filled with heat.
*Holy power exhaustion...*
Only then did I realize why Liam had left the kids to sleep. The influence of the saint's descent.
My enormous holy power was nearly depleted, so how much worse would it have been for him? He had probably run completely dry. That was why he had collapsed.
Even so, he had kept it together while taking care of the kids and had finally fallen.
"Goddess Sun, when you received the one million won donation, did you stay quiet?"
There was no reply, but it had to be the truth.
Excessive human-like charm had been the problem. She needed to become more dignified to earn respect.
"Clitia..."
At that moment, Liam slowly opened his eyes. His clear blue eyes, the ones that had once made me shaken, were now hazy.
Without even looking closely, I could tell he wasn't in good shape.
"...I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?"
"I couldn't even properly take care of the kids. Like an idiot."
He was apologizing in a way that didn't suit his usual arrogant personality.
It happened rarely, but it meant his mindset was changing.
"What happened?"
"I saw you doing the 'broadcast.' I couldn't watch anymore."
Liam gave a weak, bitter smile.
"You work so hard for our family here, and I just... What am I even doing? Sorry. I'm a useless man."
"..."
"You are too good for me. Always only making me feel bad and doing nothing..."
"Stop."
I placed my finger on Liam's lips to silence him. I didn't want to hear any more.
"Don't belittle yourself. That would make me look useless too."
This kind of thing wasn't like a hero.
It wasn't like the man who had shaken me, Clitia Elluke, and made me live as a woman.
"If you have time to regret it, help me instead."
I poured holy power into Liam's body and smiled as I healed him.
"I must give a gift to the donor as a way of expressing my gratitude. Liam, as the former hero."
A lively smile appeared at the corner of Liam's mouth.
"Are you sure you'll have no regrets?"
He would definitely regret it.
That was why I was asking. I needed a dramatic 'donation reaction' at a time like this.
"Go ahead and cause chaos. I'll allow it this time only."
"Trust me."
The ex-soldier rose up and grinned mischievously.
It was the playful expression I had often seen in his rogue days.
***
That night.
As expected, I was regretting it.
"Does this violate any law?"
"...I don't know either."
Standing on the balcony looking up at the night sky, Seoyun and I let out a helpless chuckle.
In the sky, where the moon and stars sparkled faintly, there was now a brilliantly glowing message.
[havant is the best viewer!]
It was a flashy, attention-grabbing thing typical of Liam's personality.
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