Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Recollections and Interruptions
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I took a breath and choked on it.
It was so funny I couldn't breathe.
*I mean, I get it.*
For him to judge himself like that, it must have been quite a foreign sight, huh?
I looked up at him askance.
“Maybe you have a split pelsonality? Should I do a mental checkup fo' you?”
“That's not necessary. But it's not an impossibility, I suppose. Since I can't remember.”
In any case, what my dad saw was just a fragmented scene.
*That's strange, though.*
Didn't I see all of Dad's memories vividly? But he says he saw something different from me.
*What could be the reason?*
This was only the second time I'd treated a patient in exchange for their lifespan, so I didn't fully understand this ability yet.
*The first time, I just tried to simply return the memories. The second time, I improved his condition so he could remember on his own.*
It wasn't the same illness, but to use Alzheimer's as an example.
Was it the difference between returning a patient's forgotten memories and reviving their damaged brain cells to give them the ability to regenerate on their own?
“Whatever. It's fine. If my past self was that much of an... idiot, I've decided I don't really need to remember.”
“Was it dat shocking?”
Dad didn't answer, but his silence was an affirmation.
“Besides, I saw you in my memories, so that's enough.”
I looked at my dad, his expression having returned to one of indifference, and thought.
I couldn't have been the only one there.
*Is there a reason he still can't remember Mom?*
I didn't want to needlessly confuse the patient over something I hadn't figured out myself yet.
“Gweat, Daddy's my minion now. You know dat, wight?”
Memories were memories, but he had taken a hefty advance payment.
I tried to cross my arms triumphantly... but they were too short.
So I put my hands on my hips instead.
“So, one is a family member a patriarch must care for, and the other is a minion?”
“Huh? What awe you talking about?”
Dad raised an eyebrow slightly. He looked displeased.
“...Never mind.”
What's with him? So anticlimactic.
Ignoring him, I quickly beamed. I grabbed the hem of his new clothes and shook it.
“Now, let's huwwy to the mawket!”
Heuk Biyu, the tables are about to turn!
* * *
They didn't get to go to the market that Heuk Biyu so desperately wanted to visit that day.
It was because Heuk Bihu had postponed it by a day, saying she might catch a cold and that they should watch her condition.
Biyu felt it was unfair!
*A stupid cold! Even if I catch one, I can cure it with my powers!*
One moment he was calling a three-year-old he just met an assassin, and the next…
Now he was worried about a cold.
What a ridiculous father!
*No, he's probably just worried his only physician will get sick. Hmph.*
Biyu was properly peeved.
Still, she didn't protest, judging that one day wouldn't make a difference.
Biyu herself didn't realize it, but she had used a lot of energy treating Heuk Bihu.
Heuk Bihu had seen her staggering with sleepy eyes the whole time she was wiping her face with a towel, which was why he had been so firm in stopping her.
The next day.
Heuk Bihu was sitting on the main veranda, lost in thought.
*Now that I properly know she's my daughter, shouldn't she be sleeping in this house?*
This thought was prompted by his not-so-welcome older brother, Heuk Biwon.
Yesterday, just as Heuk Biyu was drying off and nodding off to sleep, the father-son duo of Heuk Biwon and Heuk Gyewon had suddenly appeared and whisked Biyu away.
*‘How dare you obstruct your sacred older brother's work.’*
*‘How dare you obstruct your sacred older brother's work.’*
*‘...What is he doing?’*
*‘...What is he doing?’*
*‘I can't entrust our precious princess to a little brother who doesn't even know how to look after a child!’*
*‘I can't entrust our precious princess to a little brother who doesn't even know how to look after a child!’*
*‘Aren't you just as clueless about looking after children?’*
*‘Aren't you just as clueless about looking after children?’*
*‘Correct!’*
*‘Correct!’*
His brother had laughed heartily and agreed without hesitation. Then he gave him a thumbs-up.
*‘My boy is great with kids! You don't have a son like this, do ya?’*
*‘My boy is great with kids! You don't have a son like this, do ya?’*
*‘...’*
*‘...’*
*‘Hahaha!’*
*‘Hahaha!’*
And so, armed with irrefutable logic, his brother had given him a sly grin and taken Biyu away.
It was an absurd event, even in hindsight.
Of course, his brother wasn't wrong. He had neglected even his own body.
Heuk Bihu shifted his position and recalled something else.
It was from when his eldest sister, Heuk Haran, had given him Heuk Biyu's antidote.
Heuk Haran had approached him with a suspicious look and whispered secretly.
*‘You, how much do you remember?’*
*‘You, how much do you remember?’*
He had gone with Heuk Biwon to get the antidote. Unlike his brother, who said he had something to discuss with their sister, he had tried to leave first.
But Heuk Haran had singled him out.
And then she had whispered, just loud enough for him to hear.
*‘Is that so? You're saying you still have forgotten that woman...’*
*‘Is that so? You're saying you still have forgotten that woman...’*
It was a meaningful smile.
He may have lost his memories, but not his intelligence.
*‘Congratulations in advance. You'll soon forget everything about yourself.’*
*‘Congratulations in advance. You'll soon forget everything about yourself.’*
It was clear mockery.
Heuk Bihu simply stared at his sister without reacting.
*‘You can't give up on the patient.’*
*‘You can't give up on the patient.’*
He recalled the child's face, firmly declaring that he shouldn't be lazy about getting angry.
*‘Insults awe passed down.’*
*‘Insults awe passed down.’*
*‘The things Daddy and Eldest Uncle left behind will keep sticking to me and Bwother.’*
*‘The things Daddy and Eldest Uncle left behind will keep sticking to me and Bwother.’*
After glancing at his brother, who was looking at something in the distance, Heuk Bihu crossed his arms.
For the first time, he responded.
*‘It seems you want me to give up on everything, but I have no intention of giving up on life just yet.’*
*‘It seems you want me to give up on everything, but I have no intention of giving up on life just yet.’*
*‘...What?’*
*‘...What?’*
*‘Are you slow? I'm saying that's not going to happen.’*
*‘Are you slow? I'm saying that's not going to happen.’*
Facing his sister's now-vicious expression, Heuk Bihu faintly raised the corner of his mouth.
But only for a moment. Heuk Haran then wore a sneer.
*‘Go on and give that medicine to your child. She was such a pathetic thing. Just like the daughter of a fallen wretch like you.’*
*‘Go on and give that medicine to your child. She was such a pathetic thing. Just like the daughter of a fallen wretch like you.’*
With that, Heuk Haran spun around and left.
Only Heuk Biwon, who deliberately bumped shoulders with her, let out a snicker.
Saying, *‘That old hag, her temper is as terrifying as ever, isn't it?’*
And so he had returned with the antidote and given it to Heuk Biyu.
Finishing his recollection, he lifted his eyes and stared ahead.
Heuk Haran's meaningful words were a matter to be mulled over slowly, as long as he didn't forget them.
Because he no longer had any intention of ignoring such meaningful words.
Especially if they were related to his daughter.
“So, are you saying I was wrong?!”
“Ugh, you'we so loud!”
More important than that right now was the rather amusing scene unfolding before his eyes.
His younger brother, Heuk Birang, was arguing with a three-year-old with all his heart.
Heuk Bihu tilted his head languidly.
*So, when are we going to the market?*
Today was the day they were supposed to go to the market.
* * *
“Hey! I heard you caused some trouble!”
It was finally the long-awaited market day. But before we could leave, we ran into a nuisance.
“You did something fun without me?!”
Of course, I scowled. My younger uncle, awake for the first time in a while, was blocking our path.
*He looks better. Is it thanks to the medicine?*
And probably because of the hope that he was improving. He must have slept through the forced slumber with less anxiety than before.
That aside.
*Who said I caused trouble?*
He must have heard what happened from my eldest uncle or my cousin. What trouble?
I corrected him straight.
“So, are you saying I was wrong?!”
But it wasn't getting through to him.
“Ugh, you'we so loud! Stop it, awe you a baby? Why awe you yelling at Biyu? That's mean. If you say any mowe useless stuff, I'm gonna kick you out!”
“No...”
Only then did my excited uncle pause. He seemed hesitant.
“...I heard something serious happened to you, kiddo. And, ahem. I wasn't any help since I was sleeping.”
“You wouldn't have been any help even if you wewe awake...”
“What?!”