Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: A Father's Memory
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“Drink some water.”
After washing up and getting his bearings, Dad heard the story and didn't hesitate to show his annoyance.
“You called my brother? I would've been fine if you'd just left me alone.”
Thankfully, two people stepped in before I got mad enough to raise my hand.
“The eldest uncle’s slash of justice!”
*Thwack!*
“...Ugh, what was that for!”
“Then I'll use the water bomb slash!”
Of course, my troublemaker uncle immediately attacked him with water, earning a long scolding from me.
A water bomb on someone whose fever just broke? Are you crazy?! Are you going to take responsibility if he catches a cold?!
“I’m glad your fever’s gone down. It was really high.”
“Is that so.”
When I asked if he experienced these symptoms often, Dad shook his head.
*Is this a side effect of my treatment, then?*
As I wore a serious expression, a gentle breeze blew.
“Whoa?”
Dad, who had levitated me over with the wind, suddenly pulled me into a hug.
He had a warm, comforting scent.
“You must have had a hard time.”
I blinked, then gave a small, shy smile.
I was pleased that his voice was completely back to normal.
“...If you know, then tweat me better.”
I heard a soft chuckle.
“It wasn't for nothing.”
“Hmm?”
In fact, we weren't the only ones in the room.
When I glanced over, Heuk Birang was watching us as if he were seeing something extraordinary.
My troublemaker uncle's jaw dropped, and he started smacking the eldest uncle next to him.
Like a studio audience.
“...Brother, brother. Heuk Bihu, that look on his face is just like back when he ran away and went crazy...”
“Be quiet. Your older brother is trying to enjoy the moment.”
I wonder where their years went. I shook my head and looked back at Dad.
“Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”
“No.”
Dad took my hand from his forehead and lowered it.
“You're truly capable. No, should I say my daughter is capable?”
Why does he feel so sentimental now that he's awake?
I guess it's because he was so sick...
“...I finally remembered the day you were born.”
For a moment, my heart pounded. Dad pulled me into his arms.
“I think I was happy. Very happy.”
I'd thought about it once.
Back when I was in elementary school in Korea, when I was reminded once again that I was the only one without the parents everyone else had.
I wanted to ask the people out there somewhere who had given birth to me.
How did you feel when I was born?
Did you abandon me because you hated me, because you cursed me, because you despised me?
Living as Heuk Biyu, I could never ask that question.
I was too busy just trying to survive, and everyone called me an abandoned child.
The answer I had finally, calmly resigned myself to giving up on was now right in front of me.
What would that feel like?
“...I'm sorry for leaving you alone.”
Dad's voice wasn't as gentle as the one I'd seen in my memories.
Because his memories are still unstable, I know the person from back then and the dad before me now aren't the same.
So why the sudden change?
I was more bewildered than anything, and I felt cautious.
And yet... it was nice.
Just for now, I'll be honest with myself.
“...Dad.”
I leaned my cheek against his warm chest and called out to him carefully, smiling brightly.
I'll have to start running hard again soon.
But for now, it's okay to be happy for a little while.
“Wow, what a touching scene. Brings a tear to my eye.”
“Brother, can you be quiet? Ugh, goosebumps...”
“Wipe your tears before you talk, little brother.”
“Who's crying?!”
Ah, so much for that. I lifted my head from Dad's chest. What's the point of a nice atmosphere?
My eldest and younger uncles' conversation ruined it all.
Dad must have felt the same, because his expression was not pleasant.
“You're noisy. Get out.”
But his brothers paid him no mind.
“Oh, dear me! After all the trouble I went through to fix up this entire house so my poor brother wouldn't get rained on! And this persecution is what I get in return! Being a supportive spouse is so hard, sob sob.”
My eldest uncle was openly imitating a tragic heroine.
His brawny build aside, the sly smile on his face just made it look bizarre.
“Waaaah, making your eldest brother cry! Heuk Bihu, hand over your niece and get lost. You don't even deserve to be a father! Aaargh!”
Heuk Birang hastily ducked to avoid the gust of wind flying at him.
A chunk of the wall was gouged out.
My uncle screamed his head off about being the only one attacked, but Dad ignored him.
“It seems no proper conversation can be had here.”
“Haha...”
Just then, the door opened and Gyewon appeared carrying a tray, which settled the situation.
After the meal, my uncle and eldest uncle decided to head back.
Although my eldest uncle and cousin tried to persuade me to go with them.
I decided to stay here for one more day.
“Got it, short stuff? If anything happens, you scream your lungs out, okay?”
“...Huh?”
“What's with the blank look? I mean, come running like you did yesterday! Dammit, if Heuk Bihu hadn't kicked me out, I could've slept here!”
“Go sleep in your own house.”
Somehow, Dad's attitude seems to have changed.
*Not just somehow, it's completely blatant, isn't it?*
Seeing him so openly display his displeasure, I subtly blocked Dad's path.
“Patients shouldn't fight.”
“...Huh? Didn't the eldest brother fight with his third brother-in-law? And I heard your dad fought with Heuk Yehun too?”
“Yup. Fwom now on, no fighting.”
“...I'm just imagining you're targeting me, right? Huh? You cunning little niece?”
Heuk Birang pinched my cheek and grumbled until Heuk Gyewon told him off.
But my cousin, who stepped up next, took it even further.
“Heuk Biyu, I'm going to sleep in that forest tonight.”
Gyewon pointed to the woods.
Is he crazy? Why there, when he has a comfortable house?
“Tsk, tsk, such dirty obsession! An obsessive brother like that doesn't deserve to be loved. Sweetheart, your eldest uncle is going to go home and sleep. I'm a good boy, right?”
“Yup. Sleep well.”
“Ahem, should your eldest uncle sleep here with you?”
“No, that's okay.”
At that, Heuk Biwon pretended to cry, sniffing 'sob, sob'.
“I guess it can't be helped!”
He said with a shameless expression, not even bothering to wipe the smile off his face.
“Be careful not to get kidnapped in the middle of the night~”
“...Huh?”
Sometimes, I can't tell if my eldest uncle's words are a joke or not.
*It's probably a joke...*
I watched his less-than-trustworthy face for a moment before seeing them off.
Dad didn't come to see them off with me, saying he'd wait in front of the house.
After Heuk Gyewon, who insisted on sleeping in the woods, disappeared with my eldest uncle, who offered to teach him how to build a shelter.
I walked with my younger uncle for a bit.
“Hey, I'm heading off from here. Go on back.”
“Okay. Oh, Uncle. Awe you taking your medicine well? And your meals?”
My younger uncle looked down at me askance.
“Someone nagged me so much about eating well that I've been eating on time. Happy now?”
Tsk, it was a special talent to act like a thug when he looked like the most proper young master in the world.
“Yup, well done. You deserve praise for that.”
I'm already in the middle of drying the medicinal herbs I went out and bought. As soon as they're ready, I plan to make his medicine.
“You're not drinking or smoking, are you?”
“I don't. Why would I do that crap?”
“...Hmm, you're the best, Uncle.”
He really is the most cooperative patient of the three brothers.
Heuk Birang quietly asked.
“...Really? I'm the best?”
“Yup. The most diligent.”
“Ha, that's right! It's because my two older brothers are so inhuman. Tsk tsk, I knew it all along.”
Heuk Birang preened.
“Even when we were kids, honestly, after Brother So-ha, I was...”
My uncle, who had been chattering away cheerfully, suddenly clamped his mouth shut. As if he'd said something he shouldn't have.
“So-ha? Heuk So-ha?”
My younger uncle nodded, his expression dismayed.
“Well... you know that Brother Biwon had two older brothers above him, right?”
“Uh-huh.”
I know. The current family head, my grandmother, had five sons.
The first son died, and the second went missing.
So in effect, Heuk Biwon became the eldest son. I know that much.
“It's not a long story.”
Heuk Birang subtly avoided the topic.
“About your father...”
At that moment, water welled up around Heuk Birang. Then, a transparent curtain of water spread out, surrounding the two of us.
I watched, fascinated.
“It's not dangerous. I just made it so no one can hear us.”
My uncle crouched down. He looked arrogant, but he was also gauging my reaction. I nodded.
“Yup, I know. Uncle wouldn't hurt me. I twust you.”
“...I wonder if my own daughter would say that.”