A Mother's Call

I blinked at the vibrating phone and checked the name on the screen one more time. Mom.

I couldn’t even remember how long it had been since she last reached out. …I-I’d better answer before she hangs up.

I swallowed hard, steadied my voice, and carefully picked up the call.

“…H-hello?”

A familiar voice came through the speaker.

[…Have you been well?]

It was Mom. …Our mom still has such a beautiful voice…. But why call out of nowhere? After ignoring me all this time….

[…Soyeon?]

Startled by her saying my name, I snapped back to reality and answered in a rush.

“Uh, y-yeah…. I’ve… been fine….”

[…Good. Sorry for calling so suddenly. Are you busy?]

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The moment she asked if I was busy, Yu Jihwan and Gong Haeseon flashed through my mind. …Busy? Absolutely. My man was alone with that vixen; I couldn’t afford to look away for even a second. But their business was already finished. …A short call should be okay, right?

When I told her it was fine, Mom sounded relieved and continued slowly.

[…I’m planning to come to Seoul soon.]

“…Seoul?”

I was genuinely shocked by the news. After Dad died, the trauma had swallowed Mom whole. She kept muttering things like “system” and disappeared into her own world. Losing the man she loved was devastating enough, but watching Mom break like that was more than a child could bear. I remembered the warm mother who used to hold me so gently and had tried everything to get her attention, but it only led to where we were now.

Yet here she was, suddenly talking about coming to Seoul…. Had something changed? Or… had she finally let Dad go?

[…I want to see my beloved daughter’s face… and I have some business, so I’ve already found a house.]

The words beloved daughter pierced straight into my chest. She still… loved me. I used to resent her so much, but hearing her say it now left me with the strangest feeling.

After a few more short pleasantries, we ended the call with a promise to see each other soon.

“….”

I stared blankly at the darkened screen. The call had lasted barely five minutes. It still didn’t feel real; my mind was in a fog.

I slipped the phone into my pocket and slowly started walking home.

…Mom is coming back. The mother who abandoned me… the mother who still loves me is coming back….

“….”

Without thinking, the corners of my mouth lifted. It felt like I had just reclaimed a lost piece of happiness. I picked up my pace, already wondering how I would introduce Jihwan to Mom, and Mom to Jihwan.

That evening I cooked dinner with Yu Jihwan, who had come home late. He insisted he could handle it alone, but I stubbornly helped anyway. Just as I had grown used to his cooking, I wanted to learn quickly so I could make him addicted to mine.

We ate together, played games, and laughed until it was suddenly time for him to leave.

“See you tomorrow.”

“…Go.”

After the goodbye, Yu Jihwan stepped out the front door without the slightest hesitation. I had expected him to be more assertive now that he had even driven Gong Haeseon away, but….

Clank.

It seemed he still wasn’t ready. Alone in the house, I unconsciously scanned the empty rooms. Only one person had left, yet the place felt strangely desolate.

…If Yu Jihwan lived here, I would never have to feel this way….

“…Crazy.”

We hadn’t even kissed yet and I was already thinking about living together. Even I could tell how pathetic that was. Shaking off the chilly hallway, I hurried upstairs, stripped off my uncomfortable underwear, changed into comfy clothes, and logged into the game.

They greeted me with the same bizarre salutes they must have picked up somewhere. I exchanged quick hellos with my “friends,” waited for a lull in the conversation, and dropped my news.

They already knew who my mom was; they’d met her several times. The news that the Sword Empress was returning to society wouldn’t even be surprising on the evening news. Still, they were considerate enough to simply say they were happy for me and didn’t pry further. They might talk like perverted old men and act like hopeless spinsters, but deep down they were good people.

…If only they would stop with the sexual harassment.

I thanked them for the congratulations, then immediately delivered the more important update.

The chat exploded with nonstop sexual jokes and teasing. Normally I would have frowned, but today their words felt oddly comforting. That was how satisfying it had been.

I swallowed dryly, secretly gathering my mana, and tried to change the subject.

“…I have no idea what you’re talking about….”

Gong Yeji ground her teeth and glared at me. Those bloodshot green eyes. The sheer ferocity behind that normally gentle face was no joke. I flinched.

…She really is terrifying….

I had been walking home after breaking things off with Min Soyeon when Gong Yeji appeared like a ghost and started interrogating me.

“Before I rip that mouth off, speak. What exactly did you do to our Haeseon?”

It seemed Haeseon had been crying a lot at home. A pang of guilt stabbed my chest. I kept my guard up and prepared a defensive spell while cautiously telling Gong Yeji the truth.

“…I can’t accept Haeseon’s feelings—”

The moment the words left my mouth, Gong Yeji’s mana sharpened into blades and shot toward me.

Shiiiing—!

Hey, I’m still talking!

I quickly cast my magic and blocked her attack.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Her mana shattered against my barrier. It wasn’t a full-powered strike; she was only trying to threaten me.

“Say it again.”

Gong Yeji glared and gathered her mana once ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠more. Her coercion was far too practiced.

“…It’s already over. No matter how much you claim to be Haeseon’s older sister—ugh!”

Shiiiing—!

Another exchange. Clang!! Clang!! Clang!! The attacks were noticeably stronger this time. My mana was starting to run dry, yet Gong Yeji looked perfectly fine and showed no sign of stopping after just one or two strikes.

“…This isn’t working.”

Gong Yeji growled low.

“…It’ll be faster if I just take you with me.”

“…What?”

She had just openly declared a kidnapping. Was this really Haeseon’s sister? I couldn’t understand how her mind jumped straight to abduction.

Gong Yeji didn’t give me time to react. Her mana condensed into something so dark it looked black. Booooom—! A massive clump of power hurtled toward me as if to knock me unconscious.

“Haa!”

My frozen mana collided with her pitch-black power, producing a tremendous roar.

BOOM!!!!

The frozen mana shattered and scattered glittering particles everywhere.

“Tsk…”

The moment Gong Yeji clicked her tongue and prepared her next attack—

“W-wait…!”

I thrust my arms out and shouted.

“Do you really think Haeseon would be happy if you kidnapped me?”

“Haeseon will definitely be happy.”

She said it so matter-of-factly that I was left speechless.

“…This isn’t the right way to help her. If you truly care about Haeseon, find another method!”

“Enough with the tricks, Yu Jihwan. Haeseon wants you.”

Gong Yeji was stubborn. What kind of upbringing had she received…? It was hard to believe they had grown up in the same house.

As I recalled her earlier behavior, I noticed something strange. Her way of thinking was subtly distorted. She seemed convinced that her own thoughts were identical to Gong Haeseon’s.

…I needed to check.

“…Did you ask Haeseon? Did she say she wants me? Did she tell you to attack me, force me, and drag me back?”

Gong Yeji only glared and stayed silent. As I suspected…. Whether she realized it or not, she was justifying her actions by claiming everything was for her sister, yet she hadn’t once considered how her sister actually felt. Her intentions were good, but her methods were completely wrong.

“…I’ll help you.”

“…You?”

I already owed Haeseon a debt. Comforting her indirectly through her sister should be fine.

“…First, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠let’s—”

The moment I opened my mouth to persuade her, a siren wailed in the distance. It ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was probably because of the explosion just now. Gong Yeji’s face hardened. She glared at me and began wrapping herself in mana.

No, I can’t let her leave like this!

I rushed toward her and shouted.

“Something sweet!!”

Gong Yeji looked at me as if I were speaking nonsense.

“Eat anything sweet and just listen to me!!”

Giving someone something sweet usually softened their heart. That was experience talking.

The siren grew louder. Gong Yeji vanished, completely enveloped in her dark mana.

“…Haa…”

After confirming she was gone, I hurriedly left the park. I could only hope the older sister would be able to soothe her younger sister’s broken heart.