127
“Well, you two, where have you been so early in the morning?”
Chronos’s curious question greeted the two as they returned home.
Yeon Ji-ho, who had gone to the discount mart with Set, returned almost at noon. In fact, it shouldn’t have taken this long, but time had flown by due to various arguments with Set even before the car started.
The argument was about who would drive.
Set, not wanting the pregnant and uncomfortable Ji-ho to drive, had immediately headed for the driver’s seat. And Ji-ho, who knew better than anyone that Set was unlicensed, gasped and pulled Set out of the driver’s seat.
From Set’s perspective, having watched Ji-ho drive before, it didn’t seem particularly difficult, so he had just tried to do it himself. Originally, he was not only skilled in horsemanship but also in driving carriages at a professional level. Honestly, a car that only required pressing a few pedals seemed much easier than a carriage that needed direct control of horses.
To Set, who kept lingering in front of the driver’s seat instead of sitting in the passenger seat, Ji-ho said firmly:
‘If you get caught driving without a license here, we’ll end up at the police station.’
‘…’
‘At the police station, they’ll check your identity, and then they’ll find out you’re an illegal resident, right? Then you’ll be deported from Korea. Should I raise Bael alone?’
Set had to quietly head to the passenger seat in response to Ji-ho’s cold reaction. However, Ji-ho smiled warmly at the sulking Set, as if he had never been cold, and offered a plausible excuse, saying, ‘Mr. Set, your hand is injured too.’
So, it took quite some time for the two to finally get to the discount mart. Of course, Set decided to quietly keep this incident in mind, not forgetting it. He had another reason to create an identity soon.
“Alright, then I’ll start with the pollack soup.”
Set stuck to Ji-ho’s side like a shadow as Ji-ho rolled up his sleeves. In fact, Set was very, very, extremely displeased with the pregnant Ji-ho cooking, but he had no choice because Ji-ho had been upset, saying not to take away the joy of cooking in his own home.
So Set reluctantly decided to stay as close to Ji-ho as possible and assist to ensure he didn’t use too much energy. As a result, Ji-ho had to repeatedly have tasks taken away by Set whenever he tried to prepare even one ingredient.
While Set prepared the pollack and radish as instructed, Ji-ho put another pack into the boiling water. While Set’s goal was to conserve Ji-ho’s energy, Ji-ho’s goal was to keep Set away from the fire, so only Ji-ho stood in front of the stove.
While the pollack soup was simmering, the glass noodles for the japchae had all softened. Set had already finished preparing all the ingredients for the japchae with knife skills that were now not just natural but skilled. Ji-ho started by sautéing the onions, which were among the ingredients Set had prepared.
The japchae Ji-ho was making now was the simplest one-pan version, so without setting aside separately stir-fried vegetables, he completed the japchae by adding vegetables and meat in order. Finally, when he poured soy sauce, sugar, and sesame oil for the seasoning and color of the japchae, an appetizing aroma rose.
“Ji-ho, Apophis and Isquis will serve and move the dishes.”
“Oh, really? Then let’s start with eight servings of rice.”
Ji-ho pointed to the electric rice cooker, which was steaming as it signaled that the rice was done. At Set’s nod, Apophis quickly grabbed a rice paddle and bowls and came forward.
Shango and Chronos were also busy. The two were setting out water and utensils for the meal. With everyone’s help, the breakfast preparations were complete.
“It’s hot, so eat slowly!”
As soon as Ji-ho’s words ended, the meal began. Even though the rice was freshly cooked and very hot, and the japchae would obviously be hot too, risking burning the roof of their mouths if eaten immediately, no one hesitated to shovel it into their mouths.
Among them, Apophis, who looked the most pale, lifted his bowl and gulped down the pollack soup, saying:
“Ah… I feel like I’m going to live now.”
“The others don’t seem to need hangover relief, but you especially do, Mr. Apophis.”
“That’s because those guys are all stupid… no, knights who don’t even know when their stomachs hurt. After all, I’m a magician, so my physical training is a bit different.”
Apophis subtly glanced at Ji-ho’s swollen belly and tapped his mouth, which was about to let out harsh words. He still couldn’t believe that Set’s child was in Ji-ho’s womb and often forgot about it.
The meal lasted quite a long time. This was because everyone, including Shango, kept adding more rice when they ran out of rice, and more japchae when they ran out of japchae, in an endless cycle. Thanks to this, the japchae that Ji-ho had worried might be too much only ran out when the meal ended.
“Wow, I’m so full I could die…”
“As always, these snake kids eat such pitiful amounts.”
“You bird-brain, you’re just eating without realizing you’re full because you’re so stupid!”
While Apophis and Isquis bickered, Shango gathered all the dishes and headed to the sink. He intended to do the dishes. Chronos, who was next to him, also rolled up his sleeves and offered to help.
Finally, when even the dishes were done, a leisurely afternoon arrived. It was around this time that those who had been idly enjoying the birdsongs in the quiet mountain pension began to properly discuss their future plans.
Chronos was the first to bring up the topic:
“I’m thinking of returning soon.”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Chronos. Under the attention, Chronos burst into laughter and brought up a story he hadn’t been able to tell before.
“Unlike you all, I already have a place to return to. Above all, there are no little people here.”
“You mean you’re going to the Village of Time?”
“Yes. After we were badly defeated in the war… When I returned after decades, I found the village had changed a lot from when I left. Now I’m thinking of spending the rest of my life there.”
When Apophis asked in a rather serious voice, Chronos shrugged and replied comfortably. Apophis, who had been listening silently, then brought up his own story.
“For now, I’m going to stay here.”
“…”
“Unlike Chronos, I have nothing left in that world. Rather, I think it would be more enjoyable to find something to do here while assisting Your Excellency a bit more.”
After Apophis clearly stated his goal, Shango opened his mouth next.
“…Same.”
Shango, who had already seen people with the same skin color as his here, had no intention of returning to Asterra. As he brought the barley tea Ji-ho had given him to his lips and spoke without hesitation, their gazes next fell on Isquis.
Although he hadn’t intended to at first, as everyone was talking about their future plans, Isquis felt he should say something too. However, when he actually received attention, Isquis opened his mouth with a bewildered expression.
“I… don’t… really know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?”
“Y-yes, I do want to stay here with Your Excellency and Ji-ho-nim! But I can’t be by their side forever… And I don’t know what I should do in the future.”
Isquis mumbled, glancing at Set and Ji-ho. The relatively young Isquis was not independent in deciding his future. Until now, Isquis’s life had been a series of following Set rather than pioneering something on his own.
Looking at such an Isquis, Ji-ho laughed softly and said:
“Then, how about going to school?”
“…School? Academy?”
“Yes, at your age, Isquis, you should still be in school here. Of course, we’d need to create an identity first…”
“Me! I want to go!”
Before Ji-ho could finish speaking, Isquis raised his hand high. His eyes were sparkling with life.
“I want to go! School!”
Isquis couldn’t contain his excited heart and kept insisting he wanted to go. As he kept interrupting Ji-ho’s words, Apophis, unable to stand it anymore, smacked the back of Isquis’s head and said:
“Ji-ho-nim is saying we need to arrange identities first.”
“Ah, damn…”
“Regarding that, I have something to say as well, Ji-ho-nim.”
“…Me? Really?”
Ji-ho naturally exchanged glances with Apophis. With Isquis sitting next to Apophis, gently rubbing the back of his head, Ji-ho somehow felt like he was talking to Isquis’s guardian.
“For Isquis to go to school, and for me too, and of course for Your Excellency and Shango… First, we need to create our identities, don’t we?”
“Yes, that’s… right?”
In fact, Ji-ho hadn’t yet deeply considered how to create identities for them. It would be more accurate to say he hadn’t had the chance, as events and incidents had been rushing in until now.
At Ji-ho’s response, Apophis grinned as if he had been waiting for this and said:
“So, that’s why we need your power, Ji-ho-nim.”
“My power?”
“Hmm, first of all, I plan to make money here, Ji-ho-nim.”
Apophis’s eyes sparkled. The face of a man dreaming was more lively than anyone else’s.
“And I’m going to become fabulously rich!”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
