“Mom, why don’t I have a dad?”
“…Huh?”
On their way home from the market, Eunjeong hesitated at her son’s question. She knew this conversation would come someday, but it was too sudden.
“Your dad, well, he went on a long journey for us. He was trying to make it possible for you and me to live here, but something happened…”
Eunjeong’s face clouded as she remembered her lover who had passed away. He was a fellow guild member and, like her, a victim of an unfair contract. They grew close while carrying out missions together and naturally fell in love.
“Our neighborhood isn’t great… There are a lot of bad men around.”
“Haha, that’s true. But you know, the place where mom and dad used to live was much scarier than here.”
A bitter smile appeared on Eunjeong’s lips. When she found out she was pregnant, her lover wanted to leave the guild. He said there was no hope if they got married and had a child in their current state.
To break free from their bleak future, he took the risk of meeting with a broker. He sent Eunjeong to a defense zone, promising to follow soon after.
Unfortunately, the promise wasn’t kept. After months of waiting without news, Eunjeong sensed something had happened to him. Soon after, she learned of his death through the broker.
Despite the world-shattering grief, Eunjeong couldn’t die. She had their baby, the fruit of their love, in her womb.
In the end, she gave birth to the child alone in a foreign place. Even as a D-rank guide, she couldn’t get a good job, but she managed to find work at a private guiding center near the slums.
However, even after several years, she remained an illegal resident. She worried about being tracked by the guild if she registered, and her income was too low to leave the back alleys.
“We lived in a place worse than our neighborhood?”
Eunsu looked around in disbelief. Eunjeong gently stroked her son’s head. She felt depressed that she couldn’t show him only good things, feed him only good food, and dress him in nice clothes.
“Anyway, dad is still working hard for us far away. We’ll be able to meet him someday.”
Despite Eunjeong’s declaration, Eunsu’s expression remained sullen. Though young, the child born and raised in the slums instinctively knew that the day he’d meet his father wouldn’t come, even when he became an adult.
“You know what? Your name, Eunsu, comes from taking one character each from mom and dad’s names.”
Flustered by her son’s indifferent reaction, Eunjeong spoke up to change the mood. Fortunately, the child showed interest in her words.
“Really?”
“Yes. ‘Eun’ from mom’s name Eunjeong, and ‘Su’ from dad’s name Yeonsu. ‘Eun’ means gentle, and ‘Su’ means outstanding. It means to be a kind and excellent person.”
“A kind and excellent person…?”
“It’s a name that carries mom’s wishes. I hope you become a gentle and kind adult like your dad.”
“Hmm, I got it! But how do I become an excellent person? Do I need to awaken like mom?”
Eunsu tilted his head, asking his mother for an answer. He roughly understood how to live kindly, but wasn’t sure how to become an excellent person.
“It’s okay if you don’t awaken. There are many different jobs in the world.”
Eunjeong smiled softly. She already knew her son’s potential was extraordinary. That’s why she worried even more. She hoped the child wouldn’t live a life being used by others like she had.
“Why? It’d be great to awaken and become a police officer or soldier who catches villains. And defeats monsters too!”
“Do you want to become an esper, Eunsu?”
“Yes!”
Eunsu answered energetically. The child wanted to awaken and punish the gang members who bothered his mother and the neighborhood people, and the monster that took the arm of the man living downstairs.
“What if you get hurt fighting monsters?”
“I’ll be careful! Or I’ll become super strong and crush them all!”
“Haha, that’s right. Our Eunsu might become S-rank.”
Eunjeong chuckled as she watched her son throwing punches in the air.
“S-rank?”
“Yes. Among ability users, those with the most outstanding abilities are called S-rank.”
“Oh! I like that. Then I’ll become S-rank too. I’ll be a kind and gentle esper like mom said. And help lots of people!”
“That’s a wonderful plan. Come on, let’s hurry home before the sun sets.”
Eunjeong ruffled her son’s soft hair and tightly held his small hand. The child smiled brightly at the warmth melting his cold hand.
* * *
…Was it a dream?
Iberis stared blankly at the blurry ceiling and raised his arm. When he wiped his eyes, they were wet. He thought it childish to cry in his sleep, wondering if it was the aftermath of regaining his memories.
Iberis pressed his throbbing temples and shivered at the bone-chilling cold. How long had it been since he felt cold upon waking up?
It used to be normal to feel cold every morning.
Iberis smirked, amused at how unfamiliar his cold body felt. He clenched and unclenched his hand, which seemed to still carry the warmth of his mother from the dream. With a drowsy face, he turned his head. That’s when he noticed the empty space beside him.
“…”
Iberis’s lips tightened at the somewhat awkward scene. For the past few months, Lucas had always been by his side when he woke up. But not today.
Last night, Iberis had rejected Lucas, saying he wanted to be alone, and shut himself in the bedroom. He tossed and turned all night, suffering from headaches and cold, only falling asleep near dawn.
“Cough.”
Iberis coughed and shivered once more. Only then could he slowly raise his upper body. After drinking the water on the bedside table, his gaze returned to the empty space beside him. Touching the sheets, he felt a cool sensation.
“Sigh…”
Feeling suddenly stifled, Iberis let out a heavy breath. Then, with unsettled eyes, he looked at the tightly closed bedroom door. He had worried about Lucas sneaking in while he slept, but there was no trace of that happening. It seemed Lucas had used another bedroom.
Maybe I should have just said we could sleep together.
Iberis hesitated at the sudden thought, then shook his head. If he had, he might have hurt Lucas, unable to control his intense emotions. His state yesterday was that unstable. Knowing this, Lucas probably agreed to the suggestion to sleep separately for just one night.
“Hmm.”
A low hum escaped through his tightly closed lips. He felt grateful that Lucas had followed his words, but also subtly disappointed. Iberis covered his face with both hands, finding himself ridiculous. He felt upset after being the one to reject Lucas – what was this about?
“What should I do…”
Iberis sighed repeatedly while rubbing his face dry. He thought he’d feel better after sleeping, but everything was still confusing. After pondering for a moment, he slowly got up. Having fallen asleep only near dawn, it was already close to lunchtime.
Is he awake?
Standing in front of the door, Iberis hesitated with his hand on the doorknob. He didn’t know what face to show Lucas. After hesitating for a long time, he opened the door with a “whatever” attitude.
Click.
The living room was very quiet. Iberis slightly furrowed his brow at the scene, dark and desolate like night despite it being daytime. It seemed the curtains were drawn.
Is he still sleeping? Where could he be?
Iberis left the bedroom, muffling his footsteps like a stray cat. Just then, he heard a low, subdued voice.
“…Are you awake?”
“…! Luke?”
Iberis’s gray eyes widened in surprise as he discovered Lucas sitting on the sofa. He hadn’t sensed any presence just moments ago.
“What, have you been there the whole time?”
Iberis looked flustered as he realized Lucas’s clothes were the same as last night.
“…Yes.”
“Did you… stay up all night in the living room?”
Iberis asked in a disbelieving voice, noticing Lucas’s noticeably gaunt face after just one night.
“I did doze off for a bit earlier.”
“You should have slept comfortably in bed.”
“I was just… anxious. Couldn’t sleep… Before I knew it, morning came as I was reflecting on various things.”
Lucas answered softly. Perhaps due to staying up all night, his tight voice was filled with undisguisable nervousness. It was unlike him.
So he stayed in front of the bedroom all night like a dog guarding the house, desperately waiting for its owner’s return?
Iberis felt a strange emotion at Lucas’s cautious attitude as he carefully watched for his reaction. Seeing this usually confident person so disheveled because of him brought a mix of dark satisfaction and concern.
“Have you… sorted out your thoughts?”
“Huh? Oh, um, no…”
“Then… are you still angry with me?”
“A little?”
“I see.”
Lucas’s expression darkened at Iberis’s response. He had hoped, but it seemed more time was needed.
Seeing Lucas’s gloomy face and drooping shoulders, Iberis cleared his throat briefly. He had the illusion of seeing droopy dog ears on Lucas’s head.
Just like a large dog cowed after being scolded by its owner.
Iberis desperately tried to control his twitching lips. They say love makes you foolish, and seeing Lucas so subdued unlike his usual self made his heart soften.
“Come here.”
“…Pardon?”
“I said, come here.”
Iberis gazed at Lucas with complicated eyes as he approached hesitantly at his words. Just moments ago, he had worried about how to face him, but now that they were face to face, he felt more glad than betrayed to see him.
