“What is this?”
Yoo Hae-ryun, who had just finished her business, was shocked at the state of the house.
The living room was filled with vegetables, ham, tuna… what was that? What’s with the pork cutlet? Next to it was a large black square object… it was seaweed.
“They said they were making kimbap, but what on earth is she doing? Hey, Jin Yu-ri! Jin Yu-ri! What the hell is this!!”
“What do you mean? I’m making kimbap.”
Jin Yu-ri emerged from the kitchen, a steaming basket floating beside her.
“That’s—”
“Rice. I didn’t make rice.”
“There’s plenty of rice! I clearly saw it when Mom left.”
“Mom.”
Jin Yu-ri coldly looked at Yoo Hae-ryun.
“That’s the rice we eat, and this is different.”
She had brought rice that was freshly milled today. All the vegetables were organic. It was meant for her beloved daughter Spring and their first trip together with “Mom.”
“I won’t allow even a single gram of artificial ingredients~! Loo loo loo loo~.”
“Ha…”
“This ham was specially ordered yesterday. They said it doesn’t contain any chemical seasoning. Isn’t it savory?”
“Ha… Ha…”
“Is the pork cutlet cold? Hmm, it’s fine. How’s the taste? Good. Mom, try some. It’s delicious. Spring said she wants to eat pork cutlet kimbap.”
“……”
Yoo Hae-ryun laughed in disbelief as memories flashed back.
Had she ever received a birthday meal like this from that brat?
No.
No matter how hard she racked her extraordinary memory, there wasn’t a single time she had seen her cook rice for herself.
Honestly, when she called earlier and said, “Mom, I’m making kimbap~,” she thought they would simply buy it, or ask her aunts and uncles living in Jin-ryong Mountain for help.
But she is cooking?
Yoo Hae-ryun just now discovered that this brat could actually cook.
Something feels off. Is she really my daughter?
Yoo Hae-ryun immediately set out to verify.
“Hey, Jin Yu-ri.”
“Yeah?”
“Jin Yu-ri.”
“What is it, Mom?”
“Jin Yu-ri.”
“Ugh, really! I’m busy, why do you keep calling me?”
That’s right.
It’s Jin Yu-ri, the notorious troublemaker of the Jin-ryong Family. This is definitely my daughter Jin Yu-ri, whom I gave birth to with difficulty.
But she’s wrapping kimbap? My daughter?
“They say raising a daughter is useless.”
“Hmm? Mom, where are you going?”
“I’m going to take a shower.”
Seeing her like that made Yoo Hae-ryun want to splash some water on her.
She turned on the shower.
It was very cold water.
The fact that she had eaten seaweed soup after giving birth to that brat felt particularly empty today.
……
…
But what can she do? Whether she likes it or not, she is her daughter.
Cooling off with the cold water, Yoo Hae-ryun was wrapping kimbap next to Jin Yu-ri.
“Hm? They said it’s organic ham, and it’s really delicious. Where did you get this ham?”
“Merhem taught me. I got her phone number over there.”
“Good job. I should buy some.”
“They say it’s all handmade. So there’s a fixed amount they can sell… Ah, Mom! Don’t eat the tails. Spring loves the tails!”
“I like the tails too! Mmm, it’s delicious.”
The two of them chatted happily while munching on kimbap.
“But how many rolls do you plan to make? Can you eat all this?”
“Our family is big eaters. I could eat about twenty rolls of kimbap in one sitting.”
“Right, I know that Sword Master is a big eater. But you’re going on a trip with Yeon-hee and Spring.”
“Mom, think about it. Things have changed a lot, but for a picnic, kimbap is a must, right?”
“True.”
“If we assume we made kimbap, what will you serve for breakfast for the family?”
“Kimbap?”
“Exactly!”
Jin Yu-ri proudly stated as she popped a piece of kimbap in her mouth.
“What I’m wrapping is breakfast for our family tomorrow.”
“…… So all this fuss is for someone else’s breakfast?”
“Fuss? For this sacred kimbap? Try it. It’s delicious.”
“Ha… I can’t believe this… Mmm. It does taste good.”
“Right?”
“Give me another one.”
Jin Yu-ri fed Yoo Hae-ryun another piece of kimbap.
Munch munch.
It tastes good. It’s just that she isn’t the one cooking it; she’s got skills.
“But daughter, you might have forgotten, but you’re still a Jin-ryong. The daughter of Jin Do-ha. You’re not part of the Sword Master family.”
“That’s not true! Tiger bl**d flows in my veins!”
Roar!
Yoo Hae-ryun looked at the foolishly barking Jin Yu-ri with pity.
“Look how you’re talking. Anyone who hears you would think you’re already married.”
“Almost there.”
“Oh, really? You must be thorough in your delusions, Jin Yu-ri.”
“Hmph, just wait. I’m Jin Yu-ri. I’ll be properly recognized during this trip. Who knows? I might head straight to the wedding venue as soon as I land!”
“Pfft. Just book the wedding venue, then?”
“Get the best place. Don’t be stingy with the wedding gifts. Also, it has to be a place with delicious food.”
“Yes, yes. Just please bring him along. What can’t I do for you?”
“Did you promise?”
“Don’t worry. Even if I don’t, there will be plenty of people clamoring. Your dad won’t just sit idly either. Have you seen your dad dance?”
“No.”
“You’ll get to see it when you get married. A joyous tap dance. Isn’t that something to look forward to?”
“Ew, Dad?”
The connection between Jin Do-ha and Park Ki-hyuk had rapidly strengthened through the Dragon Armor project.
Regardless of age, the two had become good friends, exchanging magical views and knowledge as fellow sorcerers.
“Your dad, Park, just goes crazy over letters. Sometimes I think he likes them more than he likes me.”
“Hmm? Letters?! I’ve never received one! When did he send it?”
“He sends them often? I got one the day before yesterday. I think it was about the Dragon Armor research.”
“Oh, was that it? He said he succeeded in ‘miniaturization’ yesterday… Now that I think about it, I’m a bit upset. If Ki-hyuk wrote a letter, shouldn’t I see it together with him?”
“Hey, he didn’t even tell your mom, who’s sleeping under the same blanket. Want to hear something funny? Do you know how your dad receives Park’s letters?”
“How does he receive them?”
“Uncle Do-min personally goes.”
“Uncle Do-min personally?”
“Yep, personally. He flies all the way to America.”
Jin Do-min.
Jin Do-ha’s brother and the leader of the Woon-ryong Corps, known as the ultimate force of the Jin-ryong Family.
“He only goes with a few members of the Woon-ryong Corps to secretly bring them back. You’d be surprised at how fierce the atmosphere is.”
“…… If it’s Uncle Do-min, that sounds about right.”
“A project that could change the fate of the Jin-ryong Family? The other day, he used magic to fly right after getting off the plane. That’s why I went to the Executive Department this morning to deal with it. He’s really going all out to the point he might risk his life.”
“Is Dad spending all his time in the laboratory because of that?”
“Yeah, I heard this time he organized what Gigant taught him. There’s a lot.”
Jin Do-ha hadn’t come out of the laboratory for several days, and now Jin Yu-ri’s curiosity was finally satisfied.
As they chatted and wrapped kimbap line by line, before they knew it, a mountain of kimbap had piled up. It had been a while since they lost track of time like this.
Yoo Hae-ryun felt anew that Jin Yu-ri had grown up. Who would have thought she could have a conversation with this immature brat?
A subtle feeling of warmth flowed through her heart.
“You’ve grown up too.”
“Hmm? How did you know? I’m 169 now!”
“That’s what… never mind. Ah, right. When you come back from America, make sure to spare some time. Your brother is coming back from vacation.”
“Mom’s son? He must have returned from deployment.”
“Correct. Just in case, ask Park. Your brother said that he felt sorry for you because you got a boyfriend.”
“Huh? Why?”
“He said to go to the hospital because he’s seeing things due to stress from you.”
“Ha… Should I k*ll him?”
“Don’t think about killing someone else’s son. Instead, tell Park to let him see your face.”
“Got it.”
“It seems like you’ve wrapped up most of it, so let’s get up.”
“Where are we going?”
“To look at clothes. You’re going to wear something strange again, aren’t you? Hee-ttaeng has a style she likes, and I’ll help you pick.”
“Oh…”
“To catch a great fortune, you must aim for the horse. You know that Park is a good son, right? If we can just get Hee-ttaeng, it’s all over.”
“Oooh!!”
Jin Yu-ri clapped like a seal.
“Mom, you look different.”
“Now that you know, let’s go.”
The two women tidied the living room and walked together.
Step by step, their calm footsteps matched perfectly, their silhouettes resembling each other.
Ah, right…
“Mom, you keep calling him Park, Park.”
“Isn’t that how you should refer to him? Why?”
“… No reason.”
Drinking kimchi soup.
I set out early in the morning and headed to the airport.
“You know the way right?”
“Don’t worry.”
The one driving was Slave No. 1, William.
For the record, Slave No. 2, Rosaria, was sleeping in the passenger seat. William seemed to have a lack of sleep as well.
Well, as a sorcerer, if he could sleep after looking at the research data I threw at him, that would be an abject failure as a sorcerer.
“Did you stay up all night for several days? Can you drive?”
“I’m fine.”
“Hang in there. How much have you gone through?”
“The second section.”
“The second section is ‘The Body Composition of Artificial Spirits.’ Clear your schedule today. I’ll review it with you once we get back.”
“……!!”
Everything labor deserves a fair reward, doesn’t it?
William, surprised by the unexpected reward, showed a grin that hinted at his happiness.
Waiting for me after Gigant’s class were William and Rosaria.
Honestly, at that time, I had forgotten.
What were they doing here? I didn’t even think they were waiting for me. But apparently, they had been waiting for nearly a month.
Whether it was William complaining about not being a guard dog at home or Rosaria glaring at me in silence, ready to k*ll me.
I felt guilty for no reason.
So, out of my conscience, I tossed them some data to look at. It was a portion of the materials I had researched with Gigant.
I should have seen the looks on their faces at that time.
Their attitudes changed in an instant. As soon as they received the data, their annoyed expressions transformed into expressions of joy…
As a result, they voluntarily became my slaves, ready to serve me.
Oh, now that I think about it, there was one more person waiting.
“Where did she go?”
“Who?”
“That girl, the one who uses Ice Shift. What’s her name again?”
“Chandler Jenny? She probably returned to Chandler since she accomplished her goal.”
A woman I had never seen before begged me to take her with me. The grown woman knelt and grabbed my pants, which was quite awkward.
Had it not been for the timely phone call from my mother, I would have considered knocking her out and taking her away.
“Son, Mom has business in LA. Move over to LA instead of Korea. Let’s go back home together.”
How could I possibly refuse?
On the same day I received the call, I boarded a flight to LA.
I didn’t even need to book a ticket. They said it was a private jet from the Chandler family, waiting to take me.
So I arrived in LA early.
I slept.
I fell into a deep sleep all at once, catching up on the sleep I had missed from attending Gigant’s class.
Except for the fact that Jin Do-ha’s brother came by to deliver a letter and some materials, it seemed I hadn’t stepped out of the hotel suite at all and had only been sleeping.
So much so that William remarked, “I thought you were hibernating.”
As I sat in the moving vehicle, lost in thought while looking around downtown LA, I soon spotted the airport through the car window.
Tok-tok!
Just in time, the phone rang.
“Hello?”
The message indicated that my mother had already arrived. Even though she left thirty minutes early, I had inadvertently delayed my arrival.
I needed to hurry.
“I’m going first.”
“Yeah?”
I got out of the car and ran.
I swiftly navigated through the traffic-strangled area of the airport parking lot and headed straight for the entrance.
She said she was waiting at a place called Moonbucks.
“Moonbucks, Moonbucks.”
As I looked for the crescent moon sign, I spotted it on the second floor. There it was.
I climbed the stairs quickly and opened the door. In the distance, I saw a familiar silhouette. It was my mother.
With a bright smile, I walked towards her.
The moment I stepped forward.
Hug!
Someone squeezed me around the waist.
Who is it? Before I could think of that, I felt a strange twitch at the corners of my mouth.
A familiar scent, the fragrant smell of spring made my body react before my mind could.
Could it be, could it be… I turned my head with a hopeful heart, and as soon as I had turned halfway, a big smile spread across my face.
Because there, stood…
“Daddy!”
It was Spring.
My daughter, brighter than anything else in the world.
“Spring!”
At the Gate ‘Dragon Lair,’ located at the top of High Castle.
The Red Dragon swirled his wine glass while watching the images reflected in the mirror.
– Daddy!
– Spring!
– Hahaha!!
In the middle of the airport, the father and daughter were spinning around, holding onto each other.
Despite the surrounding gazes gathering on them, they were busily rubbing cheeks together.
The Red Dragon’s eyes slowly lowered.
“What in the world…?”
What could that fool of a human, who was grinning like a moron, possibly be doing to capture Gigant’s full attention?
“I guess I’ll find out slowly.”
In any case, he was prey that had entered his domain. Once they entered, they could not escape his control.
The Red Dragon downed the wine in one gulp and stood up.
Turning around, the image in the mirror slowly began to close.
Just then, just before the mirror was about to shut, Park Ki-hyuk’s gaze was precisely focused on this side.
Until the moment the image disappeared.
