I am back – Chapter 206

At first, it seemed like my companions were considering persuading Mom again, but—

In the meantime, Dana came up with an additional idea.

Since we were already going that way, wouldn’t it be better to surprise her and make it undeniable that “another world exists”? That was the idea.

Creating a dimensional gate isn’t exactly easy. But it wasn’t impossible either. Especially if one has overflowing magic. Moreover, we weren’t short on time to research or come up with magic formulas.

This was the method Dana thought of.

By channeling magic from anywhere, we could create a very small teleportation device. The device would be inscribed with a magic formula that stores as much magic as possible, intricately engraved. And with the leftover magic, we would inscribe a record of my appearance based on my companions’ memories.

While the video played, the engraved magic formulas would be used sequentially, and at the end, a very small teleportation gate would be activated.

Based on that teleportation gate, Dana would then lavishly pour the high-grade magic stones overflowing in her Magic Tower to create a massive teleportation gate, big enough for people to pass through, as quickly as possible… or so it was originally planned.

“What did you think would happen if I used it first?”

And I had even tested it at home. I had no idea what it was, so I thought I’d check it out first.

“I was planning to check it out first just in case… I didn’t make any mistakes, right? Given the sounds, it’s something we can gauge!”

Indeed, the teleportation gate grew larger only after Mom started talking once the video finished. It’s not like there would have been a better way for my friends to convince her than by doing it themselves…

“…You should’ve told me in advance.”

“Uh, well… I was trying to surprise you.”

Dana said this while avoiding my gaze.

If Dana had told me, we wouldn’t have used this in a hotel. If there wasn’t a service that provides personal space in the lounge, using it right there in the middle of a hotel would have caused quite a fiasco.

Fortunately, it seems there are no CCTV-like devices in this room.

“What are we going to do when we leave?”

As I mumbled, Dana averted her eyes.

…Yeah, I’ll think about that later.

The real issue was Mom, who was sitting there with a blank expression.

“…Um.”

I opened my mouth, but I didn’t know what to say. It was a bit awkward to call her ‘Mom’ right now… I wasn’t sure if she believed me, but I didn’t think she didn’t either. The look in her eyes was pure confusion.

So, it was a vague situation where it was awkward to speak formally or informally.

“Mom.”

But someone stepped up for me.

It was my older sister sitting next to me.

“…Yeah, sweetie.”

Hearing my sister’s words, Mom blinked three times, and only then did it seem she regained her senses. She was still stealing glances at me and my friends, but at least she didn’t seem to have lost her mind.

My friends were all sweating bullets.

They probably thought it was a brilliant idea… To be honest, if I heard it on a normal day, I would have thought it was a good idea too, but the situation was what it was.

If it were me, I’d probably be sweating a river too if I made a huge mistake in front of my friends’ parents.

In the meantime, seeing Arna sweat a bit was oddly fascinating—maybe because I had grown so accustomed to such scenes.

“Um, I’d like you to listen to our story first. Whether you believe it or not is up to you, Mom.”

“…Um.”

Mom looked back at me and my friends.

Everyone, without exception—even me—was sweating a lot.

Personally, I wished she would see this and think, ‘They don’t seem to be lying.’

“Okay. There must be a reason you brought me all the way here. And…”

Mom’s gaze lingered on me.

“Siyun…”

“Yeah, what?”

As I answered, I bit my tongue.

Using both formal and informal speech made me look quite silly. Even a foreigner learning Korean for the first time wouldn’t talk like this.

“So, the name Siyun… it’s really my son’s name that I know of, right?”

“…”

I nodded, keeping my mouth shut.

“Got it.”

Mom nodded seriously.

“I can’t believe it right now, but I’ll listen to your story. Given the situation…”

After hearing Mom’s words, my sister nodded.

*

It felt strange.

I was really nervous and scared about telling Mom my story, yet there was also a warm feeling inside me.

It wasn’t for anything grand.

Mom, with a serious expression, was listening to a story that felt like something out of a fantasy novel. My friends animatedly recounting the adventures I had, even gesturing with their hands. My older sister, nodding vigorously in agreement.

All of it seemed, I don’t know, oddly heartwarming.

A person’s sincerity isn’t something expressed solely through money and gold. It’s obvious, but expressing it directly isn’t that easy.

Writing a heartfelt letter, thanking someone with a sincere expression. Or remembering every little detail of someone’s special day.

…Or even standing up for someone who might be misunderstood due to the help they’ve given.

The gold received from the kingdom and the treasures from the Goddess were all things to be thankful for. Thanks to that, I wouldn’t be starving anytime soon.

But to me right now, this scene felt far more precious than any wealth.

The lion sharing the Goddess’s words from the highest place in the Cathedral. The daughter of a duke who has risen to a high position as the commander of the royal knights in a woman’s body. Even Dana, the chief of the Magic Tower, who is often called a genius that might only come once in a millennium.

Seeing them explain like that made it look like they were just ordinary people of my age. It wasn’t about the kingdom or the fate of the world; they were simply stepping up for the happiness of a friend, and that made me incredibly joyful.

I’m glad I saved the world.

I’m glad I stepped up then.

I thought it was obvious to step up, but if I knew this result would follow, then it was just a good bargain for me.

As my friends narrated their tales, I could feel Mom’s gaze slowly, very subtly, shifting a bit.

The stories they told weren’t just about me wielding a sword as a hero. It was about the tales I shared with Mom during my childhood, the places I lived, the memories I had with Mom and my sister.

One by one, I was recalling stories that would stand as proof that I was her son.

I dislike bitter things. I like sweet things, but that doesn’t mean I’m picky. In high school, I used to hover around the top of the class, and there was a time I came home, showed Mom my report card, and burst into tears after finally getting the first position. Every payday, Mom would take me out for hamburgers. I always ordered the kids’ set and loved those toys you could get.

…Some of those stories were told after I returned to this world, and after my companions followed me here.

It may not be entirely personal. Someone might have similar memories. Perhaps even Older Sister Ah-yoon has heard them.

But despite that, I wonder if some emotion could be felt from such simple stories.

Tears began to well up in Mom’s eyes as she looked at me.

“…”

Even after my friends finished pouring out their stories, Mom said nothing.

My friends and sister seemed to have no more stories to share. No, if we were to dig deeper, they could probably come up with more, especially considering the five years I spent in Irrelaysia wasn’t anything short.

But looking at Mom’s expression… I wasn’t sure if it would matter if we continued.

If those tears were because she believed in me, maybe there was no need for further explanations.

If those tears were out of betrayal for my sister, then again, there wasn’t really a point in providing explanations.

So we just waited for Mom to speak, holding our breaths.

“…Really.”

Mom slowly began to speak.

Clearing her throat, she quietly looked at me and asked in a gentle voice.

“Is it really you, Siyun?”

What should I say in response?

I had many things prepared to say. I probably could have just confirmed it right away. After all, the one answering would be Mom, and whether it was a yes or a no, I just needed to accept it.

“Yeah.”

I nodded and slowly moved my lips, forcing a smile that looked as bright as I could muster.

I just hoped it wouldn’t come off as a grimace.