Chapter 23

TL: pineapples

***

The feeling of gaining the only person in the world that would take side was sad, reassuring, but also embarrassing.

I was fiddling with my red ears and approached him.

But before I could take many steps, Cheonma held up his hand to stop me.

“Stay here.”

“…Why?”

“My appearance is not in a good state. You won’t be able to see it but my clothes are covered in blood.”

Since he was wearing black clothing, I didn’t notice. But his white sleeves and collar were covered in blood.

Cheonma didn’t want the blood soaked in his clothes to dirty me.

He had just eradicated a sect for me so I couldn’t understand was he so concerned about getting me dirty.

I pursed my lips. Cheonma was making excuses in a way that was unlike him.

“It’s not that I don’t like you… ..and I smell like blood, and I’m dirty, so if you have anything to say, talk to me later…”

“Daddy!”

I put down the basket and jumped before Cheonma could finish talking. Cheonma reflexively hugged me, who was dangling from his neck.

I tightened my arm around my neck before he could put me down. And I buried my face in his chest

.

It was such a strange thing.

In my previous life, I didn’t cry to the point of being called a robot. But why do I keep crying?

Is it because I have someone to comfort me if I cry?

The frozen Cheonma exhaled a long breath. Then he patted me on the back.

“Don’t cry, child.”

It was a clumsy touch. Even his low whisper was devoid of emotion. I shed tears in Cheonma’s arms.

At first, I didn’t know why I was crying. But reflecting now, I knew why I started crying.

“I was afraid. Afraid that daddy wouldn’t come.”

Afraid that I would be left alone again. Like in my previous life, I was afraid that I would be thrown out alone into a world of terrible loneliness.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“You could get hurt.”

“You are the only one who can hurt me.”

I can’t believe Cheonma is such a good speaker. My heart dropped when he said that with such a beautiful but serious face.

I’m glad I’m your daughter. I might have fallen for you if I wasn’t.

I rubbed my eyes to cover my red face.

“Stop, you will hurt yourself.”

Cheonma spoke bluntly and carefully grabbed my hand.

Huh? Rubbing my eyes a little bit won’t hurt me, right?

I tilted my head. The wind caused my unwiped tears to fall.

Only then did the elders, who were watching Cheonma and me, snuck up and surrounded us.

“Why are you crying like that? We’re gonna get rid of everything that hurts you!”

“Just think about growing up healthy, my lady! Can you even walk if you are that small? I’ll carry you around tomorrow, won.”

“Why are you appointing yourself first?… oh, whatever, stop crying! You’re going to end up with carp eyes! Well, you are still gonna be pretty, though. Hmm, hmm.”

The tone was blunt but the content was warm. I wiped the remaining tears with the back of my hand.

“Are grandpas all elders?”

“Oh, yes! I didn’t mean to deceive you, it just happened…”

The red-faced elder tried to make excuses. I tilted my head as if I didn’t know anything

“But why are all your names ‘elder’?”

“Hmm? Elder means title, not name…”

“It’s too hard. Can’t I just call you grandpa?”

The elders blinked heavily as if they were speechless. Then they coughed loudly.

“…hmm,hmm,hmm! Well, you can, you know. In terms of age, I am your grandpa.”

“I originally liked the word ‘grandpa’. From now on, feel free to call me Grandpa….”

They must like me calling them ‘grandpa’.

The elders who were blushing were shyly touching my hands.

It was a bloody hand, but if they weren’t uncomfortable or hated holding hands, they could just grab my hands.

They were saying that my nails look too small, or that my fingers were too short to hold anything.

I laughed out loud as I saw them making up strange reasons to hold my hands.

Then, suddenly, I had a thought.

Ah, I couldn’t abandon them anymore

Even if I have a chance to escape, I won’t be able to abandon them and run away alone.

I was trapped.

I wasn’t alone anymore so how was I supposed to survive with all this baggage following me?

It was hopeless, but strangely I wasn’t disappointed. I held the hands of the elders one by one.

The elders were expressionless but their hands were careful.

Three months passed after that event. As the year passed,  winter ended.

A letter of cooperation from the Magic Sect Alliance had arrived. In order to investigate the destruction of the North Sea Ice Palace, they had asked for the opening of the sect gate.

* * *

“It looks like the Magic Sect Alliance has grown a pair. What do they believe that they dare ask to open the doors to our home? But today I am feeling good since my chest looks so cool today.”

The Enemy King, who was speaking gently, stuck out his chest excessively. There was a pretty white flower on his clothes.

“Maybe partisans are crazy as a group… hmm, but only one?”

The Poison King, who had replied after the Enemy King, smiled at the chest of the Enemy King. There were flowers on both sides of the Poison King’s chest.

The Enemy King raised an eyebrow.

“Why did you pin them there? Well, it’s ugly to see… wait? How come you have two?”

“I went to take care of her wounds, and she gave me one more, of course. I said it was fine, but she still gave one to me. She said that she was thankful.”

The Poison King shrugged and fiddled with his beard.

The eyes of the Enemy King and other elders became grim. They thought everyone fairly got one, but now they couldn’t believe that the Poison King had pulled a fast one on them.

The Enemy King proudly raised his head and clicked his tongue.

“She’s already all better, but why did you go see her again? This is why you can’t trust anyone who uses poison. Aren’t they all cowards from birth?”

“… what? Are you talking about me?”

“Oh are you hurt?”

The Poison King’s usual dark blue face turned bright red.

“I didn’t ask her for it! How can I refuse her when she grabs me tightly with her tiny hands and gives me it?”

“Who told you to refuse? You need to tell her to give us another one as well! Instead of just enjoying it on your own!”

“What kind of bull are you spouting? Why should I care about you guys? If I only receive it, that’s the end of the story!”

That was the truth. Why did he have to take care of other people?

The Enemy King hesitated and laughed fiercely because he had nothing to say. At the same time, his body was blazing with hot energy.

“Well, if I want something, I can just steal it. Isn’t that the teaching of the sect?”

“If you’re confident, try it.”

The Poison King also laughed with vigor. A dark green mist began to spread from his body.

Then, the door to the conference room opened, and the Shaman king came in.

“What a commotion! The Sect Master will arrive soon.”

The Enemy king and the Poison King, who were burning in hostility toward each other, slowly struggled to calm down.

“Ah, the Shaman King has arrived. I don’t want to bother you but the Poison King has…”

“Listen to my words first. That wicked Enemy King….”

The Poison King and the Enemy King suddenly shut up. Their expressions stiffened as if they had been shocked.

The Shaman King approached them and tilted his head at an angle.

“Hm? Why did you guys stop talking?”

The Enemy King pointed to a flower hanging from the chest of the Shaman king. His fingertips were shaking.

“Uh, how did you get three…? Did you give her blood treatment?”

“Oh, you were talking about these. She just gave them to me, is there a problem? Wait, everyone’s got it on their chests. Only one though.”

The Enemy King raised his eyebrows.

His words of ‘only one though’ showed his subtle boasting. There is no way the respectable Shaman King would be like this, right?

Just in time, Cheonma came into the conference room. The elders blinked at him.

He was originally handsome, but his beauty was unusual today. In particular, the neckline was revealed by his twisting red hair that was long and beautiful enough to make one drool. The elders looked blankly at the loose hair flowing down the back of his white neck.

Then they opened their eyes wide after confirming that something that was supposed to be there was missing.

There was nothing attached to Cheonma’s clothing.