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Chapter 80

Before curfew.

Yeon-woo hurriedly ventured into the commercial district to buy a birthday cake, greeted only by the evening’s crisp air and the familiar sights of the bustling marketplace.

Of course, everything seemed perfectly normal on the surface.

However, the effects of carving out the Dark Guild would inevitably reveal itself somewhere, somehow.

It wouldn’t be purely positive, either.

Whether the low-ranking or upper echelons who received appropriate punishment and were released would be fine or not, the traces left by those who flaunted their power as if they were kings of this street would not simply vanish.

‘…But it was necessary.’

The right thing doesn’t always bring good consequences, yet it remains the right thing to do.

Of course, if the side effects are too severe, one must seek ways to mitigate them.

‘But why did the Student Council President lead such an endeavor?’

While it was understandable why Yuri cooperated, Yeon-woo didn’t know much about the Student Council President.

The person most known for carving out the Dark Guild of Harmony City. Yeon-woo only knew that their personality was quite unique.

“Five thousand won for the whipped cream cake. How many candles should I add?”

“Uh, just one, please.”

“Ah, it seems it’s your nephew’s first birthday?”

Not really? It’s for my kid’s birthday, but it felt awkward to say, so I just completed the payment and exited the franchise bakery.

Humming a tune on my way back to the dorm, a tiny flicker of light caught my eye in an alley.

Instinctively, Yeon-woo recognized it. Someone was smoking. This alley was the typical spot for academy students to smoke.

Yeon-woo turned their gaze, stepping on the scattered cigarette butts at their feet.

Crimson hair. Sharp eyes glinted towards Yeon-woo.

‘What’s he doing here?’

Leaning against the wall of the back alley with a disgruntled expression and a cigarette dangling from his lips was none other than fellow student Darius Blackraven.

“Hey, got any more cigarettes?”

“…What?”

*

Of course, asking if he had cigarettes was a joke. It wouldn’t be very fatherly to come home smelling like smoke with kids waiting at home.

Back to the alley, with the wind at Yeon-woo’s back, he leaned against the wall.

“How have you been?”

“It’s funny hearing that from you… But yeah, I’m alright.”

Since losing to Yeon-woo, Darius hadn’t shown up for class for a while. Almost a month, actually. Yet, he had managed to keep his curriculum and prospects on track, which was commendable.

“Are you upset about losing to me?”

“……”

It might be a bit insensitive to poke fun at someone who had fallen silent, but sometimes playing with their pride is necessary.

After all, Darius was a crucial asset for the future. He shouldn’t be wallowing because he lost to Yeon-woo.

Darius tilted his cigarette between his lips and exhaled a cloud of smoke.

“Upset might be a bit off.”

“…Huh?”

“Because of your strike, I couldn’t even hold my sword.”

As he said that, Darius drew a dagger from the holster strapped to his thigh and twirled it expertly between his fingers, though there was an unmistakable hesitation in his movements.

‘…Is he going to stab me out of nowhere?’

“Hey, even so, I can tell who I should stab and who I shouldn’t.”

Darius glanced sideways at Yeon-woo with a smirk. Yeon-woo felt a bit taken aback but nodded.

For Darius to say he couldn’t hold his sword, was it truly that significant?

Of course, even if he intended to kill, he was aware they were in an environment where such things wouldn’t actually happen.

“There’s a strange pride within the Blackraven family that we must be closer to death than anyone else. That pride was shattered.”

Darius chuckled bitterly as he said this. Yeon-woo felt that communicating with Darius had become a bit easier since then.

While he couldn’t determine the reason, it seemed the typical arrogance of a prestigious family had noticeably diminished.

“I acknowledge you, Choi Yeon-woo. Even if you hadn’t won, I would’ve still recognized you, but now that you’ve beaten me, I must acknowledge you even more. As for Baek In-hwa… well, it’s silly to even discuss since we’re not officially dating. I’ll just give up.”

“I’m glad to hear that, but did anyone even say we were dating?”

“Haha, showing such a side in front of someone you like isn’t proper manners. I’ll head in first. Keep my smoking a secret.”

Unlike his usual sharp demeanor, Darius smiled like an average boy of his age as he left the alley first. Yeon-woo found himself staring blankly after him, pondering.

‘…Will Kim Yoo-min’s troubles resolve themselves over time?’

Maybe they would, but would that mean he could say he honored his promise to Kim Hyun-soo?

Anyway, it was a bit surprising yet not entirely displeasing that things he hadn’t even considered were resolving themselves without him realizing it.

“Happy Birthday to you~”

Two children sang excitedly before the candles.

Should I join in from my room? Just as Jung Yu-jin initially awkwardly joined in after hearing the commotion, she decided to make it proper, bringing decorations from her own room and setting them up in Yeon-woo’s room with fervor.

“Happy Birthday~ To our beloved Tae-oh and Shar~”

As they sang, a twinge of guilt pricked Yeon-woo’s heart. However, he didn’t turn back.

Harboring guilt at a moment meant to celebrate sincerely would be disrespectful not only to Tae-oh but to Shar as well.

With applause, the birthday fireworks burst. Shar and Tae-oh blew the candles with all their might, cheeks puffed up as if they might burst, spewing a bit of saliva.

“Now, let’s eat the cake!!”

Swinging the plastic knife that came with the cake, Yeon-woo elegantly sliced it.

Among the two children hesitating on how to eat it, Shar was the first to take a bite. Perhaps determined to show her big sister side, her beautiful eyes sparkled with resolution.

Yeon-woo silently chuckled.

What did our daughter think of the cake…?

With the fluffy whipped cream smeared all around her mouth, Shar’s tightly shut eyes suddenly opened wide, her gaze sparkling like stars.

Seeing this, Tae-oh poked his fork into the cake and popped it into his mouth.

“Th-this cake is so delicious!? You’ve got to celebrate my birthday properly next year!!”

“I-it’s delicious…!!”

“Wow, they’re so cute. Is it because of kids like these that I think about getting married someday?”

“Isn’t that a conversation you should have after thirty or so?”

“Is that something a fifteen-year-old with two kids should be saying?”

Ah, point taken.

Before long, after Jung Yu-jin departed, some time passed into the late night.

Shar and Tae-oh, side by side, gradually began to nod off while watching TV. Eventually, their heads drooped as they fell into a deep sleep.

Watching them from a distance, Yeon-woo, gathering his mana quietly, approached them.

He turned off the TV and scooped the two children into his arms. During the process, he couldn’t help but notice.

They were holding onto each other’s hands tightly, as if they would never let go. Just half a day had passed, yet they held onto each other like true siblings, resting their heads on one another’s shoulders.

As he picked up the now lightweight Shar and Tae-oh, Yeon-woo felt a small yet firm grip on his clothing with one empty hand.

It was a grip that seemed both desperate and strong, as if they had found something lost.

Both of them held on tightly, not just one of them. Shar and Tae-oh, with tiny hands, clutched onto Yeon-woo’s clothes. That urgent grasp was all too familiar to him.

To shift the topic a bit, one of the most common ailments among people is the common cold. Even with the exceptional immunity and recovery power of awakened individuals, they’re still susceptible to it.

Naturally, the orphanage had seen its fair share of cold outbreaks.

When a child caught a cold, they were moved to another room, designed for easier nursing. The other children from the same room would then be the focus of concentrated care, making Claire extremely busy.

During those times, Yeon-woo willingly took on the nursing duties for the sick child. After all, he was the oldest in the orphanage. He believed he ought to contribute to Claire, who had done so much for him.

And during this nursing, there was a common behavior observed in young children.

For instance, when turning around to cool a damp towel, they would unconsciously grab onto him. Sometimes, they’d call out for their mom or dad, or even for Yeon-woo. Yet, they always clung to his clothing or whimpered to hold onto him. That was consistent across the board—no exceptions.

It wasn’t hard to guess that he must have done the same at some point. While recalling some childhood memories brought a hint of embarrassment.

“I won’t let go, so don’t worry.”

It was surely anxiety.

When something longed for is suddenly acquired so easily, it leads to the opposite feeling of unease.

The thought that it could slip away just as easily, like grains of sand through fingers on a summer night.

Murmuring softly in a somewhat distressed manner eased a bit of the knot in his heart.

Just because one can voice their thoughts doesn’t mean everything is resolved. There are those who express their thoughts to compose themselves, as well as those who speak lies.

Despite promising to be a good father, whether he could actually fulfill that was an entirely different matter.

“Scary, isn’t it?”

Words carry a weight of fear. Especially the words spoken in front of kids. Even Yeon-woo understood how important promises made to children are.

Gazing down at the two kids peacefully asleep in his arms, Yeon-woo lay down on the bed alongside them.

Now, he truly had no choice. He must live without dying, without worrying the kids, and navigate his path while utilizing the knowledge he retained from before.

“I wonder which one is harder?”

Resolving incidents occurring worldwide, rescuing the lone Gold Dragon.

Following Yuri, becoming a legendary figure on the path of the sword.

Becoming the greatest father to his children.

Nonetheless, embracing the warmth felt from both sides, Yeon-woo closed his eyes.

‘…I wonder if they’ll change the beds in the dorm if I ask?’

It feels a bit cramped with all three of us lying side by side.

(To be continued in the next episode)

 

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