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I inhaled and ended up choking on my breath.
It was just too funny—I couldn’t breathe.
‘Well, I get it though.’
If even he described himself that way, I guess it must’ve been pretty shocking for him.
I looked up at him with a sideways glance.
“Could be, maybe you do have a split personality? Wanna get a psych evaluation too?”
“No need. But I won’t say it’s impossible. I don’t remember anything, after all.”
Anyway, what Dad saw were just fragmented scenes.
‘Still, that’s weird.’
Didn’t I see all of Dad’s memories vividly? And yet he saw something different from me?
‘Why is that?’
This was only the second time I had treated someone in exchange for lifespan, so I still didn’t fully understand this ability.
‘The first time, I simply returned a memory. The second time, I helped him recover enough to remember on his own.’
It wasn’t the same illness, but to use Alzheimer’s as an example—
Maybe it’s the difference between giving the patient a forgotten memory and healing their damaged brain so they can recall it themselves?
“Anyway, it’s fine. If I was that much of an idiot in the past, maybe it’s better I don’t remember.”
“Was it really that shocking?”
Dad didn’t answer, which basically meant yes.
“And I saw you in the memories, so that’s good enough.”
I watched him return to his indifferent expression.
I couldn’t have been the only one in those memories.
‘Is there a reason he still can’t remember Mom?’
I didn’t want to confuse the patient unnecessarily by bringing up something I hadn’t fully grasped myself.
“Okay then. From now on, Daddy is one of my subordinates. Got that?”
Memories are memories, but you already cashed in the advance payment.
I tried to smugly fold my arms—but they were too short.
So instead, I put my hands on my hips.
“One minute I’m a dependent you need to take care of, and the next I’m a subordinate?”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
Dad raised a brow. He looked slightly displeased.
“…Forget it.”
Pfft. Lame.
I smiled sweetly, pretending I hadn’t noticed. I grabbed the hem of his new clothes and gave it a shake.
“Come on, let’s go to the market!”
Black Biyu, time for your big break!
* * *
Despite Black Biyu’s intense desire to go to the market, we didn’t get to go that day.
Because Black Bihu was worried I might catch a cold and insisted we wait a day and check my condition first.
Biyu was indignant!
‘Ugh, a cold? Even if I catch one, I can heal myself!’
He was the same man who once thought a random three-year-old might be an assassin.
Now he’s worried about a cold?
What a ridiculous father!
‘Or maybe… he’s worried the only doctor who can treat him might get sick. Hmph.’
Biyu was properly sulky.
Still, she didn’t protest because she judged one day wouldn’t hurt.
She didn’t know it herself, but she’d used a lot of energy treating Black Bihu.
That day, Black Bihu had seen Biyu wobble around drowsily while wiping her face with a towel, so he had firmly blocked her from going anywhere.
The next day.
Black Bihu sat on the wooden floor, deep in thought.
‘Now that I know she’s my daughter, shouldn’t she be sleeping in this house?’
This thought arose thanks to his not-so-welcome brother, Black Biwon.
Yesterday, while Biyu was dozing off after drying herself, Biwon and his son, Gyewon, had suddenly appeared and whisked her away.
‘How dare you stand in the way of your noble older brother’s work!’
‘…What is he even doing?’
‘I can’t let my precious niece stay with a clueless younger brother like you!’
‘Isn’t the clueless one… you?’
‘Exactly!’
His brother burst into hearty laughter and gave a cheerful thumbs-up.
‘My son’s great with kids! Got anything like that in your house?’
‘……’
‘Hahaha!’
Armed with logic I couldn’t refute, my brother shamelessly laughed as he took Biyu away.
Even now, thinking about it was absurd.
Of course, his brother wasn’t wrong. He didn’t even care for himself properly.
Black Bihu shifted his posture and recalled another moment.
It was when their eldest sister, Black Haran, handed him the antidote for Biyu.
Black Haran had approached him with a suspicious look and whispered quietly:
‘So, how much do you remember?’
He had gone with Black Biwon to get the antidote. His brother had stayed behind to talk to their sister, but he had tried to leave.
Black Haran had called him out directly and whispered, just loud enough for him to hear:
‘So? Still forgotten her, huh…?’
It was a meaningful smile.
He may have lost his memories, but not his intelligence.
‘Congratulations in advance. You’ll soon forget everything.’
Clear, sharp mockery.
Black Bihu just stared at her without responding.
He recalled the face of the little girl who had scolded him without hesitation.
‘You can’t give up on your patient.’
‘The curses and burdens left by Dad and Grandpa will stick to me and Oppa forever.’
He glanced sideways at his brother watching from a distance and crossed his arms.
For the first time, he answered.
‘You’re hoping I’ll give up on everything—but I’m not ready to give up on life just yet.’
‘…What?’
‘Are you slow? I’m saying that won’t happen.’
As he faced his sister’s suddenly fierce expression, Black Bihu let the corners of his mouth lift slightly.
But just for a moment—Black Haran smirked with disdain.
‘Then go give some medicine to your kid. She’s pathetic. Just like her fallen father.’
With that, she turned around and left.
Only Black Biwon, who purposely bumped shoulders with her as she passed, chuckled.
‘That wicked old hag still has a terrifying temper, huh?’
They had returned with the antidote and given it to Biyu.
Now, back in the present, he raised his eyes.
Black Haran’s meaningful words were something to slowly chew over—because he didn’t feel like ignoring them anymore.
Especially since it involved his daughter.
“So, are you saying I’m wrong?!”
“Ugh, you’re so noisy!”
More important than all of that was the scene unfolding before his eyes.
His younger brother, Black Birang, was having a very real argument with a three-year-old.
Black Bihu tilted his head lazily.
‘So, when are we going to the market?’
Today was market day.
* * *
“Hey! I heard you got into some trouble?”
Finally, it was the long-awaited day of the market trip. But before we could leave, a certain someone got in the way.
“You had fun without me?!”
Of course my expression twisted. It was because Uncle, who hadn’t been awake in a while, blocked our path.
‘He looks better. Must be the medicine.’
And probably because he had hope for improvement now. He could fall asleep less anxiously, maybe.
But still—
‘Who said anything about trouble?’
He must’ve heard about the situation from Uncle Biwon or my cousin. But “trouble”?!
I set the record straight.
“So, are you saying I’m wrong?!”
But he wasn’t listening.
“Ugh, you’re so loud! Stop it already, are you a child? Why are you yelling at Biyu? That’s mean! If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll kick you out!”
“Wait a minute…”
Finally, the flustered uncle paused. He looked sheepish.
“…I heard something serious happened to you. I—uhm—was asleep and couldn’t help…”
“Even if you’d been awake, you wouldn’t have helped…”
“What?!”
