TFSG 43

Chapter 43

“Drink some water.”

After washing up and pulling himself together, Dad heard the situation and immediately showed his irritation.

“You called him? Would’ve been better to just leave him.”

Fortunately, before I could raise my hand in fury, two others stepped in.

“Justice Uncle Slash!!”

Thud!

“…Ugh, what the hell was that?!”

“Then I’ll go with a Water Bomb Slash!”

Of course, Goldie Uncle attacked with water out of nowhere and got scolded by me for a long while.

Throwing a water bomb at someone who just broke a fever—are you insane?! What if he caught a cold?! Would you take responsibility then?!

“Good thing the fever broke. It was really high.”

“Was it?”

When asked if this was a common symptom, Dad shook his head.

‘Is this a side effect of my treatment?’

As I frowned deeply in thought, a breeze gently blew by.

“Ugh?”

Dad, who had lifted me in his arms, suddenly hugged me tight.

A warm scent surrounded me.

“You must’ve had a hard time.”

I blinked, then broke into a smile.

I was pleased that Dad’s voice had completely returned.

“…Almyun will do better.”

A soft chuckle followed.

“I didn’t come out of it empty-handed.”

“Mm?”

Actually, we weren’t alone in this room.

When I shifted my gaze, I saw Black Biryang staring at us with wide, curious eyes.

Goldie Uncle was nudging Big Uncle repeatedly, his mouth hanging open like a spectator at a show.

“…Hey, hey. Doesn’t Lord Black Bihu’s face look exactly like back when he went mad after running away…?”

“Be quiet. I’m enjoying the moment.”

Where did these people age, exactly? Shaking my head, I looked back at Dad.

“Anywhere uncomfortable?”

“No.”

Dad grabbed my hand as I reached for his forehead.

“You’re really capable. Or rather, should I say, my daughter is capable?”

Why did he suddenly become so emotional once he woke up?

Maybe it was because he had been seriously ill…

“…I finally remembered the day you were born.”

My heart thumped at his words. Dad pulled me close.

“I think I was happy. Very much so.”

I had thought about it once.

Back when I was in elementary school in Korea, when I was reminded again that I was the only one without parents.

I wanted to ask the people who gave birth to me—wherever they were:

How did you feel when I was born?

Did you abandon me because you hated me, because I was cursed, because you didn’t want me?

When I lived as Black Biyu, I never got to ask.

I was too busy just trying to survive, and everyone around me always said I was someone who had been thrown away.

Eventually, I resigned myself and gave up on ever knowing the answer.

But now, that answer I had long since abandoned came walking right up to me.

What did that feel like?

“…Sorry for leaving you alone.”

Dad’s voice wasn’t as kind as the one I remembered in my old memories.

Because my memories were still uncertain, I knew the person from then and the dad in front of me might not be the same.

So why the sudden change?

I was confused. And cautious.

Still… it felt nice.

Just for now, I wanted to be honest too.

“…Dad.”

I leaned my cheek against his warm chest and carefully called out to him, smiling brightly.

I’d have to work hard again soon.

But for now, it’s okay to be a little happy.

“Wow, what a tearjerker of a moment.”

“Can you be quiet for once, bro? Ugh, so cheesy…”

“Then wipe your tears before you speak, little bro.”

“Who’s crying?!”

Ah, it’s ruined. I lifted my head from Dad’s chest. What’s the point of a touching moment?

Big Uncle and Little Uncle’s chatter just ruined everything.

Dad seemed to feel the same—he didn’t look pleased.

“Noisy. Get lost.”

But his brothers paid him no mind.

“Oh woe is me! I slaved away fixing the entire house so my little bro wouldn’t get caught in the rain, and this is the thanks I get! Supporting my brother is so hard, sob sob.”

Big Uncle shamelessly acted like a tragic heroine.

With that big burly frame of his, and that sly grin, it just felt off.

“To make Big Bro cry like this, Black Bihu should give up custody of his kid and get lost! You don’t deserve to be a dad!”

Black Biryang barely ducked to avoid the flying gust of wind.

Even though Little Uncle screamed about being the only one attacked, Dad ignored him.

“There’s no point talking here.”

“Haha…”

At that moment, the door opened and Brother Gyewon entered, carrying a tray, putting an end to the chaos.

After the meal, my uncles decided to return home.

They tried to convince me to come with them, but I decided to stay just one more day.

“Alright, squirt. If anything happens, yell out with your loudest voice, okay?”

“…Huh?”

“Why the dumb look? Just yell like yesterday and we’ll come running! Damn it, if Black Bihu hadn’t kicked me out, I could’ve stayed the night!”

“Go sleep at your own house.”

Somehow, Dad’s tone seemed different than before.

‘Actually, not “somehow”—it’s very obvious.’

With his barely concealed irritation, I stepped in front of him.

“Patient no fight.”

“…Huh? But Big Bro fought with the third brother-in-law, and your dad fought with Black Yehun too.”

“Yup. From now on, no fighting.”

“…Did you just take a shot at me? Huh? You cheeky little brat?”

Black Biryang pinched my cheek and grumbled, only to be scolded by Black Gyewon.

Then my cousin chimed in, adding fuel to the fire.

“Black Biyu, I’m sleeping in the forest tonight.”

Brother Gyewon pointed to the thicket.

Is he crazy? Why would he choose the woods over a comfy house?

“Eugh, what a dirty obsession! A brother who clings like that doesn’t deserve love. Sweetheart, Big Uncle’s going home to sleep. Good girl, right?”

“Yup. Sleep well.”

“Ahem, should Big Uncle sleep with you?”

“No thanks.”

Then Black Biwon made a fake crying sound.

“Oh well!”

And with an unabashed grin—

“Be careful not to get kidnapped in the middle of the night~”

“…Huh?”

Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether Big Uncle is joking or not.

‘Probably just teasing…’

I wasn’t reassured by his face, but I saw them off anyway.

Dad didn’t come with me to say goodbye; he said he’d just stand outside the house.

After Black Gyewon insisted on sleeping in the woods and Big Uncle joined him to teach him how to build a tent, I walked with Little Uncle for a while.

“Alright, I’m heading back. Go home now.”

“Yup. Oh right, Uncle, are you taking your medicine properly? Eating okay?”

Little Uncle looked down at me with a crooked smile.

“Someone nagged me so much about eating well that I’m sticking to schedule, alright?”

Tsk, for someone who looks like a proper gentleman, he sure acts like a delinquent. That takes skill.

“Yup, good job. I’m proud of you.”

I’m currently drying the herbs I bought. Once that’s done, I’ll start making the medicine right away.

“You’re not drinking or smoking, are you?”

“Of course not. Why would I do that crap?”

“…Mm, Uncle’s the best.”

Out of the three brothers, he really is the best patient.

Black Biryang cautiously asked,

“…Really? I’m the best?”

“Yup. Most diligent.”

“Ha! I knew it! With those two jerks above me, it was obvious. Tsk tsk, I’ve always known.”

He puffed up proudly.

“Even as a kid, honestly, after Sohwa hyung, I was—”

Just as he was happily chattering away, he abruptly stopped. Like he’d said something he shouldn’t have.

“Sohwa? Black Sohwa?”

Little Uncle looked flustered but nodded.

“Well… I mean, Biwon hyung technically had two older brothers, right?”

“Yeah.”

I know. Grandma, the current head of the family, had five sons.

The first died. The second went missing.

So technically, the oldest remaining is Black Biwon.

“Not really something to get into now.”

Black Biryang subtly tried to change the subject.

“About your dad though…”

At that moment, water surged around him.

A transparent wall of water formed around us, blocking us in.

I stared at it in wonder.

“It’s not dangerous. Just keeps sound from getting out.”

Uncle crouched down. He acted arrogant but kept glancing at me. I nodded.

“Yup, I know. Uncle wouldn’t do anything to hurt me. I trust you.”

“…I wonder if my daughter would say that too.”