Chapter 168 – Our Shiba… Has So Many Mothers

Shiba spoke.

“…Beep?”

My daughter, like a squirming tadpole. My precious daughter who wouldn’t be hurt, even if I were to put her in my eye.

She had learned to speak while I was preoccupied with the past.

“Ah, she’s so cute! What do you think? Isn’t Shiba amazing?”

Zodiac excitedly patted my shoulder. Shiba examined my face with an uneasy expression, and I sat down in front of her, reaching out to stroke my daughter’s hair.

Her soft hair filled my hand.

“…Daddy?”

I choked up.

I didn’t think I had done anything for her. When did she grow up so well? She’s still a baby, yet she can speak. A child not even a year old calling me “daddy” in Korean… Isn’t this the greatest genius of the century?

Harvard wouldn’t be enough for my child; I could say that with confidence.

“Dada.”

Shiba couldn’t conceal her unease as she observed my expression.
The shock had caused my face to become stern.
I crouched down to meet Shiba’s gaze.

“My daughter.”

With a smile on her rigid face, she opened her arms wide.
It was then that Shiba’s face brightened, and she embraced me tightly.

“Beep!”

Shiba rested her head on my chest, rubbing her nose and cheeks fervently from side to side.
Her delicate hands grasped my collar and shoulder.

– Flash!

Higher into the sky. Even higher.
I lifted her up, our cheeks touching in a warm embrace, and the excited Shiba raised her voice.

“Dad! You’re back, you’re back!”
“Yes, your dad has returned!”

Tears welled up in my eyes.
As I removed my shoes and entered the room, our conversation with Shiba didn’t falter.

“When did you start talking, Shiba?”
“Beep?”
“I’m not great at difficult words yet. But… the first word I said was ‘Dad.'”
“Ah, Dad!”

Shiba gazes at me with pride and calls me “daddy.”

It seems that she’s still more familiar with “papa” than “daddy.” But what does it matter? The important thing is that Shiba has called me “daddy.”

Look at those bright green eyes, brimming with hope as if they hold all the promise in the world. Who could ever speak ill of this child? With a smile as refreshing as the morning sunlight and a tiny mouth barely big enough to fit a thumb, she whispers “daddy” as if to a delicate leaf.

Without bothering to change, I lay down on the bed and embrace Shiba. She climbs on top of me and bounces with excitement.

“It’s only been three days, so you must be really happy.”
“Yeah, I am.”

I thought it would be extremely awkward, but thanks to Shiba, the conversation with Zodiac flowed naturally.

“Actually, Shiba was really upset. Can you imagine how hard it was for me to comfort her?”
“Really?”

“Yeah. They don’t talk, they don’t eat, they just… Where’s dad? Beep! Beep! But seeing you talk, I wanted you to hear it directly. Hehe. Is Sister Zodiac the best?”
“Sister Zodiac is the best.”

Of course, it’s not as good as Shiba.

“So, has Shiba been skipping meals up until now?”
“…She just couldn’t eat. She does eat, but only about one bite.”
“Is it because Sister cooked it?”
“…What’s wrong with my cooking?”

Zodiac pouted her lips like a duck.
I set down the giggling Shiba and rolled up my sleeves to search the kitchen refrigerator.

There were a few leftover ingredients, so I decided to prepare a simple meal.

“You shouldn’t skip meals, though. I wonder if it’s okay for a wood spirit to survive on just water? What do you want to eat, Sister Zodiac?”
“I love all the food you make!”

Rice cake for Tteokguk that I bought and left untouched for quite some time. Beef. A tray of eggs and frozen dumplings, which are a bit too few for steaming.
Should I serve the rice cake and dumpling soup with some kimchi on top?

It’s simple to prepare, making it a suitable meal.

As Zodiac put on the apron, her eyes sparkled.

“…An apron.”

The gazes of the two people fixed.

She had soaked rice cakes in water beforehand, fetched a bowl, and separated the eggs on top. It had been a long time since she had held a knife in reality. Her most recent memory of cooking was when she occasionally prepared meals for Hong-Yeon in the past.

Seeing her stunned face after tasting my food had been quite entertaining. It’s bittersweet to think that she’s someone I can no longer see.

Zodiac stirred the eggs quickly with chopsticks and proceeded to fry the egg garnish. It was a dish befitting someone who lived alone. Humming a tune, she cooked the beef next.

As she was cooking, she suddenly felt a soft touch beside her.

“Rice cake soup?”

Zodiac glanced at the gas stove and playfully slapped her cheeks from behind.

“Don’t you like it?”

“Uh-huh~ I love everything that you’ve prepared.”

Zodiac shook her head and spoke in a cute, coquettish voice.

Shiba is in the kitchen right now.
As I nudged her gently, she puffed up her cheeks.

“Strange, isn’t it? Eating a meal with a statue around somehow soothes the mind, don’t you think?”

She spoke while I momentarily stopped my busy hands.

“…Really?”
“Yes. It feels like I’ve returned to my hometown. Even though it’s not the case right now, hehe.”

I smiled again as I continued to slice the green onions.

“What’s with the flattery?”
“I’m serious! Do you think I always have naughty thoughts on my mind?”
“Yes.”
“…Well, you got me.”

The cooking itself was completed rather quickly.
Rice cake dumpling soup topped with seaweed flakes, egg garnish, and beef.
At my house, we eat it with a generous amount of sesame oil, but I didn’t add it this time since it’s a matter of personal preference.

If it were White Peach, I’d just add sesame oil since my tastes align with hers. But it’s different for Shiba and Zodiac.

Kimchi and rice cake dumpling soup.
As Zodiac sat at the table, she took a big bite of a dumpling.

“Mmm~!”

As soon as she eats, she snorts and stomps her feet.

There’s no difference from when we were in Do-won’s complete paradise. Just like the young Zodiac who used to follow and call him “brother.”

-Taktak.

As I watch Zodiac’s eating show, a young hand pats my knee.

“Beep.”
“Huh? Okay.”

Shiba sits on my lap, waiting for her meal. Blowing on a dumpling as if to ask when she had ever skipped a meal, she takes a big bite, filling her mouth.

-Chomp chomp.

When I wipe her soup-stained mouth with a tissue, Shiba happily whines.

“Is it good?”

Guidance is important when teaching words. When I instruct her to use these words in this situation and pronounce them clearly, Shiba swallows the dumpling and grins from ear to ear.

“It’s yummy!”
“Right.”
“Right?”

Handing her a spoon, she now can eat well on her own.

Like Shiba, Hwangdo is also hastily eating, perhaps not having had proper meals while I was away. As I silently observe the two of them dining together, Shiba appears as my daughter while Hwangdo resembles a close younger sister.

Still, she was someone I had been intimate with. The image of Hwangdo holding her heart in her arms and smiling brightly flashes through my mind.

– February issue! Limited edition~ Kyaaak! You’re the best!

Has the person who used to be like this grown up to become like that? Her enormous breasts stand out due to her light attire… and she has the longest hair among the sisters. It seems I cannot ignore the youngest’s development.

“There’s a kindergarten performance coming up,” Hwangdo says.

I snap back to reality at her words.

“Ah, I heard about that. It’s mandatory for parents to attend, right?”

“Yeah, but I wasn’t around then.”

Now that I’ve returned from the retreat, Cheondo, Baekdo, and Hwangdo will be leaving soon for their work. This once bustling dormitory room will soon be left with just Shiba and me.

“Our work at Dowon is piling up. I need to return and work with Goroshi, P, and Bob.”

It’s a name I haven’t heard in a while.
Goroshi, the potion maker, P, the Paprika broadcaster, and Bob, the baobab tree’s fruit.
I couldn’t forget their names since I spent time with Sansuyu.

“So, what’s the plan? Are you planning to take them alone?”
“I’ve decided to go with Dalrae.”
“Really… a classmate? Is she your younger sibling’s lover?”
“Yes.”

– Clunk.

A spoon comes to a halt.
I added my words just before Zodiac could say anything.

“… A shared-“
“Of course, you’re also a lover.”
“… What?”

Zodiac, with widened eyes, lost her words and froze as if time had stopped.

“… Me, was I a shared lover?”
“Yes.”

I replied while stroking Shiba’s head.
Our Shiba… has many mothers.
I’m sorry that her father isn’t there.

“Don’t like it? I have no intention of letting go.”

It is true that I feel disconcerted after seeing the young Zodiac.
But I cannot dismiss it now.

“…Ah.”
“Didn’t the story end then?”
“Well, I thought that was just something said in passing… I see.”
“Anyway, that’s how it is.”
“Ugh, really! Why has this statue become so cunning? Reminds me of a stinky bachelor uncle.”

Lee Se-Young said the same thing.
She had no intention of going back on her words.

Even if White Peach or Heaven might be awake within Zodiac now, they needed to know what they ought to know first.

“… …”

Perhaps surprised by my words, Zodiac abandoned the rice cake dumpling soup she had been eating so well and repeatedly fanned her flushed face.

“…A womanizer.”
“That’s a bit much.”

It’s not like I’m secretly dating someone. And in fact, isn’t Zodiac the one who attacked me first?
Zodiac should bear the responsibility, not me.
If given the chance, I am confident that I can manage my family affairs well as a pillar of support.

“Ah, lovers. Talking about lovers, how many have you had so far?”
“……”

Lee Se-Young, Azalea… Zodiac.
Ah, that’s right. Stars.

Already four.
I felt a throbbing in my head.

“Octopus legs.”
“We’re not there yet.”
“You’ll reach it soon enough.”

How many legs did an octopus have?
Eight? No… Surely not.

Zodiac spread her fingers with a solemn expression.

“Statue, should I make a prophecy?”
“What? What kind of prophecy?”
“Me, Heaven, White Peach… When we meet again after finishing our work. By that time, you should have at least six lovers, right?”

Two more?
That won’t happen.
I already have so much to do… I can’t just keep adding women.
Besides, there’s no White Peach or Heaven, so there’s no one else to add.

“I’m confident. You can bet on it.”

I rubbed my chin at Zodiac’s earnest words.
While continuously stroking Shiba with one hand, I spoke quietly.

Deal.

“What’s the wager?”
“…If I win, you’ll hug me for an entire week.”

A typical Zodiac wish.
But a week is quite long… Wouldn’t I die from the lack of touch?
I decide to trust in the powers of the newly-ranked lustful demon.

“And if I win?”
“I’ll let you hug me for a week.”
“…??”

What is this? A miraculous bet?

“Hehehe. Is that your proposal?”
“Giggle. When there are more women, only the statue benefits… It’s already difficult to see each other… Is this an unreasonable request? Like the statue says, can’t lovers make some rice cakes together?”

Zodiac’s cunning response seems to be the answer to cunning. She tantalizingly melts my ears with her seductive voice.

If that’s her request,
I could grant it countless times.
I swallow a sip of water and cautiously broach the subject with Zodiac.

“…Later tonight, let’s have a conversation.”

* * * * * *

“The children are all asleep.”

As Baekdo and Cheondo drifted into slumber, Hwangdo arrived. After putting Shiba to sleep, I quietly followed her to the kitchen, and we had a private conversation.

“So, why?”
“I have a favor to ask.”

Hwangdo, having changed into a somewhat revealing indoor garment, approached with a blush on her face. The anticipation in her eyes was unmistakable and quite blatant.

Especially the scent of peaches.
It was an intoxicating aroma that could make one’s head spin.

“Hasn’t it been a long time since we’ve done this?”
“Do you want to do it?”
“I’m already soaked with anticipation. Hehe.”

As I slid my fingers between her thighs, a tantalizing moan escaped her lips.

“Aahh.”

Her wetness enveloped my fingers instantly.

As I withdrew my finger and brought it to my nose, the rich scent of peaches filled the air. It would be enjoyable to have an intense encounter here, but… we couldn’t because of Shiba.

“We have a daughter. We can’t do it here.”
“Should we go to a motel?”
“Before that, I have a request.”
“…What is it?”

In a way, it could be seen as taking advantage of the situation.
However… it is essential.

The three Peach sisters – Heaven, White Peach, and Zodiac – vanished in the future I knew.
They disappeared from my contacts, and I couldn’t reach any of them.

Calling it a disappearance might be an understatement. It’s uncertain when or where they may have met their end.

‘…And Cornus as well.’

Ultimately, I’m the only one who can prevent it beforehand.
I wrapped my hand around Zodiac’s waist.

“Elder sister.”
“Mhm, yes… Frostbite.”
“…Can you keep me updated, in detail, about where you’ll be and what you’ll be doing in the future? Without our master knowing. It would be even better if you could provide coordinates.”

So that I can find them whenever necessary.

Heaven has a strong sense of responsibility, so she would never tell me about any issues that arise.
White Peach admires Heaven, so if that is Heaven’s will, she would never share that secret with me.

The only person who can inform me about this matter is Zodiac.

Even though secrets are secrets for a reason, there are times when you must uncover them yourself.

“What are you talking about? Anyway, if you tell Heaven, she’ll reveal everything.”
“…Our bodies are the same. And our master usually doesn’t speak about her own hardships.”
“Heaven… does tend to be like that.”

Zodiac seems to understand,
but it appears her doubts haven’t been completely resolved.

“But… why?”
“It’s nothing, really.”

There is a valid reason.
I couldn’t bear to tell her that they might face death in the future, so I silently pressed my weight onto Zodiac’s body and embraced her as if to smother her.

“Feeling cold? …Ah.”

The hand supporting Zodiac’s back trembles violently.
Not due to the weight… but from hands quivering with anxiety.

Though I am accustomed to these symptoms that have persisted since the past, Zodiac might have perceived my appearance as considerably weakened.

“What’s going on?”

Let’s change the future and live more comfortably.
I really wonder if this stress will cause me to lose my hair.

“I have something to do. I can’t tell my sister, though.”
“Really? You seem to have a lot on your mind.”

Zodiac hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke with difficulty.

“Alright, alright. I understand. It’s not just a favor… it’s a request from a lover. There’s nothing I can’t do for you. It’s not that big of a deal.”

Simply where to go and what to do.
That’s all that needs to be discussed.

I had no doubt that this alone would be of great help in changing the future.
The person I have the least control over right now is none other than my master, Heaven.

“So, is it time for sex now?”

…

“There must be some give and take! Well, it’s not like I’m asking for a huge favor.”

I spoke in a barely audible, weak voice.

“Yes.”

No matter the request, must I repay it with my body?
Am I in such a pitiful position?

Even so, nothing changes.

Today… it was destined to wither and contort.