Chapter 542 – Shiba has few friends (5)

“Beep! Sir, I’m truly grateful, this is all due to your kindness.”

Two individuals walking abreast through the marketplace.
Observing the King who was following her in brisk steps, Shiba burst into a cheerful laughter.
There she was, laughing. Shiba, mirrored in the King’s eyes, was laughing brightly.

In the King’s view, hues were materializing along the path the girl was taking.
From pavement blocks, traffic lights, signboards to luminous neon signs, everything seemed to be imbued with her vibrant color in the King’s perception.

The harmonious color, a light green, just like you.

“Sir?”

Listening to it alone brings a blush to my cheeks.
Your voice, it warms my heart.

“Why are you standing there so obliviously? Come on.”
“…Alright.”

A heart, like a thickly grown vine, cultivated by itself.
Shiba, reaching into these dense crevices.
A white hand extended towards a tiny beam of light.

“Where are you going?”
“To the department store. Things went well, now it’s my turn to reciprocate.”
“Is that so?”
“Indeed.”

From behind her, she walked, leaning back, wearing long socks and stretching her legs powerfully. An expression of absolute bliss was evident in her eyes.

You must have grown up enveloped in love.

‘What I couldn’t give to you.’

You must have lived, savoring it all.
In the face of her radiant smile, as brilliant as the sun, his dusk receded without any resistance.

“Hurry up and follow me. Really. Why are you so slow?”

Shiba’s gesture leads the King.
They arrived at a clothing store within the department store.
Shiba and the King, having entered together, rejecting the friendly suggestion of the salesclerk, began choosing an overcoat for the King to wear.

“…Clothes?”
“Yes.”
“It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine. Your clothes are really ratty. What if you get ill because of that? Now, what do you think about this outfit?”

Owing to the branches that sprout on his hands or shoulders, he can’t even dare to wear ordinary clothes.
Taking this into account, Shiba fetched a sufficiently large jumper and placed it around the King’s neck.
Looking at it in the mirror, it seemed quite fitting.
There is a reason they say ‘shoulders make the outfit’. If only his body were normal, he would have looked good in anything.

“Do you want to try it on?”
“…No, that’s…”
“Beep! Come on! Try it on!”

A changing room, nudged into by Shiba.
The King, with his heavy demeanor, had no choice but to try on the clothes.

-Swish.

As he shed his ragged clothes, his scar-laden body was revealed.
Not human. Not a single drop of blood would seep from his body, covered in carapace, even if stabbed with a knife.
Fortunately, after breaking the sharp branches that protruded, one by one with his hands, he was able to wear it.

-Swish.

The curtain moved again.
Shiba’s eyes sparkled as she saw the King, now dressed.

“Beep, Sir. It suits you well.”
“…….”

It suits him well.
He nodded vacantly. Shiba giggled at his slightly bashful demeanor.

“But are you planning to keep wearing that necklace?” Shiba asked.
“…?”

The necklace, crafted from colored paper, bore the unmistakable signs of a child’s touch. Shiba pointed to it.

“It seems to interfere slightly with your attire.”

[Stay strong, Dad.]

Shiba’s voice was cautious as she read the phrase. The king gave no response. A faint shadow of melancholy crossed his face, causing a moment of confusion for Shiba.

“Oh, you don’t have to take it off! If it’s valuable to you.”
“……”
“Do you have a child?”
“…She’s in the sky now.”

She had been, but now she was gone.

“Beep?!”

A mention of family, a strictly taboo topic in Korea! Although unintentional, there were certain things one should avoid. As Shiba awkwardly stood on tiptoes, the king slowly bowed his head.

“It’s alright.”
“…I apologize. I should not have brought it up.”

The remnants of the marker on the necklace evoked a sense of poignancy. Shiba was no fool to miss this, and the king offered a nod of understanding at her contrite apology.

Their shopping trip ended on an awkward note.

Shiba, having gifted the king a complete outfit, including trousers and a jacket, exited the department store alongside him. She looked somber, as though she still felt guilty about her faux pas. She was usually very strict with herself.

“Everything is fine.”
“…I’m sorry. Oh, what would you like to eat? I have plenty of money.”

With an exaggerated gesture, Shiba pulled out her credit card and laughed loudly. A second-generation chaebol heiress, she was the youngest daughter of a conglomerate that still managed to turn a profit even in these challenging times. While she didn’t throw money around carelessly, the amount she had discreetly invested in raising Shiba was substantial.

Just the cost of the water Shiba consumed alone was astronomical. To a tree, water was sustenance itself, which is why numerous brands capitalized on it.

“…We should part ways today.”
“……”
“I’m not upset.”
“…Is that so?”
“I’ll gratefully wear the clothes.”

Every meeting has its parting. The king had received ample reciprocation, and at his declaration, Shiba acquiesced with a nod.

“Ah, take this as well.”

From her wallet, Shiba pulled out a wad of banknotes and folded them carefully into the king’s pocket. This should be enough for him to live comfortably for a while, without the need for homelessness.

She wished she could introduce him to a job, but it didn’t seem like he desired that.

The king stood in the middle of the road, giving her a slight nod.

“Friend.”
“Yes?”
“I hope things go well for you.”

His blessing was delivered calmly and quietly. For a moment, Shiba looked dumbfounded, then she chuckled.

“I hope you encounter only good things as well.”

Their initial contact, begun with an obscure purpose, had now dissolved into nothingness. As Shiba walked away, the king quietly watched her, savoring the lingering sensation of their encounter. Shiba, with her occasional backward glances, was so endearing…

Perhaps, he would carry these memories until the end of his days.

Such profound sentiments were etched upon his stilled heart.

* * * * * * * * * * *

“Papa…”

Rubbing her drowsy eyes on the bed, Shiba reached out her arms pleading for an embrace.

“You were sleeping.”
“Beep… why did you come so late? Shiba has been waiting for a long time.”

He folded her into his arms.
The adorable tousled hair of the child tickled his throat. Shiba shivered slightly as he tenderly stroked her head.

“I got back late because I secretly dined out.”
“Beep? Again?”
“What did you have today?”
“Hmm, blood sausage soup?”

Even through her sleepiness, she pondered her father’s words before responding.

“Correct.”
“Beep- Papa only eats that when he’s out.”
“You like it too, Shiba. Shall we go and eat it tomorrow?”
“Beep.”

Shiba nestled her face in her father’s chest, nuzzling into him.

“I’d rather sleep with Papa than eat. I love Papa.”
“…You would?”
“Beep!”

When he patted her back, she hummed contentedly, “Beep,” “Beep!”
Shiba, who loved to clutch a single finger of her father’s in her tiny hand and bestowed kisses on his cheek.

Shiba loved her Papa more than anything in the world.
Being with Papa was the most important thing to her.

While her Papa, who always had his reasons, often had to leave Shiba’s arms,
Even so…

“Beep!”
“Sweet dreams.”
“Bhihihi, Papa too.”
“It’s Papa, not Papa.”
“Papa too.”
“Yes.”

– A soft thud.

When Shiba fell asleep, worn out, the next to welcome him was his loyal servant.

“What, you’re already here, brother?”
“…Yes.”
“Goodness.”

As soon as he saw him, Tae-yang, who had been scratching his neck, quickly rolled up some toilet paper and pressed it against Si-heon’s back.

“What will you do if Shiba sees this? You should drink the potion before meeting her.”

Beneath his shoulder blade lay a deep, unhealed wound where blood still oozed, likely from a blade.
Tae-yang exhaled a deep sigh and asked Si-heon.

“Do you love Shiba that much?”
“…….”
“You’re going to marry her later. Shiba said so this morning.”
“What?”

He swiftly rolled up the bloody tissues, hiding them from Shiba’s sight.
Tae-yang tossed a dirty garbage bag into the corner and commented nonchalantly.

“She said she’s going to be with Papa forever. You’ll have to try even harder than now.”
“…….”
“Remember to celebrate her birthday too. Is it thirty-one today? Happy birthday.”
“Is that so…”

Tae-yang proffered an object.
A small gift box that fit into one hand and a paper necklace hung on his wrist.

“Shiba and I made these over lunch today. Hey, brother, where else could you find a sibling who takes care of you like this? Well?”
“…….”
“Come on, let’s try it on. Oh, it suits you well! Doesn’t brother’s face look absolutely stunning?”

As he observed Tae-yang’s ceaseless prattle and the nestled Shiba in his arms, Si-heon contemplated deeply.

They would be together for a lifetime.

Even if it meant bringing her back from the brink of death. That was a solemn vow he had whispered to his daughter.

Tae-yang’s face, previously wreathed in giggles, began to blur. Si-heon extended his hand towards the paper necklace, and the surroundings began to morph.

. . .

. . .

. . .

It was different.

He stared at his hand that had been cradling Shiba. It wasn’t Shiba there, but the modern clothes that Shiba had gifted him were abundantly gathered in his grasp.

With great care, the king placed the clothes next to a rock. He plucked the crumpled bills from his pocket and laid them out, as though on display, beside the clothes.

He had meticulously cast magic to prevent the animals from taking an interest in these items. The king once again seated himself next to the rock, closing his eyes and letting the time slip by.

‘Mmm…’

“Mister~!”

He had to put an end to the child’s life.

The king, recollecting those times, clenched his fist and opened his eyes with determination.

‘Damn it all.’

His heart, which should have been still, pounded in his chest.

He felt a wave of self-loathing. His throat tightened uncomfortably. The vivid hues he had seen in those days flickered before his eyes, appearing and disappearing in a relentless cycle. Those scenes, those smells, those colors… His child’s growth, her innocent laughter, and the precious person he didn’t want to tarnish in any way.

The realization that he would have to end his child’s life with his own hands was unbearably agonizing.

He had done this before, killed a lover with his own hands, over and over again.

He had thought he was devoid of any semblance of conscience. Despite the countless curses he had heard, despite the blood he must have had on his hands.

His heart… did it just skip a beat?

Listening closely, it didn’t seem like it. Naturally. How could a heart that was already dead possibly beat?

The noise wasn’t a heartbeat but seemed more akin to the grinding of an Ent’s teeth. The king covered his embarrassed mouth with his hand and closed one eye. The other was already blind, eliminating the need to close it.

‘Time is running out.’

He had thought that time was on his side. Yet that belief seemed to be contradicted now. His mind was growing more desperate, and time was slipping away at an alarming rate. If he remained like this, watching over the child for even a moment longer…

What should he do?

Suddenly, he was nestled amid the animals, succumbing to sleep.

Three days later.

The king emerged once more. He found himself drawn to the place where he had first seen the child, for no discernable reason. Clad not in the clothes Shiba had gifted him, but in tattered rags, he walked through the market, the branches sprouting from his shoulders left unbroken.

The place where Shiba had been retained its distinctive hues.

He entered the market. Shiba had once energetically sprinted around in front of the Tteokbokki restaurant. Here, in front of the tavern, she had turned around and called him ‘Mister.’

Even the illusion of Shiba’s presence haunted the very spot at the convenience store by the window.

“….”

Slurp.

Shiba, eating ramen.

Just hold on a moment.

The king questioned his own sight.

To think that she, who should have been a part of his past, would appear in the same convenience store.

“Beep.”

Shiba appeared more despondent than anticipated.

“Mister… I’m not warming up to him….”

It seemed there was another concern plaguing her.