Chapter 635 – The Delight of Spam Amidst Seasoned Seaweed

In the soup of dried fish gently releasing its savoury essence, nested spam, steamed eggs, and freshly prepared spinach namul. Who had stocked them was unknown, yet the refrigerator brimmed with side dishes.

“Ebony, the sesame oil.”
“Do you mean the one in the soju bottle?”
“Yes.”

With a gentle twist, I lifted the slick lid, pouring a generous portion of sesame oil onto a spoon.

With a liberal amount of minced garlic, a touch of soup soy sauce, a sprinkle of salt and a hint of sugar, it transforms into a namul dish, something no Korean could resist.

“Where did you learn to make this?”
“Is it that surprising?”

To see me, a master who spent his time mostly in combat, meticulously preparing a meal might indeed seem odd. Ebony, who was now glued to my side, couldn’t take her eyes off the spoon brimming with namul.

“Most namul are prepared this way, you know? Ferns, radishes, and if you add a bit of doenjang here, it applies to spring greens, shepherd’s purse…”
“I see.”

Her face broke into a spontaneous smile. The sight of Byul, a little chick drooling beside her, was just as endearing.

I scooped up a fair amount of spinach and offered it to the pair, their conversation punctuated by chirps.

First, to Ebony.

“Ah.”
“Master? Oh, yum yum.”

The spinach namul, a blend of salty and savoury flavours, was met with her giggles. Ever since the incident in the Tower of Time, Ebony’s emotional expressions had significantly increased. It warmed my heart to see her slowly savoring the joys of life.

– A soft chuckle.

“Me? What about me, Siheon?”

At the first chick’s words, Byul, who’d just gulped down her saliva, I subtly diverted my gaze.

“Why! Why!!!”
“The place I got hit yesterday is a bit sore.”
“Heuk, was I… was I too harsh…? Come here. Look at your tense shoulders. And by the way, I also have quite a liking for namul.”

– A swallow.

The sound of her gulping echoed.

As if bestowing charity, I offered her a spoonful of the namul. With a glove-clad hand, I placed the greens into her mouth. Byul, who hungrily accepted the offering, stamped her feet in delight.

“Ohhhhhhh~ So delicious~”

The namul was so delectable that tears started to well up in Byul’s eyes. As she struggled to swallow her food, her eyes, reminiscent of a chick, welled up with tears.

“Hing.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I thought I would never be able to share a meal with Siheon again in my lifetime… I thought I had no more tears, but they won’t stop coming….”

I was at a loss for words.
But aren’t those tears a bit too abundant?

I pondered whether to offer comforting words, but catching sight of Byul’s mischievous grin while she continued to munch on the namul, I decided to let it be.

“Prepare for the meal. Wake everyone up.”
“Heuk. Understood!! Dandegi! Let’s go!”
“Ah, yes.”

Ebony seamlessly fit into Byul’s commotion.

‘Dandegi?’

I momentarily doubted my ears at the strange nickname, but upon becoming closer, aren’t nicknames a possibility? It seemed last night’s drinking session had served as an excellent opportunity for bonding.

Brushing these thoughts aside, I began portioning out the meal according to the number of people.

Wiki, Lee Se-Young, Alba, Byul, Dalrae, and so on. The number of them was enough to cause worry about whether they could all fit around the table.

“Will there be enough food? If it’s insufficient, I’ll have to abstain.”

As she opened the rice container to serve the rice, a cute voice echoed.

“Baahh!!!!”

It was Shiba.

Unable to contain the emerging laughter, she fetched an additional bowl and naturally began filling it with grains of rice.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

The warm, soft sunlight was streaming through the window cracks.

It was the perfect time for photosynthesis.

“Swoosh.”

Shiba’s sweat-drenched hair responded to the sunlight, rising afloat, and her drowsy consciousness stirred. Waking from her prolonged sleep, Shiba detached her face from the pillow.

“Ughhhhh.”

Shiba, upon waking, stretched her arms and legs straight out, yawning expansively.

“Uhh…Yawn!!”

Her temples twitched as if pleased by the long rest, the branches swaying gently.

“Rustle!”

Shaking her head, clearing the sleep from her eyes, and licking her lips, she felt a certain emptiness.

“Slurp.”

She yearned for a drop of cool mineral water. Perhaps it was time to rise.

She needed to do sprout exercises, and today’s training was particularly focused on the roots.

Shiba opened her puffy swollen eyes and surveyed her surroundings. Inside the soft cotton blanket, she spotted a tiny child around her size.

“…Peep?”

The child. A young, adorable child, with dark hair like his father, was gripping Shiba’s hand with a somewhat ominous smile.

‘?’

Who was this?

“Peep?”

Shiba froze at the appearance of another sprout, her cheeks twitching. She was so startled that she couldn’t let go of the child’s hand. Soon, the little one started to stir.

“Daddy….One.”

What kind of dream was this?

Wiki, with her mouth wide open in a grotesque way, bit into Shiba’s arm.

The moment the child’s petite teeth sunk into Shiba’s arm, tears sprung to her eyes. Startled, Shiba sprung up.

“Beep!?! Don’t eat me!!”

The youngster was trying to eat Shiba!

Shiba jumped up in alarm, pushed Wiki aside, and tumbled off the bed. She couldn’t let herself become a mashed sprout dish without her father seeing. She hit the back of her head on the floor, but Shiba bravely refrained from crying, opened the door, and dashed out.

“Peep, peep, peep!”

Her step was exceedingly heavy, probably because she hadn’t used her body for a long time.

Short of breath, Shiba opened the door and stepped into the living room.

“Thump!”

The sight of unfamiliar women greeted her as soon as she opened the door.

The unassuming blankness in Hong-Yeon’s demeanor, as she stood before the door, abruptly stilled Shiba’s breath.

“What, what is it?”

Hong-Yeon’s usual cool countenance, honed from more than a decade of solitude, struck Shiba as exceedingly frosty.

“Bee…?”

A countenance unfamiliar to all the other women. Upon hearing Shiba’s cries, they had emerged, crowding around to catch a glimpse of Shiba.

Most wore expressions of adoration, their faces lit up as if they were beholding an extraordinary beauty.

Young Shiba, who harbored a dislike for unfamiliar surroundings, suddenly stiffened like a block of ice, and collapsed onto her knees.

“Baaaaah!!!!!”

* * * * * * * * * * *

“Memory loss?”

“I can’t provide a detailed diagnosis, but it seems she can only recall past memories,” Saku and Soo-Yeon offered. Apparently, she had exerted an immense amount of strength, which resulted in her becoming smaller.

I was asleep and thus unaware of the specifics, but Alba, who had been present, shared Shiba’s diagnosis with me.

“I thought she’d return to normal once she woke up, but it seems we need to observe her a bit longer.”

At Alba’s words, I glanced at Shiba, who was seated on my lap.

Shiba, who was extremely wary of stars and other women. Our daughter’s memories were seemingly confined to her academy days. It appeared as if her recollections following my disappearance had been entirely suppressed.

“But why?”

Why, of all places, would her memories halt here? In addition to her body reverting to its youthful state, the loss of memory seemed too perilous a choice for a being to make just to ensure survival.

“Perhaps, the era she yearned to return to was her happiest period. Trees, after expending their energy, have a tendency to seek tranquility,” Alba speculated.

At Alba’s response, I turned my gaze back to Shiba.

“Bee?”

Could this be the result of her persistent thoughts of her father, even after she’d grown? Shiba, just like she had been three years ago, was seated atop me, her face filled with anxiety, yet also a certain determination, as she entrusted her body to me.

“Did you think about Daddy a lot?”

“Daddy… thoughts?”

Shiba chuckled softly, her voice hesitant.

“I thought about Daddy every day!”

“…Is that so?”

I should be pleased, yet my mouth tasted bitter today. Alba, carefully savoring the soup I had prepared, offered her counsel.

“It’s temporary memory loss, it might partially return… Her experiences remain intact, so her actions might trigger certain memories. For instance, something she once said in the presence of the King of Trees.”

She had occasionally addressed the King as ‘Mister’, something she would never have done had her memories remained in the past.

Even when she handed the necklace to the King, she recognized its value to him.

Perhaps she still comprehends the concept of Azalea’s love.

Indeed, Shiba didn’t evince much astonishment to Dal-rae, Se-young, and Byul.

“Regardless, be kind to her. Who knows how much she yearned to be loved.”
“Mm-hmm.”

Dal-rae also nodded in acquiescence to Se-young’s military speech.
Both were delighting in their soup, their bodies luxuriating in warmth.

Given the amount they had imbibed the previous night… The soup must have tasted akin to nectar.

Observing the two with an awkward smile. Suddenly, someone gently tugged on my arm.

“…Father.”
“Hm? What’s wrong, Wiki?”

Wiki, seeming discontented, fidgeted with her hands and scraped her nails on my knee.

“…Can’t I also be embraced?”

It seemed she had been intently observing Shiba, who hadn’t eaten since earlier and remained nestled close. Perhaps her jealousy rendered her unable to eat.

She even came bearing a bowl of rice, puffing her cheeks as if to put on airs, pretending to be humble. How could I, as a father, possibly refuse?

“Come here.”
“Oh…. Hee-hee!”

Wiki on my left knee. Shiba on my right knee.
I had to use both hands to secure their waists, ensuring they didn’t fall, leaving me unable to eat.

“…”

When someone ascended beside me, Shiba immediately bristled and stretched out her duck feet in defense.

On reflection, I hadn’t yet given her a name.
I gently held Shiba’s lips and spoke.

“Shiba.”
“Huh?”
“Your younger sister, her name is Wiki.”
“Young…sister?”
“Yes, your younger sister. We’re all family. Her name is Wiki.”

Upon this unexpected familial revelation, Shiba narrowed her eyes.

“Wiki…?”

Had something occurred in the room earlier?
After regarding Wiki as if she were a wild bear, she mustered the courage to utter her name.

The surrounding atmosphere fell into a hush, as if intrigued by this meeting of sisters.
Wiki, who had been hugging my waist, stuck out her tongue in a pitiful manner upon hearing Shiba’s voice.

“…You can’t even pronounce properly.”

From Wiki’s mouth flowed a dignified eloquence, coupled with a tone so aggressive it could challenge anyone and Shiba’s expression turned ambivalent.

“Dad. Wiki…”

Choked up. When the chastised Shiba started to whine, I immediately patted Wiki’s back.
Wiki clamped her mouth shut, lowered her head in resignation, and murmured quietly.

“Alright, Dad… Sister.”
“Good.”

No matter how much Wiki may act otherwise, treating an elder sister disrespectfully is highly frowned upon in Confucian society.

Wiki, though discontented, decided to let it slide for now. She clung to me tightly and shot Shiba a meaningful glare.

“Look at that.”

Byul chuckled in amusement at the pair, but that was the least of it.

The mealtime resumed.

The slightly prolonged awkwardness at the dining table, where everyone gradually gathered, began to dissipate, replaced by a warm conviviality.
I tried to introduce a variety of dishes to Alba and Blanche, who were unaccustomed to Korean cuisine, and took time to explain the nature of the food.

“…You find canned ham tasty?”
“I’m not so sure about that one.”

Particularly, opinions were as varied as there were about Shukham.

“Mama! Don’t gamble with Si-heon’s meal! What if you wrap the Shukham in the seasoned seaweed? Kkoso-hai!”
“…Overthinking once again.”

The mystery held by Blanche and Alba was settled as Se-Young stepped in, her words tying the conversation together.

“It’s been a while since Si-heon cooked…”
“Our Do-won is also a skillful cook!”

Sansuyu and Hong-Yeon, they ate without a word, savoring the meal.

“…My lord.”
“Yes.”
“Yesterday… I fell asleep.”

Regretting that she had fallen asleep without even a game of rock-paper-scissors, Chiyu couldn’t bring herself to lift her spoon.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty.”
“What is it, Aori?”
“Ahh~!”

Aori, wrapping rice in the seasoned seaweed, came over and fed it to me.

“Doesn’t it taste better when Aori wraps it?”
“It does.”
“Aori…wrapped… Hehe.”

Wiki, who had been watching Aori for a while, opened her eyes wide and with her small hand, picked up the seaweed and put it into her mouth. The problem was that almost at the same time, Shiba looked at me, her hand full of ham.

“Dad, eat mine too.”
“Oh? Should I?”
“Beep!”

Regrettably, the timing overlapped, and we ended up staring at each other.

Shiba and Wiki glared at each other, both visibly disturbed.

“Wiki.”
“Sister, I spoke first.”
“No!”

My mouth was filled with the seasoned seaweed and Shukham, neither of them backing down. Could my daughters ever get along?

“Ugh-”

My cheeks were bursting with the salty taste, and I was in desperate need of a mouthful of rice.

Sansuyu, who had been quietly observing, came over and brought a spoonful of rice.

“Si-heon.”
“Mmhm…”

The moment the saltiness dissipated.
I had never known that the rice rolling in my mouth could taste this divine.

“Am I the only one here?”

Sansuyu, who smiled knowingly, looked exceptionally beautiful.