Chirirureuk.
Chirirureuk.
It is a night where the sound of insects is unusually clear.
It felt like it was just daytime a moment ago, but the moon had already risen.
In the meantime, I was climbing the mountain path facing the moonlight.
My mood shouldn't be too bad with the faint scent of grass and the blowing autumn wind.
"Huu..."
My expression as I took my steps was not very good.
How could it be good?
'I'm dying of exhaustion.'
It feels like I've been caught in a typhoon all day.
I didn't even do much, but maybe because of the situation, I felt like I was going crazy from exhaustion.
The things I planned to do today were like a mountain, but the only things I actually did were attend the mourning ceremony and eat the Baekmaseok.
I couldn't do any of the other things I had planned.
Because there was no time? No.
There was only one reason.
Walking up a little, the flatland I had scouted beforehand came into view.
It's quite a distance from Hanam, and the mountains are high and rough, making it a place with exceptionally few people.
After slightly scanning the surroundings, I swung my hand and threw what I was holding.
"Ugh!"
With a short scream, something fell to the ground.
Uung-!
"Huh?"
I had to let out a hollow laugh at the scene that unfolded next.
The guy who had spun once and was falling to the ground, surprisingly stopped before touching the ground and floated in mid-air.
The guy's identity was the main culprit who had been making my head ache since daytime.
It was Ttolttoli, in the form of my childhood self.
After finishing my conversation with Madam Mi, I immediately returned to Ttolttoli, took him, and climbed the mountain.
When I went back and snatched him away, a regretful exclamation poured out for some reason, but it wasn't the time to care about that.
Because there were more than one or two things I needed to find out.
"You can fly?"
Even though he's in human form, does that mean he can still fly now because he could originally fly?
As I was looking at it with curiosity, a reaction came from Ttolttoli's side.
"Y-..."
'Y-?'
"Y-you startled me-!!"
"Hm?"
My eyes widened at the sight of him screaming at the top of his lungs.
Look at this?
"Why did you just throw me...!! What if I get hurt!"
"What are you?"
What is this bastard.
"You speak well?"
Just a moment ago, he seemed like an innocent kid who couldn't speak well and knew nothing.
Looking at it now, it was a completely different appearance.
His pronunciation was clear, and his eyes had gained strength.
This means.
"Were you acting?"
"Hmph."
It means a guy like that was intentionally pretending to be innocent.
When I asked in disbelief at the situation, Ttolttoli scoffed.
"It's not acting. I was just staying still."
Ttolttoli frowns as if he doesn't like something.
Maybe it's because it's my childhood face, but I feel like punching him.
I held back for now.
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why were you staying still?"
The reason he deliberately stayed still looking innocent.
When I asked that, Ttolttoli answered with a sullen expression.
"Everyone liked that."
"...What?"
"Originally, people like it when young humans stay innocent. Since the risk of danger is low for kids, they're harmless anyway, right? Of course, I seem to have taken after Dad, so I don't think I look that harmless, but still."
"Hah..."
There were few reactions I could give to the long string of words.
Just eyes of disbelief and an expression of disgust.
Those were not words that should come out of a little body of barely seven or eight years old.
He was sly.
This bastard... he was too sly.
Especially since he was spitting such words with my face, he looked even slier.
Floating lightly... Thud.
The flying guy landed lightly on the ground.
At the same time, the red martial robe fluttered slightly.
I wondered why the clothes he had been wearing since earlier looked so familiar.
"Is that, by any chance, my clothes?"
"Yeah."
"I'm going crazy."
Since it's a red martial robe, it should naturally be the Gu family's clothes.
Since he was said to be naked when found, it meant someone got clothes for him.
I thought it was familiar among them, but surprisingly, it seemed to be the exact clothes I wore when I was young.
However.
"...Where on earth did you get it."
I mean, where did they get the clothes I wore at that age?
They should have been thrown away long ago, so it was just strange to see Ttolttoli wearing them abruptly.
"Who gave you those clothes."
"This? White Mom."
"Ha... What?"
I frowned at the words.
"What did you say?"
"White Mom gave them to me."
"What kind of crazy word is that."
"Huh? White Mom is White Mom."
"No, who is White M..."
I stopped mid-sentence and thought about it carefully.
White Mom.
White color.
White...?
Don't tell me.
"...Are you talking about Namgung Bi-a?"
"Yeah."
"But why is your word choice like that."
What's white and what's mom?
Leaving aside why she had my childhood clothes. I lost my words at that completely nonsensical word.
White seems to mean white hair.
The word attached to it made no sense.
"Why is she a mom."
"Huh?"
"You're saying something that makes no sense."
Why are you disguising a perfectly fine maiden as a child's mom.
Moreover.
"I'm not even your dad, so why do you call me dad."
"Dad is dad."
Ttolttoli chuckled and said so.
Do you know what that shitty feeling is?
'That guy made a hurt expression earlier when I said I'm not his dad.'
Now he had eyes similar to a sneer.
That bastard...?
Fine, I'll somewhat understand for now.
He was born after stealing my energy, so let's say he's right about being my dad. It's fucking unfair, but I'll understand for now.
But.
"Why is she a mom."
Where did the term "White Mom" pop up from?
When I asked with doubt, Ttolttoli looked at me and tilted his head.
"She's not a mom."
"Right, I said she's not a mom?"
"But she likes it when I call her that."
"What, you punk?"
"If she likes it, it's a good thing. Yellow Mom liked it too, and Green Mom liked it too. Black Mom seemed to like it especially."
"..."
What is this, a color game?
Green, yellow, and black.
The funny thing was I could vaguely tell who was who.
And saying he called them that because they liked it meant.
"Does that mean you used it knowing that?"
"If it's good, it's good..."
Thump-!
"Kyaak!!"
I swung my fist at the small head.
Hitting him like flicking the crown of the head, Ttolttoli grabbed his head.
"Owwww! Ugh...!! Why did you hit meee!"
"I hit you because you deserved it. Who gave you the right to make the girls into child moms. Do you want to die?"
"Where do I deserve it! This is just violence!"
"Oh, ho?"
I thought he just pronounced things well enough, but he even talks back.
That made him even more unbearable.
"Didn't you say I'm your dad?"
"So?"
"Then this is more education than violence. Right, this is education. Just think of it as home schooling."
"T-that's nonsense."
Ttolttoli quickly distanced himself. While doing so, he said to me as if he felt unfair.
"Dad didn't receive that kind of education either!"
"How do you know that?"
"I know! I know everything!"
Ttolttoli shouted as if convinced.
"..."
I didn't have much to say to that.
He was right.
'Definitely. I didn't receive that kind of education.'
Although my father was terribly scary. I don't have any memories of being hit much.
It was rather close to neglect.
So I grew up without receiving such education, but.
"That's why I know better."
I smirked and moved my steps.
Putting in strength, I was suddenly right in front of Ttolttoli's nose who had distanced himself.
"Hiek!"
The guy was startled and tried to distance himself, but my hand was already reaching out.
I know well because I grew up not getting hit.
"Originally, kids who don't listen need to grow up getting hit a bit."
Isn't that why I ended up like this?
Thinking that, right before my fingertips reached Ttolttoli.
"I don't want to!"
Hwarureuk-!
"Hmm?"
Flames erupted from Ttolttoli who screamed at the top of his lungs.
It's the familiar Blue Flame. It was a flame similar to my energy.
Covered in flames as if wearing the Nine Flame Wheel Art, Ttolttoli. I watched with interest wondering what he was going to do, and the flame gradually increased its size, and then.
Kreureureureureu--!!
Not long after, a giant body was revealed along with a rough cry.
"Oh."
It's the appearance of Ttolttoli that I knew.
The appearance of a demonic beast with an enormous size.
The guy had returned to his appearance from that time.
'So he can return to his original form.'
It was a relief.
'I wondered what I'd do if he couldn't return.'
If the guy couldn't use that form, I would have had a headache thinking about how to use him in the future.
Fortunately, the human form didn't seem to be fixed.
If there's a difference, it's that he's half the size compared to when he was at his maximum?
'Since I can reduce and increase the size, it won't matter.'
What's important is not the appearance but the density.
If a change in me caused a change in Ttolttoli, then taking on a human form would be for that reason too.
Then, what about the demonic beast form?
'There's definitely a change.'
Externally, there's no big change, but the presence is different.
It was a feeling that couldn't even be compared to a red demonic beast.
'Not up to the White rank... but maybe the rank right below it?'
If categorized as a demonic beast, it's right below the White rank.
To be exact, it's a level slightly below the demonic beast from right before, which I had weakened by thrusting the Holy Spear into.
That alone was a considerable strength.
Kreureureu---...!
Ttolttoli bares his teeth and lets out a cry.
I looked at him quietly.
He doesn't run away by flying.
He probably knows he'll be caught soon.
After watching such a guy for a while, I let out a slight sigh.
"Hey."
Kreur.
"Can you return to human form from that state?"
Kreur....
It means it's possible.
"Then come back."
...
A sign of hesitation could be seen.
Seeing that, I clicked my tongue briefly.
"Are you not going to get hit if you increase your size? Just come back. I won't hit you."
Kreur...?
"Yeah, really. I won't hit you."
I originally had no intention of catching and beating him.
Giving him a flick on the crown of the head was also a mistake made in the heat of the moment.
If it were up to my heart, I'd like to throw away the excuse of education and just hit him.
'It's also because it's my childhood appearance.'
When I actually try to hit him, I hesitate a bit, and...
The bigger problem was that my current body couldn't control its strength.
'That goes for the hit just now too.'
The strength that should have gone out weaker originally exploded stronger than I thought.
It's called a flick, but if he were a second-class or first-class martial artist, his head would have exploded.
It's a relief that Ttolttoli's durability was higher than expected. If not, it would have really been a big deal.
"...So. Just come back for now. If you don't, I'll catch you and really hit you?"
Kreureureu....
The hesitating Ttolttoli finally started to move after hearing my latter words.
Hwarureuk--!!
The same flames as before wrapped around his body, and as the flames subsided, the small body descended to the ground.
"...Are you really not going to hit me?"
"I won't hit you."
I let out a slight sigh and looked at him.
The more I look, the more he looks exactly like me.
"Hey."
"Yeah. Dad."
"No.... Not Dad... No. Let's skip this."
What does the title matter? Let's skip this for now.
"How did you end up in that form?"
I asked with doubt about why he became that form.
Then.
"Dad doesn't know?"
"I'm asking because I don't know. Why would I ask if I knew."
"Then how would I know that? I would have said it first if I knew."
"..."
A rather hopeless answer came back.
...Should I just hit him regardless of strength control or not?
'Fuck.'
It wasn't just the face, but the tone of voice was also similar.
Do the guys talking to me all feel this way?
'No wonder they get angry.'
Somehow, it seemed like everyone got angry when talking to me.
Now I understand a little. I'll have to hold back a bit from next time.
Anyway.
"So you don't know the reason either."
"I was just eating, and when I came to my senses, I was like this."
"What about being in my quarters?"
"When I got small, there was nowhere to hide... but White Mom was there."
"..."
Does that mean he happened to run into Namgung Bi-a at that time?
Why was she in my quarters in the first place?
I'll have to ask when I see her later.
Then, what's important right now is...
'That this guy doesn't know the reason either.'
It's true that if a change occurs in me, this guy changes too.
Even though a change occurred this time too, what's the reason for a demonic beast becoming a human?
Also.
'Of all things, he got caught.'
The fact that that guy was discovered is the biggest problem right now.
If he could only turn into a demonic beast, I could have just told him to hide roughly.
'It's after I already finished talking with Madam Mi.'
The guy's residence was already decided.
It was ambiguous to say no now.
"Heum."
"Dad?"
No matter how much I rack my brain, there's no immediate answer.
Then what should I do?
'What can I do.'
There was only one set answer anyway.
"For now, you go."
"Huh...? Wh-where?"
"Do you remember the lady who came earlier?"
"Yeah."
"Go to that house and live there."
"Huh?"
At my words, Ttolttoli made a dumbfounded expression.
"I live there?"
"Yeah. You have to live there. There's a reason, so even if it's a bit uncomfortable, just endure..."
"Okay."
"Huh?"
At the nonchalant answer, this time I was flustered.
"...You're okay with it?"
"Yeah."
Ttolttoli seemed to not care much, whether he was sincere or not.
"Why are you okay with it?"
"Huh? Should I not be okay with it?"
"No..."
Is it because his origin is a demonic beast that he's so easygoing?
From my position, who was (originally) human, it was a bit subtle.
"It's fine. Looking at it, I think I can stay comfortably."
"...Aren't you seeing something wrong?"
"Huh?"
Can you stay comfortably living together in Madam Mi's quarters?
I couldn't understand at all the words Ttolttoli spat out so blandly.
I feel like I'll go crazy just walking together, but he says it's comfortable to live together?
'Ah, but Madam Mi is busy anyway, so she probably won't be in her quarters often.'
Since the original reason for living together was for surveillance, she herself wouldn't stay together.
Right, surveillance.
Otherwise, there would be no reason to send him to the quarters.
Suddenly I ended up offering Ttolttoli as a sacrifice, but....
'If it comes to it, taking him out won't be difficult, so it should be fine.'
Give what I have to give, and get what I need to get.
That was the only thing I could do right now.
"Anyway.... That's how it turned out. Live there quietly starting tomorrow."
Just like the appearance you showed earlier.
Live as if you know nothing. When I said it with that intention, Ttolttoli nodded.
"Understood."
"Just in case. If you secretly cause trouble and get caught, expect to be educated."
"...Tch."
"Tch?"
"It's nothing."
His voice was full of regret. It was as if he had intended to cause trouble.
What the hell is that bastard? Who did he take after to be so hopeless?
I thought about really hitting him a bit, but I tenaciously held back.
'Not yet.... Not yet.'
I held back with all my might. At least for now, I had to hold back.
Even if I do, it's right to do it after this.
'...After checking first.'
Squeeze.
I put Ttolttoli on standby for now. And recalled the reason I climbed up this mountain.
The rapid change felt perhaps because of eating the energy.
It was to see how much it was.
Uuuuung...!!
As soon as I released my qi sense, all sorts of information rushed in from all directions.
The domain of my qi sense seemed to have increased by at least several times.
My stomach churned at the sensation that would be more than enough to cover this surrounding mountain.
"Huuuu..."
I pulled myself together and circulated my qi.
Even though I came to a mountain with few people, if it's this much, I really should keep it closed usually.
'For now, I'll slowly adjust my qi sense...'
I moved my hands little by little.
The qi sense is one thing, but the most important thing is something else.
Hwarureuk.
Flames appeared above my hand.
The increased qi sense aside, there was one more thing I felt earlier.
'Firepower increased.'
Even though the energy in my body didn't increase, the density to explode the firepower increased.
It was something I could know instinctively. Which also meant I wouldn't be able to control this right now.
If I exploded it to check, I felt like I would fail to control it and wipe out the entire area.
Therefore, I climbed up to this mountain to check.
'Then, let's see.'
How much did it increase?
It's time to solve the curiosity I had suppressed all day.
'If it goes well, I might have gotten about 30% stronger.'
Such expectations rose.
Even 30% is an enormous figure. Probably not to that extent.
Judging so, I put strength into the flame.
With that, the Blue Flame shone.
"...For the first time, just lightly breathing it out."
Making it as weak as possible, I shot it aiming at the rock in front.
The expectation was a thin stream of fire.
Enough to hit the rock and die out.
Focusing on maintenance rather than explosion, I activated the energy, but.
Uung---!
A vibration erupted and.
Kuaaaaaaaaa---!!!
"...Huh?"
Hwarereureureuk---!!!
What burst from my hand was not small, but a flame the size of a house.
The Blue Flame erupted and instantly devoured the front.
The target rock was engulfed in the flames and melted away.
"...?"
My expression melted away as I confirmed that too.