After Story. 001 ― The Grandson’s Wife (1)
After taking a Warp Gate from Academy City to Seoul, I and Yeon Haneul headed to our house together with Yeon Bada, Nam Yuri, and Cha Eunsol.
We parted ways with the triplets midway, as our paths had only overlapped for a stretch.
Before we knew it, we had arrived in front of the house.
I placed my hand on the front door.
‘Come to think of it…’
A sudden question arose.
‘Have I ever brought a friend other than Haneul home until now?’
I didn’t think I had.
This was the first time.
Of course, I had brought the triplets over a few times for their training, but…
‘Can I even call them friends? They’re just my lackeys, not friends.’
Of course, I was joking.
I also thought of the triplets—Geum, Eun, and Dong—as friends.
So I should keep using them with a clear conscience in the future too.
‘It’s all for your growth, so just trust me and follow. By the way, what was their family name? I can’t even remember their names because I always just call them Geum, Eun, and Dong.’
Was it U Geumdong, U Eundong, and U Dongdong?
Wait, how can someone name a person like that?
Isn’t that too careless?
And what’s with U Dongdong in particular?
Dongdongi? Dongdongi? Dongdongiii?
‘Just kidding. Ah… my thoughts and narration came out opposite. …Eh, whatever. Who cares.’
As an aside, U Dongdong had often been teased because of his name.
But because he had ridden on my back before, and because U Geumdong and U Eundong wouldn’t stay idle, no one ever deliberately set out to bully him.
In the first place, U Dongdong was incredibly proud of his name, so he didn’t suffer much psychological damage.
“—What’s wrong with my name? Haven’t you watched Axx Momma? ‘Hello~ Thank you~ Take care~ See you again.’ You don’t know? The main character’s name there is Dongdongi too, so if you think about it, my name is special just like the main character’s, you know?”
The things U Dongdong had proudly rattled on about at that time came back to me vividly.
‘But the main character who appears there isn’t Dongdongi—it’s the mom, isn’t it? The mom’s name… what was it? What?’
In truth, Axx Momma was a show from a different generation than ours, so the kids simply didn’t know any better.
As for me, I only knew because of my past life’s memories…
‘How did this kid know about that?’
Come to think of it, I think U Dongdong was the one among the triplets whom I conversed with the most.
This kid has surprisingly old-fashioned tastes…
Ahem, anyway.
“Let me say this again: don’t cause trouble that’ll embarrass the family. Bada… I suppose there’s no need to worry about her.”
The story had strayed too far off track.
Shaking off my miscellaneous thoughts, I turned to Nam Yuri and Cha Eunsol and warned them.
The two protested their innocence.
“Come on! Gyeon-u, Gyeon-u, don’t you trust me too little? I keep my promises!”
“That’s right. Mmm… I’m just a pet pig who behaves as long as I’m fed…”
“You two have quite the track record, after all.”
These two, who could bolt off in any direction at any moment, were high-risk individuals as far as I was concerned.
I know your skills well, but that’s a separate matter from trust…
I answered without a shred of hesitation and moved to open the door.
I pulled the door handle.
“Mother, we’re home.”
“You’re back? Everyone, come on in.”
“Oppa, and all you unnie, welcome!”
After opening the front door and stepping inside, Mother walked out into the hallway.
My younger sister, Do Yeeun, was there too.
The two welcomed us warmly.
Yeon Haneul greeted her with perfect courtesy.
“Hello, Mother. Have you been well?”
“I’ve been doing just fine. But what about my daughter-in-law? Have you been well?”
“Yes, I’ve been well too.”
“Is that so? I can tell by your face. You’ve gotten prettier than before, haven’t you? It seems Gyeon-u has been loving you a lot.”
“Uuu… I’m embarrassed, Mother. Thank you…”
“Huhu. What will you do if you’re embarrassed? You’ll be hearing it constantly from now on, so get used to it quickly.”
“Yessss… Ah, and Mother. This is something I brought from Academy City; apparently it’s a nutritional supplement that Hunters have been favoring lately. Please take it with Father.”
“Oh my, why did you go and buy something like this? I’ll gladly accept it, dear. But I’m not a Hunter; is it okay for me to take it?”
“Yes, they say it’s good for anyone who can handle mana. As for what effects it has…”
Mother and Yeon Haneul chatted away.
The affectionate rapport between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law made for a truly heartwarming sight.
Just then, Do Yeeun butted in.
“Unnie! Haneul unnie! What about me!? Don’t I get a present!?”
“Of course I have a present for Yeeun too. Tada!”
“As expected, our unnie is the best!”
Yeon Haneul’s preparedness was impeccable.
When she pulled a present from her pocket, Do Yeeun was overjoyed, practically bouncing.
For reference, the two of them should have originally called each other by titles such as “Lady” and “Sister-in-law”…
‘Since neither title came naturally, we had decided to put off calling each other by proper familial hierarchy until later.’
And so, after reaching an agreement, the two had decided to just call each other comfortably as usual; that was the story behind it.
Meanwhile, Nam Yuri and Cha Eunsol—who would be staying as guests over the break instead of returning to their clans—as well as Yeon Bada, also greeted her.
“Hello, Mother! I’m Nam Yuri! It’s a secret, but I’m the true power behind the scenes of the Yeonseong Nam Family! I’m only telling you because you’re my mother! Please take care of me!”
“Hm? True power behind the scenes?”
“It’s nothing, Mother. She’s just spouting nonsense, so please don’t mind her.”
At Nam Yuri’s random, out-of-left-field remark, Mother blinked her eyes in puzzlement.
To avoid any unnecessary mention, I glossed things over on Nam Yuri’s behalf.
Luckily, it was Cha Eunsol’s turn to greet her, so I was able to divert Mother’s attention.
“…Hello, Mother. I’m Cha Eunsol. I’m sorry to impose, but I’ll be in your care for the time being.”
Unexpectedly, Cha Eunsol’s attitude was polite.
She, who usually lived with food in her hands, had emptied her palms completely and lowered her head.
Mother raised her back up.
“What need is there to apologize? Don’t ever think you’re a burden; stay as comfortably as if you were in your own home.”
“…Yes, thank you.”
So Cha Eunsol does know how to show manners to adults, after all…
Just as I was thinking that.
“Is there anything you’d like to eat? Don’t hold back; just tell me.”
“Ah, then I…”
Right. As if Cha Eunsol wouldn’t.
For a moment, I thought she might defy expectations, but no—she doesn’t stray from them at all.
Whether she liked it or not, I quickly covered her mouth.
“She says she’ll eat whatever you give her. She isn’t particularly picky.”
“Hmm… is that so?”
“…Yes.”
Confused by my actions, Mother sought confirmation from Cha Eunsol.
Cha Eunsol answered reluctantly and shot me a sullen look.
She muttered in a low voice.
“That was mean.”
“I’ll order chicken for you later.”
“Okay, great. I take back the mean.”
Thus, winning Cha Eunsol’s heart and reversing her opinion of me was an exceedingly easy task.
Chicken was mighty.
Of course, to bend her principles, a single chicken wouldn’t be nearly enough.
I let out a snicker.
“Bada, welcome too. Have you been well?”
“Yes, Mother! I’ve really missed you!”
Meanwhile, Mother turned her gaze to Yeon Bada, who had been waiting her turn.
The two, who had already met and caught up during summer break, exchanged warm updates on each other’s lives.
And in the meantime, Nam Yuri and Do Yeeun were getting acquainted.
“So you’re Gyeon-u, Gyeon-u’s little sister! Hello? I’m Nam Yuri!”
“Hello! I heard about you from oppa! You’re the unnie who uses alchemy, right?”
Perhaps because Nam Yuri possessed a somewhat childish side for her age, and because their personalities were similar?
The two seemed to be getting along swimmingly.
“Wow! You’re tiny! Cute!”
“Unnie is tiny and cute too! How can you be around my height?”
…They are getting along, right?
You two aren’t fighting right now, are you?
I couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
‘By the way, I missed the timing to mention it earlier…’
Yeon Bada is one thing.
But Nam Yuri, and Cha Eunsol too—why are they all following Yeon Haneul’s lead and calling my mother “Mother”?
It was a mystery to me.
Then I reached a conclusion on my own.
‘Well, the title “Mother” is probably better than “Auntie” or “Madam” anyway…’
* * *
After finishing the introductions and assigning rooms to Yeon Bada, Nam Yuri, and Cha Eunsol.
Mother asked Yeon Haneul.
“What will you do, Haneul? Will you use a separate room from Gyeon-u as before?”
“No… since we’re married now, I’ll stay with him.”
“Huhu. I see, I had a feeling.”
Yeon Haneul answered bashfully.
Her face flushed slightly, and her rabbit ears bounced up and down.
She was so cute, pretty, and lovely that the corners of my mouth rose of their own accord.
Perhaps feeling the same as me, Mother smiled brightly.
“Gyeon-u’s bed is big, so it should be fine, but if you need a blanket, tell me later.”
“Yessss….”
“It’s fine. The bed is big, and since we’ll be sleeping while hugging each other anyway, there won’t be any need.”
“G-Gyeon-u!?”
“Oh my. Huhu… All right, don’t mind us and enjoy your time together.”
Leaving Mother, who was teasing us, behind, I took Yeon Haneul’s hand and pulled her along.
She followed me obediently but protested with a sulky voice.
“What kind of talk is that in front of Mother? Do you know how embarrassed I am? Really…”
Yeon Haneul pouted.
I turned my head to look back at her and shrugged my shoulders.
“Why? It’s the truth, isn’t it? Or is it not?”
“It’s not that it isn’t… but it’s still embarrassing…”
“Are you embarrassed of me?”
“What!? No, that’s not it…”
That she wasn’t embarrassed of me, that she couldn’t live without me, that she loved me…
Yeon Haneul floundered as she explained.
Having succeeded in my prank, I couldn’t help but let out a snicker.
But if I teased her too much, I might earn her wrath instead.
Deciding to end it here, I pressed my lips to hers.
“Mmph. Mmm… if you spring this on me so suddenly, what am I supposed to do…”
“Sorry, I just wanted to so badly.”
“Tch.”
“We’re here. Let’s go in.”
Yeon Haneul’s expression softened completely.
I wrapped my arm around her waist and headed into my room—no, our room.
“Let’s stay here until graduation. We’ll look for a house for just the two of us after that.”
“Mhm, we could do that, or…”
Yeon Haneul perched on the edge of my bed.
She looked up at me and spoke.
“I could just live here, you know? Together with Mother, Father, and Yeeun.”
“Won’t it be uncomfortable?”
“Hmm? No? Why would I be uncomfortable? I’ve known them since I was little, and they’re your family. Now… they’re my family too. Right?”
“…No, you’re right. That’s right.”
Yeon Haneul smiled brightly.
Beautiful.
Agreeing with her words, I leaned my body toward the bed.
Then she was pushed by my body and fell back onto the bed.
Her eyes containing only me, she let out an excited breath.
“Right now… what are you trying to do? Without even unpacking.”
“Something more important than that.”
“What… is it?”
“Well… guess.”
“……”
Yeon Haneul didn’t answer.
Instead, she reached out to me and tried to wrap her arms around my neck.
I just…
‘Wait.’
That was when I felt a gaze.
Lost in each other, we slowly turned our heads.
“……”
The door had opened at some point.
And through the crack in the door…
“Ah.”
Yeon Bada, Nam Yuri, Cha Eunsol, and Do Yeeun were peeking at us.
We couldn’t help but be bewildered.
On the other hand, the four who met our eyes reacted nonchalantly.
“No, finish what you were doing. We’ll just watch quietly. And if it’s okay, later with me too, hehe…”
“It’s fine, Gyeon-u, Gyeon-u! Haneul, Haneul! Don’t mind us and finish what you two were doing!”
“Mmm, mmm.”
“Hurry up and kiss! Kiss!”
From now on…
I really have to lock the door for sure.
‘Tch, the mood’s completely ruined.’
In the end, I and Yeon Haneul had to postpone what we were doing until that night.
* * *
Some time ago, Grandfather had sent word.
He had told me and Yeon Haneul to come together during winter break to pay our respects to the clan.
And so.
“So this is… the main house of the Divine Sword Do Family.”
The main house of the Divine Sword Do Family in Gwanak-gu, Seoul.
Having returned home for winter break, we visited the main house on this day.
After entering the estate, Yeon Haneul, who stood before the main mansion, appeared very nervous.
“Are you okay? If it’s hard… shall we go back?”
Even at the risk of incurring Grandfather’s displeasure, Yeon Haneul was more important to me.
I was prepared to go along with her immediately if she wished it.
But her resolve was firm.
“…No. I’m fine.”
“Are you really okay?”
“Yes. I’m fine, Father.”
Yeon Haneul shook her head.
Even with Father and Mother’s worries, she did not change her mind.
“Let’s go, now.”
“…All right.”
Yeon Haneul took a step.
Even knowing that the direct descendants of the clan she was about to face would look down on her and mock her for being a demi-human.
She moved forward without faltering.
I pulled her tightly into my arm with the determination to protect her.
‘If anyone so much as touches Haneul for real. I won’t let anyone off easy. I’ll utterly destroy them.’
I exchanged glances with Father, Mother, and Do Yeeun.
Everyone was filled with fighting spirit.
Having nodded as one, we stepped into the main mansion guarded by lion statues.