Chapter 49: The Precious Child Doubles! (2)

Han Yuyeon was displeased.

“Both of you, come sit in front of me.”

“I-I’m sorry… Was I being a bother?” Gyeonwoo quickly got up, responding to the cold stare from Han Yuyeon, who had her arms crossed.

Pureumi jumped up too. “Huh?”

She didn’t understand what was happening, but the atmosphere felt strange. She clung to Gyeonwoo’s leg like a cicada as they faced Han Yuyeon.

“Hey, why are you talking to the kids like that!” Han Dayeon protested.

Han Yuyeon responded with a chilly telepathic message. [So you’d just laugh it off if the child got kidnapped by the cult?]

It wasn’t because Gyeonwoo and Pureumi had only cuddled with Han Dayeon, ignoring her.

…It’s true.

She’d thought this since first meeting Gyeonwoo, but if the children were happy, that should be enough. The problem was that Han Dayeon was taking this situation too lightly. At this rate, Gyeonwoo might do something like this again someday.

“Let’s say you’re home alone and someone knocks on the door asking for help. What would you do?”

As expected, Gyeonwoo answered without hesitation.

“I should help them!”

She clenched her fist with a determined expression, seemingly forgetting all the scolding she’d received.

“What do you think, Pureumi?”

“Don’t know! Mama’s right! We’ll help!”

Even Pureumi was mimicking Gyeonwoo’s actions.

“See? Can we really leave them be like this?”

Even Han Dayeon, who had melted like cheese at the children’s cuteness, felt a chill of realization.

She understood why everyone was acting so gently. They were worried Gyeonwoo might recall her trauma from the cult or revert to her old self, unable to feel happiness.

But…

Han Yuyeon had witnessed a secret about Gyeonwoo that the other adults didn’t know.

She’d seen her talking to herself all night as if talking with someone else. It was the first time she’d seen Gyeonwoo look so happy. Han Yuyeon had been so surprised that she’d stayed up all night too.

She wondered if it might be some kind of mental illness. It wasn’t normal to have conversations with yourself, changing your voice and speech patterns as if playing different roles.

Damn it.

Those bastards from the cult. How much did they torment this sweet child for her to develop a mental illness?

Thinking Gyeonwoo might have some kind of mental illness explained her pathological behaviors. Her self-sacrificing nature and desire to help others at any cost. Her inability to accept anything for free, always feeling the need to pay. Her forgiving attitude towards the sisters who had abandoned her in the mountains…

Maybe she thought there was no point in resenting others or relying on them? Perhaps all her actions were meant to protect her fragile psyche.

So…

“From now on, you need to ask permission from us before doing anything.”

“…What?!”

“You’re not allowed to help others without permission anymore.”

“What?!!”

“If you get caught helping others without permission, we’ll lock you in your room, feed you expensive food, and make you sleep.”

“Ugh! Th-that can’t be!”

The punishment was not being allowed to help others.

At Han Yuyeon’s firm declaration, Gyeonwoo froze like a statue. Her eyes wide open, mouth agape, unable to move. Her reaction was so intense, you’d think being unable to help others was the most shocking thing in the world.

“Mama… broke…?”

Even Pureumi, who’d been busy copying Gyeonwoo, poked her side with her tiny finger.

Thankfully…

“Pfft! S-stop it!”

“Mama’s back!”

Even in her shocked state, Gyeonwoo couldn’t resist the tickling fingers on her side. She burst into laughter and playfully bit Pureumi’s fingers in retaliation.

“Pureumi’s fingers aren’t for eating!”

“Wah, I’m gonna eat them all up!”

Pureumi squealed and trembled as her fingers were caught. Even Han Yuyeon, who’d been trying to maintain a stern expression, couldn’t help but smile at the cute scene.

How could anyone think of their unfortunate pasts seeing them like this?

To be honest, this incident had been a serious accident, but the outcome was undeniably positive. Gyeonwoo might rediscover her childhood with a peer her age, and they could comfort each other’s wounds.

The shock of being told they couldn’t help others didn’t last long. Soon, Gyeonwoo and Pureumi were playing with each other as if they were alone in the living room.

“Me too! I’m gonna eat Mama too!”

Pureumi copied Gyeonwoo’s actions and bit her finger. It didn’t seem to hurt at all, as she wasn’t biting hard.

Pureumi’s still a baby, so I should play with her, right? She probably didn’t have anyone to play with after losing her parents, like me!

With that thought, Gyeonwoo dramatically spread her arms and flopped down on the spot.

“Aah! Am I being eaten?”

“Mm! Mama’s mine!”

Pureumi followed suit, falling on top of Gyeonwoo, and they began to wrestle playfully. Soon, they were cuddling and starting to doze off.

“So cute, so cute, so cute…!”

Han Dayeon had already pulled out her smartphone to record another video, stamping her feet in excitement.

This cuteness is out of this world! How can there be such pure children? I want to join in and get bitten too! I want to bite those soft little fingers!

“You’re so carefree, sister,” Han Yuyeon said with a complicated expression.

Han Dayeon was panting heavily. “But they’re so cute!”

Cute children are more common than you might think. Children are inherently cute. But Han Dayeon was smitten with Gyeonwoo because of her kind nature. A child who remained good despite her tragic past, always considerate of others – that wasn’t just uncommon, it was rare enough to count on one hand in the entire world.

“Let’s take them to a water park next time! I think they’ll love it.”

If Han Yuyeon was playing the role of the strict father, she would be the loving mother!

Han Yuyeon shook her head at her sister’s self-serving tone. She hadn’t wanted to be harsh with the children either, but still…

“I’ll choose the swimsuits.”

“What?!”

Just thinking about the children laughing happily at the water park made her feel good. Of course, she still intended to follow through with the punishment.

Raising Gyeonwoo was something they, living together, had to handle. This wasn’t something even the Guild Master could help with. Han Dayeon might not be the most reliable, always grinning foolishly when she saw Gyeonwoo, but there was no choice.

Han Yuyeon looked at Han Dayeon skeptically and urged her, “Sister. Make sure to follow through with the punishment. Don’t let Gyeonwoo help others recklessly. Instead, we’ll help Gyeonwoo and others. Get her used to receiving help rather than giving it.”

To others, this might not sound like much of a punishment. Not being allowed to help others is a punishment? But judging by Gyeonwoo’s intense reaction, it would be effective. This extreme measure was necessary to stop Gyeonwoo’s self-sacrificing behavior.

“Don’t worry about that. You don’t think I’d do anything to harm the kids, do you?” Han Dayeon boasted, puffing out her chest confidently.

“Haah…”

Can I really trust her? She acts like a reliable leader outside and has that reputation, but at home, she’s just a big-chested kid.

Han Yuyeon kept emphasizing, “Let’s try to have at least one of us stay home, and if it’s difficult, we’ll call someone else. Make sure Gyeonwoo isn’t lonely. Give her lots of gifts she couldn’t have before, and also…”

The problem was that her instructions kept getting longer, with no sign of stopping even after 10 minutes!

Crazy woman…

She acts all rational, but in the end, she’s just as crazy about the kids.

“Yes, okay.”

“Mm-hmm, I will.”

“Got it.”

“I said I got it…?”

Han Dayeon’s face turned pale as she answered lifelessly.

Hide knives and scissors in drawers because the kids might be in danger. It’s okay to give them snacks, but watch out for sugar. The kids lack common sense, so teach them one by one while living together, and so on and so forth.

Han Dayeon gave up responding and just stared blankly at the sleeping children.

Gyeonwoo and Pureumi were sleeping in a tight embrace, like one body. Their blue hair flowed onto the floor, making them look like fairies floating on a river.

“Mmm…”

Was it in her sleep? Pureumi, slightly shorter, buried her face in Gyeonwoo’s neck.

It’s amazing how well these children get along after meeting just a day ago. They’re so precious.

As Han Dayeon was smiling fondly, she heard an embarrassing sound.

“Chu~”

“…?”

It was shocking enough to startle even Han Yuyeon, who had been lecturing intently in her own world.

“Nom nom nom~”

She hadn’t heard wrong. Pureumi, nestled in Gyeonwoo’s arms, was sucking on her pale skin with her tiny mouth.

“Aaaaah!”

No! That’s not something kids should do!

Han Dayeon and Han Yuyeon both rushed forward urgently.

“Mmm… Mama’s milk…”

They covered Pureumi’s mouth as she mumbled in her sleep.

“Is there a mosquito…?” Gyeonwoo scratched her neck where Pureumi had been sucking, still half-asleep.

Thankfully, it seemed she hadn’t woken up.

“Phew…”

Who would have thought she’d do that in her sleep? Gyeonwoo had explained that becoming a spirit had regressed Pureumi mentally quite a bit. She must have been dreaming of her mother, who she can no longer meet.

“…Let’s do better for them,” Han Dayeon said with determination.

Han Yuyeon nodded silently in agreement.

But even as they did…

“Chu~”

Pureumi couldn’t resist and started sucking on Han Yuyeon’s palm that was covering her mouth.

“Haah…”

This morning, they had been looking forward to living with Gyeonwoo, but now they couldn’t help feeling worried.

Will we be okay…?