Chapter 64: Resolution (3)

Despite Han Dayeon’s concern and both Guild Masters’ gazes, Gyeonwoo firmly revealed the truth.

“Gyeonwoo…”

Though explaining complex matters to young Pureumi wasn’t easy, most issues could be resolved by sharing memories through wishes.

The truth gradually became clear like assembling puzzle pieces.

Guilt heavier than gravity made Gyeonwoo’s head drop until her forehead touched the ground, but…

“Hmm? Why is that Mama’s fault?”

After listening with a serious expression, Pureumi responded lightly as usual.

Instead…

“Mmm, I wanna go.”

“Uh, okay? Should I let you go?”

“Mm.”

Breaking free from Han Dayeon’s arms, she toddled over to the kneeling Gyeonwoo.

“Hug me!”

She spread her short arms wide, as if asking to be picked up.

Her behavior seemed inappropriate for the tense situation.

It seemed silly now to have worried the injured children might fight.

Naturally, Gyeonwoo couldn’t easily believe Pureumi’s words.

If Pureumi hits me, I should just take it.
Getting kicked is fine, I won’t even make a sound!
But what if she says she hates me and never wants to see me again?

She fidgeted anxiously with drooping eyebrows, considering all these worries.

“Um… I don’t think Pureumi understands yet…”

Just as she tried explaining again, worried Pureumi might regret her choice…

“No. I understand everything. Pureumi’s not stupid!”

Pureumi shook her head vigorously with a snort.

Then, imitating Gyeonwoo’s usual behavior, she put her hands on her hips and declared firmly:

“That bad uncle is the bad one. Mama didn’t do anything wrong!”

Though her pronunciation was still clumsy.

Her voice and actions were exaggerated like a small child’s, but her sincerity was clear.

Am I… forgiven…?

“Even though I did something so terrible…?”

Pureumi remained firm even at Gyeonwoo’s tearful question.

“That uncle tricked Mama! Mama didn’t know and do it!”

For Pureumi, it was a conclusion requiring no lengthy consideration.

“Bad uncles hurt Pureumi and Papa. But Mama saved me.”

It was Gyeonwoo’s fault her parents died?

By that logic, all parents in the world would be sinners.

Making children who will die anyway suffer by bringing them into the world.

It was just self-blame at the level of “I wish I hadn’t been born…”

“…Brother. How exactly did you educate these kids?”

Though stumbling and hard to understand.

Despite her difficult pronunciation, her words were profoundly deep.

Who could believe she was just a kindergartener?

It would barely be believable if she were a reincarnator on her second life.

Even Guild Master Jang Jin-yu, who had been watching disapprovingly, gaped in shock.

If only he could teach his sibling like that – bowing to his senior would be nothing.

Meanwhile, Guild Master Lee Sunghwan and Han Dayeon…

Wow, that’s scary.

Seriously wondered if Pureumi might actually be older than Gyeonwoo.

A situation adults found hard to explain.

Yet Pureumi remained serious.

“So get up!”

Seeing Gyeonwoo frozen with guilt, Pureumi hugged her directly.

Their chins resting on each other’s shoulders, squeezing tight-

Though weak due to their small bodies, it was enough to convey their warm hearts.

The wish Gyeonwoo made for atonement was to convey the truth to Pureumi.

And those “truths” included not just Gyeonwoo’s guilt and worries, but also the pain she suffered at the cult.

Though young, Pureumi knew right from wrong through her time with Gyeonwoo, making this the natural result.

In this moment.

Pureumi and Gyeonwoo weren’t mother and daughter, or contractor and contracted.

Two children with wounded pasts.

Like light and shadow, able to empathize with and comfort each other’s pain.

While Gyeonwoo could only tear up silently…

“Mama didn’t open Gate.”

“Yes…”

“Didn’t know uncle was bad.”

“Yes…”

“And Mama saved Pureumi too.”

“Yes…”

Despite her limited vocabulary, Pureumi worked hard to express her thoughts.

Though losing her parents was sad and she still missed them…

Being together with everyone now was also fun and happy.

“And if you did wrong, you get punished!”

“What should I do…?”

So Pureumi proudly declared:

“Since Mama’s marrying me, you have to have my baby!”

“…Huh?”

Her declaration was so proud that everyone had been nodding with tears at the touching scene, but.

Wait.

What?

What did Pureumi just say?

“Wow… Chungseong Guild’s early education is really something else.”

Only after Guild Master Jang Jin-yu’s exclamation did they realize they hadn’t misheard.

“Pureumi!”

Gyeonwoo jumped up in shock.

“Haah…”

Guild Master Lee Sunghwan covered his eyes with a sigh deep enough to sink the ground.

Han Dayeon had somehow gone pale.

“Where did you learn something like that!”

Pureumi’s answer revealed the cause.

“Hmm? Letter study book!”

“What kind of study book has that? What’s the title?”

“Umm… Re-Reborn as a noble lady in a world where boys can get pregnant! Impossible impossible impossible!”

That title sounded straight from across the sea, definitely rated R18.

There was only one place Pureumi could have accessed such books.

The Han sisters’ library.

“Han Dayeon…!”

Guild Master Lee Sunghwan, quickly grasping the situation, roared like a tiger!

Wow! Animal kingdom!

“Eek! I-I don’t know anything about this! The child must have read it because she wanted to!”

“What kind of things are you keeping in a house with children!”

While Gyeonwoo found strange things on her smartphone by herself…

Pureumi was reading adult manga bought by Han Dayeon.

What kind of household was this?

Maybe leaving the children with the Han sisters had been a mistake.

“Throw out all the unnecessary things when you get home.”

“Even if you’re the Guild Master, my hobbies are my freedom!”

“Those hobbies are making the child talk nonsense!”

“W-well…”

Stammering under his sharp gaze, Han Dayeon suddenly met his eyes boldly and declared in a resolute voice:

“But it was cute!”

Guild Master Lee Sunghwan couldn’t argue.

Well, Pureumi had been cute proudly demanding babies without even knowing what she was talking about.

But cuteness couldn’t justify ruining children’s futures.

That would be abuse.

“…At least hide them where the kids can’t see.”

“Of course.”

Finally, the two reached a dramatic compromise.

In the end, Pureumi’s misguided common sense turned the atmosphere positive by making everyone laugh.

Though she literally asked for babies, Gyeonwoo quickly realized she meant wanting to stay together forever.

To young Pureumi, marriage and conjugal relations probably meant just that.

…Right?

“Since Mama got up, marry Pureumi! Promise!”

So Gyeonwoo sniffled, swallowed her runny nose, and answered firmly:

“We can’t get married.”

Gyeonwoo realized today that Pureumi wasn’t as young as she thought.

Whose child is this smart!

Can’t indulge every childish whim.

Marriage is for loving someone you’ll spend your life with.

Well… though she didn’t oppose same-sex marriage, it wasn’t for parent and child.

“Can’t…?”

Seeing Pureumi droop like a rain-soaked puppy at being refused, she quickly added:

“Marriage is for when you’re grown up. I’ll stay with you until then, okay? Promise?”

Pureumi’s thoughts would probably be very different when she became an adult.

Maybe feelings she couldn’t express now would burst out after growing up.

“Hmph, Pureumi will grow up. Pureumi’s a grown-up.”

“Okay, let’s promise to think about it again when you’re an even bigger grown-up.”

Thanks to Gyeonwoo’s mature handling, the marriage commotion didn’t continue.

As the atmosphere seemed to return to normal…

Guild Master Lee Sunghwan and Han Dayeon finally relaxed, wiping their brows with warm smiles.

As expected of our children!

How did they grow up so well?

Their worries about wrong decisions or fighting and regret were brief.

“Hmm. Chungseong really is different from the start.”

Even the other children’s parents who had quietly joined to watch couldn’t hide their contentment.

Unfortunately, not everyone could feel such happiness.

Heartbroken from her ambitious proposal being rejected, Pureumi’s eyes turned fierce.

Beyond those wild cat-like eyes was the Samgak District Chief, still unable to accept the sudden change in atmosphere.

“Pureumi decided! Uncle gets punishment! Only drink water forever!”

Indeed.

The district chief looked haggard, like a death row inmate being tortured by repeatedly turning the electric chair on and off.

It might have seemed pitiful if it were someone else, but.

“That’s punishment? Our Pureumi is creative?”

“Yes! They say demons should burn to death but dying too fast is no good! Uncle needs more punishment!”

Everyone’s attention, including Gyeonwoo’s, focused on Pureumi’s judgment.

Gyeonwoo, Pureumi’s teacher and parent figure…

“That’s our Pureumi! So smart!”

“Mmm! Pureumi smart?”

“Smart! Clean water’s too good for him – let’s make him drink toilet water!”

“Yes! And feed it through his nose!”

She welcomed Pureumi’s creative torture with open arms.

While other people with normal thinking…

“Y-yeah, Chungseong Guild’s early education really is something else.”

“Haah…”

They shuddered at Chungseong Guild’s cruelty.

Unintentionally, another infamous reputation was added to the guild that day.