Chapter 72: Party (7)

Just three simple words: “I love you.”

That was all, yet the emotion it stirred in him was beyond description.

This child who used to have fits calling everyone demons, who hid her good deeds fearing accusations of arrogance – how could anyone not rejoice at her growth and change?

“No, Guild Master! Please calm down!”

“…If you don’t want an amusement park, how about I buy you a shopping mall?”

“Aaaah! Pureumi! Give uncle some cold water!”

Thump thump thump thump

Who knew his heart could still race like this at his age?

Even in harmonious families, people rarely expressed love directly. For a grown man like him, these were words he’d never once uttered – they were that difficult!

“Ooh? Okay! I’ll give cold water!”

Just as Lee Sunghwan pondered how to repay this emotion and joy to Gyeonwoo, as if he were high on drugs…

I have to stop Guild Master from spending too much because of me!

Hearing Gyeonwoo’s urgent cry, Pureumi raised both arms without hesitation.

Then whoosh-!

“……”

“Eh?”

Ice-cold water poured down like a waterfall, chilling even the onlookers to the bone.

Drip, drip

Water droplets trickled down the Guild Master’s frozen hair.

His breath came out in white puffs.

He looked so pitiful, one might think he was being tortured.

Pureumi had misinterpreted the request to ‘give’ uncle cold water.

“Pff-“

While everyone stood stunned, mouths gaping like fish, only Guild Master Jang Jin-yu burst into laughter, clutching his firm stomach.

“Bwahaha! That’s what you get for not listening to kids earlier! What’re you doing looking like that at your age?!”

His laughter was so intense, one could almost picture him rolling on the ground.

By this point, even the stunned Gyeonwoo, Pureumi, and Han Dayeon…

“Heehee! Hic! Th-this isn’t right! S-sorry… heehee!”

“Kyahaha! Uncle mouse! Wet mouse! Wet drowned mouse!”

Everyone broke into raucous laughter at Lee Sunghwan’s pitifully drenched appearance.

The usually dignified man who was hard to even approach…

Now dripping wet and somehow looking dejected, he appeared oddly cute despite his large frame.

“…Well, if you’re having fun, that’s good.”

Of course, he had no intention of scolding the children for their mistake.

Rather, he was glad their mistake let him see Gyeonwoo’s innocent smile.

As he unconsciously reached out with his wet hand to ruffle Gyeonwoo’s small head, she jumped in surprise!

“Heehee! U-uncle, I’ll dry you off!”

Gyeonwoo, who had been crying tears of laughter, quickly made a wish to restore him to his original dry state.

Of course, she didn’t forget to teach Pureumi too.

“Pureumi, we shouldn’t spray water at people like that. It’s dangerous.”

“Oh? Dangerous?”

“Yes, so you need to say sorry.”

“Okay! I’m sowwy!”

After everyone had their laugh…

Once Guild Master Lee Sunghwan’s rampage ended, the party properly began.

This moment was meant to help erase the children’s trauma – to celebrate Gyeonwoo and Pureumi breaking free from their past and starting new lives.

Though no one had high expectations since it was an unplanned party with barely an hour of preparation time…

“Begin.”

At Lee Sunghwan’s command, a spectacular scene beyond imagination unfolded.

Bang! Bang! Boom!

“Wooow!”

As afternoon gave way to evening…

Countless fireworks soared up, illuminating the dusky sky.

Yellow fireworks spreading like forsythia.

Bright red heart-shaped fireworks.

Blue bird-shaped fireworks and more.

Bang! Boom!

The diverse fireworks created dazzling displays impossible to look away from.

As the deafening explosions and vibrations continued…

“Eek! Mama! The sky’s exploding! Is it war?!”

A panicked Pureumi trembled and quickly clung to Gyeonwoo.

“Pureumi, this is-“

She was so startled that before Gyeonwoo could explain these were fireworks, not war, she raised both arms.

Oh no! That pose!

Was she planning to stop the fireworks with water?!

There was no time to stop her.

Water droplets bubbled up from Pureumi’s fingertips, gradually swelling into a dome-like barrier that enveloped not just Gyeonwoo but also nearby Han Dayeon and Lee Sunghwan.

“G-Guild Master!”

“Hmm. As expected of our children. What remarkable ability.”

“This isn’t the time to be impressed!”

Fortunately, it was just a defensive ability.

While a young child displaying such Awakened powers outside would have caused various troubles, this was Chungseong Guild’s territory.

“Pureumi.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t worry. It’s not dangerous – hmm, they’re just drawing pictures in the sky.”

“Ooh! You can draw pictures in the sky too?!”

Lee Sunghwan calmly stroked Pureumi’s head as he explained, and the water barrier surrounding them disappeared with a small pop.

“Mama! They’re drawing pictures in the sky!”

Fireworks were drawing pictures in the sky!

Having learned this new knowledge, Pureumi poked Gyeonwoo’s side repeatedly, whispering excitedly.

She worried Gyeonwoo might misunderstand and fear them as war like she had.

“Wow, really? They must be amazing people!”

Gyeonwoo had noticed this too.

Seeing Pureumi’s proud expression and “ahem” snort that seemed to say “just trust me,” Gyeonwoo pretended not to know about fireworks and acted surprised.

“Should we ask them to draw the Guild Master and sisters for us later?”

“Yes! Mama and Pureumi too! Family picture!”

But maybe she acted too well…?

“Right. Next time let’s ask for a family picture.”

“…What?”

“But you need to be tall to draw pictures in the sky, so first you need to eat well and grow.”

Since Gyeonwoo had been imprisoned underground by the cult, Lee Sunghwan assumed she wouldn’t know about fireworks either.

An awkward lie to protect the children’s innocence.

“Um….”

Once again, Gyeonwoo had no choice but to nod, just like with Pureumi, to avoid embarrassing the Guild Master.

“Yes, I’ll wait.”

“Good girl.”

Lying was a sin, but…

Well, it’s okay since we’re family.

Since the intention wasn’t to deceive maliciously, this much should be fine, right?

This was one of the few lies in Gyeonwoo’s life.

Of course, the children weren’t the only ones surprised by the sudden fireworks.

“My friend, when did you prepare all this?”

Even the General, who had attended various national events, was amazed – it reminded him of the fireworks festivals from before the Gate invasions. The scale seemed physically impossible even for the wealthy Lee Sunghwan.

The answer was simple.

“…Kang Hari. Her work.”

“Well well. So all three major Guild Masters came together for this one child?”

The General couldn’t hide his astonishment.

First Lee Sunghwan and Jang Jin-yu, and now Kang Hari too.

It was truly historic to see these three gather and exert such effort for a single orphaned child who wasn’t even an adult yet.

And that wasn’t all.

The venue was packed with influential figures who had realized the cult’s danger during today’s incident at the district office.

Considering they would likely lend their support to Gyeonwoo too…

“Seems we now have someone even more untouchable than the President in our country.”

No one could argue with the General’s muttered observation.

After the fireworks painting the evening sky ended…

“Woow! I want fireworks too! I want to set off fireworks!”

The fireworks were amazing enough – surely there couldn’t be more?

Now they’d probably head to the buffet to eat whatever they wanted?

Everyone stood entranced, still gazing at the now-dark sky, unable to shake off the lingering impressions.

Flash!

Another bright light burst forth against the darkened surroundings.

What could it be this time?

Gyeonwoo felt her heart pounding as she tightly gripped Pureumi’s hand.

The soft, squishy sensation beyond their clasped hands.

At the same time, changes occurred in Chungseong Guild’s headquarters building, which towered above all others nearby.

“Gasp! Mama! Look! Numbers!”

This time, huge numbers appeared on the building’s windows, visible even from far away.

Starting from 9, then 8, 7, 6…

As the numbers slowly counted down, not just Gyeonwoo but other children and parents too…

“Five! Four! Three! Two! One!!”

Everyone chanted the countdown as if spellbound, and after all the building’s lights went dark…

Whirr-!

Multicolored lasers shot out from the building, illuminating the plaza as the surroundings instantly transformed.

The earlier fireworks now felt like mere appetizers compared to this dazzling display.

“…Well. They’ve completely lost their minds.”

An incredible sight that made one doubt their eyes and ears.

Chungseong Guild’s plaza had transformed into a magnificent carnival in an instant.

“Holy shit.”

“How did they even do this…?”

Even the adults decided to put aside practical concerns like politics and money, just for this moment.

Even all of them together would struggle to create half of what they were seeing.

Well, they must have managed it somehow since they did it.

So let’s enjoy it.

“Please feel free to enjoy yourselves from now on! Food is prepared over here, so help yourselves!”

As guild members began their announcements, children rushed off in groups with friends and parents to enjoy this amazing spectacle.

Though lacking actual rides, they had recreated a nighttime amusement park complete with parades – surely everyone would find ways to enjoy themselves.

This should be enough for Gyeonwoo and Pureumi to have fun too.

Satisfied, Lee Sunghwan turned his gaze and…

“Uncle.”

“Unkie!”

The children he thought had left to play like the others were still watching him with sparkling eyes.

Author’s Note

Successfully published

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