episode_0178

The story after that. (6)

In winter, when you blow ‘ho-oh’, your breath comes out white and white snow falls from the sky.

A road with no traffic lights. A three-headed wolf running alongside a large camper van.

The devastation of the tower is disappearing and nature is slowly recovering. In the buildings that are still somewhat intact, lights can be seen as if trying to ward off the cold.

All you can hear is the quiet sound of car wheels rolling and the sound of large feet crunching on the snow.

Time passes and the day approaches when an old man in red clothes comes to give presents to children along with a red-nosed deer.

” Okay, here’s some hot chocolate. It’s hot, so be careful? ”

” Yes! ” , ” Thank you! ”

The children sit on the sofa with smiles and stomp their feet, feeling delighted at the sweetness that comes with the ‘hororuk’ sound.

Just watching it quietly warms my heart because it’s so cute.

” Now, we’re almost there, so please wait a moment~ ”

He was driving slowly, checking the map on his device.

” Do you need anything? Anything to eat or drink. ”

” No, it’s okay. I’ll eat it when I get there soon. ”

I looked out the window while patting the heads of the children slowly drinking cocoa, and the snow was slowly falling.

Perhaps, as I was thinking that it would be safer to stop there if I just went down a little harder, I heard the howling of a wolf.

The camper van slowly stops at that sound.

” I’ll check and come back. You’re resting. ”

Let’s open the door slowly and quickly go out while spreading out the area so that the cold wind blowing hard doesn’t get inside.

Cerberus staring intently at one place.

” Why is that? ”

As if calling out a small ‘king’ to chase after him, he moved forward and then turned around to look at me. I followed him slowly, but the road we were supposed to go in was cut off.

” Did you tell me because it was dangerous? Be good~ ”

He slowly stroked the three heads one by one and looked at the collapsed ground.

A sinkhole created by the devastation caused by the tower. A spark was sent down to reveal the tracks buried in concrete and rubble.

Perhaps the ceiling of the area where the subway was eventually collapsed.

” I guess I should turn back. ”

” Are you here? ”

” Yeah. The road in front of here has collapsed so much that you can see the underground. So… ”

Let’s open the map on the device and ask him how to get back.

” Hmm… if it’s this far… this playground… I guess I’ll have to stay here. ”

He glanced at the path I showed him, checked the time, and pointed to a place he might have to stay today.

” There’s a lot of time anyway. In such a big place, kids might be able to play with Cerberus. ”

Haneul, who was drinking hot chocolate at my words, sparkled her eyes and shouted.

” Can I play with Puppy!? ”

” Our Sky. Are you bored just sitting in the car? It’ll be dark soon when we get there, but we’ll be able to play a little. So, let’s wait quietly with the sisters, okay? ”

” Yeah! ”

Let’s wipe Haneul’s mouth, which is covered in black cocoa powder, as if he had finished drinking his hot chocolate, and ask him what he wants to do when he gets there.

” Hmm… I’ll make a snowman… and… an ice house? I’ll make that too! And ride on Puppy’s back! ”

” Yeah. Let’s have fun when we get there? ”

” Yeah! ”

Let’s wipe Haneul’s mouth and look at Suah.

” I, I’m fine. It’s not on my mouth! Because you’re my sister! ”

I told her that since she was my older sister, it wouldn’t have gotten on her mouth like Haneul, but maybe because she wiped her mouth with her hand, there was still some on her cheek.

How cute that sight was…

” Still, it’s buried here~ ”

Let’s say this while rubbing Su-ah’s cheek, who is lowering her head as if embarrassed.

” Ugh… ”

It was so lovely to see her crying with such a cute voice.

As I was stroking the heads of my two children, holding them on either side of me, I heard a clicking sound that I hadn’t heard in a long time.

As I was staring at the object in his hand,

” It was such a good scene that I couldn’t miss it. Why…? ”

” Oh, it’s nothing. Isn’t that the camera that Yeonseo carries around? ”

To my question, he made a face that said he understood and showed me the camera screen.

” Ah~ This? It’s similar to Yeonseo’s thing, but a little different. If you do this… ”

After he manipulated the camera he was holding and held it up to my device, a ‘ring’ sound was heard and a hologram of me and my children appeared before my eyes.

” This is a camera that sends photos directly to the device. In Yeonseo’s case, it’s a Polaroid type that develops photos right away. ”

” When did this happen… Okay, wait a minute…? ”

I got up from my seat, took him to the bedroom, and asked in a small voice.

” That sound just now… came from that camera…? ”

” Yeah. ”

He tilted his head and looked at me blankly as if asking if there was a problem.

” That, then… That… When we did it at night… The sound I heard… ”

” Oh~ That? Well? What do you think? ”

He has a sinister expression on his face.

I was a little scared by his expression, which I had never seen before.

As his body slowly approached, I slowly backed away and eventually ended up stuck against the wall, trapped by him.

He slowly raised his hand and placed his hand on the wall, then grabbed my chest with his other hand.

” Should I show you the pictures I took back then? ”

” Huh…! ”

With a voice whispering in my ear, I felt my heart being kneaded in his hands, which he could not fully grasp…

” Yeah… ”

I couldn’t help but say that, exhaling hot breath.

*****

The camper van is moving again.

But inside, there was me with my head on the table and two children watching me.

” Sister… Are you okay? ”

” Huh? Oh, it’s okay. Yeah. Just a little bit… phew… ”

I looked up and squinted my eyes at the man driving.

‘When on earth did that happen… that happened…! ‘

All the photos he showed me were… photos that I would have a hard time showing to others.

My appearance with a shallow… expression and… posture…

I can’t remember when they started taking the pictures, but I was speechless at the sheer volume of them.

He smiled as if he was happy, but…

Well… it’s not that I don’t like it. I guess he just wanted to preserve the time he spent with me.

” Sigh… ”

When I let out a big sigh, the kids came over to me and hugged me, probably worried about me.

” Sister, are you okay? ”

” Is our sky worried about you, sister? ”

Haneul nodded and pointed to her chest.

” When my sister gets sick, this place hurts too… ”

Wiping Haneul’s eyes, which were slightly teary,

” Is that so? Sister, it’s okay. So don’t make that face. Okay? ”

” Yeah! ”

Suah didn’t say anything, but she had the same worried expression on her face as Haneul, so I thought it would still take some time to get there.

” Should I take a quick nap before we get there? ”

” Okay! ” , ” I want to sleep with you too! ”

As we walked into the bedroom holding the hands of the two children, the atmosphere was good for sleeping thanks to him adjusting the lights as if he had heard our conversation.

The feeling of me lying in the middle and the kids lying on either side of me and hugging me… is a good feeling that makes me feel warm whenever I feel it.

I slowly caressed the backs of the children who fell asleep shortly after lying down in bed, and looked up at the ceiling and sobbed softly.

” Actually… I was sleepy so I said I wanted to take a nap… ”

As you said, these days… I often get very sleepy not long after eating lunch.

At first, I thought it was just spring fever from having a full stomach after eating and having the heater turned on warmly…

” Even so… Even then, if I just stay still, I get sleepy right away… Haaam… ”

Sure… I might have gotten a little tired of the peaceful daily life that had continued.

Spending time with the kids is so much fun and the time I spend with him never gets old because it warms my heart…

Since you were just sitting there by yourself, you must have felt… bored.

Yeah. That must be it… I thought at the time.

Not knowing that this drowsiness was an encounter with a new relationship that had come to me.

*****

” Charlotte, you’ve arrived. ”

A large, warm hand grabs my eyelids that won’t open as I reach out into the air.

” Haaam… Sorry… I’m so sleepy these days… What about the kids? ”

” I just changed my clothes and was playing outside with Cerberus. ”

” Really…? Huh… ”

I slowly stretched and threw myself into his arms.

” Then… just let me stay like this a little longer… haaam… ”

He hugged me and caressed my back as I took him into my arms.

I like his consideration. I like his warmth. I like the sound of his heartbeat that reassures me.

Thump, thump.

As I listened to his slowly beating heart, the repeated sound made me feel drowsy again and my half-open eyes slowly closed again.

” Charlotte…? ”

As I heard his voice softly calling my name, my consciousness fell back into the lake of sleep.

When I opened my eyes, all I saw were two lights.

A brilliant yellow light and a soft black light.

A voice is heard as you approach the light across the lake with a lapping sound.

I couldn’t hear it clearly, but… it was a voice calling me.

It seemed like it was trying to tell me something… but I could tell it was just shouting at me, making a ‘chirping’ noise as if there was still some noise involved.

But those two lights gradually moved away from me, and my body began to sink into the depths of the lake.

It wasn’t that I felt scared or afraid, rather… how should I put it.

Yes, it’s a feeling of warmth, like being held by a mother.

I closed my eyes again, feeling the warmth, and when I opened them, his face appeared in front of me.

” How long did I sleep? ”

” Hmm… about 30 minutes? Did you have a nightmare? ”

I shook my head slowly and told him about the dream I had.

When he heard that story, he opened his eyes wide as if he was surprised by something.

” Charlotte, are you… not feeling well or anything? ”

” No, not really? I’m fine, just sleepy. ”

” Really? Okay. But if you feel strange, tell me. Okay? ”

” Okay. Why are you suddenly like that? It’s not like you. ”

He made a sly expression at my nonchalant reaction and left me, saying, “You’ll find out soon.”

‘ Tsk… Stay with me a little longer… ‘

I placed my hand on the spot where he had left and felt the remaining warmth, then put on an outer garment and headed outside to the children.

*****

” Sister!!! ”

As I got out of the camper van, the sky came running quickly.

But, because it was snowing, he slipped and fell.

” Oh my god!!! ”

He quickly approached, got up, shook his eyes, and looked at the child’s face.

” Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? ”

Contrary to my worried mind, the child smiled brightly.

” It’s okay! It was nice because the snow was soft and fluffy! ”

At those words, my sinking heart returned to its original state.

” Phew… If you’re okay, that’s great. But let’s make a promise with you, sister. If it snows a lot, it’s dangerous, so don’t run too fast. Okay? ”

” Yeah! ”

As I was holding Haneul’s hand, I approached Suah, who was making a snowman next to Cerberus.

” Sister! Look at this! This is what my brother made for me before, but with this… If I do this…! ”

As Suah looked into the small plastic stick in her hand, a cute duck was born.

” What do you think? Isn’t it cute? ”

” Yeah! So cute~ ”

Haneul approached Su-ah, who was smiling brightly, with her feet sinking into her eyes.

” Sister, sister! Me too! I want to do it too! ”

” Yeah! Here it is! ”

I love watching the kids take turns making cute ducks so much that I call him.

” Okay, then let’s all laugh together. Got it? ”

There was a legion of ducks by our side, looking at him with nodding children.

We all took a lot of pictures together, accompanied by a ‘click’ sound.

A picture of Cerberus lying down and the children climbing onto his belly and lying down, going into a house made of snow together and lighting a fire to keep warm, and us making snowballs and throwing them and getting buried under Cerberus’ swinging forepaw.

As we were having such a good time, the night grew deeper and snow began to fall from the sky again.

” Charlotte. I have to go in now. ”

As he spoke, he looked at the children. They had smiling expressions, but judging by their red noses, it was definitely time to go back.

” Now, let’s eat, wash up, and then go to bed, okay? ”

” Yes! ” , ” Yeah! ”

The snow is fluttering, but Cerberus is sleeping outside… He’s like one of my subordinates, so the cold shouldn’t be a problem.

” Cerberus. Good night to you too~ ”

” King! ”

The way he barks loudly and then runs up to the camper van and sleeps with his tail wrapped around his body… He’s a cute dog, even though he’s big.

” Phew… What, you finished making it already? ”

Haneul washed up with him and I washed up with Suah and in the meantime, he had prepared a simple meal and put it on the table.

On the table was a bowl of warm mushroom potato soup with spaghetti topped with a tangy ketchup, and the aroma of slightly warmed bread wafted toward my nose.

” Well, that’s easy. Okay, shall we eat? ”

The two children quickly sat down on the chairs, and Haneul reached for the spaghetti, while Sua reached for the soup.

The children who took a bite kept telling him that it was delicious with sparkling eyes, and he said that he knew, so he told them to chew it slowly and thoroughly.

” Okay, should we eat it too? ”

” Yeah. Thank you every day. ”

After patting my head briefly in response to my thanks, he walked over to Haneul’s side and started eating his food. I sat across from him and took a bite of spaghetti while talking with Suah.

‘ uh…? ‘

I felt a headache after taking a bite. I thought it was just my imagination, so I took another bite and this time I felt dizzy.

” Charlotte? What’s wrong? ”

” Huh…? Oh, no. That’s because it’s delicious. The soup has mushrooms in it, so it smells… good. Yeah. ”

I said it with a smile at him, but it was a lie.

The moment I smelled the scent of mushrooms… I felt strange.

It feels like… something’s wrong.

I didn’t want to ruin the enjoyable dining atmosphere, so I used my divine powers to suppress it as much as possible.

Well, now that I think about it, I think it was really stupid.

Changes that came to my body.

All it meant was ‘one’.