episode_0005

A heavy tension hung between us, like a bridge over troubled waters.

After a long silence, in the dead of night, my brother turned to the uninvited guest with a cold voice and posed the question once more.

“I asked who you are.”

In the midst of his icy demeanor, I remained silent, simply gazing at my brother.

It wasn’t unexpected. In fact, it was only natural.

Living in this remote countryside where people were scarce, who would warmly welcome a stranger opening the front door late at night, standing hesitantly?

Yet, on the other hand, his guarded stance left me feeling somewhat wistful.

If it were family, wouldn’t they recognize me at a glance?

But such novel-like scenarios never come true.

Indeed, fiction should be seen as just that—fiction.

With a bitter smile, instead of answering, I handed my brother an ID card along with a newspaper featuring a headline about a “large-scale species mutation crisis” on the front page.

Then, as if leaving the judgment to him, I took a step back and waited for his response.

I was curious.

Would my brother acknowledge that this unfamiliar woman was his sister?

If he denied it and told me to leave, how would I go on living from here?

I’ve always enjoyed reading.

Not just literature, but novels that momentarily help me forget reality.

Having read countless novels regardless of genre, I recall protagonists in situations similar to mine now.

They were usually pitiful characters, often transformed in some way, denied by their families, thus beginning a wretched existence.

Would I find myself in a situation akin to those pitiful novel protagonists? Becoming a dogfish tribe member is bad enough; I don’t want to suffer further.

Was I tormenting myself with anxious thoughts?

My brother, lost in contemplation with a complex expression, eventually made a decision and returned the ID card and newspaper to me, speaking up.

“…It seems difficult for me to make a judgment alone here. I might need to hear what our parents have to say.”

Does this mean permission to enter?

Filled with the thought of finally being allowed inside, I confidently took a step forward, but once again, I couldn’t cross that low threshold.

Wasn’t it an invitation to come in together? Do I need a direct invitation to enter?

Standing dumbfounded in front of the door, as my brother looked back at me, puzzled by my lack of movement, he asked.

“Aren’t you coming in?”

“Well, um… I can only come in if you allow me to.”

“…?”

As I stumbled through my explanation with my head bowed, my brother’s expression shifted to one of pity.

Roughly translated, it might mean, ‘What kind of idiot is this?’ right?

Please stop looking at me like that.

It’s driving me crazy too.

“Come in.”

After a series of twists and turns, I finally received permission.

With my changed body, I could barely step inside the house.

And so, for the first time with my altered form, I could meet my parents.

—–

Following my brother into the house, I immediately presented my ID card and the newspaper to my parents as I did with my brother.

I didn’t speak intentionally.

If I were to appeal to them as your son, it would be pointless if they didn’t believe me.

I simply left it to the judgment of my family.

Hoping they would accept me as part of the family.

After glancing at my ID card and the newspaper, my family remained silent for a while.

They looked at the newspaper, then at me with mixed expressions.

It was a cycle that repeated several times.

From their pitiful actions, I could sense how bewildered my family must have been.

My always stern father now wore a grave expression.

My usually carefree mother betrayed signs of anxiety.

And my playful brother seemed unable to find his usual light-hearted demeanor.

A sudden crisis had invaded our peaceful home.

Watching the unstable behavior of my family, my sense of guilt grew rapidly.

Should I have explained the situation at least briefly?

But would that have changed anything?

While resenting the shooting star that granted an impossible wish and slumping my shoulders, my father sighed and began to speak.

“To be honest, it’s hard to believe. No, I don’t want to believe it. The fact that my son got involved in this crazy situation.”

“…”

“I understand it logically, but emotionally, I can’t grasp it. If you can prove that you’re my son, I don’t know, but judging from the news, there doesn’t seem to be a way to prove it.”

Placing his ID and a newspaper on the table, my father continued speaking.

“It seems like it will take some time. It’s too confusing right now, and I don’t want to think about anything. Go inside first. I’m a bit… tired.”

With those words, my father went into the bedroom, followed by my brother who also wanted to rest, disappearing into my room.

Now, only my mother and I remained in the living room.

My mother, who was staring at me intently, sat on the couch and gestured for me to sit beside her.

“Can we talk for a moment? I have many questions.”

“…Yes.”

As I sat next to her on the couch, my mother, as if she had been waiting for this moment, asked me many things.

What I had been doing in the past few months, if I had changed in any way, if I had experienced anything unpleasant, and so on.

She showed much more concern than when I was her son, and to alleviate her worries, I earnestly answered her questions.

I had been working part-time at a convenience store, and with this frail body full of weaknesses, there were quite a few discomforts.

Regarding my weaknesses, I briefly hesitated about hiding them, but I decided to reveal everything.

After all, the fact that I was a “freaky species” was already known to everyone outside the front door. What’s the point of hiding it?

“I die in sunlight, I die touching silver, I can’t touch a cross, I have seizures when I see sharp objects, and what else was there…”

Various weaknesses poured out endlessly from my mouth.

Upon hearing this, my mother’s face froze in disbelief as she muttered softly.

“How can such trash species exist?”

M-Mother?

If you speak so bluntly, it hurts my heart…!

Trying to contain the pain in my chest, I curiously asked my mother.

“But do you really think I am your son, Jiwoo? Just showing an ID could be deceiving, right?”

What kind of appearance makes her think I’m her son?

No, is it even right for her to consider me her son?

Pressing for an answer with a puzzled look, my mother smiled warmly and replied.

“Lies always involve a lot of talking. You demanded nothing but an answer, didn’t you?”

“Oh.”

“From that, I started to have a little faith, and as we conversed, I began to think that you are indeed my son. This straightforward way of speaking is something only our youngest son uses.”

At my mother’s heartfelt words, a corner of my heart became sentimental once again.

Please stop stating facts.

Please.

—–

The day at the ancestral home passed uneventfully.

It was a joint effort born out of my mother’s consideration after hearing about my weaknesses and my efforts to get through the day without any incidents.

My mother mentioned that if she hadn’t told me about my obsessive counting disorder and garlic aversion, she would have given me kimchi stew along with rice.

The thought of almost spending a dreadful time made cold sweat trickle down my back unknowingly.

Unlike the warm treatment from my mother, my father and brother remained aloof towards me until they left.

However, their attitude didn’t make me uncomfortable. I could see their efforts to accept me as part of the family no matter what.

When bidding farewell, I embraced my brother and father.

The next time I visit here, I’ll ask them to consider me as family.

It felt cringy embracing them more than usual, to the point of giving me goosebumps.

The effect seemed remarkable. They both awkwardly got up quickly.

Oh, right. Interference was inevitable but unavoidable.

My mother insisted strongly that I check on her once a month if she’s still alive.

I wanted to refuse, but I had no reason to decline, so I reluctantly agreed.

Honestly, I don’t know when this pathetic body might be exposed to danger.

Anyway, the visit to the ancestral home ended more smoothly than I feared.

I felt relieved thinking all urgent matters were resolved, but thinking about the issues ahead already gave me a headache.

“I can’t work during the day like a vampire. So, I should think of tasks that are not time-bound or can be done only at night…”

With a job limited like this, does it even matter what I’m studying in my major now?

Damn, no matter how much I think about it, gaining just one online lecture seems like losing too much.

“Sigh.”

Exhaling a long breath with gloomy thoughts, I soon lift my head and regain my energy.

“Let’s think about it later! After all, time is on our side!”

Yes, since becoming a vampire, time was on my side.

Although being a filthy vampire with many weaknesses, isn’t it possible for immortality if I’m careful with those aspects!

Filling my mind with such positive thoughts, did I arrive in front of my studio apartment?

I could only gape in disbelief at the incomprehensible sight before me.

My studio apartment, responsible for my stay-at-home life for a semester, was engulfed in flames for some reason.

What the hell.

Give me back my studio apartment.