Chapter 412

Chapter 412

Chapter 74: The End (1)

The morning before the twins returned to their homeland.

I fiddled with a familiar leather pouch in my hand. It was the subspace pouch I had lost during the final battle in Seoul.

“If I had continued to have it with me, it would have been torn to pieces along with my body.”

Luckily, I dropped it before leaving Seoul, and Rice Cake had retrieved it, saying my family was keeping it safe. When I got it back, I felt a bit complicated. I often found myself lost in thought, repeatedly pondering, all because of a single item inside.

And today, on a bright weekend morning, I made my decision after much contemplation and got up from my seat.

“Where are you going?”

A voice followed me as I crossed the living room, coming out of my room. It was Breche, who had come to check if Berta was doing well this morning. I suppressed my rising irritation as I turned to look at him.

However, I couldn’t let out the boiling frustration inside me. He had brought along various young beastfolk children, supposedly to avenge himself against me. Thanks to him, the suite room where my family and I was staying had turned into a daycare center.

While I sighed internally, Breche pressed on with his question.

“Where are you going?”

His persistent gaze was slightly unsettling, as if he were watching a prey animal.

I gritted my teeth and replied, “I have some matters to attend to.”

“Where to? When will you be back?”

If I didn’t give him a proper answer, he seemed ready to follow me immediately.

“Such a petty rat.”

Why had I not realized how petty this guy could be until now?

“And why, in the first place, does he call me a traitor?”

I had no obligation to watch after his siblings with him. I ground my teeth harder and gave him an answer despite my reluctance. But Breche’s skeptical gaze swept over me from top to bottom. Having committed a mistake, it was only natural that his trust in me was low. His scrutinizing eyes were exceedingly unpleasant.

“Today is the day my siblings are leaving. I’ll go and come back right away.”

My voice, tinged with annoyance, snapped, and Breche finally turned away. Only then did I manage to leave the living room.

Considering how long it would take to drive, I moved beyond causality and swiftly manifested at my destination.

It was a house located in a remote suburban area, far from the city center. I could feel a presence inside, and they probably realized I was here.

Yet, despite ringing the doorbell, there was no answer.

The implication of this situation was simple.

“They must be in a foul mood again.”

I sighed deeply and repeatedly pressed the doorbell. Persistently, to the point where it would become too bothersome not to answer.

After standing at the front door pressing the bell for over 10 minutes, the door swung open, revealing Grettman with a displeased look.

He seemed to have lost an arm and was slightly limping. Seeing him holding a cane with one arm of his attire flapping, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

“That’s why I told you to become my apostle.”

Why did he stubbornly refuse before the dangerous battle?

As I inwardly grumbled, grettman also did not remain silent. His eyes, which regained their original blue after losing his Goddess, scanned me up and down.

Eyes characteristically arrogant and unyielding, the kind only those who reigned for a long time possessed.

Standing quietly as if being evaluated before them, I clicked my tongue, and Grettman muttered, “Wicked rascal.”

I had lost count of how many times I heard him call me a wicked rascal.

“Since you came back, why are you just now visiting?”

So that’s what had him in a foul mood. I briefly contemplated whether I should apologize for this. Grettman and I was not on such personal terms to visit just for pleasantries, I thought, but…

“… I’m sorry.”

I decided to swallow my words, thinking whatever I said would only lead to more wicked rascal remarks.

“He wasn’t this bossy when we first met,”

I mused.

Ever since he started giving me advice and teachings here and there, his attitude had subtly shifted. I pondered whether to press him on why he was behaving that way but stopped short.

Even if I asked, it seemed it would only end with him getting angry. For today, I merely intended to fulfill my purpose for visiting and leave. I wasn’t eager to go inside and be treated as a guest.

Standing at the entrance, I took out the item stored in the subspace pouch. Grettman’s eyes widened slightly, watching my actions intently.

It was no surprise for him to be shocked.

What I withdrew was the last remaining bottle of Sacred Water I had purchased from the VIP store. Grettman’s eyes fixated on the liquid shimmering inside the small glass bottle.

“I came to give you this.”

Thankfully, no one around me had been injured severely enough to need it. Everyone had recovered well with the help of modern medicine. If Horfe were alive, I might have used it, but…

“By the time I arrived, he was already dead.”

Considering other possible uses, I remembered Grettman. The effort he put into capturing Omby was indeed a great feat. Moreover, the injuries he sustained during that battle had left him with lifelong disabilities.

I concluded that it was most fitting to give the remaining Sacred Water to Grettman.

I reached out to fulfill my visiting purpose.

Grettman’s eyes followed the movement with apparent interest. Clearly, he had no lack of desires. Nonetheless, moments later, his frowning response took me by surprise.

“Bah, I’m good.”

I expected him to accept it readily, so his rejection was unexpected. Before I could ask why his sharp voice returned.

“If someone like you takes ages to bring it, I can tell.”

“…”

“Obviously, you have somewhere else to use it. Instead of holding back today, just use it.”

This time, I was the one surprised.

I hadn’t realized he understood me so well.

“After giving me a life where I don’t even need to wield a sword anymore, I’m content.”

I gazed at Grettman with a complex expression, mixed with surprise and doubt. Did I really just hear those words, coming from the mouth of this arrogant man?

“And…”

While I was consumed by my confusion, grettman continued.

“Why don’t you think of offering greetings regularly? Do I need to scold you separately for this?”

So that’s why he was displeased every time he saw me.

With a bitter face, I opened my mouth.

“Greeting…?”

I wanted to ask if we were in such a relationship where we needed to exchange greetings, but observing Grettman’s sour expression, I found no need to ask.

He genuinely believed that I should pay respects to him. Quite naturally and rightfully, as it seemed.

“… Is he thinking of me as his apprentice?”

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said the word “greeting.”

Certainly, I did learn some things from Grettman, but…

“He barely taught me anything to claim I’m his disciple.”

If anything, I probably learned more from Shamel than from Grettman.

I found myself having a lot to say internally but realized that voicing it would only plant the seeds of conflict.

Grettman was a man who had persistently enforced his beliefs throughout his life. Even if I said it didn’t sit right with me, he wouldn’t accept it.

“I guess there’s no getting around accommodating the one who mentored me.”

I mean, I did learn from him, even if it was just briefly. So playing the role of a slightly delinquent and indifferent student seemed feasible.

That was the quietest, most efficient way to navigate the situation.

“… I’m sorry.”

Though I uttered the apology, I had no intention of visiting again for formalities in the future.

“I guess I’ll just settle for being called a wicked rascal next time as well.”

Grettman seemed entirely unaware of my actual sentiments.

Upon hearing my apology, his expression visibly softened.

I returned the Sacred Water to the subspace pouch.

Now that my business was concluded, I intended to leave. However…

“By the way, who would have thought I’d see it here? There were rumors about the Sacred Water disappearing and causing a fuss…”

Grettman shared a piece of unexpected news.

“Disappearing?”

I echoed reflexively, to which Grettman explained.

“It must have happened shortly before we abandoned the dimension.”

Apparently, the Sacred Water stored deep within the temple’s repository had all vanished. Including the newest batch for that year, totaling three bottles. It disappeared in an instant, as if it had evaporated, causing the Order’s leadership to be thrown into chaos.

“They kept it quiet, fearing public disclosure would stain their reputation. Still, there were rumors they were frantically searching for the thief.”

I kept my awkward smile in place, choosing to remain silent.

I had a hunch who the thief was.

“Damned System…”

First thing when I return to the hotel, I should definitely give that rascal a piece of my mind.

* * *

As I returned from visiting Grettman, the hotel room greeted me with a warm welcome.

“K!”

The first to reach me was Berta, hopping towards me.

“Kang Hyunwoo!”

Next came the system, waddling its way.

“Abubu!”

And lastly, there was Beleno, crawling sluggishly.

‘What in the world is this?’

I was unmarried and had no children.

‘So why, upon opening the door and walking in, do I suddenly have three kids rushing towards me?’

I was utterly unprepared for such a scene.

So, for a moment, I lost my words and stood at the entrance.

While I stood there, the jumping Berta perched on my shoulder. The waddling system then latched onto my pants leg.

Though I had thought about giving the system a good beating upon my return, I sighed instead.

‘… Why does this rascal appear to be getting smaller?’

I distinctly remembered him being roughly the same age as Berta in appearance when I left.

And yet now, why does he resemble a toddler around two or three years old?

Was his psychological state stopping at infancy not enough?

Why on earth make your physical appearance even younger and smaller?

‘Is he really trying to regress?’

If I had my way, I’d ask him outright.

That’s how frustrating and incomprehensible his behavior was.

The furrow in my brow deepened considerably.

While I debated whether or not to pry further, “Gugugu!”

Beleno, having crawled up from behind the system, finally arrived.

Instinctively, I reached out to pick up the baby, but froze mid-action.

The system, who had released my pants leg, stretched its arms up with sparkling eyes, looking at me.

‘So…’

Does he want to be held? Did he become smaller just to do this? And ask for this?

I reviewed the system’s behavior since our last argument.

Despite being next to Berta and Beleno, it neither threw tantrums nor yelled.

It was more like he ignored them as if they were air.

This was likely the system’s own declaration, agreeing with my terms not to disrupt the time given to me.

‘If that’s the case.’

There’s no reason I can’t accommodate such a request.

Rather than letting him throw tantrums because he didn’t get his way, it seemed better to accept his childish antics while maintaining some degree of control.

With a resigned sigh, I picked up the system with my free right arm.

“Hehehe!”

Though a peculiar laugh rang out, I pretended not to hear it.

I turned a blind eye to the squirming movements in my arms too.

Even though it worried me slightly how I might appear holding two children this way—with Berta gripping my hair—I was satisfied with the peace it brought.

As I made peace with this new reality of mine, just then, the twins came out, pulling their suitcases behind them.

“You’re here? Breche hyung is napping with the kids… Wow, what is this?”

“Amazing, oppa, wait! I have to record this!”

Upon seeing how I looked, Yeonwoo immediately took out a camera to capture the moment.

“… Not heavy? Your back okay?”

Meanwhile, Jinwoo chuckled helplessly while expressing concern for my back.

My body could easily lift a two-ton dump truck, so weight wasn’t an issue. I dismissed the unnecessary worry and said, “Stop fussing and come on. We’ll miss the flight if we don’t leave soon.”

It was time for the two of them to return to their daily lives at the end of their vacation.

Damned System.

**New Elements and Characters:**

– 그레트만, grettman (he)

– 신성수, sacred Water (it)

– 벨타, Berta (na)

– 벨레노, beleno (na)

– 강현우, Kang Hyunwoo (he)