Chapter 59: Something Seems Suspicious (4)

Holding hands tightly, they arrived at the rooftop garden, where a beautiful scene unfolded – fitting for this wealthy neighborhood.

“Wow! This is awesome!” the kindergarteners chirped excitedly, scampering about like little chicks in their bright yellow uniforms.

“Amazing…! How did they get all this up here?!” Even Gyeonwoo, who had just been insisting she was all grown up, was busy looking around with her small mouth agape.

Just moments ago, there had been nothing but dull gray concrete walls stretching endlessly. But upon opening the rooftop door, they were greeted by the fresh scent of grass. Lush green trees stood alongside colorful flowers, while a stream trickled along a channel, carrying cool breezes. Birds perched naturally here and there, perhaps due to the moderate height from the ground. Who could have expected such a sight in the middle of the city?

“Hoho, do you like it?” Han Dayeon smiled naturally at Gyeonwoo’s unguarded reaction.

“Yes! It feels like being back at the temple!”

How could this small child be so thoughtful? Monk Jamyeong and the others had been so worried she might get bored or uncomfortable with life in the mountains.

Han Dayeon playfully pretended to be sad and asked, “You don’t prefer living with your sister over the temple…?”

“Eh…?!” Gyeonwoo, who had been eagerly looking around, jumped in shock at Han Dayeon’s drooping eyes and lips. She trembled, waving her arms frantically.

What should I do?! Sister might be hurt because of me! But while I like sister, I like the monks too… It was impossible to choose between them. But she couldn’t lie and accumulate bad karma either.

Rolling her eyes nervously, Gyeonwoo timidly pulled on Han Dayeon’s finger and mumbled, “Um… comparing people isn’t good behavior…”

“Pfft… Yes, my baby is right. Sister was wrong.”

If only everyone could be this pure and kind, how much better would the world be? Han Dayeon quickly dropped her act before Gyeonwoo could get more flustered.

“Then… where does our baby like best?”

Though the moment had passed, there was still much to discuss – why Gyeonwoo was so excited about meeting the district chief, her talk of revenge for Pureumi, the identity of the boy’s brother, and more.

At Han Dayeon’s question, Gyeonwoo glanced at Pureumi. “What place does our Pureumi like?”

Pureumi had been busy glaring suspiciously at the boy. Though Han Dayeon wondered if her child was already learning about love, in reality, Pureumi was just worried the boy might try to steal her Mama.

As soon as she heard Gyeonwoo’s voice, she answered, “I like wherever I can share Mama!”

She clung to Gyeonwoo’s arm like a cicada, making her stagger from the sudden weight.

“Pureumi, that’s not right. You need to learn to manage on your own when I’m not around,” Gyeonwoo said sternly.

“…Huh? When Mama’s not here…?”

“It’s fine now, but there will be times when I’m not around in the future. So Pureumi needs to know what she likes too.”

It was a consideration of the distant future. Though they were bound now by their spirit-master contract… she didn’t want Pureumi to live a restricted life because of her.

While Gyeonwoo had endured underground life thinking it natural penance for her sins, Pureumi was different. She had suffered despite being innocent. So eventually, she would have to let her go, to live happily and do what she wanted.

This resolve hadn’t come easily to Gyeonwoo. Though she had made more connections than before, they still only numbered enough to count on both hands. Among those close to her age, only Mia, Kim Seongyeong, and Pureumi were friends.

That strange tickling in her chest watching Pureumi play happily with other children, the odd emptiness felt when Pureumi was with Han Dayeon – she had pushed all these feelings aside for Pureumi’s sake.

But even such determination proved futile when Pureumi declared, “No! Pureumi will stay with Mama forever!”

“Pureumi…”

“Pureumi will marry Mama! Have babies and grow old together!”

“…Huh?”
“Eh?”

Even Han Dayeon, who had been quiet due to their misguided common sense, was startled.

This wasn’t something that could be resolved quickly in this setting.

Finally, she turned to the boy. “Is there anywhere you’d like to go?”

“Can’t we… just go somewhere else…?”

“Why, don’t you want to be with us?”

“N-no, that’s not it…”

With even the frightened boy giving up his choice, the decision fell back to Gyeonwoo.

“Then… can we go where we can see the district chief up close?”

While Gyeonwoo was determined to make the most of this opportunity…

“Ah, okay…” Han Dayeon watched her eyes sparkle as brightly as they had for tanghulu.

She wondered what connection Gyeonwoo could possibly have with the district chief. If someone could make a child who had been trapped in a cult this excited, they must be a good person, right?

With mixed worry and anticipation, they settled in the center of the rooftop garden where they could see everything.

They didn’t even need to spread out picnic blankets. The rooftop already had benches for citizens, and the district office had prepared temporary tables for the children’s picnic.

“Now then, who wants to guess what sister brought!”

“Mama’s milk!”

“T-there’s no way I brought that!”

As Han Dayeon began taking out food from her inventory ring…

“Ah! Mom’s here! Mom, over here!”
“Has our Suyeon been playing well?”

Parents who had made time to join their children for lunch began gathering.

The place quickly grew lively with voices and laughter from various conversations.

Meanwhile, the district chief and his entourage boarded the elevator, arriving to meet the children’s parents.

“One moment, let me fix your tie.”

This was an important opportunity for them.

As the chief silently watched the floor numbers rise, his staff busily prepared documents and adjusted his appearance.

Most of the children’s parents were high-ranking individuals difficult to meet otherwise. This was partly due to their busy schedules, and partly because they viewed a mere district chief position as insignificant.

Because of this, they had arranged to guide the children around the district office in the morning and use lunch time as an opportunity for meetings.

Ding!

The elevator finally reached the rooftop.

Since the children would only have about an hour with their parents, the number of people they could meet was limited.

“Here’s the list of attending children and parents. Though there is one child from Chungseong Guild here for a tour…”

Just as his staff was about to discuss priorities using the prepared materials while scanning the area-

“Wait!”

The district chief suddenly stopped in his tracks and raised his voice uncharacteristically.

“Yes? Is there a problem?”

He stood there blankly, staring fixedly in one direction with wide eyes as if he’d seen a ghost.

“Chief?”

Ah, there’s no time for this.

There were judges, prosecutors, lawyers, city council members, five-star generals – so many people he needed to network with for his political future.

They had barely managed to arrange this schedule by citing “safety concerns” to children who could have gone on field trips to better places.

“Chief, we need to go now.”

But even at his staff’s urging, the chief’s gaze remained fixed.

Instead-

“Who is that child over there?”

“Pardon?”

“Stop being obtuse! That child with blue hair – is she one of the students?”

“Ah, no. That’s the touring student from Chungseong Guild I just mentioned.”

He was busy confirming what he saw.

That unmistakable blue hair, flowing like the sky above or a gentle river.
That adorable face that always smiled benevolently in any situation.

Though her face seemed younger than before, and unlike last time she had both legs…

There couldn’t be two children who looked like that in Korea.

Surely…

This must be the Saint who had granted his wish at the cult.

“…I’ll meet that child first.”

“What? But that child is just-“

Though there was another similar blue-haired child with her, she wasn’t quite as young, probably a sister or something.

Ignoring his staff’s protests, the district chief strode forward.

As if determined not to miss this chance encounter created by the Almighty God.

He approached the child who had made his fourth term possible.