episode_0046

As Na-min, who had kicked her chest and jumped out, was having a touching mother-daughter reunion, Na-rin felt her nose sting and turned around. No, was it a mother-daughter reunion? Anyway.

I just washed my face and put on lotion, so my makeup wouldn’t smudge, but I thought I’d look pretty ugly if I cried outside in this weather.

So I just muttered while petting Hamshik, who was gnawing on an almond that I had no idea where it came from.

“Hamshik-ah, that’s great. Right?”

Hamshik, who sometimes seems to understand human speech, showed no reaction as if he were a hamster.

Still, it felt good to have Narin’s caressing hand, so it quietly did not leave his chest.

They say hamsters tend to avoid human hands. Looking at it this way, it seemed like Hamshik had been handled quite a bit, and Narin felt her heart ache once again.

They say that this is the research lab that trained them and then conducted cruel experiments on them.

Of course, I know that, like pharmaceutical companies, countless lab rats are sacrificed before conducting clinical trials on humans.

Maybe Hamshik is a hamster that survived that process, although he is not a white rat.

However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t feel sorry for the ham-eaters. Just like I feel sorry for the cows that are dragged to the slaughterhouse because the beef is delicious.

Sorry, thank you. I think that’s about it. It’s fortunate that Hamshik was rescued by Narin.

The problem was that it was something that couldn’t be overlooked because even Nami knew that she had been used as a test subject.

While Narin was alone, thinking about something else and trying to keep the dust out of her eyes, Na-min and Na-min’s previous mother also seemed to have sorted out their feelings.

“Ehehe. I cried. Anyway, Mom, I did get smaller. But I’m healthy now, so don’t worry too much. And I have something I want to do. I’m going to make miniatures and sell them. I have talent for that! ”

“Okay. Do whatever you want, Namin. But… … . Aren’t you coming home?”

As always, a question full of regret came back to Na-min, who spoke with a bright smile.

There, Namin answered, scratching her head.

“Of course I want to go. But now I’m Narin’s sister. Oh, and then I have a mom again… … . Is that okay?”

“It’s okay. Try asking them to have a meal together sometime. Are you saying that because everyone will be worried if you tell them you’re leaving their house?”

“Narin and I live together. Oh, if you include Hamshik, it’s three. But I made Mom and Dad suffer so much. So now I’m going to earn a lot of money and be filial.”

Namin’s empty promise is also being abused here. At that, both Nalin and Namin’s mother laughed in vain.

You could dismiss it as just a lie. You could say it’s an unrealistic story.

But no adult would trample on a child’s dreams of becoming president, an astronaut, or conquering the world.

Ah, world conquest might be a bit of a problem. Anyway. So, Narin and Namin’s mother just looked at each other and smiled. To preserve Namin’s innocence.

“Okay, Mom and Dad are okay, so Na-min, do whatever you want and live. You had a hard time in your past life. If there’s anything I can help you with, please contact me anytime. Did you say Na-rin? If Na-min is in any trouble, please contact me anytime.”

“Oh, no! It’s not uncomfortable at all. Rather, thanks to Na-min, I’m so happy to come home after work. Hmm, but since you’re Na-min’s mom, I’ll contact you often. Don’t worry.”

“Then I appreciate it. Hehe, as a way of saying thank you, can I buy you a meal?”

“I would appreciate it! Feel free to talk. Since you are Na-min’s mother, you can treat me like your daughter.”

“Ehehe, Na-rin’s sister’s mom was my mom, so please be Na-rin’s sister’s mom too.”

“Is that so? You’ve got two daughters now. Call me Mom.”

I didn’t know he would come this close to me. Narin was taken aback.

This might be what Namin felt. It was a feeling that made her want to shout, “There are no two suns under the sky.”

But, well, in this day and age, it’s possible to have two mothers. So Narin just said it without thinking.

Not knowing that this was all an interview with Na-min’s mother to see Na-rin’s character.

“Yes, Mom! What do you want for lunch?”

“Um, there’s a place nearby that makes delicious Seolleongtang. How’s it? Do kids these days not like Seolleongtang and would rather eat something like Mala Tang?”

“That’s too provocative, I think it would be too much for Namin and Hamshik. Let’s go to a seolleongtang restaurant.”

“By the way, you said Hamshik earlier. Is that your pet’s name? Hamster?”

Perhaps because she was curious about the fact that they were living together, Na-rin lifted the collar of Na-min’s mother’s shirt and showed her the ham.

Hamshik had already finished eating the almonds and was fast asleep, hanging on to Narin’s collar.

“Ah. That’s… … . Actually, Namin wasn’t my little sister from the beginning. She was abandoned on the street with a hamster. I thought she’d freeze to death if I just left her alone, so I brought her here.”

“That kind of thing.”

Since Na-min is so small, she might be worried about raising a pet. Thinking about this, Na-rin worked hard to appeal to the harmlessness of Ham-shik.

“Hamshik is really quiet, unlike other hamsters. It’s because he eats a lot, but when he and Namin are at home, it seems like he takes care of Namin. He even goes to the bathroom.”

“Hmm.”

“Oh, Na-rin-ni-sister! What are you talking about! Since I’m the older sister, I take care of Ham-sik. I even heat up the food for him!”

One person held Hamshik in his arms, the other person held Namin in his arms. While they were chatting like that, they quickly arrived at the seolleongtang restaurant.

Na-rin entered the restaurant, feeling anxious, wondering what would happen if Na-min’s mother saw Ham-sik and changed her mind about leaving Na-min in her care.

Of course, this is a story from a previous life. Since both Na-min and Na-min’s mother have recognized each other, I will have to let them go if they want.

But Narin no longer wanted to let go of Namin, whom she had grown attached to.

I didn’t want to lose my pet, it wasn’t a petty feeling like that. I just didn’t want to be separated from them because they were family.

So, although I preached hard about Hamshik’s cuteness, Namin’s mother showed a lukewarm reaction.

He just smiled and listened to my story, but I couldn’t tell if he was smiling elegantly out of courtesy or because he really liked me.

Instead, he made sure to treat the hamster well.

“Excuse me. I came with my hamster and a small person. Can we have separate rooms?”

“Yes. However, you must clean up pet waste and such.”

“Of course. I’ll take responsibility!”

Since he was a hamster who had to go to the bathroom anyway, Na-rin didn’t think that far ahead. Na-min came forward and thumped her chest.

Even so, I could barely hear any sound.

So the three people and the hamster went into the room and sat down to think about the menu.

Since it’s a Seolleongtang restaurant, of course I’d order Seolleongtang, but the quantity is the problem.

“Here’s some seolleongtang, um… … . Should I order three servings? Namin, how much can you eat after you’ve become like that?”

“Me and Hamshik eat one serving together!”

“I see. Please give me 3 servings.”

I wonder what kind of expression Namin’s mother will make when she sees Hamsik eating most of that one-person portion.

Narin began to secretly look forward to that. Although he was a man who had aged gracefully, she was curious about the changes in his expression.

While the meal was being prepared, the interview with Narin began to continue.

“Okay, how old is Narin?”

“I’m twenty-four this year.”

“I think it’s about time to join the Magical Girl Corps. Do you have any plans to enlist?”

“Ah, I joined a guild affiliated with the association while I was in college, so I was able to use that as a substitute for my military service. They said that even if you become a member of the magical girl unit, military life is hard.”

“Yeah, good job. Our Haemin… …, no, Namin is also in the military… …. No. Let’s not talk about this. If it’s a company related to the association, it’s almost like a civil servant, so the salary will be a bit low. Is it easy to live alone?”

At that point, Narin started to feel a little uneasy. Although she had never been in a relationship before, she felt like it was something the girlfriend’s mother would say to her boyfriend at a meeting.

Nalin answered cautiously, nervous that if she made a mistake, Namin would be taken away.

“These days, housing prices are cheap, so I got a one-room apartment with an association loan. As you said, the welfare is good enough for civil servants, so the interest rate is low. My salary isn’t that high, but I earn enough to support Na-min even without the subsidy. If you need subsidy… … .”

“No. If you get support money for Na-min, you should use it for Na-min. If you need anything, tell Mom. Okay? Don’t you need kimchi or rice or something?”

“Oh, it’s okay. That’s because my parents took good care of me. I can’t tell you how sorry I am for always taking care of side dishes, even though it must be a hassle.”

“That’s what parents think. Yeah, but I feel relieved that you have a good job. Please take good care of our Na-min.”

Wow. This was a real interview. Cold sweat ran down Narin’s back.