Chapter 1152 – #275_A New Family (3)
#1146
1.
The small cabin was bustling with the cheerful laughter of women.
Since there weren’t enough chairs, Siwoo used his shadow to create makeshift ones, and they all sat in a circle around the table.
On the table was sea urchin seaweed soup, which Sharon had made herself. The side dishes included kimchi made with napa cabbage and oysters, spinach seasoned with sesame oil, and steamed eggs with milk.
Compared to the extravagant cuisine of Gehenna, it was a humble meal, but its simplicity was heartwarming.
“I prepared this sea urchin seaweed soup for Amelia.”
“I personally handled the sea urchins. I also prepared the seaweed. Please, eat slowly.”
“That’s right, Professor! We cooked the rice too!”
Except for the kimchi, the dishes looked rather bland. The smell wasn’t too strong either.
“…Hmm.”
Nevertheless, Amelia carefully scanned the table. Having experienced Siwoo’s hometown food many times, Sharon’s recipes, heavily influenced by her studies in Korea, were a cause for caution.
“I tried to bring out the natural flavors of the ingredients as much as possible for Amelia.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
Hesitantly, Amelia took a spoonful of the seaweed soup and her face brightened.
“I put in plenty of meat, so make sure to get enough nutrients.”
“But Sharon, spirits don’t need nutrients.”
It was truly a nourishing meal for Amelia. Siwoo watched the lively conversation around the table.
Each face held a different story.
“Siwoo, you know, he was a remarkable guy from the start.”
Takasho, using grand gestures and eloquent words, praised Siwoo. He had helped Siwoo since his days as a slave with nothing. He had even worked part-time to save Takasho’s failing host bar.
“Yeah, yeah, Amelia tried so hard to seduce him, but he wouldn’t fall for it.”
“Sophia!”
Sophia, with her teasing jokes, made Amelia’s face turn red. Although she was the one who made Siwoo suffer for five years, she was also Amelia’s dear friend.
She had helped in Border Town, and she was still helping by taking on the roles of summoner and head of the department, so let’s be generous and move on.
“Eubububu.”
“Abababa. Huh? Is she smiling?”
“I think she’s smiling?”
“Make your face funnier, sis.”
Odile, Odette, and Gemina were trying to make the baby laugh by stretching their faces like mochi in front of the crib where the baby was lying.
In class, they were incredibly scary and cunning, but they had treated Siwoo, a mere slave, without discrimination.
They had gone on picnics to Yeongsan together, and they had done this and that at the Border Town outpost and in the carriage…
He had faced Aea Sadalmelik with nothing to his name to save these cuties.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Siwoo’s life as a witch began there. They were also the ones who gave Siwoo a strange fetish.
“The baby can’t see very well yet.”
“But it seems like she smiles when we make funny faces?”
She was the benefactor who had revived Siwoo when he was on the verge of death.
There were many things that happened during that process, and they didn’t end up developing a romantic relationship, but Yebin was also one of the people Siwoo was grateful to.
“Hey, stop bothering the baby and eat some fruit.”
“We’re not bothering her, okay?”
“That’s right, we’re playing with her so well!”
Sharon brought in a basket full of sliced apples and pears.
She had been living aimlessly in the present world, and she had met her while she was struggling with debt.
Sharon always said she was grateful for his help, but he didn’t want her to feel indebted.
They had put up flyers together, hunted homunculi, gone for night walks, eaten late-night snacks, and watched movies. Siwoo was happy because Sharon was there.
When talking about his life in the present world, there was one person he couldn’t leave out.
“Siwoo, say ‘ah’.”
“I can eat by myself.”
“Are you shy in front of others?”
His teacher had become quite spoiled lately.
The magic he had taken from Aea was Raphy’s self-magnetic magic, so their first meeting had started with a bone-crushing fist. Just as Elloa wouldn’t exist without Siwoo, Siwoo wouldn’t exist without her.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that more than 50% of Siwoo’s fighting style and planning ability were honed by Elloa.
Of course, he didn’t just learn magic combat from her. Siwoo learned from her how to navigate this complex world.
“Diana, don’t be so hesitant and make some friends.”
“…I’m fine.”
He couldn’t leave out Yesod and her daughter, with whom he had formed a bond when he first returned to Gehenna.
He had taught her reverse field magic in exchange for being a tutor to the lazy Diana, who was clumsy with the Red Branch’s distortion field. She had also first suggested the possibility of irregular succession, and just recently, they had a mother-daughter threesome.
Hmm, it was an impious memory to recall in this setting.
“Oh, she’s so cute. Have you decided on a name for the baby? You’re still calling her ‘Sprout,’ so it must be a nickname? If you’re having trouble deciding, I can give her a name myself.”
“Your Majesty~ In Gehenna, we usually name the baby after the blessing ceremony.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, yes~”
“Then there’s no helping it.”
Rürye was disappointed that she couldn’t name the baby, and Dorothy was controlling her well.
They had first met Siwoo as the descendants of old witches, and as public enemies.
They had also started fighting almost immediately after meeting.
However, Rürye was a cute queen who was like a twin, and Dorothy had become a Siwoo-lover to the point where it was hard to imagine her past self.
Dorothy had given up everything for Siwoo, and thanks to Siwoo, who had been prepared to give up everything for her, she had returned to his arms.
“Siwoo, is there any more alcohol?”
“Sis, stop drinking.”
“I’m just feeling sentimental.”
The bond between his big mother-in-law and his little mother-in-law was also old.
When he first met them after defeating the homunculus in Latipuntium, he never imagined that he would end up sleeping with both of them.
He was always grateful to his little mother-in-law, who had become gentle after going through ups and downs in the aquarium, and to his big mother-in-law, who cared for Siwoo despite everything.
“……”
Linne, who had drunk a glass of alcohol and was dozing off, was also visible.
Now she was all “my husband, my husband,” but her first impression was the scariest of all the witches Siwoo had met.
When she appeared in the labyrinth, wrapped in black and white magic, Linne’s aura and the days he had spent in Hexennacht after being kidnapped by her would probably never be forgotten.
“Shall I cut more fruit?”
“Yes, please.”
Finally, there was Periwinkle, who had joined his lovers most recently.
In fact, their bond was very old.
It had started with her first flirtation in the present world, and she had been there during the Red Knight days, the fight with Bianca, and the fight with Lydia.
Without her clover, those fights wouldn’t have been possible.
“Kibele~ Cut mine into a bunny shape.”
“Ugh! Can’t you not ask for things like that, sis?”
Kibele, who had gained the courage to face her fate and had evolved from a mistress to a confident woman, was still working hard to clear her karma these days.
The blessing ceremony that followed dinner wasn’t grand.
There were no balls, no orchestras, no tiered cakes, and no fanfare.
It was just a matter of saying, “Grow up healthy~” and kissing the baby’s forehead.
Since it was tradition for guests to go first, everyone else had finished their blessings, and only the lovers were left.
Since it was tradition to give blessings according to the number of years lived, the first to step forward was Linne, the oldest, who was looking at the baby with a strange expression.
“This world will sometimes be filled with dark shadows, and there will be moments of pain, sorrow, despair, and lamentation that will weigh down your steps. But do not be afraid. A shining lamp called family will be with you.”
Next, Dorothy, the second oldest, started with a light joke.
“Our Sprout is so lucky to have so many beautiful aunts, right? Hmm, okay. This is good. You don’t have to push yourself too hard. I just hope you find peaceful happiness. Even if some fools call it ordinary~ I hope you bloom your own happiness in the warmth and harmony of simple daily life, in that precious ordinariness.”
“My age was a secret… Well, I guess there’s no helping it?”
The next oldest was surprisingly Kibele Periwinkle.
“I pray that luck will be with you. But never forget. Luck is just a gift that appears on the path you create. In the end, it is your own decisions and actions that lead your life. So, have courage and live as a confident and wonderful young lady.”
She received a small round of applause and looked rather embarrassed when she saw Siwoo.
That blessing must have had a sense of self-reflection mixed in.
Next was his teacher’s turn.
She looked at the baby with warm eyes and opened her mouth in a gentle voice.
“I hope you become a strong and courageous child. Listen to your parents, and don’t cause too much trouble… Always grow up bright and healthy. That’s all I need… What else is important?”
“Teacher…”
“I’m sorry… I’m just so proud and happy…”
She bit her lip and shed tears.
“It’s okay! It’s okay!”
“Don’t cry! Don’t cry!”
Only after the playful responses from the people around her ended did his teacher kiss the baby’s forehead and finish her blessing.
“Cute little girl. You shouldn’t fall for a bad Casanova like your dad, and you should definitely meet a good and solid young man?”
“Oh my, I forgot to say that.”
A small laugh flowed at Sharon’s playful joke, and the laughter grew louder as his big mother-in-law glared at her.
“Other than that… yeah. Always be meticulous with your money, and even if your family is rich, you must learn how to manage money. Never invest in similar investment products, and especially don’t touch blockchain technology. It’s all a scam. That’s a joke.
Our Sprout has so many beautiful aunts around her, and we’ll all share our love for her, so don’t worry about anything and just grow up healthy.”
It was a very light-hearted blessing, as expected of Sharon.
“Hmm, is it my turn?”
Next was Rürye.
“Since ancient times, a king who started a war for a piece of land was called a bad king, and a king who started a war to conquer a vast continent was called a great king. If you are born, you should have the ambition of a great king in your heart. I will take charge of the sea, and you, Siwoo’s flesh and blood, will take charge of the land and conquer the whole world.”
“……”
When everyone made a dumbfounded expression, Rürye crossed her arms and asked.
“I was trying to make a joke. Was it not funny?”
“Oh, oh my~ Your Majesty, really~”
“You must always respect your teacher. Other than that… hmm, I’ve thought about it, and it’s okay to live as you please when you’re young. You can cause trouble, throw tantrums, and whine as much as you want, so feel free to act spoiled with me.”
Rürye had swept everyone’s hearts with one joke and then ended with an unexpectedly proper blessing.
Looking at her again, Rürye had a surprisingly mature side.
“Hey, Shin Sprout. You have to be close with your sisters, okay?”
“When you grow up a little, I’ll dress you in pretty clothes. We’ll go horseback riding in the Mendel Hills together, and we’ll go shooting, and I’ll take you to balls.”
“You have to grow up healthy without getting sick, okay?”
“Promise.”
With the twins’ cheerful blessing, Amelia stepped forward, holding the dozing baby in her arms.
“Amelia, so have you decided on a name for the baby?”
“Siwoo and I talked it over… and we decided on ‘Malika Hesed’ to honor my teacher.”
“That’s right. The god Malika is a bit strange, isn’t it?”
Amelia and Siwoo had discussed it for a long time, and during that process, they had considered many options, but in the end, the baby was named Malika.
It wasn’t uncommon to give a disciple the name of their predecessor to honor their teacher.
After the blessing ceremony, which had unexpectedly lasted until dinner, Siwoo looked around at each face.
Looking at them all together, he realized that so much had happened.
He had fallen into the city of witches and lived as a slave for five years before becoming the only male witch.
And now, he was the head of a family.
All the memories of crying, laughing, getting angry, and fighting became distant memories and brought a smile to his face.
