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 After Story 22. Someday, Again

Time flows on.

On this day, Iriya gave birth to a baby girl.

It was a difficult delivery.

"Ugh..."

"Iriya? Are you okay? Are you conscious?"

Iriya, who had fainted from exhaustion after giving birth to the child through long hours of pain, fluttered her eyelids open.

Eun-ha came into her blurry vision.

"Master, where is this..."

"It's the hospital room. We moved while you were unconscious. You did well giving birth. It must have been very hard, right?"

"Yes... But I could bear it."

"Liar. Someone who could bear it doesn't lose consciousness."

"Hehe... Actually, I thought I was going to die. It was really painful."

Eun-ha is worried about her.

Iriya felt naturally relieved and at the same time felt warmth in her heart.

Soon, she brought up the main point.

"More importantly, Master, what about our baby? What happened to the baby? Is it healthy? Is there anything wrong..."

"You don't need to worry. The baby was born healthy. It's a big baby. Fingers and toes are all fine."

Iriya's reaction was as expected.

Eun-ha chuckled and comforted her, then picked up the baby girl from the crib prepared in the hospital room.

He handed her over to Iriya.

"This is our baby. Isn't she pretty?"

"...She has two horns. I saw it in the ultrasound beforehand, but they seem bigger than I thought. So this is why it hurt so much..."

The baby girl with downy, slightly purple hair.

The child, who couldn't open her eyes yet, had the characteristics of an Ain.

On both sides of her head were long, gently curved horns, and on her buttocks was a tail with an arrow-like tip, similar to a devil's tail.

There was also a small pair of folded wings on her back.

These were wings typically found in dragon-type monsters.

"Black Dragon? Succubus Queen? It seems she was influenced by the curse we were under, Master."

"It seems so. Either way, since it's based on a Tier 3 monster, her talent seems quite impressive."

"She would be great if she becomes a player. Though we don't know what the child will want..."

"We should let her live as she wants."

The child in Iriya's arms wriggles.

As if knowing it's her mother's embrace, she moves towards Iriya.

Iriya couldn't help but smile, finding it adorable.

"Thank you, baby. For being born. Mommy will love you very much."

It feels like she could do anything for this child's happiness.

Iriya strongly believed this.

"What should we name the child?"

"I have something in mind."

"What is it?"

"Using the character for grace, 'eun' [恩], Noh Yu-eun."

"Noh Yu-eun... It seems like a good name."

Noh Yu-eun.

Iriya, who softly repeated the name, nodded.

And so, the baby girl's name was decided.

Afterwards, people came to visit the hospital room to bless them.

"Congratulations, Mother."

Future Yu-seong also blessed them.

At the same time, he earnestly prayed.

"Please just grow up to be a good little sister who listens well to her brother... And don't cause any trouble."

* * *

Now that Noh Yu-eun was safely born, Future Yu-seong no longer had any tasks left to accomplish.

At least not in this era.

"I think it's time for me to return now."

"Ah..."

From that day on, Future Yu-seong began preparing to return to the future step by step.

Although people had inwardly kept in mind that this day would come someday, they couldn't help but feel regretful.

Meanwhile, Future Yu-seong met with them separately and gave final advice that would be helpful for the future.

Of course, Eun-ha was among them.

"Father, please remember this."

"Why, what is it?"

"You decided to just have a wedding ceremony with Mother Iriya for now because of Yu-eun, right? Without going on a honeymoon."

"Oh, that's right. I talked with Iriya and decided to go on a honeymoon slowly. She even said we don't have to go..."

"You don't really believe that, do you?"

"Of course not. We should go on a honeymoon. It's just not feasible right now..."

"Yes, so make sure to go. Definitely within next year. If you don't want to be nagged later."

Future Yu-seong said firmly.

Eun-ha, inferring the future through the conversation, asked as if to confirm.

"I... didn't go in the future?"

Future Yu-seong answered immediately.

"You did. But you couldn't go within the next year, so you were scolded for a long time. So the future Father regretted it a lot."

"Why? Does something happen that indefinitely postpones it if we don't go within next year?"

"No, that's not it..."

"That's not it?"

"The order got messed up..."

"What?"

Eun-ha blinked.

He wondered if he had heard wrong.

It can't be...

It's not possible.

"Yu-seong, don't tell me..."

Eun-ha carefully continued his words.

"Do I... have more wives?"

"...Ah. Aah!"

Future Yu-seong, who belatedly realized his slip of the tongue.

He visibly panics.

That alone was enough for Eun-ha to sense it.

'Five isn't the end...?'

Meanwhile, Future Yu-seong covered his mouth and muttered to himself.

Eun-ha pricked up his ears to eavesdrop.

"Why wasn't this filtered out? Did Yu-eun make a mistake?"

"Yu-eun? Why is Yu-eun involved? Is Yu-eun related to this too? As I thought... Yu-seong, you knew this would happen between me and Iriya."

"Ugh... Yu-eun was just born so she's not filtered... Anyway Father, that's not it..."

"What do you mean that's not it? Just answer my question."

"..."

"What do you mean the order got messed up? Are you saying I really take in more? Why wasn't it filtered?"

Eun-ha questioned threateningly.

Future Yu-seong reluctantly answered.

"Well... I think the filtering might have loosened because it's time for me to return... Or..."

"Or what?"

"It might not have worked because it will happen anyway even if I say it. Maybe..."

"...So you're saying I take in more? Who? How many? How? Why?"

"..."

As Eun-ha glared fiercely, Future Yu-seong kept his mouth shut.

Then, unable to withstand the gaze any longer, he...

"I'm sorry, Father! I absolutely can't say that!"

He suddenly stood up and ran away.

Eun-ha quickly chased after Future Yu-seong.

"Hey! You, stop right there!? Come back!"

Unfortunately, it's said that he couldn't catch Future Yu-seong, who had deliberately hidden himself.

* * *

Future Yu-seong also visited Han Seo-hyun.

She was in the middle of work, wearing blue light blocking glasses.

"Mother, do you have time now?"

"If it's for my son, I should make time even if I don't have any. It's fine now."

Han Seo-hyun, looking up at Future Yu-seong while taking her eyes off the monitor screen.

She took off her blue light blocking glasses and smiled brightly.

"What's the matter? Did you come because you have separate advice to give me too?"

"Hehe... I can't fool Mother. Yes, that's right."

Future Yu-seong answered awkwardly.

Then he handed over the note in his hand to Han Seo-hyun.

"What's this?"

"It's advice from the future Mother. She told me to give it to you when I return."

Han Seo-hyun unfolded the note.

She reads the contents intently.

"Hmm... It says to share a room with Eun-ha during this period... I guess I have a second child."

"Ah... Um... Well?"

"It's all over your face, kid. Even now Yu-seong is like this, I guess you don't change when you grow up?"

"Haha... I often heard that from Mother in the future too. That I'm exactly like Father."

Han Seo-hyun chuckles.

Then she leaned forward and rested her chin on her hand.

There was curiosity on her lips.

"So is the second child a girl or a boy?"

"...I'm sorry, Mother. I don't think I can say that far."

"Well... Couldn't you tell me? If I have to get pregnant during this period, it means the gender is determined at this time."

"Um... Still no. I'm sorry. And wouldn't it be boring if you knew in advance?"

"Come to think of it, you're right. It would be boring if I knew in advance. Alright. Then I'll look forward to later. I guess I should think about how to seduce your father."

"Haha... Yes."

Han Seo-hyun, agreeing with Future Yu-seong's opinion, stood up from her seat.

She approaches Future Yu-seong.

She reaches out her hand to the head of the man taller than her.

"Your hair has grown a lot since I last saw you. When did you last cut it?"

"About... a month ago, I think. It is time to cut it."

"Yes, it would be good to cut it neatly before you go. If I send you back like this, it's obvious that my future self will scold me. Do you have time now? Since we're on the topic, let's cut your hair."

"...Are you going to cut it, Mother?"

Future Yu-seong carefully asked with a doubtful look.

Han Seo-hyun, who understood his emotions through her gift, playfully asked back.

"Why? Do you want me to cut it?"

"..."

"If that's what you want, I'll do it."

"I... If Mother cuts it... Of course I'd like that. Haha..."

"I'm joking. How could I, who's not a professional, cut it recklessly? I can't risk making you look ridiculous by mistake."

"Phew... That's a relief."

Future Yu-seong felt like he had aged ten years.

He let out a sigh of relief.

Han Seo-hyun chuckled.

Then she pulled his hand.

"Let's go to the place I've been going to recently. We won't need a reservation."

"Right now? Mother, what about your work?"

"I can leave the work to others. Administrative Officer Shakira, Administrative Officer Hermit, can I ask you to take over for me?"

"...Yes, don't worry about the work. Administrative Officer Hermit and I will take care of it."

"Haha... Have a good trip, Director."

"La la la♬"

"La-ra, do you want to come too? Alright, let's go together."

After saying goodbye to Shakira and Hermit.

Han Seo-hyun led Future Yu-seong out of the office.

La-ra followed behind.

"I can go alone... Won't Mother just be bored?"

Future Yu-seong expressed his concern.

Then Han Seo-hyun, turning back to look at him following her, shrugged as if to say what does it matter.

"There's not much time left to spend with you now, so I should spend it like this. And how could time spent with my son be boring?"

"..."

"So let's go."

Han Seo-hyun walks ahead with clicking footsteps.

Future Yu-seong belatedly responded.

"Yes! Let's go!"

"By the way, people there might misunderstand that I'm having an affair. Should we surprise Eun-ha while we're at it?"

"Oh, shall we? I'm up for it!"

* * *

Time passed and passed, and finally the day came for Future Yu-seong to return.

People came out to see him off.

Eun-ha smiled bitterly, looking at what he held in his hand.

"To think that Iriya's delusion book is the connection point with the future..."

"Master, delusion book... That's too much. That's the scripture of the Eun-ha Faith. Although it's still tentative..."

Iriya, holding Noh Yu-eun, pouted her lips.

Eun-ha lightly brushed it off and held out his hand to Future Yu-seong.

Future Yu-seong grasped that hand.

"Go back safely and take care. See you in the future."

"Yes, see you in the future."

He releases the hand he shook with Eun-ha.

Then Future Yu-seong, after hugging Han Seo-hyun, checked the time.

The time when they were supposed to open the door from the future was approaching.

"I guess it's about time for me to go."

"...Yes. It's regrettable, but it can't be helped."

Han Seo-hyun nods dejectedly.

Future Yu-seong gave a final greeting to her and the people who came to see him off.

"Thank you all for everything until now!"

People respond in their own ways.

Future Yu-seong, who looked up and grinned, turned around.

He moves forward.

It was just then that Iriya's book began to shine and escaped from his hand.

Whoosh!

Iriya's book, floating in the air, emits light high into the sky.

At the same time, light fell from the sky.

"..."

As light meets light and blends together, it emits a brilliant and dazzling light.

Thus, a passage connecting the present and the future is created.

It's mysterious and wondrous.

The people who witnessed this scene couldn't help but be entranced.

"Well then, I'll be going back now. Everyone..."

"..."

Future Yu-seong, standing with his back to the pillar of light, looked back at the people.

He deliberately waved his hand vigorously and said goodbye in a cheerful tone.

"Someday, again. See you in the future!"

"...Yes."

Right after, the pillar of light spread wide and swallowed Future Yu-seong.

Eun-ha, of course, and all the people responded to him as he disappeared, enveloped in light.

"Someday, again. See you in the future."

The side story of "Relife Player" ends here