925

 After Story 2. Eun-ah's Fool

Year 24 of Fairy power.

Some time had passed since the conquest of the <Dungeon of the Abyss> led by Eun-ha and Pandora Clan was completed.

People around the world still didn't stop praising the conquerors.

In such a situation, they couldn't spend their daily lives comfortably.

Not only did their public activities increase, but they were followed by gazes wherever they went, and whatever they did attracted attention.

It was the fate of celebrities.

So in the case of Pandora Clan members, they mostly lived in their homes and the clan hall unless they had schedules.

The situation wasn't different for clan members who didn't participate in conquering the <Dungeon of the Abyss>.

Just belonging to Pandora Clan made them objects of interest.

That's how great Pandora Clan's current status was.

'Now even the path from the Mana Management Organization to the clan isn't easy.'

4th generation Twelve Seats, <Divine Spear> Ryu Yeon-hwa.

She newly realized that status.

It had happened just an hour ago.

When she came out of the building after finishing a meeting at the Mana Management Organization, she encountered numerous people who had come to see her.

—Kyaaaa!!

—It's <Divine Spear>! <Divine Spear> came out!

—Yeon-hwa noonaaaa!

—Yeon-hwa unnie! Look over here please!

They were her fans who rushed in as soon as they heard the news that Ryu Yeon-hwa was here.

—What is this...

Ryu Yeon-hwa was flustered seeing them.

She had received people's attention even before being called <Divine Spear>, but she had never had so many people suddenly come looking for her like this.

However, they were people who liked her and supported her.

Unable to treat them coldly, she decided to respond to them.

—...Hello, I'm Ryu Yeon-hwa.

—Yeon-hwa unnie! Your voice is pretty!

—What did you come for today!?

—What are your future activity plans...

And so.

Unintentionally, a fan meeting took place.

Ryu Yeon-hwa answered people's questions as sincerely as possible.

But there were so many people that there seemed to be no end in sight.

Moreover.

—<Divine Spear> is having an impromptu fan meeting in front of the Mana Management Organization!

—In front of the Mana Management Organization? Isn't it a public hearing rather than a fan meeting?

—Whatever, let's go see too!

People nearby who heard the news started gathering too.

The scale suddenly grew larger.

To the point where even Ryu Yeon-hwa couldn't handle it.

—Um... Due to other schedules, I won't be taking any more questions. Thank you all for your support.

—Ah! She's running away!

—Yeon-hwa noona! See you next time!

In the end, Ryu Yeon-hwa chose to escape.

And to prevent people from following, she returned to the clan hall by jumping across building rooftops instead of using the road.

'The others must have it worse than me...'

If she, who didn't participate in the black dungeon conquest, was like this, the situation of other clan members must be indescribable.

Ryu Yeon-hwa felt sympathy for them as she headed to the training ground.

Her schedule for today was over, so she planned to have personal training time.

Whoosh! Whisk! Hook!

She swings while being conscious of Frost Dawn.

With her mind becoming one with the spear, she draws countless trajectories in the air.

Ryu Yeon-hwa fell into a trance-like state and conversed with Frost Dawn.

"Phew."

Around the time she finished one round.

The training ground door opened quietly.

A head peeked out through the door gap.

"Yeon-hwa mom, what are you doing?"

"Yu-seong."

It was Noh Yu-seong, who turned four this year.

Ryu Yeon-hwa, who was drinking water, smiled brightly seeing him.

Then Noh Yu-seong also smiled broadly and ran over to her.

"Did Yu-seong come alone? Is there no one with you?"

"Clang!"

"Clang!"

This time Clang appeared too.

A small liger with black stripes on a white background cried out as if happy.

Clang approached and sat next to Yu-seong as if guarding him.

Then Yu-seong clung to Clang.

That sight was so cute.

Ryu Yeon-hwa patted Yu-seong and Clang's heads as if expressing her feelings.

"But Yu-seong is still young, so you shouldn't come and go to places like this. Especially, it's dangerous to enter carelessly where others are training. Understand?"

"Yes!"

"Clang!"

She spoke in a deliberately stern tone.

Noh Yu-seong didn't understand and just answered energetically.

Of course, she couldn't not know.

But she just looked down at him lovingly.

"Mom's going to train, do you want to watch?"

"Yes!"

"Then you have to watch from far away. Clang, can you watch over Yu-seong well so he doesn't get hurt?"

"Clang!"

Taking Noh Yu-seong to one side.

Ryu Yeon-hwa distanced herself from him and started training.

Whoosh! Whisk!

"Wow!"

Noh Yu-seong kept exclaiming in wonder every time Ryu Yeon-hwa swung her spear.

She burst into laughter.

When she turned around after finishing a series of moves, his eyes were sparkling.

He was showing interest in spearmanship.

She read his mind.

"Does Yu-seong want to try too?"

"Yes!"

Noh Yu-seong ran over excitedly as if he had been waiting for this moment.

In fact, it was a common sight.

He often popped into the training ground when clan members were training and signaled them to play with him.

Each time, they reluctantly taught him their specialties while playing with him.

Ryu Yeon-hwa had done it a few times too.

No, she had done it the most.

"Frost Dawn."

Ryu Yeon-hwa reduced the size of the spear as much as possible to match Noh Yu-seong's height.

However, since the weight didn't change, she had to assist him.

She handed him the spear while slightly supporting it from behind.

"Do you remember what you learned last time? Now, strike down hard in front."

"Hya!"

"Good, like that. Well done, Yu-seong."

With Ryu Yeon-hwa guiding from the side.

Noh Yu-seong moved the spear with difficulty.

His posture wasn't refined.

He couldn't put proper strength into it either.

Nevertheless, she praised him and made him gain confidence.

On the other hand, she had a certain wish.

'If I have a child too...'

She wanted to teach her spearmanship.

While simply teaching Noh Yu-seong the spear, Ryu Yeon-hwa inwardly dreamed.

If Noh Yu-seong was this lovable, how lovable would her own child be? Just imagining it made her feel warm.

"Want to do more?"

"Yes!"

"Okay, this time we'll thrust. Ready..."

"Hya! Hya! Hya!"

Like that for a while.

Ryu Yeon-hwa taught Noh Yu-seong.

That's when Noh Eun-ha entered.

"This kid, Noh Yu-seong. I wondered where he disappeared without saying anything, but he was playing here."

"Beep beep beep boop boop boop boop boop boop!"

"Daddy! Buldak!"

Noh Yu-seong, who was in Ryu Yeon-hwa's arms, quickly ran to Noh Eun-ha.

He clung to his legs and rubbed his face here and there.

"You rascal. That won't work."

"Beep beep beep!"

Eun-ha clicked his tongue at his aegyo and lightly flicked his head.

Buldak, who landed on Yu-seong's shoulder, also spread its wings and tapped his head.

Still, Yu-seong kept giggling, so happy for some reason.

"Didn't daddy say not to disturb Yeon-hwa mom's training? Did you do wrong or not?"

"I did wrong!"

"Then what should you do to Yeon-hwa mom?"

"I'm sorry."

"No, it's okay. I enjoyed playing with Yu-seong too."

When Eun-ha scolded him, Noh Yu-seong bowed deeply to Ryu Yeon-hwa.

She took Yu-seong's side.

Then she approached Eun-ha.

"Are you done with work?"

Her husband Noh Eun-ha.

Ryu Yeon-hwa looked at him while moving her hand to hold his.

Then Eun-ha smiled slightly.

He didn't shake off her hand and instead intertwined their fingers.

In that state, they made eye contact and communicated.

"No, not yet. I finished what I had to do outside, but there's still some administrative work left. I think I need to go process the rest with Seo-hyeon. Seo-hyeon asked me to find Yu-seong, so I came looking for him."

"I see. Then... Will you be late today?"

"Well, shouldn't I go before that? Why?"

Ryu Yeon-hwa asked while trailing off.

Eun-ha felt strange as she secretly stroked the back of his hand with their intertwined fingers.

To this, she whispered in his ear so Yu-seong couldn't hear.

"It's my turn today."

"Ah..."

Ryu Yeon-hwa's breath touched his ear.

Though the subject was omitted, Eun-ha understood what she wanted to say.

And only then did he realize.

That flames were quietly flickering in her blue eyes.

They were flames of affection.

'Yeon-hwa seems to be looking forward to today a lot.'

A bitter smile spread on Eun-ha's face.

He felt very good that Ryu Yeon-hwa needed him, but also felt a sense of responsibility.

He nodded.

"Don't come back too late. I'll prepare and wait."

"Oh, okay. I should."

"Can I keep Yu-seong so he doesn't interfere with work...?"

"Won't that disturb your training?"

"No, it's fine. I enjoy teaching and playing with Yu-seong too."

"If you say so... Yu-seong, listen well to what Yeon-hwa mom says. Understand?"

"Yes!"

"Clang, you watch over him well."

"Clang!"

"Beep beep beep boop boop boop boop boop boop!"

"You want to stay here too? Alright."

Ryu Yeon-hwa takes Noh Yu-seong.

Clang and Buldak follow behind.

Eun-ha, deciding to leave him to her, left the training ground.

"I'll have to exert myself tonight too."

After conquering the <Dungeon of the Abyss>.

Eun-ha was enjoying peace.

Perhaps he was being taken advantage of without realizing.

Suddenly he recalls the night he spent with Ryu Yeon-hwa recently.

Her words as she looked up at him, tightly holding his hand as if not wanting to let go, linger in his ear.

—...Yes. Let's make a baby together♥

The corners of Eun-ha's mouth rose involuntarily.

No one but him would know that side of her.

* * *

Eun-ha went to meet Han Seo-hyeon.

"Hello, Clan Lord."

"Welcome."

Shakira, with long hair and skin tanned as if by sunlight, greeted Eun-ha.

Hermit, sitting across from her working, also bowed her head to him.

Eun-ha greeted them both too.

"Is Seo-hyeon inside?"

"Yes, she's working in the back."

"Shall I bring you something to drink?"

"No, don't mind me. Both of you just continue what you were doing."

Eun-ha stopped Hermit who was trying to get up.

Then he walked towards a separately partitioned space.

Han Seo-hyeon was there.

"You came?"

Perhaps having heard the sound from outside.

Han Seo-hyeon's gaze was directed at Eun-ha who opened the door and entered.

A smile played on her face that seemed like it wouldn't easily give her heart, cold and cynical.

Eun-ha felt proud and satisfied receiving her gaze full of love and trust for him.

"Sit here."

"What were you doing?"

Han Seo-hyeon offered the seat next to her.

Eun-ha sat down and pulled his chair close enough for their shoulders to touch.

She chuckled and pointed at the monitor screen.

"I was contemplating what to do about the news that just came out."

"News?"

Eun-ha looked at the monitor screen.

Several news items caught his eye.

[Photo] <Divine Spear> Ryu Yeon-hwa holds guerrilla fan meeting

[Photo] Ryu Yeon-hwa flees during fan meeting!

[Photo] Ryu Yeon-hwa strides across building tops

[Photo] "I commute via rooftops." <Divine Spear> Ryu Yeon-hwa, the reason she commutes via rooftops?

"What is this?"

"Seems she somehow got caught by fans while coming out of a Mana Management Organization meeting."

The screen showed photos of Ryu Yeon-hwa looking flustered while surrounded by fans, then running across building rooftops.

Eun-ha found it absurd.

On the other hand, he understood.

"We have become famous these days."

"Not these days, we were always famous, but we've become even more famous recently."

Not just Ryu Yeon-hwa, but all clan members were experiencing similar situations.

It was because Pandora Clan took 5 seats of the 4th generation Twelve Seats, and even conquered a black dungeon.

Naturally, the situation Eun-ha experienced as both Pandora Clan Lord and head of the 4th generation Twelve Seats was on a different level.

Eun-ha gave a bitter smile without realizing and opened his mouth.

"So what are you planning to do?"

"In a way it's obstruction of business... But if we sue those people, it could provoke backlash, and Yeon-hwa unnie probably wouldn't want that either, and seeing how the public reaction is quite good, it seems better to leave it as is."

"It wasn't done with malicious intent, so it's better to let it go positively."

"And what I felt from this issue is that people seem quite curious about Yeon-hwa unnie's daily life. Seeing how these photos became a hot topic."

"It is fresh to see Yeon-hwa showing this kind of side."

"Right, unlike other clan members, Yeon-hwa unnie doesn't use SNS much, and is seen as a perfect person. So people are interested even with just these trivial photos."

"So?"

"I was thinking of hiring more people soon to make an SNS account that posts photos of Yeon-hwa unnie's daily life. Like what Riel, Eun-woo, and Fox Rain do. It shouldn't be bad for publicity."

"As long as it's not excessive like Riel..."

Creating a daily life SNS account for Ryu Yeon-hwa to use as a promotional tool.

They would need her permission, but it seems like quite a good method.

Eun-ha affirmed Han Seo-hyeon's idea.

Then, she changed the topic.

 "By the way, where's Yu-seong?"

"Yeon-hwa is playing with him. They're in the training ground now. Clang and Buldak are with them too."

"I thought he might be there... It's reassuring that Yeon-hwa unnie is playing with him, but I feel sorry for disturbing her training."

"Yeon-hwa doesn't mind that kind of thing, you know? She seems to enjoy playing with Yu-seong. Yu-seong follows her well too. Somehow he seems to follow Yeon-hwa more than me?"

"That's all because of your karma."

"My karma? What do you mean?"

Eun-ha tilted his head as if he didn't understand.

Han Seo-hyeon gave him a blank stare as if asking if he really didn't know.

She opened her mouth.

"The father was gone for nearly two months conquering a black dungeon, who do you think took care of the child during that time?"

"Haha..."

"Ha-yang went in with you, and I was busy taking care of your work, so Yu-jeong and Yeon-hwa unnie looked after the kids whenever they had time. Appreciate that. Shakira and Hermit out there, and other people too."

"...Sorry, I'm ashamed."

Eun-ha rolled his eyes and avoided her gaze.

Regarding that point.

He was a hero to people, but a sinner to his wives and children.

"You don't know how much Yu-seong looked for you while you were gone. He kept asking me 'When is daddy coming?' every day and I didn't know how to answer, and I felt so sorry for the child... If something had happened to you, for the child's sake I might have even..."

"You're joking, right?"

At Han Seo-hyeon's nagging mixed with lament.

Eun-ha, who had been unable to raise his head out of guilt, suddenly cut her off.

He grabbed her hand resting on the armrest.

"..."

"Remarry? Did you really think about that?"

As if saying he absolutely wouldn't allow that.

Eun-ha glared at Han Seo-hyeon, who was blinking blankly, and growled.

Soon her face softened.

"So be good to us and the children. Yu-seong has spent time with you, but I'm not sure if Yu-ran or Yu-rin even remember their father's face."

Han Seo-hyeon leaned towards Eun-ha.

As her lips touched his, the corners of his eyes returned to normal.

"This is my heart. Do you understand?"

"No, I don't understand? This is just like a morning greeting."

"What have you done well to expect more?"

"This won't do. I need to mark you as mine so you can't run away anywhere."

"I don't think there's anyone left in this country bold enough to lay hands on <Monarch >'s wife... What are you doing without permission now?"

"Marking you as mine."

"It's work hours now... Mmph..."

"It's okay. You keep working, Seo-hyeon. The people outside won't know. I just cast a soundproofing spell."

"...So that's what you meant."

"...Hey, what's with this hand?"

"You're the one who lit the fire first."

"Um, Seo-hyeon. I have plans with Yeon-hwa later..."

"You're talking about another woman while doing this with me?"

"Another woman? Yeon-hwa is family..."

"Right now she's another woman."

"Mmph..."

Eun-ha and Han Seo-hyeon fooled around.

The fire wasn't easily extinguished.