736

 [Chapter 188]

[Unforgettable (4)]

May is Family Month.

During this time, every school prepares for Parents' Day.

Writing letters to parents.

Making carnations and so on.

"─You write letters expressing gratitude to your parents. And if you get caught playing with pinking shears, you'll be scolded by the teacher."

""""Yes─!!""""

3rd grade elementary school, 10 years old.

Ha Baek-ryeon was naturally preparing for Parents' Day too.

"It's done."

Following what the homeroom teacher showed.

Ha Baek-ryeon made a carnation.

A bright smile bloomed on her face as she completed the neatly folded carnation without any crookedness.

Now I should write a letter to mom.

I should write 'thank you' for raising me alone, it must have been hard.

Ha Baek-ryeon really liked Ha Ji-eun.

While other friends were worrying about what to write to their parents.

She had so much she wanted to say that it was a problem.

The moment she gripped her mechanical pencil, she wrote the letter without stopping.

"...Hm? Is it 'raise' or 'rear'? Which one is it? It should be 'raise'..."

There were moments when she paused briefly.

It was because she was confused about expressions or couldn't think of the right word.

Nevertheless, she completed the letter faster than others.

The letter paper was filled with small, pretty handwriting.

Ha Baek-ryeon was happy to see the perfect letter even after checking it two, three times.

As she had a face full of satisfaction like that─

"─Huh?"

Suddenly a corner caught her attention.

She stared intently at the letter paper with strength in her eyes.

Eventually, she put down the letter paper on the desk.

She looked around.

It seems there's still a lot of time left...

There was still a long time until class ended.

Her friends were still in the middle of writing letters or even making carnations because they couldn't do that yet.

There was quite a bit of time left.

So Ha Baek-ryeon's thoughts were wandering elsewhere.

"Should I write one for mister too..."

Mister, No Eun-ha, Pandora Clan Lord.

The benefactor who allowed her and her mother to live the life they have now.

"..."

Someone who could perhaps be like a father to her who doesn't have one.

And someone she thinks might really become her father someday.

Whether to give a carnation or not.

Ha Baek-ryeon agonized for a long time.

After much deliberation─

"─Since it's to express gratitude, I should make one."

Alright, I'll be generous.

Ha Baek-ryeon started working.

☆

The Han River purification work was still ongoing on this day too.

People could easily find players walking on the water surface using water walking.

"Oh my, my whole body aches. Am I getting old now..."

"Baa baa..."

Eun-ha was among them too.

After using magic on the water surface while bending over for a long time, his whole body couldn't help but ache.

Using that excuse, Eun-ha quietly straightened up.

The new recruits are working really well.

Except for exceptions like Baek Hyun-yul.

Those who came for internships at the Pandora Clan and players who joined this year generally didn't complain.

Of course, he couldn't not know how they felt.

They probably had a lot of complaints bottled up, but couldn't bring themselves to say anything to him or their superiors.

I should buy them something cool later and tell them they worked hard.

Summer was starting.

Meanwhile, they couldn't help but sweat while working under the light reflecting off the water surface.

Anyway, Eun-ha smiled bitterly watching them bending over as if gleaning.

At that moment─

"─Pandora Clan Lord. What are you doing not working? Aren't you going to work quickly?"

"Ah, Seo-young noona."

Suddenly the wind blew.

Shin Seo-young landed neatly on the rippling water surface.

Eun-ha greeted Shin Seo-young.

But she just sighed.

"Don't slack off and do your work. Now that you're in that position, you should know to set an example for others to see."

"That's why I was working hard. My back hurts so much now, I was just trying to rest for a moment."

"You talk well. I've been watching you try to rest at every chance since earlier."

"I've been working since morning, so can't you just let it slide a little?"

"Eun-ha? You come out sporadically taking turns with clan members, but I come out here to work every day? And you say your whole body aches after working since morning?"

"Maybe it's because I'm getting old..."

"Are you saying I'm old now? This is really..."

"No, when did I say that? I said I think I'm getting old... Noona, it seems other people are watching too, so do something about your mana."

"Sigh.... How ridiculous must your complaint about being tired sound for me to be like this."

"...I work at night too."

"Oh my, you're really something now that you're older. Is marriage that good?"

"...Try dealing with two noonas. See if you can say it's not tiring..."

"You're really something."

Eun-ha whined unnecessarily.

Half joking, half serious.

Thanks to that, he sometimes had trouble sleeping.

Shin Seo-young didn't seem to believe his whining.

She chuckled.

☆

"By the way, that kid is amazing. How can there be such a kid?"

"Who?"

"Iriya."

"Ah, she is pretty amazing."

Since it came to this, Eun-ha decided to work together with Seo-young.

The two working at a certain distance looked to one side.

─The Lord said, My fire will purify this world clean.

At the strong request of the Mana Management Organization.

Iriya was participating in the purification work every day without missing a single day.

That's how effective her purification magic was.

The moment Iriya activated her magic, the surrounding water surface reflected blue water momentarily.

Not only is the effect excellent, but the range is wide too.

Moreover, Iriya's internal mana is so vast...

Seeing Iriya's skills.

Players not only admired, but some even drooled.

Although they couldn't recruit her now because she had joined the Pandora Clan, their faces showed expectations for her to enter the FA market someday.

Of course, Eun-ha had no intention of letting Iriya go.

"People in the industry are eyeing your clan members, so be careful. Especially her, you need to be even more careful."

"Don't worry. I knew that would happen, so I tied her to the clan with a lifetime contract, so you don't need to worry about that."

"...She agreed to that?"

"She was the one who demanded a lifetime contract."

"I experienced it at the academy, but she's really a strange kid. Is that why she joined your clan..."

Shin Seo-young sighed.

Eun-ha ignored it.

He chose to keep his mouth shut because he couldn't refute even if he wanted to.

Meanwhile, Eun-ha changed the topic and pointed out another player.

"But that person is amazing too."

"Who?"

"The Samra Clan Lord. <Earth Dragon>."

"Ah, earthworm?"

"What? What earthworm?"

"Her alias is earthworm. <Earth Dragon>, earthworm."

A caster purifying the river water in a range almost matching Iriya.

Samra Clan Lord Chong Eun-ju.

Her short hair fluttered due to the effect of casting magic.

Meanwhile, the water surface where she stood bubbled and shook.

""""...""""

At first it looked like foam was forming.

But they were earthworms that seemed to number in the thousands.

The earthworms spread out from her center, purifying the river water.

"See, they're earthworms, right?"

"...<Earth Dragon> meant that earth dragon?"

"Well, it's an alias people in the industry call her jokingly."

<Earth Dragon> Chong Eun-ju.

Eun-ha didn't know much about her.

It was because he had never been involved with Chong Eun-ju in his previous life.

So Eun-ha couldn't help but be dumbfounded by Shin Seo-young's story as she snorted while looking at her.

But right at that moment─

─Kwaaaaaaaa!!!

Chong Eun-ju cast again.

The water surface flashed.

Immediately, something huge rose from the water surface.

It was a dragon made of mud.

That dragon crossed the air trying to pounce on them.

"Looks like she heard what we were saying? Her ears are really good."

Shin Seo-young's response was quick.

She swung down the fans she was holding in both hands.

──!!

A strong wind blew.

The wind pressure struck down the charging dragon.

A water fountain rose up.

But Shin Seo-young deployed a protection magic to block even the water spray.

What's going on...

And Eun-ha, who had been watching from start to finish, had a blank face.

Chong Eun-ju who attacked out of nowhere.

And her who blocked as if she knew it was coming.

The situation that seemed like they were in sync was just bewildering.

As he understood the situation, he also didn't understand.

"─I'm called <Earth Dragon> because I use this kind of magic, Pandora Clan Lord. I hope you didn't listen to what that <Divine Wind> bitch said."

"Hmph, then you should be called <Mud Dragon>, what's with <Earth Dragon>? And I have a more well-known alias now, <Empress >, so call me that."

"It's because earth (地) encompasses more than soil (土). Can't you even distinguish between soil and earth? And the alias <Empress > is really ridiculous to think about. A woman who was completely smitten by Gil Seong-jun as if she'd give him her liver and gall, where did she get the alias <Empress >..."

"Are you done talking? I told you not to say that again, didn't I?"

"You started it first."

""...""

A dragon and a tiger are fighting.

Eun-ha had that thought seeing them growling at each other while talking.

The fire chicken sitting on his shoulder also couldn't follow the situation and just blinked its eyes.

They seem quite close...

Do they know each other?

Soon Eun-ha grasped the situation.

The two seemed quite close.

As if seeing through his thoughts─

"─We're not close."

"We're just academy classmates? No, bad fate."

"Yes, if you say so..."

The two turned their heads sharply.

They said almost in unison.

☆

<Earth Dragon> Chong Eun-ju.

<Empress > Shin Seo-young.

The two were academy classmates and competitors in the caster field.

And they also overlapped in the person they liked.

Gil Seong-jun must have been quite popular.

The Clan Lord of the now disbanded Changhae Clan.

And Shin Seo-young's ex-lover.

Gil Seong-jun, who is currently in prison with distorted mana circuits, was the object of their romantic feelings.

Eun-ha smiled bitterly hearing Gil Seong-jun's name after a long time.

Of course, for Shin Seo-young who didn't end well with Gil Seong-jun, it was a topic she would pounce on with fire in her eyes.

"Shut that mouth. Earthworm."

"There are so many good men in the world, but you chose such a man. That's why you've aged like this."

"What about you, are you married?"

"Unlike you who's lost her power, I'm still vigorous."

"Vigorous? You should think about our age. To others, you and I look exactly the same, you bitch."

"What, bitch?"

""""...""""

"Baa baa..."

Players nearby stopped working.

Receiving their attention.

Shin Seo-young and Chong Eun-ju growled.

Not a connection, but bad fate.

Eun-ha, who was watching closely, clicked his tongue.

<Earth Dragon> and <Empress > are really tearing down each other's images.

But this wasn't the first time─

"─Hmm, it's been a while. When <Empress > was one of the Twelve Seats, I often saw her fighting with <Earth Dragon>, pulling each other's hair..."

"I thought I'd never see that again, but to see it like this... I really miss those times. I was a young active player then too..."

Players who were slacking off like Eun-ha and participating in the Han River purification work added a few words.

From what he heard, this wasn't the first time the two had fought.

Rather, it seemed they were fighting somewhat cautiously now because they were both older and had higher status than before.

If this is fighting cautiously...

How did they fight before?

Eun-ha was just dumbfounded.

While 3rd generation players watched in shock.

2nd generation players laughed heartily.

They truly experienced a generation gap.

"...Let's just ignore them. I don't want to get involved and become a spectacle for people too."

"Peep peep..."

The two now engage in a catfight using magic.

It's just embarrassing.

Soon Eun-ha turned his back on Shin Seo-young and Chong Eun-ju.

He didn't want to get involved.

He also decided to let the two catch up intimately.

He decided to pretend not to know them.

"─Have some refreshments while working!"

And so the two's fight continued until Ha Ji-eun and others brought refreshments.

☆

Ha Ji-eun brought refreshments.

Ha Baek-ryeon followed her too.

Thanks to that, Eun-ha could take a break and spend time with Ha Baek-ryeon.

"I made sandwiches so they're easy to eat. I made plenty, so you can have more or share with others."

"Eat a lot."

""""Thank you for the food!!""""

Spreading a mat on the grass.

Eun-ha ate a sandwich.

The clan members were quite hungry too, and filled their stomachs with satisfied faces.

"This is delicious."

"Here's some coffee too."

"Ah, thank you."

Before he knew it, Shin Seo-young who had been battling on the water surface was sitting on the mat too.

She tasted the sandwich and gave a good review.

She didn't seem to remember fighting with Chong Eun-ju just before.

Her clothes are soaked from fighting like that on the water...

Eun-ha glanced at her dripping water from her hair tips and clicked his tongue.

He wished she had at least dried the moisture on her clothes with magic.

Meanwhile, Eun-ha turned his gaze to Ha Ji-eun.

"A carnation?"

"Ah, this? Baek-ryeon made it at school. Parents' Day is coming up soon."

Near Ha Ji-eun's left chest.

There was a paper carnation attached there.

Soon Ha Ji-eun who received Eun-ha's gaze showed off the carnation proudly.

I'm envious.

Getting a carnation from Baek-ryeon too...

Because he had received carnations as Ha Baek-ryeon's guardian in his previous life.

Eun-ha was inwardly disappointed.

In this life, he was in an ambiguous position to be called a guardian, so there was no way he would receive a carnation from Baek-ryeon.

But I should be happy that Baek-ryeon's mother is alive like this.

It couldn't be helped.

Even if I can't be the only guardian for Baek-ryeon, isn't the current relationship not bad?

Eun-ha tried to be satisfied with the present.

At that moment─

"─That's why I brought Baek-ryeon."

"What?"

"Baek-ryeon says she wants to give a carnation to the Pandora Clan Lord too."

 Ha Ji-eun smiled brightly.

Then she gestured with her eyes towards Ha Baek-ryeon who was sticking close to her side.

Eun-ha's eyes met Ha Baek-ryeon's.

""...""

Silence.

Eun-ha stared intently at Ha Baek-ryeon.

Ha Baek-ryeon seemed hesitant, as if she wanted to say something.

Soon she approached on her knees.

"─Here."

"...Is this for me?"

"I thought I should give you one since I'm indebted to you too, mister."

Slightly avoiding his gaze.

Ha Baek-ryeon pouting her lips.

He looked down blankly at the letter and carnation she held out with both hands.

"Thank you."

"Hmph, it's nothing."

Honestly, he was deeply moved.

Eun-ha carefully received the letter and carnation.

Ha Baek-ryeon was flustered.

Because Eun-ha liked it noticeably more than she had thought.

"You're really a strange mister... Is it something to like that much?"

While feeling proud deep down.

Ha Baek-ryeon muttered quietly to avoid showing it.

Meanwhile, the smile didn't leave Eun-ha's face.

"Will you pin the carnation on for me?"

"Can't you do that yourself?"

"I think it would be nice if you pinned it on..."

"Yes, Baek-ryeon. Pin it on for him."

"Ugh, fine. I got it. I'll do it."

Soon Ha Baek-ryeon pinned the carnation on Eun-ha's chest.

The corners of Eun-ha's mouth rose even more.

"Is he that happy just to receive a carnation? It's not even his own child..."

Shin Seo-young, who was quietly watching the scene, was dumbfounded.

She just thought No Eun-ha was being No Eun-ha.

She just continued eating her sandwich thinking that.

Meanwhile, the letter Ha Baek-ryeon wrote to Eun-ha contained the following:

「Hello, Mr. No Eun-ha.

This is Ha Baek-ryeon.

...(omitted)...

I'm really happy that thanks to you, we can live in a nice house and mom doesn't have to struggle.

...(omitted)...

So mister, I hope everything you do goes well in the future. That way mom's store will do well too, right?

Thank you.

─ From Ha Baek-ryeon ─」

Her intentions were quite obvious.

Nevertheless, it is said that Eun-ha treasured Ha Baek-ryeon's letter.

It's an unforgettable memory.

☆

At a middle school in Gwangjin-gu.

There too, students were busy writing letters to their parents.

The difference was─

"─What? I'm truly grateful you gave birth to me? Eun-ae, do you think your parents will be happy to see this?"

"..."

Hahaha.

That the students writing letters didn't have the same innocence as when they were young.

For them who had grown quite old, the class for Parents' Day was simply free time.

So the homeroom teacher just told the students to write letters on their own and went to the teachers' office.

So the classroom couldn't help but become chaotic─

"─No, Eun-ae. You should say this to your parents."

"What? What should I say!? I'm really so curious!"

"..."

It was by no means a strange situation for students who had left their seats to surround one person.

One female student snatched No Eun-ae's letter, read it, and cackled.

The class students laughed too.

Eun-ae could only bite her lip, intimidated by them.

"─I'm truly sorry for being born. That's what you should say to your parents. They'll probably like hearing that."

"..."

"So write it again, quickly."

"Give me back... my letter. I'll really get angry if you keep doing this."

"I'll get angry~~~!!! Guys, No Eun-ae says she'll get angry!"

Hahaha hahaha.

One female student leads the atmosphere.

Another male student joins in.

And the students go along with it.

Hey, everyone knows why No Eun-ae's name is No Eun-ae, right?

It's No Eun-ae because she's the child her parents abandoned!

School, a miniature of society.

No one could go against the students leading the atmosphere in that school.

Rather, they went along with it.

No one was on No Eun-ae's side.

At that moment─

"─What will you do if I get angry? Acting so arrogantly."

"Ah...!"

The female student suddenly tore up the letter in front of Eun-ae's eyes.

She scattered the letter pieces in the air.

The students got excited seeing that scene.

Finally unable to endure, Eun-ae abruptly stood up from her seat.

─Rustle!

Crack!

Crash!

Surrendering her body to the boiling anger.

No Eun-ae's mana stirred.

Soon, the mana that escaped her thumping heart spread throughout the entire classroom.

All sorts of plants grew everywhere.

""""...!!""""

Various plants wrapped around her.

And posed a savage threat to every being except her.