983

 "N-Nice to meet you, daughter... And s-son..."

"..."

A woman with black hair, green eyes, and prominent tear moles.

She, Metis, greeted them awkwardly.

Eun-ha quietly observed her.

'She's different from the image I had in mind.'

He thought she would have a fierce impression, filled with resentment over Zeus's betrayal, but Metis looked young and cute.

It's an unfair expression to her, but she looked innocent enough to be easily deceived, and seemed like she would be fun to tease.

And she was on the shorter side.

Just then, as he watched her suddenly being hugged by Athena...

"Mother! I missed you so much!"

"Kyaa! D-Dear, I can't breathe...!"

'They look more like sisters than mother and daughter... And Athena noona is the older sister...'

Eun-ha thought.

At that moment, Metis reached out her hand to Eun-ha, pleading for help.

"S-Son, save me...!"

"..."

Metis's voice was quite pitiful.

Eun-ha, unable to ignore her, decided to come to her rescue.

He takes her away from Athena.

"Son!"

"Metis... Mother is suffering. Be gentle, Athena noona."

Metis's face, held by both armpits by Eun-ha, brightens up.

Soon, as soon as she puts her feet down, she hides behind Eun-ha.

Athena apologizes to her, who is cautiously peeking out her head.

"Oh my, I wasn't considerate. I guess I'm still clumsy at controlling my strength. I'm sorry, Mother. Are you alright?"

"N-No... I'm fine."

Metis shakes her head.

Yet, there was still wariness remaining in her.

So Athena led the conversation in a friendly manner to be considerate of her.

'At this rate, it's hard to tell who's the mother and who's the daughter...'

Still, it was nice to see the mother-daughter relationship being affectionate.

Eun-ha gave a bitter smile.

'By the way, it seems Metis mother is unexpectedly shy. No, maybe... Is it because of Zeus?'

Metis had to spend lonely years trapped inside Zeus's head.

Perhaps because of that, she became shy and awkward in dealing with people.

Eun-ha felt a sense of pity at this sudden assumption.

Just then, Metis called out.

"Son."

"Yes, Metis mother."

"You don't need to be formal with me. Just call me comfortably."

"Alright."

Metis, sticking close to Eun-ha, looks up at him.

She smiles softly, though shyly.

"Thank you for fulfilling my long-cherished wish."

"...I should be thanking you for being a great help."

Is there a need to arbitrarily guess Metis's circumstances and feel sorry for her?

From now on, he just needs to make sure she's not lonely and happy.

Metis is his person too, after all.

Eun-ha shook off his idle thoughts.

* * *

"But how long are you both going to stay in this form? It must consume quite a bit of mana..."

"We'll stay as long as our strength allows. Don't worry. When the time comes, we'll return on our own. We won't be a burden."

"I-I'll return right away if my son wants me to..."

"..."

For that reason.

Eun-ha returned to the clan headquarters with Athena and Metis.

Of course, their appearance turned the Pandora Clan upside down.

"Didn't you say you were going to receive a new sword? But why don't I see a sword, and you're coming back with women on both sides!?"

"Noh Eun-ha again!?"

"You really... What's the matter this time."

"Eun-ha? You'll have to explain, right? Who are these people beside you? Hm?"

"Wow, how long has it been since you took in Iriya unnie..."

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Didn't I tell you!? This guy won't stop at five but will take in more! Yes! All the money I bet is mine!"

"Pa-rang oppa, please stay quiet..."

"..."

Starting with Kim Min-ji, Yeou-bi, Mok Min-ho, Cha Eun-woo, Yoo Nam-hoon, Jin Pa-rang, Kim Mary, and others all clicked their tongues.

As a result, Eun-ha unintentionally had to take some scolding.

Fortunately, the misunderstanding was quickly resolved and ended up as a simple happening, but...

"Where did it all go wrong?"

"..."

Was he such an unreliable, untrustworthy figure?

Eun-ha couldn't help but feel a sense of self-doubt.

And the people who caused this had to suffer for a while, either watching his mood or listening to his complaints.

As a side note, Eun-ha tried to use this opportunity to reduce his workload by being clever, but...

"Don't overdo it."

"Tch."

He was blocked by Mok Min-ho.

Meanwhile, Metis and Athena quickly blended into the daily life of the Pandora Clan.

However, there was some friction.

"My goodness, now we even have to be wary of Eun-ha's swords..."

"Why couldn't they just stay as swords... When will they return to being swords?"

"They say they're not human, but still, we can't help but worry..."

"That's right. It's complicated. On one hand, I'm also envious."

"Me too... I want to become a sword too and be with Master every day."

"..."

Han Seo-hyun, Jung Ha-yang, Lee Yu-jung, Ryu Yeon-hwa, Iriya, and some others felt jealous of Metis and Athena.

This was because they stayed by Eun-ha's side almost constantly as his swords and didn't try to leave.

Moreover, because Athena tried to treat Eun-ha like a real younger brother...

"Eun-ha is my younger brother!? Not yours!"

Noh Eun-ah reacted angrily.

She tried to confront Athena, regardless of whether people were watching or not.

But Athena didn't just take it quietly.

"He's your younger brother, but he's my younger brother too."

"I'm connected to him by blood!"

"I'm connected to him by contract. So we're connected by soul. We can even communicate through Pass."

"Uu... Uwaang! Eun-ha noona is only mine!"

"..."

Noh Eun-ah's side, Athena's victory.

As Athena raised her nose high, Noh Eun-ah, unable to contain her frustration, ran away quickly.

Everyone who watched this scene was dumbfounded.

"Haha, so it ends up like this... No, will it become even more chaotic this time with Metis involved too..."

Future Yu-seong let out a hollow laugh.

Meanwhile, from that day on, Noh Eun-ah would suddenly ambush Eun-ha.

One day, she suddenly appeared and pushed Eun-ha into a stall.

"Eun-ha!"

"Noona, this is the men's restroom..."

"Yes, I'm noona. Your one and only real noona in the world."

"..."

"Who am I?"

"...The one and only real noona in the world."

"Mm-hmm, good job."

Noh Eun-ah smiles brightly.

She stands on her tiptoes, stroking Eun-ha's head and caressing his face.

Eun-ha obediently received her touch.

'Lately, I've been thinking...'

Noh Eun-ah is too scary!

* * *

Blue House, Fairy Lim Ga-eul's residence.

Eun-ha, having finished reporting to Lim Ga-eul, checked the time as he came out.

It was just past 10 PM.

"Baek-ryeon must be waiting."

On days when he leaves work from the Blue House like today, he usually leaves with Ha Baek-ryeon.

By now, she should have finished her Fairy Successor lessons and be waiting at the entrance.

Eun-ha hurried his steps to meet her.

Sure enough, as he expected, Ha Baek-ryeon was waiting for him in the official car.

"Sorry, Baek-ryeon. Am I late? The Fairy finished late..."

"Huh? Are you blaming the Fairy now? I should tell her tomorrow."

"Can't you let that slide?"

"Why were you late then? You didn't even send a message. I waited, you know."

"Sorry, I was in such a hurry I couldn't even think about messaging."

"Sigh... Okay, I'll be generous! Since you were working, I'll overlook it this time."

"Alright, thank you."

"Get in quickly, oppa."

Ha Baek-ryeon, who had playfully scolded Eun-ha, patted the seat next to her.

Only then did Eun-ha get into the car.

Soon after, the car started.

The two, sitting by the window, chatted amiably, not paying attention to the scenery outside the car window.

At that moment, Ha Baek-ryeon spoke up.

"Oppa, aren't you hungry?"

"Come to think of it, I am a bit hungry... Should we stop by a convenience store on the way?"

"Hmm..."

Occasionally, the two would stop by a convenience store near the clan headquarters on their way back from work to have a quick bite.

So Eun-ha casually suggested it, but Ha Baek-ryeon shook her head.

"No. Eating convenience store food too often isn't good for your health, right? How about we go to my place and make some ramen instead?"

"Ramen?"

Ha Baek-ryeon clapped her hands as if she had a good idea.

Eun-ha tilted his head.

"Isn't ramen just as unhealthy?"

"It's different when I make it myself. I'll add eggs, bean sprouts, and finely chopped green onions. I even learned how to make delicious ramen from the Blue House chef recently, you know?"

"Oh, you're going to make it yourself?"

"Yes!"

Ha Baek-ryeon answered energetically.

Then she giggled as if teasing Eun-ha.

"So, oppa, want to come to my place and eat ramen?"

"..."

Suddenly.

Eun-ha recalled a memory from before the regression.

—Oppa, Eun-ha oppa. Want to come to my place and eat ramen today?

At that time, Ha Baek-ryeon, who was two years older than now, had said the exact same thing.

Of course, the nuance and atmosphere were somewhat different.

The 20-year-old Ha Baek-ryeon, who had fully become an adult, had tried to seduce Eun-ha half-jokingly, half-seriously.

But he had to admit that the appearance of the two Ha Baek-ryeons was now almost indistinguishable.

Eun-ha, overlapping them in his mind, suddenly realized.

'In two years... Will she become exactly the same as the Baek-ryeon from that time? In appearance... When did she grow up like this?'

"Oppa? What's wrong?"

"...It's nothing."

Ha Baek-ryeon suddenly brings her face close.

Because of this, Eun-ha, awakened from his thoughts, subtly distanced himself.

He spoke evasively.

"Then I can look forward to how deliciously you'll make it, right? I'll enjoy it."

"Yes, you can look forward to it! You'll probably be surprised when you taste it!"

Ha Baek-ryeon's face brightens up.

She chatters away.

"Even my mom says I make delicious ramen."

"Really? Wasn't Ji-eun noona picky about cooking? She even harshly criticized the hamburger you made before, right?"

"Oppa, don't bring that up..."

"Ahem! Alright. Anyway, if that noona praises it, it must be really delicious. I'm curious?"

"It's not 'it must be really delicious', it is really delicious! Probably even the unnies can't make it as well as I can!"

Ha Baek-ryeon boasted confidently.

Then she gently asked.

"How are the unnies' cooking skills?"

"Hmm... I haven't eaten their cooking many times. We have a helper who takes care of us."

"But you must have eaten it at least once, right?"

"Seo-hyun... Surprisingly, she's good at it. That noona has no flaws. She's good at everything she does. But even if she's good, there are professionals who are better than her, so she just prefers to leave it to the professionals comfortably. So she only cooks occasionally?"

"Well, that unnie seems like she'd be good at anything. Then what about Ha-yang unnie?"

"Ha-yang is good too. She's been helping at her father-in-law's cafe since she was young. Even before we started dating, she often packed lunch boxes."

"Hmm... Is that so?"

Ha Baek-ryeon makes a disgruntled face as if something is unsatisfactory.

Eun-ha, though puzzled, faithfully answered her questions.

"Then what about Yu-jung unnie?"

"Yu-jung is probably the best? She's been learning cooking as a hobby since she woke up."

"Ah. That's right, I forgot. Yu-jung unnie is really good at cooking. Even mom acknowledged it, right? What about Yeon-hwa unnie?"

"Yeon-hwa... She's good too. She's better at making camping food though. Ah, she's also good at making bingsu."

"Bingsu... you say?"

Ha Baek-ryeon asked meaningfully.

She didn't seem to understand readily.

Eun-ha chuckled.

"It's the bingsu you're thinking of. Yeon-hwa once made bingsu with her <Ice Flower> gift, and it was really delicious. The kids loved it."

"Bingsu made with the <Ice Flower> gift, I wonder what it tastes like. I'd like to try it sometime!"

"Sure, I'll ask Yeon-hwa. We can make it together with the clan members."

"Lastly, what about Riya unnie?"

"Iriya? I'm not sure about Iriya yet. But she probably makes good ramen, right?"

"Oppa... You're underestimating ramen, but while making ramen is easy, making it delicious is difficult, you know?"

"Okay, okay, I got it."

"Ramen is..."

Ha Baek-ryeon puts strength in her eyes.

Then she starts to enthusiastically expound on the virtues of ramen as if giving a lecture.

Eun-ha listened attentively to her long speech, albeit reluctantly.

It wasn't long after that when they arrived at the Pandora Clan headquarters.

"Let's go, oppa."

"Okay, got it."

Ha Baek-ryeon confidently takes the lead.

Eun-ha followed her.

They head towards her and Ha Ji-eun's room.

"Mom, I'm home!"

"You're back? Are you tired? Hurry and wash up... Huh? Pandora Clan Lord?"

"I told you to call me comfortably in private, noona."

Ha Ji-eun, who had come out to the corridor to greet Ha Baek-ryeon, blinked her eyes in surprise at seeing Eun-ha.

"Ah... Right, Eun-ha... You came with Baek-ryeon."

"Yeah, that's right. Can I come in?"

"Oh, yes, come in."

Eun-ha, having asked Ha Ji-eun's permission, took off his shoes and went inside.

Meanwhile, Ha Baek-ryeon, who had walked ahead to the kitchen, asked Ha Ji-eun.

"Mom, we're going to eat ramen, do you want to eat together? I'll make it delicious!"

"So that's why you came with Eun-ha. You wanted to show off your ramen..."

Ha Ji-eun roughly grasped the situation and let out a small sigh.

Then, while guiding Eun-ha to the kitchen, she called out to Ha Baek-ryeon.

"I'll just have a little bit!"

"Okay!"

In the kitchen, Ha Baek-ryeon was wearing an apron, preparing to cook ramen.

Eun-ha and Ha Ji-eun decided to sit on chairs and watch her.

'The apron suits her well.'

Eun-ha watched Ha Baek-ryeon contentedly.

Just then, Ha Ji-eun spoke to him.

"The child has grown a lot, hasn't she?"

"...Yeah. When I first saw her, she was so tiny..."

"That's right, time seems to fly. Even now she's recognized as an adult, but in 2 years she'll be a full adult... It's amazing, isn't it."

"A full adult..."

"Baek-ryeon will become even more popular. I wonder who will take her away?"

"..."

Ha Ji-eun giggled as if finding it interesting.

For Eun-ha, it was a complex feeling.

'No matter who takes Baek-ryeon away, I don't think they'll meet my standards...'

Is there really someone in this world who would truly cherish Baek-ryeon, protect her from any danger, and be someone she can rely on?

Someone he could approve of...

'Ugh... I don't know.'

For now, it's a futile waste of mental energy.

Eun-ha decided to put aside his worrying thoughts and focus on the present.

Just then, Ha Baek-ryeon brought the ramen.

"Ta-da! Enjoy your meal, oppa!"

"Thank you, I'll eat well."

"Baek-ryeon, what about me?"

"Mom too!"

Ha Baek-ryeon sits down.

After that, the three of them brought to their mouths the appetizingly cooked ramen placed in front of each of them.

Slurp!

"How is it, oppa?"

Ha Baek-ryeon carefully asks for an evaluation.

Eun-ha raised the corners of his mouth.

"It's incredibly delicious. It's the most delicious ramen I've eaten so far?"

"...Right!?"

Ha Baek-ryeon's face lights up with joy.

She was delighted.