Chapter 120

“Is your body doing okay?”

“I am fully recovered, older sister.”

Sohee’s complexion didn’t seem much different from usual. Just in case, I pulled her hand out from under the blanket to check her wrist, and faint marks from restraints were still visible, along with some lingering bruises.

“I told you to stay inside my inventory.”

The inventory, after all, also serves as a magic tank. Minions, who rely on my magic power, recover much faster when inside my inventory.

Sohee’s complexion didn’t look good when I temporarily took her out to remove the restraints, so I told her to stay in the inventory, and she readily nodded.

– If you were outside, I would have taken care of you, but it’s better to recover quickly. Go back in.

I said that, but Sohee insisted on recovering outside, even if it was slower, in case of another enemy attack.

It would be better to recover quickly, but since she insisted, I let her be. As I said, I stayed by her side and took care of her, and now, two days later, Sohee is almost fully recovered.

“Still, it seems I recovered quickly thanks to you, older sister.”

“That’s good to hear. I don’t remember doing much, though.”

If she says so, then it must be true. Come to think of it, Sohee’s speech has reverted to the formal style.

“Sohee, your speech has gone back to the formal style, huh?”

“That is correct.”

“Hmm, didn’t I say I’d grant you a wish if you fixed that? Did you give up on it?”

At my words, Sohee smiled.

“My wish has already been granted, so it’s fine now.”

Sohee never told me any wish. And I never granted one either. What’s going on?

“You said I granted your wish? I don’t remember hearing or granting any wish.”

“When you told me to go quickly, that… was my wish.”

It seems she’s referring to the time when she threatened Escario to open the gate and told me to escape through it.

Oh, um. Isn’t that kind of cheating? My chest felt heavy for a moment, and I stopped speaking.

“Well, um. Sohee.”

“Yes, older sister.”

“First… that’s not really something to call a wish, so let’s just leave it at that. If you have a wish later, we can talk about it then.”

“I don’t mind, but are you okay with that?”

“Whether I’m okay or not doesn’t matter… Anyway, if you’re feeling better now, how about we go out for some fresh air?”

“Where are you referring to?”

“There’s a place.”

It’s the way of the world to return what you’ve received. There’s no such thing as a free favor. If Sohee showed me such kindness, it’s only right to return the favor… not exactly the same, but something in return.

“You can just wear casual clothes. It’s not particularly cold anywhere.”

I threw a jacket over Sohee, who was dressed casually, and pressed my earring. I didn’t feel like changing clothes, and the place I’m taking Sohee to isn’t exactly a formal place… Oops.

“Ria, where are you!”

I should bring Kabe too. When I called Kabe, there was a rustling sound from the kitchen, and she peeked her face out from the door.

“Mom, did you call me?”

“Yes, come here.”

Seeing only her nose poking out, I could guess what she was up to.

“Hehehe.”

With a mischievous laugh, Kabe’s face popped out, and as expected, her mouth was smeared with chocolate.

“Kabe, you’re supposed to eat chocolate with your mouth.”

“I did eat it with my mouth.”

“You ate it with your face!”

Eve was at work, and Dusik wasn’t home either, so there was no one to leave Kabe with. Besides, Kabe needed to see this place at least once.

“Uwehehe.”

I wiped the chocolate smeared around Kabe’s mouth and straightened her clothes.

“Kabe, let’s go to a nice place with Mom and Auntie. Okay?”

“What’s a nice place?”

That left me speechless. Is Mitran’s Garden even suitable for kids? It might be a bit boring for kids used to videos and such.

“Anyway, let’s go.”

I opened the gate. Ah, ah. We have to crawl through it…

Crawling always feels weird. It’s humiliating.

But thankfully, the gate opened just right, and we arrived at the station.

“Isn’t this the Dark Realm?”

“Yeah, it is.”

We arrived correctly. Today, I brought Sohee and Kabe to the Dark Realm. Specifically, I planned to take them to Mitran’s Garden within the Dark Realm.

We walked a bit from the station, which had a rural atmosphere. Unlike Kabe, who was looking around curiously, Sohee didn’t seem awkward, as if she had been here before.

“Have you lived in the Dark Realm before?”

“Yes, I have. This is my hometown, after all.”

Ah. That’s right. They’re minions, so they must have been residents of the Dark Realm.

“Then, have you been to Mitran’s Garden before?”

I wanted to take her to Mitran’s Garden for a change of mood, but what if she’s been there before? That would be a letdown. Ah, probably not. Surely not.

“I have heard of Mitran’s Garden, but I have never entered. I was told by others that I must never enter, that I would die after taking seven steps inside…”

That’s a relief.

“Today, let’s go to Mitran’s Garden. For a change of mood.”

“Ah. That makes sense. Since you are the master of the Dark Realm, Mitran’s Garden must have opened for you. I didn’t think of that. Shall we go to Mitran’s Garden now?”

Hearing English from Sohee feels a bit awkward. It’s like a Joseon-era lady suddenly speaking English…

“Yeah. Anyway, let’s go.”

“Mom, what’s Mitran’s Garden?”

“It’s a nice place.”

I can’t really explain it. I don’t know much about it myself.

“Wow! A nice place! We’re going to a nice place!”

Despite my vague explanation, Kabe was all smiles. Thinking about it, I haven’t taken Kabe anywhere since she came. This is the first time, and I feel like I’m failing as a mom. I should have taken her to an amusement park or something earlier.

They say kids grow up fast, so I should have taken her to see more things when she was younger.

“Anyway, let’s go!”

“Okay!”

I should ask Amanin if there’s a direct gate or something. Sohee hasn’t ridden an unmanned carriage before, Kabe obviously hasn’t, and I’ve only ridden one once with Keru, so I don’t know how to use the unmanned carriage.

Keru just says where to go, and it starts, but no matter how much I say “Mitran’s Garden,” the carriage doesn’t move.

“Mitran’s Garden.”

It doesn’t move.

“Mitran.”

It doesn’t move.

“Vesprede’s Garden.”

“The Dark Realm’s Garden.”

“Garden.”

“…Flower field.”

“Flower shop?”

“Vesprede’s house…”

What the heck.

No matter what word I say, it doesn’t move.

What’s the problem?

Why does it listen to Keru but not me?

Is Vesprede a joke?

“Older sister, there’s something like a button here…”

Sohee pointed to a small red button near the carriage entrance. Red buttons are usually for emergencies. But why would this carriage have a red button… There’s something written on it.

“Press this… and say the destination…”

I pressed the button.

“Mitran’s Garden.”

With a click, the door locked, and the carriage started moving.

“I knew it.”

“…Huh?”

“I knew it. I was just putting on a show to make you guys happy.”

“Is… is that so?”

With a look that clearly said, “Let’s go with that,” I turned my head and looked out the window.

Is it going to rain?

I don’t know the way to Mitran’s Garden well. So, I don’t know how long the carriage ride will be either.

Sitting in the smoothly gliding unmanned carriage, I stared out the window, lost in thought.

These past few days, I’ve truly felt like the God of the Dark Realm.

Keru told me that once things in the human world settle down, I should go to Kenneth, the regent, to take over duties. He emphasized several times that the future development of the Dark Realm depends on me.

Even so, it feels like too much is being asked of me, who was just an ordinary human not long ago.

Sigh.

Just as I was about to let out a sigh, the carriage stopped.

“We must have arrived. Older sister, let’s get off.”

As soon as the carriage door opened, a cacophony of voices greeted us. The last time I was here, it was eerily quiet, but now it’s bustling. What’s going on?

Getting off, I saw that in front of Mitran’s Garden, there were stalls and many people coming and going. What’s all this about? What’s happening?

Dumbfounded, I held Kabe’s hand and walked towards the entrance with Sohee when an old man noticed me and our eyes met.

“Oh, Amanin.”

“Goddess! You’ve come!”

Amanin hurried over as soon as he saw me. Oh dear, he might fall. At his age, if he breaks a bone, it might not heal well.

“What’s all this? Those people… are they even people? Anyway, what are they all doing here?”

The place was packed with people. It was unimaginable compared to the first time I came to Mitran. So many people were coming and going from the garden.

“We opened it according to your will, Goddess. Now, many visitors come and go, and it’s gradually becoming a tourist spot in the Dark Realm again!”

Ah.

That’s right.

I did say to open it, didn’t I?