“…Ugh… my head…”
Noah looked at Shin Hyun, who had sprawled out on the bed.
Shin Hyun took off his shoes, put them neatly aside, and entered the small room.
There were only Noah and Shin Hyun in the room. The Demon King was probably already asleep in another room.
‘Uncle, you’re really drunk.’
Under normal circumstances, Noah would never have allowed this.
Though he clearly showed interest, he usually kept a certain distance.
It might just be a fleeting emotion from childhood.
Don’t make a wrong choice and regret it later.
What are you trying to do by pretending to be a good guy in front of me?
Spewing out such words, he had maintained an appropriate boundary until now.
But does he realize?
At the point of saying those things, he had already strayed far from pretending to be good.
Looking like someone who’s trustworthy…
If he were truly a bad person, he’d pretend to be good and approach.
“Uncle, take off your clothes and sleep.”
“Clothes…? Oh…yeah, I should…”
Noah helped him take off his jacket and lay down beside him.
Just staring blankly at the ceiling…
“…Hehe.”
A smile slowly crept onto his face.
‘Uncle, I can see your face clearly.’
If I were to ask why this happened, all the responsibility lies with him.
‘Always paying attention to the Demon King. I want to play with Uncle too.’
Of course, since the kid is much younger, it can’t be helped… but still, it stings.
After hesitating for quite a while, Noah rolled over next to him.
“Ugh…”
Shin Hyun seemed unconscious, only groaning softly.
Noah held his hand, gently transferring warmth.
With the other hand, he slightly embraced him to provide a sense of security.
“It’s fine. Just rest well, Uncle.”
It was about Shin Hyun’s condition.
He was suffering because of worrying about Noah.
“Your concern alone is more than enough.”
While stroking Shin Hyun’s hair, Noah thought about the diary.
His father… no, the person he didn’t even want to call father anymore, left behind that diary.
Thinking about it brought both anguish and fear.
-I want to see her dreams come true in her form.
-To achieve that, I created clones. I made many, but only two remain in the end.
-One is made for incarnation. A child embodying her youthful appearance. This one will spread happiness in her form.
-The other represents her teenage years. I tried to recreate her justice-filled era. If necessary, I plan to possess and control this one.
-Frankly, it doesn’t matter. They’re just toys made out of boredom. It feels strange how they mimic my wife. My most foolish decision in life. I’ll leave them be and let them handle things themselves. Live or die, it’s their problem.
The realization that his life was just someone’s trivial joke, that even being created was insignificant.
-The lifespan of clones is short. Maybe around 20 years? Sometimes longer, but honestly, it’s difficult. How should I dispose of their bodies? Regret keeps growing.
Knowing he only had about two years left to live.
All these things caused pain, but something else was even harder.
“Don’t stress yourself too much. I’m already more than happy.”
Being sufficiently happy.
Perhaps it was the strongest feeling he experienced today, albeit indirectly.
The children who melted away and disappeared today. Whether they used their powers or not, that emotion reached Noah.
Even if yesterday and tomorrow might bring sorrow, at least today he was happy.
Noah felt the same way.
Someday he might die. He fully understood that his time might be shorter than others’.
So what?
At least…
“I’m not unhappy right now.”
Am I unhappy? No, quite the opposite.
“It’s so fun being with Uncle. I just… want to stay together longer… yes. Right now, I’m living the happiest period of my life.”
So…
“Don’t worry too much and get some deep sleep. We’ll deal with worries later. Understand?”
Although there’s some fear, there’s also a vague feeling that everything will be alright as long as I’m with this person.
Even though it sounds ridiculous when he thinks about it himself.
“Well then, Uncle, sleep tight-whoa!?”
That was when it happened.
Noah’s words were cut off.
His pupils contracted sharply. His gaze turned toward Shin Hyun.
Without saying anything, Shin Hyun pulled Noah into an embrace, burying him in his chest.
Thump thump. His heart began racing wildly.
“Uncle… Are you going to…”
Noah swallowed hard before asking.
“Will you…?”
Ah…
I said it…
I’ve been thinking about this since coming here, and I ended up doing it…
What expression should I make?
Noah couldn’t figure it out at all.
Of course, it was natural.
This was his first time.
His heart raced even more as the arms holding him tightened.
Noah made a decision and took off his coat.
He regretted wearing a plain white t-shirt. He should have worn something prettier.
‘What underwear did I wear again?’
While pondering this, Noah firmly resolved.
Today is the day.
Uncle talked about becoming an adult, but who knows if he’ll even make it that long in life.
If I’m going to give my first time, it should be to this person-
“Grrr…”
“Uncle?”
“Mmm…”
Is…is he sleeping?
“Was that sleep-talking…?”
What a deflating feeling.
Uncle must have a habit of hugging people when he sleeps after drinking.
Annoyance welled up inside him.
“Hmph, Uncle is being mean.”
With the intention of getting back at him, Noah took off his pants.
+++++
“Ugh… nausea…”
A terrible hangover enveloped Shin Hyun.
A sickening sensation of dizziness and nausea. He drank the water conveniently placed on the bedside table and laid back down.
‘That’s why I don’t overdrink…’
Apparently, I went crazy. Or maybe I was that shocked.
As I lay there with my eyes closed for a while, I hear consistent breathing sounds. It’s a pleasant ASMR-like sound that’s soothing.
I don’t usually play this kind of thing before sleeping.
Apparently, I played it while drunk.
‘Ahhh…the kids…’
Speaking of which, what are the kids doing? Are they sleeping quietly? It’s probably time to get up and make breakfast.
“Sigh…”
I exhaled.
Let me check the time.
It’s only going to make my headache worse to think too much.
As Shin Hyun reached for his phone to check the time, he was momentarily confused.
“Why isn’t it turning on?”
The screen wouldn’t light up.
That’s strange.
The phone was already powered off.
Yet sounds were still coming from it?
As his sleepy mind cleared, he noticed the steady breathing sound.
Could this breathing sound be…
“…N-no way…”
Anxiety crept in.
I keep hearing rustling sounds from the side.
Judging from the presence, it’s not the Demon King.
It’s the presence of a larger person.
It can’t be, right?
Even if I was drunk, there’s no way I would have done something like that…
“Mmm…Grrr…”
…He moved?!
“Alright, calm down.”
Next to me, Noah is sleeping. The Demon King isn’t visible, but maybe he’s hiding under the covers.
He’s pretty small after all.
I’ll check carefully with my hand.
The Demon King…is this it?
At the tips of my fingers, I feel something soft and trembling.
What is this? Is it the Demon King’s arm?
To confirm its identity, as Shin Hyun peeked under the covers…
“…Huh…!?”
He gasped loudly.
What he touched wasn’t the Demon King’s arm.
Before any guilt could set in about touching a minor’s leg, his mind fell into chaos.
“Oh no…why…?”
What he touched was Noah’s white thigh.
Before any guilt could settle in about touching a minor, his mind fell into chaos.
“Oof…Good morning…”
Meanwhile, Noah slowly sat up. As the blanket gradually slid down, the girl’s figure was revealed.
He…
“…Ah.”
Wasn’t wearing pants.
In other words, only a white pair of underwear remained exposed.
“…I need to die.”
Could it be…that it really happened?
I’ve become a trashy person who touches minors.
“…Kkomkmu.”
“Yes?”
From under the bed, Kkomkmu slowly crawled out.
“…Strangle my neck. Until I die.”
“Wh-what?”
“Trash like me needs to be eliminated… Hurry! Kkomkmu!!”
“J-just calm down!”
Rustle.
“You shouldn’t die…”
“…Noah. Or rather? Nothing happened, right? Right?”
“You shouldn’t die…because…”
Noah said this while moving his hand.
His hand moved toward his lower abdomen area.
As Noah gently caressed it with affection, he wore a benevolent mother-like smile.
“You need to work hard. We’ll have more expenses soon.”
“…No…No…”
“That’s right? Uncle… Rather…”
“A…Ah…”
“Darling?”
Noah’s words caused Shin Hyun to fall flat on his back.
It’s a dream.
This has to be.
A very terrible kind of dream.
…No.
It’s reality.
“Noah.”
“Yes? Darling?”
“T…ha…”
“No…I’ll take responsibility.”
Noah firmly grabbed Shin Hyun’s hand and bowed his head like a sinner confessing his sins.
Because of this, he missed it.
“Muahaha…”
Noah’s face, smirking as if mocking him.
“…They say love makes you alike, but you two are truly poisonous…”
Only Kkomkmu watching the scene understood Noah’s prank and stuck out its tongue.
