Side Story Chapter 64 – Dreams Are Fleeting…

Yumi sits on my lap and suddenly leans against me.

“Yumi, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing? I’m just sitting here like this!”

From just this, one might wonder what’s weird about it.

It’s just a typical case of kids being clingy to their parents.

Since Yumi is a little kid, it’s a completely normal behavior.

But still, this level was unusual.

Ever since we returned from the Beastman Kingdom, Yumi has been sticking to me more than usual.

Honestly, I couldn’t figure out why Yumi was acting this way.

Especially since we’re just at home, she even dressed up as if we were going out.

I was slightly worried due to Yumi’s incomprehensible changes.

“Dad, are you listening to me?”

“Oh, sorry. I was thinking about something else for a moment.”

Yumi’s retort snapped me back to reality.

I had been distracted, so I didn’t catch what Yumi was saying.

Yumi puffed her cheeks, showing her strong displeasure in her own way.

But that look was so cute that I gently squeezed her cheek and smiled.

“So, Yumi, what were you just saying?”

“I want you to move me up one spot in the family registry.”

That comment from Yumi was a bit hard to understand.

It’s listed by name order, so she’s naturally below Yeonwoo.

What could possibly spark a sense of competition here?

Honestly, it was a comment I never expected from Yumi.

“Since it’s by name order, you can’t go above Yeonwoo, Yumi.”

“I want to go higher than that!”

Well, when have kids’ statements ever been predictable?

“That place is for those who are married.”

“Then I’ll marry you, Dad!”

Right now, this statement hit a soft spot for any dad with a daughter.

When I first heard about this, I thought it was silly, but hearing it just now tugged at my heartstrings.

Is that why dads prefer daughters? A little thought crossed my mind.

Of course, aside from that, I decided to explain logically that it was not possible for Yumi.

“Yumi, you know you can’t marry your dad.”

“Really? Some kids at kindergarten say their moms are sisters!”

“…….Who are those kids…?”

“They were friends with funny jaws and teeth! They got hurt a lot too!”

I had forgotten for a moment.

Kindergartens accept children without discrimination.

So, it’s only natural that there would be some incest dwellers among them.

This time, I decided to bring up another realistic reason.

“Yumi, there’s more than a 20-year age gap between you and me.”

“The 90-year-old grandpa upstairs is dating a 70-year-old grandma!”

Yumi immediately rebutted, as if she had anticipated my response.

“We don’t know who will go first then.”

“Oh.”

Of course, she soon understood my next statement.

[Going first… feels a bit scandalous.]

‘Please just go to the afterlife.’

Meanwhile, my heart felt a bit uneasy.

If we’re already at this level, does that mean puberty is coming earlier than others?

When they hit puberty, how harsh will Yumi and Yeonwoo be with their words to me?

Even now, they’re already throwing sharp words at me, wrapped up in innocence.

Can I withstand that period with my mental strength? Honestly, I wasn’t sure.

In that moment, Yumi suddenly turned to face me and met my eyes.

“By the way, Dad, what’s your ideal type?”

“Why do you ask…?”

“Just curious!”

For such a cheerful statement, Yumi’s eyes were surprisingly serious.

Everyone has their preferences, but why ask me about it? It felt a bit odd.

But still, it was better than asking another guy.

So, I decided to answer Yumi’s question honestly.

“I guess I like tall people, and I prefer styles like your mom’s.”

“Really?”

“Yep. So, you need to eat well and sleep early, Yumi. Got it?”

I thought it was good to give Yumi some good advice too.

“But why did you marry red mom?”

“……”

This time, I had no words.

It’s true that Hyeji was quite far from my ideal type.

I’m not a pedophile, and my ideal is closer to a piece.

But Yumi had pointed out this fact quite sharply.

I couldn’t open my mouth and started to sweat nervously.

“Aha! I know why you married red mom!”

“Oh? Wanna share?”

Suddenly, Yumi had this confident look, as if she realized something.

“When you have a red mom, everything looks bigger!!!”

“Uh…”

“Am I right?”

It seemed she had formed a wrong understanding.

That wasn’t the reason I ended up with Hyeji, but how did we get here?

As I fumbled for a way to explain it to Yumi…

“Yumi, don’t bother your dad too much.”

Just then, Hyeji appeared and lifted Yumi high into the air.

She must have noticed how flustered I was and stepped in.

I gave a slight nod to Hyeji as a thank you.

Meanwhile, Yumi stared intently at Hyeji.

No, more accurately, she fixed her gaze on Hyeji’s chest.

Until Hyeji noticed and tilted her head at Yumi.

“Yumi, what’s wrong?”

“……”

“Yumi?”

Then Yumi suddenly glanced at her own chest and broke into a giggle.

“First, I won this round!”

“Wanna have a little talk with mom?”

Hyeji smiled too, though her eyes didn’t reflect that amusement.

At that moment, Yumi seemed to realize just how serious the situation had become.

She started to struggle in Hyeji’s arms, urgently shouting.

With a voice she hadn’t shared before, she cried out.

“Dad, save me!!!”

“Kim Shinwoo, step aside. Unless you want to die.”

Of course, I had one choice.

“……Thanks……”

“Dad, I’m really going to die!!!”

There was no way around it.

If I provoked Hyeji here, we’d all end up in a mess.

Especially with Hyeji calling me by my full name now.

I felt bad for Yumi, but the lives of those who could be saved had to take priority.

Soon enough, Hyeji dragged Yumi, who was screaming at the top of her lungs, away.

I couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief while gently smiling.

This time, Yeonwoo suddenly approached me.

“Dad, I know it must be hard. Please drink this.”

“Thanks, Yeonwoo.”

She handed me a large cup filled with water.

It wasn’t like I was really thirsty, but it was prepared by Yeonwoo.

I patted Yeonwoo’s head in thanks and drained the contents.

Unlike the colorless liquid, the moment it hit my lips, a familiar yet rich sweetness blossomed.

“……Yeonwoo, is this alcohol…?”

“Yes.”

“……”

And it ended with a strong bitter aftertaste.

I appreciated it, but I personally thought this was a bit much.

It wasn’t just water, but why alcohol of all things?

At least if she had brought a smaller cup, it would have been fine.

More than that, the fact that it was Yeonwoo handing it to me was the real issue.

Despite often being around succubi due to the environment, how does a kindergartener learn these things?

My heart was a bit unsettled.

[A jobless dad who has his kindergarten child serve alcohol…]

‘No, fck. Did I do that on purpose, you little sht?’

Still, I kept quiet as it was Yeonwoo’s goodwill.

“Do you not like it?”

“Not really, but… thanks anyway…”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

I just stroked Yeonwoo’s head with a complicated mind.

As Yeonwoo went to return the cup to the kitchen, I sat calmly on the sofa and looked around.

I felt good.

I just felt good.

I felt really good.

Everything was great.

The heroines playing joyfully with the two kids.

Yeonwoo, who sat next to me looking at her mobile phone.

And Yumi and Hyeji, who had just made their appearance after finishing their chat.

“Yumi, it wasn’t mom scolding you, so don’t be so down.”

“I’m not sulking!”

“Come back.”

“Oh, shut up.”

They quickly hid their faces, but… it was still nice.

At the same time, all the experiences I had gone through flashed through my mind.

There had been many disgusting moments and undeniably painful times as well.

But still, I was glad that I could smile in the end, no matter when.

In that moment, my head began to spin, and my vision grew hazy.

Was it because I had drunk quite a bit of alcohol just now?

Or had I experienced too many things until now?

Or was it simply time to end everything?

Like a dream?

As my vision darkened and my mind blurred,

Yeonwoo’s quiet voice slipped softly into my ears.

This too was becoming increasingly faint.

“Dad, are you tired?”

“Just… this moment… feels a bit surreal.”

“Is it because it’s too dreamlike?”

It felt odd.

I hadn’t intended to, but my voice kept trailing off.

No, I didn’t even know what I was saying anymore.

Why was I disappearing now?

A sudden feeling of dread washed over me.

Could it be that everything until now was just a dream?

That couldn’t be allowed to happen.

I didn’t want to let go of this happiness.

Why was everything disappearing one by one?

As I grasped the edge of my fading consciousness, I called out to Yeonwoo.

“Yeonwoo…”

“Yes…”

“Right now… this… isn’t a dream… is it…?”

But Yeonwoo’s answer didn’t reach me.

At the same time, I felt the sliver of consciousness I was holding start to slip away from my grasp.

Only a dreamlike sensation remained, vaguely lingering in that space.

Now, even the sensations in every part of my body began to gradually fade.

Occasional faint pain prodded at my mind.

But that didn’t fully awaken my flickering consciousness.

“Goodbye, Dad.”

Only the sound of Yeonwoo’s final voice remained, faintly lingering.

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