NOVEL WEB Right after the broadcast ended.
I sat still in my chair, gradually calming the flustered embarrassment that had rushed over me.
Instead, a sense of defeat was bubbling up.
‘I got a million won and ran off…’
My daughters stormed in unexpectedly, and in my panic, I just ended the broadcast.
Because of that, I couldn’t properly repay the viewer who donated a large sum, ‘havant’. I said thank you, but that was definitely insufficient.
They’re probably cursing me right now. I had no retort for whatever they might say.
I had completely ruined the most important first broadcast of my streaming life.
“Mom, Mom!”
“Let’s play outside!”
Meanwhile, Erina and Ibailla, snuggled in my arms, were chattering away with no idea what just happened.
They looked so innocent and blissful, like they had no clue about the chaos. Looking down at them made my troubled mind melt away.
‘…They’re so cute.’
I couldn’t bring myself to scold them. How could I be mad at something so adorable?
Normally, I would discipline them sternly, but this time, I decided to let it slide.
It was debatable whether they even did anything wrong.
Erina and Ibailla were only five years old.
Still curious and excited about everything, they were just starting to learn about the world.
For those twins, a strict “never come into the room” was way too harsh of a request. Especially since I kept talking inside.
They probably held back for a while before finally succumbing to curiosity and peeked in.
I just remembered, there was a similar story in Greek mythology. Though the woman in that tale wasn’t a child.
“But what were you doing here all by yourself?”
Just then, Erina asked with sparkling eyes.
I gently pressed my forehead against the lively eldest and smiled softly.
“Well, I was praying to the Goddess to take good care of our Erina and Ibailla.”
“The Goddess?”
“Yes. Even in another world, she’s always watching over us.”
“Why does she watch over us?”
After answering Erina’s question, Ibailla curiously chimed in.
Instead of giving the answer directly, I posed a question back.
“Do you know why we call the Goddess ‘the Sun’?”
“Umm… because she’s hot?”
“That’s true, but it’s a bit different.”
I stood up, still holding the twins.
“The right answer is ‘because she shines warm light on us.’ She takes care of us so we don’t shiver in the cold because she loves us.”
It was a kind of faith teaching adjusted to their level, but the two kids just blinked, not quite getting it.
Honestly, it didn’t matter if they understood or not. I was just saying it to settle them down.
“Don’t forget that Mommy loves you two just as much as the Goddess does.”
“Yeah!”
“Me too.”
Erina and Ibailla hugged me tightly and grinned.
With this, I successfully quieted them down. This was the parenting skill of a five-year veteran ‘twin mom’.
Taking advantage of the girls being calm, I stepped out into the living room.
“Sorry, Oppa.”
As soon as I came out, Seo-yoon, who was sitting on the sofa, suddenly apologized. But her face looked haggard compared to before the broadcast.
Dark circles under her eyes and her slightly open mouth. It was clear she was exhausted.
I somewhat guessed why she looked like that.
“How does it feel to have taken care of them for the first time?”
“…It’s hard.”
Seo-yoon shook her head slightly before turning her gaze away.
“Dia, tya.”
On the side of the sofa, Rohan was happily babbling away.
He then noticed me and waved his short arm in my direction. Unlike Seo-yoon, he was still full of energy.
“Is it really this difficult to take care of them?”
“Our Rohan is definitely more energetic compared to other kids.”
I sat the twins down in the vacant space on the sofa and picked up Rohan.
Erina and Ibailla didn’t feel jealous that Mommy was taken away by their little brother.
“Rohan is smiling!”
“I’m watching!”
The girls found Rohan pretty cute.
They also understood that their little brother still needed attention given his age. I had taught them morality and manners myself.
“I’m exhausted….”
Soon, Seo-yoon sighed.
It reminded me of the past and I couldn’t help but chuckle. I was just as drained when I first had the twins. I had double the trouble back then.
“Want me to cast a healing spell?”
“No, I think I’ll be okay after a little rest.”
Seo-yoon leaned back against the sofa, looking like her energy was drained. She glanced up at me and continued to speak.
“Oppa, I really am sorry. I didn’t notice the kids went into the room because Rohan kept whining and I was busy calming him down.”
I figured that was the case, so I smiled.
She must have been in a frenzy. She probably couldn’t sit still for a moment.
Still, considering she was a twenty-something working person who wasn’t even married yet, she did a decent job taking care of them. At least she didn’t let them cry, so that was somewhat successful.
“Did you manage to watch the broadcast during all that?”
“I caught glimpses of it.”
Seo-yoon replied, shaking the smartphone in her hand. It seemed she had watched through a mobile app.
“Actually, I even donated.”
“Really? What was your nickname?”
“Evil Ginger.”
“Oh, I remember.”
I recalled her name as she was one of the viewers who joined the donation frenzy.
“Does that mean I’m a commoner now?”
“Yes. Of course you are.”
A good-natured believer is always welcome.
I wanted to say that Seo-yoon had such a good character, the Goddess would surely be pleased.
As I looked at my new believer with delight, I cautiously spoke up.
“But what should we do now? We couldn’t repay the person who donated a million won.”
“Oh right.”
Now that she recalled the last moment of the broadcast, Seo-yoon’s expression twisted slightly.
“Maybe just react twice as much next time?”
“…Doubling wouldn’t work. A perfect angel appeared for a first donation, after all. Preparing something greater than that would be tough.”
“Why did it have to be like that?”
“I didn’t want that either.”
I explained to Seo-yoon what happened during the broadcast.
The Goddess’s sudden visit, the price of the angel’s descent, and the swift depletion of my Sacred Power. All of these put me in a difficult position.
I summarized everything clearly, and Seo-yoon muttered cautiously.
“That’s intense.”
“Because she’s the Sun. Sometimes she gets heated like fire.”
It’s this humanity of hers that makes her popular, but I just wished she could show a little restraint.
“By the way, the fact that I’m a married woman with kids has been revealed too, huh?”
Seo-yoon frowned slightly as she murmured.
“This might not be good.”
“But what part exactly isn’t good? Honestly, I’m not sure.”
The reason I was flustered was that I hadn’t planned on having the kids appear on the broadcast just yet.
Maybe later, but right now, I didn’t want to use my young son and daughters as content.
However, Seo-yoon seemed to have a slightly different perspective.
“Actually, thinking again, it might not be so bad. You’re different from other streamers.”
“Is that so?”
“It might even be nice for the whole family to stream together?”
“I don’t like that.”
When I firmly rejected the idea, Seo-yoon tried to persuade me with a disappointed expression.
“Then how about just letting your husband appear on the broadcast? You’re a handsome couple.”
“…Liam?”
Maybe it was because the topic of that rascal came up; I suddenly felt a surge of anger.
“But where is Liam right now? Is he asleep?”
“Probably.”
“I told him to take care of the kids and he’s lazing about? That little puppy….”
“What puppy?”
“Just a curse.”
The good thing about correcting my speech was that even if I cursed in front of the kids, it automatically got filtered out.
“I’ll just have a quick word with him. I’m sorry, but could you watch the kids for a moment?”
I handed Rohan to Seo-yoon and headed straight to our family’s room. Liam was lying down, covered with the blanket up to his chest.
While someone was trying to earn money by challenging the strange world of internet streaming, this husband of mine was just sleeping away. I couldn’t hold back any longer.
As I closed the door and was about to lecture him fiercely, I suddenly caught sight of Liam’s face. His complexion looked extremely pale.
“…Liam?”
I rushed over and touched his forehead; it was burning hot, like he was overheating. His body was filled with heat.
‘Burnout of Sacred Power….’
It struck me then why Liam had left the girls unattended to take a nap. It was a fallout from the angel’s descent.
Considering my massive depletion of Sacred Power, Liam must have been even worse off. His must have been completely drained. That’s why he collapsed after enduring it all to take care of the kids.
“Dear Sun, was that why you stayed still when a million won donation hit?”
I got no answer, but that was probably correct.
Anyway, his humanity was a bit excessive. He needed to be a bit more dignified to gain some class.
“Clitia….”
At that moment, Liam slowly opened his eyes. The clear blue eyes of the rascal looked cloudy.
Even without looking closely, I could tell he wasn’t in good condition.
“…I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?”
“I couldn’t even take care of the kids properly. Like a fool.”
For a man who usually lived high on his horse, how strange that he was suddenly self-deprecating.
He had rare moments like this. It meant his feelings were shifting.
“What happened?”
“I saw you doing that ‘streaming’ thing. I just couldn’t bear to watch.”
Liam forced a wry smile.
“I felt bad seeing you work hard for our family while I was just slacking off. I’m sorry for being such a useless man.”
“…….”
“You deserve better. I always just make you worry about me and don’t contribute anything….”
“Stop it.”
I pressed my finger to Liam’s lips to interrupt him. I didn’t want to hear any more.
“Don’t belittle yourself. If you do, I’ll end up looking like an idiot too.”
That wasn’t a hero’s behavior.
He, Liam, who had shaken my heart and made me live as Clitia Eluke, was not someone who should act like this.
“If you have time to wallow in self-pity, help me out instead.”
I infused Sacred Power into Liam to help him recover and smiled.
“We need to prepare a gift to express our gratitude to the generous donor. Liam, you take care of that. As a former hero.”
Hearing my words, a lively smile spread across Liam’s face.
“Are you confident you won’t regret it?”
I’m sure I would.
That’s precisely why I was asking. We needed a breathtaking ‘reaction to the donation’ at this time.
“Go wild this time. I’ll allow it just this once.”
“Just trust me.”
The ex-hero stood up, a mischievous grin forming on his face.
It was a playful expression he often wore back in the days when he was called a rascal.
*
That night.
I was regretting it as expected.
“Isn’t that illegal or something?”
“…I don’t know either.”
Standing on the balcony and looking up at the sky, Seo-yoon and I exchanged awkward laughs.
Across the night sky, which shimmered quietly with only the moon and stars, were enormous letters boldly shining.
[havant is the best viewer!]
It was a flashy and conspicuous act typical of Liam.