The Returnee Wants to Live Comfortably

Memories (2)

As soon as the camp ended, so did Christmas.

On the final, third day, the schedule concluded with a visit to the park and a lunch meal.

On the bus ride home, the kids were dozing off from exhaustion.

I was just as sleepy as them. After all, I'd spent the night in front of the gate.

'By now, she must have been rescued, right?'

Right after messaging Angel Guild, I hypnotized Ha Eunseol.

I put her to sleep, made her forget about the time we spent together, and laid her back down in front of that gate.

Of course, the Black Flame Cult bastards loitering nearby were all thoroughly beaten up and restrained.

'Shall I check up on things now?'

Since everything happened last night, it should be resolved by now.

I turned on my phone and checked the news articles.

Among them, I saw some recently posted articles about Angel Guild.

[Missing Persons Case Concluded. Ruthless Criminal Shot Dead.]
[Main Perpetrator of Kidnapping, hunter Yun Jaeho, deceased.]
[Former Angel Guild Executive Yun Jaeho Killed by Angel Guild's Own Hands.]

It had only been a day, but news related to them was already pouring in.

Such information-gathering abilities were unimaginable in Mutamit.

'It's these parts that made me want to come back to Earth.'

And finally, an article I had been waiting for appeared.

[Previously Missing Child Rescued.]

Angel Guild runs facilities to protect awakened children, established under the leadership of Guildmaster Baek Suhyeok.

After experiencing the pain of losing a daughter, Baek Suhyeok began relief activities.

Did he feel the agony of a missing family so deeply himself?

It's said he can't just look away when he sees children who have lost their parents.

To Baek Suhyeok, how must Ha Eunseol have looked?

She's a child who lost her parents because of none other than Yun Jaeho, a former executive of his own guild.

If he found out the truth, guilt would surely not let him sit still.

[Unfortunately, only one child was rescued, and public opinion lays the blame on Angel Guild.]

Ha Eunseol, in the news photo, looked happy.

It must be extremely strange for her since her memories were wiped, but her expression didn't seem dark.

She even appeared to smile as she sniffed the scarf wrapped around her neck.

'Wait a minute, that's my scarf!'

I'd forgotten to get it back. No wonder I'd felt like something was missing.
Well, it should be fine.

It's not a real problem to lose just one scarf.

Still, I don't get why Eunseol in the photo is smelling the scarf.

****

"I'm home."

As I entered the house, my family welcomed me.

And it was more than just a simple greeting.

"Merry Christmas!"

Awaiting me was a family Christmas party.

On the dining table were cakes and all sorts of delivery food.

Even a king's feast couldn't compare.

"My son's going to eat himself to death."

"Don't worry. I'll help you eat."

My little sister, Ma Yunhee, picked up a fork, drooling.

She looked like a frog before a juicy bug.

"Yunhee, what are you dreaming of that you want to eat this much?"

A food fighter? A weightlifter?

Maybe it was tough to ask such a deep question to a kindergartener, but Yunhee answered easily.

"I want to be a singer."

"If you're talking about a singer, do you mean...?"

"Yes! A singer like Unity Girls!"

Unity Girls was a girl group dominating the music programs these days.

Apparently, they're causing a revolution in today's K-POP girl group scene or something.

All I knew was that they were quite popular, though not my area of interest.

Still, I do know what's basic for an idol.

"If you want to become a singer, don't you know you have to eat less?"

"Why?"

"Why, you ask? Have you ever seen anyone fat among the singers on TV?"

Hearing me, Yunhee thought for a while.

Closing her eyes and pondering hard, she then opened them wide and spoke.

"I have! I think I've seen someone before!"

"Who?"

"Umm... who was it?"

"See?"

She might have seen someone, but with Yunhee's memory, it didn't seem likely she'd remember details.

Besides, I doubted it was an 'idol'.

"Idols need to take good care of themselves. What will you do if you eat too much and get chubby?"

"But I want to eat..."

Yunhee pouted, looking deeply disappointed.

Caught between her dreams and her appetite, she seemed to be agonizing over my advice.

"Seongjin, just let her eat."

"It's best to eat well when young to grow up prettier."

Seeing my sister's earnest expression, mom and Dad both said a few words.

Honestly, I couldn't say my opinion was perfect either.

Even if she gained weight, she could always diet later as a trainee.

'That's assuming Yunhee really pursues becoming a singer.'

After hearing our parents, Yunhee started eating again, grabbing a pizza in one hand and chicken in the other with a determined look.

Crunch, crunch—

She looked less like an idol and more like a dual-wielding warrior.

My recent advice was sent flying to Andromeda.

"Oh right! It's about time for the music show!"

"We're not too late! Turn it on quickly!"

Suddenly, both my parents began frantically searching for the remote, eyes shining.

The moment they found it and pressed the power button, flashy BGM filled the TV.

It was the intro for the popular music program 'N Countdown,' and soon, two MCs with microphones appeared and greeted everyone.

"Ooh! It's starting!"

"Tonight's a Christmas special, so there's a special stage, right?"

"All the more reason not to miss it!"

Mom and Dad, leaving their food half-eaten, watched the music show as if entranced.

It wasn't surprising.

My parents were die-hard idol fans and never missed such shows.

Especially today, with the Christmas special.

Both their favorite groups were performing main stages.

It couldn't be more important to them, but...

'I just don't get why they love it so much.'

I remained unmoved.

Even if a Goddess-tier girl group appeared, or if a most-handsome boy band came out, it was the same.

Years as an unyielding Demon King in Mutamit must have dried up those sorts of feelings in me.

Not that I wanted to deny it.

'Still, it's a hundred times better than cheesy couples.'

While my family cheered, I logged onto a game on my phone and drooled over limited Christmas gacha items.

To people like me, christmas events meant just this sort of thing.

At that moment—

"It's them!!"

Suddenly Dad cheered so loudly I jumped.

I thought a war had broken out, but it turned out it was time for his favorite group, Unity Girls, to perform.

"Sojin! Suhyeon!"

He even called out the members' names, getting all worked up.

Seeing my usually serious dad act so crazed over this brought an involuntary smile to my face.

And then—

"Play Boyyyyyy!!"

After the girl group finished, it was finally Mom's favorite group, 'Playboy', taking the stage.

She screamed louder than Dad, shocking me into dropping my phone on my thigh.

"Kangho!! Minsu!! Nuna loves you!!"

Do they think this is an actual concert venue?

With balloons and light sticks, they'd be indistinguishable from hardcore fangirls.

"Oppa~!!"

Now even Yunhee started shouting too.

For a split second, I thought she was calling for me—

"Minsu oppa! Junhyeok oppa~!"

Of course.

Whether it's mom or daughter, when it comes to idols, 'oppa' on TV wins over a real older brother.

Once the boy group's stage ended, the mother-daughter pair's enthusiasm cooled.

But the main event was still left.

Who would take tonight's number one spot?

[Now, Unity Girls and Playboy! Who will take first place?]

Amazingly, mom and Dad's favored groups were now vying for the win.

Naturally, the two began locking horns.

"Obviously it's Unity Girls! Who likes boys these days?"

"How rude. If you're going to say that, then girl groups are just the same, aren't they?"

"Unity Girls!"

"Shut it! Of course it's Playboy!"

Even the crowd on TV looked set for a war alongside my parents.

Such fierce rivalry gave off an intensity as if their race's fate hung in the balance.

Not even the vampires struggling to survive in Mutamit were this bad.

"My daughter! You're on Team Mom and Playboy, right?"

"Yeah! I trust you!"

Mom brought Yunhee in as reinforcement.

"My son! You're with Dad and Unity Girls, right?"

"Huh?"

Dad tried to pull me in as backup.

He looked less like his usual warm self and more like an imperial knight on the front lines with a solemn expression.

I had a feeling refusing would spell trouble for the family.

"Y-yes, I am."

"Then come over here!"

Dad hugged me as we awaited the results, and so did Mom and Yunhee.

The winner of this fierce showdown was—

[It's a tie!]

Silence fell between the two sides.

There was no winner anywhere.

Everyone looked despondent, realizing all their hype was for nothing.

Only losers with nothing left.

But there was exactly one winner present at this spot.

'This match, I win, since I didn't pick either side.'

****

After dinner, I flopped onto my bed in my room.

A lot of unexpected things happened, but the camp was enjoyable.

And I was satisfied with the dinner party my family prepared.

The peaceful life I had now was exactly what I wanted.

'I hope this continues forever.'

Power was necessary.

When Yun Jaeho unleashed his black flames, I had started to lose.

If I hadn't revealed my horn, I might have been done for.

'If I run into someone even stronger...'

I needed a place to grow my strength without anyone watching.

And there's no better place for that than an educational institution.

A place where, even as a minor, I could freely use my powers.

〈Awakened Educational Institute Hand〉

I'd be enrolling there soon.

I could refuse, but who would turn down luck that fell into their lap?

'I wonder if Ah-rin and Eunseol are doing well?'

I'd confirmed Ha Eunseol in the news, but it had been months since I helped Ah-rin.

She'd returned to her hometown, though she never told me where it was.

Anyway, I hoped her dreams were coming true. That way, my efforts would be worthwhile.

[Would you like to set the system lock?]
YES / NO

I brought up the system window and initiated a newly acquired feature.

Though it would halt my growth, there'd be no risk of getting weaker because of this.

Without hesitation, I chose YES.

[System features are now locked.]

[The lock period is up to 5 years. While locked, stats will not change.]

[Thank you for using the system so far.]

Today is December 25th.

The new year is right around the corner, so it didn't matter if I locked it now.

If the lock lasts 5 years, I could easily hold out until sixth grade.

Having finished the settings, I closed my eyes, exhausted.

Reminding myself that it had been a rewarding year, I drifted off to sleep.

And time passed quickly after that.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Timeskip???
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】