Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 498

498.

“What is that…”

“I’m not lying! That’s how it’s going to be!”

The faces of the Spirit Kings showed bewilderment. They couldn’t tell whether to call it brazen or absurd. Yet, they couldn’t get angry because El was crying again.

“Can’t I be family? Why not?”

“El, you…”

“Is it because I’m human? Because I don’t share blood, and I’m too unqualified? I know that very well! Better than anyone! But you showed me that I don’t have to be born that way! You made me expect it!”

“What are you saying…”

“Really! You’re all too much! Knowing nothing… !”

El, who had been huffing and puffing as if he was upset, soon collapsed forward. A surprised Elquines caught him again. Regular breathing sounds flowed from his limp body.

“Did he faint?”
Trowell, who had been watching quietly, asked as if he could finally open his mouth. Elquines glanced at him and nodded lightly. Silence fell around them, and a strange air lingered between them for a moment.

“He’s always called me ‘hyung’ [Korean honorific for older brother] anyway.”

Ifrit muttered as if passing by. Trowell’s eyes deepened even more, unable to miss the meaning. He, too, knew that El called him ‘hyung’ everywhere. Even in situations where he could have made excuses in other ways.

After staring at them for a moment, Elquines silently picked up El. As he laid him on the bed, a small murmur brushed his ear.

“Father, it’s so hard for me.”

“…”

“Am I being punished because I’m too greedy…?”

Blue eyes filled with emotion stared down at the person lying still. He couldn’t guess what thoughts filled this small head. After swallowing a light sigh, Elquines pulled up the blanket and covered the curled-up body. His hand, wiping away the tears from his eyes, was careful.

“Sleep well.”

* * *

The first thought that came to mind as soon as I opened my eyes was that I was screwed. I passed out drunk. And did I act up? I barely remember anything, but every scene that vaguely comes to mind is full of terrifying things. I just knew I had done something terrible.

‘Judging by the fact that my body is intact, it seems I didn’t reveal my identity…’

After confirming that my arms and legs were still attached, I sighed in relief and immediately covered my face with both hands. No, that’s not all I need to avoid. You idiot! What on earth did you do!

“If you’re awake, get up.”

As I struggled silently, Ellyuen, who was standing like a painting, glanced at me. He immediately turned his head again after an awkward smile, though.

“Any hangover?”

“Uh, I don’t think so.”

“Of course. I healed you.”

Then why did you ask?

As I stared blankly with a dumbfounded feeling, he suddenly placed a tray in front of me.

“Drink it anyway.”

“…?”

Several glasses were on the tray. Chilled lemon tea, orange juice, vegetable juice, and is that honey water? What is all this? As I stared at him, a simple explanation came back.

“Humans drink these things after drinking alcohol.”

No, you didn’t have to bring them all by type like this. As I was awkwardly looking around, he told me to choose what I preferred. Since it wasn’t for a real hangover cure anyway, and I couldn’t know what was best, I chose the honey water that felt the most familiar. Ellyuen glanced at me once and took the rest of the drinks away again.

“I could have done it myself…”

“It’s okay.”

As he lightly snapped his fingers, the contents in the glass soared up and disappeared as if evaporating. It’s not because I’m from Elquines, but honestly, the Water Spirit King is the coolest among the Spirit Kings. I was inwardly enjoying the sense of pride when Ellyuen’s gaze reached me. I quickly turned my gaze around so he wouldn’t catch me grinning.

“Hey, where are the others?”

“Not my business.”

Well, that’s true.

I never expected him to have eloquent speech, but today the conversation seems to be cutting off even more. I wouldn’t have cared much at other times, but since I had committed a sin, I was just sweating.

“How much do you remember about yesterday?”

The main point suddenly came in without warning. I barely overcame the crisis of almost spitting out the honey water and smiled again with difficulty.

“I think I acted up because of alcohol…”

“Not ‘think,’ you did.”

“…Yes, I just have the feeling that I acted up.”

“So you’re saying you don’t remember anything.”

The calm tone sounded like a reproach, but it wouldn’t be just my imagination. If you make a mess of things while drunk and then comfortably don’t remember anything the next day, it’s only natural to be dumbfounded. Honestly, I’m the most dumbfounded. I should have realized it was alcohol before drinking it, but I don’t know why I started drinking without even checking. Regret pierced my heart, even though I knew it was already irreversible.

“Anyway, you’re in your right mind now, so we can have a proper conversation.”

“Oh, y-yes.”

“I have a few questions to ask. I know you’re reluctant to reveal your past, but I hope you’ll answer honestly this time.”

“…What is it?”

“Do you have any living relatives?”

…Remember, me from last night. What on earth did I say?

It seems I really caused a big accident. After biting my lip, I hesitated a little and slowly shook my head. Ellyuen, who had been looking out the window, turned to me.

“Not even one?”

“No. Not one.”

“Is that why you consider me and the other Spirit Kings as family? Because you don’t have any relatives?”

“…I think it’s the opposite.”

The eyes that met mine stared silently without containing any particular emotion. I felt a little relieved at the sight of him waiting for me to open my mouth without urging me.

“I don’t know how to explain this. To be honest, I grew up among humans without knowing what family affection was.”

“…”

“Things like feeling like a father or a brother. You guys were the first to let me know these feelings. So, if we’re going to talk about cause and effect, you guys came first.”

This was a fact that didn’t need to be glossed over, so there was no need to hesitate. Ellyuen, who had been silent for a moment, looked at me again.

“You would have called me ‘father’ from the beginning. Wasn’t it not a meeting that would be considered so?”

“Um, is that so? But I couldn’t help it. You answered my call.”

“…What do you mean?”

“When I was chanting the summoning spell, I called out while imagining my father. The most ideal father I could think of.”

I called out while thinking of Ellyuen, so this is also not wrong. I calmly accepted the dumbfounded gaze he sent me.

“And it was just as I thought. So I couldn’t help but call you that. It’s not all my fault.”

“That’s amazing.”

As I smiled awkwardly, Ellyuen didn’t say anything for a while. It took quite a long time until he sighed briefly while staring at me with an inscrutable expression. I was mentally exhausted trying to endure with a nonchalant face during that time.

“I see that your standards for considering someone family are very low.”

“It’s not like that…”

“No, they are low.”

After saying that coldly, Ellyuen turned his body. He seemed to be trying to end the conversation now, as he went to the table and picked up the newspaper. His face was still indifferent, so I couldn’t tell what kind of conclusion he had come to.

“Hey, Ellyuen. I’m…”

“Why Ellyuen again?”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t you call me ‘father’ very well yesterday?”

“Haha, d-did I…?”

“You also said you didn’t stop calling me ‘father’.”

I’m going crazy, really. I can’t argue that it didn’t happen, because there was definitely such a scene in the few fleeting memories. I even complained very confidently. Just recalling the few words I had said back then made my heart feel like it was falling to my toes.

Why did I do that? Really, why on earth did I do that? I wanted to cover myself with a blanket and writhe, but I couldn’t because Ellyuen was in front of me. That’s why you shouldn’t drink alcohol. I should have just gone to sleep quietly, but I don’t know why I was chattering on and on about what was so good. My face felt like it was burning up and disappearing.

“I’m sorry. I really won’t ever again…!”

“Apologies are unnecessary. What does it mean if it’s not sincere anyway?”

The attempt to somehow fix it was blocked before it even started. I couldn’t say anything back, so I quietly closed my mouth.

“Just do as you’ve been doing.”

“…?”

“You can call me ‘father’ if you want.”

My mind went blank for a moment. I couldn’t understand what I had heard, so I just blinked blankly. Ellyuen’s gaze was on the newspaper he was holding. Maybe it was really just a hallucination. I had to check before any unnecessary misunderstandings arose.

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

“Really… can I call you ‘father’?”

“Yes.”

It’s strange. Ellyuen kept nodding. I doubted whether that person who kept giving permission was really the one I knew. It couldn’t be, but I wondered if he wasn’t properly understanding the questions because he was focused on reading the newspaper.

“Even if I’m your son, is it okay?”

The face that had been fixed on the newspaper was finally lifted. Blue eyes stared at me with a calm light.

“Yes.”

I barely swallowed the breath I had stopped. This time, there was no way to be confused. It was real. He really said I could call him ‘father,’ and that it was okay for me to be his son.

“…Why?”

“Well, maybe it’s for the same reason as you.”

“The same as me…?”

“If I had a son, I thought I’d like a child like you.”

My head went blank again. This word felt more like a dream than the permission to use the title. A faint smile appeared on Ellyuen’s face. It was a fleeting smile, but this time, I didn’t see it wrong or mistake it.

“But I’ll tell you this. Now that I’ve allowed it, it’s different in many ways from when you called me as you pleased. It won’t be an easy path for you, a human, to live as my son.”

I laughed in vain at the words that followed. Ellyuen may have been trying to awaken me to the cold reality, but for me, it was a warning that didn’t need to be given in the first place.

“I knew that from the beginning.”

* * *

The alcohol I drank was brought by Ifrit. It seems to be a secret liquor made by the Blue Dragon, and he said he deliberately didn’t detoxify it right away because it was medicinal liquor. There was such a background in my tragic drunken antics. Several explanations followed, but I didn’t hear any of them. My head was filled with just the things that had happened a little while ago.

I can now call Ellyuen ‘father.’ He chose me as his son again. Even if his mind changes again later, this is the reality now anyway. Ellyuen himself is just calmly peaceful, but I feel like I’m still floating in the air. In just one night, the same space as yesterday looked completely different. If I had known this would happen, I should have tried drinking alcohol sooner.

“Did you get permission to call him ‘father’? Congratulations.”

But before I could even enjoy the lingering feelings, a cheerful voice cut in. Ifrit was standing in front of the open door, wondering how long he had been watching. His smiling face was burdensome, so I subtly avoided him. He strode forward.

“You can call me ‘uncle,’ too.”

“Oh, no… that’s okay.”

“No, why? You called me ‘uncle’ first, didn’t you?”

“Ugh, don’t tease me because I’m embarrassed.”

“I’m not teasing you, I’m saying it sincerely. I really mean it when I say you can call me that.”

Wondering if he really meant it, I stared at him, and his honest gaze met mine. Looking at his gently smiling face, it didn’t seem like he was really trying to tease me. Courage slowly welled up.

“Then, Unc…”

“That’s enough.”

But Ellyuen’s voice was faster to block it. As I was flustered and closed my mouth, Ifrit glared at him with a pouty face.

“Why are you stopping me?”

“I may be thinking of making him my son, but I have no intention of becoming brothers with the likes of you.”

“Gasp, I don’t either. That’s right, that’s also included in the meaning of ‘uncle,’ right? Oh, I almost made a big mistake.”

Ifrit, who busily acknowledged his mistake, patted my shoulders with both hands.

“I’m sorry, young master. Let’s just be friends. But my intention is still the same, so don’t be too disappointed. If you abandon him and come, I’ll accept you as my nephew anytime.”

“Ahaha.”

Humans are allowed, but the same Spirit Kings are not. Is the spirit world of this era really okay? It seems I won’t be able to call Ifrit ‘uncle’ for the rest of my life. As I avoided his gaze again, he smiled with a pouty lip as if he was disappointed.

“Oh, right, I overheard you earlier. It seems you said you didn’t feel family affection from your relatives.”

“Ah, uh…”

“The web of cause and effect that humans have is very complex, so each has their own story. I won’t commit the discourtesy of rashly judging it. But at least the brothers who are related to the temple must have cared for you, young master.”

“Huh?”

“I told you before that you had a blessing on you, young master. You can never give a blessing if you don’t have a caring heart. I hope this word will be of some comfort to you, young master.”

Ah, now that I think about it, I made an excuse like that. As I stared quietly, he tilted his head. The figure of another being with the same color hair as him overlapped over his smiling face.

“Why?”

“…No, it’s nothing. That’s right. Maybe the reason I’ve been doing well so far is thanks to that blessing.”

Although it’s different from the actual situation, and it’s not the direction he expected, it was definitely comforting.

“Thank you, Ifrit.”

I hope these words will be conveyed to the future Ifrit as well. Fire is warm after all, and even when it gets cold, it seems that warmth permeates thanks to it. So I was able to move forward again.