Epilogue Chapter 18 - Cherry Blossom Ending (4)

Anticlimactically, the situation Oh Kang-Woo had feared did not come to pass.

“What? Do you think I’m crazy? Why would I get drunk in front of the children?”

The beer Cha Yeon-Joo had prepared was mixed with nectar but only enough to feel a little tipsy.

“I thought you’d drink until you drop,” Kang-Woo expressed.

“What the hell do you think of me...?”

Yeon-Joo glared at Kang-Woo. She admitted she was irresponsible but not enough to go on a drunken frenzy during a picnic with their children.

“I just added a little so it doesn’t feel like drinking water,” she remarked as she gulped down the beer and shouted, “Kaaah! That hits the spot!”

“Wifey... You sound like an old lady.”

“Shaddup! Do you think you’re not old or something?”

“They check my ID when I buy alcohol at the convenience store, I’ll have you know.”

“Wow, congratulations. You’re a ten millennia-year-old babyface who needs their ID checked.”

Yeon-Joo giggled as she handed Kang-Woo a beer can. He sipped the beer after they clinked their cans. The refreshing feeling spread throughout his body along with a faint scent of barley.

“Mother Yeon-Joo, may I have a sip as well?”

Lia approached with sparkling eyes, greatly interested in what Yeon-Joo was drinking. Yeon-Joo teasingly smirked and waved the can in front of Lia.

“What? Are you interested in how it tastes?”

“Yes!”

“Lia, only adults can drink beer,” said Kang-Woo, gently pulling Lia away from Yeon-Joo by her back collar.

“I’m already a respectable lady!” Lia shouted.

“Yeah, yeah. Daddy knows best how much of a respectable lady you are.”

“Then—”

“But still, no.”

“No fair, Father!”

Lia pounded her fists on Kang-Woo’s thighs in frustration. Kang-Woo wanted to let her have a sip, growing weak from her temper tantrums, but he couldn’t let a child who had not even turned ten yet have alcohol mixed with nectar.

“Hehe. I knew this would happen, so I prepared non-alcoholic beer as well.”

Yeon-Joo took out a can of non-alcoholic beer as Kang-Woo was consoling Lia. It seemed she had anticipated the children’s curiosity.

“When did you prepare that?”

‘She’s got some sense. Are you sure you’re my wife?’

“Hyun-Woo said children always want to try a sip when the adults are drinking at a picnic so he recommended I prepare it.”

“Aha.”

‘I should’ve known. It was the vice-guildmaster’s idea.’

It might be better to let them experience the taste with non-alcoholic options than teach them they should only drink when they are adults.

“Here, why don’t you try it?” Yeon-Joo said.

“M-Mother Yeon-Joo! I love you!” Lia approached Yeon-Joo with sparkling eyes and took a large sip of the non-alcoholic beer. “BLEEEEEGHHH!!”

Lia spat out the beer, ruining her respectable lady image.

“Wh-Why would you drink something like this?!”

She was even teary-eyed, shocked by the bitter taste of beer. Yeon-Joo burst into laughter with her hand on her stomach.

“Hehehe! This is the taste of adults, Lia.”

“Urgh. Y-You’re trying to trick me, aren’t you? No way anyone would drink this bitter and tasteless thing only because they’re adults!”

“Fuuu. Do you think alcohol is bitter, Lia...? Mommy finds it sweet.”

“Th-This is sweet?”

“Looks like our Lia is still far from becoming a lady.”

“Urgh! I-I hate you, Mother Yeon-Joo!” Lia shouted as she ran to Lilith’s side.

Lilith hugged Lia and glanced at Yeon-Joo as she patted Lia’s back.

“Don’t tease the kids too much,” she said.

“Hehe. Sorry, unnie.”

“That aside, do you have wine?”

“Oh, of course, but it’s pretty strong. Are you sure you want it?”

“Yeah, it’s fine.” Lilith giggled as she grabbed the wine bottle and whispered, “Looks like I can use this as an excuse to enjoy queen roleplay with my love.”

“Wait... what did you just say?” Kang-Woo asked.

“Oh? I didn’t say anything. What’s the matter?”

“No, you just said—”

“More importantly, it seems Si-Hun wants to tell you something.”

“Pardon?” Si-Hun asked in confusion as he was suddenly called out.

Kang-Woo turned to Si-Hun and tilted his head. “What did you want to tell me?”

“O-Oh, nothing in particular... I just wanted to talk to you since it’s been so long.”

Si-Hun averted his gaze from Kang-Woo in embarrassment. He seemed sad that he had no opportunity to talk to Kang-Woo lately because they were both busy.

‘It’s not like we’re in a long-distance relationship.’

Kang-Woo stared at Si-Hun dumbfoundedly but he had also wanted to talk to Si-Hun since it had indeed been a while.

‘Only Si-Hun understands my struggles as a married man.’

Balrog was also married but they had little to relate to since he had yet to have children.

“Yeah, sure. Let’s badmouth our wives behind their backs.”

“H-Hyung-nim!”

“I’m joking, man.”

Kang-Woo had nothing to complain about his beloved wives. Although Si-Hun was whipped by Layla, they seemed to be rather lovey-dovey with one another.

“Here, let me pour you a drink.”

“Oh, allow me to pour you a glass as well.”

They filled their glasses to the brim and chatted up a storm.

“What have you been up to?” Kang-Woo asked.

“Same old, same old. Managing Guardians and dealing with violent crimes by Players.”

Kang-Woo acted as a one-man army that protected Earth from otherworldly invasions while Si-Hun acted as international police that dealt with Player crimes that occurred globally.

“Anything I can help with?”

“We aren’t powerless enough to need your aid. Besides, you’re far busier than us.”

“It’s not like Rifts open every day. I can make time if I want.”

“Haha. Then you should invest that time in your family.”

“I already am, man.”

Si-Hun smiled bitterly and sipped his beer.

“Oh, but... there is something you should know, hyung-nim.”

“What is it?”

“Someone among the Player criminals has recently been calling themselves a demon.”

“What? Demon?” Kang-Woo scoffed. “Who are they and where the hell did they crawl out of?”

It was unlikely to be the Nine Hells since Balrog thoroughly regulated the Rift between the Nine Hells and Earth.

“I am not sure. They appear and vanish so randomly.”

“What do they do?”

“They grant Players’ wishes, from what I’ve heard.”

“Granting wishes, huh?” Kang-Woo stroked his chin with great interest. “Are you investigating them right now?”

“No, not yet. They are famous but haven’t caused that many incidents. They only became famous about a year or two ago.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

“Still, an investigation will take place soon because a massive incident involving them occurred in America.”

“What incident?”

“A Player who made contact with that demon caused a huge incident in an elementary school and it resulted in dozens of casualties.”

“At an elementary school...? Why?”

Kang-Woo couldn’t understand why a Player would go on a rampage at an elementary school because they made contact with a demon who granted wishes.

“The Player who caused the incident was an elementary schooler,” Si-Hun clarified.

“Oh.” Kang-Woo was left with an uncomfortable feeling. “Let me know once you get more information about them.”

“Do you have someone in mind who could be behind this?”

“No, not that. I’m just a little bothered by it.”

Although the incident occurred on the other side of the globe, elementary schoolers were hurt by it. Kang-Woo, a father of three, couldn’t help but be bothered by it.

“It seems you’re a genuine father now, hyung-nim.”

“As if you’re any different.”

“Of course, I was bothered by it too. I was the one who suggested we make an investigation team.” Si-Hun smiled bitterly and refilled his empty glass. “I realized I think more of my kids than myself after having one.”

“Yup, that’s how it works.”

“To be honest... I don’t know if I’m being a good father to Si-Ah. I’m rarely home because of work.”

“I’m sure you are. She’s grown so well and pretty.”

“Haha. I have to agree, my Si-Ah is very pretty.”

“But Lia and Kang-Hee are prettier.”

“What? What are you talking about? Ask a hundred people and they will all say Si-Ah is prettier.”

“The hell did you say?”

The married men glared at each other.

“Fine, let’s fucking do it, then! Let’s get a hundred fucking people from the street!”

“You’re on! I may respect you but I will not back down on this!”

The two men stood up, raring to go, but were hit with the cold hard fact from Layla that they were not acting their old age and to stop being so immature.

“Tch... anyone could see Kang-Hee and Lia are prettier...”

“You only feel that way because they’re your daughters, hyung-nim.”

“I could say the same to you.”

“I am simply speaking from an objective perspective.”

“I’m sure you are~”

They argued with each other for a little longer but clinked glasses after some time again with bitter smiles once they calmed down.

“Still, I’m glad I have a little brother I can talk about our kids with,” Kang-Woo remarked.

“Come to think of it, why isn’t Balrog having children?” Si-Hun asked.

“Get this. Do you know what he said? He’s still afraid of being a father.”

“Hah, small words for such a big guy.”

“Right? He’s more timid than he looks.”

Seol-Ah shifted next to Kang-Woo and embraced his arm as he was chatting with Si-Hun.

“Honey... aren’t you giving too much attention only to Si-Hun?”

Kang-Woo could faintly smell alcohol from her— she seemed to have drunk quite a lot of beer.

“Oh, sorry. I was having so much fun talking to Si-Hun.”

“Are you saying it’s not fun to be with me?” asked Seol-Ah as she pouted.

“Come on, of course not. I’m having the most fun when I’m with you, Darling.”

“Really? Then...” Seol-Ah grabbed a sausage from the lunch box with her chopsticks. “Honey, say ahh~”

“D-Darling. Let’s not do this in front of the kids.”

“Ahh~”

“Urgh.”

Kang-Woo gulped, taken aback by Seol-Ah's sudden coquettish attitude. He could feel all eyes on them but opened his mouth anyway.

“Hehe.”

Seol-Ah teasingly withdrew the sausage from Kang-Woo’s mouth. She suddenly unbuttoned her shirt to reveal her cleavage and placed the sausage in between.

“D-Darling? What are you doing in front of the children...?”

“Oh, my~ I dropped the sausage by accident.”

Just then, Kang-Woo remembered something.

“Could you lick it off me, honey?”

Seol-Ah was a lightweight. As for how lightweight, she could get drunk from just one can of beer.