Epilogue Chapter 57 - Sky and Sea (1)

“Honey~”

A lovely voice tickled Oh Kang-Woo’s ears. Someone lifted his blanket and two inexplicably soft mounds weighed down on his chest.

“It's time to get up. It’s already noon, you know?”

Han Seol-Ah giggled softly and caressed Kang-Woo’s cheek. This was one of the few joys Kang-Woo could relish every morning. He pulled his blanket over his head as if refusing to get up as if he were a student refusing to go to the school opening ceremony.

“Oh, Kang-Woo.”

Seol-Ah smiled at her husband’s cute mannerisms and bent down to kiss him.

“Hehe.”

Kang-Woo couldn’t help but giggle like an idiot. He slightly opened his eyes and pulled Seol-Ah toward him by her waist.

“H-Honey?”

“Hmm. Like I’d thought, it only feels like the day’s begun after hugging you, Darling.”

“The day began a while ago. It’s already the afternoon.”

Seol-Ah smiled and playfully pinched Kang-Woo’s nose.

“I’ve been out all night. Gimme a break.”

“Hmm. Are you busy because of that Celestial person?”

“That too, but the Rifts have started to appear again,” Kang-Woo replied as he yawned and stretched.

“I thought you said they would be dormant for a while.”

It was already over a month ago but considering the pattern in which Rifts opened for the past decade, it was far too soon.

“It’s also my first time seeing Rifts opening again so soon. And... the pattern is different from usual.”

“Different how?”

“Rifts usually open randomly worldwide but the ones this time are different. They’re weirdly opening only around Korea. A lot of them, at that.”

To make a comparison, it was like something colossal struggling to get through a small hole.

“Is there a problem?” Seol-Ah asked, worryingly caressing Kang-Woo’s shoulders.

She knew he could handle any issues that arose but it meant it would lessen the time she could spend with him.

She asked, “Will you be away from home for an entire month again?”

Seol-Ah had suffered greatly the last time she had been away from Kang-Woo for a month. She could only console herself so much with his shirt or underwear. The longer she was apart from him, the harder it was for her to suppress the obsession inside her.

“I don’t know... I might if the Rifts continue to open at this pace.”

“N-No!”

Seol-Ah collapsed on the bed, shocked by his answer. Withered like a dead tree, she wrapped her arms around Kang-Woo’s waist.

“

Sniff...

I don’t think I can endure... another month away from you.”

“Don’t worry. It might end as suddenly as it began.”

“But it might not end!”

Seol-Ah threw a temper tantrum as she rubbed her cheeks on Kang-Woo’s chest. He patted her back to console her.

“I’ll stop by often even when I’m busy. The Rifts are only opening around here, after all.”

“You promise...?”

Seol-Ah looked up at Kang-Woo teary-eyed.

‘Holy fuck.’

Kang-Woo gulped at how insanely cute his wife was. He stayed true to his desire and laid Seol-Ah on the bed.

“Honey...”

“Darling...”

They stared intently at each other and grew closer until their faces were a hair’s breadth apart.

Clack.

The door opened.

“My, am I interrupting?”

Lilith was left wide-eyed as she stared at Seol-Ah and Kang-Woo on the bed.

Seol-Ah shouted flusteredly, “U-Unnie! I-I said I was going to wake Kang-Woo!”

“I didn’t think you were waking up something else too.”

Lilith giggled and approached the bed. Her playful smile and relaxed expression suggested that she had expected this situation.

“What’s up?” Kang-Woo asked, sighing as he got out of bed.

Lilith wouldn’t have barged into the room for no reason if she was already aware of what was happening inside. Not interrupting the lovey-dovey times with Kang-Woo was an unspoken rule between the wives.

“I got a call from Si-Hun that he has just acquired additional information about the Celestial.”

First, it was the Rifts and now it was the Celestial. Kang-Woo sighed and sat on the bed. Seol-Ah also got up on the bed and hugged Kang-Woo from behind as she pouted. Kang-Woo’s sense of reason almost flew out the window from the soft sensation on his back but endured it with all his might.

“What kind of information?”

“Traces of the Celestial was found in our children’s school.”

“...” Kang-Woo organized the shocking information in his head and nodded. “I suppose he’s begun to make his move.”

“My, did you expect this to happen?”

“More or less.”

Rather, Kang-Woo had intended for this to happen.

‘No way he would pass by on such scrumptious bait.’

Of course, he wasn’t sure whether the plan would succeed at first due to Si-Hun’s vehement disagreement, but the Celestial thankfully took his bait. All that was left to do now was to wait for the result.

“W-Wait a second! The school? Won’t the kids be in danger?” asked Seol-Ah as she pulled on Kang-Woo’s waist.

“It’s okay. I’ve taken out the minimal

insurance

.”

“Even so!”

“And...” Kang-Woo narrowed his eyes and continued, “This will be a good experience for the kids.”

“Good experience...?”

“Darling. Do you believe our kids will be able to live ordinary lives like other kids?”

“That’s...”

“It’s highly doubtful.”

They had inherited Kang-Woo’s blood. Hence, their lives could never be as ordinary as those of others, whether they wanted them to be or not.

“It’s good for them to experience early that they’re

different

from others.”

“B-But they’re still so young!”

“I’ve realized something after the incident at the resort.”

Enemies would not hold back against their children because they were young. Rather, they would be their first targets.

“Nothing will happen, so there’s no need to worry. I told you, didn’t I? They’ll be protected.”

“Ngh...”

Kang-Woo patted the back of the worrying Seol-Ah.

“Ahhh~ it’s so damn hot! Why is it so hot when we’re already well into September?!”

They heard Cha Yeon-Joo from their room. Kang-Woo got out of bed and walked to the front door.

“You clocked out early again?”

“Huh? Why are you home, hubby?”

“Is there something wrong with that?”

“I guess it’s annoying to see you’re taking it easy.”

“I don’t wanna hear that from you,” Kang-Woo scoffed as he stared at Yeon-Joo taking off her shoes.

“Hehe. I’m joking, man. You were closing Rifts all night, weren’t you? Come get a hug from your lovely wife and stuff your face between my boobs.”

“There’s nothing for me to stuff my—”

“What’d you say?”

“Wow, what a thoughtful wife I have.”

Kang-Woo approached Yeon-Joo with her arms spread out and embraced her.

“There, there. Man, my hubby’s ass sure is tight.”

“Why do you always touch my ass? You think it’s yours or something?”

“Sure is.”

Yeon-Joo snickered and slapped Kang-Woo’s ass.

“Welcome back, Yeon-Joo.”

“Oh, you’re here too, Lilith unnie?”

“Ngh... I can’t believe you’re touching Kang-Woo’s butt as soon as you’re home...!” Seol-Ah said frustratedly.

“What’s wrong with groping my husband’s butt?”

“I-I’m, his wife too!”

“Then you touch it too, Seol-Ah.”

“Ahem. I suppose it can’t be helped.”

“My, aren’t you two having a bit too much fun without me? Your unnie is getting jealous.”

“The hell?” Kang-Woo expressed exasperation as his wives sexually harassed him.

“Come to think of it, where are the kids?” Yeon-Joo asked.

“They’re going to be a little late because the school is doing volunteer work.”

“Huh? What volunteer work?”

“Picking up trash around the Han River.”

“Aha, is that so?” Yeon-Joo smiled slyly. “Then... it means I can do my dailies before my son comes home!”

“...”

‘Sheesh, that’s the first thing you think of?’

“Is it fun to game behind your son’s back?”

“What? What do you mean by

game

?! This is my life!”

“Bullshit.”

As expected of Yeon-Joo, she managed to erase the somber mood within thirty seconds of coming home. Even Seol-Ah, saddened by worry for the children, smiled.

She suggested, “Gaming is good and all, but why don’t we have lunch first?”

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

“Huh? I already ate lunch at the guild.”

“Oh, I’m not talking about that kind of lunch...”

Seol-Ah smiled and turned to Kang-Woo. Her heated gaze made Kang-Woo flinch and step backward.

“D-Darling?”

“Honey... you said you would be busy for a while once the rate of Rifts opening continues, right?”

“I-I did.”

“My... then I suppose it can’t be helped, right?”

Lilith blocked off Kang-Woo’s escape route.

“Oh, I see what you mean.” Yeon-Joo realized what Seol-Ah was getting at and smiled as she approached Kang-Woo. “Man~ I’m so hot even though it’s already September~ Can you see how sweaty I am, hubby?”

“Fufu. My, that’s terrible. Honey, you haven’t washed yet since you just woke up, right?”

“Why don’t we all take a bath together? It’s been a while.”

“H-Huh? T-Together? Right now?”

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP—!

Kang-Woo was on the verge of getting devoured by his wives when a loud warning sound echoed in Kang-Woo’s head.

“Urgh... Wh-What was that?”

[S-Sir Guardian Deity! Th-This is bad! It’s an emergency!]

A blue message window appeared in front of him. He could tell something was wrong because Eve was not using any emotes.

“What’s wrong?”

[A-A Rift!]

“A Rift?”

[A Rift has appeared!]

“Eh? I mean, I’ve closed Rifts for a decade. What’s the big deal?”

[No! I-I’m not talking about regular Rifts like those!]

The blue message window turned red.

[A-A colossal Rift... one we’ve never seen the likes of in the past decade has opened!!!]