1294 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

"Oh gosh." Suddenly, Young Lady Hyun found herself on the ground, rubbing her sore backside. She looked up at me with an accusatory glare. "Why did you put me down so abruptly? It hurts!" Despite her indignant tone, I couldn't muster a response. What could I possibly say? "…What did you just say?" The word 'son-in-law' reverberated in my mind like a bell. Did she just call me that? Maybe I misheard. If so, the situation would be... "I said son-in-law." I hadn't misheard her. My last hope shattered into fragments. I pressed my fingers to my temples. "…Why am I your 'son-in-law'?" I tentatively asked, grasping my throbbing forehead, hoping to distract her. "Isn't a fiancé also a son-in-law?" "…" Her straightforward reply mirrored the previous statement. My head throbbed even more. How did it come to this? "…How…" Before I could ask how she came to know this. "Are you asking how I found out?" Young Lady Hyun spoke as if she anticipated my question. "When you say how, you mean who told me? Well, my daughter mentioned it." "…" I was startled by her words. Namgung Bi-ah told Young Lady Hyun everything? Really? '…Why?' Why would she reveal it… 'Or is it irrelevant?' Could it be that it doesn’t matter if she knows? It felt like something that shouldn’t be shared. Just as doubt clouded my mind, and my pupils quivered with uncertainty. "Don't be so nervous. She said that if one leaves this place, memories are erased anyway." "…" Her words caused my eyes to widen slightly. "…How did you…" "Oh my, did you know that too?" "…" Memories of the demonic realm vanish upon returning to the real world. At least, that's how it had always been for me. Could this time be different? 'I was astonished Namgung Bi-ah was aware of that.' It was unexpected that she confided this to Young Lady Hyun. "She mentioned it was necessary to persuade me." "…Persuade?" "It required my full approval for certain matters." "…What exactly is going on here?" I asked, seeking enlightenment on how Namgung Bi-ah managed to intertwine so with her. Young Lady Hyun seemed to not know much about it. "Well…? By the time I noticed, it had already happened." Initially, she assumed it was a mere dream or her body simply feeling weak. No way did she think it her future daughter occupying her body. "…" "And." Young Lady Hyun's eyes slightly curved. "Baek Yangcheon. I didn’t expect you to be someone from the future either." "…" "It's fascinating. Aren't I the one with more curiosities?" "…No." "You know, the way you look at me, I thought something was off." "That…" "So they said I was beautiful. I suppose they were right." "Please." Her barrage left my mind hazy. Ah, damn it all. "Your name is Baek Yangcheon, right?" "…" "Isn't it?" "…Yes." "What’s your real name?" Faced with Young Lady Hyun’s inquiry, I hesitated. Should I reveal it or not? After a fleeting deliberation, I decided. "It's Gu Yangcheon." I confessed my true name. To that, Young Lady Hyun nodded, acknowledging it. "Hmm. I suspected since they said the family was of Gu lineage." "…" "Then… Oh?" It seemed she realized something, her eyes now widened in understanding. "Could it be…" "…Let's leave my story here. So, did you say she told you everything?" To avoid delving into family histories, I steered the conversation away. "Hm." Though Young Lady Hyun seemed dissatisfied with my diversion, I ignored it. "Well, she didn’t divulge much." "Not much?" "Just that she's my daughter and needs to borrow my body… There's someone she must save. So, only here would suffice." "…And you granted permission?" "Why wouldn't I? She’s my daughter." "Frankly, I'm astonished you believed her claim of being your daughter from the future." Is it normal for one's future daughter to occupy and control your body? It seemed absurd, yet Young Lady Hyun didn’t doubt it. "She resembles me too much not to believe." "You’ve seen her face?" "Occasionally in dreams." "…Dreams?" "Yes. I’ve had frequent dreams lately." Young Lady Hyun’s hand discreetly reached for me. "Dreams of you and her together." "…" "Whether they were dreams or her memories, I'm unsure. Honestly, I wasn’t fully convinced." She smirked subtly, a smile Namgung Bi-ah would never display. "Seeing your reaction when I mentioned it clarified things." "…" Was she testing me? Well, if so, I fell right into her trap. "It’s fascinating. How did you come here? The girl didn’t say." "I’m not in a position to disclose." "Oh? Even to me, your mother-in-law?" "…Please, the titles." "My words aren’t incorrect, though." Her teasing demeanor was irksome. I suppressed a sigh, shaking my head. As I tried to suppress my emotions subtly. "What’s disappointing is knowing the future now." "The future?" "I suppose I eventually marry Namgung Jin. Is that right?" "…" Her matter-of-fact statement made me freeze. Namgung Jin’s face flashed through my mind. Caught off guard, I remained awkwardly silent, and Young Lady Hyun gave a small smile. "Why act so shocked? I knew it was destined." "No…" "Besides, we all forget once we return. It matters not. I’m just curious at this moment." "What do you mean?" "Did I find happiness?" "…" This was a question far beyond my ability to answer. Something I couldn't fathom. "Is it a question you’re incapable of answering?" "I lack sufficient knowledge and am not in a position to answer." "That’s fair." Young Lady Hyun raised herself, casually dusting off her clothes. "It wasn't a question for you, and not for her either." "…What’s she up to now?" "She?" "Yes?" "Still, she's your fiancée. Isn't that an odd way to refer to her? Do you always call her that?" "…Yes, kind of." I've never really set a specific way to call her. It's just convenient like this. Young Lady Hyun made a face of disbelief at my response. "Who in the world calls their fiancée like that? Weren't you always bragging about how pretty she is?" "When did I ever brag about that…!" "You have some strange stubbornness. Anyway, you'll handle it as you see fit. So what were you saying? Oh, what is she up to now?" Upon hearing my words, Young Lady Hyun closed her eyes for a brief moment. After a short pause, she spoke. "She's sleeping." "Sleeping?" "Yes. Seems like she sleeps after using her body for something like this." "When do you expect her to wake up?" "Not sure? Seems like it might take a few days at the least." "…Oh dear…" It would take some time for Namgung Bi-ah to awaken. Her words made my expression sour. 'I had more to ask.' There were countless questions I wanted to ask against the prohibitions, but biting my lip, I realized it would take time. In that case. "…You managed to have some conversations in the meantime, right?" I asked Young Lady Hyun, needing her perspective. "Usually? She spoke to me in my head." "…." It seemed similar to my interactions with Shin Noya. "What have you been doing?" I inquired, curious about what Young Lady Hyun and Namgung Bi-ah had been up to this time. "We were looking for something." "Looking for?" "There was something we thought might be useful to you, and we searched extensively for it." "And what is that?" "What was it… something like 'Tully' or 'Tally'…." "Tolly?" "Yes, that's it!" Young Lady Hyun responded brightly to my words. Tolly? 'They were trying to find Tolly?' Namgung Bi-ah was searching for something called Tolly in the demonic realm. Why she thought it was necessary to find it, I couldn't understand. Furthermore. 'Why is that here in the first place?' The fact that Tolly was here in itself was perplexing. "I don’t get it." I couldn't wrap my head around the situation. While pondering and wetting my lips, I came to a conclusion. "Let's move." "Huh? Move where?" "We can't stay here indefinitely." "So, where exactly are you planning on going?" "For now…" I decided we should head to a place with people. Looking at Young Lady Hyun, I made up my mind. "We need to return to the refuge." Specifically, towards where the Dark King would be. After expressing my intention, I asked Young Lady Hyun. "Can I carry you?" To move quickly, carrying her would be necessary. "What a strange thing to ask. Are you surprisingly affectionate?" "…." "Alright, can’t I even joke?" Seeing my expression, Young Lady Hyun immediately extended her arms. Carefully, I lifted her onto my shoulder. "…Hold on." "What is it?" Young Lady Hyun, balancing on my shoulder, remarked with curiosity. "…Don't people usually carry or hold others in their arms?" She found the way she was being carried peculiar. "Oh, I find this comfortable." "It's not about your comfort…" "Ready?" Ignoring her discomfort, I proceeded. "Wai…! Eek!" I sprinted forward. Even without enhancing my pace, I pushed ahead. It seemed the best solution. Absolutely. It's not because her constant teasing was getting on my nerves.