Chapter 64 : Chapter 64
Chapter 64 : Homecoming
"Huff, huff."
I lay spread-eagled on the floor of the training hall.
"You're quite something. To dodge and block all of that."
"I realized through you, Father-in-law, that the North Sea didn't produce Martial Gods for no reason."
The Ice King, Seol Baek-ho, was strong.
If I were going to fight properly, I should have gone full power from the start.
Trying to use petty tricks for no reason, I ended up handing over the flow.
From then on, I used all my strength just dodging and blocking.
From the middle of the duel, Father-in-law also seemed excited and swung his sword tremendously.
I could have stabbed him once by seeing an opening, but I gave up.
Because this wasn't a life-or-death battle.
A conversation of the body that only men can understand.
We swung swords until we were both exhausted.
"You are still far from enough."
"Yes, it is fortunate that you are truly hale and hearty."
"Do well."
That single phrase 'do well' contained numerous comprehensive meanings.
"So, what do you plan to name the baby?"
"......."
It seemed it was time to tell him the truth now.
"That... actually."
Bang!
At that moment, the training hall door opened and the Small Snow Squad and General Manager Seol Su-hyeok entered the training hall.
"Ahem, I clearly told no one to enter."
"Did something happen?"
"That... Palace Head."
"Young Master. Please listen carefully."
Wi Ji-yeong and Seol Su-hyeok spoke simultaneously.
"The Ice Queen... has returned."
"The person who will become your mother-in-law is looking for you."
At the two people's words, Seol Baek-ho and I looked at each other.
***
At that time.
A guest appeared at the Young Palace Head's Hall.
"Young Palace Head."
The maid guarding the Young Palace Head's Hall recognized Cheon Deung-jin and bowed her head.
"What brings you here?"
"I came to meet the Young Palace Head."
"Was there an appointment?"
"No. But I really want to meet her."
Cheon Deung-jin requested the maid.
Cheon Deung-jin was also sitting at the engagement ceremony hall.
Because of that, she knew the fact that the Young Palace Head, Seol Ye-rin, seemed to be pregnant.
Cheon Deung-jin accidentally found out the fact that while people were making a fuss, the Young Palace Head herself was actually alone.
'To be alone at a time like that.......'
Cheon Deung-jin had experienced through her family that if a woman is left alone when pregnant, all sorts of thoughts come to mind.
That is why she came despite the discourtesy.
Since it was also a situation where she had to obtain Extreme Yin Qi.
"......I will send word inside."
Cheon Deung-jin, who nodded at those words, waited in front of the Young Palace Head's Hall.
"She says you may enter."
Fortunately, permission was granted.
Entering the Young Palace Head's Hall and arriving at the Young Palace Head's room, she discovered a disheveled Seol Ye-rin.
Even the appearance of rubbing her eyes as if she had just woken up was beautiful even when seen by Cheon Deung-jin, who was a woman.
"Hello, I am the Young Palace Head of the Potala Palace, Cheon Deung-jin."
"Ah, hello. I'm sorry. Since I just woke up from sleep... I'm a bit out of it."
Slap!
Seol Ye-rin, who slapped her cheeks with her hands once, fixed her posture as if she had come to her senses.
"So, what brings you here?"
"Ah, yes. I came to tell you congratulations first."
"Yes? Ah, congratulations on the engagement?"
"Congratulations on the engagement too... and since everyone said it seems you are pregnant......."
Trickle... splash.
"Ah, I spilled it."
Because there was nothing to offer, Seol Ye-rin, who was pouring even a glass of water, ended up spilling all the water.
"Are, are you okay?"
"Ah, yes and that is not true."
"Yes?"
"I'm probably not pregnant. I think I was just dizzy for a moment."
"Ah......."
Cheon Deung-jin made a flustered expression at the story that it wasn't pregnancy.
"Then, the people outside right now......."
"So it's a huge problem right now. Is there any good method?"
"...Young Palace Head is a good person."
"Yes?"
"I think the fact that you can tell me this, who is practically a stranger, is really amazing."
At those words, Seol Ye-rin waved her hand and spoke.
"No, it's not. Thank you. Ah, come to think of it, Gaga said that you need Extreme Yin Qi?"
At the word Gaga, Cheon Deung-jin's gaze wavered.
"Ah, yes. That's correct. Since Fire Spirit Qi swept through my body. Young Master Hyeokryeon said I need Extreme Yin Qi to recover."
"It worked out well just in time. Shall I transfer it now?"
"Will it be okay?"
"Yes."
Seol Ye-rin, who was about to reach out her hand, hesitated.
"Why is that?"
"Come to think of it...... it is the first time."
"Yes?"
"I mean Lady Cheon is the first person who hasn't frozen while talking with me this closely."
Flinch-
Lady Cheon, she says.
Since Cheon Deung-jin had never told Seol Ye-rin that she was a woman.
There was a high possibility she heard this story from Hyeokryeon Yeom.
'He told her... everything.'
Somehow feeling defeated.
"Lady Cheon."
"Yes, yes?"
"Our statuses are similar and although the paths we lived are different, we. How about being friends? Actually, I don't have friends."
Seol Ye-rin reached out her hand to Cheon Deung-jin.
Cheon Deung-jin unwittingly grasped Seol Ye-rin's hand at the kindness of Seol Ye-rin, who had seemed like a cold-blooded person.
Shiver-
Extreme Yin Qi flowed in through the grasped hands.
***
"It's been a while."
The wife of the North Sea Ice Palace Head, Seol Baek-ho, who returned to the Ice Palace.
The Ice Queen, Hong Ye-hwa, examined the surroundings.
"So, you're saying the engagement ceremony was held yesterday?"
"Yes, that is correct."
Maids were following Hong Ye-hwa.
"It is truly a relief that it wasn't a wedding ceremony."
"We wanted to convey the news but......."
"I know."
There was absolutely no way to contact her.
Because leaving the Ice Palace was a decision she made herself.
"If I knew Ye-rin was cured, I would have returned long ago."
She received the news too late.
"Where is that child?"
"...She is at the training hall."
"Her husband?"
"They are together."
"Really? It seems they became close already."
The Ice Palace's maids looked at each other's faces.
Are the two close?
If they are close, can they fight while staying up all night?
Because they knew that could be possible if they were martial artists of the North Sea, the maids couldn't help but be confused.
"Where should we guide you?"
"Didn't you say Ye-rin is sleeping?"
Gulp-
The maids couldn't bring themselves to report what happened at the engagement ceremony to the Ice Queen.
It was because they received instructions to keep their mouths shut since it was something not even certain yet.
"...Yes, that is correct."
"Hmm, the answer is slow? You are hiding something, aren't you?"
Flinch-
"Well, whatever. Since I just need to hear directly from the person herself."
Talking like that, Hong Ye-hwa moved her steps to the training hall.
Although she had been away from the Ice Palace for a long time, there wasn't anything that changed significantly.
Around the time Hong Ye-hwa almost reached the training hall like that.
"Wi, Wife. If you had even given notice, I would have gone out to meet you in advance."
"Nice to meet you, I am called Hyeokryeon Yeom."
Seol Baek-ho and I revealed ourselves in front of Hong Ye-hwa.
"Oh my, you're handsome!"
Hong Ye-hwa, who didn't even give attention to Seol Baek-ho, made me stand and observed me while circling around.
"Pass!"
"Thank you."
She also liked that I answered without being flustered.
"Where did they say they brought such son-in-law material from?"
"......It is the Demonic Cult."
"Ah."
At the word Demonic Cult, Hong Ye-hwa looked back at me.
"Hwi's... son?"
At that remark, I began to sweat cold sweat.
I wasn't stupid enough not to notice the fact that the existence of 'Hwi' Hong Ye-hwa mentioned was my father, Hyeokryeon Hwi.
***
Come to think of it, I have never heard about Seol Ye-rin's mother.
Since Seol Ye-rin's mother didn't exist from the time I first arrived at the Ice Palace.
Since I couldn't even ask if her mother passed away, I didn't bring up even a single word about Seol Ye-rin's mother all this time.
But seeing her appear in front of my eyes like this.
'I wondered who Lady Seol resembled, turns out she resembled her mother.'
It seemed that when Seol Ye-rin ages, she would age gracefully exactly like that.
The problem is.
"Do you know... the Cult Leader?"
"Of course I know."
"He is an existence one cannot not know."
Father-in-law blocked Mother-in-law's words.
'It seems there aren't many people who can call Father's name that easily.'
Are they perhaps love rivals?
Turns out, in their childhood, Father and Father-in-law competed with each other over Mother-in-law, I hoped it wasn't just that kind of soap opera-like development.
"Rather than that, how did you return?"
"I heard the story that Ye-rin is holding an engagement ceremony with a son-in-law, so I returned urgently. Shouldn't I prevent her from having misunderstandings like she doesn't have a mom?"
Although she was talking while laughing, Mother-in-law's words seemed to have bones.
"Well, anyway, since the wedding hasn't been held yet. Then shall we go meet our daughter together now?"
"That... right now she must absolutely rest......."
"Let's go, I will guide you."
I, who blocked it at the source lest he say something strange for no reason, took Mother-in-law and began to walk toward the Young Palace Head's Hall.
"Oh my, thank you."
I don't know well yet what kind of person she is.
However, although I saw for a very short moment, I could see Father-in-law finding her difficult.
If the King of the Ice Palace found her difficult to handle, I roughly got a sense of what the feeling was like.
'Father-in-law doesn't seem to take care of her much. She is an acquaintance close enough to call Father by name. Furthermore, a person who wandered around leaving behind a daughter who didn't know when she would die and returned.'
This is all the information I currently know.
Now the most curious part is what Seol Ye-rin thinks of Mother-in-law.
Depending on that direction, my attitude toward my Mother-in-law will be determined.
In front of the Young Palace Head's Hall.
"We came to meet our daughter."
"Ah, right now the Young Palace Head is sharing a chat with the Young Palace Head of the Potala Palace so... I will send word inside."
"Young Palace Head of the Potala Palace?"
It seemed Cheon Deung-jin was meeting Seol Ye-rin while I didn't know.
Rather than that.
At the word Potala Palace, Mother-in-law's eyes seemed to twinkle.
"Then I should go in and see them together even more."
"Ca, calm down. Wife. First, once Ye-rin's permission is granted......."
"Permission... it seems you still overprotect Ye-rin."
Huu-eup.
Mother-in-law took a deep breath.
Soon.
"Ye-rin, this mother has returned!"
Rumble.
A ringing Lion's Roar loud enough to shake the Young Palace Head's Hall resonated.