‘I found the merfolk.’

Hwirim, who was involved in the rebellion, had been living an extremely busy life since the previous year. Over the past few years, the scale of the rebellion had grown larger than expected, and they had been expanding their influence while traveling throughout the eight provinces.

Because of that, since last year it had become difficult even to see Hwirim’s face. Hwirim held a fairly central position in it. Myojeong had met him in the spring and not once since, so he had thought Hwirim might have given up on finding the merfolk, or at least put it off. But Hwirim had been tenaciously searching for their whereabouts even in the midst of that busy life.

‘I want to become family with you, Myojeong.’

Myojeong, who had been gazing up at the clear autumn sky, prepared to set out on his journey. The last time he had seen Hwirim had been sometime between spring and summer of that year, so several months had already passed. The mountain ridges were drenched in the vivid colors of autumn leaves. With every step, he heard fallen leaves crumbling underfoot.

The place Hwirim had summoned Myojeong to this time was a village nestled deep in the mountains. It was a new base of operations prepared for the coming rebellion, and Hwirim said he had been staying there for several months. Like Myojeong, Hwirim had lived an unsettled life, moving from place to place throughout the eight provinces after leaving the Office of Narye. But when Myojeong met him after several months, Hwirim’s face looked much more settled, and he seemed to have gained a little weight as well.

“Myojeong, welcome.”

“Oh my, who is this handsome lord?”

But beside Hwirim, whom he had not seen in so long, stood an unfamiliar face. It was an old woman with a warm expression. The old woman, who introduced herself as Iwol, said she had originally been a slave, then later gained her freedom and settled here. Iwol and Hwirim lived like family, helping each other. Then Hwirim whispered something into Iwol’s ear, and Iwol’s eyes narrowed.

“Oho... so you are his husband.”

Leaving behind those meaningful words, Iwol chuckled softly and went away. When Myojeong looked at Hwirim in bewilderment, Hwirim shrugged as if it were nothing and tugged Myojeong by the arm.

“This way. You must be tired from the long journey.”

After moving to a more private place, the two exchanged news about how they had been.

“Is the work you are preparing going well?”

The rebellion Hwirim had been involved in for several years was also nearing its end. They had secured all their forces, placed trained soldiers in ambush among the people, and finished their final preparations. The day of uprising was not far away, which meant it would not be long before Hwirim, skilled with the sword, would also be sent to the front.

“Yes. After this month, everything will be over.”

Of course, Myojeong was worried about Hwirim’s safety. But since Hwirim was doing it of his own will, Myojeong could not stand in his way. All he could do was wish for Hwirim’s safe return.

“I wish you fortune in battle.”

Myojeong had just opened his mouth, trying to hide his troubled expression.

“When I say everything will be over after this month, I am not only talking about my own affairs. It will be the same for you, Myojeong. Your life, too, will change completely in a couple of months.”

“What do you mean?”

“Did I not say I found the merfolk?”

The conversation, which had begun with greetings and news, soon moved to the main subject.

Some time ago, the merman from whom Hwirim had asked for help went to his own people, explained the situation, and requested their assistance. But after hearing the details from them, Hwirim learned that one could not attain immortality simply by taking a mermaid’s blood and flesh. The merfolk, who had a hostile relationship with humans because of repeated hunts, had managed to retrieve a single pill called the immortality pill from human hands just before leaving their island. Since it was an object steeped in the pain of their kin, it was a heartbreaking memento to them.

After hearing Hwirim’s story, they had said they would give him the immortality pill they had been keeping. For the merfolk, this was undoubtedly an act of immeasurable kindness, as the immortality pill was the product of a sacrifice paid for with one of their own. The merman who received the pill informed Hwirim of the news by carrier pigeon, saying he would personally bring the immortality pill in the near future.

“It will probably arrive by next month at the latest. To be honest, I had thought of sending you a letter after receiving the immortality pill myself, but... before that, is there not something you and I must do first?”

Myojeong knew that the thing Hwirim had to do was go to the front in the coming rebellion. Then what remained was this: what was the thing Myojeong himself had to do?

“Myojeong, has it not already been delayed long enough? The time has come.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Tell Gyeom the truth. Promise me you will.”

Hwirim was looking steadily at Myojeong.

“......”

Myojeong could not answer right away. He was afraid. Revealing the truth was an act that would wound the child, and at the same time, it would wound Myojeong himself. What if the child did not forgive him? What if the child resented and hated him? Myojeong did not have the confidence to bear it.

“Do not worry.”

Hwirim continued with an impassive face.

“Gyeom will surely be a good big brother.”

At Hwirim’s added words, Myojeong, who had been lost in thought, flinched and lifted his eyes.

“What does that...”

“Have you forgotten what happened last spring?”

Hwirim answered calmly, let out a small yawn, and propped his chin at an angle on one hand. At that moment, Myojeong held his breath without realizing it. What happened last spring... He had spent a night with Hwirim.

Just then, Hwirim’s lips curved into a crooked, sly smile.

“Fate or whatever else, you have to be the father of my child.”

As if he could not believe it, Myojeong’s eyes grew wider and wider.

“I am thinking about what to name the child. Though I suppose you are the expert when it comes to names, Myojeong. Ah, that is right. It would also be good to ask Gyeom to name the child. After all, he will be getting a much younger sibling.”

“......”

“If you promise me, Myojeong, then I will also promise to ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) return safely from the rebellion. So you must tell Gyeom the truth as well. That is the only way we can become family, is it not?”

“......”

Myojeong could not say a single word. An indescribable emotion surged up into his throat. He only stared blankly at Hwirim, and at some point, his head dropped.

“Myojeong?”

The family he had dreamed of was right before his eyes. It was something he had struggled so hard to avoid, and yet at that moment, Myojeong’s heart was so full it felt as if it would burst. Myojeong lowered his head deeply and buried his face in his hands. Hwirim peered at him, then slammed his hand down on the table and burst out laughing.

“Hahaha!”

Hwirim’s teasing continued.

“My goodness, why are you crying, Myojeong? For a man, what a waste of that big body.”

Myojeong could not lift his head for a long time.

After spending a few days with Hwirim, Myojeong packed his things a day or two earlier than usual and set out. He could not bring himself to leave Hwirim, who was no longer alone, but Hwirim insisted that he hurry back to Gyeom, saying there were plenty of people around to look after him.

“I will be here playing mother, so do not you worry.”

Iwol, who was helping Hwirim with daily life, also whispered that into Myojeong’s ear.

And so, Myojeong was practically pushed out onto the road home. It was a long journey that would take several days before he reached his house. Normally, he would have stopped in a village along the way and rested for a while, but Myojeong hurried on without pause. He wanted to return as quickly as possible to the child who would have been left alone at home for several days.

This time, he intended to confess everything he had hidden from the child.

The moment he realized he had made a mistake by placing the double seal, Myojeong had made a resolution. He would tell the child everything in the year he turned thirty-three. Then he would use the Four Golden Eyes to send the child on one day early, and follow after him to die on the appointed day.

But meeting Hwirim had given him a choice for the first time. The moment Hwirim reached out his hand, Myojeong’s life changed. He did not know whether the immortality pill would truly work, or whether he could truly twist this fate. But even if, by some chance, the immortality pill did not work, and the path to escaping his fate vanished, if he passed the mask to the child in Hwirim’s womb, the child who would be born into the world, then even if the curse was passed down, the three of them might be able to live a better life as a family for the time they were given.

Without even realizing it himself, Myojeong’s steps were light.