chapter 09
My curiosity was satisfied the very next morning.
Grandmother San and Grandfather San arrived at the Hyun family house early in the morning.
“Mother, Father.”
“Oh, our baby, it’s been so long. Raising children has worn your face down to half.”
One thing was clear: when Mom called me “our baby,” she must have learned it from Grandmother San.
I, in human form, snuggled into Dad’s arms and studied Mom’s family carefully.
They must have been very hot from the valley below because they were dressed in sleeveless tops and shorts. Even though it was the first time I’d seen them in such light clothing since reincarnating, they looked striking.
True to her parentage, Mom’s parents were both tall and handsome, and their exposed limbs were long and strong—like athletes.
“So, where is our baby’s baby?”
Grandmother San looked for me. Seeing her short gray hair shimmering under the summer sun, I raised my hand enthusiastically.
“Ah-ah!”
Hello, Grandmother San! Nice to meet you!
I smiled brightly and waved, but their faces stiffened upon seeing me.
Especially Grandfather San, who opened his mouth to Dad with an expression of sheer horror.
“Are you starving the child?”
A familiar misunderstanding.
Because of my tiny body, Dad had faced this kind of thing countless times before and calmly replied without batting an eye.
“Our Hyeon has finished a whole bowl of baby food today.”
“But the child…!”
“I have something to tell you regarding that.”
Dad opened the door to the annex smoothly.
“Please, come in.”
After discussing yesterday with Mom, Dad, and Grandma, they decided to reveal my true identity to them.
Since the couple were discreet and Grandmother San was the village chief, they might know something about the Haetae, which was why the decision was made.
Some time later.
The two of them were led to the innermost room of the annex. After hearing the full story, they cleared up their misunderstanding, but their expressions grew even heavier.
Grandmother San, with a deeply troubled face, held Mom’s hand.
“You must have had a hard time, our baby.”
“Your mother is right. It’s enough that the child is healthy. What does it matter that it’s a Haetae? But thinking that you couldn’t ask for help easily and suffered quietly—we feel bad.”
Her words were pure concern and worry for Mom.
Mom’s face briefly flinched with emotion but then shook her head.
“It would be a lie to say there was no hardship, but it’s alright. I have a wise spouse and managed to protect my child without major trouble.”
“Well done, my daughter.”
Grandmother San, patting Mom’s hand, immediately shared the information she knew about the Haetae.
Even though no one asked, Grandmother San seemed to see right through Mom’s worries.
“There have been Haetae among the Lang tribe as well.”
“Really?”
“They lived long and healthy lives. They were so robust they never even caught a cold. So, if you protect the child well during this first year, it should be fine.”
Mom and Dad visibly relaxed.
But Grandmother San did not only give good news.
“However, you must keep this secret. Even family must not reveal it carelessly, and anyone who knows must be bound by a Geumje (Sealing Spell).”
“A Geumje? You mean using a sorcerer to seal their mouths?”
“Anyone can make mistakes. Even you. You must do whatever it takes to protect your child.”
Grandmother San’s reddish-brown eyes glinted ominously.
“By any means necessary.”
But what exactly is a sorcerer?
Unable to contain my curiosity, I pressed my nose against Dad’s hand. Knowing that I often did this when I wanted to ask something, Dad listed a few words.
“Longevity? Sealing spell? Sorcerer? Ah, you want to know about the sorcerer, right?”
Even though Dad spoke quietly, there were only four people here with sharp ears.
All eyes turned to me, and embarrassed, I licked my nose.
“Curious about the sorcerer?”
“Mang!”
I barked shortly at Grandfather San’s question. His eyes twinkled. Like Mom’s, they were golden, bright as the afternoon sun.
“Come here. Grandpa will explain.”
I trotted over lightly.
“Oh my, these little feet resemble our baby’s.”
“Our baby’s?”
Grandfather San, seeing me up close, called for Grandmother San. Perhaps curious, she leaned closer to look at me and gasped.
“It’s true. These snow-white feet, they’re our baby’s.”
The icy atmosphere broke.
Until now, Grandmother San had been too worried about Mom to properly observe me. Now she fully took me in.
Like icicles melting at the end of winter, sharpness dulled, replaced by pure affection.
“You really are our baby’s baby.”
“Then whose child did you think I was?”
Mom asked, half in disbelief.
“You’ll understand when you become a grandmother yourself. A baby having a baby—it’s hard to believe.”
“Sounds like gossip to outsiders.”
“Let them gossip.”
“Mother.”
Mom scolded Grandmother San, embarrassed, while Dad chuckled beside her.
It made sense.
Mom was twenty-five, Dad twenty-three.
They seemed amused seeing the elder treat Mom like a child. But wait… thinking back, Mom and Dad were quite young.
Maybe calling them babies wasn’t entirely wrong.
I didn’t remember much from my past life, but I must have been well over thirty back then. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had such a fierce drive at work. Mid-thirties is usually the grind of middle management.
Anyway, seeing such young parents in this life made me realize one thing.
Except for faint memories of my past life, I truly was a baby.
Thinking of my age—less than a year old—suddenly made me feel at ease.
In the now warm atmosphere, I finally learned about the sorcerer.
This special power, which requires innate talent and effort to excel, is said to appear naturally in about one in ten people.
Of course, there are exceptions: some races are born with special abilities.
A prime example was the royal family of this country.
The current emperor, Cheongryong Cheong Heunrin, and his son, Crown Prince Cheong Gyuheon, could wield lightning.
“Land struck by dragon-infused lightning yields abundant harvests. Rice planted in the fields grows plentifully, and fruits hang heavily from trees.”
So even the emperor cannot stay idle in the palace. Using his power diligently across the country benefits the people.
Grandfather San said that aside from the royal dragon family, the Tiger clan Baek family in the neighboring territory was famous for sorcery. They were said to have wind-manipulating abilities.
“Seeing is believing! I’ll demonstrate a simple Geumje spell.”
“Whooong!”
Tail wagging with excitement, both Grandfather and Grandmother San reached out to pat my back and head.
Though my fur was ruffled, they seemed like they’d groom it properly later.
Grandfather San, reluctantly withdrawing his hand from my head, removed his feathered hair ornament.
His brown hair, streaked with gray, fell naturally despite being messy—still elegant.
“Now, watch closely.”
He bent the feather slightly. It seemed like an ordinary soft feather.
“Bend it, or it shall break.”
Huh?
A faint golden light flowed from the tip of Grandfather San’s finger.
With a slight tingling sensation, the feather stiffened and, when pressed into the ground, sank slightly.
“Geumje can grant greater power in exchange for a promise or be used to protect secrets. My power is limited, but with a skilled sorcerer, it could be impenetrable.”
The strength of a Geumje corresponds to the sorcerer’s power.
If a high-level sorcerer casts it, no one else can undo it. During wars, secret operations relied entirely on high-level sorcerers to ensure information remained secure.
The problem: there are very few high-level sorcerers. Usually only one or two per territory, and they are extremely busy. Requesting their help is nearly impossible.
“Fortunately, our clan has one high-level sorcerer.”
Grandmother San gently touched my front paw as she spoke.
“If you want, we can send them. Or request the Baek family. A double Geumje for secrecy should suffice.”
“Regarding this, it’s best for my mother and mother-in-law to consult together.”
Dad interjected. His smile, usually sparkling and gentle, was now smooth and firm like marble.
“Hyeon is ‘our’ child.”
Grandmother San stared at him. Despite her sharp reddish-brown eyes, Dad merely smiled like a spring breeze.
“Alright.”
After a tense negotiation, Grandmother San relented.
“This child is not one side’s alone—it belongs to both families. You’re right. We almost made a unilateral decision.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“She has always smiled like spring yet knows the boundaries sharply. That’s why our daughter chose you, I suppose.”
With a sigh, Grandmother San made her decision.
“Very well. Prepare the arrangements.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Dad bowed respectfully.
The arrangements were quickly made.
After the two grandmothers discussed, the number of people who would know I was a Haetae was narrowed to ten.
On Mom’s side: Grandmother San, Grandfather San, and a sorcerer who was Mom’s second cousin—four in total.
On Dad’s side: Grandma, his four siblings, and Baek Mo—six in total—would cast Geumje and share the secret.
There were more on Dad’s side to make it easier for me to move around within the immediate family.
Dad’s siblings, aunt, and uncle were currently away, so they would be included when they returned during Chuseok.
“We’ll do it right away.”
“Are you sure?”
“The sooner, the lower the risk.”
Meanwhile, Grandmother and Grandfather San cast their Geumje immediately.
They wanted to include all the household members while they were there, but Grandfather San, being a mid-level sorcerer, was the limit.
The stronger the magic, the greater the strain on the sorcerer’s body. Grandfather San lay down for two days after casting it.
“We must be going.”
“See you next time.”
While the adults hurriedly promised to meet again, what did I do?
I ate well, slept well, and played well.
Don’t expect too much from a baby puppy.
Complicated and difficult matters are for adults. A seven-month-old puppy only has to stay healthy to be dutiful.
I eagerly ate the finely mashed peaches Dad gave me as snacks.
Eat a lot and grow quickly.
It was summer.
