Chapter 16
“You saw my analogy skills. Don’t worry. Even sleepyhead Uncle got better.”
Since the topic came up—
Two days ago, I tried “diagnosing” my eldest uncle.
“It was a total mess.”
Then I roughly reviewed the medicine I needed to make…
“It was just as expected.”
My eldest uncle also needed a long list of complex medications.
Though, to be fair, it was a bit shorter than the one for my youngest uncle.
Even though they had the same incurable disease, my eldest uncle’s case was relatively easier.
“Thanks to my third life, I’ve treated a lot of cases with mania and seizures.”
If I had to put it in numbers, my youngest uncle’s difficulty level would be 100, and my eldest uncle’s would be around 70?
It was obvious who I should treat first. That’s why I was all the more eager to visit the market.
To get the right materials, the best ones. And in the process, gain experience in this young body of mine.
“As you can see, I’ve got everything planned.”
So, neither my cousin nor my youngest uncle needed to worry about anything.
“Who are you calling sleepyhead? Tsk. What a nickname.”
I ignored my grumbling uncle and looked at my cousin.
“I’m more amazing than you think, Oppa.”
You’ll be surprised the more you get to know me.
“So you just focus on Gaffle.”
“…”
I snatched the brain beast from my youngest uncle’s hand.
Beep! Beeeep!
For some reason, it didn’t resist me. It grabbed my finger like it was about to burst into tears.
Hmm, it’s cute but also kind of pitiful.
“Take him with you. You’ll be fine taking care of him.”
As far as I remembered, the brain beast never suffered from mania. It just turned dark after its father’s death.
Even if something changes in this life and it does get sick, I can treat it.
I’m a genius, after all.
My cousin, hesitating, didn’t take the brain beast immediately. Instead, he carefully opened his mouth.
His face looked like he was about to cry.
“…I didn’t want to get rid of it. Or ignore it.”
“…”
“Of course, I did have those thoughts… I was scared. Terrified. I wondered why it showed up when I never even wanted it.”
…Um, hey? Oppa? The kid can hear you…
Should I cover its ears? But this ball of fluff—where are its ears?
The fluffy little guy had already stopped crying.
Its innocent—or rather, hopeful—eyes were now looking at my cousin.
“Your youngest uncle was right. I was scared I might develop the same illness as Father. The last doctor who visited said it could be hereditary.”
“What a pathetic guy.”
“…What?”
“Nothing, keep talking.”
My cousin hesitated again.
“Ahem, well. That was then. But my thoughts changed over the past few days.”
“…”
“It’s because of you.”
His eyes, meeting mine, sparkled with overwhelming hope.
“I used to only think about a future where Father never got better and I ended up sick too. I didn’t want to think about it, but I couldn’t help it… But now, I think I won’t feel that way anymore.”
He reached out and placed his hand over mine, which was still holding the brain beast.
“I’ll repay this favor. I’m going to try and face this child. I won’t avoid him anymore.”
“…”
“You’re amazing, and you’ll need a lot of guards going forward.”
…Though I don’t need that many.
The brain beast jumped into his arms and rubbed its face against his chest.
Startled at first, my cousin then gave a small smile and gently stroked it.
“I want to get stronger too. I know I was a bad master… but I hope this poor little one doesn’t disappear.”
In the original story, the heroine—and also an awakened beast contractor I met in my third life—once said this:
That sacred beasts and their contractors are life companions, bound deeply.
If my cousin really erased his own sacred beast in our previous lives… what a tragic thing that must have been.
“I won’t look away anymore.”
Watching him make this resolution, I smiled brightly.
Watching someone recover from despair—or overcome hardship—was always a joy.
There were times in my miserable life when that was my only solace.
“Even though Oppa’s not a patient, technically.”
Maybe I should call this “growth.”
Keep going just like this, Oppa. I don’t want you turning into a villain.
“Wow, you actually said something pretty admirable, huh?”
“Don’t touch me, please.”
“What the—?”
My uncle tried to pat my cousin’s head, but my cousin dodged like it was the plague.
Meanwhile, the brain beast was somehow back in my arms, rubbing against me enthusiastically.
“…Cute. Like a baby chick.”
Smiling, I patted its head, then slowly looked up.
My cousin had chosen to face his fear—believing in hope and the future.
“Then I should face it too.”
I thought it wouldn’t be a problem even if I didn’t.
I believed I could live this life well without that person.
But after saying all that to my cousin, it’d be ridiculous to turn away now.
I opened my eyes wide.
I would go find the man called Dad.
They say strike while the iron is hot. So I changed clothes and headed out immediately.
“Haa…”
I caught my breath.
“They both looked shocked when I said I was going to see Dad.”
I’d pushed away both my uncle and cousin who wanted to accompany me—and came alone.
First life, second life, third life… until now.
He never once came looking for me.
“I have to stay calm.”
If I’ve decided to face him—
I need to think about how I’ll use him. Where I might need him.
To be honest, if I want to make the heroine the head of the family and achieve what I want, it’s better to have that “Dad” on our side.
With my tiny hand, I smacked my own cheek.
“All right.”
Mom died early from an illness. Even then, Dad never came looking for her.
I know what kind of illness it was.
Three lifetimes’ worth of overheard info taught me a lot.
Black Fever.
My father.
Let’s go to him, propose a deal, and treat each other purely as business partners.
“…I don’t need anything like a ‘Daddy’ in my life.”
Muttering to myself like a vow, I ran off.
How long did I walk?
Eventually, I reached the garden at the far east corner of the estate.
At the very end of the garden stood a massive tree.
I was out of breath, my heart thudding uncomfortably. For a three-year-old, this was a long journey.
“Huff…”
I walked a bit further and looked up.
There it was—an enormous cherry blossom tree in full bloom.
I’d heard it always bloomed beautifully in spring.
But in my past lives, I’d never once cared about it.
Under that tree was a tall man, reclining casually against the trunk.
Jet-black hair down to his waist. A refined forehead.
If my youngest uncle had the sharp aura of a nobleman, this man was something entirely different—a relaxed, dreamy kind of handsome.
Graceful eyes. Long lashes. A perfectly straight nose.
He looked like a painting—almost too beautiful to be of this world.
Yet somehow…
His face looked like that of someone who had given up on many things.
He seemed both detached and resigned.
That man was Heuk Bihu.
My father.
I walked straight up to him and stood before him.
Crimson eyes slowly moved.
He had sensed my presence already but pretended otherwise as he slowly turned his head.
We quietly stared at each other.
His loose hair swayed gently in the spring breeze.
“Pretty little child.”
A dry, emotionless—but strangely pleasant—voice addressed me.
“Who are you?”
Even though the voice was kind, I felt a sudden rush of emotion.
I’m the daughter you abandoned in four different lifetimes.
I swallowed down the words I couldn’t bring myself to say.
Just once, I wanted to say it like this.
With resentment.
“Hello, mister.”
