Day 18.

The day of descending from Mount Taehu.

When Ichino Jun left to retrieve his parked car, two Three-Eyed Dogs came down to the entrance of the mountain and were watching Rohan.

'They're back again?'

They blinked their three eyes while looking this way.

With runny, moist noses and short, chubby legs. Except for the extra eye, they were exactly like countryside puppies.

Watching the two dogs whimpering and wagging their tails, Rohan fell into contemplation.

'Should I try it?'

What came to mind were the Animal Conversation Potion for 700 points or the Monster Conversation Potion available for 800 points.

He was debating whether to drink one or not.

Rohan had a compulsion to save points in case of worst-case scenarios. While he didn't hesitate to use them when necessary, he usually tried to reduce consumption whenever possible.

'Even with surplus points, it's hard to gather 700 points without quests.'

But here, he was leaning toward spending.

There was something about them.

According to Ichino Jun, Three-Eyed Dogs were Yimae Mangryang—beings that don't follow humans. Seeing how they kept following him made him curious about the reason.

He opened the store menu and scrolled down.

◇ Monster Conversation Potion - 800P

◇ Animal Conversation Potion - 700P

'He said Three-Eyed Dogs existed before the dimensional rifts, so they're not monsters. Should I consider them animals in a broader sense?'

In some ways, Yimae Mangryang could be considered monsters. But he wasn't sure if they fit Abyss City's criteria for monsters.

The problem was that he wasn't confident they fell under the animal category either.

'In the worst case, I might drink both and still get no effect.'

He decided to spend 700 points to purchase the Animal Conversation Potion. He drank it without hesitation.

Fortunately, the effect appeared immediately.

─ What should we do? Should we just go back?

─ I guess humans can't talk to us after all...

He could hear them. It was amazing. The Three-Eyed Dogs were speaking.

Rohan approached the two puppies and crouched down.

"...Don't go back, wait a bit."

─ You, you can hear our voices?!

─ Wow! You really are a special human!

The dogs' short, thick tails wagged more vigorously than before.

While petting the puppies, Rohan asked.

"You came all the way here for a reason, right?"

─ That's right! I'm so glad we can tell you now!

─ Your hands are so warm!

Were they really just puppies, as they appeared to be?

They were thoroughly enjoying Rohan's petting even while talking.

"What do you want to tell me?"

─ We're Three-Eyed Dogs, so we can see calamities with our three eyes!

"Calamities...? That's quite something to see."

─ Yes! We see amazing things! Isn't that great?

─ So we came to warn you! Because you're a human with kind and warm energy!

"I don't think I'm that kind of human... Anyway, is some calamity going to happen to me?"

─ In the future!

─ You'll encounter the Void Whale!

"..."

It was a true calamity delivered in innocent voices.

Ignoring the sensation of being speechless, he asked.

"...When will I encounter it?"

─ We don't know!

─ You might not encounter it if fate changes! There are countless high-level variables in the world!

Despite their words, Rohan gained an inexplicable certainty.

The certainty that he would encounter the Void Whale someday.

─ And be careful when you meet the being beyond it! Whatever it says is all lies! You must never believe it!

─ It pretends to be nice but is very bad! They said you need to become as strong as possible!

As the puppies barked out these words, Rohan recalled a video he had seen in the past.

The video he watched after viewing Restricted#3.

[Abyss City 5.0 Version PV: "The Betrayers of Humanity"]

He had seen a PV where the Betrayers of Humanity, including the Omega who died at the hands of the protagonist, entered and exited the mouth of the Void Whale.

As expected, it became clear that they had met someone.

"Who's beyond the Void Whale?"

─ We don't know! Mom said it's a very dangerous being!

─ Mom said even she couldn't defeat it!

"Mom?"

─ Yes! Mom told us to tell you because you're a kind human! That's why Mom has to sleep for a long time!

─ Mom has to sleep because she revealed heavenly secrets!

"..."

The situation was confusing. He was at a loss for words.

While organizing his thoughts and petting the Three-Eyed Dogs, one of them barked.

─ You need to become much stronger than that human over there!

Following the dog's words, Rohan turned around to see Ichino Jun.

He was waiting at a distance, seemingly not wanting to interfere with the interaction with the Yimae Mangryang.

─ Ah! The pork and rice cakes that human offered to the mountain were delicious! Please tell him!

─ Mom liked them too! They were made with sincerity!

"I'll tell him. Wait a moment."

─ But don't mention the heavenly secrets!

─ It's a secret!

Nodding in agreement, Rohan stood up and conveyed the Three-Eyed Dogs' gratitude to the waiting Ichino Jun.

Though his expression didn't change much, Rohan could tell he was genuinely surprised by the way his eyes tensed when hearing about the pork and rice cakes.

After telling Ichino Jun he would finish up and return, Rohan continued his conversation with the Three-Eyed Dogs.

"Your mom is asleep, but are you two okay?"

─ We're fine!

─ Eating is just play for us!

They said they couldn't leave Mount Taehu because they promised their mother. So lingering at the mountain entrance was as far as they could go.

Petting the endearing Three-Eyed Dogs, Rohan made a promise.

"Thank you. So the one inside the Void Whale is a very vile being, right? I'll be careful."

─ You're smart!

─ A kind and warm human!

Before returning home, Rohan and Ichino Jun bought food and placed it at the temple on Mount Taehu.

After watching the Three-Eyed Dogs appear and eat the food, Ichino Jun promised to regularly leave food on the mountain, either by sending someone or coming himself.

Afterward, Rohan rode in the car driven by Ichino Jun toward the capital of the Three Harmonies Nation.

*****

Today was the day Ichino Jun had said he would return.

Having finished training earlier than usual, Momo was cooking in the kitchen with Yui.

Skillfully cutting and preparing fish, Momo shared an interesting story with her daughter, who was excitedly helping with the cooking.

"Yui."

"Yes."

"Do you know what message I got from your father earlier?"

"A message from Father? Is... is it related to Rohan...?"

"Of course~ You wouldn't believe how surprised I was when I saw your father's message."

"...A story that surprised you, Mother?"

Ung-ae-no-se stopped helping with the cooking. As usual, she closed her eyes and thought hard.

Despite her brilliant mind, there were too few elements to deduce the answer.

Watching her daughter struggle, Momo raised the corners of her mouth.

She read the message exactly as she had received it.

"Returning with son-in-law."

"What?"

"It said he's returning with his son-in-law. Isn't it fascinating? Your father isn't one to joke around."

"?!"

Understanding the meaning, Ung-ae-no-se's lips trembled. Her face turned as red as a ripe apple.

She opened her eyes and quickly looked around to see if anyone else had heard.

"I'm looking forward to having grandchildren soon~"

"M-Mother! I haven't even started dating yet..."

"Hehe, Yui, you're really like your father. So cautious, testing the waters—just like him."

"..."

"But in your father's case, I took the initiative to resolve things. Looking at the situation, I don't think Cadet Rohan will take the lead either."

Ung-ae-no-se fell silent. Momo, feeling affection for her daughter who was good at everything except romance, continued.

"I'm curious about something. Has Yui done it?"

"Done what...?"

"From what I've heard~ when men from polygamous cultures meet women from the Three Harmonies Nation, they consider it important whether the woman can accept their contrasting culture. Have you ever expressed this to Cadet Rohan?"

"Ah."

It was a blind spot. Ung-ae-no-se had never revealed such values to Rohan.

She had only made up her mind internally to accept it.

'Mother is absolutely right!'

This was a crucial issue.

From Rohan's perspective, she might appear to be a woman who adheres to monogamy.

If she didn't bring it up in the context of another topic, it would be an awkward question for Rohan to ask first.

And unbeknownst to Ung-ae-no-se, Juyeon had already made such an appeal to Rohan.

Similarly, she had revealed her open-minded values while giving dating advice to Clara, who also came from a monogamous culture.

"So our daughter needs to put in more effort in various ways, right? How about entering the medicinal bath with Cadet Rohan in swimwear when he returns?"

"Ah, uh, th-that..."

"He must be exhausted from staying in the mountains. Yui could at least help massage Rohan's muscles, right?"

At this point, Momo had no intention of hearing her daughter's answer. She knew Yui wouldn't easily come to a decision.

She simply washed her hands and left her spot, sensing the timely arrival of footsteps.

"Your father has arrived early. I wonder if he came so quickly because he missed me~"

And Rohan had returned as well.

Ung-ae-no-se finally snapped out of her frozen state and followed behind Momo.