Epilogue: Harvest
I look at Yu Daon smiling before me.
Lately, my life has always been the same.
Taking care of my wives, doing housework, fulfilling my responsibilities as the head of the household.
It was only natural. And besides, it wasn't particularly difficult.
The only thing that had changed was that Park Ye-eun occasionally came over to help with the housework.
"But isn't it hard for you?"
A question Park Ye-eun had asked me one day while I was folding laundry came to mind.
"'Hard'?"
"No, well... Um... You could get tired of this kind of thing, right?"
And I had answered like this.
"It's nothing. I actually like it."
"Really?"
"From the beginning, all of this was a fight just to maintain a daily life like this."
"..."
"So, thinking about it the other way, I'm currently enjoying life immensely."
"That's a very 'Oppa'-like answer."
Is that so?
But that thought was brief.
"..."
Right now, I was just sitting blankly in the hospital room.
It wasn't because of any major issue.
No, depending on how you look at it, it is a big deal.
Since there isn't much time left now, everyone else had headed to the hospital.
And keeping the mother-to-be from getting bored in the hospital room is also part of the husband's role.
"Are you worried about something?"
Lost in thought for a moment, I snap back to attention upon hearing Yu Daon's voice.
"No. It's nothing."
"Really, it's nothing?"
"It is."
"That's a relief."
Yu Daon smiles, and she turns her gaze elsewhere.
"But I also think it's a relief."
Stroking her belly, Yu Daon mutters.
"I really thought something big was going to happen."
"..."
"I'm really glad nothing happened."
Yu Daon lets out a sigh of relief.
"But we should always be careful."
"By the way, Daon."
"Yes?"
Yu Daon tilts her head.
"No, not just Daon..."
As I speak, I hear rustling sounds.
Everyone else was looking at me.
That's right.
We had completely rented out a large room in the Management Bureau for this situation.
The beds were excellent, too.
If a hospital bed is too hard, sleeping becomes a pain every day. If you lie down for just a day or two, your back gets sore and it just hurts.
Anyway.
Under the gaze of the others, I clear my throat awkwardly. I didn't really want to attract this much attention.
"Have you thought about how you'll raise the child?"
"You say that as if you haven't thought about it at all."
Song A-rin retorts sharply, and as soon as I hear her words, I reflexively shake my head.
"Don't misunderstand. I have my own educational principles."
"What are they?"
"Two main ones."
I hold up two fingers.
I've always thought that before having a child, you should think about how you'll raise them.
And I decided to stick to just two things.
"First, not to pass by after seeing another's pain."
I fold down one finger.
"And second, to act politely."
"...Is that enough?"
"I plan to discuss the rest with the children themselves and coordinate."
It's not something I can force on my own, is it? Like all things, nothing can be done alone.
"..."
Hearing my words, Song A-rin crosses her arms and sinks into thought.
"...I..."
"I was asked first, A-rin?"
"...Fine, do as you please."
Yu Daon raises her hand, and Song A-rin sighs.
"As for me..."
Yu Daon closes her eyes.
"I want to teach them about infinite love."
"Infinite love?"
"No matter what happens... Well, of course, if they do something bad, they should be scolded."
Yu Daon smiles with her eyes still closed.
"But still, I want them to know that in the end, family is always waiting for them."
Yu Daon slowly opens her eyes.
"From the beginning to the end, I didn't have a family waiting for me. So, conversely, I hope my child always has a place to return to."
"...I understand."
So, Yu Daon always wanted to be a parent her child could rely on.
Thinking that, I turn my gaze to Jang Chae-yeon.
"...Me."
Jang Chae-yeon opens and closes her mouth repeatedly.
"In life, there are many hard times."
Jang Chae-yeon mutters.
"Of course, you always have to solve your own hardships."
"..."
"So, I just want to be by their side."
"By their side?"
"When things are hard, having no one by your side is the most miserable feeling."
Jang Chae-yeon mutters, and at her words, someone flinches as if struck. I won't say who.
"Back then, I thought it would have been okay if someone had just been there beside me."
"Is that enough?"
"Of course, if they ask for help, I intend to do my best to help them."
Jang Chae-yeon looks at me and smiles softly.
"In the end, overcoming things is their own role, but we can do our best to offer a hand, right?"
"..."
"That's something someone told me."
"That was you, wasn't it?"
"What can I do? A wife inevitably resembles her husband. And vice versa."
I avert my gaze from Jang Chae-yeon, who's smiling mischievously, and look at Song A-rin.
"...Do I really have to do this?"
"You don't have to. Then, Eileen-"
"I said I'll do it, I'll do it. I was just a little embarrassed."
Song A-rin says hurriedly and starts clearing her throat.
Ahem. "First of all, I..."
Song A-rin continues.
"..."
She pauses for a moment.
"A-rin?"
"..."
Her expression isn't good. Is she worried about something?
"...A-rin."
"...It's nothing."
Slowly, Song A-rin turns her gaze away.
"I just had one brief worry."
"What is it?"
"...What if the child loves me?"
"Isn't a child loving their parent... normal?"
At Song A-rin's muttering, Yu Daon tilts her head in confusion, but I knew exactly what she meant.
Song A-rin isn't worried about receiving the child's love.
It's because there's no way to prove it.
Song A-rin is different from others; she needs proof.
Proof that the reason the child loves her isn't because of her.
What if a young child, the moment they see Song A-rin, falls under her hypnosis and likes her?
That must be Song A-rin's worry and fear.
If that's the case, then the moment Song A-rin brings the child into the world, she will receive the child's unconditional love.
"..."
Song A-rin closes and opens her eyes, then looks at me.
There was only one thing I could say to her.
"Don't worry."
"..."
"If anything happens, I'll be here."
In the one-in-ten-thousand chance that Song A-rin really had no choice but to brainwash the child with her ability, it's my duty to fix it.
"It's our child, after all."
"..."
Song A-rin's gaze, having heard my answer, turns to me.
"I..."
She muttered in a fading voice.
"I don't hope for much."
"..."
"Just... I hope they live true to themselves. Saying they like what they like, and dislike what they dislike..."
Her voice slowly trails off as Song A-rin brushes a hand over her knee.
"Don't worry."
"Yeah, I should."
At my words, Song A-rin nods, but I'm not sure if she truly understood what I meant.
"And... Eileen..."
"Me."
As if she'd made a decision at my words, Eileen opens her mouth without even seeming to ponder.
"I'll just be a parent."
"Huh?"
"Just... I intend to do everything I can for them."
Eileen gives an awkward smile.
"I mean it literally. I don't know what my child will want either."
"..."
"So, well. Then I'll just have to do everything."
"What if they develop bad habits that way?"
"I've known my husband for quite a while."
Eileen looks at me and laughs playfully.
"He doesn't seem like the type to raise a child poorly."
"Are you entrusting it to me?"
"No. It's more like, let's do well together, you and me."
Well, with that, I have nothing more to say.
I turn my gaze to Lee Ha-neul.
To be honest, I was the most curious about her.
I was really curious about what Lee Ha-neul would say about how to raise a child.
"..."
Lee Ha-neul, whose eyes met mine, narrows her eyes slightly.
"You were the most curious about me, weren't you?"
"I think others besides me would also be curious about what you think."
As soon as my words end, the others nod in agreement.
Lee Ha-neul glares at the others for a moment, then lets out a deep sigh.
"Alright. I figured as much, so I should speak too."
What will Lee Ha-neul suggest? For the record, I'm willing to allow up to being the Queen Mother of Joseon.
"Just, well. I plan to raise them healthily."
"Is that all?"
"Good grief. Don't you know health is the most important thing?"
Lee Ha-neul looks at me as if it's absurd.
"Whatever it is, if you're sick, it's all useless. If you're sick, work is hard, and just living is hard."
"No, that's true, but..."
"Then isn't this the best? What's that saying? What if the kid is always sickly!"
"Didn't the others all take good health as a given when they spoke?"
At my words, the others nod.
See? Everyone thinks health is a given.
"Anyway, I think health is the best."
How can she sound so much like a grandmother? My grandmother also repeatedly told me that health is the most important.
Thinking that, I nod.
"Without frequent illnesses."
"That's right."
Yeah. That should be enough.
Thinking that, I lean back.
"...Me."
The blunt voice of the Manual pierces my ears.
Slowly turning my head, I see the Manual with her arms crossed, staring straight at me.
"Why didn't you ask me?"
"Ah."
"What do you mean, 'ah'? Hey, I'm really getting upset, you know?"
The Manual furrows her brow, and I hurriedly open my mouth.
"It's not that."
"Try to explain."
"You don't have a child yet."
"So?"
"So I'll ask you then."
"..."
"..."
My gaze and the Manual's clash for a moment.
"...Fine. Then I'll prepare an answer for that time."
The Manual uncrosses her arms and lets out a sigh.
Seeing that, I also let out a sigh of relief and sank into thought for a moment.
Time flows on, eventually.
And the time for the harvest was approaching.
Little by little, but endlessly continuing.