Chapter 10 - Elemental King
『 Translator – Divinity 』
The unidentified egg was now in a state where various spots had formed, different from its appearance when first seen.
Absorbing the Golden Apples grown from the earth, golden and earth-colored spots formed, and since it also absorbed the Orb of Wind, Orb of Water, and Orb of Fire, other colored spots like a rainbow also formed.
Paat—!
And finally, the egg cracked and a form was revealed.
A cute baby reveals its appearance, smiling brightly.
...Just a moment, a baby?
"Pya!"
What is this happening? A baby came out of the egg.
"Ppa! Ah, Ppa!"
"...Dada?"
I slowly approached the little fellow. I didn't forget to glance at the system window, sending a look towards the Constellations.
(Anonymous 1): That guy's giving us the look asking for information right now, isn't he?
(God of Rain and Sunlight): A bastard who really knows how to abuse power....
(Father of Crops): I'm curious too, so can't anyone tell me who that is?
(God of Rain and Sunlight): Why should I?
(Water God of Cheongha): Seems you're not afraid of the chat ban.
At Habaek's words, I smirked and raised my hand. It was silent pressure, threatening a chat ban if they didn't immediately say what they knew.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): That's an Elemental King. I just remembered now. Since it was born having absorbed the Golden Apple from the earth, the Orb of Water, the Orb of Fire, and the Orb of Wind, it must surely be an Elemental that can use all four great elements.
Based on the information he knew and his own deductions, the God of Rain and Sunlight began to spill the beans readily.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): Elementals have their own unique elemental bodies; usually, low-grade Elementals are translucent without an elemental body. From mid-grade Elementals onwards, they can exist in animal-like forms. Possessing a human form is impossible for anyone but an Elemental King.
(Anonymous 1): An Elemental King who can wield all four elements... Jinwoo might die if things go wrong. In my homeland, even an Elemental King of just one element rivaled a Dragon.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): Yeah, an Elemental King wielding all four elements only appears in legends. It seems the egg itself had special power, and because the things you had it absorb were related to the four great elements, such a monster came out.
"...I'm in big trouble."
They say it rivals a Dragon.
No, since it can wield all four elements, it must be stronger than a Dragon.
And such a creature is calling me Papa.
"Ppa!"
The little fellow raised wind with a single hand gesture.
"Kkyareureuk—!"
Perhaps finding it fun to use its power right after being born, it giggled 'Kkyareureuk' and patted its belly.
(Anonymous 1): ...Can an Elemental King be that cute? I really don't know.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): It really is cute.
(Water God of Cheongha): ...Let's take this opportunity to raise it well. It's really cute.
(Father of Crops): What are you going to name it?
I approached the little fellow just born from the egg, and it touched my finger and giggled 'Kkyareureuk' again.
"Ppa! Ah, Ppa!"
The little fellow, calling me Appa while waving a finger once.
At that, the broken eggshell pieces gathered around me. It seems to have moved them using wind, but they moved smoothly as if using telekinesis.
The little fellow crunched down on the eggshell fragments it had brought over.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): Since it's just born, it must be lacking nutrients; it's trying to replenish them. Because eggshells contain a lot of mana.
The little fellow, having devoured all those large eggshell pieces, smiled brightly.
"Hehe!"
Honestly, it's really cute. Big eyes, small hands, a high-bridged nose. It was a cuteness that seemed like it could make it as a celebrity.
"Hic!"
Hiccuping, it breathes out a finger-sized flame.
A slightly scary but cute feeling.
(Anonymous 1): Ah, I asked what you're going to name it!
"A name...."
Since things have turned out like this, I have no choice but to raise this child. They say it's an Elemental King with potential stronger than a Dragon, and one that can wield all four elements at that, and it was born right in front of me.
How could I pretend not to know such a creature and just go my own way? I have no choice but to raise it.
Moreover, a situation where I've been acknowledged as 'Papa' by such a child. It felt like big trouble would occur in many ways if I left.
Being terminally ill, the fact that I would die before the little fellow weighed on my mind a bit, but still, shouldn't I raise it well while I'm alive?
"A name...."
I sat for a moment and pondered.
"Esteemed Constellations, what would be a good name? Preferably, I'd like it to be a pretty name."
Yes, since I've decided to raise it, I should try raising it well for the remaining year.
Therefore, I wanted to give it a good name, the first button of its life.
I think the moment a name is bestowed upon a person is the starting point of their life. Because from now on, everyone will call them by their name.
(Anonymous 1): Haengbok.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): Elqui.
(Father of Crops): Sagwa.
(Water God of Cheongha): I want to beat the crap out of the naming sense of the three above.
I nodded as if agreeing with Habaek's opinion.
"I'm naming a daughter, not making a game character."
(Anonymous 1): Then, bastard, why ask others for something so important? You decide.
At the sulking Anonymous 1's words, I nodded vaguely.
"Kim Byeol?"
It was a name that naturally came to mind while looking at her sparkling eyes.
"Pya! Kim... Byeol! Byeo-eol!"
It seems she likes it.
Smiling, I touched the little one's cheek.
"Are there any clothes?"
I looked in my bag to see if there was anything wearable. Since there was nothing for Byeol to wear besides a small blanket, I first wrapped the blanket around her body.
At that moment.
"Jinwoo hyung! I'm here! ...Huh?"
(Anonymous 1): Two cute kids appearing like this, is it a Burning Event?
How on earth does a Constellation know the term Burning Event? These days, my illusions about Constellations are shattering anew.
"Gasp! A baby!"
"Suho, say hello. Her name is Kim Byeol."
"Her name is Kim Byeol?"
"Yep."
"Byeol, hello!"
"Ppiya! Ppiya!"
At the appearance of the new person, Byeol smiled brightly and waved her small hands vigorously. Compared to the power she possessed, the little one liked people immensely and laughed a lot.
I resolved that from now on, during my remaining life, I must raise Byeol well so she doesn't go astray.
It was a silent resolve, but my mouth felt bitter. Although I think it will work out somehow, truthfully, because I was terminally ill, future matters were complicated and worrisome.
Forcing a smile, I looked at Suho and Byeol.
"Super cute!!"
"Haha, right?"
"But who is Byeol? She wasn't here yesterday...."
As if fully understanding Suho's words, Byeol looked at me.
(Anonymous 1): Since she's a being on the level of an Elemental King, translation magic naturally activated. Her growth will also be much faster than ordinary Elementals, meaning she understands speech.
"Byeol is my daughter."
Season 1 Dad declaration.
Who would have known my life would turn out like this? While receiving sponsorships and broadcasting to Constellations, I abruptly ended up becoming the dad of an Elemental King too.
"...! Daughter?"
Suho looked at my face.
It certainly is a face too young to be called 'Dad'.
"...Grandfather said to come eat dinner."
The kid didn't seem to find it particularly strange and called me.
(Anonymous 1): Seeing him hesitate like that, it looks like he wants to ask where the mom is.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): Indeed, seems he's curious but doesn't ask because he's worried it might hurt feelings. Cute.
Just like that, Suho went down below the mountain.
Setting Byeol aside for a moment, I picked up the Red Wolf meat I had stored yesterday.
Thanks to the characteristic of monster meat not spoiling easily even when left at room temperature to some extent, I could hang it on the cave wall without worry.
After trimming off the outer surface of the meat a little, I put it in a plastic bag. It was in order to eat the Red Wolf meat together with Suho's family.
"Byeol, shall we eat?"
"Bob?"
The corners of Byeol's mouth went up. Did she understand what 'let's eat' meant? I don't know about that. Seems like she's just smiling.
I swiftly lifted Byeol, who was wrapped in the blanket like gimbap.*
[N: Gimbap is a Korean dish featuring a seaweed rice roll filled with various ingredients.]
"Kkyareureuk—!"
Finding it fun, the little one roared with laughter and waved her hands. At that, the dirt scattered on the ground rose up and dispersed as if dancing.
"Byeol, that's amazing?"
"Hehe, 'mazing!"
Her speech improves with every passing minute and second. They said an Elemental King's growth is different from an ordinary person's; the Constellations' words were true.
"Byeol, that's amazing, but can you please not use that power carelessly whenever you want?"
The little one tilted her head sideways and made an 'Eh?' sound. She understood the words, but since fluent communication isn't possible yet, she throws question marks like that.
"You see, Byeol is a little more special than other people. So other people can't use the powers Byeol uses. Other people might be very surprised."
"Ppiya!"
The little one smiled and nodded her head.
* * *
Holding Byeol in my arms, I headed to Suho's house.
"Who is that child?"
"She's my daughter."
"...You had a daughter?"
It was a gaze asking, 'What about the mother?'
"She's a daughter born from the heart."
"...I see. You must have it tough at such a young age. Now, let's eat together."
Because I spoke with a face that implied many complex stories, Suho's grandfather and grandmother didn't ask further.
I handed them the Red Wolf meat, and the two smiled brightly and brought something from a room.
"Raising a child alone as a young man is extraordinarily hard. These, they're new clothes Suho barely wore when he was little."
Various kinds of innerwear, neatly stacked, are transferred to my hands.
Moved by the countryside generosity, I bowed my head in thanks.
"Thank you, these were really needed, thank you."
"Ppiya!"
Byeol also beamed, conveying her own form of gratitude, and due to her cuteness, the country house became a sea of laughter.