“I should go now. I have to get back before 1 o’clock.”
I stared blankly at the two of them, then put the rat down on the ground.
Then the one who whirled around to look at me stomped his feet on the ground and gestured for me to come closer.
I tilted my head and brought my ear close. Then the rat pressed against my ear and whispered quietly.
“What are you doing being here? What if you receive Heavenly Punishment!”
“I have an appointment with Bihyeon-nim. Coming by force was…”
I tried to say it wasn’t.
If only I hadn’t happened to see something huge flying toward us after a mystical sound—peee—rang out. I swallowed my words, and the moment I confirmed a bird was landing precisely here, I hugged the rat tightly in my arms.
Crash!
A giant bird that landed right next to me looked around, then saw me.
It was a bird with a five-colored pattern as beautiful as silk. The White Tiger who discovered the bird swished his tail. He who had been lying down in the pavilion at some point slowly got up from his seat.
So surprised, I opened my eyes wide and stood there blankly, and the rat smacked my arm repeatedly.
“What are you going to do blocking me!”
“Ah…”
It was truly a reflexive action. Thinking it was dangerous, without realizing it…
Ahaha, when I laughed awkwardly, Bihyeon looked at me with a strange expression. The White Tiger, who had been watching us, came down to the ground and approached the bird that had something in its mouth.
“Is it Hongju?”
Bihyeon took what was in its mouth and read it. Hmm, he raised his eyebrows and laughed softly.
“He says he’s bringing alcohol later.”
“…I should sleep a bit more then.”
“You’re not going to the festival?”
“I want to go, but my body won’t follow. I’ll rest a bit, then when Hongju comes later, we’ll go together.”
“Alright.”
Bihyeon, who stroked the bird’s head, looked at me and gestured.
“We’ll go first.”
When I put down the rat from my arms, the one who clicked his tongue tapped my leg.
“Humans can die even from that wingbeat. Please live carefully, you!”
“Yes, I will.”
“You’re only good at talking! Do you even know what state you’re in right now? It’s the worst. There’s a lot of ominous energy flowing!”
The rat, who had been sniffing, spoke in a prickly yet worried manner. Soon he checked the time and bowed his head to Bihyeon.
“Really be careful, human, got it?”
“Yes, I will.”
“I’m going!”
The rat who waved his hands urgently rushed out through the back door.
The worst… does that mean a strange smell is coming out again? I raised my arm and sniffed, then sighed quietly. Then I felt a gaze and turned my head. My eyes met directly with Bihyeon’s. He, who had been looking at me with a strange expression, draped the durumagi that had been on his shoulder around my shoulders.
“Try not to stray far from my side.”
“Uh, um…”
I can’t promise that…
“…Should we hold hands?”
Bihyeon, who had been watching my reaction, laughed. Though he seemed to have said it playfully, somehow it contained sincerity. It looked like eyes saying to just hold hands before causing trouble, but I smiled awkwardly and shook my head.
“If I feel like I’ll get lost, I’ll grab your clothes, Bihyeon-nim.”
“Do as you like.”
Creak—
The door opened. As I crossed through the door with Bihyeon, I looked back.
“Ah, wait a moment.”
I almost forgot. I went back inside and ate the small rice cake the rat had given me that I’d brought separately in my shopping bag. Though small in size, it was really delicious.
After wiping the corners of my mouth, I turned around and ran back to Bihyeon.
The palace household members were waving at us. Smiling, I bowed my head and stood beside him who was standing a bit ahead waiting for me.
Right in front, I could see a festival street lit with splendid lights.
The sight of tents set up selling goods and food seemed no different from human festivals. Of course, all the beings inside the tents and walking on the street were all non-human existences.
Since there were also appearances I’d never seen before that weren’t animals or insects, I stuck close to Bihyeon’s side.
…It was fascinating yet I was already getting anxious. To walk around freely, there were quite a considerable number of other-worlders on the street.
I’m really not going to get caught being human, right? I looked at Bihyeon with anxious eyes. He, who had been tilting his head looking at me, grabbed my arm and pulled slightly.
“Let’s go.”
Ah, whatever.
It’ll be fine since Bihyeon is here.
…It’ll be fine, right? This man, he’s not going to abandon me, right…?
“I won’t abandon you.”
“Really…? Wait, you can read minds too?”
“I can’t. Your eyes just looked like you were worried about being abandoned.”
He’s like a ghost… ah, a deity, right.
I sniffled and went to the entrance to look at the tents from the start. What they were selling was no different from human festivals either. Though I didn’t know what kind of meat it was, they were selling skewers, and shaved ice too…
“Wow…”
Above all, the faces of those walking around with food were bright. As we passed by, if there were those who recognized Bihyeon, they would bow and greet us, brightly saying congratulations on his birthday.
With cheerful music coming from the street, my mood naturally improved and I smiled.
“What do you want to eat?”
Bihyeon, who had been glancing at my face, laughed lowly and pointed at the skewers I was looking at.
“I didn’t bring cash…”
“I’ll buy it. Can’t I even do that for a guest who came to play?”
Rather than coming to play, I came to congratulate him on his birthday…
But I wanted to try it. I was curious what food sold by non-human beings would taste like. All the cafe drink flavors were exactly the same as human cafes though.
I glanced at Bihyeon and nodded my head vigorously.
“What kind of skewer is that?”
“Chicken and vegetables. It’s no different from the human world.”
Bihyeon, who told me this and took me to the skewer shop, smiled playfully.
“Ah, there’s crocodile too. And lizard.”
Lizard? Cro… crocodile?
I heard they eat them in some countries in the human world too but…
I felt repulsed first and stepped back one step, going “Ugh.” Bihyeon, who had been pointing at the skewers, laughed and asked for chicken, taking out a small pouch from his breast.
“Oh, isn’t that Bihyeon-nim? Congratulations on your birthday.”
“Yes. How are your legs these days?”
“Thanks to you, I’m getting by.”
The owner who smiled brightly and spoke softly came out and handed the longest skewers to Bihyeon and me.
“Huh? Thank you.”
He gave us twice the size of regular skewers?
I bowed my head and received it.
“No need for money. How could I take money from Bihyeon-nim and his guest?”
Suddenly Bihyeon laughed loudly.
The one who firmly declined even when money was silently offered pushed us away, telling us to hurry and look around elsewhere.
“Do you know how many people came out to congratulate Bihyeon-nim this time? Both of you have a happy time!”
Bow.
After greeting, I turned around and stared at the skewer, then glanced at Bihyeon.
It seems not all other-worlders are afraid of Bihyeon. Looking at their expressions, they held emotions closer to respect than fear in their eyes.
Well, even Boss Ppik’s group, though they’re afraid of being punished for making mistakes with Bihyeon, they don’t seem to dislike him at all.
‘He’s loved. That’s good.’
…That’s good?
Why do I feel proud about this man being loved?
Thinking blankly, I took a bite from the top and chewed.
“Is it delicious?”
“Yes.”
I held it out asking if he wanted to try, then belatedly remembered that he also had the same thing.
As I said “Oh” and tried to take it back, Bihyeon lowered his head and took a very small bite of mine.
“Mm, that one seems more delicious.”
I looked at his face smiling with his eyes as if pleased, then turned my gaze away.
What… so he knows how to smile like that too. Is he smiling this prettily now because he’s comfortable with me?
Sniffling while looking elsewhere, ah, I don’t know. Thinking that, I grabbed Bihyeon’s collar and pulled. There was still so much to see.
Cotton candy, shaved ice… and even places selling fruit juice. Admiring the scenery that was familiar yet unfamiliar, I confirmed someone approaching us and stepped back one step.
“Hey! Aren’t you Hansol?”
‘Hm?’
A being who knows my name, but I don’t know such a golden fish…?
Huh? A fish?
“Eoun-nim!”
I didn’t recognize him at first because of his different appearance from usual. Where did the fishbowl he usually wore go, and with water floating around his golden glowing face while holding an umbrella, I thought he was a different being.
Seeming surprised himself, the fish who approached in hanbok went “Oh my!” and covered his mouth with wide eyes. Then he approached me and smacked my shoulders repeatedly, saying he was glad to see me.
His eyes looked so excited that I couldn’t quite say it hurt and said in broken words, “I’m, glad, too,” and Bihyeon smiled and tapped the fish’s shoulder as if telling him to stop.
“Oh my! Hello. Congratulations on your birthday, Bihyeon-nim.”
“Yes.”
I didn’t know he was golden colored. Ah, come to think of it, the fishbowl color was deep blue, so I couldn’t see the color well.
“Eoun-nim, the fishbowl…”
Is it okay without the fishbowl?
When I looked with slightly worried eyes, he smiled.
“It’s fine! That place is the boundary closest to the human world, so I can’t breathe well and use it… This place is fine.”
Ah, I see.
Fish-nim, you’re originally this color. It’s pretty. My eyes sparkled as I looked at him and smiled slightly. Seeing him like this, I was glad.
“Is my body color fascinating? I’ve become grimy from working.”
At the voice saying my gaze was embarrassing, I jerked my head up.
“Did I stare too much? I’m sorry. It’s such a pretty color…”
I opened my eyes wide and quickly lowered my gaze. At my sincere words, he who had opened his eyes wide as if surprised goes “Ahaha” and laughs. A very brief silence flowed, so I thought I made a mistake. Then at the cold feeling touching my cheek, I raised my head.
Around me, water droplets moved like dancing in the air, and I could see a very faint rainbow floating around them.
“Wow…”
“I hope today becomes another memorable and joyful day for you.”
Ah…
You remembered what I said back then.
I smiled brightly and nodded. Bihyeon, who had been staring at me, soon looked at the water droplets and raised his hand to move his fingers.
The water droplets spread further and small fish were created. The sight of those small things moving as if swimming and spinning around us was beautiful, making me smile brightly.
It’s pretty. And… strangely, my heart fluttered.
