I Became A Married Man in Another World
Chapter 117
117. Refugees
The meaning of the Zentangle and the current state of his parents remained a mystery. They seemed to exist in a liminal space between life and death, belonging to neither.
Juhwan didn’t even know how long this state would last. He couldn’t be sure if they would remain like this for ten or twenty years, or if they would suddenly begin to decay one day.
The only certainty was that, with his current abilities, there was no way to bring them back.
Come to think of it, the drawings hadn’t depicted a scene of revival either. In fairy tales, a prince’s kiss brought the princess back to life, but in those drawings…
Despair rapidly seeped into his heart, which had been swelling with hope only moments ago. It felt as if a door that had been wide open just a second ago had been slammed shut in his face.
He felt as though Santa were mocking him.
“Damn it. After coming all this way.”
Juhwan slammed his fist into the ground.
Riji didn’t understand complicated things. Born the daughter of a simple country farmer, she usually only grasped about half of what Juhwan said.
Perhaps it was even less than half. Juhwan always chose his words carefully so she could understand him.
Riji didn’t quite understand the current phenomenon either. She didn’t know the significance of these vines or what those patterns Juhwan called Zentangles were.
She probably didn’t even know exactly what a Rudolph was. She thought she understood, but she lacked the judgment to know if her understanding was correct.
However, in this moment, she could tell one thing: Juhwan was in despair.
The man who always stood tall regardless of the circumstances, the husband who seemed stronger than anyone else, now looked as fragile as a crying child.
‘He was someone’s young child once, too.’
She felt as if she were realizing that fact for the first time. Her heart ached. It was a sharp, cutting pain, more intense than anything she had ever experienced. It was the first time she realized she could hurt this much for someone else. She wanted to do something for him. She wanted to stop his tears; she wanted to protect him.
Riji wrapped herself around Juhwan in a deep embrace.
The ground where Juhwan had struck was dented. He must have hit it with his bare fist, without shrouding it in mana. Blood was seeping from his knuckles.
His heart must hurt even more than his fist. She felt as though she could see Juhwan’s soul, weeping and screaming in silence.
“It’s okay. We can save them. They’ve stayed like this, unchanged, for decades, even centuries. I’m sure they’ll stay the same in the future, too. We have plenty of time.”
Riji pressed her lips to her husband’s head, just as Juhwan always did for her.
“If there was an old Santa Village, then there must be Santas somewhere. They must have migrated and built a village to live in elsewhere. We just have to find them and learn how. Let’s look for them.”
“…”
Juhwan pulled Riji into his arms. His grip was so tight it felt like her waist might break. Riji held her husband firmly as he buried his face in her chest.
“We might find something even before we meet a Santa. There must be someone out there who knows the meaning of these patterns. There have been many Rudolphs and Santa contractors in the past. There are surely people who met them and recorded their deeds. I know there are.”
“…Riji.”
“Let’s look for them. We’re still young, and we have plenty of time. We can hunt magic beasts and look for people who know about Santas and those patterns.”
“Riji.”
Seeing her husband’s vulnerability brought tears to her eyes. At the same time, she felt a sense of relief.
‘I have something to give, too. I’m not just receiving from him; I can give back.’
Riji stroked her husband’s hair, whispering in her heart.
‘I’ll make you happy. Even if I’m just a powerless wife who can’t do much, I will make you smile.’
Dorothy padded over and squeezed herself between Riji and Juhwan. Without fully understanding what was happening, the child spoke.
“Daddy, Dorothy will find them for you. Don’t worry. If I’m with Oz, we can find them in no time.”
Juhwan finally managed a small smile.
“Right, if our Dorothy looks for them, it’ll be quick.”
“Uh-huh, Daddy.”
“…”
Juhwan held Riji and Dorothy tightly. Spring flowers from the nameless mountain drifted down like snow, landing on the wooden coffins. Watching the petals, Juhwan murmured.
“One more step. I just need to take one more step. It took a long time to get here, and I’ve come a very long way, but it’s almost time.”
As if in response, flowers showered down in a flurry. Where were all these petals coming from? When he looked up, he saw beautiful spring flowers blooming from every node of the vines hanging high in the trees.
*
Juhwan buried his parents’ bodies back in the tomb.
He decided it would be better for them to be in the mana-rich earth with the protective vines rather than leaving them at room temperature. He speculated that the mana infused in the tomb might be playing a role in preserving the bodies.
Riji didn’t understand the mechanics of it. But since Juhwan had carefully checked the soil around the tomb before coming to that conclusion, she was sure he was right.
Juhwan visited Santa Village once more to look for clues. However, it seemed he found nothing special. Though he didn’t show it, he must have been disappointed. His shoulders were slumped slightly.
For a while after that, they prepared to head down to the city. Once there, they planned to look for information on how to revive his parents. They likely wouldn’t return to the cabin for some time, so there was much to do.
Juhwan went out to hunt as usual, while Riji focused on the final finishing touches of the hides to increase their value for the Guild.
She also put more effort into the family’s meals. She tried to make things Juhwan liked, experimenting with different spice combinations to ensure the food was to her husband’s satisfaction.
Juhwan was not a picky eater. He ate almost anything with gusto.
However, her husband had likely grown up eating very delicious food. When she varied the amount and type of salt or herbs, or paid extra attention to prepping the meat, his expression would change ever so slightly with each meal.
At first, she couldn’t tell the difference, but watching her husband’s face every day allowed her to learn.
Ah, today wasn’t quite right.
He liked it today.
Today was just okay.
He doesn’t like what he just ate.
He was different from Riji and Dorothy, who were satisfied as long as there was food and it tasted salty. Despite appearances, Juhwan was secretly quite fastidious about his palate. She figured it was because he had been accustomed to fine flavors for a long time. She had only realized this recently.
“…”
It felt a bit unfair that this was all she could do for her husband. She wished she could provide more direct help so he could find more strength. Riji felt regretful, but she had no choice but to do what she could. That was just how life was.
In her spare time, she practiced her letters. Dorothy seemed to enjoy studying with her father. Like a plant growing rapidly after a rain, she absorbed the characters and all sorts of stories.
In contrast, Riji’s progress was slow. According to Juhwan, a child’s mind was like a ‘sponge’—it absorbed everything quickly. It was only natural for adults not to be as fast as children.
If Juhwan said so, it must be true. That just meant she had to work harder. Riji carried her alphabet chart with her, memorizing it whenever she had a spare moment while doing laundry or preparing meals.
The thought of going to the city made her feel even more rushed. Anet was in the city. Riji took a small breath as she thought of her.
It was an obvious fact to anyone that Anet was interested in Juhwan. Juhwan didn’t seem to notice and appeared to think nothing of it, but when a woman became serious, she could change quite a bit.
She didn’t have to look far for proof. She remembered how her older and younger sisters had been before their marriage proposals. Their transformation to look their best and stand out, even with their meager means, just to secure a good marriage, had been remarkable. There were times she almost didn’t recognize them, even though she saw them every day.
‘Maybe I should pay more attention to my appearance, too.’
She thought it might be a good idea to visit the shop another wife had recommended once they reached the city. That woman had mentioned it several times whenever she met Riji.
[A woman’s beauty doesn’t last forever. I used to be called the prettiest girl in the village, but now I’m just a fat, frumpy middle-aged woman.
Riji, keep this in mind. Once your hips spread and your belly starts coming out, it’s over. Once it’s out, it doesn’t go back in. You’ll be stuck like that forever. But it’s not like you can stop that future from coming. It’s bound to happen eventually.
So, what should you do! You have to learn how to capture your husband’s heart before your looks fade. Everything you need for that is in that shop. Understand?]
Riji looked down at her stomach. It was still flat, but since meeting Juhwan and eating well, her thin skin seemed to be getting a bit thicker. She felt as though her skin was becoming soft and supple.
‘Besides…’
If she learned various things at that shop, Juhwan might cheer up a bit. He was quite fond of their nighttime hours together.
“…”
She decided she would definitely visit that shop the village women loved so much this time.
The food in this world tended to be bland. Commoners usually only used salt and a few herbs, and often even herbs were unavailable. Before meeting him, Riji seemed to have cooked with little more than a pinch of salt.
Even so, the food in this world, gathered or caught fresh, was quite tasty. Unlike food on Earth, it had a vibrant, natural flavor. Even just a sprinkle of salt made things taste quite good.
When he first arrived, he felt the food was a bit dull without pungent seasonings, but he had adapted quickly. His easygoing nature when it came to food helped.
Lately, however, the food had become even more delicious. He wasn’t sure when the change had started. He would suddenly realize that every meal he ate was truly wonderful.
It wasn’t that the sauces had changed or different ingredients were being used. It was the same salt and herbs, yet somehow it was different.
Thinking back carefully, he realized that on days he mentally noted a meal was delicious, that dish would appear again. If he thought something was a bit bland or not quite right, he didn’t see it again.
Only then did Juhwan realize that Riji was tailoring the food to his tastes. Sometimes she would stop eating and just watch him; she must have been gauging his reaction.
Riji probably didn’t know how much that filled Juhwan’s heart. It wasn’t just food. It was her heart. Someone caring for and looking out for another—that was what made life moist and abundant. He felt fulfilled.
In the middle of the night, Juhwan quietly held the sleeping Riji in his arms.
Santa had certainly granted his wish. It wasn’t just granted; he was far happier than he had ever hoped to be.
Surely his mother’s wish would also be fulfilled beyond expectations. That was why they would definitely meet again. Riji and Dorothy were proof of that. Even if the path was arduous and strange, Santa was a being that granted more than what was asked for.
A few days later, Juhwan loaded the magic beast hides and animal skins onto the wagon and headed toward the adventurer village in Bern.
The cabin would be fine as long as the door was locked. The vines from the tomb had grown significantly over the past few days, stretching all the way to the yard. Those vines would guard the house.
They didn’t threaten Riji or Dorothy at the house, but if they approached the tomb, the vines would slink over and coil around them.
If Oz or Yeonhwa released a bit of mana, the vines would let go immediately. However, when Riji or Dorothy were alone, they hardly ever let go. They didn’t specifically try to kill them, but the vines would hold their bodies still so they couldn’t move.
He had a feeling it was only because they were Riji and Dorothy. If it had been anyone else, the vines would likely have tightened until they died.
Ever since Riji realized this, she stayed away from the tomb.
Dorothy, however, would sometimes approach the tomb and get caught by the vines.
Sometimes even Oz would be left dangling. A little mana would free them instantly, but they didn’t do it on purpose.
For some reason, Oz and Dorothy seemed to find it a fun game.
It reminded him that Oz was still young. It was a bit strange for a magic beast to be like a child, but it was true.
With a house like that, he didn’t worry about anyone breaking in to steal. If a stranger entered the house, they would likely have to forfeit their life.
*
It took a little over a day to reach the city. No matter when they left, they had to spend one night in the wagon.
After packing all the supplies, food for the journey, and necessary travel items into the wagon, they set off. As they left, the vines slithered out, stretching long as they followed the wagon.
“Daddy, the vines are saying goodbye.”
Dorothy stood precariously on the back of the driver’s seat and waved her hands toward the rear. Even though the vines couldn’t answer, she shouted loudly that they would be back.
The vines coiling around the child had been a sign of aggression, but Dorothy seemed to think of them as friends.
Perhaps worried about Dorothy standing on the seat, Yeonhwa drove the wagon slowly and checked behind her occasionally. She seemed concerned even though Juhwan was holding onto Dorothy. Yeonhwa was starting to act more and more like an older sister to Oz and Dorothy.
Juhwan, who had been holding the child’s waist, pulled Dorothy onto his lap once they were far enough from the house.
“Did you become friends with the vines?”
“Uh-huh, Daddy. The vines say they like Dorothy. They like me so, so much.”
Well, he doubted such a conversation had actually taken place. As Juhwan chuckled, Dorothy tilted her head.
“It’s true, Daddy. The vines really, really like Dorothy.”
“I see.”
“The vines like Daddy, too.”
Dorothy looked at Riji’s face and spoke seriously.
“They like Mommy, too. The vines like our whole family.”
Riji giggled and looked at Dorothy.
“Maybe so. They are Grandpa and Grandma’s vines, after all.”
No, no, that wasn’t it. The vines couldn’t possibly understand family relationships. As Juhwan laughed, Riji and Dorothy spoke in unison.
“It’s true.”
“It really might be, Juhwan.”
Well, let’s ask Mother and Father when they wake up. Whether the vines really think that way. Maybe they can tell what the vines are thinking.
However, the relaxed smiles on Juhwan and Riji’s faces turned serious before half a day had passed.
It seemed that while they were living in the cabin, isolated from the world, something major had been happening outside. On the road to the city, Juhwan encountered refugees who said they were fleeing their home villages.
