“There’s something under the water?”

At my question, Bini and Cho nodded quickly, their antennae twitching with curiosity.

—Tsrur. 『It said, “It hurts. It hurts,” over and over.』

—Tssrut. 『Yeah. It said, “It hurts. It hurts.”』

I thought it was just bubbling, but if the kids understood something, that meant it was speaking.

Which could only mean one thing—there was a spiritual beast down there.

Spiritual beasts, even of different species, seemed to understand each other’s language. So there was no doubt one was hiding beneath the water.

“R-really? Hold on!”

An unexpected spiritual beast had shown up—I needed to move fast. But first, I stuck my head out the window to scan the surroundings.

It was already late at night, and aside from a few scattered lanterns, Taean was completely dark. If I wanted to investigate that area, I had to get a sense of my surroundings.

Especially since Cho was bound to scare ordinary people—I had to move discreetly.

We’d already used stealth to get here, flying under the cover of night to avoid being spotted by civilians.

When we arrived, Cho had carried Bini and Hyang one by one through the windows.

I quickly leaned out and checked left and right—along the roads and around the harbor. There were hardly any people walking around, just a few guards dozing off near the harbor lanterns.

People in this era went to bed early. In modern times, this would be around midnight—deep into the night.

‘Looks safe enough.’

After checking the surroundings, I looked up at the sky.

There was a half-moon—not as bright as a full one, but enough to light the sky. I waited for the right moment to move.

I remembered clouds drifting past earlier while stargazing with Bini.

If a cloud passed over the moon, it’d be the perfect moment to move.

Drawing up my Myoa Am-ya Technique, I searched the sky—clouds were gathering from the left.

I quickly called to Cho.

“Cho, wrap around me. Let’s go check it out together!”

—Tsrur. 『Okay, Dad.』

In an instant, Cho coiled around me.

I looked up at the sky, waiting for the cloud cover to darken the moon, ready to signal Cho—when I felt something crawling up my ankle.

Looking down, I saw Hyang climbing up my leg.

—Tsrurrrt! 『I’m going too!』

It was something in the water, so it might’ve moved by now—but Hyang was insisting on coming.

“Hyang, I’m just going out with Cho for a little while. Stay with Bini, okay?”

—Tssrut!

When I told her to wait with Bini for a moment, Hyang crossed her antennae into an X.

She was copying the X I’d just taught her.

‘My daughter’s a genius?’

That joy lasted only one second.

I was in a hurry, but then Hyang spoke up with determination.

—Tsrurrrt! Ts-ts! 『No! Mom said if Dad ever sneaks off without telling Aunt Seol, I have to follow him!』

“What!? When?”

—Tssrut! 『Before we came here!』

‘Hwa-eun... you’re scarily thorough.’

So that’s what she told Hyang before we left?

I thought it was just a casual reminder to me, but she had already recruited Hyang as a personal surveillance agent.

I had no choice—I couldn’t shake Hyang off me now.

I let her wrap around me like armor, and then had Cho coil over both of us again.

There was no time to argue.

“Alright, you can come. Bini, you’ll be okay alone, right? We can’t all go—just wait here a little, okay?”

—Tsrur.

Bini nodded obediently.

Thank goodness Bini didn’t throw a fit too. That was a relief.

With Hyang and Cho secured, I looked up. The clouds had already covered half the moon.

If I missed this chance, I’d have to wait a long time—and the thing in the water might disappear by then. I immediately called out.

“Cho, let’s go!”

—Tsrurrrt!

At my signal, Cho lifted off.

We slid out of the window into the darkened sky, gliding silently above the black waters of the Yellow River.

“Cho, let’s head for that island first!”

—Tsrur.

We flew toward the center of the river, where the island sat near where the bubbles had risen earlier.

If the creature was still nearby, Cho could drop us off there and scout around.

The island loomed ahead, and as I stepped down, my feet sank deep into the sand.

The sand had clearly piled up from the Yellow River currents.

I immediately asked Cho to scout.

“Cho, go check if anything’s there.”

—Tsrurrr!

Cho dove straight into the water.

And the moment she did—

—Blub-blub-blub-blub.

—Rumble-rumble.

Bubbles rose again from the same spot, and the island started to tremble like an earthquake was hitting.

“W-what the hell!?”

Shocked, I tried to keep my balance—then suddenly, white smoke began rising from under my feet.

It wasn’t mist coming off the river—it was rising from beneath the sand.

Startled, I quickly used my sleeve to cover my mouth and nose, and warned Hyang.

“Hyang, don’t breathe this in—it looks suspicious.”

—Tsrurrrt!

And immediately, I called out to Cho in my mind.

Whatever this smoke was, we had to get out of here. Fast.

‘Cho! Come back here now!’

—Tssrut!

The wait for Cho felt long.

The white smoke grew thicker.

It was now as dense as fog or clouds, starting to obscure my vision.

At that point, I had a very bad feeling—this wasn’t a place we could stay.

It seemed to be a spiritual beast’s ability—but if this smoke was poisonous, we could get seriously affected.

‘Hyang, I’m jumping into the water. Hold your breath, okay?’

—Tsrur! 『Got it, Dad!』

I ran across the sand and leapt toward the harbor.

The moment we left the island, the white smoke vanished.

In midair, I turned my head—strangely, the smoke was still clinging to the island alone.

But just then, as I soared above the river, a wave of dizziness hit me.

Even though I hadn’t inhaled any smoke directly, I was definitely poisoned.

‘Shit... what kind of poison is this?’

As I plunged toward the water, I tried to draw up my poison resistance technique and assess my condition—but my consciousness started to blur.

Drowsiness struck like a tidal wave.

My eyelids felt like they weighed a thousand pounds as my body crashed into the water.

—Splash. ROARRRR.

As I hit the river, silt-laden mud scraped across my face without mercy.

That was the Yellow River for you—thick with sediment.

My limp body, unable to move a finger, began drifting downstream.

I thought maybe the cold water would wake me up—but even submerged, the sleep spell didn’t lift. I was on the verge of blacking out.

Either because I’d gone completely limp, or thanks to Hyang, my body floated up just slightly.

My head broke the surface—and through the cloudy yellow water, I saw Cho swimming rapidly toward me.

—Tsrurrrrr! 『Dad!』

Cho’s cry echoed in my head.

And just like that, the sleep took me.

***

“Young Master? Young Master?”

At the voice calling from outside, Sister Seol sat up [N O V E L I G H T] from her bedding.

It was one of the inn’s servants, standing in front of So-ryong’s room, seemingly searching for him.

‘What’s going on?’

She quickly threw on some clothes and opened the door. Outside stood a servant holding a tray of food.

Sister Seol asked the servant, “What’s the matter at this hour?”

“Ah, guest. The Young Master ordered food for late-night dining, but he hasn’t answered the door... I think he might’ve fallen asleep...”

A flicker of unease crossed Sister Seol’s mind.

Sure, maybe he had ordered food and fallen asleep—but that thought vanished as quickly as it came.

After all, this was So-ryong they were talking about.

The last words Hwa-eun had said before sending Sister Seol and So-ryong here flashed across her memory.

‘Unni, you have to watch over So-ryong very carefully. Even with both of us around, he manages to get into the craziest situations. I can’t even imagine what he might do if we’re not watching him.’

‘Don’t worry. I’ll keep my eyes wide open.’

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Without hesitation, Sister Seol extended her hand to the servant.

“Is that so? Then please give that to me. I’ll bring it in.”

“Huh? Ah, of course.”

One tray held roasted duck, fragrant and savory. The other, a chilled jug with a sweet plum scent.

After confirming that the servant was gone, Sister Seol turned to the door and whispered softly,

[Cho? Bini? Hyang? It’s Aunt. Open the door.]

After a moment, the sound of small feet approached from inside, and then click—the door unlocked.

—Dodododo.

—Tssrut?

From the shadows, a little black body poked its head out—it was Bini.

“Bini, is Daddy asleep?”

—Tsururu!

“Hmmm. So you say he’s sleeping?”

Bini nodded, antennae twitching nervously.

But Sister Seol could tell from that anxious twitch—So-ryong wasn’t asleep. That was a lie.

Bini, Cho, and Hyang all adored So-ryong too much. If he wanted to do something reckless, they’d help him without question.

Even if Hwa-eun had roped Hyang in as a watchdog, that only worked when Sister Seol wasn’t around. Her instruction had just been to follow him no matter what.

“Well, then. Auntie’s just going to quietly set the food down and go, alright?”

—Chu, Churut!?

As Sister Seol tried to step inside, Bini blocked her way, clearly flustered.

Sister Seol gave her a sweet smile.

“Daddy’s not here, right? If you step aside now, I won’t tell Mommy you helped him sneak out. But if you don’t... I will tell her everything. And if Hwa-eun gets mad—hoo, even I’m scared when she gets angry.”

At those words, Bini’s antennae began trembling violently, and then came a sulky whimper.

—Tssrut!

It sounded like a protest of that’s not fair, but she stepped aside.

As Sister Seol entered, she found the room empty. No So-ryong on the bed. Nowhere.

The window was wide open.

He had definitely left through it.

—Clatter.

She set the food down on the table and went to the window, glancing out as she asked,

“Where did he go, Bini?”

—Tsst.

Still sulking, Bini turned her head sharply away.

Sister Seol laughed and patted Bini gently.

“Alright, alright. I won’t tell Mommy. Don’t be upset. I was just worried Daddy might do something dangerous again.”

Finally, Bini, acting all reluctant, pointed one antenna toward the window.

“So he did go out...”

Just as Sister Seol looked out the window in that direction—

Against the backdrop of the big moon, So-ryong came flying toward them, wrapped in Cho’s body.

“Where in the world were you going in the middle of the night?”

She thought he had just gone for a night flight—but since Hwa-eun would be worried, she planned to give him a light scolding.

Then she noticed something off.

‘Wait... why is Cho flying so fast?’

Focusing on So-ryong, she saw his body limp, sagging within Cho’s coils.

“So-ryong!”

Her shout rang out over the quiet riverside of Taean.

Sister Seol turned to Bini and cried out,

“Didn’t you say there’s a group chat with Mommy!? Contact her, now!”

At her command, Bini nodded frantically.

***

“Ahh... what a nice nap.”

I woke up, feeling sweetly refreshed—only to jolt upright at the sight of someone who shouldn’t be there.

“Hmph!”

“HUHH!?”

I recoiled, leaning against the corner of the bed, trying to piece together what the hell was going on.

‘Why is Hwa-eun here!?’

I scanned the room quickly—Cho was coiled next to the bed, looking nervously up at me. Bini sat beside her, also tense. Hyang was asleep with her head resting on Hwa-eun’s thigh.

And just behind Hwa-eun, there was Yeondu.

It was still night outside.

Then I remembered: I’d blacked out after falling into the water.

The kids must’ve pulled me out and, panicked, contacted Hwa-eun.

And of course, she and Yeondu had flown straight here.

‘I’m screwed!’

Totally screwed. I braced myself for the scolding.

But instead, Hwa-eun’s voice came, trembling slightly.

“So-So-ryong... a-are you alright? You—you were unconscious for a whole day...”

Her voice quivered with each word.

‘A day!? Is she shaking with rage!?’

At first, I thought it was fury.

But under the lantern’s soft light, I saw her cheeks flushed pink—her expression bashful.

‘What the...?’

Confused, I answered and bowed my head.

I hadn’t meant to be reckless, but I had nearly gotten hurt again. The least I could do was apologize.

“Yes, o-of course. And I’m s-sorry, Hwa-eun.”

She turned even redder and replied,

“Ah, no. I—I heard it was a sudden accident. T-these things happen... sometimes...”

She spoke gently, her tone tender.

It was... disorienting.

I cautiously asked Cho in my mind,

‘Cho, is Mommy not mad?’

Cho’s mental voice came back just as puzzled.

—Tsrur. 『She was furious when she arrived. But after changing your skin, she calmed down.』

‘Skin?’

By skin, she probably meant clothes.

Meaning... she changed me out of my wet clothes...

‘Gyaaaaaaah!’

Realizing that Hwa-eun had undressed and redressed me, my face flushed hot—but at that moment—

—Blub-blub-blub.

From the distance, a bubbling sound pierced the still night air.

At the sound, Cho looked at me and said,

『Dad, that one says it wants to apologize—it was startled yesterday and didn’t mean to hurt you. It’s asking if you’re awake now.』

‘Apologize?’

Cho had said it aloud, so everyone heard.

Setting aside my embarrassment, I went to the window. Cho flew ahead, hovering above the spot where the bubbles had risen before.

Then, slowly, something began to rise from the water—something like a boulder, covered in wet sand.

As the water ran off and the moonlight revealed its surface... a golden shimmer gleamed.

No.

It wasn’t a rock.

It was a massive golden turtle’s head.

“Gyaaaaaaah!”

So that mysterious island?

It was no island at all.

It was a giant turtle, covered in sand.