The Return of the Namgoong Clan’s Granddaughter - Chapter 156



Only Noblemtl

Episode 156

“Snow flower.”

Namgung Mucheon stretched out his arm towards Seolhwa.

Seol-hwa, who came down from Cheong-un’s bosom, ran quickly and was hugged by her grandfather.

Namgung Mucheon laughed and hugged Seolhwa tightly.

“Why is it so light? Didn’t I tell you to eat a lot? Aren’t you as light as a chick? When will you grow up?”

I’m only four years old now.

Wouldn’t it be natural for someone who has reached the realm of Hwagyeong to lift four pounds as light as a chick?

As if frowning at that thought, Namgung Mucheon laughed and pressed Seolhwa’s forehead.

“Yes, yes. Grow however you want. Grow slowly while trying out different things. That wouldn’t be bad either.”

“Yes.”

The child’s pronunciation was a mess.

Seol-hwa’s face turned red after she blurted out the words because she couldn’t do this as she pleased.

I turned my head in embarrassment, and saw the general holding a child’s wooden sword in his hand.

“uh?”

When Seolhwa pointed to the wooden sword, Namgung Mucheon turned around and stood facing the general.

“Why the wooden sword, Father?”

“I heard that last time, Seolhwa threw a tantrum and demanded to see the sword of the military corps member.”

“So… you prepared a wooden sword…?”

Cheongun said as if it was absurd.

“Seolhwa is only four years old now.”

“I also held a sword at that age. There’s no harm in getting close to it early. And isn’t the child interested?”

Whether it was true or not, Seolhwa was struggling towards the wooden sword.

Namgung Mucheon said while telling a story.

“General. Give it to Seolhwa.”

“Father, the child is hurt….”

“Kids grow up by getting hurt. Come on, Seolhwa. Swing it around as much as you want.”

Even though he said that, the wooden sword was blunt and had sharp edges here and there.

It even looked like a thick club rather than a wooden sword.

Seolhwa held the wooden sword with both hands.

‘It’s quite heavy. It feels awkward because I’ve never held a wooden sword before.’

I shouldn’t show off my skills too much.

Just swing it lightly… .

“?!”

Whoosh, I swung my sword, but my body spun around, unable to overcome my strength.

“oh…!”

Namgung Mucheon grabbed Seolhwa’s shoulder, who was about to fall, and stopped her.

Suddenly, my vision became dizzy because of the spinning wheel.

Adults burst into laughter as they watched such tales, finding them cute.

Suddenly, when I turned my gaze to the place where Seop Mu-gwang was standing, I saw him with his arms crossed and he chuckled while looking at the story.

“… .”

An inexplicable emotion welled up within me.

It’s not because he can’t handle a sword.

It’s because of this wretched body!

Seolhwa walked over with a wooden sword and swung it with all her might at Seopmu-gwang’s calf.

“Oh my.”

… this is not it.

I just can’t seem to get the strength to do it.

This wretched body.

Seolhwa threw down her sword and quickly looked back at the general.

The General and the Sub-General do not like to lose to each other.

This much I know for sure.

Seol-hwa, who was walking towards the general, suddenly stretched out her arm towards him.

“I’ll clear customs! Me! Ana!”

The general’s eyes widened.

But soon, he hugged Seol-hwa with a happier smile than anyone else.

“If our young lady wants, anytime-hahahaha!”

The general looked at Seop Mu-kwang with a look that said, “Did you see that?” Seol-hwa felt proud as she watched Seop Mu-kwang’s crumpled expression. Then suddenly.

‘…What are you doing?’

I was shocked to see myself acting like a child surrounded by the wonderful laughter of adults.

Is this also part of the ‘test’?

Can an exam be this peaceful?

“You look uncomfortable. Come here.”

The story was then passed on to Namgung Mucheon.

Namgung Mucheon gently pressed Seolhwa’s puffy cheek with one hand and spoke in a kind voice.

“It’s okay. You can learn the sword gradually. Even if it’s not necessarily the sword, whatever you want to do, this grandfather will help you both materially and spiritually.”

His gaze was familiar.

It was a gaze full of trust in oneself.

No, now I know what this gaze is.

This is the gaze you have when looking at someone you love.

“Just grow up healthy and well.”

Namgung Mucheon swept his hair.

His touch was warm.

* * *

The days in my fantasy were filled with nothing but happiness.

No matter what expression I made or what I did, it was a time when all I got in return was love and overflowing affection.

Could this be a memory I had forgotten?

Or maybe it’s the wind.

There was no way to know for sure. However, Seolhwa gradually came to realize it.

‘This illusion is my foolishness.’

It’s not that the test never ends.

He doesn’t finish the test.

Because life here is so happy.

Whether it’s the past or the wind, I want to stay longer in this time when I can just laugh happily with my loved ones.

Foolishness remains here.

I feel like I want to stay a little longer.

I want to settle into this comfort and warmth.

But now it’s time to get back to reality.

“How was your day, my daughter? Did you have fun?”

Lying on the bed, Seol-hwa looked up at her mother.

Now, I filled my eyes with the image of my mother’s beautiful face, which seemed to be etched into my memory.

If I go to sleep tonight, I will never see my mother again, since I have decided to end this fantasy.

When he wakes up, his mother’s face will be forgotten again and he will not remember this smile.

Thinking like that, I couldn’t sleep.

I wanted to stay here a little longer.

I held my mother’s hand tightly.

She looked at the hand she was holding with slightly surprised eyes.

“Huh? Mom told me not to go?”

Even though it was only a weak force, I held on tighter and stronger.

Then she smiled faintly and lightly kissed Seolhwa’s forehead.

“Don’t worry. Mom won’t go anywhere until Seolhwa falls asleep. Even when our Seolhwa falls asleep and has sweet dreams, Mom will be by her side.”

She continued to speak softly.

The words soon turned into a gentle song with a melodic rhythm.

“Our baby, sleep well. Lie down next to Mommy and sleep well. Nothing bad or scary will happen while our baby is sleeping, so forget everything and only have pleasant dreams.”

At that moment, a vaguely forgotten memory came back to me.

Her humming, her whispering, the image of my mother patting my chest came to mind.

“My baby, sleep well. Remember only the good memories and forget all the bad ones.”

This song was one that his mother often sang to him when he was young.

Every time I whine that I’m scared, every day that I have a sad day, every day that ends happily…

It was a song that my mother used to sing to me whenever I fell asleep.

As the floodgates of memory opened, forgotten memories began to flood back to me.

‘My baby, Seolhwa. I love you.’

I remembered my mother’s voice whispering to me every day.

The gentle hands that used to caress me.

Even the warm breath that was touching each other.

Even the smile that curved gently.

Even the voice that whispered ticklishly.

It wasn’t the wind, it was a memory.

‘Mom loves you so much.’

My eyes grew hot.

My mother’s humming song slowly faded away.

A warm breath brushed against my forehead once again.

“Mom loves you so much, my daughter.”

Tears flowed down my eyes.

Hot tears flowed and flowed without any time to hold back.

“Huh… huh… .”

The surrounding scenery disappears, and objects disappear too.

My mother disappeared too.

Seolhwa was soon on her knees, sobbing alone in the darkness.

Not knowing what to do with her heart, which felt like it was being squeezed and pounded by someone, she just held onto the hem of her clothes and shed tears.

“Ugh… Huh…”

Sleep well, my baby.

Forget everything and just dream happy dreams.

I don’t want to forget.

I don’t want to lose it.

I’ve been living for too long forgetting.

I don’t want to forget anymore.

Leaving only pretty memories

Forget all the bad memories.

My mother’s memories aren’t bad memories.

It’s not a memory that hurts me.

Mom….

I love you, Seolhwa.

Mom….

Mom loves you so much.

“I miss you….”

I miss you. Mom. I miss you.

It’s such a precious memory.

He is an unforgettable loved one.

It is a love that should not be forgotten.

I miss you, Mom.

“Mom… sob… .”

Even after the fantasy ended, I couldn’t forget my mother’s face.

No, it came to mind more clearly than ever.

‘It’s okay, it’s okay. Seolhwa.’

At that moment when I was falling, I remembered the voice that hugged me and whispered that it was okay.

Mom protected me until the end. She reassured me.

To forget the mother who was like that. To lose her.

[I’ve seen countless images of unmanned aircraft, but this is the first time I’ve seen such a simple wind.]

Swish, a huge being enveloped the snow.

[The image shows what you want. Some are kings who rule the world, some are the strongest swordsmen, and some have the wealth to manipulate everything as they please.]

The being stopped in front of the story.

Seolhwa raised her head and looked at it.

[Death is embraced, yet pure. Yes. Perhaps death itself is the purest thing.]

It was a dragon, no, it was not a dragon.

‘Imugi.’

It is known to be the most powerful spirit among spirits and a being that has lived for a long time.

A being that I had only heard of in my previous life, but I had no idea whether it actually existed or not.

[Take it.]

As the snake opened its mouth, a black, transparent, shining bead the size of a thumb emerged.

The bead came tumbling towards Seolhwa.

[It will help you achieve what you want.]