~Chapter 09~
. In Search of a Wet Nurse (2)
“Hyungnim.”
Tap, tap.
“Hyungnim, please get up.”
“Mm…?”
Lying spread out on the floor, Guangpae opened his eyes at the sound calling him.
Standing above him, Black Panther was staring straight down while holding the baby.
“What, what is it?”
“…You’re not going again today?”
“Not going? Where?”
“To fetch a wet nurse.”
“What? A wet nurse?”
Guangpae’s expression twisted as he sat up and glared.
“Didn’t I say it? I’m not going to fetch a wet nurse for now.”
“You did say that. Exactly three days ago.”
“Only three days ago?”
“You said it yesterday too. And you’re saying it now as well.”
“Then why keep asking? You bored fighting among yourselves and want me to join in and roll around too?”
Guangpae growled, his fierce energy making Black Panther flinch for a moment.
But then, remembering his trump card, he spoke firmly without shrinking back.
“Go ahead and hit me if you want. But I’m holding the baby. If the child gets hurt, it’ll be your fault.”
“You—! Using the baby as a shield now?”
“Do you think I’d do this otherwise? How long are you going to just loaf around?”
“What? Loaf around?”
Guangpae bristled, glaring as he thumped the martial arts manual he had been using as a pillow.
“Can’t you see this? Day and night I’m wracking my brains trying to interpret the manual!”
“That’s for your martial progress, Hyungnim. But you said you’d raise this child, so you have to take responsibility. Can’t you see everyone else suffering while you sit it out?”
“What suffering are you all talking about…?”
Ahem.
Guangpae turned his head at the pointed cough. Leaning against the wall with folded arms was Baekryeong, who had apparently been there for a while.
“…Five meals.”
“What?”
“Five servings of baby food yesterday. And today I was up before dawn to feed another one.”
“So what?”
Guangpae scowled.
“You’re the only one who knows how to make baby food. Should I learn to do it?”
“I’ll keep making the baby food. But cooking all of your meals as well is unacceptable.”
“You could just make ours while you’re at it. It’s not like we eat a feast.”
“When have we ever eaten baby food along with the baby? You always insist adult meals are separate, yet when mealtime comes you demand I prepare yours.”
“…Ahem.”
Cornered by reason, Guangpae coughed and looked away.
“Fine. You’ve worked hard. From now on, ask Seokdu to help with meals.”
“I do the laundry. I wash the diapers. I wash all our clothes.”
Peeking his head through the half-open door, Seokdu spoke up.
“Yesterday alone I washed at least twelve loads. And when the baby poops, I have to warm water to wash him so he won’t catch cold…”
“Fine then. Black Panther, you take charge of meals. Other than sometimes watching the baby, you don’t do much.”
…That, even Guangpae couldn’t deny. Better to learn to make porridge himself than take on Seokdu’s work.
Pointing at him, Guangpae was met with Black Panther’s crooked, rebellious smile.
“The house looks cleaner, doesn’t it?”
“…What?”
“The crow corpses outside the fence are gone, the cracked walls are patched, the smashed gate is restored.”
“…”
“And it’s warm inside despite the cold weather. Someone has been chopping firewood and keeping the hearth going. The fallen leaves outside are gone too. Because someone sweeps every day.”
“…Ahem.”
“Stop pretending. Admit it. Baekryeong’s been slaving away cooking for the baby and us, Seokdu spends half his time at the river washing, and I’m managing the estate while watching the child. What about you, Hyungnim?”
“Urgh…”
Guangpae scratched his head, groaning.
“So you want me to cook, is that it?”
“Honestly, no. You’ve never cooked a thing in your life. How good could it be?”
“Then?”
“I told you. Hire someone. Whether a wet nurse, a cook, or a steward—get help so our workload eases.”
“…Fine.”
It left him feeling oddly mutinied against, but he couldn’t really argue.
‘At least I should hire a few men.’
Guangpae sighed deeply.
“Raising one child… is harder than I thought.”
“Yes. Parents are more amazing than we realized.”
“Killing a sect leader from the Nine Great Schools would be easier.”
“…Adorable, but exhausting.”
All four let out a long sigh.
Boom, boom, boom.
“Hm?”
“E-excuse me…?”
Suddenly, a timid female voice drifted in along with knocks on the gate.
Boom, boom, boom.
“Ahem…! Excuse me!”
This time louder, aware her first call had been too faint.
“Hyungnim… could it be…?”
A strange woman, knocking at their gate in broad daylight.
All four glanced at each other, eyes widening, then leapt to their feet.
“E-excuse me!”
Was no one home? Or was her knocking too gentle?
Standing nervously by the gate was a young woman, around twenty, in clean though slightly old clothes. Pale skin, big eyes—an elegant beauty, more refined and graceful than merely pretty.
“…Is this not the place?”
The estate was clearly correct. A house this large should have workers. Someone should have come by now.
Craaaash!
The massive gates flung open with a bang, wind whipping her hair. The Four Fiends of Black Heaven stood before her.
Tap.
“Are you the wet nurse?”
Guangpae asked bluntly.
“Uh… yes?”
“The wet nurse. You came for the baby, didn’t you?”
“Ah… yes.”
…Well, not exactly—she’d come more for a surrogate-mother-like role.
But still…
‘…What kind of bandits are raising a baby?’
Maybe they were just rough-looking but decent men?
That thought vanished at their next exchange.
“Damn it! The gate’s wrecked again! Hyungnim, can’t you open it gently?”
“This is the first time I broke it!”
“That’s not the point! Didn’t you see Seokdu smash it twice already? Can’t you think before acting?”
“You brat, you—!”
Their snarling looked one step from fists flying. Definitely bandits. Or at best, some shady sect.
Maintaining a faint smile, the young woman instinctively edged back a step.
‘…I should leave.’
A long trip wasted, but better than dying in such a place.
She began to turn when—
“Good. You’ve been getting cheeky, so today I’ll set you straight!”
“Again with violence?”
“When have we not settled things with fists? Fists—”
“W-wait!”
Grab.
She clutched Guangpae’s thick arm just as he lunged at Black Panther. He nearly swung at her reflexively but stopped, turning his head.
“What is this! Let go—”
Her pale face, straining as she clung. Guangpae swallowed the harsh words.
“P-please stop.”
She was sweating as if she might vomit. He pulled his arm, not wanting stains on his robe.
“Let go first.”
“N-no.”
Her grip tightened.
“What?”
“T-the baby…”
“…?”
“What if the baby… gets hurt?”
Though trembling in fear, her gaze was fixed on the baby in Black Panther’s arms.
Guangpae, surprised by the determination in her wide eyes, raised a brow and coughed.
“Ahem… fine. I won’t fight.”
“Y-you promise?”
“Yes.”
Still doubtful, she slowly released him, fists trembling as she forced herself to stand tall.
Watching, Guangpae gestured toward the courtyard.
“Come inside.”
“M-me? Inside?”
“You came to work, didn’t you? You won’t care for the baby out here.”
“Ah…”
“She was about to run,” Baekryeong’s cold voice came from behind, making her yelp.
“She’s been edging back the whole time. I saw.”
“What? Run?”
“Again?”
Black Panther and Seokdu scowled. She nearly fainted. But Guangpae stepped between them.
“Enough.”
“Hyungnim?”
“She is the wet nurse who will raise the child for us. I will not tolerate anyone treating her roughly.”
“But she was trying to—”
“Even if she does. She already did one thing for the baby’s sake.”
“…Ah.”
That made sense. They all nodded and stepped back. Even Baekryeong moved aside, leaving her path clear.
“Well? What will you do?”
Guangpae asked politely, in his way.
“Will you come in and discuss work? Or will you leave?”
“Uh… I…”
At least they didn’t seem intent on harming her. But the oppressive atmosphere made it hard to breathe, let alone work here.
“Um, I…”
“Waaahh.”
“Hm?”
The baby began crying in Black Panther’s arms.
“What now? You didn’t feed him?”
“I did. Just before waking you.”
“Diaper?”
“Seems clean.”
“Then why… try rocking him.”
“Want me to check his pulse? Though he’ll wake again soon.”
They all now knew the baby never slept long.
“U-um…”
“Hm?”
“You’re holding him wrong… the baby.”
She timidly pointed at Black Panther.
“What do you mean? I always hold him this way.”
“No… his neck’s uncomfortable.”
“What? Hyungnim, does this look uncomfortable?”
Black Panther twisted in various poses, but the baby only cried harder. Guangpae was about to snatch him away when—
“Phew.”
The young woman sighed, steeled herself, and stepped forward.
“Give him to me.”
“Huh?”
“Please. I’ll show you how.”
She held out her arms. Black Panther looked to Guangpae, baffled.
“Well? Hand him over.”
“…Yes.”
Reluctantly, he passed the baby. She supported the bottom with one arm, cradled the head with the other, and pressed his cheek gently against her chest while swaying lightly.
Almost at once, the baby stopped crying, relaxed, and drifted into sleep.
“…Oh?”
“He’s asleep.”
“Really?”
“Adorable.”
The Four Fiends’ eyes widened in astonishment, gazing at her as if a holy glow surrounded her.
