After all the conversations were done, the day was getting late. It was a tiring day dealing with Uncle, who missed his nephew/niece.
Shin still didn't dare to face Siris because he also didn't know how to explain.
So, they just camped in front of the house and lit a bonfire.
Noki and Tia looked at each other, then at Shin, who was playing with the fire.
"Are you okay, Boss?"
Shin stayed silent, as if lost in thought.
"Boss!!!" Tia shouted loudly.
Shin flinched upon hearing Tia's scream.
"Sorry, I was spacing out. It's just... tonight feels heavier than usual."
"Hey, Noki, how does it feel to have a family? Isn't it a burden to you?"
Noki answered calmly,
"Nope, that's the happiest thing that's ever happened in my life. If you're scared that your daughter might be uncomfortable with you, don't worry."
"You're the kind of person I know—someone who doesn't need to prove anything, just free to do anything and doesn't want to be a burden."
"And also, I feel like your daughter is excited to be with you."
Hearing those words, Shin smiled to himself. He stood up from his seat.
"I'm going inside for a bit. There's something I need to say."
Noki teased his boss,
"Make sure you don't make a sound, hahaha."
Shin just walked away, smiling, and entered the house.
Knock! Knock!
Shin knocked on Sierra's door.
"Come in," Sierra's voice called out.
Shin opened the door and saw Siris and Sierra sitting together on the bed.
Siris glanced away as soon as Shin entered.
"Sierra, not asleep yet?"
Sierra shook her head. "Today, I want to sleep with Mom and Father."
She smiled sweetly.
Shin ruffled Sierra's hair.
"Yeah, yeah, later we'll all sleep together."
Shin then looked at Siris. Gathering his courage, he spoke to her.
"Can we talk? Just the two of us?"
Siris was still sulking and angry.
Shin sat down in front of her and held her hands. "It's my secret... I want to tell you everything."
His voice was gentle.
They moved to a table not far from the bed. Shin cast a magic barrier to ensure Sierra wouldn't hear them.
With a hesitant tone, Shin began speaking.
"Siris... I'm not the one you love. The person you loved... already died in the Demon Continent."
Siris still didn't understand what he was trying to say.
"What do you mean you're not him? And that the person I love is already dead?"
Shin held her hand on the table.
"Now, I'll open my memories for you. Close your eyes. This might be shocking, but stay strong, okay?"
Siris closed her eyes, then peeked slightly—only to find herself in another place entirely.
"This place... This is from when I was still young."
Shin, standing beside her, nodded. "Right?"
Siris flinched. "Don't just appear out of nowhere like that!"
Before them, a scene played out—Shin confessing his love to Siris in the training room.
"That wasn't me," Shin explained. "Do you see another face, similar to mine, watching from the side? That was the real me."
"When I woke up, my body had already been taken over by someone else—a reincarnation from another world."
Another scene appeared—their first kiss beneath the tree.
"You should remember this, right? When your first kiss was taken by him, and you blushed like you'd fallen in love."
"And then there was the moment I gave up on you... Even though it hurt, I was happy just watching you two. Maybe it was better this way."
"I always kept an eye on both of you. Maybe this was also because... I didn't want to be a burden to my family or to you."
"So seeing all of you—my family, and you—happy... That was my dream."
Siris unconsciously let tears fall as she slumped down.
"Sorry... I'm sorry... I thought you had just changed, Shin. Because in just one day, your whole attitude shifted completely."
"If I had known... if I had known..."
Shin knelt in front of her and wiped her tears.
"Don't be like that. That guy truly did his best to win your heart. You have every right to love whoever you want."
"I told you this so you wouldn't misunderstand. So... live freely."
They then returned to the present.
Shin stared at Siris for a long moment before teasing,
"Well, Siris, you look really ugly when you cry."
She pinched his arm, crying and laughing at the same time.
"You really are different from him, huh? Haha, you just say whatever's on your mind. I should've realized that sooner."
Shin hesitated, then blushed as he asked,
"I'm... kind of curious about one thing. When did you two... um... do it?"
Siris told him—the place, three years ago—then paused, recalling the scene.
---
Flashback:
They were at an inn while preparing for a mission to the Demon Realm.
Shin was drunk, stumbling into a wall before his demeanor turned aggressive.
"Shin, are you okay? What's wrong with you?"
He grabbed her face tightly, murmuring repeatedly,
"I can touch you... touch you again..."
He had never been drunk before—maybe just stressed. The perfect, composed Shin suddenly changed. So, she carried him to his room.
She laid him on the bed, tucked him in, and tried to leave—but he grabbed her wrist and yanked her onto the bed.
She lay beneath him as he hovered over her, whispering,
"Siris... I can touch you. Now you can't run away from me."
She tried to break free, but his grip was too strong.
Then, he whispered,
"Siris... can we do it? For our first time?"
She stayed silent, just looking at him... He was completely consumed by desire that night, and she... gave in to temptation.
Then they...
Afterward, they fell asleep—but something woke her up.
Shin suddenly laughed in his sleep,
"You fcker... I got her first! Hahahaha!"
Then he passed out again.
She left the room that night . She feel annoyed because that he wouldn't even remember it the next day
---
Present:
Siris looked at the current Shin—his personality so similar to that night—and at Sierra, who was so comfortable with him now.
She burst out laughing.
"Hahahahahaha!"
Shin flinched.
"Wh-why are you laughing?!"
"Nothing~ Just... take good care of my Sierra."
Shin, still oblivious, just nodded.
"Okay... I promise."
He dispelled the barrier, and Siris stood up, walking over to Sierra and hugging her tightly.
"Now I know who you take after, Sierra... That gloomy girl who always hid in her room, refusing to be a burden—all because of that clueless man."
Sierra grinned confidently.
"It's Father, right?"
Siris nodded, smiling through her tears.
That night, they lay together on the bed—Shin and Siris on either side, with Sierra sleeping soundly between them. Both adults faced the little girl, each holding one of her hands as she drifted off.
Then, Shin noticed something.
"Psst... Siris," he whispered.
"Why did you change into a transparent nightgown? I can see your underwear."
Siris just winked. "Why? You've already tasted it before."
Shin's eyes widened. Damn, this woman... Is she trying to seduce me?! Does she think I'm not a man?!
Siris stifled a laugh, amused by his flustered reaction.
"I just wanted to make a memory you'll never forget. Since last time, you forgot something important..." She smirked. "Maybe this time, you'll remember."
Shin squeezed his eyes shut. This woman is something else.
"...I should sleep now."
And so, the three of them slept side by side—like a happy family, under the same roof, under the same stars.
(At least, until Sierra kicked Shin in her sleep.)