The World’s Strongest Daughter.

How should I accept the situation before my eyes?

“Come on in.”

When I got out of the car, I made eye contact with my wife, standing in front of the entrance.

Slightly faltering at the unexpected welcome, the cold mountain wind brushed past my face.

The night in Gangwon-do held a chill not unlike the dead of winter.

In weather so cold that even I was shivering, how long had she been waiting?

“…Hello.”

The tip of her fair nose, wrapped in a red scarf, was dyed bright red.

Just like when I first met her.

***

Nothing special happened on the first day.

After eating the dinner left for me, I placed the daily necessities prepared by the housekeepers in the assigned room.

By the time I finished showering, it was already late at night.

My wife, who seemed to have been waiting for me for a long time, said she was satisfied with seeing my face. She left a message saying she would see me tomorrow before returning to her room.

Although I had a small question about my wife’s appearance, which was subtly different from before, it didn’t seem to be a big problem, so I just brushed it off without much thought.

If I had to point out something special, it would be that the cell phone signal was poor?

As a result, I went to bed early without being able to contact Min So-yeon and Kong Hye-sun.

The next day, Saturday morning.

Perhaps because I went to bed early the day before, I woke up feeling refreshed and started preparing breakfast with the other housekeepers who were already awake.

In the meantime,

“Really?”

“That’s what I’m saying. The lady personally chose the menu today.”

I heard quite pleasant news from the housekeeper.

After I visited last time, she slowly started to eat; this time, she even directly ordered the menu.

I wondered if it was okay for a person to change so much overnight, but what does it matter if she’s getting better?

With a joyful heart, I finished preparing breakfast and immediately began eating.

Originally, I was going to go up to the second floor, but the other housekeepers told me to sit at the table and receive the handover after eating.

Sending breakfast to the second floor, I was in the middle of eating.

“Student Ji-hwan!”

The housekeeper, who had gone up to the second floor, returned to the kitchen with a big smile.

…Huh?

“Quickly receive the handover and go straight up to the second floor! The lady was looking for student Ji-hwan so much….”

…Does she want to hear about So-yeon that much?

I felt slightly suspicious about her looking for me, but I’ll find out when I go up.

After finishing the meal and checking the handover items, I prepared a simple snack and went to the second floor.

I arrived on the second floor, climbing the creaking wooden stairs.

Clearing my throat slightly, I cautiously knocked on the door, and soon, my wife’s voice came from beyond the door.

“Come in.”

With her permission coming from beyond the door, I took a deep breath and carefully opened the door…

“…Come on in.”

My wife was sitting by the window, looking at me with a strange smile.

…I don’t think it’s my imagination…

Seeing her appearance, I had a small conviction.

My wife had changed.

Not in a negative sense, but it seemed she had changed for the better.

Even when I came before, she was no different from a living corpse that wouldn’t be strange to die at any moment.

But today, there was a faint spark of life in her eyes as she looked at me.

I could understand why the housekeepers were making such a fuss.

“…”

I slightly bowed my head in greeting and immediately set out the snacks I had prepared.

The tea my wife likes, coffee cookies, and rice cakes.

I didn’t prepare the rice cakes, but they were one of the foods she had mentioned wanting to eat.

Is it a coincidence? Oddly enough, rice cakes are a snack I used to like.

After placing the dishes one by one, and finally putting down the fork,

“…Do you like the clothes?”

My wife casually spoke to me.

Glancing at her, I turned my eyes again and checked my attire.

The clothes which were specially prepared by my wife.

Thanks to her kindly preparing even underwear, I could have a pleasant morning.

…How did she know the size?

Suppressing the question that suddenly popped up, I answered her.

“…Yes, they’re nice.”

Satisfied, she smiled subtly and pointed slightly to the opposite side.

It meant to sit down.

Silently following her words, I sat across from her, and my wife slowly picked up the teacup.

The swirling fragrance of flowers.

It was jasmine tea, Ju Yeon-hee’s favorite.

“Haa….”

She let out a satisfied sigh and turned her eyes to look at me.

Unlike Min So-yeon’s bright and lively eyes, Ju Yeon-hee’s eyes were deep and bright red as if blood had splattered.

They were the eyes that had captivated me on that day when the snow was falling white.

Feeling unnecessarily nervous, I unconsciously gulped and slightly averted my gaze, and she also withdrew her gaze and sipped her tea.

As silence flowed, I could hear my own shaky breathing.

“…How have you been?”

She asked about my well-being.

It wasn’t that nothing special had happened, but it wasn’t a story to be told here.

“I’ve been well, thanks to you. Are you feeling a bit better?”

Then she slowly nodded and continued the conversation.

“…Is So-yeon doing well?”

As expected, it seemed she was curious about Min So-yeon.

“She’s doing well. The first test starts on Monday, so she’s probably immersed in studying for the test right now.”

“…I see.”

Relieved that her daughter was doing well, she didn’t ask any more questions about Min So-yeon.

“…Is it okay for you not to study for the test?”

Instead, she asked a question about me.

It should be okay to say this much, right?

“…Actually, I was supposed to study with So-yeon today, but I thought I should come to see you, so I couldn’t.”

Then she scolded me, saying I should have taken care of So-yeon instead of her.

I understand my wife’s feelings for her daughter, but to me, my wife is just as precious.

Although our relationship has become like this, how could I leave my sick wife alone?

At that moment,

“…Here, eat some of this.”

My wife picked up a rice cake with a fork and handed it to me.

…Huh?

“I-I’m okay.”

Slightly taken aback by the sudden offer, I waved my hand and politely refused.

Then, my wife brought the rice cake to my mouth and spoke again.

“…An elder is giving it to you, so eat it.”

“Pardon?”

“…You don’t want to eat what an ahjumma like me is giving you?”

Oh my gosh…

Where in this world is there such a pretty ahjumma?

Even if she were in her 20s, there would be plenty of people who would believe it, so the title ahjumma doesn’t suit her.

“N-no, that’s not it….”

The moment I hurriedly denied her words, the rice cake touched my lips with a tap.

“…Hurry.”

I unconsciously opened my mouth at my wife’s urging, and the rice cake went in.

“Mmpf….”

Smoothly pulling out the fork, she started to hand me the teacup this time.

“Mmm….”

“Drink.”

Startled by the successive offers, I waved my hand saying it was okay, but pushed by my wife’s forcefulness, I had no choice but to accept the teacup.

No, this woman, seriously…

Swallowing the rice cake in a hurry and pretending to drink the tea, only then did my wife show a satisfied look and speak to me.

“…Next time, prepare yours too.”

“…Y-yes….”

And so, we shared the snacks amicably and talked, and I had to eat all the rice cakes.

***

Ju Yeon-hee’s POV

After Yoo Ji-hwan ran away with the excuse of lunch.

—-

□ Yoo Ji-hwan’ Magician of Salvation’

□ 17 years old

□ Ability: Nature Magic

□ Strength: 46

□ Mana: 89

……

□ Sexual experience: 7650

……

Looking at my husband’s ‘information window’ that hadn’t changed much from before, I felt slightly relieved.

It seems he’s having a hard time taking care of that child.

I wonder who she takes after to be like that…

Letting out a short sigh, I closed the ‘information window’ and carefully revised my plan, recalling his reactions today.

Min Seong-jae. No… Yoo Ji-hwan didn’t seem to have any intention of revealing his identity.

I prepared clothes for him, prepared his favorite foods, and sent signals, but why is he not revealing his identity to me, his wife?

First, the ‘system’ that had never granted my wishes suddenly revived my husband, probably to achieve some purpose.

It must have given him a ‘mission’ like it did to me, and there must be penalties accordingly.

But among them, there shouldn’t be anything about not revealing his identity.

Why?

He can’t avoid being found out because my ‘ability’ is alive and well.

Then…

If there’s no reason to hide his identity, then why on earth?

His beloved wife is this sick and in despair.

“Ah…”

Then, one suspicious point came to mind.

…Could it be because of my ‘room?’

On the day my husband first came, I confirmed that the room at the end of the hallway was open.

The housekeepers wouldn’t have gone in, so it seems my husband went in by chance.

If he’s perceptive, he would have figured out the identity of the body parts.

“…”

I started to feel a bit anxious.

Could he see me as a crazy woman?

Could his affection have faded?

I’ve been acting for over 10 years to appear as the best wife, but I can’t ruin my reputation with those bloody lumps.

I need to find a way…

A way to keep my husband by my side again.

If I’m not beside him, my husband will disappear somewhere.

Like a balloon floating in the sky, to a place where I can never reach him.

I already let him go once.

I’ve suffered enough. I’ve grieved enough.

This is the last chance the heavens have given to me, who has struggled until now.

I won’t let you go again.

***

Yoo Ji-hwan’s POV

After escaping from my wife’s room, I immediately went to the kitchen to help with lunch preparations.

Today’s lunch was eel with garlic and abalone porridge.

…She wanted to eat this?

It was a combination that I couldn’t understand, considering my wife had chosen it.

Momentarily puzzled by the sudden menu, a housekeeper gave me instructions.

“Student Ji-hwan! Slice some ginger over there!”

“…Yes.”

Let’s just move first.

I sliced the ginger to accompany the eel and retraced my wife’s actions.

When she was alive, my wife was pretty affectionate in her own way.

More precisely, it increased after So-yeon grew up a bit.

It wasn’t the cute and adorable aegyo that young kids do. Still, she showed a lot of small aegyo, like feeding me food or frequently engaging in skinship.

But all her aegyo was only directed at me, and she never showed it to others.

But she fed rice cakes to a boy she had only met twice?

Could it be…

She figured it out?

Aegyo- Being cute. Similar to Japanese kawaii.