“I should get going now. I have to return before one.”
I stared blankly at the two of them, then gently set the mouse down on the ground.
The mouse immediately spun toward me, thumping the ground with its feet and gesturing for me to come closer.
Tilting my head, I lowered my ear.
The mouse leaned in and whispered quietly.
“What are you thinking, staying here? What if you get struck by divine punishment!”
“I promised Lord Bihyeon. I wasn’t forced to come…”
I was about to say that.
But then—
A strange, ringing sound echoed through the air.
Something enormous was flying straight toward us.
If I hadn’t happened to see it coming, I would have finished my sentence.
I swallowed the words and, the moment I realized the bird was landing right here, I grabbed the mouse and hugged it tightly against my chest.
THUD!
A massive bird landed beside me.
It looked around for a moment before turning its gaze toward me.
Its feathers shimmered in five brilliant colors, smooth and lustrous like silk.
The White Tiger noticed the bird and lazily swished its tail.
At some point it had returned to the pavilion and was lying down again. Slowly, it rose to its feet.
I stood there in shock, eyes wide and mind blank.
The mouse slapped my arm repeatedly.
“Why would you block me like that!”
“Ah…”
It really had been instinct.
The moment I thought something might be dangerous, my body moved on its own.
“Haha…”
I laughed awkwardly.
Lord Bihyeon watched me with a strange look in his eyes.
The White Tiger descended from the pavilion and approached the bird, which was holding something in its beak.
“Hongju?”
Lord Bihyeon took the item from the bird’s mouth and read it.
“Hm.”
He lifted his eyebrow slightly, then laughed quietly.
“They say they’ll bring alcohol later.”
“…Then I should sleep a little longer.”
“Aren’t you going to the festival?”
“I’d like to, but my body won’t cooperate. I’ll rest for now and go later when Hongju arrives.”
“Alright.”
After gently stroking the bird’s head, Lord Bihyeon beckoned to me.
“Let’s head out first.”
I set the mouse down from my arms.
The mouse clicked its tongue and smacked my leg.
“A human could die from a single flap of those wings. Try living a little more carefully, will you!”
“Yes, I will.”
“You talk well! Do you even know what state you’re in right now? It’s terrible. Your energy is overflowing with bad omens!”
The mouse sniffed the air, speaking in a sharp but worried tone.
Then it checked the time and bowed to Lord Bihyeon.
“Seriously, be careful, human. Got it?”
“Yes, I will.”
“I’m leaving!”
Waving both arms frantically, the mouse rushed out through the back gate.
Terrible…
Did it mean that strange smell again?
I lifted my arm and sniffed it.
Then I sighed quietly.
Just then I felt someone’s gaze.
I turned my head.
My eyes met Lord Bihyeon’s.
After studying me for a moment, he took the outer robe draped over his shoulders and placed it around mine.
“Try not to stray too far from me.”
“Ah… well…”
I couldn’t really promise that…
“…Should we hold hands instead?”
Lord Bihyeon laughed softly as he watched my reaction.
It sounded like a joke, but somehow it also felt sincere.
The look in his eyes almost seemed to say just grab my hand before you cause trouble.
Still, I laughed awkwardly and shook my head.
“If I feel like I’m getting lost, I’ll just grab your clothes.”
“Suit yourself.”
Creak—
The door opened.
As I stepped through with Lord Bihyeon, I suddenly turned back.
“Oh, wait a moment.”
I almost forgot.
I went back inside and took out the small rice cake the mouse had given me earlier from the shopping bag.
It was small, but incredibly delicious.
After wiping my mouth, I ran back to Lord Bihyeon.
The palace residents were waving at us.
I smiled, bowed politely, and stepped up beside him where he was waiting.
Ahead of us stretched a brightly lit festival street.
Colorful tents lined the road, selling food and goods.
At a glance, it looked no different from a human festival.
Except that every single person inside the tents—and walking the streets—was an inhuman entity.
Some resembled animals or insects.
Others had completely unfamiliar forms I had never seen before.
Without realizing it, I moved a little closer to Lord Bihyeon’s side.
…It was fascinating.
But it was also starting to make me nervous.
There were a lot of otherworldly beings here.
They won’t realize I’m human… right?
I glanced at Lord Bihyeon uneasily.
He tilted his head at my expression, then gently grabbed my arm and pulled me forward.
“Let’s go.”
Ah, whatever.
Lord Bihyeon was here.
It should be fine.
…Right?
He wouldn’t just abandon me here, would he?
“I won’t.”
“…Really? Wait—can you read my mind?”
“I can’t. But your face looks exactly like someone worried about being abandoned.”
That’s uncanny…
Ah. Right. He’s a god.
Sniffling quietly, I followed him deeper into the festival.
Right from the entrance, rows of tents stretched ahead of us.
The things being sold weren’t very different from what you’d find at a human festival.
There were skewers—though I had no idea what kind of meat they were—and shaved ice…
“Wow…”
Most of all, the faces of the beings walking around with food in their hands looked bright and cheerful.
Whenever someone recognized Lord Bihyeon while passing by, they bowed politely and congratulated him on his birthday.
Music drifted through the air.
Just hearing it made me smile.
“What do you want to eat?”
Lord Bihyeon glanced at my face and chuckled quietly before pointing to the skewers I had been staring at.
“I didn’t bring any cash…”
“I’ll buy it. Shouldn’t I at least do that much for a guest who came to enjoy the festival?”
Well… I came to celebrate his birthday, not exactly to enjoy the festival.
But I was curious.
I wanted to know what food made by inhuman entities tasted like.
The café drinks had tasted exactly the same as those in human cafés.
After glancing at Lord Bihyeon, I nodded eagerly.
“What kind of skewer is that?”
“Chicken and vegetables. It’s no different from the human world.”
As he spoke, he led me to the skewer stall.
Then he smiled mischievously.
“Oh, they also have crocodile. And lizard.”
Lizard?
Croco—crocodile?
I had heard people in some countries in the human world ate those…
But the thought still made me recoil.
“Ugh…”
I instinctively took a step back.
Lord Bihyeon laughed and asked for the chicken skewer instead, pulling a small pouch from his clothes.
“Oh! Isn’t that Lord Bihyeon? Happy birthday!”
“Thank you. How’s your leg these days?”
“Thanks to you, it’s much better.”
The stall owner smiled warmly and handed the two of us the longest skewers.
“Huh? Thank you.”
Wait… this is twice the size of a normal one.
I bowed slightly as I accepted it.
“No need for money. How could I possibly take payment from Lord Bihyeon and his guest?”
Lord Bihyeon burst into laughter.
Even when he tried to offer money silently, the owner firmly refused and pushed us away, telling us to go enjoy the festival.
“So many people came out tonight to celebrate Lord Bihyeon! I hope the two of you have a wonderful time!”
After bowing politely, I turned away and stared at the skewer before glancing at Lord Bihyeon.
It didn’t seem like the otherworldly beings were afraid of him.
If anything, their expressions showed something closer to respect.
Then again, Boss Bbiik had been afraid of getting punished by him—but never looked like they disliked him.
He’s loved.
That’s good.
…Wait.
Why did I feel proud that he was loved?
I blinked blankly and took a bite of the skewer.
“Mmm…”
“Is it good?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want to try—”
I started to offer him a bite before realizing he already had the same thing.
“Ah—”
I tried to pull it back.
But Lord Bihyeon leaned down and took a small bite from my skewer instead.
“Hm. That one tastes better.”
He smiled with amusement.
I stared at his smiling face for a moment before quickly looking away.
What the…
He can smile like that too?
Is he smiling more because he’s comfortable around me now?
Sniffling softly, I looked around again.
Then I gave up thinking about it and grabbed the edge of Lord Bihyeon’s robe, pulling him along.
There was still so much to see.
Cotton candy.
Shaved ice.
Fruit juice stalls.
Everything felt familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time.
While I was looking around in amazement, I noticed someone approaching us.
Instinctively, I stepped back.
“Hey! Aren’t you Hansol?”
“Huh?”
Someone who knows my name?
I didn’t know any golden fish like that…
Wait.
Fish?
“Eoun!”
I barely recognized them.
The aquarium bowl they usually wore was gone.
Instead, water floated gently around their golden face like a halo, and they were holding an umbrella.
For a moment I thought they were someone else entirely.
Eoun seemed just as surprised.
“Oh my!”
Covering their mouth, they hurried over and patted my shoulder enthusiastically.
Their eyes looked excited.
It hurt a little, but I couldn’t bring myself to complain.
“I—I’m glad to see you too…”
Seeing me struggle to speak, Lord Bihyeon chuckled and lightly tapped Eoun’s shoulder as if telling them to calm down.
“Oh my! Hello. Happy birthday, Lord Bihyeon.”
“Thank you.”
So they were golden.
Now that I thought about it, the aquarium bowl they usually wore had been dark blue, so maybe that’s why I never noticed.
“Eoun… your aquarium—”
Were they okay without it?
Seeing my worried expression, Eoun laughed.
“It’s fine! That café sits right on the boundary closest to the human world, so I need it there to breathe properly. But here I’m perfectly fine.”
Ah.
I see.
So this was their natural color.
It was beautiful.
My eyes sparkled as I looked at them.
Eoun laughed shyly.
“Are you fascinated by my color? Working so much made me a little shabby.”
Hearing the embarrassed tone in their voice, I jerked my head up.
“Was I staring too much? I’m sorry. It’s just… the color is so beautiful.”
My eyes widened and I quickly looked down.
Eoun blinked in surprise at my sincere words.
Then they burst into laughter.
For a brief moment, silence followed.
I thought I might have said something wrong.
Then something cool touched my cheek.
When I looked up—
Tiny droplets of water were dancing through the air around me.
A faint rainbow shimmered among them.
“Wow…”
“I hope today becomes a joyful memory for you as well.”
Ah…
They remembered what I had said before.
Smiling brightly, I nodded.
Lord Bihyeon had been watching me quietly.
Then he raised his hand and moved his fingers.
The droplets spread wider.
Tiny fish formed within them.
They swam through the air, circling around us.
The sight was so beautiful that I smiled without realizing it.
It was beautiful.
And for some reason… my chest tightened.