# Side Story (21)
Today was the important day of meeting the parents.
The Hero Party dressed neatly for the sake of formality and image.
"Ahjussi, is it okay if I dress this neatly? But, this is a bit uncomfortable to move in."
"That's because you gained weight."
"I didn't gain weight!"
Luna bristled.
These days, teasing her about weight was fun because of how well it landed.
Luna was wearing a neat semi-formal outfit.
"Still, you look pretty."
"Of course! I'm Luna, who's going to be Ahjussi's bride! I'm so pretty that I'm making enemies!"
"So now you're certain they're enemies?"
"Of course! They're deliberately putting me down! It's unfair!"
Was it really unfair, though?
Since Luna had grabbed my hand and run away last time, she'd been getting ganged up on by the three of them.
But if she got discouraged by something like that, she wouldn't be a Hero.
Luna always showed a confident and bright demeanor.
"Being confident even when you're wrong... should I call that a good thing..."
"Good is good!"
Right, I should think positively like Luna says.
As I was thinking that, the Hero Party, having finished preparing, was coming out of their rooms.
They were all in neat attire today too.
It seemed they wanted to make a good impression on my parents.
*Looking at them like this, the kids really are clean-cut and pretty...*
I knew they were pretty normally too, but I was feeling it anew—the Hero Party's appearance.
The neat Hero Party looking like employees going to an interview.
I led them and hailed a taxi toward the restaurant where my parents would be waiting.
When the taxi arrived, Saten looked at the car and said,
"There aren't enough seats. There are five of us. A taxi holds a maximum of four people."
Then it would be better to split into groups of three and two.
Here's the problem.
Who should go in the group of three and who in the group of two?
Hare raised her hand high and expressed her opinion.
"I, I think Luna should be in the group of two."
"Why me!"
"Luna needs to be punished. Everyone agrees, right?"
"I agree."
"Me too!"
Everyone in the Hero Party except Luna and me agreed.
Naturally, Luna ended up in the group of two.
And, even more naturally.
"Hare, who expressed the opinion. I think you should go together too."
"Wh-why? Why do I have to go with Luna!"
"Because hunting dogs aren't needed after the hunt is over. Estia agrees too, right?"
"I don't know what this is about, but I'll agree!"
Discarding the hunting dog after the hunt.
Hare won the lottery.
And so the two of them got in the taxi with gloomy expressions and headed to the destination.
*Is this what my wives' fighting looks like...?*
Witnessing it directly before my eyes felt like my heart would stop.
And so Saten, Estia, and I got in a taxi and headed toward the restaurant.
The taxi driver, curious about our neat appearance, asked good-naturedly,
"Hehe, seeing young people going to an interview reminds me of my old days..."
At the man's words, Saten answered in a dry voice.
"Then you must have gotten married early too, sir."
"Marriage...? It's not a job interview...?"
"No, we're going to a marriage interview. I heard it's called 'sanggyeonrye' in Korean."
"...Two women. To one man?"
"Yes."
"..."
After that question, the taxi driver drove in silence without saying another word.
I don't usually get carsick, but today I felt particularly nauseous.
It was a bit suffocating, but.
"We're late! Ahjussi!"
"Y-you didn't get in an accident, did you...?"
I was relieved we arrived safely.
"There are two more?"
The taxi driver's final look would probably be remembered for a lifetime.
Sanggyeonrye.
Originally, it's an occasion where both sides bring their parents to talk.
The atmosphere is solemn, and if the conditions don't match, the marriage can fall through because of the parents.
However, our worries weren't as big as expected.
"By the way, what about Luna's parents?"
"I left my mom and dad in that other world!"
Luna was a case who gave the Hero's fortune to her parents and came over to this side.
Naturally, we couldn't proceed with a meeting of the parents.
My flustered father cleared his throat and asked Hare.
"Th-then Hare, you..."
"I, I never had them from birth. I'm an orphan."
"...I'm sorry."
My father's face after a long time.
In contrast to my mother's calm expression, my father's face gradually worsened as he was caught off guard.
"S-Saten, your parents..."
"They're dead. And it would be better to think I never had them from the start, Father."
"...I'll have a lot to apologize for today."
My father bowed his head again.
How many times would he have to apologize before the day ended?
Then he asked Estia, who was next and last.
"Ahem, Estia, your parents..."
"Don't have any!"
My father bowed his head.
Today, my father's crown looked particularly bare.
It hurt my heart.
"Don't tell me... Ahjussi too?"
"No, not me. That's alopecia areata from stress. I'm fine."
Though I resembled my father, that hair loss wasn't hereditary.
I firmly denied Hare's interrogation. My hair was in fine condition.
...For now.
"Honey, enough about parents. I'm planning to approve the marriage anyway."
The meeting of parents doesn't matter.
My mother stepped forward first.
At those words, my father made a stern expression for the first time in a while.
"Still, we can't just let it pass! Moreover, a wedding with four people! There's no precedent for this! I'm still opposed!"
My father's will was firm.
Well, it would be hard for a man with Confucian blood flowing through him to accept this situation.
I somewhat agreed with my father's opinion.
"Father's right about that. It does look a bit strange in Korea."
"Oh my, does Ahjussi not want to marry us?"
"Is that how you're going to be, Ahjussi?!"
"No, that's not what I..."
Geez.
I couldn't speak.
"Let's just eat, kids."
To change the subject, I picked up a piece of galbi from the table.
Perhaps because it was a famous Korean restaurant, the galbi tasted fantastic.
The Hero Party, who had been taught Korean etiquette by me, started eating after my parents took a bite.
"Setting aside talking with both sets of parents as a practical issue, Father."
"What is it?"
"You believe they're the Hero Party, right?"
Hmm.
My father crossed his arms as if displeased by my words.
"How can I believe that? I've never seen it with my own eyes."
"Saten, show him."
"Here."
Whoosh—
Saten generated fire from her hand.
My father's eyes widened at the sight, and he nodded as if acknowledging it.
"...I'll believe it for now. But I still haven't approved the marriage."
Still.
When exactly would he give his consent?
My mother had already agreed long ago.
Luna must have had the same thought as me, because she raised her hand and shouted.
"Father, Luna has a question!"
"A question? Go ahead."
"Why are you opposed! This is something we've all agreed on and are proceeding with! We oppose Father's opposition!"
Luna coming on strong when the marriage was opposed.
Was this the dignity of a Hero?
I was impressed by Luna's forceful approach.
"But I am genuinely curious. Mother gave permission, so why is Father opposed?"
"First, because there's no precedent... and second... because you don't understand responsibility..."
Responsibility.
Did I really not understand responsibility?
My father seemed to think of me as the child he'd seen in the past.
"Father. I understand the word responsibility better than anyone."
"Someone who understands would try to get married? This is hell—"
"Honey."
"...Not hell, just a bit difficult. Let me ask you one thing. What are you going to do after graduation?"
What would I do?
My father seemed to place more importance on the professional aspect.
That's probably why he opposed my marriage too.
He couldn't let me live off my parents' money forever.
The question seemed connected to the word responsibility.
*What should I... do with my life...*
Just live and then take over my parents' work.
No, I don't want that.
It's not something I particularly want to do.
However, there isn't anything I particularly want to do either.
*Still, if I had to choose one profession...*
I looked clearly into my father's eyes and said,
"If anything, I think I'd like to do cooking."
"Why cooking out of all the professions?"
"I cooked a lot to feed Luna at home, and I sometimes cooked for myself when I was alone. And..."
The other-world version of me that the Hero Party had mentioned.
I had some of that guy's memories left, so I had a lot of knowledge about cooking.
*That guy was really good at cooking.*
Cooking that had been well honed while feeding the Hero Party.
If I had to choose a profession, that seemed closest.
My father seemed pleased with my answer and nodded slightly.
"Not bad. With cooking, you could succeed professionally. If you want to open a shop, I'll help you. No? You must open a shop. If you don't, I'll cut off your support."
"Father, that's too much!"
"Be quiet! You just eat your food!"
Perhaps holding a grudge, my father yelled at Luna.
Though he lived under my mother's thumb every day, when he needed to act, he did.
He was a good father to me.
"I'll try my best."
At those words, my mother, who had been listening quietly, stepped forward.
"Yes, try your best. My son. And you four."
Luna, Hare, Saten, Estia.
My mother called out each member of the Hero Party's name and looked at them with a sharp gaze.
"I did approve the marriage, but I want to hear your resolve too. What are your thoughts?"
"Thoughts...!"
"J-just a moment... let me organize my thoughts..."
"..."
"What thoughts?"
Was it because of my mother's sharp question?
The Hero Party began to panic more than ever before.
Perhaps more than when they met the Demon King.
I thought they might be falling into confusion.