*
Regret.
It’s the act of realizing that actions taken in the past were wrong, and lamenting while thinking about it over and over. Regardless of the severity of the mistake.
It’s one of the few emotions that can lead a person to make the extreme choice of death.
Perhaps because of that, there are many proverbs and sayings about regret.
Above all, it’s a popular theme in Nobelpia.
When you combine regret with despair and obsession, you create the ultimate compilation of themes known as 4-Drones.
“Hmph! Shinwoo is sulking!”
Thanks to the misunderstandings of the heroines, I ended up getting beaten up.
At the point where the truth, which was revealed a bit late, cleared up the misunderstanding.
Right now is indeed the perfect time for a regretty-story.
“Mi, Mi…”
“My Husband… Mi…”
“Well, you see… Mi…”
“Mi, Mi, I’m sorry…”
If it were a typical regretty-story, the heroines would apologize to me with ‘I’m sorry.’
That’s the basic premise of a Nobelpia regretty-story.
The kind of twisted relationship born out of regret, despair, and obsession.
The thrill of catharsis you get from it is the real purpose of enjoying regretty-stories.
But who are our heroines?
“You crazy bastard. Why’d you confuse things?”
“You should’ve at least said something beforehand, Husband!”
“Isn’t this a foolish act? It’s partly your fault for being immature.”
“I thought you’d say you’re sorry! Actually, it’s Kyalu!”
“I never knew there were so many variations of ‘mi’—crazy girls.”
They’re heroines that are slightly embarrassing to show off.
It’s surprising they’re not yet kicked out, let alone collaborating with other works.
Because of that, instead of saying sorry, they just spat out other words.
In many ways, it was truly unexpected.
[It’s a shame we didn’t make it. We really should’ve died for real.]
‘I want to punch that crazy bitch right in the forehead, fucking hell.’
Of course, that doesn’t mean they’re entirely bitches.
Even if they didn’t say sorry and only said other things.
The heroines averted their gazes slightly, wearing expressions that indicated they felt a bit guilty.
It seemed they were aware to some degree that they had messed up.
So, for the heroines, I decided to just let it slide.
Me too, and them as well.
After all, we were people who were bad at expressing ourselves with words.
If I had to argue, it’s more accurate to say we were people who didn’t really need words.
However.
“Shinwoo.”
“You have something to say this time, right?”
Mom was the exception.
She wore not a shred of an apologetic expression.
Because of that, a bit of stubbornness rose in me to hear her say sorry.
I thought so, but…
“Did you go crazy and bring home another girlfriend?”
“……I’m sorry.”
In an instant, the tables turned.
And naturally, I found myself bowing my head in front of Mom.
Alongside Karushi, who had come to my side.
Mom sighed heavily and muttered.
“Haah… Who did you take after to be so lewd?”
“Mom, of course.”
My mouth, which had been itching, didn’t stop.
“Are you really a fucking dog?”
“Yes, I’m your son, Mom.”
Crack!!!
And in the end, it resulted in a fierce back slap via self-deprecating humor.
[Just give in sometimes! You can’t win every time!]
‘I heard web novel protagonists can’t lose.’
[Who the fuck would practice that on their mom!!!]
‘Right here.’
Then, seeing Karushi bowed down, Mom quickly tried to help her up.
“Uh… Saintess? Get up. You’re not at fault.”
“…It’s because I seduced her… I’m sorry…”
But Karushi just bowed her head again with a gloomy voice.
While Mom continued to gently try and help her up, Karushi’s attitude didn’t change at all.
In the end, Mom chose to talk.
“Uh… Saintess?”
“You can speak comfortably…”
Soon after, Mom continued to talk to Karushi with a slightly worried expression.
“Did our clumsy son do something? Like the hypnosis app?”
“Oh, no… I… was initially attracted by her looks… but everything is good now…”
At those words, Mom smiled slightly and turned to me.
“You take after me in looks, right?”
“Did your conscience die? Of course, it’s Dad.”
“Just die already.”
Of course, it took just a few words for that smile’s meaning to change.
After several back slaps.
Karushi and I knelt obediently facing Mom’s skeptical gaze.
“It’s amazing that your new girlfriend is a priestess, but it’s the Saintess of all people?”
“……It has turned out this way.”
[But you don’t mention that Karushi has fur at all, huh?]
‘Choco-hyung is around. Karushi is on the lower end compared to that.’
[Ah.]
Mom looked as if she couldn’t understand it at all.
And rightfully so.
Our family was basically non-religious.
“Um… Mother? I have something to give you…”
“Is it a religious solicitation? That might be a bit difficult.”
The moment Karushi jumped in, Mom dismissed her words with a look of pity.
In response, Karushi began to hastily deny it.
“Oh, no! I have no intention of forcing you to convert!”
“Then I’m relieved. So what’s up?”
Thanks to Karushi’s urgent words, Mom’s expression relaxed a bit.
Even while maintaining her stance of wanting to stay non-religious.
However, the moment Karushi handed a hefty bundle of cash to Mom.
“I couldn’t prepare much because I didn’t have time to buy gifts. I’m sorry.”
“Indeed, our daughter-in-law!!!”
Mom’s attitude flipped in an instant.
So much so that even her title changed.
Moreover, an unimaginable scene unfolded.
“What’s the prayer like?”
“Nyamen.”
Mom, who had maintained her non-religious stance, voluntarily joined a religion.
“Thank you for this daily bread. Nyam-en.”
[Is it really that easy for beliefs to change like that?]
‘Faith, belief, and religion come from money, huh?’
Watching that, Karushi began to wear a complicated smile.
I couldn’t quite pinpoint the emotion, but if I had to describe it, it would be a mix of relief and disillusionment.
“Looking at that, it’s definitely Shinwoo’s mother…”
As Mom briefly recited the prayer with piety.
She straightened her previously relaxed expression and spoke firmly to me.
Pointing with her finger at the lizard beastman and my younger sibling.
“Explain.”
“Yep.”
In any case, I needed to explain to Mom.
And conveniently, the heroines were quietly listening to my words, too.
I started to briefly explain what had happened to them thus far.
First, their situation.
Then, how much they had suffered until now.
Finally, that I had helped them escape.
Of course, I didn’t mention the relationship between the Chief and me, nor my plans.
I glossed over sensitive parts as much as possible.
Naturally, I didn’t mention the battle between animal enthusiasts and monster enthusiasts either.
[Speak!!! I can’t be the only one suffering. Give me some votes!!!]
‘Where’s the armband? Block this bastard.’
Mom, being a simple general public with no connection to this matter.
“So that’s what happened.”
“……”
Mom remained silent until I finished speaking.
Suddenly, she patted my shoulder and casually said.
“Good job.”
I was about to sigh in relief at that, but I collected myself.
I hadn’t mentioned my real purpose yet.
“Mom, about that, do you remember when I asked you to do something before?”
“I remember.”
I cautiously explained my real purpose to Mom.
“Could you let the lizard beastman and my younger sibling stay at home for a while?”
“Sure. Anytime.”
To my surprise, Mom readily agreed.
Without asking any further about specifics, timelines, or future plans.
I found it so shocking that I had to ask back.
“……Is that it?”
“Yeah.”
[It unfolded surprisingly easily, huh?]
‘Yeah, you’re pretty cool in situations like this.’
On the other hand, the heroines had fairly ambiguous expressions.
Perhaps because they were aware of the discomfort between the Chief and me.
It felt like they had noticed something was deliberately left out.
Like perhaps the real reason I rescued the hostage.
In any case, I did need to explain to the heroines in detail.
Since they were an indispensable part of my future plans.
The moment I suggested to the heroines that it was time to get out.
“Shall we all step out for a moment?”
“Just a sec! Shinwoo student!”
The lizard beastman anxiously grabbed me.
“Is there another problem?”
“No, not at all.”
“Then that’s a good thing, right?”
Indeed, as I said.
We had rescued the hostage from the Chief’s house.
Moreover, I had secured permission from the most authoritative figure of our household, Mom, for them to stay in the safest place—our home.
So, there shouldn’t be any issues.
“I really appreciate what you did for us. I will definitely repay this kindness.”
“I understand.”
“But wait a moment.”
The lizard beastman persistently held on to me.
“How long can we stay?”
“Uh.”
Only then did I begin to understand why he had grabbed me.
I had implicitly mentioned it was totally fine for them to stay indefinitely.
Yet it didn’t mean the parties involved could stay forever.
They couldn’t continue living in hiding while watching for the Chief’s gaze indefinitely.
[Aren’t you supposed to have a rough timeline in mind?]
‘Of course, I do.’
I slowly began to speak while gazing at the lizard beastman’s complex expression.
*
