【 Epilogue (3) 】

“I have a question.”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Mom, you’re human. Why don’t you go to the human world?”

“Is that something to ask your mother?”

I playfully stretched my beloved son’s cheek.

Lucas wasn’t wrong in his inquiry. It had been quite a while since I last visited the human world. I hadn’t been there since ending Camilla’s life.

It seemed inevitable that I would stay away from the human world after establishing a family in the Celestial Realm.

But that didn’t mean I planned to settle in the Celestial Realm permanently.

After all, I was human, and even though I was working for a company in the Celestial Realm, my original profession was a broadcaster.

“I need to raise you first.”

“I’m already grown up.”

“You’re not even as tall as your dad’s waist.”

My son, having a mix of angel blood, was growing slower compared to other kids his age.

Worried about his small stature, I asked PleaseShakeACarrot for advice, and he answered succinctly, “That’s normal, I was the unusual one. It’s rare to age like humans.”

It seemed that growth rates varied among angels. Unfortunately, it looked like my son Lucas would take decades to grow as tall as Hans.

Bored or perhaps just restless, Lucas clung to me annoyingly.

“If you’re bored, give me a little sister. I’m going to sleep over at Uncle Ian’s.”

“One of you is already more than enough.”

“I’m going to tell dad.”

“Your dad is on my side.”

“Ugh, really.”

Time passed pleasantly with Lucas, and before I knew it, it was time for Hans to return from work.

I got up from the sofa. Lucas, who had been lying beside me, also stood up. He often mimicked whatever I did.

“Shall we go pick up dad?”

“You said you didn’t even want to go near the office during your vacation.”

“It’s raining. Let’s all go to a café on the way back.”

“Great!”

Lucas, at an age when most kids prefer hanging out with friends, seemed to enjoy spending time more with Hans and me. He was a unique child, even for my son.

We grabbed our umbrellas and stepped outside.

Our house was not as close as the dormitory, but still quite near to the company.

We arrived at the company in no time. Lucas, familiar with visiting the company, quickly went inside.

“Oh, it’s Lucas.”

We were lucky to run into Ian. He was holding some documents.

“Jiha, you’re here too. What brings you? Just visiting?”

“Came to pick up my husband. Took the chance since it’s raining.”

“There are plenty of umbrellas at the company.”

“Just seizing the opportunity to show off.”

Ian burst into laughter at my remark.

“I’ll call Hans.”

“Okay, we’ll wait at the café.”

A café had recently opened inside the company, and Hans and I had become regulars. A café we used to visit had actually moved into the company premises.

As we were choosing our menu in the café, Hans entered the shop.

“What brings you here?”

Though he asked nonchalantly, his happiness was evident.

“It’s raining. I thought I’d bring an umbrella.”

“I came for cake!”

“Typical.”

Hearing the response from Lucas and me, Hans chuckled. He affectionately ruffled Lucas’s black hair.

“Let’s have your favorite cheesecake, then.”

“Sounds good.”

“Dad, I want chocolate cake.”

“Are you sure you can finish a whole cake?”

“Yes.”

“Then order it.”

We ordered our coffee and cake, then took a seat by the window where we could watch the rain outside.

The sound of the rain was soothing. It was a peaceful and pleasant sight.

“When are you planning to return to work?”

The question would have been perfect if it hadn’t come from my husband.

I gave Hans a sharp look, but he just sipped his coffee, unfazed.

It hadn’t been long since I started my leave. Yet, my husband, who was also my boss, kept hinting at my return.

Both Lucas and Hans asking about it meant that I had indeed taken quite a long break. It seemed time to return to my main job rather than going back to the company.

“I’m thinking of going to the human world soon.”

“Really?”

“The broadcast requests have been incessant.”

Since I had taken a break from broadcasting, which was almost the only entertainment for angels, every angel I met kept asking about it.

“Then maybe I should take a leave too.”

“No?”

I responded as if questioning what he was suggesting.

“I was planning to go just with Lucas.”

“……?”

Both Hans and Lucas looked at me, puzzled.

But that confusion didn’t last long. Lucas’s face lit up.

“That sounds fun, I want to go!”

“Absolutely not.”

On the contrary, Hans was firm.

I looked at them as if wondering what the problem was.

“I’m just trying to enjoy a vacation with my son.”

“Are you sure it’ll be okay without me?”

“Dad, I’m all grown up.”

“Quiet, you little one.”

Hans ignored Lucas’s words. Lucas puffed his cheeks in response.

If I were to return to the human world, I had thought about taking Lucas with me. I placed my hand on Lucas’s head, who was sitting next to me.

“You wanted to see the human world too. Now that you’re over twenty, it should be fine.”

“Yeah, yes. Exactly.”

Lucas nodded vigorously.

“But when we come back, you’re going to school.”

“Um—?”

“Don’t act so innocent.”

“It doesn’t work on mom, does it?”

Perhaps it was due to hanging out with PleaseShakeACarrot, but unlike us, Lucas was quite affectionate.

“If you’re going with Lucas, you might as well take me.”

“Dad’s jealous.”

“It’s because you keep causing trouble.”

Lucas was well-known among acquaintances as a troublemaker.

Even if he’s considered a baby by angel standards, by human standards he’s an adult. Why is he so irresponsible? It was hard to believe he was Hans’s son.

“You’re just like your mother, completely.”

Then, Hans’s voice followed, and I realized.

He took after me. That’s when my questions were answered.

“Lucas!”

Just then, people entered the café.

OnlyFinley, PleaseShakeACarrot, and Poppopo.

OnlyFinley’s face brightened when she saw Lucas.

“Our cutie! When did you get here!”

“Did Ian tell you?”

“Yes.”

Poppopo answered my question.

Lucas was receiving all the love from the audience. Especially with these three, he had been as close as family since he was young.

OnlyFinley, holding Lucas’s hand, said,

“Were you eating cake? Want your aunt to buy you something more?”

“Hehe, no, it’s okay. I just finished a whole cake.”

The atmosphere was very warm and cheerful.

Hans and I looked at the two with a somewhat disapproving gaze.

“It’s because you keep babying him that he acts like this.”

“I’m cute, so it’s fine!”

“What’s fine.”

Lucas gave a cheeky smile.

Even so, his childishness was too much for his age. The company people were also to blame.

OnlyFinley hugged Lucas tightly and replied,

“How can I not adore him when he looks so much like Jiha.”

Such a smooth talker. I had nothing to say to that, since it was true that Lucas and I looked alike.

“I was just about to bring it up. Good timing.”

“What’s up, any news?”

Poppopo naturally dragged a chair from the next table and sat down beside me.

“Big news.”

“What is it?”

PleaseShakeACarrot also asked with a voice full of interest.

Hans spoke while having a bite of his cheesecake.

“Jiha has finally decided to work again.”

“……!”

Immediately, all three of them widened their eyes.

“Is it about broadcasting?!”

“Keep your voice down, there are other customers.”

“Mom said she’s taking me with her!”

“Lucas too?!”

“What about Hans?”

“Of course, I’m going too.”

“The whole family going together? That’s awesome!”

As expected, their reactions were intense.

It seemed they had all been waiting eagerly, though they didn’t show it. I felt a bit sorry for keeping them waiting.

“Have you set a date?”

“Not yet. I just told Hans about it.”

“Let’s go tomorrow, tomorrow!”

“How about today?”

“Calm down a bit, please…”

It felt like half of my life was spent calming these people down.

* * *

The preparation period wasn’t long. We just had to wait for Hans’s vacation to be processed.

Once the leave was approved, we went to Gabriela’s office.

“It’s been a while since you’ve been out.”

Gabriela greeted us with a smile.

“I’m a bit worried about taking Lucas. Will it be okay?”

“Hans is with us.”

“Hmm, then it should be fine.”

As soon as she saw Hans, Gabriela nodded as if reassured. If I had said it was just Lucas and me going, we might not have gotten permission.

“Lucas, are you confident you’ll have fun?”

“Yes! I might have inherited the broadcasting gene from mom.”

“Hehe, that might really be the case.”

Lucas showed signs of having a knack for broadcasting. It was almost frightening how he might just take over my profession one day.

Gabriela moved to a pile of documents, rummaging through them.

“Going random this time?”

“Yes. Completely random.”

Then, she paused, smiling slyly.

“Okay— I’ll drop you in an interesting place.”

That smile made me more anxious rather than reassuring. I decided to ignore the subtly ominous feeling.

Gabriela snapped her fingers, and a door with white light seeping through appeared out of thin air.

“You’ll have to broadcast a lot!”

With Gabriela’s farewell, the three of us stood in front of the door.

“Jiha!”

Just then, a crowd surged into the office.

It was our familiar audience. I was surprised.

“What’s going on?”

“We came to see you off. If you’re going now, we might not see you for a while.”

Ian was the one who answered.

Always such sentimental angels.

One by one, the angels started to add their well-wishes.

“Have a safe trip!”

“Be careful of any accidents!”

“Don’t forget to visit the Celestial Realm occasionally.”

“Make sure to broadcast often!”

“Alright, alright, I got it.”

I managed to calm the avid viewers.

After exchanging farewells, I turned to walk towards the door. My gaze shifted to Hans and Lucas.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

“Ready, Lucas?”

“Let’s go!”

Holding Hans’s hand in one and Lucas’s in the other, I said,

“We’ll be back.”

A confident smile graced my lips.

It was time to start a new broadcast.