After crying for quite some time, Hoja finally spoke.
[You sound just like a child throwing a tantrum...]
Honestly, I’d been thinking the same thing.
That maybe my argument really did sound like a childish outburst.
After all, I hadn’t offered any sound logic or eloquent reasoning.
But then again, what could I have said?
There wasn’t some profound reason leaping into my mind that could justify why he should go on living.
“Life is still worth living”? “Your children wouldn’t want you to be sad in heaven”?
No. After going through that, any explanation would be nothing more than deception and arrogance.
People often throw around the words “I understand your pain” or “I sympathize with your grief” far too easily.
But how can you truly empathize with something you’ve never experienced?
Grief is never equal. It’s always personal.
When I was a kid, I once cried for three days when my first pet lizard died.
To others, it was just a cheap pet—something you could buy at a shop with a single 50,000-won bill. But to me, he was family. A friend.
So saying “I understand” felt too empty. Too detached. And I couldn’t bring myself to say it.
Scratching my head, I replied.
“Well, even if you think I’m being childish, I can’t help it. It feels disrespectful to claim I understand your pain. I don’t have some elegant reason for you to live. But I still can’t let you die.”
After thinking quietly for a moment, he looked at me and asked:
[So you’re saying I can’t even die as I please?]
“Exactly. I risked my life to save you, so your life is practically mine now. That means you have to live.”
Since I was already being shameless, I decided to go all-in.
When I insisted on life without compromise, Hoja gave me a troubled look.
[How unfortunate... To think I was saved by a completely absurd human being.]
He sighed and tried to persuade me with a logical argument.
[Then just take my Neidan and let me die. My body would make excellent material—light and durable, ideal for crafting weapons. My wings could be turned into a fan coveted by top-tier martial artists who ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) use sound-based techniques. What do you say? You’ve cared for me and mourned my sorrow... Consider this my gift to you.]
But that line of persuasion held no weight for me.
The simple fact that Hoja existed—breathing, flying, alive—was already a treasure beyond measure.
Even without a Neidan, a person can cultivate inner strength. Weapons can be made from shed shells.
But where was I ever going to find another giant hornet I could ride?
“What kind of horrifying thing are you saying? Absolutely not.”
[Why not? To people, I’d be considered a rare treasure.]
“To me, you’re the treasure when you’re alive.”
[What!?]
He stared at me in shock, eyes wide, and fell deep into thought.
Then, gathering himself, he asked again:
[You truly mean to save me—no matter what?]
“Yeah. No matter what.”
[Then... Let me confirm something.]
“Confirm?”
[Yes, I need confirmation.]
I nodded cautiously.
[You said this yourself: that the only time a venomous creature is allowed to die in front of you is when they’ve lived a full and happy life. Correct?]
“That’s right.”
[So, you’re saying you’ll make sure I live a happy life to the very end. How exactly do you intend to do that?]
...Huh.
When he said it like that, it did sound like I’d promised to guarantee his happiness for life.
That is what I said—he can only die after living out a long and happy life. So yeah, it wasn’t unreasonable to interpret that as me vowing to make him happy for the rest of his days.
‘Now that I think about it... that’s exactly what I said.’
I racked my brain and finally answered:
“Uh, well—first of all, I can become your family.”
[Family?]
“Yeah, family!”
Right now, that was the most honest offer I could make.
Our family already consisted of a bunch of different spirit beasts all living together. For someone who’d lost theirs, becoming part of ours might offer some comfort.
Hoja lifted his arm and said:
[In this mental space, I may appear in this form... but I’m still a venomous spirit beast called Hoja, and you’re human. How can a human and a venomous beast be family?]
I answered with a firm voice.
“Why does that matter? You know those centipedes that helped carry your body? I raised them myself from the moment they hatched. Their mother was killed by a human, and they were left behind in their eggs—waiting to die. I rescued them and made them my daughters.
And I’m an orphan myself—never even saw my parents’ faces. Most of my family are creatures abandoned and left alone in the world.
So what if we look different? If we can rely on each other, ease each other’s loneliness, and share our hearts, then we’re family.”
Hoja seemed to reflect on that for a while before asking again:
[When you say you’ll be my family... you mean you’ll replace the family I lost, don’t you?]
“How could I replace them? But... if it comforts you to think of it that way, then I don’t mind.”
[Alright. Anything else?]
Was it not enough?
He was now asking if there were any additional conditions—clearly my offer hadn’t quite convinced him.
I wanted to pitch it like an insurance plan with bonus benefits, but nothing came to mind.
[Is that all?]
The question came again, and I worried he might be disappointed.
Flustered, I shouted quickly.
“No! That’s not all! I’ll do anything you want—anything! As long as it makes you happy, I’ll do it!”
It felt like I was handing over a blank check.
But in this moment—trying to save a suicidal spirit beast—that blank check felt justified.
After all, don’t people say, “Just save their life first”?
Well, this wasn’t a person—it was a venomous beast. But still, same principle, right?
‘Even if I exaggerate a bit, it’s not fraud. It’s rescue.’
Then came Hoja’s confirming voice:
[You really mean it? You’ll do anything I ask?]
If he was saying that, then it meant he was interested.
Maybe he was actually about to say yes.
I nodded frantically and shouted:
“Of course! Even if I’m not good enough, I’ll do my absolute best!”
Just to be safe, I slipped in a “best effort” clause.
Right after that... silence.
I froze.
‘Did he catch the clause? Or maybe I went too far and now I seem insincere?’
Saying “I’ll try my best” was an escape clause. You could always say, “Well, I tried,” even if you failed to deliver.
Maybe I shouldn’t have added that.
Maybe I should’ve been more like a politician—make promises that sound bold but not too unbelievable.
As I spiraled into doubt, Hoja looked at me and, with great effort, spoke.
[...Fine. If you mean it that much... then I suppose I’ll try living again.]
“Really!?”
[Yes.]
“You made the right call! I’ll make sure of it!”
I was so thrilled at having saved a suicidal spirit beast that I couldn’t stop praising myself in my head.
‘You did it, So-ryong! You saved a life today!’
That’s when Hoja looked at me and said:
[Then... let’s decide what you’ll call me.]
“Call you? Wait—huh?”
When he said “let’s decide a title,” I blinked in confusion—then realized something was very, very wrong.
I realized he had misunderstood what I’d said earlier.
I’d said all those things in a rush, desperate to convince him to live. But hearing his tone now...
[Then... you’ll make me happy for the rest of my life. How do you intend to do that?]
That definitely could’ve sounded like a proposal.
A lifetime of happiness? That’s textbook proposal language!
‘Wait—didn’t I literally say species doesn’t matter in a family?’
Oh no.
I did say that.
And to make things worse, I’m already married.
I had no idea what to do. I was so utterly flustered that despite being inside a mental projection, I broke into a cold sweat.
Then I heard Hoja’s voice:
[Why are you acting like this?]
“Ah, no, it’s just... I suddenly got the feeling there might be a bit of a misunderstanding...”
As I tried to broach the idea that perhaps there was some kind of misunderstanding, Hoja cut in coldly:
[So when you said you’d replace my lost family—was that a lie?]
“N-No! Of course not! That’s... of course I’ll do that!”
‘Crap. This is getting out of hand—what do I do?’
I was terrified that if I said it had been a lie, she might just kill herself on the spot. So I hurriedly affirmed it, and that’s when Hoja spoke again in a voice tinged with a strange sense of hope.
[Then call me this—call me Mama.]
“...Huh?”
The moment I heard Hoja say that, I was overwhelmed with immense relief—for a very brief moment.
At least she didn’t want a romantic or marital relationship. That would’ve been a disaster.
But then—Mama?
My eyes blinked.
“M-Mama?”
[Yes. From now on, address me that way.]
I was only repeating her words, but she took it as agreement and nodded, clearly pleased.
I quickly waved my hands and asked again:
“Wait, wait, you mean I should call you Mama?”
My words accidentally slipped into formal speech.
For a moment, I thought maybe she should adopt one of the other kids instead—maybe it’d be better if she took Cho, Hyang, or Bin, the same number as the children she lost. But then I realized...
‘Wait... if she takes them as her kids... then I become her husband, don’t I?’
My head spun with complications, when her calm explanation came:
**[You look like you don’t understand why I’d want you as my child. You’re probably around twenty in human years, yes? If my children had grown, they’d be about your age. If you’re going to replace my family, then it makes sense for you to be my child.
I’ve observed you these past few days. You already have a wife and children. So, if I’m to become part of your family, then Mama suits best. Or... do you not want me to be your Mama?]**
That final question made me think—
‘Wait a second... this is actually amazing, isn’t it?’
I immediately dropped into a deep bow.
Sure, I’d panicked at first. But now that I was thinking clearly—come on. A giant hornet Mama?
No—the Mama?
That’s the best mother ever!
A mother with wings, antennae, and the power of the strongest insect in the insect kingdom?
If a giant hornet like that was your mom, who in their right mind would mess with you?
She could beat up anyone who threatened me!
I raised my voice with pride inside the mental realm.
“Mama! So-ryong promises to serve you for the rest of his life!”
***
When I came back to my senses, I was being stared at by Yohwa, Cho, and Hwa-eun.
— Ssslurp. 『He’s awake! Mama, Daddy’s awake!』
— Kshhh. 『Big Brother, are you conscious?』
“So-ryong, are you awake?”
Cho’s fussing voice rang in my ears, along with Yohwa and Hwa-eun’s worried questions.
Same as always, the first thing I asked was:
“How long was I out?”
“Just one day.”
I’d been worried that too much time had passed while trying to change Hoja’s heart.
If ten whole days had gone by, we’d have been in real trouble.
But only a day had passed.
Just as I was about to sigh in relief, a question came:
“So-ryong, the others who talked to the awakened Hoja were saying some strange things—what was that about?”
Usually, Hwa-eun would be worried about my physical condition first, but this time she went straight to questioning.
I tilted my head and repeated:
“Strange things?”
Hwa-eun looked utterly bewildered as she said:
“They said... Hoja is now my mother-in-law. What is that supposed to mean? I thought maybe the kids just misunderstood something.”
Because I hadn’t regained consciousness yet, we hadn’t had a group discussion.
So she’d only heard from the kids and assumed it was a misunderstanding.
I looked around and asked,
“Where’s Mama?”
“Mama? W-Wait... it was real?”
Hwa-eun looked completely shaken by the sudden appearance of a mother-in-law.
It wasn’t just that a mother-in-law had suddenly appeared out of nowhere—it was the fact that said mother-in-law was a giant hornet.
“I can explain.”
I quickly calmed her down and told her everything I had seen in Hoja’s mental landscape.
“...She went through something horrible.”
“My god. Those damn Five Venoms Sect bastards. So that’s why she was in that state?”
“Yes. So I offered to become her family. Since I’m about the age her kids would have been, she said she wanted to adopt me as her son...”
Hwa-eun listened to my explanation with a complex look, then eventually gave a resigned smile and said:
“Well, we already have centipede daughters. I suppose we can handle a hornet mom. It’s a little overwhelming, though.”
That’s our Hwa-eun.
I promised myself I’d give her extra love tonight and asked again:
“Where is Mama?”
“She said she was going to catch something for you to eat and flew off.”
“...Huh?”
That’s when we heard a huge thud on the deck.
—THUD!
Everyone rushed outside, and what we saw was a massive water buffalo lying belly-up on the deck.
Hoja, standing triumphantly atop it, spoke in her booming voice:
[Awake, are you? Humans need meat to stay healthy, right? Mama caught this for you.]
Yep.
A giant hornet mama is the best mama.
