* * *

I flailed my arms and shook my head vigorously.

“Baba, babababa!”

Please change it!

Despite my desperate flailing, the two of them just laughed, covering their mouths.

“Oh my, how cute.”

“Looks like he likes the name too.”

No, I don’t.

“Babababa! Babababa!”

Please change my name. What is Ma Kongja!
‘I’ll need mental strength to introduce myself! This isn’t right!’

But these two just kept smiling gently. I flapped with all my might.

“Bababa! Bababababa!”

That’s not it! Change it!

No matter how much I resisted, they didn’t care. As I twisted my whole body in rebellion, there was a click – the door opened. I stopped flapping and turned my head.

‘Oh, it’s you.’

Was it Noah? The precious guest who sometimes came to pet me.

‘The poor customer with atopic dermatitis.’

I looked at his white, chapped cheeks and said.

“Ba, babababa, ba, babababa”

Hey, nice to see you. But what to do.

‘I’m leaving here now.’

Noah glanced between Ma Soo-jung and Sister Theresa, seeming to realize something, and ran straight to where I was.

“No! I told you he’s my brother!”

Oh…

I extended my small hand and patted Noah’s head.

Sorry.

“Bababa, babababa…”

Life is a series of farewells, kid. There’s always a goodbye after a meeting.

Sister Theresa touched Noah’s cheek and said.

“Noah.”

“He’s my brother! Why are we separating! He’s my brother!”

Tears filled the child’s eyes and soon started to flow like a shower.

“Baba…”

Oh dear.

Sister Theresa immediately held and comforted Noah. But Noah couldn’t stop crying.

“Sister, you liar!”

“Yes, Noah. I was bad.”

“I tried to be good to him!”

Noah tugged at Ma Soo-jung’s skirt.

“Please don’t take him!”

“Um…”

“He’s my little brother!”

Ma Soo-jung was at a loss. The nun comforted Noah again.

“Noah, Kongja has found a good mother.”

“But I still don’t like it! I won’t be able to see him anymore!”

Wow. This kid really likes me.

‘What should I do? I’m touched.’

Come to think of it, this kid saved my life.

‘I don’t really have anything suitable to give to my lifesaver…’

“Byubyu…”

Sigh.

Does a baby have money or rice? A sigh escaped me involuntarily.

It was then that a subtitle suddenly appeared.

[Would you like to use the Love and Peace Coin?]

Ah, right, I had this!

“Byubye!”

Use!

[How would you like to use the Love and Peace Coin?]

“Byubye, byubyu, byuyapipi!”

For Noah to be healthy for life!

[To ensure Noah’s lifelong health, 30 coins are required. Would you like to proceed?]

“Byupi!”

Proceed!

[Everything has a price]

[As a side effect, tears will flow for 3 minutes]

[Total coins: 1,339]

Oh, what an interesting side effect.

There was no time to marvel. Tears the size of chicken poop fell from the baby’s delicate skin.

“Kongja?”

“Byubaba, byu, nyapipi…”

The tears won’t stop.

“Why is the baby suddenly crying?”

Ma Soo-jung sniffed my diaper.

“He didn’t have an accident.”

“Our Kongja doesn’t usually cry…”

It’ll be over in 3 minutes. I’ll stop then.

‘Come to think of it, this is really amazing.’

I stared intently at Noah.

‘Did he naturally have a healthy constitution? I thought it wasn’t the case because he had atopy…’

Health is extremely difficult and important, yet it only requires 30 coins?

Noah was still shedding tears.

‘Noah, it’s not ideal to just cry when we’re parting.’

I’ve lived long enough to know that health is the best thing to give, but do you not like it?

‘Is there something else I can give you?’

Should I increase your intelligence?

I decided to give it a try.

“Byubaba, babyu!”

Use the Love and Peace Coin!

[How would you like to use the Love and Peace Coin?]

“Bippu, byupi, babyu!”

Increase Noah’s intelligence!

[To increase Noah’s intelligence, 3,000 coins are required. Would you like to proceed?]

Wow.

With teary eyes, I looked at Noah.

‘You’re not that bright, are you?’

What kind of disparity is this? Health was only 30 coins!

‘You should definitely go into physical activities.’

That seems to be your fate.

Three minutes passed in no time as I pondered the future of my lifesaver.

Noah, having stopped crying, looked at me and spoke.

“Are you sad about parting too?”

“Byu! Byuya.”

Yes, that’s right.

Well, honestly, it’s not exactly sadness, but let’s say it is.

“I’m Noah. Don’t forget me. I’m your older brother.”

“Byuya.”

Sure.

“Hehe. We’re brothers even if we’re far apart!”

Wow.

‘You really mean it.’

Noah’s innocence melted away the residue in my heart. I took a deep breath and made a decision.

‘Health alone isn’t enough.’

He’s my lifesaver, after all; I should do more for him.

As the baby wiped his tears and scratched his cheek, the white, rough skin looked quite painful.

‘That should be resolved now.’

Is there anything else I can do for my lifesaver?

What does he need the most?

‘Hmm, if he’s not that smart, his hands and feet will suffer.’

That was it.

I immediately shouted for the coins.

“Byubababa!”

Use the Love and Peace Coin!

[How would you like to use the Love and Peace Coin?]

“Byuya, byuya, byayu, abbu!”

Make Noah stronger!

[To strengthen the body and mind of the pure-hearted Noah, 10 coins are required. Would you like to proceed?]

This coin requirement was reasonable too.

“Kyupa!”

Proceed!

[Everything has a price]

[As a side effect, tears will flow for 5 minutes]

Tears fell continuously. I sniffled and patted Noah’s cheek.

The white, rough skin hadn’t completely disappeared yet, but it was noticeable.

‘He’s not scratching it anymore.’

The white rough patches would soon vanish.

‘That’s good.’

Now that you’re strong, you’ll live well in the future.

And you know what, Noah?

‘You might forget me, but I won’t forget you.’

At four years old… people usually forget when they grow up.

But I won’t forget.

“Byuya!”

Because you are my lifesaver.

“Byububu, byuya!”

If I become a top star, I’ll find you and help you!

Noah, whether he understood my feelings or not, smiled brightly.

“Young master, you’re sad about parting too, right? You keep crying.”

“Byubau!”

Let’s just say that.

“Promise! Don’t forget me!”

“Byuba!”

Sure. But you can forget about me. It’s okay.

Noah wiped his tears and smiled broadly. Seeing that, the nun took a deep breath.

‘You are holding back your tears, Sister.’

Sister Teresa hugged Noah and said,

“Noah found Kongja.”

Ma Soo-jung was startled and hugged me again.

“…I see.”

“So he must have grown attached. Noah, say goodbye now.”

The four-year-old approached me and waved his hand.

“Goodbye, Kongja.”

“Byuya, bye-bye.”

Yes. Goodbye.

I waved my hand and patted Noah’s face. The child smiled a little while still crying.

‘Be happy, my lifesaver.’

[Noah is happy yet sad to see your cute appearance]

[Love and Peace Coin increases by 1]

[Total coins: 1,330]

This lifesaver even increased my coins at the end.

I kicked my legs, causing my gathered tears to fall.

“Kongja.”

Sister Teresa wiped away my tears with her hand.

“Our little Kongja, you must be happy.”

She whispered softly in my ear.

“Lord, please bless these beautiful little lambs.”

Her touch was very gentle. I looked at her with tear-filled eyes. The corners of her eyes were lined with wrinkles. I knew those wrinkles came from caring for orphans.

‘She has a heart pure and genuine.’

Sister Teresa’s prayer continued.

“God, this body is growing weary. It is not frightening because it is your will for it to deteriorate. But I worry that these little lambs might suffer in this world.”

* * *