Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 520

Chapter 520
After weeping for a long while, Hoja finally broke the silence.

[You resemble a child having a fit…]

To be honest, I’d been thinking the same thing.

My entire argument probably came across as a immature outburst.

I hadn’t presented any solid logic or well-reasoned persuasion.

But what else could I have said?

No profound, convincing reason for him to keep living had suddenly occurred to me.

Should I have said, “Life is precious”? Or, “Your children wouldn’t wish to see you grieve in the afterlife”?

No. After what he had endured, any such platitude would have been nothing but hollow and patronizing.

People toss around phrases like “I understand your pain” or “I feel your grief” far too carelessly.

How can anyone truly comprehend a sorrow they have never felt themselves?

Grief is not universal. It is deeply personal.

When I was young, I cried for three whole days after my first pet lizard died.

To everyone else, it was just an inexpensive pet—the kind you could buy at any market for a single 50,000-won note. But to me, he was family. A true companion.

So, claiming “I understand” felt meaningless. Too distant. I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

I scratched my head and finally responded.

“Well, even if it seems childish, I can’t help it. It feels wrong to pretend I know your pain. I don’t have a beautiful reason for you to live. But I still won’t allow you to die.”

He was quiet for a moment, then looked at me and asked:

[So you are forbidding me from dying as I choose?]

“That’s right. I risked my own life to save yours, so your life belongs to me now. That means you must live.”

Since I was already being brazen, I decided to commit completely.

As I stood firm, refusing to yield, Hoja regarded me with a troubled expression.

[How unfortunate… To be saved by such an irrational human.]

He let out a sigh and attempted a practical negotiation.

[Then simply take my Neidan and allow me to die. My body would serve as excellent material—light yet strong, perfect for crafting weapons. My wings could be fashioned into a fan desired by the highest masters of sound-based techniques. What do you say? You have tended to me and shared my sorrow… Consider it my thanks.]

But that kind of bargaining meant nothing to me.

The mere existence of Hoja—breathing, flying, alive—was itself a priceless treasure.

A Neidan can be cultivated. Weapons can be forged from molted shells.

But where else would I ever find another giant hornet that I could ride?

“What a terrible thing to suggest. Absolutely not.”

[Why refuse? To humans, I am a valuable resource.]

“To me, you are the treasure precisely because you are alive.”

[What!?]

He stared at me, utterly shocked, his eyes wide, and sank into deep thought.

Collecting himself, he asked once more:

[You are truly resolved to save me—no matter the cost?]

“Yes. No matter what.”

[Then… I must clarify one thing.]

“Clarify?”

[Yes, I require confirmation.]

I nodded cautiously.

[You yourself stated this: that the only time a venomous creature is permitted to die in your presence is after they have lived a long and content life. Is that correct?]

“It is.”

[Therefore, you are vowing to ensure I live happily until my very end. How do you plan to accomplish that?]

…Oh.

When he phrased it that way, it certainly sounded like I had sworn to be personally responsible for his lifelong happiness.

I had said he could only die after a full and happy life. So yes, it was reasonable to take that as a promise to make him happy for all his days.

‘Now that I consider it… I did say exactly that.’

I thought frantically and finally answered:

“Uh, well—first of all, I can be your family.”

[Family?]

“Yes, family!”

It was the most sincere offer I could make.

Our family was already a mix of various spirit beasts living together. For someone who had lost everything, joining ours might provide some solace.

Hoja lifted a limb and said:

[In this mental realm, I may take this shape… but I am still a venomous spirit beast named Hoja, and you are human. How can a human and a venomous beast be family?]

I answered with conviction.

“Why should that matter? You saw those centipedes that helped carry you? I raised them myself from the moment they hatched. Their mother was killed by a human, and they were left in their eggs—waiting to die. I saved them and made them my daughters.

I am an orphan myself—I never even saw my parents’ faces. Most of my family are beings who were abandoned and alone in the world.

So what if we are different? If we can depend on one another, soothe each other’s loneliness, and share our hearts, then we are family.”

Hoja seemed to ponder this for a time before asking another question:

[When you say you will be my family… you mean you will take the place of the family I lost, correct?]

“How could I ever replace them? But… if thinking of it that way brings you comfort, then I have no objection.”

[Very well. What else?]

Was that insufficient?

He was now asking for additional terms—clearly my proposal hadn’t fully won him over.

I wanted to present it like a premium package with extra benefits, but nothing came to mind.

[Is that all?]

The question came again, and I feared he might be let down.

Flustered, I quickly exclaimed.

“No! That’s not everything! I’ll do whatever you wish—anything! If it will make you happy, I will do it!”

It felt like I was signing a blank contract.

But in this situation—trying to prevent a spirit beast from ending its life—that blank check seemed necessary.

After all, don’t people say, “Save a life first, ask questions later”?

Well, this wasn’t a person—it was a venomous beast. But the principle still applied, right?

‘Even if I overpromise a little, it’s not deception. It’s a rescue.’

Then came Hoja’s verifying question:

[You truly mean that? You will do anything I request?]

The fact he was asking meant he was considering it.

Perhaps he was actually close to agreeing.

I nodded vigorously and cried out:

“Of course! Even if I fall short, I will give it my absolute best!”

Just to be cautious, I inserted a “best effort” clause.

Immediately after… silence.

I froze.

‘Did he notice the clause? Or did I overdo it and now seem dishonest?’

Saying “I’ll try my best” was a loophole. You could always claim, “Well, I did my best,” even if you failed.

Maybe I shouldn’t have added that.

Maybe I should have been more like a politician—making grand promises that were just vague enough.

As I was lost in doubt, Hoja looked at me and, with great effort, spoke.

[…Fine. If you are that earnest… then I will attempt to live again.]

“Really!?”

[Yes.]

“You made the right decision! I’ll see to it!”

I was so overjoyed at having saved a suicidal spirit beast that I was mentally congratulating myself.

‘You did it, So-ryong! You saved a life today!’

Then Hoja looked at me and said:

[Then… we must decide on how you will address me.]

“Address you? Wait—what?”

When he mentioned “deciding on a title,” I blinked in confusion—then realized something was terribly amiss.

I understood that he had misinterpreted my earlier words.

I’d said everything in a frantic rush, desperate to convince him to live. But hearing his tone now…

[Then… you will make me happy for the rest of my life. How do you intend to do that?]

That could absolutely be taken as a proposal.

A lifetime of happiness? That’s classic proposal talk!

‘Wait—didn’t I explicitly say that species doesn’t matter in a family?’

Oh no.

I did say that.

And to make it worse, I’m already married.

I was at a complete loss. So flustered that, even within a mental projection, I broke out in a cold sweat.

Then I heard Hoja’s voice:

[Why are you behaving this way?]

“Ah, no, it’s just… I suddenly had the thought that there might be a slight misunderstanding…”

As I cautiously tried to suggest a potential misinterpretation, Hoja interrupted coldly:

[So when you promised to replace my lost family—was that a falsehood?]

“N-No! Of course not! I’ll… of course I’ll do that!”

‘Crap. This is spiraling—what do I do?’

I was terrified that if I said it was a lie, she might kill herself immediately. So I hastily confirmed it, and that’s when Hoja spoke again, her voice carrying a peculiar note of hope.

[Then address me as this—call me Mama.]

“…What?”

The instant I heard Hoja say that, I was flooded with immense relief—but only for a second.

At least she didn’t desire a romantic or marital relationship. That would have been a catastrophe.

But then—Mama?

I blinked.

“M-Mama?”

[Yes. From now on, you will call me that.]

I was merely repeating her, but she took it as acceptance and nodded, visibly satisfied.

I quickly waved my hands and asked again:

“Wait, wait, you mean I should call you Mama?”

I accidentally slipped into formal speech.

For a moment, I considered that maybe she should adopt one of the other children instead—perhaps Cho, Hyang, or Bin, matching the number of children she had lost. But then it hit me…

‘Wait… if she adopts them as her children… then wouldn’t that make me her husband?’

My mind was reeling with complications when her calm explanation arrived:

**[You seem confused about why I would want you for a child. You are around twenty in human years, yes? Had my children grown, they would be approximately your age. If you are to take their place, then it is fitting for you to be my child.
I have watched you these past few days. You already have a wife and children. So, if I am to join your family, then Mama is the most suitable role. Or… would you rather I not be your Mama?]**

That final question made me think—

‘Wait a minute… this is actually incredible, isn’t it?’

I immediately dropped into a deep bow.

Sure, I’d been panicked initially. But thinking clearly now—seriously. A giant hornet Mama?

No—*the* Mama?

That’s the ultimate mother!

A mother with wings, antennae, and the power of the strongest insect in the entire kingdom?

If a giant hornet like that was your mom, who in their right mind would ever dare to bother you?

She could defeat anyone who threatened me!

I spoke with pride inside the mental space.

“Mama! So-ryong vows to serve you for all his days!”

***

When my senses returned, I found Yohwa, Cho, and Hwa-eun looking down at me.

— Ssslurp. 『He’s awake! Mama, Daddy’s awake!』
— Kshhh. 『Big Brother, are you okay?』
“So-ryong, are you awake?”

Cho’s anxious voice reached my ears, mingling with Yohwa and Hwa-eun’s concerned queries.

As usual, my first question was:
“How long was I unconscious?”
“Only a day.”
I had been worried that too much time had passed while I was trying to reach Hoja.
If ten days had gone by, we would have been in serious trouble.
But only a single day had elapsed.
Just as I began to sigh in relief, a question came:
“So-ryong, the others who spoke with the awakened Hoja were saying some very odd things—what was that about?”
Normally, Hwa-eun would be concerned about my health first, but this time she went straight to the point.
I tilted my head and repeated:
“Odd things?”
Hwa-eun looked utterly perplexed as she said:
“They said… Hoja is now my mother-in-law. What could that possibly mean? I thought perhaps the children had misunderstood something.”
Since I hadn’t been conscious, there hadn’t been a chance for a full discussion.
She had only heard fragments from the kids and assumed it was a mistake.
I looked around and asked,
“Where is Mama?”
“Mama? W-Wait… it’s true?”
Hwa-eun looked completely stunned by the sudden arrival of a mother-in-law.
It wasn’t just that a mother-in-law had appeared from nowhere—it was that this mother-in-law was a giant hornet.
“I can explain.”
I quickly reassured her and recounted everything I had witnessed within Hoja’s mind.
“…She endured something terrible.”
“My goodness. Those wretched Five Venoms Sect monsters. So that’s why she was in such a state?”
“Yes. So I offered to be her family. Since I’m roughly the age her children would be, she said she wished to adopt me as her son…”
Hwa-eun listened to my explanation with a complicated expression, then finally offered a resigned smile and said:
“Well, we already have centipede daughters. I suppose we can manage a hornet mother. It is a bit overwhelming, though.”
That’s our Hwa-eun for you.
I promised myself I’d give her extra affection tonight and asked again:
“Where is Mama?”
“She said she was going to find something for you to eat and flew away.”
“…What?”
At that moment, a massive thud echoed from the deck.
—THUD!
Everyone rushed outside to find an enormous water buffalo lying on its back on the deck.
Hoja, standing triumphantly on top of it, announced in her resonant voice:
[Awake, are you? Humans require meat for strength, correct? Mama caught this for you.]
Yes.
A giant hornet mama is the greatest mama.