Chapter 36
) [Illustration]
Time passed from then on.
It was the year Yaeun turned 13, in the 6th grade of elementary school.
Yaeun had become an elementary school student.
Starting this year, she could participate in the evaluation battles held by the direct descendants of the Shingeom Dogas.
And.
“Be grateful that you can learn from me, who has mastered the six elements.”
Hong Yena had become a witch of the six colors.
Proving her mastery of light attribute magic at the Hunter Association, she exuded a great deal of arrogance.
“You’ve been using me as a research subject all this time, and now you say that?”
“…So you’re learning for free from me. But even at your age, don’t you have any respect for your teacher?”
“I’m not the one who became a disciple, I’m in a position to receive paid private lessons. I may be receiving instruction for free, but…”
“That big mouth of yours… If you didn’t have talent in swordsmanship, you probably had a talent for provoking people with your words.”
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Meanwhile, I learned magic under her, achieving some results.
Of course, I couldn’t compare to Yeonhae.
“Master, is this the right way?”
“You’ve only learned the basics, and I haven’t finished explaining… And you try to follow just from a demonstration?”
Hong Yena was so surprised she couldn’t close her mouth.
As Yeonhae learned to manipulate mana, she showed rapid growth.
Within just a year, she displayed remarkable results in dark attribute magic.
And within two years, she began studying other elemental magics as well.
“She’s really… amazing.”
Should we call her Yeonhae, who will turn into the calamitous witch in the game?
It seemed that even in jest, one wouldn’t dare to face her magic.
* * *
Fourteen.
Youngja and I became middle school students.
Thanks to my father’s efforts, we were able to enroll in the same middle school, in the same class.
We ended up at a prestigious middle school like Totmani Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
As a result, I often played the role of raising the triplets.
“Today’s lunch seems a bit lacking. Should we buy something from the school store?”
“Hmm… What’s on the menu today? Oh, there’s not much meat side dish. It’s not just Yeeun who’s picky, even you should know that, Mom.”
“So, are you not going?”
“Yeah, let’s go. But the school store might be crowded… and the weather is hot…”
“Aren’t they there for times like this?”
“Huh?”
“I’ll give them a call. Just try not to pick up.”
“…You have no mercy for them.”
“Oh, they picked up. Hey, Totmani Gold.”
[To me, the name Okumdong sounded… Wait, what’s going on?]
“Let’s have lunch together later.”
[Oh? What’s up with you? Alright, then we’ll come to your class…]
“So, bring something to eat.”
[You wouldn’t be that kind of person.]
“Haneul, is there something you want to eat? Even if it’s not available at the school store.”
“Hey! If that’s the case, let’s order delivery! Delivery!”
“Hmm… I remember the Castella I had last time was delicious. I want that and strawberry milk.”
“Totmani Gold, did you hear that?”
[At home, I’m the beloved eldest son, why am I being treated like this…]
“I’ll send you the menu through chat. I’m hanging up.”
Even if they don’t always take my words right away.
With the sponsorship involved, the triplets couldn’t refuse my requests.
In the end, they bought food from the school store for us.
“Hey! Let’s eat!”
“What’s the rush today?”
“We had PE before lunchtime. So, we sneaked out in the middle.”
“During the time when Eundong hyung sneaked out to the school store, I and Geumdong hyung acted as if Eundong hyung was Eundong. The teacher didn’t even realize there was a change.”
“Thanks for the effort. Haneul, here.”
“Thanks, Gyunwoo.”
“Ugh… We’re the ones who bought the food, why are you thanking him…”
“Totmani Gold. What are you saying to Haneul right now?”
“Who cares who bought it! As long as it tastes good! Right, Geumdongi hyung!?”
“That’s right, Geumdongi hyung!”
“Y-yeah! Hey, enjoy your meal! Is there anything else you want to eat? I’ll go get it quickly.”
“Hey, if they say something when I’m not around, let me know. I’ll straighten them out.”
“Uh… no, there’s no need for that. I really appreciate all of you.”
By the way, Yeonhaneul noticeably changed as she entered middle school.
Her hair grew longer, and as her baby fat started to disappear, she showed signs of becoming an adult.
Whether it was from training in swordsmanship at the martial arts school or learning magic and etiquette from Hong Ye-na, her body’s curves became more defined without any excess fat.
Some people who had harbored resentment towards Ain or had ignored her when she was in elementary school were momentarily captivated by Yeonhaneul.
She just… um… became more beautiful.
◈
A year passed, and she turned 15.
Second year of middle school.
It was the year Do Si-eun, now 17, entered the Academy City.
“I guess we won’t see her face for a while once she’s in the Academy City.”
“True. It was fun competing with you in the assessment. And sparring with swords.”
At the beginning of the year, at a gathering of the noble families.
I congratulated Do Si-eun on entering the High Academy.
It might be difficult to meet her for a while.
Because life in the Academy City would be so busy.
I couldn’t help but feel a sense of longing.
It seemed she felt the same way.
That’s why she brought it up.
“Gyunwoo.”
“Yeah, sis.”
“I’ll be waiting for you in the Academy City.”
As I was about to part ways with Do Si-eun.
She suddenly reached out her hand.
In response to her feelings, I held her hand.
“Okay, I’ll wait for you. I’ll apply to the academy you attend in two years.”
“The Geumgang Academy? If that happens, we’ll be able to see each other often. I’ll be waiting.”
There were two years left until I entered the Academy City.
In other words, it meant there were two years left until the story of the game began.
Two years. It felt long, yet in a way, it seemed short.
I declared my ambition to Do Si-eun and dedicated myself even more from that day on.
And then, one day…
“Why are you working so hard?”
As Yeonha carried a heavy straw bag and swung a sword, she asked me.
There was only one thing I could say to her.
“I want to become stronger.”
“But you’re already strong. After Siae entered the academy town, you were said to be the strongest among the relatives who didn’t enter the high academy. Isn’t that enough?”
“Still not sufficient. I want to become stronger, more and more.”
With my current skills, I might be able to handle incidents happening in the academy town.
Experiencing such incidents and growing through them wouldn’t be a bad thing.
But my life is not a game.
If I die, I can’t go back to a save point or start over from the beginning.
Once I die, it’s over.
That’s why I couldn’t be satisfied with this state.
I wanted to become stronger, more and more.
Even if the growth rate is slow and there are limits to training in this way.
Despite seeming meaningless, as the training accumulated, it would become meaningful to me in some way.
I believed without a doubt.
“So, how strong do you want to become?”
“Well… strong enough to prevent the destruction of the world?”
“Are you in your second year of middle school or what?”
“…Isn’t that too harsh?”
“Who’s joking around here?”
“Hmm…”
It wasn’t a joke; it was sincere.
But Yeonha, who didn’t know the future of this world, seemed to brush off my words as those of a middle schooler.
I reluctantly decided to present a realistic goal that she could understand.
“Who do I know that’s regarded as the strongest among people?”
At that moment, only one person came to mind.
After some thought, I spoke up.
“I want to become stronger than my grandfather.”
“You mean your grandfather? The head of the Shingum Do, who is called the Water King.”
“That’s right. I want to become strong enough to defeat my grandfather.”
“To want to be stronger than an otherworldly being, that’s quite an extraordinary goal.”
“Well, one should aim high. There’s no law saying you can’t achieve it.”
“True, indeed.”
Water King, Water King, Water King…
Yeonha repeated the name of my grandfather several times.
Then, with a wide smile, she said, “I’ll support you from the side. So you can become someone stronger than the Water King.”
“What are you saying? You should train too.”
“But I’m a magician, you know?”
“Is stamina not important for a wizard?”
“My master said it’s still sufficient.”
“No, I can’t be the only one suffering.”
“Wow… You’re really…”
Where is this kid trying to take me?
I can’t save the world alone.
I needed Strong Star, his comrades, various skills, and the Empyrean.
I had no intention of letting her go.
In the end, that day, Empyrean had to train with me.
Time passed, flowed…
“Will I be entering the Academy next year?”
At 16, I was at the end of my middle school years.
Hong Ye-na mastered dark attribute magic, becoming known as the Witch of Seven Colors.
And.
“Goodbye.”
Mongsili died.
◈
Born as a hunting hound in the Divine Sword Guild, Mongsili was quite old.
Considering a rabbit’s lifespan and the visible decline in strength as the days went by, Mongsili’s death was imminent.
I was well aware of it and had mentally prepared for it.
But it was just my misconception.
“It’s been enjoyable all this time…”
Waking up in the morning, Mongsili lay there as if peacefully asleep, but in reality, dead.
No response no matter how much I called, Mongsili, stiff and motionless, eyes closed, felt strangely unfamiliar.
As the reality of Mongsili’s death sank in, I felt a sense of loss.
Yes, a sense of loss.
I experienced the agony of having my heart torn apart by a mere rabbit that was nothing more than a speck.
“Mongsili must have gone to a better place where you took good care of her.”
“Brother, don’t cry…”
“Let’s bury Mongsili in a good place where she can frolic freely.”
Realizing my past life after five years.
I burst into tears for the first time.
Returning to being Do Gyun-woo before realizing my past life, I cried like a baby.
After crying my heart out, my mind finally calmed down, but the spot where Mongshil used to be still felt empty.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine now.”
“….”
Yeonhaneul was worried about me.
I tried to put on a bright smile so as not to worry her.
But it’s been almost 5 years since I’ve known Yeonhaneul.
She must have understood my feelings.
She couldn’t help but watch my every move.
Then, as if trying to lighten my mood, she spoke up.
“Can I touch your ear?”
“….”
Flutter, flutter.
Yeonhaneul folded and unfolded her ear with her hand.
I silently gazed at her.
“Mountain rabbit, rabbit, where are you going—”
“….”
Uncharacteristically, Yeonhaneul sang a lullaby while tapping her ear with her hand.
It was absurd, funny, and cute.
Part of me suddenly wanted to touch her ear.
I want to touch it. I want to touch it. I want to touch it…
“No, thank you. I’ll just take your heart.”
“Oh…”
“If I touch your ear, I might think of Mongshil.”
“Okay… Then there’s no choice.”
I politely declined to keep memories of Mongshil.
Yeonhaneul looked disappointed.
That was when it happened.
“I was going to let you touch my tail too…”
“….!”
She blurted that out.
And then… I succumbed to temptation.
I reacted without thinking.
“Can I touch your tail?”
“What?”
“You just said you were going to let me touch your tail.”
“Uh… I mean, you look a bit down. But thinking of Mongshil…”
“Wanna try touching it once?”
“You have no dignity.”
“It’s fine, Mongshil will understand.”
“Ah… so that’s how it is.”
The coldness in Yeon Haneul’s eyes slightly thawed.
Nevertheless, I paid no heed to her reaction and waited for her response.
Eventually.
“Ugh, you’re really that kind of person. Fine, touch it. It’s not like touching it will wear it out. If you touch my tail, I’ll feel energized, right?”
“Then, here’s a carrot.”
As if there was no other choice.
Yeon Haneul let out a small chuckle and willingly allowed it.
Soon after, she turned away from me, presenting her backside so her tail was visible.
“Wow…”
“Is this so impressive?”
“Well, isn’t it impressive?”
“…I don’t really understand your feelings. What’s so good about this?”
A cute, round rabbit tail protruding above her skirt.
I slowly reached out towards the white fur ball.
“You probably already know, but tails are more sensitive than ears. So, don’t just touch it randomly, okay? If you hurt me… I’ll make sure you can never touch it again.”
Was that a promise to let me touch it again next time?
I decided not to ask.
I didn’t want to risk Yeon Haneul withdrawing if I asked for no reason.
“When have I done that?”
“Sometimes when you touch my ears.”
Listening to Yeon Haneul’s grumbling.
My hand was gradually approaching the white tail.
‘Finally, I get to touch it.’
According to the psychology I read before.
Cats usually let people they are fond of touch their ears.
And they let people they completely trust touch their tails.
So, it’s safe to say that Yeon Haneul trusts me completely.
‘It feels like a new beginning.’
My five years were not in vain.
Overwhelmed with emotion, I ventured into an unexplained territory.
I felt a soft touch at my fingertips.
“…”
At that moment, Yeon Haneul shivered slightly and arched her back.
To help her get used to the touch, I gently wrapped my hand around her tail.
Then I softly stroked it.
“Ah…”
“Wow, it’s really soft. Much softer than the ears, right?”
“Wait…! Geonyu! Just a moment…”
“Why? Does it hurt?”
“No, it doesn’t hurt…”
“Then should I keep touching it?”
…Silent, Yeonhae, who was about to say something.
From my position behind her, I couldn’t see her face as she bowed her head deeply.
But since there was no instruction not to touch, I decided to continue.
“Oh, just as I thought.”
“Why are you… doing this?”
“I was curious. Rabbit tails might look round, but they are actually just curled up.”
“…”
“So, I wondered if your tail was the same, and it was just like Mongshil. The tail was curled up. If you pull it, it stretches like this…”
“Eek! What are you…”
“It stretches out like this.”
“D-Don’t stretch it… It’s, it’s embarrassing…”
“Stretching it out, the tail is quite long. And very thin.”
“Stop touching…”
“It feels like touching a fluffy feather.”
Yeonhae’s voice gradually faded.
I watched her shiver and gently touched her tail to make sure she wasn’t in pain.
“P-Please stop now…”
“Thank you, Haneul.”
“…Huh?”
“Thanks to you, it feels like my gloomy mood has flown away.”
“…I can’t be mad if you say that.”
“Then, can I touch more?”
“You’re really… Next time, next time I’ll let you touch it. Stop here for now.”
It’s regrettable, but there’s nothing I can do.
Still, where is the promise that I will let you touch it again next time?
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I released the hand that was touching the tail.
Only then did Yeonhae slump over the desk, looking exhausted.
“Because of you… What is this…”
“Sorry, did it hurt a lot?”
“…I don’t know! I won’t say.”
“You will let me touch it next time too, right?”
“…Based on what you’re doing.”
* * *
Time continued to flow.
When it became the winter of my 16th year,
We passed the entrance exam for Geumgang Academy.
It was just a written exam after all.
But nonetheless, time flew by in the blink of an eye from that point on…
“The day has come.”
As the seasons changed, I turned 17.