251. 3 years later
“Your manuscript is good, Eve.”
Professor Bertio, who read the entire manuscript with his legs crossed, answered with a small smile. Eve, who was sipping tea, carefully placed the teacup and said thank you.
About a year has passed since graduating from AOS Academy last year. At the age of 21, Eve had become a novelist recognized throughout the kingdom.
Her first work and hit, ‘Shadowed Forest’ was popular not only with the kingdom, but also with elves and dragons.
“That’s fortunate.”
Professor Bertio, a playwright, was also good at brewing tea. It was probably because I drank a lot of tea while I was writing.
It was Eve who drank only this and was about to get up, but Professor Bertio asked with a bitter voice.
“By the way, Eve, I thought about it from the last time, but the overall mood of the writing is dark.”
“……”
“I know it’s rude, but it’s a feeling that reflects your heart. The content of the text is hopeful, but it is dark in description and word choice.”
knew
It was something that came to his editor a lot, and he was making his own efforts to fix it.
“It didn’t go as well as I thought.”
Eve exhales as if vomiting and drinks the tea again.
The black tea, which had just flowed gently, was strangely bitter and wet my tongue.
*
“Whoa.”
After leaving Professor Bertio’s lab, Eve walks slowly through the academy. As it was time to take a break, students came out of the classroom and filled the surroundings.
Halfway through, the energetic male students glanced at Eve and blushed, but she was accustomed to ignoring them.
Looking at the students attending the academy energetically, I wondered if they would also be one of the symbols of peace on the continent.
“Let’s go to a cafe!”
“You have 5 minutes left for a break?”
“It’s okay, it’s Professor Chenill, so you can sneak in through the back door!”
After saying that, the students rushed to the cafe in front of the dorm.
‘We also went to a lot of cafes.’
Looking at the back of it, thoughts of the past came to mind, and a piercing nostalgia flooded my heart.
[Daniel! Daniel is buying coffee today!]
[I’ll buy you coffee, but don’t put cream or condensed milk on top of it.]
[Then it’s not coffee, is it?]
[okay? Where to drink, prepare yourself for morning exercise instead.]
[…Let’s go and drink citron tea.]
Recalling the conversation we had at the academy for no reason, Eve secretly stole the wet tears and moved in a hurry.
Three years have passed since the end of the world and peace on the continent came.
This meant that three years had passed since the death of Daniel McClane.
‘I wanted to be a writer, but I lacked imagination at the time.’
If Rin and Ares were the end, why didn’t they think of the obvious possibility that their childhood friend, Daniel, was also the end?
Even though I got the feeling that Daniel was hiding something.
‘Perhaps it was because I thought it was natural.’
Of course, Daniel will be by your side.
His thoughts were clouded by the foolish hope that he would never go anywhere and that he would always be there.
So now I have no choice but to regret it like this.
The results had to be borne by those who remained intact.
Everyone cried to the point where they couldn’t cry any more. Even after the grand funeral was over, there were many people who could not leave and lingered around.
Still, time continued to pass, and the remaining people had to continue to live.
Perhaps there are a lot of people whose feelings at that time have been diluted now?
“Turn it off!”
Eve stretched out and headed out of the academy. Now that Professor Bertio has reviewed the manuscript, there is nothing to do.
At that time, a handsome man with an intelligent feeling wearing glasses that entered the entrance to the academy. Dressed stylishly and wearing light makeup, he was a famous actor and academy graduate, Aldfrik.
“uh? Are you Eve?”
“…Oh, senpai.”
Eve knows him too.
A theater actor who joined a famous theater company on the recommendation of Professor Bertio.
His fan club was already camped at the main gate of the academy, visible over his shoulder.
“It’s been a while, I read your book well. The content was good.”
“Yes, thank you.”
When I was at the academy, I didn’t have any contact with him, but I had some acquaintance with Professor Bertio.
“I guess you met Professor Bertio? Is it time now?”
“Yes, he said there would be no lectures until lunch.”
“It’s fortunate, I was a little worried about the script coming in this time.”
Saying so, Eve nodded and tried to pass by, but Aldfrick stopped Eve, saying that it was just fine.
“Oh, I want to ask you for your opinion, is that okay?”
“…Unless it takes a long time.”
a little annoying
Eve thought.
“Some of the lines in the play this time mention the ‘continental nightmare’.”
Continental Nightmare.
It is a dream that everyone had simultaneously across the continent three years ago.
The details are different, but the overall content is the same.
In the dream, the continent perishes a total of 3 times.
The continent was destroyed ‘twice’ by an army of undead, and the first time was destroyed by a huge meteorite.
The important thing was that this dream was terribly realistic, and I remembered it vividly. There are even rumors that such a thing actually happened or that it showed the future.
Thanks to that dream, it was a bonus that the entire continent was in an uproar for a while, and incidents did not stop.
In addition, the woman who led the undead in that dream, Rin, had gone up to the wanted level, so she disappeared somewhere without being promoted to the 4th year.
On the continent, they understood within the scope that they could understand each other, such as dreams, group hallucinations, new disasters, and the strange pranks of a certain archmage.
Everyone involved knew.
That this is the world Daniel MacLean experienced and remembered alone.
“Besides, our theater scriptwriter says he will write a screenplay based on the continent’s nightmare next time. What do you think of this?”
Eve was not very impressed.
Although the fire is gradually fading after three years, the aftermath of that time still remains.
The Reiros family, who are famous right now, saw that the other families they were with betrayed them in their dreams, and they fell apart, so the atmosphere has been turbulent so far.
Rumor has it that the two of them have already exchanged swords with each other several times.
Anyway, in this situation, even mentioning the continent’s nightmare in the script does more harm than good.
Unless you are a narcissist who thinks that pointing a finger is also an interest, or who has fallen in love with his own work to sublimate wounds into art.
“Three years have passed, but it is only three years. There is no need to bring bad memories to the audience who came to laugh and enjoy themselves.”
“Is not it?”
“Yes.”
Eve glanced at her watch and said calmly.
“I’ll just go. I have an appointment.”
“Oh sorry! Thanks so much for the advice. If you, the great writer, told me, our screenwriters will come to their senses.”
Eve leaving the academy as it is.
Aldfrik’s fan club glared at Eve with sullen eyes and chattered, but that wasn’t much of a problem. The problem was the male fans.
There were also a few men in the fan club, and they began to see Eve with bare eyes. It was a bit unpleasant, so I partially hugged the manuscript and covered the area around my chest.
I thought it would be okay because I was wearing a thick sweater, but it’s difficult.
Her chest, which had become a little more voluptuous than during her academy days, was so full of maternal love that it deserved the title of Earth Mother Goddess.
‘I have to wear a coat at all.’
Eve set out on the streets of Elgrid, vowing to be even more prepared for defense.
It felt like the enthusiasm of the students at the academy was washed away by the sea breeze flowing through the city. In alleys and street corners that people don’t often reach, the snow that had come a few days ago had not melted and was piling up.
[You went on a date with Hayoon!]
[No, it’s not a date? He said he was going to the blacksmith, so I went to entrust him with the sword!]
[Don’t you know it’s a date when the two of you go?]
[Then I’m still walking with you now, is it a date?]
[Uh… Then where shall we go?]
[Ha, maybe even eating rice.]
“Put.”
A light smile appeared on his lips as he suddenly remembered the time when he was walking down this street wearing a school uniform.
As I walked along the street, I saw a cafe at the end of the street. The name of the cafe I used to go to has changed, the interior has changed, and the owner has changed.
[This is really delicious!]
[I’ve tasted coffee… What, it’s delicious.]
[Is that right? It’s a bit expensive, but it’s delicious, right?]
[…Give me just one more sip.]
[B! Daniel buys it and drinks it!]
“Oh yeah.”
The wind is cold for no reason, and my cheeks are red. Eve made a complicated expression as she stretched the nape of her sweater all the way to cover her mouth.
“It was only a year, but there are many memories.”
I was in the 3rd year of AOS with Daniel McClane.
So, it was just one year.
But strangely, it came to mind more vividly than the memories of the other 4 years, and it remained in my memory.
“I now remember why I left Elgrid.”
It reminded me of why I left the city right after graduation. At that time, wherever I went, I could see the memories I had with him, so I left Elgrid and returned to my hometown as if I were running away.
I had no choice but to come this time because of a meeting with a publisher.
Eve entered the luxury hotel where she was staying. The publisher prepared for me as a famous writer. Entering the highest room on the 10th floor, Eve stretched out and pulled out a typewriter.
“There has never been a hotel like this before.”
Elgrid, who had returned after a long time, was much more advanced than before. Right now, even this luxury hotel is like that.
Standing tall as the tallest building had a profound impact on the city’s appearance.
Tuk-tuk, tuk-tuk.
He sat down at his desk and started typing on his typewriter.
After typing for a while, the landscape of Elgrid came into view through the huge window beyond the desk.
“Oh yeah……”
Eyes that slowly turn red.
I thought it would have gotten a little better if 3 years had passed.
This city was inundated with sadness.
To the point where tears come out just by looking at it.
“It’s too much.”
With her hand on the typewriter, Eve bowed her head. Drops of tears dripped down my chest and hit the floor.
smart.
A knocking sound was then heard.
Eve hurriedly wiped her eyes and headed for the door, but realized that she was not outside the door when she heard another knock.
“hello.”
A blonde elf knocking in this direction from outside the window while floating in the air. She came inside with a bright smile.
“Whoa, it’s very cold outside. Is it because it’s near the sea? It is much colder than our forest.”
-That’s right. The wand will split.
The staff of Eris Anen Seria and Yggdrasil.
Eris brushed off the clothes she was wearing and tidied them up, then spoke smirkingly to Eve, who looked dumbfounded.
“I’m unemployed today, so I’m trying to accomplish something on my bucket list, can you help me?”
“Uh, um.”
To Eve, who was unable to say anything, Eris took out a small crystal from her bosom and suggested it.
“At first, I was going to do it myself, but I thought it would be a bit difficult. I can give you a share.”
“…what stake?”
I don’t understand.
It was the first time since becoming an adult that I couldn’t keep up with the conversation like this. To Eve like that, Eris gave an unusually lively wink.
“The stake in the Sherpa.”
– How can he understand that?
“Oh, I see. Sorry. When we live together, I call them Sherpa.”
dreaming.
Eve’s eyebrows twitch slightly.
I felt a bit bad.
Anyway, Eris laughed and explained further.
“Daniel said.”
*
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Falling water drops wet the back of the nose.
As it flows down the bridge of the nose and touches the eyes, the tightly closed eyes slowly open as if they had been locked.
A strange place like a dark cave fills the field of vision.
“uh……”
His throat was stuffy, as if a pile of dirt had been put on it. I tried to raise my voice, but it sounded thin and awkward.
“Are you awake?”
A woman staring down at me.
His long, black hair was touching the floor, and his bangs were especially long, covering his right eye.
It was a voluptuous body that reminded me of Eve and Eris, but this one looked a bit older compared to the two. Mid 30’s, if you have to look at it?
Anyway, she was the first beauty I had ever seen.
It had a very unique atmosphere, but if you ask me if it’s awkward, it wasn’t.
I’ve felt it a few times, but it’s not a very pleasant atmosphere.
I think I’ll remember what it was, but maybe I just woke up, so my head isn’t spinning properly, so I can’t come up with an answer.
“Here…”
Raise your body slowly.
It seemed that he had been asleep for quite a long time, but moving his body was not too difficult.
The woman looked at me with annoyed eyes and took a teddy bear from her arms and put it in her mouth to answer.
“If you died, where did you come from, of course, the underworld.”
“……”
Now my head is starting to spin.
I remember what I had just done and what experiences I had, in order, step by step.
Sealing the end that followed, became the end of salvation and stopped the time of the world. And after endlessly waiting for Eris, I finally stopped by myself until my time…
“Successful!”
My death meant that Eris woke up and killed me.
“Wait a minute.”
I’m dead, this is hell?
“Then you are the goddess of death?”
When I look up at her, I see a woman looking down at me with a slightly excited smile.
“Who is the owner of this place other than me? Than I hit! he! I came to meet you.”
“……”
“Why do you think it is?”
I hate to answer.
No, rather than that, I jumped up and ran to the other side of the goddess.
“What, what!”
But my body was strange.
It is not the 18-year-old at the time of death, nor the 28-year-old living as a Sherpa before returning.
It had changed to the me I was when I was just about 10 years old.
Something flew towards my neck, where even running was not easy.
A chain that made a clicking sound hung from the leash that was kicked with a click, and its end was wrapped around the goddess’ hand.
“Do you know how much I suffered because of you?”
“I think we need to have a deeper conversation about that. Let’s have a cup of tea and have a dignified discussion about the time…!”
Right away, the goddess of death pulled the chain that was roughly pulled, causing her body to float forward and roll on the floor. Looking down at me like that, the goddess raises her hand with her face blushing and enjoys the thrill.
“Ughhh! finally! I can finally get my revenge! Daniel McLay! Did I not sleep well because of you? How long I’ve been waiting for this day! Ugh! exhilarating! Aww! Exciting!”
“Let’s talk for a while…!”
“Come quickly! I have a lot of things prepared for you!”