The Bell at Bosingak and a Wish for Tomorrow
And so it goes. Hmm, it's quite cold out.
Actually, it wasn't just pretty cold—it was quite cold. From tonight until dawn tomorrow, there wouldn't be a single hour above freezing, according to the search I'd done before heading out. Right now, it was probably around minus twelve degrees. The kind of weather where your breath fogs and scatters in the air. Should I have even come out on a day like this?
Well, it's my own fault. Ririyang made the suggestion, but I was the one who decided. I felt a little regret over the impulsive choice. At least it wasn't snowing, which was a relief.
But my situation was better. No matter how cold it was, only my nose, ears, and cheeks felt numb. I wasn't shivering uncontrollably—meaning the cold hadn't penetrated deep into my body. It was because of Camilla's robust physique. According to Abyss's lore, Camilla was a hero who wielded mana—a superhuman. I had inherited Camilla's physique in appearance, and while not superhuman internally, I had received enough adjustments to be well above average. Recently, I even went to Lim Jeong-hwan's gym to have my physical abilities measured. In short, it meant I had excellent motor skills and physical abilities—a physically perfect body. I didn't get help from a professional institution, so I don't know the details, but probably on the level of an athlete who trains consistently. As proof, I hadn't had a single minor illness, and even in weather that would've chilled me to the bone before, I only felt a mild chill.
The problem wasn't with me—it was with someone else.
"Ughhh…"
"Are you okay?"
"I'm, I'm fine…"
It was Ririyang. Without exaggeration, the sound of her teeth chattering intermittently could be heard. That's how cold it must be. When we arrived, she was still chatting away about how the new year was starting, how a whole year had passed without doing anything, but somewhere along the way, she'd grown quiet and now only produced those chattering sounds. I'd teased her about being a "chatterbox" at first, but now that she kept it up, I just felt sorry for her. Why on earth did she suggest coming to hear the New Year's bell when she got so cold easily? Was there any reason to endure shivering just to watch this event?
As I watched her and clicked my tongue in frustration, Ririyang protested as if wronged.
"I've been staying home lately, so I didn't realize it'd be this bad…"
It could be considered a kind of occupational hazard. Streamers basically work from home. Whether summer or winter, they only operate in front of their computers at home, unaffected by the seasons. When it comes to harsh cold waves, they can't gauge how cold it really is. So they weren't sure how to dress when going out. It wasn't hard to understand. In fact, this month had been unseasonably warm from the start, so even when it snowed, it melted immediately without accumulating—making one wonder if it was really December. But then, just the other day, the temperature suddenly plummeted below freezing. For people like Ririyang, it would feel like the weather had changed overnight.
"You came dressed lightly, huh?"
"Yes…"
"Didn't you wear Heattech or something underneath?"
She smiled awkwardly and avoided eye contact. Meaning she hadn't. So of course she was cold. Even I had come heavily bundled up with Heattech, a puffer jacket, gloves, and a scarf. If anything, I could say I was a bit overprepared. I'd wrapped myself up too much for my sturdy body, and sweat was starting to seep out from under my clothes. Given that, handing over my scarf and gloves wasn't difficult.
"No, no! I'm fine, really!"
"I'm wearing thick clothes, so I'm not cold."
When I took off my scarf and handed it to her, Ririyang's eyes widened like lanterns and she flailed her hands, but with her frail body shivering in this cold, she couldn't win against me. I roughly subdued her and wrapped the scarf around her.
"Is it too tight?"
"Yes…"
"Give me your hands, I'll put the gloves on you."
"No, no. I can just keep my hands in my pockets—"
"Tsk."
If she caught a cold because of this, I'd feel even worse. I scolded her like a child and put the fur gloves on her. From Ririyang's perspective, she might think she's the older one, but in reality, I was older than her, so it wasn't entirely wrong. Above all, I had the means to spare. Yeah. Giving to others is only possible when you have something to give.
"Not much longer now."
"Y-yeah…"
People were gradually gathering, and Ririyang, who had regained her color, slowly nodded. In one hour, it would be the new year.