An Unfamiliar Ceiling
"An unfamiliar ceiling."
The moment I actually got to say that line myself had arrived. A pure white ceiling and even the faint chemical smell that triggered instinctive revulsion. This had to be the body of some protagonist who awakened after enduring brutal experiments in an SF cyberpunk ruined dark-fantasy world. What recent media had a setup like that? Hmm. The last thing I watched was some cool-view twerking reels in the bathroom. I have no clue. It was truly an unknown situation.
Protagonists usually summon a status window at times like this. Should I give it a try?
"Status window."
"Let's check the patient's condition~"
"Ah, yes."
That was the end of that nonsense. I asked the nurse who had just changed the IV bag and was about to leave.
"Excuse me, was there anyone else who came with me?"
"Ah, your guardian should be here soon. I already contacted them."
As she said, a man soon entered the room. It was Yu Gang-hyeok.
"Lee Hyun-nim. I'm relieved you're safe."
"I don't exactly feel safe, though."
Every time I breathed or spoke, my esophagus burned. Moving my arms or legs wasn't easy either.
Yu Gang-hyeok let out a small, understanding sigh.
"You've improved a great deal. Every healer in the association poured everything they had into saving you."
"Uh… was I really in that bad a shape?"
"Yes. You suffered full-body burns and severe damage to your respiratory system."
So that's how it was. After that, Yu Gang-hyeok filled me in on various things.
"The black entity summoned by sacrificing Lee So-rin has been designated as the 'Demon.'"
"It will be reported that due to an ultra-high-risk dungeon break, the 'Demon' escaped into the world, and Siren-nim stepped forward to stop it."
"You don't need to concern yourself with any of the damage that occurred during the battle."
He continued with other details: it had already been three days since I lost consciousness, that I had truly, sincerely, tremendously, and more desperately than anyone else tried my best, so please put in a good word with Siren for him, and so on. The later parts grew less important, so the final thing he said had already grown hazy. What was it again?
"Ah, and regarding Siren-nim. It will be difficult for you to see her right away."
Of course, anything about Siren was different.
"Is she doing badly?"
I remembered her final appearance. Veins had bulged across her body, her skin had split open, and crimson mana had flickered through the cracks….
She's a grand archmage, so she'll be fine. Siren can overcome it. I had deliberately avoided asking about her by rationalizing it that way.
But I can't see her? My heart felt like it dropped into my stomach.
Yu Gang-hyeok's expression stiffened. My breath caught.
"It isn't good."
"Uh, where exactly and how bad is it?"
"It's extremely serious."
"…So where and how serious—"
At that moment, Yu Gang-hyeok burst out laughing. What? Had he lost his mind?
"The magic tower bastards' condition is extremely serious! Kwahaha!"
"Pardon?"
"You know how Siren-nim revealed the artificial heart and mana circuit outsourcing during her last broadcast? The magic tower guys claimed they couldn't trust it and summoned her to prove it to them."
"…Yes. And?"
"Well, it looks like they're trying to steal the technology under the pretext of verification, but I advised Siren-nim! There's no need to do everything they ask! So they'll be sweating quite a bit. Kwaha!"
"…Siren is safe, right?"
"Of course she is! Uhu hu. Just a moment ago the magic tower master contacted me asking if I could persuade Siren-nim a little… Uh, did I do something wrong?"
"No?"
"…I just got a strong sense of déjà vu…."
"Must be your imagination?"
"…I'm sorry."
"You don't have to be?"
"Kheuuuk. I'm sorry!"
For some reason, the thing he had said earlier that I'd forgotten came back to me. It seemed like he'd asked me to tell Siren something. I couldn't remember what, but I definitely had something to say now. That was what I was thinking when—
BANG—!!
"Lee Hyun—!!!"
"Siren."
Siren appeared, throwing open the hospital room door. Then she leaped straight into my arms.
"I'm so glad… that you woke up…."
"Iren."
"I missed you so much…."
Siren rubbed her face against my chest. After everything that had happened, the gesture felt especially tender.
"Um, Siren-nim? What about the magic tower matter…."
And there was one uninvited guest who still hadn't left the room, completely failing to read the atmosphere. Naturally, he received a barrage of glares.
"Hik. I'm sorry…."
With that, only Siren and I remained in the hospital room.
2
Siren stared up at me intently. I didn't avert my gaze.
"Eing~"
After a few seconds of eye contact, Siren would rub her face into my chest. Then she'd look up at me again… and repeat. I stroked her hair and asked.
"Iren. Isn't it uncomfortable?"
I was still a patient who couldn't leave the bed, and since Siren was tall, it was impossible for her to hug me while I sat in a chair. Inevitably, we ended up in one specific position.
It was comfortable enough for me since I was lying on my back, but it couldn't be for Iren, right? So I asked.
"Not at all?"
Then I guess it was fine.
In that position we talked quietly.
"What happened with the magic tower?"
"I just left?"
"From the way Yu Gang-hyeok talked about it, it sounded like a really important meeting."
"Lee Hyun waking up is much, much more important to me."
"Really?"
"Yes. Hehe."
I patted her back. Every action and word filled me with gratitude.
But our Iren has a rather impatient personality and a very slight blind spot. There were people loitering outside the hospital room, so probably—
……Wait.
"Iren. No."
"What?"
"Are you pretending not to know, or do you really not know?"
"What what?"
"…Why do you keep moving your hips?"
"Because it's uncomfortable?"
"You said it wasn't uncomfortable earlier."
"It doesn't mean uncomfortable enough to get off. But, Lee Hyun. Something's touching my stomach. It feels a little bigger than before. I think I need to check what it is."
"Stop. Stop!"
I urgently caught Iren's hand as it naturally drifted downward.
"I'm a patient. It hurts if you touch me all over."
"Then if I touch gently, it won't hurt?"
"……Just no."
"Tsk."
I let out a small sigh. Siren was being especially bold today. She hadn't been this forward before….
In the end, I gathered both of Siren's wandering hands against my chest and hugged her tightly. This way she couldn't move. Iren glared at me with dissatisfaction, but it was no use. I wasn't letting go no matter what.
"I should've touched more yesterday."
"?"
What exactly did you touch? The object can be omitted, but in this context it feels a little strange when it is.
"……Iren?"
Just what did you do to me while I was unconscious?
"What? It means 'I should've touched defenseless Lee Hyun's face more'?"
"…."
You didn't touch any other defenseless parts, right? I believe you, Iren?
"It's true, though?"
……Sigh. Strange. Iren, who was always so trustworthy, why did I suddenly find her so suspicious…?
Anyway….
Iren had said she simply left the magic tower, and it really seemed she had literally just walked out. Without telling anyone, the moment she heard I had woken up she must have rushed straight here.
Obviously the magic tower would have searched for Siren, contacted Yu Gang-hyeok, and soon learned she was here. The presence I could feel murmuring outside the room made it obvious who it was. If even I could sense it, Siren definitely knew too. She simply didn't want to be disturbed.
Understanding that feeling, I stayed quiet, but—
-Knock knock.
-This is the examiner from the Round Table of Truth. May I enter?
A knock sounded.
"Lee Hyun, Lee Hyun. I want to buy new clothes. How about matching outfits with me?"
However, Siren acted like she couldn't hear and continued chattering in my arms.
"Lee Hyun, Lee Hyun. Let's go on a trip. I want to visit a place called a hot spring."
-Is Lee Hyun-nim inside? I'm truly sorry for disturbing your rest. I have something to tell Siren-nim—may I come in? I earnestly beg you.
"Lee Hyun, Lee Hyun. We—"
"Iren. Should I tell them to come in?"
They didn't seem like they'd leave, and even if they did, they'd probably return tomorrow. It would be better to schedule a proper meeting—I suggested.
Iren's reaction was straightforward. She smiled brightly and stood up.
"Wait just a moment."
She stepped outside the hospital room.
"Ah, Siren-nim. I—"
"Annoying."
Then—Hwaruruk—!
"S-Siren-nim! C-calm down—"
Kyaaaaaaaak—!!
"Hmm."
So our Iren had a dual-personality side to her.
3
Lee Seon, Korea's one and only—now two—archmage, was reading internet articles. The titles were childish things like "The Ultimate Showdown Between Demon and Dragon" or "Dragon-Demon Great War," but the content was completely different.
To summarize, a dungeon had burst open and a monster called the 'Demon' appeared. The one known as the magical girl Siren had defeated it….
The comment section was in chaos.
The main topics were the appearance of another archmage and how public authority truly was the strongest. None of them paid any attention to the 'Demon.' The impact of the magical girl and the fire dragon was so overwhelming that it had been completely buried.
Lee Seon muttered that this wasn't an incident that should be passed over so carelessly, yet she herself wasn't particularly interested in the Demon. Nor was she interested in Siren like the others.
Her gaze suddenly turned toward the center of her office.
"Hmm…."
Three days ago, the association president had come to see her. The head of an organization she had completely cut ties with five years earlier had come and knelt right there. Lee Seon remembered the scene vividly.
'Teacher.'
The Republic of Korea is currently facing an unprecedented crisis. Martial law is scheduled to be declared in one hour, and depending on the higher-ups' decision, a preemptive strike may occur. This is not because of a monster. To kill a single mage, a nuclear weapon could drop in the middle of Seoul. Did that mage do something wrong? No. She simply lost the person she loved. She is crying right now. She simply cannot fully bear her own grief. Looking at the war situation, she will emerge victorious. However, her sadness will not disappear and will instead flow in a different direction. The association, the magic tower, the guilds—many people will die fighting her. Citizens will lose their workplaces and homes and curse her. But all of that is secondary. Lee Seon-nim. I did not come here because Korea is in crisis, or because of the loss of life and property. I heard you spoke with the magic tower previously. Relying on that shallow connection, appealing to your sense of compassion, begging for your help, I have come. Lee Seon-nim. Please assist us. I will offer you everything the association possesses.
"Hmmm."
In the end Lee Seon had not stepped forward, but the scene had left quite an impression… so even someone like her, who normally paid little attention to worldly affairs, had been searching for articles until now.
"Lee Seon-nim. The mana readings continue to rise."
Of course, it wasn't that her interest exceeded her work. The subordinate's urgent report made her head to the laboratory.
Beep beep beep— Beep beep beep—
The readings on dozens of instruments were all climbing. This had never happened before….
At that moment, sensing something, Lee Seon shouted.
"Where are the gate researchers right now?"
"They went to investigate whether the gate has its own mana restoration system."
"So where exactly?"
"They're on top of the gate."
"Contact them immediately and tell them to come out."
"Pardon?"
"Hurry!"
It was the moment Lee Seon burst out of the laboratory.
-Uwaaaaaaaaaak—!!!
A scream rang out.
When Lee Seon rushed outside, what she saw was a single dot trailing a long tail. Against the backdrop of a full moon, a human silhouette was rising upward.
"Eight Trigram Binding."
Eight enormous tree roots erupted from the ground, surrounding the figure from all directions and shooting toward it. However—
Slash—
"…What?"
A single flash of light. With that one strike, Lee Seon's magic was rendered powerless.
Rumble—
The severed roots crashed down, sending massive tremors through the ground. Her subordinates finally emerged and asked what had happened.
"What is going on, Lee Seon-nim?"
"……Something just came out of the gate."
"Pardon?"
"An unknown life form emerged from the gate."
"…We will pursue it immediately."
Lee Seon stared silently at the cleanly severed tree roots before speaking.
"Forget it."
"If we coordinate with the nearby guilds and magic tower, we can handle it."
"You can't catch it."
"Pardon?"
"I said you can't catch it."
Lee Seon patted her motivated subordinate's shoulder and turned to leave. As she returned to her office, she pondered the nature of the light she had seen. More precisely, whether she had truly seen it correctly.
By the time she sat down, she had reached a conclusion.
"This is ridiculous."
She had realized the identity of that light. No—she had no choice but to acknowledge it.
It was moonlight. Moonlight reflected off a blade.
That dot—that silhouette wrapped in the halo of moonlight—had destroyed her magic with a single sword strike.
"Has Korea been cursed?"
It felt like unprecedented events kept exploding every other day. With a sigh, she sent official notices to the guilds, the magic tower… and the association as well.
An unidentified individual possessing immeasurable combat power had emerged from the gate.
Ring ring—!
A call came immediately. Seeing the caller, it was the guild master of a nearby major guild. She answered.
-Where did that unidentified person go?
"How should I know?"
-What is their objective?
"I obviously don't know that either."
More calls followed, but they would all be the same, so she simply ignored them all. From the beginning, the chance that the being had no purpose or direction was far higher.