ch 267
Became a Swordsmanship Instructor at the Academy
Chapter 267
I came to meet Luciel right away with brother.
"What's this?"
"It's a barrier that sister made."
"A barrier?"
"Yes. Actually, not long after you went in, she said she was going to research magic. Since I'm the only one who would come looking for her anyway, she went ahead and put up a barrier like this...."
"Before I left, I asked her to take good care of Eunseo. So you haven't been able to meet with Luciel at all for the past year? This won't do."
"No. It was probably her way of enduring the longing. And it's not like we didn't meet at all."
"Still... huh?"
The barrier split and Luciel appeared.
She also saw brother and immediately ran over to hug him.
It would be a lie to say I didn't feel jealous, but I had already complained enough earlier.
"You really came back early."
"I promised."
"You're not hurt anywhere, are you? Your body is okay, right?"
"Of course. I'm completely fine and okay."
With a relieved expression, she hugged brother again.
Brother patted Luciel like that.
Unlike me, Luciel didn't show tears, so she must have had stronger faith than me.
"It's so nice to see you two together again."
"And yet you left just one day after coming back?"
"Right. I asked him to spend just a little more time before going, but he was so heartless."
"Isn't it too much to scold me as soon as I arrive?"
"You deserve it. I... no, we were so lonely."
"Right."
With Luciel's joint attack, brother couldn't think straight.
I'm so happy that brother returned, but honestly, I'm not completely at ease.
brother challenged the trial to revive the people who were killed by the Demon King, including Se-jin.
If he had succeeded in overcoming the trial, when he returned, he wouldn't be alone like this but....
"Shin-hyeok, did you overcome the trial?"
This is a question I wanted to ask too.
"Of course. If I hadn't overcome it, I wouldn't have been able to return."
"Then why didn't Se-jin come with you...."
"There's a slight problem."
"A problem?"
"Don't tell me you can't save Se-jin and the others...?"
Brother's expression suddenly darkened.
According to Luciel, the Origin Orb given for overcoming the Trial of Origin grants any wish.
So surely he should be able to save everyone....
"Why do you all have that expression?"
"You don't have to pretend to be bright. The Origin Orb can't do it either...?"
"Just you coming back safely like this is enough for me...."
"No, what are you both thinking... don't tell me you think the Origin Orb can't revive everyone?"
Luciel doesn't say anything.
"Isn't that right?"
I feel like I'm about to burst into tears.
"Then why would I say there's a slight problem?"
"Then...."
"I made the wish right after overcoming the trial. But the wish was too big, so it would take about a week."
"Shin-hyeok, do you want to die?"
Luciel immediately rushed to brother and grabbed his neck.
For the first time, I also wanted to kill brother.
"Ugh... ugh. Eunseo, save me."
"Sister, squeeze harder and never let go."
"Eu, Eunseo?"
"You should have said so then. You're really too much. I thought brother didn't come with you because...."
"You're going to kill someone at this rate. That's why I said there was a slight problem...."
"You should have said it right away! Like that...."
I couldn't stand it anymore, so I went to brother, who Luciel was holding, and bang bang hit his chest.
"Sa... save me."
"It doesn't even hurt. Stop exaggerating!"
"I think my bones are broken."
"I'll heal you later, so just get hit for now."
I thoroughly beat up my exaggerating brother together with Luciel.
"I almost crossed the threshold to the afterlife as soon as I returned."
"Do you want to get hit more? Even thinking about it again, what kind of problem is that?"
"It is a problem. I have to wait a whole week."
"I've already waited a year, and you can't wait just one week?"
Along with my words, I approached my grumbling brother.
"Are you going to hit me again...."
Thinking I was going to hit him again, I lightly kissed the cheek of brother who had shrunk back.
"You thought I was going to hit you."
"Thank you."
"No, why are you being so formal again... it's only natural."
"It's not natural. Thank you for saving everyone and coming back like this. You're the best, brother."
"Then this time, not the cheek but here."
I approached brother, who was pointing to his lips with his finger, and kissed him.
***
"Huh? Ms. Eunseo, wasn't today your day off?"
"Well, I was wondering if I could extend my vacation and rest for about a week, would that be okay?"
"A... a week?"
Not only the HR person but also the secretary next to them all had serious expressions.
There shouldn't be anything that busy recently....
"Ms. Eunseo, you've made a really good decision."
"That's right. You haven't properly rested once in the past year. Even when you do rest, you come to the company like this."
"Did... did I?"
"Please rest well this time. That way the secretary's office can rest a bit too."
"Ah, then I'll ask for that. Please give the secretary's office a vacation too."
"Yes. Please really rest well and come back this time."
I was worried about what would happen if it didn't work out, but I was relieved and returned home using teleportation magic.
The reason I suddenly extended my vacation like this is all because of brother.
When Se-jin and the others return after a week, it seems like he won't be able to spend much time with me or Luciel, so he said he'd like to spend this week together.
I think it's a bit excessive, but honestly, I feel the same way.
Actually, if brother hadn't said that, wouldn't I have said it first?
"How did the vacation go?"
Sensing my presence, brother opened the door and came out.
"They told me to rest well since I've been working hard."
"Really? You didn't just notify them and come back?"
"I didn't do that. Quickly... ah, if I'm going to be out for a week, I should pack my things first."
"Things? Well, we can buy what we need when we get there. Most things are in the subspace."
"Still, there are things I need to pack separately. It'll just take a moment, so wait."
I went into the room and opened the closet.
I've already decided what clothes to wear, but there are things to pack.
"Eunseo looks really excited?"
Luciel suddenly appeared out of thin air.
"Sister? You scared me. Ah! Sister, stay still like that. I prepared something for you too."
"Mine? What?"
"We're going to the ocean today. The South Pacific!"
"What's that? I'll just go fishing...."
"What fishing when we're going to the South Pacific? We should play in the water. Then what would we need?"
"Playing in the water?"
"Come on, don't pretend you don't know. We need swimsuits. Oh, here it is."
It's the bikini I bought last summer at the department store to wear when we all go out together in the summer.
I saw brother disappointed when I wore a rash guard when we went out before.
"Is this clothes? It's just pieces of fabric!"
Since I was buying a bikini anyway, I bought one with a slightly bold design that brother would like, but Luciel seems a bit reluctant.
"Usually... no, it's just going to be us anyway, so what does it matter?"
"I don't really like water in the first place, so I can just play in regular clothes...."
"If you wear this, brother will be so happy that blood will burst from his nose. Are you really not going to wear it? Then brother will only look at me."
"Give it to me."
"Let's put it on and go out to show him together."
I changed into the bikini.
I was worried that I might have gained some weight in the meantime and it wouldn't fit, but fortunately it fits perfectly.
"Is this how you wear it?"
"Hmm, it's right, but it won't work for you, sister."
"Huh? Why?"
"Because brother will only stare at you."
When I complimented her, she blushed and became embarrassed, and I think I might fall for her too.
A perfect slender body with not a trace of fat to be found.
"Well, I think Shin Hyeok will only stare at your chest."
"Uh... sister."
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Are you still far... huh?"
With the knocking sound, the door opened and brother came in.
"How is it? Isn't Luciel so pretty?"
"Eunseo bought it for me."
"...This won't work. The trip is canceled."
Canceled?
Maybe I chose too bold a bikini?
Since we're just going to play on the yacht among ourselves, it should be fine.
"Then I also have a rash guard...."
"No, not the trip, let's just go to bed... ow!"
"Brother!"
When I hit his back once, he exaggerates being in pain.
I think he's really excessive, but I don't dislike this side of brother either.
"Then... shall we leave a little later?"
***
"Shin-hyeok, this is already my 5th one!"
Luciel, wearing a quite dizzying blue bikini, is holding up a large fish that must be 1 meter long and laughing.
"Just wait until I change clothes and start. I'll catch up quickly."
I roughly cleaned up the barbecue and returned to the yacht's inner cabin to change clothes.
Eunseo is sleeping soundly on the bed.
It's still early to sleep, but after playing excitedly during the day, she fell asleep right after dinner.
She had kicked off all the blankets with her feet, so I pulled them up to cover her.
I gave her a kiss once and turned around, when Eunseo hugged me from behind.
"What? I thought you were sleeping?"
Eunseo is smiling with a mischievous face.
"Sleeping Beauty is supposed to wake up when the prince kisses her, right?"
"To call yourself a princess, Eunseo is also getting old now... ow! Right, our princess."
I got hit on the back while joking around.
"Who got to this age waiting for someone?"
"I'm joking. If Eunseo isn't a princess, who would be a princess? Princess, please sleep more. This fool will go look for bait tomorrow morning."
"Brother."
"What, do you want to fish too, Eunseo?"
"No. I'm tired."
"Okay, sleep more."
"Today was so good. Next time, let's come with Se-jin and the kids too."
I smiled once at Eunseo and left the cabin.
It's winter in Korea, but since we're on the exact opposite side of the earth, it's completely summer weather.
Still, it's not completely sweltering.
Being in the middle of the ocean, a cool breeze blows pleasantly.
"Why are you so late?"
Luciel, who was fishing, runs over and hugs me as soon as she sees me.
"What do you mean late? What's wrong?"
"Just. Oh, I added one more."
"Already 6? You didn't just go into the ocean and randomly catch them, did you?"
"I didn't do that."
"This must be a good fishing spot. Good, then I can't lose either."
I tried to ask Luciel to let me go so I could take out a fishing rod from the subspace, but instead she hugged me even tighter.
"What's wrong?"
She buries her face in my chest.
"I don't want to."
"Are you already being competitive?"
"...."
"Luciel?"
"It's all lies...."
My heart sank with a thud.
I thought Luciel might know....
"You clearly said you would love everyone equally. I know you love Se-jin. But me and Eunseo are still here! Aren't we two enough?"
I can't say anything to Luciel, who is screaming as if in despair.
***
My vision changes and I see a familiar face.
It's Lumiel.
"You really came out quickly."
"I promised Luciel. How long did it take?"
"About a year in this time? You're really amazing."
A year is really fast.
"This is nothing. Quickly give me the orb."
I want to meet Se-jin and my master as soon as possible.
"May I ask what kind of wish you're hoping for?"
"Can you change the past too?"
At first I was going to ask to revive the people killed by the Demon King, but thinking about it carefully, that's not the answer.
I could save Se-jin and other victims, but my master wasn't killed by the Demon King.
If I change the past so that Luciel's awakening happened in her own world, I can save my master too.
Lumiel's expression darkens.
Don't tell me it's not possible?
"It's possible. But...."
"But what? Do I have to go back to the past instead of changing it from this point?"
If that's the case, I don't mind at all... no, I'd actually prefer it.
Some of our shared memories would disappear, but anyway, everything that happened after the Demon King's descent was only bad memories for Eunseo and Luciel.
If I can see everyone again, I can accept any such thing, but Lumiel shook her head with a sad expression.
"There's one part I didn't tell you beforehand... no, couldn't tell you."
"Huh? What is it?"
"When you make a wish with the Origin Orb, you have to pay a price equivalent to the causality needed for the wish."
What? There was no such mention in the original work either.
"That's ridiculous. How can that be? I passed the trial. When I made a wish with the Origin Orb last time, there was nothing like that."
"The wish you made last time wasn't anything great. It wasn't giving a complete answer, just telling you the method, so the price to pay was small too."
Sigh... what kind of... no, but it's not impossible, so it doesn't matter.
As long as I can save my master and Se-jin, I can accept any price.
"I understand. Then what's the price I have to pay?"