The Woman Who Laughs Easily!
Beloah had visited about a year ago. It was more accurate to say she came because she had no way to meet men rather than because she wanted to get married. But her demands were so outrageous that she ended up on the unmatchable list—I remembered that much.
"A-Are... you ready?"
Beloah stammered her question. I answered calmly.
"Miss Beloah, I told you I could contact you if such a candidate appeared, but that it's almost impossible."
"......"
"And you still put your name on the unmatchable list knowing that."
I continued my steady explanation. I glanced at Kim Yang out of the corner of my eye—she was hiding under the desk with her bag over her head.
Ah, seriously unfair.
B-Boss, fighting!
Our eyes exchanged that silent conversation in an instant.
"S-So... does that mean I'll spend another year alone?"
Her tiny whisper trembled faintly. No, it wasn't just her voice shaking.
Kuoooong!
The entire building shook!
"B-Beloah! Beloah?! Wait, calm down a bit!"
"My dad was a liar after all."
"Beloah!"
"He said if I just studied, men would come running. I'm in grad school now, and no one's shown up. What the hell is this?"
Beloah muttered like she was chanting a spell, her head bowed low. She'd pulled the same stunt last time she visited. I grabbed her shoulders and shook her urgently.
"Snap out of it! Come on!"
"I-It's shaking! E-Everything's falling!"
Kim Yang, already hunkered down following earthquake protocol, yelled as things tumbled under the desk.
"Beloah! It's not impossible, even if it's hard!"
Kuoooong.
The vibrations rattling the building began to subside. Beloah slowly lifted her head—which she'd buried like the ground might swallow her—and tears glistened in her eyes.
"R-Really...?"
"It's not impossible. So, if we look hard enough, maybe we'll find someone?"
"Sob, I hate books now. I want to date. I want the Northern Duke to give me that sharp glare, or a fresh young guy to call me 'noona,' or to feel safe curled up in an older man's warm embrace. Ah, I'm so lonely. Boss, can't you just hold my hand once?"
"......"
Kugugugung.
It was about to shake again, so I hurriedly grabbed her hand.
"It's warm... First time holding a person's hand in a year."
For the record, I'd done it a year ago too. Beloah was the type to pour out everything in her small, timid voice. And fitting her moniker of Infinite Library, she'd learned romance from books, making her desires a bit... esoteric.
[A man who can save her.]
That was Beloah's requirement. To save her, there had to be a threat she couldn't handle. And he had to be stronger than her.
With premises like that, how could anyone possibly save her? A year ago, we'd compromised and compromised until she settled for the unmatchable list—someone stronger than her.
"You know better than anyone that finding someone stronger than you isn't easy."
Beloah clamped her mouth shut. The dark circles under her eyes seemed even deeper.
She was like the sun, in a metaphor. Her radiant talent shone brilliantly from afar, truly beautiful. But up close, she burned too hot for anyone to stand beside her. That's why she blazed so brightly—yet remained so alone.
The office fell quiet. Afraid she'd burst into tears if I left it like that, I hurriedly changed the subject.
"B-But why'd you suddenly come from the library?"
"Ah, well... it's not good news."
Day 2. Raichen Spilcold returned to Huayeong Flower Shop and witnessed a peculiar sight.
"How's it taste? Good, right? Delicious!"
Kim Da Jeong, chatting away while watering the flowers. Sometimes like a close friend, or a daughter caring for her parents, or a big sister scolding a naughty kid. A woman who believed flowers had souls.
One more trait added to Raichen's mental file on Kim Da Jeong.
"I'm here."
"Aigoo?! You scared me!"
Kim Da Jeong jumped dramatically, then sheepishly hid the watering can behind her back. It didn't change anything, but she wanted to hide something, anything.
"When there are no customers, you play like this sometimes."
"Yes, I see."
Raichen replied flatly and handed over the gift package in his hand. Cosmetics, perfume, dolls— an assortment of expensive items.
"I didn't know what you'd like, so I bought what the clerk recommended. In return for yesterday's flowers."
"Whoa, those flowers were less than 5,000 won each."
"It's fine."
"No, it's not! I want to return the favor somehow... Ah! If it's okay, want to check out the botanical garden nearby after you close today?"
"Understood."
Seeing her in a positive light was a good sign. Raichen nodded and headed to the adjacent café.
Day 3. In Raichen's lab at the Magic Tower, he watered the Polenia plant on the windowsill while skimming a book.
"Half a cup of water a day. Six hours of sunlight. More than that and the roots rot. Fresh air every other day, with warm wind."
It was a finicky plant, no denying it. Still, Raichen persisted steadfastly.
His eyes followed the text to the flower's meaning: Protected love.
Tending love was just as tricky and demanding, so treat it like a lover. Personally, Raichen couldn't quite buy it.
Humans and plants are fundamentally different.
Even trying to be flexible, every aspect differed, making acceptance hard. So, as always, he followed the book to the letter.
Nothing more to Polenia's care.
Woooong!
His phone buzzed. Mages didn't favor machines, but their convenience was undeniable.
Is she warming up to me? Or trying to?
Kim Da Jeong eluded even his brilliant mind. The feeling they stood at opposite poles lingered.
But—
What could it hurt?
Day 4.
After sending the texts, Raichen turned back to his master lying in bed.
Firm grip, unyielding posture, mana barriers dominating space. All gone—only ragged breaths remained from the old man.
Gellawind, the towering giant of academia, had advanced Lazesta Continent countless times. Yet now, only his prized disciple Raichen stayed by his side.
"Raichen—"
His voice was like dry leaves ready to crumble. Bony fingers like barren twigs.
"Yes, Master."
"Become a better man."
Raichen gently clasped Gellawind's hand, anxious it might snap, barely feeling its warmth.
"Better than me."
"Who on this continent could surpass you, Master?"
"To call me great... isn't my path too pathetic?"
A faint smile. Raichen couldn't face the sight of total resignation.
"I was ruthlessly selfish, lost in magic."
"......"
"Abandoned my wife, neglected my child. Magic was all."
"You've saved over ten thousand lives, Master. Your spells let countless live easier."
"Heh..."
Guiding a disciple who didn't get it—that was always the master's duty.
"Raichen, become better than your master."
"I—!"
"Not as a mage—as a fine human."
Something caught in his throat. Grasping the distinction, Raichen swallowed his words again and again.
"Yes."
All he could manage was that short reply.
Day 5.
"How is it? Tasty, right?"
"......Yes."
"Hehe! Pretty pricey beans."
Pricey beans. Brewed wrong, paling against the Magic Tower's luxuries.
Still, he nodded flatly. He had a goal.
A customer entered the flower shop just then; Kim Da Jeong dashed over.
"Ah, here to see the flowers?"
She served coffee, greeted the customer, gossiped animatedly. Never mind the coffee grounds smudged on her cheek.
A woman who couldn't care for herself.
One more trait added to Raichen's file on Kim Da Jeong.
Soon, she returned, sitting across with a smile.
"Oh yeah, how's the flower? Not pretending it's thriving when it's already dead, right?"
"It hasn't died yet."
Raichen stared blankly at her playful grin, reached out, and brushed the coffee grounds from her cheek.
No deeper meaning. Just dirty.
"Ah."
Her cheeks flushed faintly pink. She dusted her face sheepishly, laughing awkwardly.
"S-Something was on there, huh. Haha, showed an ugly side."
Warming up to me?
Raichen sipped his coffee, watching her laugh.
Definitely a woman who laughed easily.
Day 6. From lunch on, Gellawind's condition plummeted. Disciple Raichen sat vigil by his bed all day.
Other mages visited, even grand mages of Gellawind's caliber.
Evening brought a commotion outside the room.
"You're joking?! He's a grand mage! Gellawind, guardian of our traditions! You want to use 6th-floor medical gear on him?"
"We have to save him first. Regular treatments could buy another month."
"Even with post-war floor exchanges, this is wrong! A grand mage who championed magic's purity, clinging to machines in his final days? An insult to the entire magical community!"
Mages debating Cyber City med-tech from the 6th floor. Raichen wrestled internally too—his young master had staunchly opposed machines and innovation.
Still.
Rising to wish for even a bit more time—
Thump!
Gellawind grabbed Raichen's hand from the bed. Shaking his head with all his might.
"......I'll follow your wishes."
Raichen stepped out, voice stripped of emotion, coolly conveying as always.
"Master refuses treatment."
Day 7. After nonstop nursing without sleep, Raichen returned to his room. The crisis passed—for now. But how many more...?
His tidy room. He checked the phone on the desk.
"......"
Too busy yesterday to even check. Yet she'd sent more today, unanswered.
Raichen's fingers flew.
He needed to marry fast. Show his master the life he craved. That his disciple could be happy—even if fake.
His gaze drifted to the window. Rain fell outside.
Polenia, soaked, had rotted gray and curled. No more blooms.
"Haa."
He cupped his face, sighing shortly.
Shwaaaaa.
Rain poured. At Huayeong Flower Shop, Raichen handed over the pot from under his umbrella.
"Wow! You grew it so well?"
Polenia's white flowers bloomed vibrantly.
"Looks even better than when I gave it. I figured not killing it was success."
"......"
Kim Da Jeong circled the pot, beaming. What was so fun? Her easy laugh, probably.
"I kept the promise."
"Ah—."
"Marry me."
He wanted the ceremony tomorrow. As she heard, Kim Da Jeong's face hardened.
"Wait."
She carefully dug into the soil with her finger—and soon found—
Roots bloated with rain, rotted black.
Eerie. Flowers full bloom, roots dead.
Like his proposal now—purpose alone remaining. The thought struck Raichen suddenly.
"It's... dead?"
To her stunned question, Raichen replied flatly.
"The flowers bloomed, so no material loss."
"......"
"Can resell as decorative faux. I cast the spell for it."
At that—
Kim Da Jeong, staring at the flower, gave an awkward smile.
"Um, haha... Raichen."
"Yes."
"I don't think we can go further."
Her lips quivered faintly. Something heavy settled in Raichen at her expression.
"Did I hurt you?"
Still flat—
"I'm fine."
A woman who couldn't lie.
One more trait added to Raichen's file on Kim Da Jeong.
Back at the Magic Tower, Raichen headed straight to his master's room.
Creeeak, creak.
Creeak, creak.
Gellawind in the rocking chair looked better than yesterday. Seeing his disciple, he asked softly.
"Failed?"
"......!"
Words he'd prepared swallowed back. Efforts for another woman burst like bubbles—
Like a kid caught lying, he confessed the truth.
"Yes. Couldn't keep it."
Raichen stood frozen after. Gellawind turned a page, waiting—then—
"What kind of woman?"
Her image assembled in Raichen's mind, traits lining up.
"Nosy woman."
"And?"
"Couldn't care for herself."
"Heh heh, more?"
"Loved flowers."
"Nice hobby. Anything else?"
"Couldn't lie."
No more questions, yet—
Raichen added one.
"Laughed easily."
Too abstract, too concise for one person. Guiding his confused disciple, the master asked.
"What are you thinking?"
"......Her smile came to mind."
"Why?"
Why now? Her shy laugh at his touch.
"Just once more."
That easy-laughing woman—
"I should've made her laugh again."
"......"
"That's what I thought."