Cheeky Proposal♪
It felt like I'd been smacked in the back of the head with a blunt object. What the hell was she talking about?
I got what Je Eunha was saying. She could see the future, right? Yeah, I understood that much. But it didn't click easily.
A gentle breeze blew, cooling even the slight sweat on my skin. It was a blessing.
"Je Eunha, you're saying you know the future all by yourself?"
"Yes."
"Setting aside whether that's true or bullshit for now—what's with spilling the secret all of a sudden?"
"As expected, you've sensed it too. That there's something off about me."
Of course. She'd been acting so blatantly obvious that only an idiot wouldn't notice. The real question was why tell me now? She had some motive, no doubt. Though it didn't feel like she was spilling everything.
Still, I was curious.
"Kinda out of left field, don't you think?"
"Exactly as it sounds. From what I've seen of you so far, you've been the quiet type, zero social skills—fuckin' trash at it—decent ability-wise but just... empty."
"Ha."
I was too dumbfounded to even laugh. So that's how she saw me? Spitting it out so viciously. The problem was, not a single word was wrong. That's exactly how I'd lived.
Not that I'd chosen it happily or anything.
"Fine, I get your review. So?"
"I've seen countless loops—no, futures. And there was never anyone like you. A few came close, chasing right up to my heels."
"And those people?"
"All dead."
Why say that with a smile? Was she enjoying it? No way she'd killed them all herself, right?
"Oh yeah? So you see some one-in-millions future? Spin your hand and a orange portal pops open?"
"I'm serious."
"Me too. So why tell me? Be real—we're not close."
If I had to define it, we were shipmates. Comrades bound by fate or whatever. Nothing more, nothing less. And she knew that, nodding in agreement.
Plus, in the futures she'd seen, I apparently hadn't stood out much. Which meant this time, I was the anomaly.
Eunha smiled softly, gazing at me with affectionate eyes. She could pull off looks like that too?
"Yeah, I know."
"It's weird."
"I don't want to lose someone like you, sunbae. This time feels different."
"Creepy answer."
"Straight up. No personal feelings involved—I just thought you might end this damn game."
I readied a sneer. Who the hell are you to say? But then I froze in shock.
I stared blankly at Eunha. This conversation felt familiar. What she'd just said matched the context of what the "First Thinker" had told me when approaching me.
What the fuck? Was this possible? Just coincidence?
What is this? Why?
Sudden suspicion: maybe the First Thinker was Eunha. Their vibes were suspiciously similar. But no, she didn't seem that transcendent. And from her perspective, why bother setting up a constellation—or faking one—to help me in secret?
She could just help directly. Like clinging to me now.
We weren't close, but not enemies either. Direct help would be easier.
Which made it even harder to understand.
Eunha shook her head with a bitter smile, her pale, slender neck subtly revealed.
"Sorry, I can't say more at this stage. But please believe me. The moment the next game starts, you die, sunbae."
"That's set in stone?"
"Yes."
"How do I die?"
"In the futures I saw, 665 different ways."
"This is the first time you've seen someone like me, right?"
"Yes. What I just said is that I died that way."
Fuck, what? My mouth went dry.
I didn't know how her foresight worked—some simulation? Then what were the "loops" about? The fact that she died like that.
Regardless of how reliable her power was, if it was true, this was no joke. She was already extraordinary herself. For someone like her to fail and die 665 times?
Did the foresight simulation switch subjects from her to me, and that's when I died too?
Me? Die? Fuck that?
My mood soured instantly. Why the hell should I die? I'd clawed my way through life so far. Even after Dad died and Mom left. I prided myself on being tougher than anyone.
All that effort, just to die in the third game? My pride wouldn't allow it. Hell, I wanted to smash that foresight itself. I had no reason to die.
"How do you know your power's legit?"
"Wait one minute."
"What now?"
"In one minute, a leaf will fall right in front of your nose. Drawing a musical note."
"That's it?"
"And on that leaf, three small red ants. I've never been wrong."
I nodded with a grin. Easy enough to wait and see. Never wrong, huh? I'd watch gladly.
I crossed my arms while waiting the minute. Right in front of my nose, right?
Something entered my vision. A leaf fell, tracing a musical note. I snatched it midair. Sure enough—three small red ants clung to it.
"Ah."
"See?"
Not her usual cheerful smile, but a melancholic one. She was dead serious, more than ever.
I swallowed dryly. Her power was real, alright. And it explained her initial magic feats.
If she can use all magic, including prophecy...
That solved it. I didn't know why her status window was hidden—some barrier or concealment spell, probably.
I swallowed again, staring at her.
"Fine, I'll believe you. But you're overlooking one thing."
"What?"
"That's your death method. Not mine. I could be different."
As if she'd expected it, she laughed weakly. Her sigh was heavy, like the earth itself deflating. She looked at me sadly.
"I thought the same at first."
"What?"
"Knowing the future. Knowing where everything was. I preempted it all, monopolized it."
"As expected."
"But I failed every time. No matter how strong I got, no matter how many people I gathered, no matter the skills—every time! I died."
The light faded from her face. Her muscles twitched, recalling past failures. She forced a smile, sighed deeply, and continued.
"After over 600 loops, hope turns to resignation."
"Hey, you..."
Her eyes went hollow, the spark gone, inhuman. I approached without thinking.
"You don't get it, sunbae. Trapped in a curse you can't escape, no matter how much you want to. That's been me. Me!"
"Calm down."
I grabbed her shoulders gently. Was it just foresight? Or something more? Either way, she needed stabilizing.
She looked up in surprise. I scratched my head, meeting her gaze.
"So, to sum up: I'm about to die, and you've seen potential in me, so you'll help. Right?"
"Y-Yes? Oh, yeah."
She snapped back to normal. Her intent was clear, so I nodded with a smile. Good intentions. But I shook my head firmly.
"Got it. But I'll pass."
"What? No, sunbae—you die! You've never stood out before. This is the anomaly!"
"How do you know I won't survive? Did you predict this growth?"
"No."
"Exactly."
"But I've grown that much myself. This loop, I held back to find other possibilities!"
"Loop? Held back?"
She spouted nonsense sometimes. Held back? While smashing mutants like that? And that was holding back?
Ridiculous.
It's making her story more believable.
She pressed her forehead, desperate to convince me.
"I just want to end this fucking game. You're different somehow. You keep defying my predictions."
"Then it'll miss again this time."
"No! Everything's because of that woman...!"
"Stop."
I halted her, sighing as I looked at her. I patted her shoulder soothingly, flashing a warm smile.
"Guess my image really is trash. Sorry for worrying you."
"That's not—!"
"I know. But listen—knowing and preparing for what's coming? That's boring as hell."
"...What?"
"What do you think entertainment is? Freshness, fun, thrill, dopamine! Right, Constellations?!"
I shouted confidently, raising my fist to the sky.
The constellations agreed in droves.
I waved both arms at the sky.
Eunha was misunderstanding something. Divine Game? Yeah, a horrific apocalypse. Normally, strangers killing each other, dying to zombies.
But to me, this was my stage.
I grinned at her, miming a gunshot.
"Whether I live or die—that's my fate. Not that I believe in fate much."
"But sunbae!"
"If I come back safe from the next game, spill everything about you then? I'll push harder than anyone so your prophecy fails on me."
"Ahh, sunbae, ahh."
"Let's make a bet. Do I die like you saw, or not? If not, you give me your virginity? Kidding. Let's head in."
I ruffled her hair and walked ahead.
I was confident. A future where I die? Sorry, but whether I live, die, or fuck—that's my call. Who lives, who dies in front of me? My call.
Why? This is my entertainment.
I'd never get swept up by fate like Dad. No matter who crafted it or how shitty unlucky it was.
A heart that died living ordinarily—now pounding in this chaos.
Proving I could live with a beating heart like everyone else. As if born for today.
That's why I'm confident.
I entered the house first, stretching as I headed to the living room.
Eunha seemed to know the future. Probably a lot more too.
Why do I love the Divine Game?
The thrill of uncertainty, lawless freedom, massive sponsorships and attention.
Knowing the future here? No thanks. Major spoiler.
I wanted to shatter her prophecy blatantly.
"Um, Najin."
"Sa-eun sunbae."
Sa-eun approached with an unusual vibe. Her lips parted.
"M-Me and."
"Huh?"
"Me, um, d-de, deaa."
"Dea?"
"De, death sparring—wanna?!"
"Out of nowhere?"
Full-power sparring, brutal stuff usually called full spar. And suddenly?
Sa-eun sweated bullets, giving an awkward smile.
"N-No, sparring and... I have a favor."
"Favor? What?"
"J-Just! Just come with me, okay?"
This side of her was new. Like an innocent high school girl. Pure, stubborn plea to follow.
I chuckled. A rare sight.
I eyed her closely. Her body stood out, a bead of sweat trailing into her cleavage.
"Hmm, my answer is..."
I smiled warmly at her.