Faintly Resurfacing Memories of the Girl
Slowly surfacing memories of the girl — 30 minutes earlier, while Si-hyun and Jin-woo were in the thick of their sparring match.
"Ooh... Si-hyun is incredibly strong, this body declares...!"
Lea watched Si-hyun's swordsmanship with sparkling purple eyes, utterly engrossed. The way he blocked his opponent's attack with his left hand was thrillingly precarious, which only made it more exciting. His face unchanging, silently parrying every strike without a word. For some reason, that version of Si-hyun shone even brighter in her eyes.
"This body can't just sit idly by watching such a splendid display!"
Her excitement bubbling over, the girl felt an urge to mimic Si-hyun's movements.
—Todododo!
Lea grabbed a wooden sword from the rack nearby and hurried to the corner of the training hall.
"Here it's like this... left foot first, and... hmm, a bit tricky, this body admits."
She strained to copy Si-hyun's swift, fluid motions. It wasn't easy. Her immature little body just wasn't built for his fast, elegant swordplay.
—Whoosh! Thwack!
"Hngh... to get bonked on the head by this body's own swing—such a disgrace for a knight..."
She tried so hard to imitate him, but kept whacking herself in the head or dropping the sword from her grip. Little mistakes piled up one after another.
"Hmph, but this body won't give up!"
Still, the girl refused to quit. Watching Si-hyun's awesome technique made her never want to stop, no matter how many slip-ups.
"One more time—this body will copy Si-hyun again!"
Was it heaven moved by her determination? Or perhaps because, though she couldn't remember it herself, her body still recalled those nights training under the stars?
"Hey, it's starting to feel similar now!"
One step, two steps. One swing became two, then ten. Around then...
—Shwick!
"This is how it suits this body better!"
Lea began adapting Si-hyun's style to her own body, refining it step by step. Her tomboyish movements were no longer erratic.
Whoosh! Slash!
"Ooh, now it feels just like Si-hyun's!"
Si-hyun's swordplay held a strong, upright beauty. Lea's, by contrast, evolved into something softer, more versatile and ever-changing. It was pure joy. Her body moving just as she envisioned. The sword flowing exactly as she willed. Her tiny steps became ink tracing the path ahead on a blank canvas, her wooden sword the brush adorning it with beautiful flowers along the way.
"So super fun, this body declares...!"
Muaji-gyeong—a state of selflessness. That four-character phrase captured her perfectly. Losing herself bit by bit, surrendering to the sword's flowing rhythm.
"Hehe, here like this... there like that!"
Just as Lea was totally immersed in her improving technique,
"Ehehe, this body thinks it's getting pretty good now!"
The girl beamed innocently, turning to Si-hyun and shouting boastfully.
"Si-hyun, don't you think so too?"
But then.
—Click.
The moment Si-hyun switched the sword from his left hand to his right.
"Hmm...?"
A strange ripple stirred in Lea's chest, carrying the scent of somewhere—not here, but elsewhere.
==========
Faint night air and cascading beautiful silver moonlight. Her vision shook slightly, and when she came to, the girl stood alone on a rough stone-paved training ground.
"Where... is this place, this body wonders...?"
She'd clearly been indoors watching Si-hyun moments ago. What on earth had happened?
Lea was confused but didn't panic or tear up. The surroundings had blurred into something unfamiliar, but Si-hyun swinging his sword in the distance was crystal clear.
"Hmph, must be from not eating pudding, this body bets."
It'd fade soon enough, she figured. But then.
Shwick—whoosh! Si-hyun with his sword. Back straight, moonlight glinting off the blade as he swung... it started overlapping with someone.
"Ah...?"
The grip was similar. From low to high, high to low, wielding it freely. The breathing rhythm, footwork timing. Even the curve the blade traced.
·········With a man of jet-black hair.
"Lu... Lucifer...?"
No. Si-hyun wasn't Lucifer. Lucifer had black, dark hair. Si-hyun's was deep brown. And above all, here there was no Lucifer. Because he... that man...
"Left this body's side... so cruelly..."
—
"Lea, sorry. I keep having to step out."
"Waiting in the training hall again? I told you not to because it's cold. What if you catch a cold?"
"Haha, don't cry. Even if it takes forever, I'll come back to you, Lea. Promise!"
"Th... this voice...?"
A voice suddenly echoed in the girl's mind. It belonged to Lucifer—the one man she remembered, even without her own name.
"Lucifer...? What memory is this...?! Ngh...!"
Chaos reigned. Si-hyun overlapping with Lucifer, unknown memories and voices flooding in.
"Ugh...! This body doesn't know this stuff...! Get out of this body's head...!"
—Shake shake!
She shook her head to dispel the creeping memories and headache. The illusion of Lucifer's silhouette began to fade.
==========
Under the dispersing moonlight, the vision of Lucifer swinging his sword vanished, and the girl returned to where she'd been.
What was that illusion just now? Really just seeing things from skipping pudding?
"This body has no idea..."
Lea shook her head, as if refusing to dwell on it. Just a fleeting memory fragment—
Why did her chest ache so sharply?
"Hmph, time like this, pudding fixes it right up!"
Ignoring the stuffiness in her chest, she plopped down in the training hall corner and cracked open some pudding.
—Nom nom.
"Ahm! As expected, pudding makes everything better!"
The sweet flavor spreading in her mouth brought a bright smile back to her face. Utterly unaware that a tiny shard of memory lingered in her heart like a seed.
* * *
"Nom nom, that's what happened, Si-hyun!"
Lea, perched on my lap devouring pudding, spilled her tale. She started off pretty serious, but one pudding and her mood swings wild? Really?
'Pudding got some kinda happy-drug ingredient or what?'
"Ehehe... Pudding makes all bad memories vanish..."
"Lea, that sounds straight-up addict talk, so no doing it around other people, got it?"
"Hmph, only in front of Si-hyun, this body promises."
—Pat pat.
I stroked the head of Lea, who was stuffing her cheeks full with pudding.
"Lea, no weird visions now?"
"None right now!"
"Anywhere hurt?"
"Hmm... head hurt a bit earlier, but Si-hyun touching it fixed it!"
"Haha, good to hear."
Guess the 'unlock Lea's past' op was a partial success. Kinda vague what she recalled, but better than nothing.
'Gotta sort this out later after putting Lea to bed.'
Combine the memory fragment Ciel left in the Clapham ghost story with what Lea remembered—might piece something together. If not, harass the notification window till it coughs up answers.
—Clink.
"Yaaawn~ Si-hyun, this body suddenly feels so sleepy..."
Lea set down her spoon with a big yawn.
"Three puddings in a row'll do that. That good, huh?"
"Hmph! Belly's all puffed up now!"
Pok pok!
She poked her slightly protruding tummy with her tiny hands and giggled.
'Goddamn adorable. Almost planted one on her.'
I slapped my cheek to hide the lecherous grin.
"Haha, yeah. First time seeing our Lea's belly like that."
"Pbuu! Staring like that embarrasses this body...!"
"Hahaha! Nothing but cute about it!"
I gently petted the head of Lea, puffing her cheeks in shy protest.
"Anyway, time to head home, knight lady?"
"Hmph! This body moved a ton, so tired! Carry me!"
—Swoop.
I scooped Lea up princess-style like it was nothing and headed to Galaxy Mom. Class was done, Lea was sleepy—time to say bye and go home.
"Mom, we're heading out now."
"Oh my, my boy leaving alreadyyy~?"
"Yeah, Lea's wiped out. Class just ended too."
"Heehee, looks like my boy's a pro at kid-wrangling nowww~ Mom's so proud~♡"
Mom tottered over and planted a quick peck on the purring Lea in my arms.
Mwah.
"Hmm...? Who...?"
Half-asleep and dazed, Lea didn't even notice Galaxy Mom's kiss.
"Huaaaw~ Lea's all zonked out and unresponsive—too cuteee~♡"
"As you see, Lea's like this. We'll be off then."
"Yess~ Take care, my boy! Next time, let's all go eat yummy stuff with me and Gaeun~ Oh, Lea too♥︎"
—Creeeak. Clunk.
I gave Galaxy Mom a slight bow and left the training hall.
"Mnya... Si-hyun... Zzz..."
Lea was out cold already, snoring softly in that short time. Totally exhausted.
"Haha, gotta get home before she wakes... Huh???"
Careful not to jostle her, I took a step—
—Grip!!
Something grabbed my clothes from behind, yanking hard.
'Mom following?'
Thinking it no big deal, I turned carefully. But there—
Not Mom, but an unfamiliar girl staring blankly, clutching my collar tight.
"Who...?"
"......"
Short bob of frosty chill. Eyes like transparent glaciers. Like a snow woman straight out of legend.
"......"
To my question, she tapped her name tag.
Cheon Seol-hwa
"Cheon Seol-hwa... student?"
—Nod.
The expressionless girl nodded, then stepped closer and spoke.
"Teacher... I have a request..."
"Huh? What from me?"
Her next words, delivered in a flat tone utterly at odds with her pure looks:
"Teacher... can you make me wet myself too...?"
·········What the fuck? New breed of perv?