The Princess of Selenum
"Phew, I barely made it home."
I ended up circling the entire city of Seoul because my shadow movement suddenly stopped listening to me.
"I was seriously freaking out, wondering if it might teleport me to another country or something."
It was a bit late, but still safely within bounds. Today had felt especially long.
"I mean, I entered a Catastrophe-grade Netherworld and wrapped up the story, after all."
It was a relief that I'd managed to resolve it somehow, but there was one thing nagging at me no matter how I thought about it: the beginner package.
It's great and all... but there are moments when my words and actions don't feel like my own.
For shadow movement, I didn't know the principle behind it, but it had been useful enough that I'd let it slide until now. But just earlier, it suddenly wouldn't work right. And today, I'd even resolved the ghost story through words and actions that came out automatically. It felt like something was controlling my body at will. And all I could do was watch.
Not a pleasant feeling. Even if the results turned out good...
Damn that notification window. Shouldn't it at least explain how to use it properly before vanishing?! There hadn't been major issues so far, but there's no guarantee days like today won't keep happening.
From now on, all I can do is try my best to avoid getting tangled up in ghost stories in this form... though that's probably wishful thinking anyway.
Please end the tales of Mengmang-grade ghost stories.
Resolved tales: 0
If I don't end the tales, the world ends.
But that's no longer the only reason. Today's experiences. When I saved Lora from the ghost story, the way that girl smiled brightly and spoke stuck with me.
"Thank you... for remembering me. My god...!"
Every time I recalled it, a strange ache tugged at my chest.
I'm no savior, and definitely not a god. Just an ordinary guy who happened to read the novel.
But by ending the ghost stories as this ordinary me, I could at least ease their pain a little. I had no idea how two years of steadily reading the novel had influenced this reality, but if I bore even a sliver of responsibility...
"From now on, I won't turn away from the tales I encounter."
That seemed like the best choice I could make.
Of course, I won't go looking for them on purpose. Not because I'm scared or anything!
More importantly, the trace of destruction I'd uncovered today mattered more.
Tale Fragment: Selenum's Princess.
Probably about Luna... Huh?
Something tugged at my sleeve. Looking down, there stood a petite girl, quietly munching on salt bread. Her golden eyes sparkled as if she'd been waiting.
"...Si-hyun. Welcome back."
"Yeah. I'm home, Luna."
Wait, hold on. Is this normal now?
Having Luna at home feels so natural these days?
She was clearly a Mengmang-grade ghost story, yet lately, it felt like we were a normal family. She had been so well-behaved recently that it wasn't unreasonable.
"Luna, eating well?"
The girl clutched the bread tightly in her small hands, chewing slowly and deliberately.
"Yeah."
After a short reply and another bite, Luna suddenly stared right at me.
"...Si-hyun."
"Yeah?"
"Smells like fox."
"What?"
"...And."
Luna sniffed once with her tiny nose, tilting her head as she added,
"Smells like another girl too."
"Huh???"
I couldn't help but panic at her tone, like a wife interrogating her cheating husband.
Fox smell? When did I ever get that on me?
And what was this about another girl—
"Oh."
Then it hit me.
I carried Ga-eun on my back earlier when she collapsed.
Since Ga-eun used fox shrine powers, that's probably it. And the other girl smell... maybe from Lora crying in my arms earlier?
"Luna, see, it's like this—"
"......"
As I tried to explain, Luna stretched out her small hands and suddenly hugged me tight.
—Squeeze.
"Huh? Luna...?"
I was utterly bewildered by the abrupt action. Her small, soft body pressed firmly against me. Luna held on silently for a long while.
What the hell is this situation?
In the awkward silence, I stood there blankly, unsure what to say.
A moment later.
"...Okay."
The girl released her hands, seemingly satisfied.
"It's okay now, Luna?"
"Yeah. I erased it all."
It was some incomprehensible behavior, but the girl just gazed at me with the purest expression.
Was Luna marking her territory in her own way, claiming me as hers?
Soft moonlight filtered through the window, casting gentle shadows. I carried Luna to bed and tucked her in. Her small, fragile body sank into the covers.
But tonight, Luna showed no signs of sleepiness. Normally, she'd burrow into my arms and drift off right away.
"Luna, not sleepy tonight?"
Luna slowly shook her head, as if to say no.
"...Si-hyun."
Her small hand lightly grasped my sleeve, a touch that felt anxious, like I might vanish if she let go.
"What's wrong, Luna?"
"...A little longer."
"Huh?"
"A little longer... I want to stay awake..."
Normally, I'd urge her to sleep, but something felt different tonight.
This is the first time Luna's ever voiced wanting something herself.
The girl was always quiet. She'd eat when fed, sleep when put to bed, and occasionally act like she wanted a hug, but she rarely expressed desires directly.
But now, her wish to stay awake a bit longer told me this: she was starting to learn emotions, bit by bit.
Suddenly, memories from touching the light fragment resurfaced.
Tale Fragment: Selenum's Princess.
Right now, as Luna shows her emotions, this might be the perfect timing.
"Luna, want me to tell you a story?"
"...Story?"
Her expression was like she'd heard an unfamiliar word.
"Yeah. Would you like one from me?"
Luna tilted her head slightly, then nodded.
I cleared my throat lightly and recalled the scene from the fragment.
"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful kingdom called Selenum."
"Sele... neum?"
Luna murmured it softly. It seemed familiar yet strange, but no spark of recognition.
"Yeah. A place where moonlight shone the most beautifully."
I painted the Selenum from the fragment as I continued quietly.
"Selenum floated in the sky, a bit apart from the ground. At night, it sparkled like gazing down at stars from the heavens."
The girl listened intently.
"Its walls absorbed moonlight and gleamed. There were gardens floating in the sky everywhere, structures drifting on the wind, crystals gathering light to brighten the dark night. And Selenum's people lived blessed by moonlight."
At 'moonlight,' Luna's golden eyes flickered faintly.
"...Moonlight's blessing?"
"Yeah. A blessing that prevented losing your way in darkness, always providing soft, warm light. That's why they lived peaceful, warm lives."
"Warm lives..."
"And every year, Selenum held a grand festival where the whole kingdom celebrated happily."
"...Festival?"
"Yeah. The princess's birthday festival."
I watched Luna's reaction carefully.
"Selenum had a very beautiful princess. Everyone loved her, and her birthday was the kingdom's biggest event. The city filled with lights, songs and dances never stopping."
"Princes... s..."
"Sounds like a nice place, right, Luna?"
"......"
She seemed unresponsive, but I caught it immediately: her golden pupils trembled ever so slightly.
After a moment's thought, Luna nodded.
"...Seems nice."
"Right?"
I smiled faintly and stroked her head.
Maybe something clicked for her?
But her expression held a strange uncertainty.
She can't recall it fully yet.
To restore her lost memories, I'd need more stories.
No rush, though. We can take it slow.
Then Luna stared at me and asked,
"Si-hyun... What was the princess like...?"
"The princess was—"
The fragment hadn't shown her directly, but Lora and her friends had described her.
"She had long silver hair flowing down, and golden eyes that shone!"
"They sparkled even more under moonlight? She'd be so pretty..."
"The princess must've been truly beautiful!"
"She had silver hair, shining softly like moonlight. And... her eyes sparkled gold."
"...Golden...?"
"A really pretty princess, right, Luna?"
The girl gazed up at me quietly. I couldn't help but hold my breath at her eyes.
Golden eyes sparkling even under the dark sky. Beautiful silver hair like moonlight itself.
...No matter how I look at it, that's Luna.
I chuckled unwittingly.
"Talking about it, maybe our Luna is the princess?"
"Princess...?"
"Yeah. 'Cause Luna's pretty."
At that, she flinched slightly and shrank back a little. Her heart fluttered faintly. She didn't know what the sensation was—itchy chest, warm cheeks.
"......"
Luna instinctively covered her face with her hands.
I didn't miss her reaction.
Is... Luna embarrassed right now?
The kid who was always expressionless. Who just sat there like a pretty doll.
She's feeling emotions... even if she doesn't realize it yet.
Learning and feeling them little by little. For some reason, seeing Luna like that made my nose tingle.
Ahem. Am I getting old? Getting emotional over this.
I tried to play it cool, but really, I wanted to shout, 'Hey neighbors! Look at our Luna—she's expressing emotions now!'
Calm down. Focus on Luna right now.
I raised my hand and mimicked her, covering my face lightly. Luna tilted her head at me.
"Si-hyun... What're you doing...?"
"Haha, this? I was imitating you, Luna."
"...Why?"
"Well... to understand your feelings."
"Feelings... by imitating...?"
"Of course. But only if you care deeply about the other person."
I smiled softly and met her eyes.
"I want to know more about you, Luna. That's why."
The silver-haired girl looked puzzled. A man who wanted to know her—a Mengmang-grade ghost story. No one had ever treated her this kindly. Who was this man approaching her so easily?
Luna couldn't answer. She just snuggled closer into his arms.
I don't know... but it doesn't feel bad...
His warm embrace enveloped her.
"Alright, Luna, time to sleep. We've got stuff to do tomorrow."
Luna pulled the blanket up, her face slightly flushed.
"...Yeah."
As I stood to turn off the light, I teased playfully,
"Goodnight, Princess Luna."
"...Goodnight. Si-hyun."
Her voice was quiet, but laced with a pleasant tone.
Luna's learning emotions...
A tiny change, but hugely important. Luna had existed as a ghost story, forgetting everything and her emotions.
But now, she was starting to remember. The emotions she'd lost. The tale she'd forgotten.
Waiting for her to sleep, I pondered alone.
Selenum. And the princess with golden eyes. No way that's coincidence.
She'd just lost her memories—Luna was surely at the center of this tale.
Dark sky outside. The moon still shone through the window.
Luna. I don't know why you became destruction yet...
But I'll save you. I promise.
I'll bring you back to your old self.
Thus, the long day ended, quiet night falling. The girl bearing destruction in her heart slept with a more peaceful face than usual.
"Sele... neum..."
Murmuring the name of the happy kingdom from the story I'd told her.