The Soul-Binding Promise
Wait, marriage? Ever heard of seeing something sparks desire? It means even if you had zero intention before, laying eyes on something makes you want it. The key part is that you didn't intend to in the first place! "So I'm not the bad guy here." I slipped the secretly pocketed gold nugget into my pocket without Luna noticing, wrapping up my rationalization.
"Si-hyun... what are you... doing...?"
"Hahaha, nothing at all. Anyway, I'm getting ready for work now, so what should our princess do?"
At that, Luna scampered over and started rummaging through the drawer. Rustle rustle. Thud thud. She found the comb and naturally settled between my legs, sitting down.
"Si-hyun, brush my hair..."
"I'll make you extra pretty today."
Smooth smooth. As I stroked her shimmering silver hair, Luna's scent filled the room. A cozy fragrance, not too heavy or light. It felt like something I'd never forget, even after time passed.
Do all beautiful girls smell this good? With Luna being the only one around me, I had no clue. Oh, right, I met one recently.
Victoria... was it? These days they call that style a mesugaki. She said she's in her twenties, but she looks like a total kid.
Still, after I beat her, she started using polite speech, so she's not completely rude. Though it felt super forced.
"Si-hyun... what are you... thinking...?"
"Oh, just that Luna's hair feels amazing no matter when I touch it~."
"Really...?"
Luna gazed up at me, her golden eyes sparkling. Ugh, when she looks at me with those pure eyes, it pricks my conscience. Gotta change the subject quick.
"By the way, Luna, I've noticed from the start—you stay so still when I brush your hair."
"For some reason... it feels... familiar..."
Probably because when she was a princess, servants used to groom her, and it's ingrained in her body.
"You too, huh? I kinda feel the same way."
Strangely, brushing Luna's hair felt natural to me too. Like I'd done it a million times before.
Did I lose my memories like Luna? Haha.
I cracked dumb jokes while combing her hair, and before I knew it, a weird tune slipped from my lips.
"Luna's~♫ ♪ hair is silver and so pretty~ ♬ Her eyes are golden like the gold nugget I found~𝅘𝅥𝅯"
"Si-hyun...?"
Oh crap. Lately, whenever I did some random task, I'd start humming odd melodies without realizing. Classic dad behavior.
I'm turning thirty in two years. Is this the infamous dad instinct kicking in?
Aging is inevitable for humans, but hitting thirty as a loner? I wanted to avoid that at all costs... or I'd end up the virgin wizard.
I'd sworn since my early twenties never to become that!
Two more years, and I'll really class-change into a wizard.
I pinned a hairpin into Luna's hair and muttered absentmindedly.
"Wonder if I'll get married someday..."
The moment those words left my mouth, Luna's golden eyes lit up as she stared at me intently.
"Si-hyun... what's marriage...?"
"Ah, marriage is written as in Hanja, but simply put, it's a ceremony where lovers promise to gaze only at each other for life? Something like that."
I'd learn later that I got the Hanja wrong. Normally, the in marriage is from , but like an idiot, I used the "soul" one when explaining to Luna. And that mistake gave her a slightly twisted view of marriage.
"A ceremony... that binds souls... together...?"
"Hmm, if you look at the Hanja, yeah? I just realized how heavy that meaning is."
Of course. I'd messed up the characters! But I still had no idea what the problem was.
Luna's golden eyes started sparkling the instant she heard the explanation. The silver-haired girl sat on the floor, gazing up at me expectantly.
"Does Si-hyun... want to get married...?"
"Not like I have to, but if I find someone precious, yeah."
In this era where ghost stories kill people easily, humanity still loves, marries, and has kids. They say babies are born even in wartime, right?
And now most countries allow polygamy.
Too many deaths from ghost stories, that's why.
Korea is one of them.
Ga-eun almost stormed the National Assembly when that bill passed—I barely stopped her. No idea what set her off so suddenly.
But in my current state, forget polygamy; it's obvious I'll die without even marrying once.
Girl → Crush → Date → Propose → Marry → Happy End.
But the problem is I can't even clear step one!!
28 years and still stuck on the first stage! I just want to cuddle with a girlfriend once! Why can't I be happy?!
At this rate, I'll become the meteor-casting wizard for real...
"Haa..."
The thought of dying alone as an old bachelor suddenly depressed me.
Then Luna cautiously took my hand and asked.
"Si-hyun... do you have... someone precious...?"
Someone precious? Of course. Right in front of me.
"Haha, come to think of it, I do have someone precious."
"Wh... who...?"
Suddenly, I felt her hand trembling. Her golden eyes shook with pupil earthquakes. She was probably worried I meant someone else.
If this were before, I'd tease her by naming someone else.
But not now. I have some tact. I know which jokes are okay with Luna and which are off-limits.
I smiled brightly on purpose and gripped her hand firmly.
"My precious person, the one I like. Her name is Luna, pretty like moonlight."
"...!"
Luna's eyes widened more than I'd ever seen. Whoa, her eyes are huge. How does that tiny face fit eyes, nose, and mouth?
I marveled again at her features.
"So Si-hyun... will you marry... me?"
"Marriage?"
"Yeah, you said... it's what you do with... your precious person..."
Whoa, hold up. Sure, living with a top-tier beauty like Luna is pure bliss, but marriage is a whole other level.
Luna's clearly a girl. Marrying a girl like that...?
This time I'd be a total lolicon with no escape, and they'd slap cuffs on me right away!
But she's a ghost story—does appearance matter? And she'll grow up in a few years anyway, so maybe it's fine.
As I wrestled with these thoughts, Luna pressed closer, demanding an answer.
"Marry... me...?"
"Haha, Luna, see... You're my precious person, but we can't marry yet—"
"Can't...?"
Shiver shiver. Suddenly her hand, pupils, and whole body trembled.
Just add some dark-red aura, and it'd be straight to bad end.
Say no, and my life’s in real danger.
Time to max out my improv skills!
"—No way that's true! But Luna, before marriage, there's something we must do first. Get engaged!"
"Engaged...?"
"It's promising we'll marry in the future~. Remember? Like pinky promises. Similar to that."
I stroked her hair to calm her faster and continued.
"And engagement is as important as marriage. You can't just casually say 'We're engaged'—no mood. We need meaningful items, a special atmosphere to promise."
"Si-hyun and I... don't have anything like that..."
Her golden eyes still held unease.
Nothing? Something to reassure her... Ah, right!
My eyes caught the crescent hairpin nestled in her beautiful silver hair.
"Luna, forgot already? You wear it every day. The hairpin."
"This...?"
"Think I just gave it to you? It was a gift prepared for this moment."
"From back then... you were thinking... of marrying me...?"
"Of course! Once we promise, it's basically engagement, but the mood's off now. Let's do it tonight when the moon rises pretty."
I was shocked at my own shameless lie—it flowed like breathing.
Did I always have talent for this?
Only then did Luna relax, burying her face in my chest.
"Engaged... to Si-hyun... nice..."
"That happy, Luna?"
"Feels all fluffy... in my chest..."
Fluffy, huh? She's starting to understand real emotions.
I gently stroked her back as she nestled in.
Feels like my bullshitting skills are leveling up more than anything.
Anyway, Luna calmed down, crisis averted... good enough.
Kids grow fast. They get bored quick and forget quick too.
The world’s full of new stimuli.
Everyone played house and weddings as kids, but time passes, and you forget who you played with.
Luna will forget when she grows up.
I resolved to play house diligently until then.
Si-hyun said it. Marriage is a vow binding souls between precious people. Together in life, together even after death. Such a heavy promise.
Words you can't utter lightly...
— "My precious person, the one I like. Her name is Luna, pretty like moonlight."
His bright smile was dazzling.
Ah... Si-hyun from that time... with me...
The day we went to the amusement park. Si-hyun first shared his true feelings.
— "I'd feel empty without Luna."
And the crescent hairpin he gave as a "gift."
The girl hadn't understood how his words connected to the hairpin.
But today, she realized the shy feelings he'd hidden.
Si-hyun was preparing... to marry me...
He'd expressed his heart carefully with the hairpin.
Not just words of "precious" or "like." From the start, he'd thought of her seriously.
Her, bearer of apocalypse. A man who wanted to live with a feared ghost story.
"Si-hyun..."
Her chest felt fluffy again. A warming sensation.
Thinking of the man holding her tenderly always brought this odd feeling.
At first, she didn't know what it was, different from joy.
Maybe just extra joy? That seemed enough.
But not anymore.
Tonight... when Si-hyun returns...
The girl decided to confess under the moonlight, promising marriage.
I can't be without you now. You can't be without me either, right...?
Luna's golden eyes gleamed dangerously as she nestled in his arms.
He gently pulled her away, stroking her hair.
"I usually come home early, but today even earlier. Gotta for the engagement, haha."
"Yeah... come back quick, Si-hyun..."
—Click.
The room fell silent again. Instead of waiting at the door like usual, the girl headed straight to the bed.
"Want to smell... Si-hyun's scent."
Luna lay delicately on the bed where they slept together every night.
"Being here... feels like Si-hyun's hugging me..."
She closed her eyes, seeking sleep. Wishing for sunset and moonrise.
"Close my eyes and open... Si-hyun will... be here."
Luna clutched the hairpin—proof of their engagement—dearly and shut her eyes.
Awaiting the moment to promise eternity with Si-hyun.
"Let's see... Today's tasks are just the report to the team leader and making a PPT. Nothing else."
Checking my schedule, no special appointments or call-ins. I'd worried Murphy's Law would strike on an important day.
"Heh. Not today."
It was play-pretend, but tonight's "engagement" was big. If it reassured Luna, I'd do it a hundred times.
I vowed to leave early and entered the guild building.
Beep—
The announcement blared the moment I clocked in.
ALL PERSONNEL CHECKED IN: THE GUILD WILL BE SEALED FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
"What the—am I dreaming?"
Bang.Clank clank.
No sooner had it ended than the barricade shutters and locks slammed down over the entrances.
"Ah, for fuck's sake, don't bullshit me."
What the hell is this now? I really need to get home early today!