Waking Alone... Until She's Not

"Who're you? 'Heh heh heh, until yesterday, the world's cutest, prettiest princess was right by my side... so why's no one here now?' —Tweet tweet! Warm sunlight streamed through the wide terrace window. As I woke to the chirping birds, I desperately wanted to deny the reality of being alone in this massive pool villa."

Whoa~ Waking up solo in this huge place... reality's hitting hard af.

A groom on his honeymoon spending the night alone? Yeah, this has gotta be a dream. A total shitshow of a dream! If I close my eyes for a sec and open them, that badass silver-haired beauty will wake me up again, right? I shut my eyes, flopped back on the bed, and started counting down inside my head.

'10, 9, 8...'

As I counted, memories flooded back from a few hours ago—of those pink lips pressing sweetly against mine.

—

"Mwah...! Hehe... Si-hyun, I love you...!"

"Hehe, love you too~ Luna!"

A goofy grin slipped out unbidden. Just recalling that blissful moment with Luna had me smiling like an idiot.

Damn, I must be head over heels for her. Makes sense—I staked my life to save her.

Married to a girl like that? Gotta pat myself on the back. Even if we're apart now, whether we reunite soon or late depends on my efforts.

Alright! Top priority: Screw the apocalypse ghost stories—reunite with Luna first!

Sounds irresponsible, but it's not. To see Luna again, I have to resolve these ghost story narratives. It's non-negotiable.

《Grab a mengmang-grade ghost story tied to apocalypse → Piece of the story → Resolve mengmang-grade → New power → Reunite with Luna for cuddles! (☆Key☆) → Happy Ending!》

How straightforward and easy to grasp! Even a kid could get it. A simple quest, crystal clear.

True goals should be obvious at a glance. Oh wait, feels like I forgot somethi—

"Gah! Fuck, you scared me!!"

The second I opened my eyes, a massive, sparkling message window hovered right in my face. I jolted and cursed on reflex.

"Wait, hold up! Sorry! Don't cry!"

"Huh?"

The notification window dipped its head slightly, showing its hurt feelings.

Shit, that was thoughtless of me.

—

I reached out with my right hand, gently grasping and patting the window.

"Sorry. For not checking in sooner. I knew you'd been holding back the whole trip, not interrupting me and Luna. Should've called you earlier."

"When Luna kissed my neck and you wailed like the world was ending? This time had to be worse. You could've popped up a hundred times, but you didn't—I caught on."

"Hahaha! Thanks. But I've got a question."

"Why do you like me so much? Love me that way?"

I stroked the window, then brought my hand to my chin, tilting my head.

"'Cause I'm the only reader who stuck with your novel for two years?"

"Or some secret reason you can't say?"

She didn't answer, just stayed silent. And that silence was the answer.

Those damn restrictions again...

The notification window never lies to me. Never hides info on purpose. Fragile glass mentality, unpredictable kid, but this? Rock solid.

—

I poked the slightly downcast window with a finger.

"Y'know, maybe I don't need to know why you love me."

"What's the point now? It's mutual anyway. I love you too."

"Why so shocked? You begged me to say it, and now you're shy? Hahaha!"

The window spewed pink steam to show its bashfulness.

Never gets old.

Compared to the start, she'd evolved—more features, richer expressions. Used to be stiff, corporate tone, untouchable UI. Now? Touchable, emotes, colors for feelings.

Someday hologram? Full manifestation? Hahaha.

If that day comes, hope she's my dream girl. I'd love her forever.

—

"Si-hyun... If you treat other girls nice while I'm gone... I'll get mad... kehih."

Chills.

"Ugh, suddenly feels like Luna's watching... Haha, just my imagination...?"

"Extra reward? Ah, that's why you popped up outta nowhere."

The window flickered, then text materialized in the air.

I clocked the value instantly.

"Notification Window, this ON/OFF... you don't mean...?"

"Finaaaaally—!!"

—

Thud! I dropped to my knees, roaring in triumph.

How many grueling days...? Misunderstood as Phantom, bounced around like a pinball. Tsuki, Eclipse, Luna, Greed mistaking me for Lucifer—endless bullshit! All 'cause I transformed nightly against my will.

But this power? No more misunderstandings.

"Not a new way to see Luna, but still—thanks a ton!"

"Haha, yeah yeah. Here's to more."

'Temporary' nagged a bit, but joy at reclaiming normal nights overshadowed it.

A month and a half had flown by since sending Luna off and gaining the Beginner Package ON/OFF.

Our ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠scary first meeting with that silver hair and golden eyes felt like yesterday, yet I'd wrapped her story and sent her back.

"Time flies, huh."

Home alone felt awkward at first, but now? Manageable.

"I'd lived solo longer anyway."

No tiny shadow greeting me at the door. No golden eyes watching silently across the table.

—

"Si-hyun... Hug me tiiiight...!"

Sleepless nights brought back memories of drifting off to Luna's sweet scent. I'd soothe myself by fiddling with our promise ring or the bite mark on my neck.

"But seriously, why hasn't this bite faded after a month-plus? Actual magic?"

—

"A once-in-a-lifetime magic... only for the one I love. Kehih."

Luna's blood-smeared smile. Like leaving an elixir from the moon, she ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bit hard to leave her mark—and it wouldn't vanish, no matter what. Like a curse named 'proof'.

Even activating Beginner Package didn't erase it.

"People tease it's a hickey, kinda awkward... but no biggie."

Ga-eun might misunderstand when she returns from dispatch, but cross that bridge later.

"Not the point now."

Luna's gone, new power mastered—time to plan properly. Stories left to resolve. Just one apocalypse down. Must end the rest.

"To normalize the world and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠reunite with my one princess."

But Luna's sudden start taught me: abrupt launches are risky.

Bosingak was dizzying just thinking back.

Lucky to survive. Otherwise, dead on sight. No clue on the next mengmang-grade, so this time—prep thoroughly—

"Si-hyun! This tastes bad-da! Make something else-da!!"

"......"

What the fuck, a dream? Mid-serious planning, that familiar voice hits my ear.

I slowly turned to the kitchen.

There sat a girl with fiery red hair, alluring purple eyes flashing seduction, pouting at the table.

"Not eggs—meat-da! Meat!!"

"......"

"And dessert's gotta be pudding-da! Soft and sweet—perfect-da!"

"No. You had seven puddings today already. Tomorrow."

"......!!!"

She teared up at 'no pudding,' biting her lip.

"Huuu... S-Si-hyun's neglecting this body-da...! H-how could you... You promised to care for me foreeeever...?"

"......"

The bold girl from moments ago vanished; she sniffled tiny, puffing her cheeks.

I clutched my throbbing brow, sighing.

Swore thorough prep this time. Simulations for instant ghost stories!

Life never goes as planned, huh? Snapped to—and I was guardian to another quirky beauty.

"Sigh... How'd this happen?"