Phantasm (1)
A space filled entirely with pure white.
Choi Siwoo stared silently ahead. There was Erina, on her knees, sobbing endlessly. She was drowning in guilt, unable to forgive herself. Idiot, he thought. Anyone could see it wasn't her fault. It had been the best judgment she could make in that moment. How was she supposed to exorcise the No. 3 possessing her when she couldn't even properly wield a paladin's holy spells? The mere fact that a young girl had made that call showed just how incredible her mental fortitude was.
Yet still, she just kept crying. Her lifeless eyes had completely lost their light.
"……"
What should he say? Choi Siwoo idly wondered if he should've practiced for situations like this. He chuckled softly. What a ridiculous thought—way above his pay grade. If he was gonna practice anything fancy, better to swing his sword one more time instead.
He stepped right up to her. She finally noticed, looking up.
"Si…woo?"
"What're you doing moping around like a beggar? Wanna play house like we used to?"
"…What're you talking about all of a sudden…? A dream…?"
He knelt down to her level, tore a strip from the clothes in his arms, and wiped her face.
"H-Hey, wait… mmph…"
"Hold still. What kind of mess is this? You're not a kid… Tear tracks all over, snot everywhere. Blow your nose."
"W-Wait, I'm not a child…"
"Just do it."
Under the relentless pressure, Erina finally let out a khrng! and blew. Snot trailed like a string. He tore another strip and wiped her clean meticulously. Mortified, her face turned beet red like a ripe radish, and she shrank into a ball, staring at the floor. Her pupils shook like there was an earthquake.
'Eh?'
'For real?' Her mutterings echoed in his ears.
"Y-You're really Siwoo? N-No, but… you wouldn't be this nice. W-Wait, does that mean I'm acting spoiled with my little bro…"
This was gonna take all night. Jesus.
"Let's go."
"But…I…"
"It wasn't your fault, sis."
"…!"
Her eyes went wide as saucers at those last words. A dumbstruck Ho, hoe? escaped her gaping mouth.
"Siwoo… what'd you just… say?"
"I said it wasn't your fault. So get up."
"!!"
Choi Siwoo scratched his jaw against the ticklish itch rising in his chest.
"Si-Siwu…"
"Protecting your little bro's your job, right? I'm in a bit of a tight spot here."
He cleared his throat and met her gaze.
"So… help me out. Sis."
"Hah…"
Erina clutched her chest without thinking. That pure, heartfelt sis after so long struck a deep chord. The happiness contrasting her earlier despair left her at a loss. What do I do…
Her handsome grown-up little brother was right there, asking for her help. Spoiling her with sis~. Pink fantasies rolled wildly in her head, fattening up. Her fully adult brother past twenty, throwing a tantrum with her. Wanting to bathe together evolved into wanting to sleep together at night. She pictured herself reluctantly giving in, then screaming in thrilled ecstasy, Si-Siwu, no~ We're siblings! A few months later, her belly swollen to immobility… and finally, naming their newborn daughter—
"Erina."
"…Huh? Y-Yeah?"
"Stop the weird fantasies and let's go."
"Ah, yeah!"
With a sigh, Choi Siwoo took her hand and pulled her up. After running for about thirty minutes, they reached what seemed like the center. A black object floated there.
'The fourth fragment…'
As he reached for it, he paused and slowly turned. A young boy stood there, staring—he didn't know how long he'd been watching.
"…Forgive her already, will ya?"
"…Siwoo? Who's there?"
"Nah…"
He swallowed the rest under her puzzled gaze and grabbed the fragment. The area shook, cracks spiderwebbing through the white space. Clutching Erina's waist as the platforms vanished, Choi Siwoo squeezed his eyes shut.
Warm. Like lying in a fresh forest, gentle sunlight pouring down. He reached out instinctively toward the cozy heat.
-Squelch.-
"Hah!"
-Squish squish.
"W-Wait! What're you even…"
-Slosh slosh.
Wriggle wriggle. Rub rub. Squeeze squeeze. Pinch pinch.
"Ahh, even if you squeeze that hard… nothing's coming out yet…"
Fuck. What the hell was this bullshit?
He forced his sticky eyes open. The acrid smell of emergency meds hit his nose. A clear, high voice like birdsong. Silvery-white hair. Two overwhelming, massive hills that could crush you. A glimpse of flashy, sexy lingerie through her torn nun's habit. And finally, a silver-haired beauty grunting mmph! in shame.
Putting it together, Choi Siwoo bolted upright in horror.
"Urk! Blech! Fuck!"
"F-Fuck?! Did you just swear? Huh?!"
"Head hurts. Shut up."
"H-Hey!"
As he shook his hands, an irritated voice buzzed in his ears. Yurika glared, face flushed crimson. Her chest heaved emphatically with her protests. That soft sensation from before… yeah, had to be that.
"Belly."
"Huh? What?"
"Grabbed my belly, right? Lose some weight… layers on layers. How many kilos you packing—"
Thwack!
Yurika snapped, slamming her fist into his back with all her might. A fragile woman's punch, of course—not painful, but he played along.
"Ow, ow, that hurts. Stop hitting."
"You…! Do you have any idea how worried I was?!"
"Worried about what."
"…What if you never woke up."
"Wouldn't that be good for you?"
"…Don't even joke about that."
"……"
"…You came here for me… for everyone… risking yourself on purpose."
"Who said. Just convenient while handling things."
He replied casually, trying to stand. But his lower body wouldn't respond. Looking down, his leg muscles twitched in spasms.
"…This."
"Aftermath of wandering in the dream. Stay still. I'm healing you now."
Finishing, Yurika pulled him into a tight embrace. Vast holy power flowed through her body into his. That warmth he'd felt was her holy technique, apparently.
Yurika is using Sacred Virgin's Co-sleeping Chapter 1.
"…Kinda embarrassing."
"…That's my line? Behave!"
Yurika's ample breasts battered then smothered his chest. Soft and squishy, heavy and violent, her unique hyacinth scent filling the air. It scrambled his brain, stirring male urges everywhere. To suppress weird thoughts, he forced out words.
"…Thanks. Could save the others because of you."
"They're… safe?"
"Probably. Not sure…"
"Um, but…"
"Hm?"
"Why're you talking casually all of a sudden? You used to be polite. And… why won't you look at me."
"……"
As Yurika said, he'd been deliberately avoiding her eyes. Like he didn't want to see her. She'd misunderstand it as he hates me that much… but the truth was the opposite.
Memories of her still lingered in his mind. The tears in her arms, the painful past, and finally… guilt over the child in her belly. He couldn't hide it.
…Hoo.
He took a quiet deep breath. Still much to do. The last fragment pulsed far off. He had to grab it quick, end this nightmare, save everyone.
But…
He wouldn't forget. The names of those two children buried in his heart.
Finishing his thoughts, he finally met her eyes. Yurika's face was streaked with tears from her dream ordeals. He gently wiped them away. That small gesture flushed her cheeks. Normally she'd panic and pull away, but she accepted silently. The poignant emotion from him, a memory she couldn't quite recall but knew she mustn't forget, knotted in her heart.
"…Dropped the formal speech 'cause I felt like it. Hate it? Back to normal?"
Yurika shook her head frantically.
"No. Keep it like this… Can I ask one favor?"
"…What?"
"…Call my name. Just once."
Choi Siwoo hesitated, then murmured softly.
"…Yurika."
"…Once more."
"Yurika."
"…Yes."
A subtle mood flowed. Yurika felt her body heat up unwittingly. The Pope's lust! flashed in her mind… but this was fundamentally different. Not mere bodily desire… something more wistful, sadder.
As the awkward air stretched—
Boom—!
A massive ice block erupted before them. Dozens of thought guardians frozen dead inside. A figure landed in front.
"Siwoo!!!"
"Garam."
"Thank god. You're safe."
They nodded, sharing trusting smiles and quiet laughs at each other's safety.
Yurika eyed them oddly at the sudden shift.
…What the.
It'd felt so nice moments ago… now stolen. Wait, how'd this guy even know Seol Garam? Calling her by name, super close… A sticky feeling rose in her chest. No way, am I…
'Jealous?'
As Yurika groaned inwardly at the unfamiliar emotion, Seol Garam quickly explained.
"They're coming."
"What?"
"Those black things. Hundreds—no, thousands. Some clumped together, getting bigger."
His face hardened instinctively. The phantasm realm was amplifying to its limit, thrashing in desperation.
No time.
Otherwise, boom in hours—everyone here dead on the spot.
-GAAAAAAA.
The guardians' cries echoed. Seol Garam lashed out at the horde. An ice dragon of frost danced, shredding enemies. But too many. As they broke through the ice, his hand reached for his sword—
-Roooar!!!
A massive phoenix appeared, incinerating foes in seconds.
-Whiiiish!!
The screeching bird spewed flames on the ground, turning into fiery pillars—a barrier blocking the guardians.
Wien Joun uses 6th Order Roar of Phoenix.
"Choi Siwoo!"
"…Wien?"
How'd she find them? Wien Joun appeared boldly.
"How the…"
"I'm a genius archmage on the cusp of 7th Order, y'know. Detecting life signs? Piece of cake."
She winked, hng~, sweeping her hair back.
"My intuition's screaming. You'll fix this, so leave the trash mobs to us and go!"
At Wien's words, Yurika piped up late.
"W-Wait. Wien! I'm fighting too—"
"-Yeah, got it. Let's fight together. Buff us, Yuriyuri."
"W-Wait, Seol Garam? What's with Yuriyuri— No, before that, I'm not Yuriyuri!"
"Why're you dawdling? Yuriyuri. Time to team up."
"Hey! I'm not Yuriyuri!"
Choi Siwoo watched their bickering, using his sword as a cane to stand. Legs still twitched faintly, but he couldn't sit. He channeled mana, willing his muscles steady.
"I'm counting on you three."
Yurika sighed, Seol Garam smiled, Wien huffed shortly.
"…Be safe. Don't get hurt."
"Yeah, don't worry."
"This clears your debt to Phantom Squad! Don't forget!"
Turning, Choi Siwoo sprinted straight toward the fragment. Behind, ice, fire, and lightning roared.
How far had he run?
-Hummm!
The four fragments resonated, pointing the way. Hand to his waist. Veins bulged on his hand from superhuman strength. Shattering the thick outer wall revealed a vast cavern.
"Kyaaaaah!"
A piercing shriek. Ahead, a golden girl and black-haired woman clashed in a life-or-death struggle. Light greatsword in the girl's hand spewed intense heat and sonic booms. The woman's dark scythe unleashed misty voids.
Space trembled, earth quaked. Dozens of clashes in seconds. Pushed back by force—it was the blonde girl.
"Kuh!"
Erina spat blood, flying helplessly. Choi Siwoo caught her like a ghost.
"Si-Siwu?"
Shock brief, another shriek drew their eyes forward.
"Gr… aah… damn it…!!!"
An overdecorated dress. Woman with childish twin-tails clutched her face, howling. Stunning beauty, but half her body rotted to bone. Like life and death coexisting. Endless decay and regeneration driving her mad.
"Black sheep… you black sheep bastard!!!"
"Erina. That woman…"
"Yeah…"
Erina formed light armor, holding her greatsword like a shield, stepping forward. Choi Siwoo infused faint mana into his blade.
Six Evils Defying Heaven, Rank 6.
Empress of Phantasm.
Eclipse.
At last, they faced the culprit behind it all.