My Precious Cabbage is Rotting!
***
I cleaved the escort soldier in two. A massive white light surged forward, the blade inching slowly toward the boss. Quaaaa— The instant the light touched it, it exploded in a flash.
Devouring everything around it, dominating the space—that light. And in it, I saw the boss dissolving, as if being swallowed by the glow. It was blinding, painfully bright, but I felt no pain, no discomfort. Just an urge to quickly deal with the thing that had messed with me and those around me.
Was it an instant? Or an eternity? Time passed like that until the light faded, the boss vanished, and the surroundings came back into view. Not even dust remained where the massive bug's body had been. Off to the side, two people waited with our gear.
...Thank god.
Confirming they were okay, I turned my gaze. Time to head down. But just as I started descending slowly toward the ground—
Paaaat—!
"Wh-what the hell."
The same white light as before bloomed from my body. And within that light, something began to take shape.
Pip…!
"Whitey?!"
Whitey popped out from right in front of my chest. Come to think of it, earlier when it had clung to the back of my neck like it was burrowing in—that's when the wings and this massive sword had appeared.
"What the…?"
Seemed like some connection with Whitey had caused this… but I had no clue.
...Whatever. It'll work out somehow. If not, I'll figure it out then.
Pip…?!
To avoid Whitey's identity getting exposed, I tossed it roughly behind my hood. Feeling that weird texture inside, Blackie must've held on tight through all the chaos without falling off.
With the tension gone, I suddenly just wanted to go home. Honestly, I should've been home ages ago if not for that damn giant bug bastard.
Alright, time to head down…
Pasus—
"Huh?"
Looking down to descend, something shattered past my ears. My brain kicked into overdrive. Wait, wasn't it Whitey's connection that gave me wings and flight? But now it's gone?
"…Oh."
The wings were gone from my sides. No more floating sensation in my legs and feet.
Just—
"Fuuuuck—!"
The scream of air splitting against my body and the ground rushing up. The floor growing closer by the second. My height? Easily ten stories up, like a high-rise villa. At this rate, straight to Jiha smoothie.
No time to think. I thrust my hands forward. Barely two meters left. Close enough to kiss if I tumbled.
"Screw it!"
I activated Cleansing at max thickness, forming a waterbed mattress. Eyes shut, I dove in.
Plung—!
Bubbles sprayed everywhere. My body sank deep. Right before splatting—
Thought I was done for.
Result? Massive success. I finally stopped inside the giant cubic water mass.
"Puhah—!"
I swam out. My legs wobbled as I emerged. Shaking off my adrenaline-fogged head, I snapped back to reality.
Churarak—
I roughly canceled the Cleansing skill and checked on Whitey and Blackie. Good, still clinging to my shoulder.
"Jiha? You okay?"
While I was checking them, Taejun and Seoyeun approached. Staring at me with worried eyes. Felt super awkward.
"…Yeah, I'm fine."
"Really? Nothing hurt or anything?"
I'm fine, seriously. Stop talking to me. Just give me my bag already. We're parting ways soon anyway. I wanna check my precious cabbage.
"Oh yeah, here—this yours, Jiha?"
Seeing me eye the bag, Seoyeun snatched it from Taejun and handed it over.
"Thanks."
I grabbed it quick, yanked the zipper. Please don't be rotten…
No idea how long it'd been. Inside the gate, humid and hot like Korean summer. That pricey gold cabbage, bomdong—I dropped over 10,000 won on it. If it's spoiled? Worst fucking thing ever.
Ziiip—
Please, please, God, Buddha!!!
The zipper crept open. Through my trembling hands, the bag's contents—
...Fuuuucked!!!
It looked extremely precarious. Ice pack melting away. Bomdong losing its luster, enough to set my heart ablaze.
"Uh, I gotta go first!"
No time for goodbyes.
"J-Jiha? You sure you're not hurt or…"
"Sorry!"
I shook off Seoyeun's arm as she reached out worriedly. No time to explain! My gold cabbage is dying!!
I bolted toward the gate as fast as I could. That's when—
Pii?
Blackie poked its head from my hood gap. Stared right into my eyes.
And—
Sneer—
"Huh?"
It smirked, lips pulled thin. Like it'd held back till now but was done playing nice. Total troll grin.
Pii~!
"You crazy little shit!!!"
Blackie leaped from the hood. In slow motion, almost.
Swish—
...You the mind-reading character now?
My fingertips tingled. That face, like it was laughing pfft at me—fist flew.
But—
Piing~
It grazed. Leveled-up Blackie's speed was too much for my exhausted ass.
Ah, am I gonna get stalled by this punk and watch my gold cabbage rot? Brain fogged up. Cortisol spiking, neck throbbing.
That's when—
Taat—
"Huh?"
A white thing burst from behind my hood. Whitey, up close. No way this one's trolling me too.
Sad eyes on the jumping Whitey—it climbed my arm.
And—
Smack—
Pip, pii?!
Grabbed Blackie's dumb tuft hard.
Pii…!
Then tucked right into my arms.
"…Thanks."
Pip!
Watching Whitey armbar Blackie warmed my heart. Even self-binding? Cutest thing ever.
Pii—!!!
Blackie squirmed midway, but no escape. Whitey just squeezed harder.
Serves you right, punk.
I ignored Blackie's pissed face and sprinted for the gate.
Gate closing in. Hand to pocket for ID ahead of time.
"Oh? Hunter Jiha? All done?"
"Yeah. Gotta go now? Process quick please."
I whipped out wallet, ID, awakening cert.
"Yep, confirmed. Sign here please."
Damn, need to hurry. Can't they skip?
"Oh right, didn't explain—sign and reward hits your account. Better do it."
Fine, whatever.
Scribble scribble—
Signed fast as hell and bolted home.
"Pfft… Took a doll into the gate? Cute."
Staff's voice behind, mocking my rage—but gold cabbage brain Jiha heard nada.
*
"Huff—huff—gonna die…."
Ran like a maniac, finally home. Dropped the bag. Released the two clinging punks.
Freed from my arms, Whitey and Blackie. Sensing home, Whitey released the armbar on Blackie.
Blackie stared quietly at Whitey.
And—
Pii—!
Pip…?!
Charged and slammed a hectopascal kick into Whitey's chest.
Pip—!
Whitey clutched its chest from the sudden hit. Blackie posed hands-on-hips like don't fuck with me.
"Sigh—don't fight, you two."
Sighing at the sight. Strong-headed punks, shouldn't have expected better.
I half-assed a "cut it out" to them and approached the bag. That's when—
Pii…!!
Piing?!
"Mumble."
Whitey, still clutching its hit chest, charged the still-smug posing Blackie.
And—
Streeetch—
Yanked Blackie's dumb tuft like mad, venting rage. But opponent? Prideful troll.
No way it'd stop.
Streeetch—
"Kuku… what you two doing?"
Blackie grabbed Whitey's tuft right back. Like a yin-yang pattern—couldn't help laughing.
Piik—!!
Pip…!
"Heh, enough—cut the fighting, seriously."
Was watching to see how far they'd go, but endless brawl meant intervention time.
First, scooped Whitey onto my palm. Panicked face as it floated up suddenly.
Thwack—
Pii…?!
"One down."
Dropped the forehead-flicked Whitey clutching its head. Looked confused, but no real protest—like it knew it was wrong.
Petted Whitey roughly and turned.
"…Get over here too, punk."
Pip—?!
Creeping away? Worst offender trying to bail—infuriating.
As I approached Blackie slowly, it grinned at me.
And—
Bleeeh—
"…Huh?"
Stuck its tongue out, taunting.
…Not annoyance—something deep inside welled up.