Pat Pat
Pat Pat
They say it's hormones, right? Those chemicals bubbling up inside your body can mess with your mind too.
Of course, I'm a fairy (presumed). A spiritual lifeform whose soul takes priority over its physical body.
But right now, I'm flesh and bone, and blood flows through me.
I can't help being influenced by the things my body secretes.
That was the gist of it.
A younger body is more emotional and less patient—it makes enduring anything hard.
Seeing Hong Yeon-hwa and Ellia through the mist, I couldn't hold back the tears that suddenly burst out.
Faced with those affectionate pats and strokes meant to soothe me, I couldn't resist the urge to act spoiled.
And when the spoon of bland, tasteless porridge brushed my lips, I simply didn't want to eat it.
Before, I would have just swallowed the porridge without complaint.
It's tasteless anyway, so what difference does the food type make?
But now I've tasted something else.
The most delicious thing I've ever had in my life. If all I had to do was whine a little to eat my fill of it, there was no reason to hold back.
So I ate.
"Huu... our baby, was it yummy...?"
"Yesss..."
"Yeah, you're eating well... There's still plenty, so take your time..."
My body sagged limply, my stomach sloshing with its fullness, as Hong Yeon-hwa smiled warmly and hugged me tight against her chest.
Buried snugly in that warm softness, my body and mind grew languid and warm.
'So nice...'
I smacked my lips, feeling the hand smooth down my hair. The rich sweetness lingering in my mouth felt deeply satisfying.
After tasting something like that against my barren palate, it was only natural I couldn't stomach bland porridge anymore.
'Happy.'
The blissful sensation of being loved completely, body and soul.
That's right. This happiness was what I had suffered all that hardship for.
Sure, my body had somehow shrunk. But that wasn't a big deal.
'I can fix this fast.'
I've restored my body before. I just need to operate Taesan and draw in plenty of vitality energy, and it'll happen quickly.
Besides, I didn't need to fix it right this second.
'I want to stay like this a little longer... I want to be spoiled...'
I wanted to enjoy this happiness a bit more.
I mean, it's awkward to say it myself, but haven't I gone through enough?
Wandering alone and lonely, hunting for the Reverse Side's entrance, rummaging through disgusting places and dealing with disgusting people.
Once inside the Reverse Side, I was crushed every moment by a pressure that felt like my body would crumple.
Burned by the Tower Master of Purgatory's flames, stabbed by the 10th Iteration's Blood Thorn, my own Calamity Flame flaring up and consuming me.
Blocking the Reverse Side's rampage while clinging to a fading consciousness, just holding on...
Even a quick list goes like that.
Even by my own reckoning, I've endured quite a lot. I deserved some reward.
'So it should be fine to act a little more spoiled...'
Just for a short while, I wanted to be showered with love.
I thought that as I buried my face deeper into Hong Yeon-hwa's embrace.
.
.
.
Had it even been ten minutes since I thought that?
A crisis arrived.
I was cradled in my master's arms just as she entered the recovery room—meeting her gaze.
"...Gulp."
My body stiffened at the face filling my vision.
A beautiful countenance. The face of my wonderful, dependable master.
Her golden eyes, glittering like light, brimmed with warm emotions: relief and affection.
My expression brightened. If I had my way, I would have started whining to be spoiled right away.
"What am I to do with this..."
...But a strange agony lingered there too, and I couldn't just recklessly act spoiled.
What kind of agony? I could guess easily enough.
"Baby. My disciple."
"Y-Yes..."
"Didn't you tell me... it wasn't dangerous?"
"That's..."
My master asked bluntly. I couldn't answer and quietly averted my eyes.
"Baby, you have to look at me when you speak, don't you?"
My body was turned, and once again my master's face filled my vision.
In the end, there was no escape.
'I'm scared...'
It's all this body's fault. Having a young body makes the fear feel irrationally stronger.
Even with good intentions, I still lied. And the karma for that was mine to bear. That's only right.
But I didn't want to get scolded by my master...
'...Yeon-hwa and the others stopped when I cried... but I can't exactly cry again...'
I desperately sought another way.
"Masterrr..."
"What is it?"
My master was trying her level best to sound stern. Conscious of her hand resting on my back, I wriggled my body gently.
"I missed you..."
The corner of my master's stiff lips twitched. Sensing my chance, I clung to her tightly.
I buried my face into the nape of her neck—where a fragrant body scent wafted—and nuzzled softly.
"Really, really missed you... sniff."
As I let out an unmistakably cute voice and let the memories surface, a little involuntary sob slipped out.
Because not a single bit of that feeling—I missed you—was a lie.
It worked.
My master's face, fixed seriously on me, slowly began to twitch.
"...I see. I missed you too."
After seeming to ponder for a moment, my master finally stroked my head.
At that affectionate gesture, my rigid body melted softly away.
"Hehe..."
"Even so."
The hand that had stroked my head several times slid lower. Past the small of my back, further down.
A hand settled on my bottom. My body flinched and curled inward.
A past memory surfaced.
The day I killed the Twin-headed Poison Dragon and returned to Siyoram cradled in Professor Liana's arms.
The memory of being held in my master's arms and disciplined...
"That being said, did we not clearly promise that you wouldn't recklessly take part in dangerous things?"
"That was... this time I really couldn't help it..."
"Must you handle this 'couldn't help it' matter all by yourself? Tell me, leaving out the part about the troops waiting outside. And the Reverse Side—you went in alone."
"...That is..."
"As for what happened inside, I don't quite understand it, but I heard the gist from Daera."
My shoulders hunched inward.
Among those who'd entered the recovery room with my master just now, I could sense that crackling lightning energy—Senior Daera's presence.
Nor was she alone. I could see Hong Yeon-hwa, Ellia, and Professor Liana.
I could also feel Baek A-rin's and Lee Ji-yeon's presences.
The fresh awareness that I was being scolded, cradled in my master's arms in front of all these people—the sheer embarrassment made my body squirm.
"That is..."
"Why do you keep seeking out danger alone? Hm?"
My voice came out trembling on its own. My master's questioning tone sank into my ears.
"Why didn't you ask me for help? Was this teacher of yours so untrustworthy?"
"No... it's not that..."
Why do you keep trying to do it alone?
There was a plausible excuse.
Because the Tower Master personally designated me as the savior. Because I have to enter alone, endure, and overcome in order to grow...
"...It's because it's dangerous..."
I bit down hard on my lip.
"Right, why alone into a dangerous pl—"
"Because if we go together, Master would be in danger..."
"Hm?"
Emotions wriggled up from deep inside. As expected, this body has a hard time holding anything in.
I wrapped my arms around my master's neck and buried my face against her.
"You'd be in danger, Master... That's why I hate it..."
What do you think I've been putting myself through this hell for?
Why do I crawl into the Reverse Side to resolve things, building up strength until my body feels like it'll tear apart?
Why do I throw myself at the Tower Master's invasion and try to block it?
There's an ethical reason, a moral reason, the obvious reasons anyone would cite. But my personal reasons are far greater.
Because the people who care about me will end up in danger.
Even if I try running away to survive alone, the people I love have things to protect and can't run.
That's my reason.
I value my precious people a hundred times more than some faceless benevolent strangers. A thousand times.
I absolutely despise the thought of my loved ones getting hurt.
I'd rather be the one who gets hurt every time. If someone has to suffer hardship, I'd rather it be me.
So, whatever it is, I want to solve it myself.
— Thump!
My heart gave a deep thud. A strange sensation made my body quiver faintly. Something heavy lodged inside me swelled in size.
"I don't want Master to get hurt..."
I tried to hold it back, but the sobbing grew stronger. I held my breath and pressed my face into my master's chest.
— Swish...
"Hik."
That was the moment. The hand resting on my bottom moved. My flinching body went rigid.
But it wasn't the action I feared.
Without force, as if soothing a child, the hand patted my bottom gently: pat, pat.
"Nnn..."
The hand tapping my bottom. The steady vibration matching my heartbeat melted my stiff body and mind into a pleasant drowsiness.
"...I appreciate the sentiment, but such feelings go both ways. Who would want someone they love to get hurt?"
Before I knew it, my master's voice had softened too.
"I'm sorry I sounded like I was interrogating you. We should talk about this next time, once you're properly healed."
My master gave my cheek a light kiss and then rubbed her cheek against mine. The tension in me unspooled completely.
Maybe that was why. As my coiled nerves relaxed, my eyes slowly slipped shut.
A sign of drowsiness. With my stomach satisfyingly full, the sleepiness was especially strong.
"Master... I'm sleepy..."
"Alright. Sleep comfortably."
"Nnnyes... good night..."
At my master's reply, my eyes closed on their own.
* * *
To Daera, Lee Ha-yul was someone amazing.
First off, he's strong.
When she threw herself at him without knowing who he was, she was overwhelmingly crushed and knocked unconscious.
Lee Ha-yul praised Daera's skills and told her she was dangerous, but she didn't feel that way at all.
Hadn't she caught glimpses of Lee Ha-yul's real ability in the fights that followed?
She was just flat-out overwhelmed in sheer skill.
And on top of that, he's incredibly talented in so many ways.
He's good at magic too.
From daily life to combat, the magic he uses is so vast and impressive.
Even to Daera, who knows nothing about magic, his skill was clearly extraordinary.
Was that all?
He's also absurdly good at finding paths.
Something about his unique ability being a detection-type?
He spots countless traces she could never find even if she scrubbed her eyes out, and he picks out paths with a speed and accuracy that's almost chilling.
He's also good at cooking.
Even taking into account that she hadn't eaten proper food in the Reverse Side, the food Lee Ha-yul made was the most delicious thing she'd eaten in her entire life.
And his personality is good too.
It must have been bothersome when she clung to him, complaining of mental instability, yet he soothed her and accommodated her without a single word of complaint.
He's way too pretty.
He's clearly a guy, but he's far more beautiful than she is. His appearance is just overwhelmingly beyond normal human standards.
Also, he's warm and smells wonderful.
His build is just the right size to fit snugly in her arms. When she lay down holding him, she didn't even have nightmares. She slept truly blissfully.
To Daera, Lee Ha-yul was someone amazing.
A perfect person who seemed like he could do anything.
A literal superhuman who lacked nothing.
"Zzz..."
"......"
The Lee Ha-yul she was looking at now was different from that perfect superhuman.
Daera watched Lee Ha-yul, sound asleep in Atra's arms, with an odd expression.
'A spoiled baby?'
That was exactly the vibe.
How should she put it? Her perception of Lee Ha-yul shattered.
But not in a bad way. Actually, it was the opposite.
She was also curious how Lee Ha-yul—who was meant to be on death's door from his injuries—had turned into a child, but...
That wasn't what she was curious about right now.
"...Master."
As Atra glanced her way, Daera swept her gaze around the room with a bewildered face, taking in the women who had been swallowing all sorts of heartache at the sincere feelings Lee Ha-yul had sobbed out.
Honey practically dripped from their eyes as they gazed at Lee Ha-yul.
Even Daera, who had never been in a relationship, could easily tell what that emotion was.
The problem was...
"Um, could it be..."
Among the women sending those honey-dripping gazes was her own master, Atra.
"......"
"...Really?"
At Daera's look of utter disbelief, Atra quietly averted her eyes.
Daera's expression crumbled.
She turned her head with an audible creak and counted the number of women in the recovery room.
One, two, three, four, five, six...
"Wow."
Daera's mouth hung open blankly.
Her junior disciple sure seemed to have a considerable appetite for women.
Especially for chests, it seemed...
"Ah?"
Muttering her quiet admiration, Daera suddenly dropped her gaze.
"......"
Daera's own was well above average, too.