Soul's Mo?m
Soul's Mo?m
As I stayed held tight in Kkonnim's arms, the memories that had finished regenerating came crashing down.
My mind returned to reality.
I blinked, feeling like I had just woken from a dream.
Crumbling temple pillars and a stone floor beneath a gray sky. I grasped the surroundings through Observation and raised my head.
[Kkonnim]
- Yes, I am here by your side.
A gentle hand brushed over my hair.
The posture was not much different from the mental world. The only change was that being held while standing had become being held in Kkonnim's lap while she sat.
[Kkonnim]
- ...Ahem.
Kkonnim coughed dryly, swallowing her reply.
With a faint blush dusting her cheeks, she silently stroked my hair. The touch, a blend of sheepishness and embarrassment, was familiar.
Before, I thought it was simply because I was used to having my hair stroked.
Now I knew the more precise reason.
[It must have been because of Kkonnim that I like being held and petted.]
- ...Pardon?
The hand paused for a moment, then quickly resumed. I savored the touch and nodded to myself.
[Back in the original world, Kkonnim held and petted me while I was asleep. I remembered that, so it became a preference.]
- I cannot say it had... absolutely no influence...
Kkonnim's expression turned complicated. Even through the linked Authority of Harmonization, I could feel her baffled sheepishness. My lips jutted out in a slight pout.
[What is it? That face and thought?]
- It is nothing.
[That is definitely not a "nothing" face.]
Pressed further, Kkonnim looked troubled and gazed off into the distance.
When I puffed up my cheeks, her violet eyes wavered pitifully before she gently pressed my head to her chest, holding me close.
She even stroked my hair as if soothing a child. Her blatant attempt to evade answering left me rather dumbfounded.
...Honestly, I was just as dumbfounded by how quickly my own grumpy mood subsided.
'I like this.'
[I like this.]
Complex thoughts swirled in my head, but soon drunk on the warmth, I wrapped my arms around her slender waist and pressed my face into her chest.
[Kkonnim, your waist is incredibly thin.]
- Is that so...? Does it perhaps look... unseemly...?
[Mmm... No. I don't think so.]
It was just a marvel how slender it was compared to the generous portions above and below.
- ...Haah.
Kkonnim, who had been sighing in relief, flinched. I buried my nose deep into her chest and took a breath.
When a chest is large, warmth seems to gather in the valley.
Although her clothes covered her bare skin, the cozy body heat comfortably warmed my face through the fabric.
The sensation was deeply satisfying, but I still pouted.
[You don't have a scent...]
- There simply... shouldn't be any scent...
Kkonnim's face flushed, and she stammered, flustered.
[You don't even have a nice scent...]
The touch and body heat were blissful, but there was no body scent. Back in the mental world, there had been a faint one.
My dissatisfied wing feathers tapped the floor.
At that, Kkonnim, carefully watching my mood, tenderly embraced my head and stroked my back.
- While I am grateful that you desire my... body scent, and I am quite embarrassed... please do not be too upset with me...
[Mmm...]
...My self-stoked discontent subsided again. Even the rebellion that rose at how easily I was being soothed was quashed under her touch.
[I wasn't upset. My wings just moved because I was bored.]
In the end, my irritation dissolved, and I made a half-hearted complaint from within Kkonnim's embrace.
Perhaps sensing it, Kkonnim let out a small laugh and smoothed down my back.
- Is that so? Then it seems I have unfairly misunderstood you, Lee Ha-yul. I apologize.
[Ah... um...]
I wasn't really angry... but her quiet apology pricked my conscience for some reason.
[I did pout a teeensy bit, but Kkonnim soothed me so it went away right away.]
- I am relieved to have been of help.
Kkonnim answered with a gentle smile. At that, I peeked my face out from her voluptuous chest and wore an odd expression.
- Lee Ha-yul...?
[Mmm.]
When I lifted my eyelids, Kkonnim's blinking face entered my perception.
I couldn't see her with my eyes. Just like earlier, there was no scent. I also couldn't share my voice.
Along with the previously settled discontent, a new desire rose in my head.
[Kkonnim.]
- Yes, Lee Ha-yul.
[Can't you give me a kiss?]
- ......
The hand stroking my hair stopped dead.
Kkonnim's blushing face turned as red as an apple. Her eyes trembling, Kkonnim hesitated before parting her lips.
- Th... at is... difficult...
[Why is it difficult?]
At the negative opening, my eyes sharpened grumpily in an instant. Kkonnim's shoulders flinched inward.
[Does Kkonnim hate me? Why—]
- I do not.
Before my words could continue, Kkonnim shook her head firmly.
My eyes rounded. The will-thought ringing in my head confirmed there was not a single lie. Delight spread, and my wing feathers swayed softly.
[Then why?]
- ...Though you have forgiven me, Lee Ha-yul, I am still a person who has not yet atoned for all her sins.
When I tilted my head and asked, Kkonnim hesitated, then slowly conveyed her thoughts.
- Were it not for your deep magnanimity, Lee Ha-yul, I would not even dare raise my head. As such, I hope that after I have cleared my wrongdoings as much as possible... I may stand before you more honorably than I do now.
[...I don't think Kkonnim did anything wrong.]
- Even if you forgive me, Lee Ha-yul, I myself cannot accept my own wrongs.
When I grumbled sulkily, Kkonnim smiled bitterly and carefully swept aside my bangs.
- So, though it is an immensely shameless request from my position... could you... wait for us until we complete our atonement...?
My forehead lay completely exposed. Kkonnim lowered her head and softly pressed her lips to it.
- Chu.
[—Hic!]
A warm affection seeped into my forehead, making my body jolt.
Because we were linked through the Authority of Harmonization, the emotions came through even more vividly.
[...When you say it like that, I have no choice but to accept.]
- Thank you.
I was happy for a moment, steeped in that deep affection. But at the conclusion that no kiss was forthcoming for now, I sulked openly.
Kkonnim gave a gentle smile, expressing her thanks. It was clearly pure gratitude, yet it felt oddly smooth.
[.......]
- Thank you for granting this shameless— Hyaak...?!
Sulkiness drove action. As my advancing hand grabbed a handful of the voluptuous breast, Kkonnim's shoulders heaved.
The recoil sent her chest rippling up and down, leaving a satisfying sensation in my hand.
- L-Lee Ha-yul...?
Kkonnim, trembling as if struck by lightning, lowered her head.
Inside her feverishly burning face, confusion and embarrassment brimmed in her violet eyes.
[Hmph, I don't care.]
- Just a moment... your hand, ngh...! Hmph, ah...
I put a little force into my hand with a bit of mischief, and Kkonnim's words in my head grew hazy.
- Squish...
I grasped the breast, far too large to hold with one hand, as much as I could and kneaded it.
The plush sensation filled my hand, deforming; the flesh I couldn't grasp slipped through my fingers.
- Haah... uhh... hnn...
Kkonnim, her back straight, trembled faintly.
Her violet eyes and arms wandered helplessly before her two hands settled—one on my waist, pulling me close, the other on my head.
- If this helps your mood, hht...! to improve... as much as you wish... please, enjoy...
Letting me hold her chest, Kkonnim stroked my head and back, soothing me.
Though she jolted every time I applied force, her gentle voice resonated in my head.
I liked it, of course.
I had the owner's permission, so I held the large breast and freely toyed with it.
Just holding and kneading such a tender, soft mound of flesh was bliss.
- Sweep... sweep...
[...Sleepy.]
Not long after I began to enjoy it, sleepiness crept in.
The touch sweeping from my head down my back. The cozy embrace holding my body, and the affectionate, maternal will directly conveyed to my mind.
As the three layers overlapped, my eyes drooped languidly.
Blinking slowly, I thought what an easy life this was.
Others were probably in the middle of harsh trials. Meanwhile, I was being softly cherished in the arms of the Tower Master of Growth, my Kkonnim...
[Sleepy...]
The necklace clicked softly.
I had properly combined my authorities to enter Kkonnim's mental world, and used up Heart Power manifesting the long memories.
It was a light consumption, but held and soothed like this, even that small fatigue made my eyelids heavy.
The strength gradually left the hand that had been teasing her breast. Kkonnim, having let out a breathless sigh, readjusted my position as if she had been waiting.
- If my embrace is not uncomfortable, would you rest your eyes for a while?
[It's not uncomfortable...]
There was no way it could be.
Kkonnim's arms were nothing but comfortable and peaceful. As if this place existed solely for me. It felt similar to Lee Ha-sol's embrace.
My mind grew hazy, drowning in drowsiness.
- I am glad. Then, while you sleep deeply and recover from your fatigue, I shall study Word Command as you previously requested.
[Yeah... okay...]
- Yes, please sleep well...
As I nodded sluggishly, Kkonnim placed a kiss on my cheek. She then nestled my head against her chest and patted my back, lulling me to sleep.
As I surrendered my body to that familiar touch, my consciousness sank into slumber in an instant.
[Mom.]
- .......
Pat, pat.
- Ding
[Player Correction System: Affection]
Lee Ha-yul → Kkonnim (?)
●●●●●●●●○○(89/100)
｢Love｣ ｢Dairy Cow｣ ｢Mo?m｣ ｢Gratitude｣ ｢Gentle Adult｣ ｢Soft｣ ｢Voluptuous｣
Lee Ha-yul → Tower Master of Growth (?)
●●●○○○○○○○(30/100)
｢Faint Sense of Betrayal?｣ ｢Disgruntlement｣ ｢Complicated｣ ｢Confusion｣ ｢Question｣ ｢Suspicion｣ ｢Gratitude｣ ｢Pouting｣ ｢Distrust｣ ｢Half-Baked Mage?｣
▽Integration and Change▽
Lee Ha-yul → Neriel Claidia
●●●●●●●●○○(89/100)
｢Kkonnim｣ ｢Affection｣ ｢Complicated｣ ｢Gratitude｣ ｢Milk Cow?｣ ｢Soft｣ ｢Pouting｣ ｢Mo?m｣ ｢Word Mage｣
With the status window dimly shimmering in the corner of my vision, my consciousness sank.
* * *
"......."
A desolate expanse stretched into the distance. Just as she had gathered the fierce, dry winds sweeping across it and was about to release the bowstring—
Lee Ha-sol stopped moving.
Her green eyes, blinking slowly as if she had no idea why, soon narrowed into a scowl.
She felt inexplicably displeased.
Frowning, Lee Ha-sol lowered her bow.
"I feel like shit for some reason."
"......"
On a hill far away, the replica of Lee Ha-sol, which had drawn its bow and waited for the battle to start, blinked.
The suddenly irritated Lee Ha-sol drew her bow again.
The bowstring pulled taut. The wind she had gathered beside her coiled around the arrow, condensing.
Unique Ability Gale
Expansion Ability
'Line-Wind Path.'
—Whoosh!
The Innate Talent expanded from Lee Ha-sol and spread around her. Her Innate Talent shaped and guided the specific form of mana and will-thought.
The thinly condensed storm drew a distinct line.
- Pow!
In the distance.
The line pierced the heart. The condensed line exploded, sweeping the surroundings. The wind spreading through her Innate Talent joined the tempest, swelling its might.
Torn apart by the storm, the replica decomposed into light particles and scattered.