A Place Full of Memories - 1
After the ways to utilize energy cores spread throughout the world, many aspects of life became automated or more convenient. But this place was different.
"Is this Bukchon?"
"Yes. Hanok Village. Fortunately, it escaped the damage from 1999 and 2012."
It was a place full of pretty hanoks. There were alleyways and plenty of small shops.
"Look over there."
"Academy cadets..."
"Whoa..."
Unlike the modernizing world thanks to energy cores, this spot preserved memories of the past, making it a popular destination for visitors. Sure enough, there were quite a few tourists around, and they shot envious glances at our academy cadet uniforms.
"Hey, over there. Um, I'm planning to take the academy entrance exam right after high school graduation. Is the test really tough?"
A brave high school boy approached us. The Hero Academy accepted students after high school graduation—once they turned adults. Awakened students usually took the academy entrance exam, and if they failed, they went to a regular university or joined the Association.
"You've awakened, right?"
"Yes!"
"Then the exam itself won't be too hard. The key is not giving up."
Was it Elizabeth's kind words? The boy nodded happily and backed away.
"Can't avoid drawing attention, huh?!"
"Yeah. We're academy cadets."
"No! It's because of my beauty! Ohohohoho! As the eldest daughter of the Taylor family, blessed with both beauty and strength!!"
"Sure."
"Eh?!"
"Why?"
It wasn't wrong. Elizabeth was pretty. She hesitated, looking flustered, then started walking ahead.
"L-Let's go! There are so many places I want to show you!"
"Hey! Slow down a bit!"
I hurried after Elizabeth's long strides. The blue sky was cloudless, the sunlight warm. Perfect weather for a day out.
"Even when I walked around with Mother, it was weather like this."
As we climbed the narrow paths of Bukchon Hanok Village, Elizabeth brought up the topic.
"This place hasn't changed."
Was she reminiscing? Her voice was a little husky.
The spot she pointed to was a small shop. A general store, rare these days. Elizabeth stared at it longingly and tugged lightly at my sleeve.
"Let's go in."
"Hee hee hee! Yes!"
True to its name, it had everything from snacks to old toys—even trendy kids' toys nowadays.
"Hello~?"
Inside was a woman in her fifties. Elizabeth tilted her head at the sight of her.
"Huh? Isn't Grandma here?"
"Oh, you mean Mother?"
"Uh... did something..."
The hand gripping my sleeve tightened. The shop left to the daughter-in-law, Grandma gone. A common story. Old age making it impossible to run the place anymore...
"She went on an overseas trip with her friends."
"Ah."
Not that—just incredibly healthy, then.
"No health issues, right?"
"Goodness, Mother's so fit. She runs ten kilometers every day?"
Truly healthy!
"Ah... I see. That's a relief!"
"Seeing your cadet uniform, you must be from the academy... You know Mother?"
"Yes... We used to come here a lot."
"Oh my. I see."
"She was here the last time I came alone..."
Regret filled her voice. She fell silent, then clenched her fist.
"Still! The shop's here, and Grandma's healthy. That's great! Can I look around?!"
"Of course. We have what we have and don't have what we don't. Call if you need anything~."
The owner smiled and sat at the counter. Elizabeth let out a soft breath.
"How about letting go of my clothes now?"
"Ah, aa! Sorry! I was just startled..."
"Over something like this. Anyway, wanna buy anything?"
"Yes! Caramel and..."
She picked out snacks one by one with a worn little basket. The caramels from the car last time, candy that turns your mouth blue, even small chocolates with toys inside. Not exactly what you'd expect the eldest daughter of Britain's prestigious Taylor family to buy.
"Yohan! Anything you want?! Since you came with me, I'll buy it!"
"Just an ice cream for me."
I grabbed one from the freezer in the back. Elizabeth saw it and took the same one.
"Eat outside?"
She pointed to a small bench outside the shop, paid, and we headed there.
"Hmph~. Hm hm hmph~! Hmph! Ohohu~!"
She's in high spirits. Sitting on the bench, ice cream in hand, humming a tune, Elizabeth glanced sideways.
"Ack! D-Don't stare so much..."
I'd been watching because she looked so happy, but her ears turned red. She turned her head slightly, but her ears peeked through her golden hair, still flushed.
"I can look."
"Stop looking!"
Told not to, and now I want to more. I turned fully to stare, and she punched my shoulder lightly. Ow. Better listen next time.
"Anyway, sitting here eating brings back memories?"
"Whew... Yes!"
The cone ice cream snapped off into her mouth. She eats even this so prettily.
"When we lived in Seoul, after training with Mother, we'd come here often. There's a training ground down there now, but it wasn't there back then."
Dialogue not in the game. This event was just hanging out with Elizabeth and heading back, so I didn't know this story.
"Yeah?"
"Yes."
"Huh? But living in Korea, didn't you have your own training ground?"
The Taylor family influenced places worldwide. They surely had one in Seoul too.
"Ahaha! True! But Mother said training only in Taylor family grounds wouldn't help me grow! Hm. You've tried Taylor training methods too, right?"
I have... and it feels like today too.
"Repeating the same training stalls growth. You grow by experiencing many places!"
"Oh? So today's training isn't strength training?!"
"Of course basics must be solid, so today's strength training!"
Elizabeth laughed happily and took another bite.
"In that sense, Yohan! You need to do more!!"
How much more does she plan...
"Well, shall we go somewhere else?"
"Sure."
Ice cream done anyway. Can't stay here forever.
Elizabeth stood lightly, and I followed.
"Any other spots you wanna see? Might as well hit them all."
"Oh? Really?! Then I won't hold back. Prepare yourself!"
Preparing's a bit much. I cast Thousand Li Gallop on myself. This stamina should keep up!
I underestimated. The retriever—no, Elizabeth's stamina. Big time.
Right after the shop, we toured Bukchon nonstop, window-shopping small stores. Swings and seesaws at a little playground. Even after lunch, more walking around Bukchon.
I'm an awakener, trained, with constant Thousand Li Gallop, so stamina's fine—but this is...
"Euuuum~! So fun!"
Yeah. If she had fun, good enough...
"Was it fun for you too?"
"Yeah. Tiring, but."
"Glad!"
She smiled brightly, genuinely happy, then looked up slightly.
Bukchon Hanok Village fully toured, no spots left...
"Last, wanna check the end there?!"
Tugging my sleeve, she pointed up. A scenic park at the edge of Bukchon Hanok Village. We're here anyway, so why not. I went up, bought drinks from a nearby vending machine, and gave one to Elizabeth.
"Thanks, I'll enjoy it!"
"Yeah. I mooched food and fun, least I can do..."
-BOOOOM!!!
What the—.
Elizabeth and I froze. A roar echoed from Bukchon Hanok Village's entrance. Black light surged from the ground—a dungeon generation phenomenon.
In the game, outings sometimes triggered events like this, but here?
"...A dungeon?!"
Since 1999, dungeons and monsters appeared worldwide. Even in spots never hit before.
Potential always there.
"Hurry and g— No, Yohan, you evacuate!!"
"What're you saying. We're going together."
Buffer up and sit this out? I tapped Elizabeth's back—she was wide-eyed—and ran.
She caught up instantly. At the entrance: a small rift like the artificial dungeon before.
A dungeon. Out came a blue-furred wolf, an E-rank monster Blue Wolf, emanating eerie energy.
"Haaap!!"
Elizabeth's sword strike cleaved the Blue Wolf. I'd buffed her before she charged, naturally.
-Slash!!
Buffs? Or her power? Her follow-ups dropped it without resistance.
"Keep going!! You there!! Stop gawking and run!!"
If she's on combat, I support from behind.
My shout? The dazed onlookers started fleeing.
In the now-empty streets of Bukchon Hanok Village, Elizabeth and I eyed the dungeon entrance.
-Grrrrowl...
Then three Blue Wolves and two Green Demon Dogs emerged.
"Ready?"
"...Of course!!"
With Elizabeth's reply.
-GRRAAAAAH!!
The battle began.