17
Chapter 17
"Thank you, please come again!"
Jingle-
Eunha walked out through the sliding doors.
She was heavily Loaded Up with things in her hands.
"Phew, I ended up buying quite a lot."
In her hands were various Pet Supplies.
'Unnie is so indifferent. Taking care of the household is always my job.'
She didn't know how long Joohyun would stay, but she couldn't just let him keep sleeping on a blanket.
When a guest arrives, it is only right to serve them with a Bowl.
'But I don't know if he'll like them.'
Not knowing Joohyun's preferences, she bought items with designs that matched his image.
'Still, I think they'll all suit him perfectly.'
Eunha smiled Contentedly to herself, imagining Joohyun using the Pet Supplies.
'I thought the rain would stop by the time I finished shopping, but it hasn't.'
That was true.
It was still Drizzling outside.
Every time a raindrop fell from the Eaves, it made a soft plop.
'Should I ask Unnie to come pick me up?'
Eunha rummaged through her things, pulled out her phone, and called Yuna.
A Call Ring Tone echoed a few times.
"She's not answering....... Is she busy?"
Eunha let out a deep sigh and put her phone back into her bag.
'Is she running a tower or something?'
Eunha had talked with Yuna yesterday, but her anxiety hadn't completely vanished.
The tower was a place where danger always lurked.
No one knew what could happen the moment you let your guard down.
It would be strange not to feel anxious.
'Still, I have to trust her. She's my Unnie.'
Although she was a bit unreliable at times, it was because of Yuna that she and her Younger Siblings could live without starving.
Their family could exist right now because Yuna hadn't even considered Giving Up.
'She really wants to do this, so I shouldn't stop her.'
Yuna had always worked non-stop to take care of them.
If it was something Yuna genuinely enjoyed doing, she couldn't bring herself to stop her.
All she could do was believe in Yuna.
It felt almost like a parent sending their child off to become independent.
'Should I wait a bit longer before going? I'm in no rush, anyway.'
She couldn't afford to buy a new Umbrella.
To be honest, buying all those items for Joohyun made her Blow Through Money, completely emptying her wallet.
Eunha stood there, waiting for the rain to stop.
A few minutes passed like that.
The rain showed no signs of stopping anytime soon.
Eunha was just wondering if she should walk home in the rain.
Siren Wail-!
Suddenly, a fleet of Police Cars sped past her.
"Huh? Is something going on?"
Eunha tilted her head and watched the passing Police Cars.
Then.
From far away, a massive Crowd of people came running Hastily toward her.
"What is that?"
Eunha looked at them in bewilderment.
As they got closer, she could clearly see their faces.
Faces pale with terror.
They looked like they were fleeing for their lives from something.
Seeing that, Eunha felt a chilling sensation shoot down her Spine.
The fleeing people rushed right past Eunha without even glancing her way.
"Argh-!"
Just then, a man amidst the Crowd tripped and fell, but no one stopped.
"E-excuse me!"
Eunha tried to halt the people, but it was no use.
Instead, they shoved past Eunha, bumping her shoulder.
"Kyaa-!"
Eunha was pushed back, falling hard on her rear.
"Ouch......."
As Eunha rubbed her aching bottom and tried to stand up.
"Grrrrr-"
A deep, guttural growl echoed from the distance.
"Huh......?"
Eunha furrowed her brow, squinting at the Silhouette slowly approaching from afar.
Long hair draped down in a milky beige color.
Eyes glowing with a Bluish light, flickering brightly despite the gloomy weather.
A piece of Burlap Cloth covered in dirt and mud, which probably used to be a white sheet.
It was Suhyun.
"What's going on......?"
Just as Eunha was having that thought.
"Freeze!"
The police officers chasing from behind fired a Taser at Suhyun.
Zap-!
Hit by the Tasers flying from all directions, Suhyun glared at the police officers with an annoyed expression.
They were special artifacts made of magic stones, but to Suhyun, they merely brought the same level of annoyance as mosquito bites.
"M-monster......!"
One police officer tried to run away on trembling legs, but it was already too late.
"Rooaar-!"
Grabbing the wires connected to the Tasers with one hand, Suhyun began to Swing them in circles above her head like she was throwing a Shot Put.
"U-uh?!"
The police officers who were holding the Tasers were effortlessly lifted into the air.
"Urgh-!"
As Suhyun let go, the officers flew helplessly toward the outer wall of a building.
Thud-!
The impact must have been severe, as the Passed Out police officers showed no signs of getting up.
Watching this, Eunha's hands shook violently.
She finally understood why the people had run away in such sheer terror.
'It's because of that!'
Eunha's brain was sounding alarms.
Telling her to run away from this place right this instant.
To run if she wanted to live.
It kept screaming at her.
However.
Petrified by fear, Eunha's feet refused to even budge.
'I have to run away, hurry. Get up, you idiot!'
Eunha struck her Trembling legs.
And when she raised her head to look forward again.
"Grrrr-."
She met those Bluish, glowing eyes.
"Aaah......."
Terrified, Eunha's face turned pale.
Deathly Pale, her Pupils quivered intensely.
Suhyun slowly approached that Eunha.
"Grrrr......."
The beastly growl mingled with the Raindrops.
"D-don't come closer."
Trembling with fear, Eunha put strength into her shaky arms and slowly backed away.
But Suhyun had no intention of stopping.
The distance between Eunha and Suhyun was gradually closing.
"Ah......."
Strength left the panicked Eunha's arms, and she couldn't retreat any further.
Seeing Eunha in that state, Suhyun eventually.
Swish-!
Kicked off the ground and performed a Leap toward Eunha.
At that moment.
The falling Raindrops stopped.
Along with Suhyun, frozen mid-Leap with a fierce expression.
In Eunha's eyes, it seemed as if this entire moment had paused.
She had heard of it before.
A Life Flashback.
The phenomenon where various memories flash through one's mind right before death.
The first thing to come to mind was her as a baby.
The moments spent receiving abundant love from her parents.
'Waaah-! I want to go play with Unnie too!'
'Okay, let's go with Unnie~!'
The sight of herself throwing tantrums whenever Unnie tried to go play without her when she was about four years old.
The memory of Unnie taking her along with a smile, never once getting annoyed.
Then the scene changed to the memory of when their parents passed away.
When she and her Younger Siblings were crying, and Unnie embraced them, telling them not to worry.
The memory of Unnie, who must have been grieving too, forcing a smile and comforting them without shedding a single tear in front of them.
The back of her Unnie, who had grown up so much before she knew it, flickered before her eyes.
'I'm going to die.'
The self-evident truth that Eunha had been trying so hard to deny.
The moment those sharp claws were to Swing at her, she would certainly die.
'Did Mom and Dad feel this way too....... I don't want......to die.'
She wanted to see her Younger Siblings a bit more. She wanted to spend more time with Unnie.
It was too devastating to think that this was the end.
She hadn't experienced anything yet.
She hadn't done a single thing properly for Unnie, who had suffered in place of their parents all this time.
She had only ever gotten angry at Unnie, saying things she didn't mean.
'If I had known this would happen, I would have treated her better.'
Regret washed over her.
She was scared.
She was terrified of this being the end.
She didn't want to die.
Even though death had drawn this close.
Only one image flickered in her mind.
Even in this moment, only Unnie's back came to mind.
'Save me, I'm scared.'
The image of Unnie, who looked as if she would reach out and offer Guidance to her at any moment.
'I don't want to die. Please save me, Unnie!!'
Time began to flow again.
Eunha squeezed her eyes shut.
Boom-!!!
A Dust Cloud thickly rose where Eunha had been, accompanied by a massive Booming Sound.
A few seconds passed like that.
"Huh......?"
She didn't feel the pain that should have come by now.
"Why?"
Eunha slowly opened her eyes.
A thick Dust Cloud still hung in the air, making it hard to see ahead.
She felt her own body.
"I'm fine......?"
There was no trace of sharp claws touching her.
As a bewildered Eunha wondered what just happened.
The Dust Cloud settled to the ground, revealing a Silhouette standing in front of her.
"Huh......?"
The rain had stopped at some point.
The sun was gently peeking its face through the dark clouds.
Rays of light parted the clouds like Moses' Miracle.
The darkness receded from where they were, and a Light Fell Over them.
Only then could Eunha clearly see the back of the being standing before her.
Short Bob Hair that flickered red like the sun.
A large Old Tree Staff held high with both hands.
An embroidered dress adorned with various decorations, its Fluttering in the wind making it look like dancing flames.
A sun was standing in front of Eunha.
Just as Eunha stared blankly at that Overwhelming, beautiful sight.
Something slowly revealed itself On the Shoulder of the woman.
"Hey, Younger Sibling! You're not hurt anywhere, are you?"
It was none other than Joohyun, who had been hiding in Stealth Mode on Yuna's shoulder.
"Huh...... eh? The pathetic CEO?"
"Who are you calling pathetic!"
Eunha was flustered to see Joohyun suddenly appear On the Shoulder of the woman.
"Accountant Yuna! Your Younger Sibling seems to be Safe!"
"Yes!"
Yuna could only nod in response to Joohyun's words.
Because just blocking Suhyun in front of her was too much to handle.
'That was dangerous. If I hadn't learned 'Fire Shield'.'
It was a relief that her Level went up from eating cake before coming out, allowing her to learn a skill.
If that hadn't happened, there definitely wouldn't have been a way to block Suhyun's attack.
"Grrrr-."
Suhyun, who had been growling lowly, hopped a step backward.
Only then did Yuna take a breath and glance back slightly.
"CEO! Hurry and take Eunha to hide! I'll handle things here!"
"Will you be alright, Accountant Yuna?"
"Yes! Don't worry about me, please take care of Eunha!"
After saying that, Yuna looked forward again and raised her staff toward Suhyun.
"Phew. You dare touch my Younger Sibling?! I'm going to teach you a lesson!"
"Grrrr-"
As if to answer, Suhyun only rattled her vocal cords with a growl.
"Unnie......."
Eunha couldn't easily take her eyes off Yuna.
Her Chest felt full.
A rush of emotions, both grateful and apologetic, flooded her.
Eventually, a tear rolled down Eunha's eye.
"Unnie......! Waaaah! Unnie!"
As Eunha started crying like a child.
"Gah, so loud! First, let's run away!"
Joohyun leaped up and covered Eunha's face with his whole body.
"Mmph-"
It seemed like Eunha was trying to say something, but Joohyun ignored her and kept clinging to her face.
"Oh, damn it! It's so damp!"
Once Eunha calmed down a bit, Joohyun came down from her face, climbed onto her shoulder, and switched to Stealth Mode.
"Let's go! You being here will only be a distraction."
Having somewhat calmed down, Eunha seemed to know this fact and nodded.
Still, her gaze wouldn't easily leave Yuna.
Worry was evident in her eyes.
"Younger Sibling. Trust Yuna! Now is the time to evacuate. And don't worry. I made a Promise last time! I said I would protect Accountant Yuna no matter what!"
Upon hearing Joohyun's words, Eunha must have found her Resolve, as she forced her trembling legs to stand and began walking.
"Be strong, Unnie!"
After shouting that, she hurriedly left the area.
Hearing those words, a smile naturally spread across Yuna's lips.
After confirming that the two had left the area, Yuna.
"Alright, should we start for real now?"
Spun around in place, took a stance, and spoke.
"You bad Villain! I will judge You with the flames of justice!"
As if answering her, Suhyun howled.
"Rooaar!"
The fight began.
