Chapter 138: It’s a Ball, After All—I Should at Least Have a Dance Before I Go!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 138: It’s a Ball, After All—I Should at Least Have a Dance Before I Go!
When I came to, the first thing I felt was dizziness, followed immediately by an indescribable sense of revulsion.
My memories had returned, but I wasn’t the least bit happy about it.
I suppose I finally understood why my Authority had fought so desperately to stop me from looking at the memories beyond the noise.
Was I a total lunatic?
Destroying the world just because I was throwing a tantrum like a brat, and then regressing because I felt guilty about it?
I wondered if this was something a sane human being would ever do.
…Well, I suppose I wasn’t exactly in a sane state of mind back then.
I was cornered psychologically, and since that entity chose the insane method of brainwashing to “lighten my burden,” I might be able to plead mental instability.
However, the things I had done were far too atrocious to use that as an excuse.
Regression, huh?
I’d already transmigrated and regressed; if I had reincarnated too, I’d have hit the triple crown.
Even with my memories back, it still didn’t feel real.
Yet, it made sense. Thinking back, things had been strange.
I thought I had transmigrated into a novel with hazy memories, but for some reason, the urge to help Lilac had surged within me the moment we met.
The way my mind would go blank whenever someone was about to die.
Even the desire to kill those villains and give the kids a more enjoyable life—it was all just the lingering remnants of emotions from before the regression.
A bitter taste filled my mouth.
It felt as if everything I had done until now was being invalidated.
“…Are you alright?”
— What happened? You said you were going to look at your memories. Did you fail to see them?
…It seemed I was the only one who saw the memories this time, but I didn’t even know how to begin explaining them.
The sins I had committed were so great that I couldn’t imagine how I could ever atone for them.
“…This is why I feel like I deserve to be turned into a donut.”
The memories were gone before, but the emotions had remained.
It wasn’t that new emotions were created after seeing the memories; rather, the existing emotions were amplified.
What I felt for them was a guilt even stronger than affection.
To think I had acted so high and mighty until now, mistaking that guilt for genuine kindness… Beyond just being embarrassed, I felt a wave of self-loathing.
“…Um, you’re really okay, right? If something happens to you, I won’t be able to face the Demon King.”
“…I’m fine.”
Surprisingly, this wasn’t a lie.
Despite regaining almost all my memories, my emotions were settling down quickly, just as they had when I’d only glimpsed fragments before.
How should I put it?
It was like the feeling of being deeply moved by a well-made sad movie or play, only for that emotion to cool down once the curtain fell.
I wasn’t sure if this was the influence of my Authority, similar to the noise, or if it was thanks to the “something” that caught me in the final scene of my memories—or if I was just such a massive piece of shit that I could remain indifferent.
One thing was certain: what I had to do wouldn’t change.
I would prepare to stop this world from falling into ruin, and I would ensure these kids could enjoy their youth.
And once everything was stopped and they were happy enough, I would apologize.
I wouldn’t let myself collapse, buried under guilt. If I were going to do that, I wouldn’t have come back in the first place.
“I’m really okay.”
I wondered who I was saying that to. Was it to Sun Wukong, the Succubus Queen, or myself?
I’d wallowed in self-pity long enough.
It was time to end the dream world and return to reality.
My only concern was whether I could look them in the eye and treat them the same as before.
That was my only fear.
* * *
My body didn’t feel as heavy as I expected.
Then again, I had only been asleep for about thirty minutes, so it would have been stranger if it did feel heavy.
As I slowly opened my eyes and sat up, the surroundings were surprisingly quiet.
“So-hyun!”
Well, they were quiet until the exact moment I opened my eyes.
In an instant, I was surrounded by people.
I was scared.
I was terrified to lift my head, fearing that I wouldn’t be able to look at them the same way anymore.
Fearing that those suppressed emotions would start writhing again.
Fearing that I could no longer see these people—who had become so precious to me—as just friends…
The shadows grew darker.
That meant someone was getting closer… but wait, isn’t this a bit too close?
Just as that question crossed my mind, a soft mass of flesh enveloped my face.
“Mmph…!”
…First of all, the texture was quite soft with a strange elasticity, and my nose was filled with the sweet scent of a woman’s skin.
So the Professor uses coconut oil body wash. Good to know.
It didn’t take long to realize what it was.
Yes, these were Professor Cathy’s breasts.
“What are you doing!?”
Damn it, I was so startled that the mood completely vanished. Offering to let a depressed person “touch some tits” might actually be a surprisingly effective method.
But when I looked up, not only Professor Cathy but everyone gathered around was looking at me with worried eyes.
“So-hyun, you’re really okay, right?”
“No, I’m fine. What about you, Professor?”
“Yes, I’m fine too, So-hyun.”
…You don’t look fine at all, though?
“You were the last one to wake up. We were all so worried.”
“Do you have any idea how worried I was? Everyone else woke up, but you just stayed down.”
Lilac and Ha-ni approached me one after the other.
Looking at their faces wasn’t as unbearably guilt-inducing as I had feared.
It was more like a quiet resolve to treat them better from now on.
Ga-eul, who had been watching me suspiciously from a distance, ran toward me the moment our eyes met.
“You’re really not hurt anywhere, right?”
In the past, I had left her to die, but in this life, she was a life I had saved.
She was like living proof that I hadn’t lived a wrong life since returning.
“I’m glad.”
“…About what?”
I stood up, leaving behind a tilting Ga-eul who didn’t seem to understand what I meant.
Of course she wouldn’t. I didn’t even fully understand my own heart yet.
Turning my head, I locked eyes with Lee Yu-na, who had followed Lilac to my side.
“The others are too busy worrying about you to talk straight, so I’ll tell you. The situation ended while you were out.”
No matter how many times I checked, there was no trace of loathing in her eyes.
“Is that so? What’s the plan?”
“They caught the villain who caused the terror, and Cheonhwa Group has agreed to pay compensation for the damages.”
“Cheonhwa Group? Because the accident happened at a party they hosted?”
Wait, more importantly, they caught the villain?
“Yeah. Since everyone basically just took a nap for a few minutes, there wasn’t much backlash. It seems not everyone even had nightmares.”
“What do you mean they caught the villain?”
“The Succubus Queen vanished in the dream world. There was a group supporting the succubi, but the heroes inside the hall who didn’t lose consciousness rounded them all up.”
I see. It would have been messy if the culprits were only the succubi, but since there was a collaborating organization, things were settled cleanly.
“…Who were the idiots collaborating with the succubi anyway?”
This time, Ha-ni answered.
“I don’t know. They said they were executives of something called the Twelve Zodiacs?”
…Ah. The boss was taken away by that red-haired woman back then, and I had crushed their main force, but I guess some remnants were still around.
I didn’t know what they hoped to gain by helping the succubi, but now that even the remnants had been swept up, the organization known as the Twelve Zodiacs was truly finished.
Come to think of it, I had pretended to cooperate with the Twelve Zodiacs only to stab them in the back and take their stuff, but I didn’t feel particularly sorry.
As I briefly combed through my memories, the faces of a rude elf bastard and a woman who kept saying “Do this for me!” popped up, so I decided to stop immediately.
Those two deserved to be backstabbed.
“So, are they wrapping up the incident and ending the party now?”
“Huh? No?”
“Hmm? They haven’t finished wrapping up yet?”
“No, it’s not that…”
Ha-ni pointed upward as if telling me to just look, and there was a beautiful Pegasus flying through the air.
…A Pegasus? A Heavenly Horse?
“…What is that mister doing up there?”
“He said it’s entertainment before the party restarts.”
…What kind of crazy talk is that? No matter how little actual damage there was, they’re continuing the party after all this shit happened?
The Pegasus, which had been soaring through the building showing off its grace, spotted me waking up and transformed into a man with wings.
“Now that the final guest has awakened, it is time to resume the festivities.”
At his incredibly natural remark, I couldn’t help but speak to Cheon Yu-hak, who was covering his face as if embarrassed.
“…Hey, Yu-hak. Is your father really okay? Are you sure he’s not still stuck in a nightmare?”
“To be honest, it’s a bit embarrassing, but he has his reasons for doing this.”
Reasons?
“Our Cheonhwa Group’s party was caught in a conspiracy. We thought we were fully prepared, but we fell short, and I apologize for allowing this intrusion.”
Before I knew it, everyone in the hall was looking at him as he held a microphone with a solemn expression.
“It was my mistake. Even if the damage is minor, perhaps I should stop the party and take responsibility.”
As he fluttered his wings, a cool breeze blew through the hall.
“However, I will not do so. To do that would be to surrender. As if to prove that such terror was useless! So that today’s memory remains for all of you as a wonderful festival rather than a foul act of terror! Because that is the role I believe I must play, and what a hero must do!”
…Wow, he’s a smooth talker. I guess you don’t become a corporate chairman for nothing.
“I will take responsibility after the festival is over. But not today! Please, rest easy and enjoy the rest of the festivities!”
His speech must have been broadcast outside as well, because cheers erupted the moment he finished speaking.
“…The timing of those cheers feels a bit staged.”
“They’re probably people my father planted in advance. I doubt he intended to use them for this, but he’s a meticulous man.”
He really is impressive.
What he said made sense, too.
I won’t forget the pain of the past, but I won’t surrender to it either.
I will smile brighter for the future ahead.
Those words fit my current situation perfectly.
Music began to flow, and people started dancing with their partners one by one.
The first one to reach out to me was Ha-ni.
“Gentleman, would you care for a dance with me?”
“Is that right? Is it okay for two ‘gentlemen’ to dance together?”
“Why not? Look over there, there are people dancing like crazy.”
True. Wait, that’s Jae-hee. I’m sure that guy found a partner earlier…? Is he drunk?
Anyway, no need to worry about appearances then.
“Then I must ask for your guidance. I’m actually not very good at dancing.”
“Just follow my lead~”
“As you wish.”
I liked her light, cheerful smile. It was worlds apart from the hollow, dead-eyed smile she used to wear when she asked to be treated like an object.
It felt as if my heart, which had briefly turned cold, was pulsing again.
After dancing for a while, the first dance ended, and Ga-eul cut in.
“I told you I was second.”
As I took her hand, I felt her warmth.
She was alive. The first person whose fate I had changed, whom I had saved.
“W-What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because you’re pretty.”
“…Huh!?”
Throughout the dance, her blushing face and the way she practically bounced around were both cute and hilarious.
“Hey! Cheon Yu-hak! Since it’s come to this, how about a dance with me too?”
“…Are you insane?”
He got angry, asking how much more I intended to embarrass him, but he didn’t seem to entirely hate it.
Thank you for coming to catch me when I thought I had no regrets left.
Thank you for throwing away everything to come and stop me.
“Yu-hak says no, but what about you, Sister?”
“Eh…? Me?”
“Yes, you’re my partner too, Noona. You have to dance.”
“Ah, well, yes. But why did you have your first dance with a boy? Your sister is…”
“I’ve realized those things don’t matter. The order isn’t important.”
“…So-hyun?”
“Yes?”
“…No, it’s nothing.”
My sister’s dancing was clean and flawless, but she would startle and pull back slightly whenever our bodies pressed together.
Even though it hurt so much that we both screamed and wounded each other, I want to apologize to you, Sister.
We can’t go back to the past, but I hope we can smile together as we move forward.
“Lilac.”
“Is it my turn?”
“Get lost if you don’t want Yu-na to beat you to death.”
‘I believe in you.’ I returned the words you used to say to me so often, even though I had no memory of them.
This time, I’ll live up to your trust, so please, believe in me one more time.
Turning my head, I saw Professor Cathy waiting hesitantly.
Hmm, I usually can’t say things like this, but is it because I found my memories?
“Would you care for a dance, my lady?”
The buttery words flowed out of my mouth with ease.
“Oh, yes. Of course.”
Because you were the mentor who tried to catch me, the one who reached out to me until the very end.
I was able to come to my senses, even if it was late.
The emotions you all give me are far more than I deserve, but that’s why I will think more seriously and give you an answer.
Just as we were about to start dancing, Professor Cathy, perhaps overly nervous, tripped on her dress.
I knew she could regain her balance on her own, but I naturally caught her in my arms.
“…Eh? Uh?”
Our faces were close, but strangely, I didn’t feel nervous.
Come to think of it, it’s probably a coincidence, but the place where I was wounded when I was turned into a donut is the same spot where I stabbed you with my sword.
“So… So-hyun?”
I helped the Professor up and we danced.
Her dancing felt more like a forceful military drill than a ballroom dance, but every time I applied pressure to her hands, the unnecessary tension would melt away, and she would tremble shyly.
That sight was somehow both cute and pitiful.
The warmth of those who held my hand felt so real that I could feel my emotions overflowing.
“…Huh?”
Everyone around us let out a collective gasp of confusion.
“So-hyun. Are you… crying?”
…Crying? Me?
Ah, so I was. I hadn’t realized it, but streams of water were flowing from my eyes down my cheeks.
Ah, damn it. This is embarrassing.
I wiped them away, but more tears soon followed.
It wasn’t that I was crying because I was sad.
Nevertheless, like long-frozen emotions melting away under warmth and dripping down, the flowing tears did not stop for a long time.