Chapter 392: Waaah. Baby So-hyun. I’m Screwed.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 392: Waaah. Baby So-hyun. I’m Screwed.
Immediately after entering the Fairy Forest, the sound of young children laughing echoed through the air, and a powerful surge of energy swept over the group.
Cathy was the first to regain her senses. Recalling the warning Kang So-hyun had given just before they entered the forest, she checked her condition without panicking.
He had told them not to be surprised if something felt strange. Taking care to remain calm, she slowly circulated her mana, but she couldn’t feel anything particularly out of the ordinary.
“Huh?”
Twitch.
He had said it was almost impossible to avoid being pranked. Perhaps her appearance had changed rather than her internal state?
Twitch.
Looking down at her body, nothing seemed different. Aside from a strange sensation at the top of her head that she’d been feeling for a moment, she couldn’t find anything wrong.
“Wait, Cathy?! What happened to you?!”
“Huh? A-ram Unnie?”
“Huh? If I’m not Park A-ram, then who would I—? Wait, do I look weird too?”
“No, you don’t look weird, but you’ve gotten so much taller…”
“Ah? Oh, you’re right! I haven’t even released my mana, but I’ve grown. It seems only my appearance has turned adult-like. Anyway, I’ll make a mirror for you, so take a look for yourself.”
Wondering what the fuss was about, Cathy looked into the mirror made of mana. Her face reflected there looked no different than usual.
Twitch.
Except for the cat ears and tail that had sprouted.
“W-What is this?!”
“I mean, it’s cute, but for all the warnings Kang So-hyun gave us, this is a bit underwhelming. I wonder how the others are doing?”
Ah, we might have gotten off easy, but the others could be in real trouble.
With that thought, Cathy and Park A-ram scanned their surroundings, but the other cadets didn’t seem to be in any major crisis either.
“Oh my, all my clothes have turned green!”
“My hair has been dyed black.”
There was Cadet Aisha, whose clothes had turned entirely green, and Cadet Baek Seol, whose white hair was now jet black.
“Ah, um. This miniskirt is a bit embarrassing.”
“Uh, wait. Huh? All the emergency rations I brought turned into lemon candies!”
In Lee Ha-ru’s case, her martial arts uniform had transformed into a combination of a knit top and a miniskirt. Then there was Ga-eul, who hadn’t changed at all.
“Hmm, I don’t seem to have any major changes either. Just that the honey water I brought turned into actual honey water?”
…Rose, then what was it originally? Is that the stuff So-hyun usually drinks?
Curiosity piqued at the sight of Rose grumbling regretfully while holding the bottle, but Cathy felt a sense of unease and decided not to ask.
“My hair has gotten a bit shorter.”
Cadet Cheon Yu-hak, who usually had the style of a sculpted handsome man with his long hair tied back, now had a neat, short-haired image.
“I feel a bit stuffy, but other than that, I don’t think anything’s changed?”
In Ha-ni’s case, she claimed quite bluntly that nothing was different.
“My chest got a bit bigger.”
And Cadet Lee Yu-na, who looked strangely happy, definitely had a larger bust than usual.
“It might be worth catching one and taking it with me.”
“…Cadet, don’t even think such dangerous thoughts, even as a joke.”
“Do I look like I’m joking right now?”
Even Cadet Ju Ri-ra, who complained that her arrows and compass had all turned into toys, didn’t seem to have undergone a drastic change. But then, they suddenly realized two people were missing.
“Wait a second, where did Lilac and Kang So-hyun go?”
“Huh? You’re right. What, do our positions change too?”
Everyone looked around in surprise, but an answer came from nearby.
“No, I’m right here.”
However, the person speaking was a woman they’d never seen before, wearing a male cadet’s uniform. There was no such mild-looking, beautiful girl in their group.
“It’s me. Lilac.”
The way she scratched her cheek with her index finger in embarrassment did indeed resemble the Cadet Lilac they knew, but the difference was too great to believe blindly.
“…You’re Lilac?”
“Yeah, look.”
But once she revealed her Talent, they had no choice but to believe she was indeed Cadet Lilac. Still, one thing was puzzling.
“Wasn’t Cadet Lilac supposed to be immune to most status ailments thanks to the power of the Holy Sword?”
“I thought so too. Usually, if something feels like malice or a threat, it gets blocked. But this time, the Holy Sword said it couldn’t block it because it didn’t sense any ill intent.”
I guess even a Holy Sword isn’t omnipotent.
Regardless, now that they had found Cadet Lilac, the only one missing was So-hyun. Cathy wondered if he had been teleported to some remote area alone again.
“Oh, these are So-hyun’s clothes?”
But soon, hope was restored when Cadet Kang Ha-ni discovered his clothes nearby.
Rustle.
…Hm?
Suddenly, the pile of clothes moved, and something popped out from within the discarded garments.
Long hair, slightly sharp but beautiful eyes, and chubby cheeks.
A boy who looked like what So-hyun might have been around kindergarten or early elementary school age emerged from the clothes.
…No way, is that So-hyun? Everyone else was fine, so why did only So-hyun and Cadet Lilac change so drastically?
“Wow! So-hyun, you’re so cute!”
No, Ga-eul. I think so too, but you have to consider So-hyun’s feelings. You can’t just approach him like that…
“Cadet Ga-eul. So-hyun might be flustered because he’s turned young, so for now…”
“Who are you? Where is this?”
Huh?
“Uh…? So-hyun, you don’t know who we are? Wait, do you not even remember why we came here?”
Realizing his condition was strange, Ga-eul approached him, but he merely continued to look around without much reaction.
“So-hyun, look at me for a second. Do you really not know who I am…?”
Finally, the small So-hyun turned his gaze toward Ga-eul, who was pleading with an anxious face. He immediately scowled and spoke.
“Who are you, you ugly thing?”
“Wh-at…?!”
“…It seems he hasn’t just turned younger; his memory has been impaired as well.”
“Wow, was So-hyun’s personality like that when he was a kid? I never expected him to call Ga-eul ugly.”
While Cadet Cheon Yu-hak and Cadet Lilac analyzed his condition, Ga-eul approached him again, looking like she couldn’t believe it.
“So-So-hyun. You’re just surprised because a Noona you don’t know suddenly approached you, right? You don’t really think I’m ugly, do you? R-Right?”
“Whatever. You look like a lump of fermented beans. Ugly Noona.”
“Gah?!”
Despite her desperate denial, the boy’s evaluation was merciless.
Seeing Ga-eul collapse in despair, Cathy felt a sudden fear of approaching him.
I don’t think I could handle it if he called me ugly so cuttingly. So-hyun’s tongue was even sharper when he was a kid.
However, seeing Ga-eul on her knees and on the verge of tears must have weighed on his conscience. The little So-hyun began to stroke Ga-eul’s head as if to comfort her.
Is he playing ‘slap and kiss’ or what…?
“Don’t cry, Ugly Noona.”
“Heeing… What the. So-hyun, you’re mean… You said I look like a lump of fermented beans, so why are you comforting me! Just because you do that, I won’t…!”
“Since Noona is so ugly that you probably won’t be able to get married later, if you stop crying now, I’ll marry you later.”
“I forgive you! No taking it back, okay? Even if it’s coming from a kid, I’m going to believe you and wait for real. You can’t betray me, okay?”
Seeing him offer his pinky with a smile, everyone present thought the same thing.
He’s changed a bit, but that’s definitely So-hyun.
“Yeah, I get it, so stop crying. Crybaby Noona.”
“Hehe, it’s So-hyun.”
Leaving behind Ga-eul, who had completely melted at the touch of his hand, the small So-hyun skillfully donned clothes made from Ruyi and looked around.
…Wait, a kid who’s been turned young can still use artifacts?
After looking around for a moment, So-hyun walked toward Cathy with cute, pitter-patter steps and naturally opened his arms to her.
Um, honestly, I’m a bit scared. What if he calls me an old lady? I’ll lose all hope in life.
“Teacher.”
…Huh? I’m ‘Teacher’? Well, it’s much better than ‘old lady.’
As she knelt to match his eye level, the shrunken boy gave a bright smile.
“What is it, So-hyun?”
“Please carry me for a bit. The ground is bumpy and hard to walk on.”
Whose kid is this? How can he be so cute? He’s dangerous; I should take him away for ‘protection.’
“Y-Yes! I’ll carry you! Of course I will!”
Hurriedly pulling him into her arms before anyone else could snatch him away, he nuzzled his cheek against hers with a giggle.
She felt envious glares from those around her, but she had no intention of yielding him for the time being.
No, unless So-hyun himself asks to be put down, I’m never letting go.
But as if to mock those thoughts, the growls of monsters began to echo.
I wonder why it has to be now, but I suppose we were too complacent inside a dungeon.
“So-hyun, it’s dangerous, so just for a moment…”
“Don’t interfere.”
“Huh? So-hyun?”
Monsters began to rapidly approach them. Judging by the sounds, they seemed to be beast-type creatures like wolves or tigers. However, they never actually made contact with the group.
The moment So-hyun muttered for them not to interfere, blades made of shadows erupted from around him. A moment later, the presence of all the monsters approaching them vanished.
“Hehe, it’s okay now.”
…Uh, yeah. It certainly seems okay.
So-hyun is still So-hyun even when he’s small…?
The sight of him slaughtering enemies while being held in her arms was a bit scary, yet reassuring. But for now…
I’ll just consider it a win since I get to keep holding him.
When else would I ever get the chance to hold a young So-hyun!
Her mind a mess, Cathy decided to prioritize her desires for the moment.
* * *
At that same time.
Kang So-hyun’s ‘clone,’ who was playing with Luna, felt the main body’s memories suddenly rushing into him.
“…I’m screwed.”
“Papa? What’s wrong?”
He didn’t know exactly what had happened, but the fact remained that something had occurred to the point where the main body couldn’t maintain consciousness.
It was a relief that he’d had enough energy to leave a clone behind to play with Luna.
No, but what on earth happened?
In the 1st Timeline, the prank he had received from the fairies was a reversal of affection.
He had ended up hating people he liked and liking people he hated. Because of that, he had almost gotten into a fight with Seo-ha.
Anyway, back then, he had overcome it by emptying his mind with medicine and then using brainwashing through the Authority of the Creator.
Honestly, he had expected a similar prank this time, so he had only prepared thoroughly against mental-type attacks.
“Did something bad happen?”
He snapped out of it thanks to Luna, who was looking at him with a worried face.
Right, at least he had made a clone, so it wasn’t the worst-case scenario.
The problem was that this clone wasn’t made for combat but truly just to play with Luna, so his energy wasn’t that abundant.
Just flying to the Fairy Forest on the Nimbus Cloud would probably consume about half of his energy.
“Papa.”
“Huh? Luna.”
“I don’t know what’s happening, but I’ll help you.”
…No, he couldn’t let Luna fight.
It wasn’t just because she was young; she hadn’t fully regained her original strength yet. It would be troublesome if she used her power again and became even more distorted.
“I know. I’m not saying I’ll fight directly, but I want to be of help to you, Papa.”
Saying so, Luna slowly closed her eyes.
“I’m going to bring exactly one thing that Papa needs most right now through a miracle. I can do that much now without overexerting myself.”
…Certainly, if just one artifact like Ruyi or Black Shadow came to him, he could fight with relatively little energy, so it seemed like a good idea.
“Then, can I count on you?”
“Yes…!”
Happy that she could help him, Luna’s hands glowed as she performed a miracle. In those small hands, something familiar was indeed held.
“Luna. Is this… really the thing I need most right now?”
“I-It seems so?”
Judging by her flustered expression, it seemed Luna hadn’t brought it intentionally either.
He couldn’t understand it.
The Pure White Demon Mask.
Why on earth was this crazy, cursed mask the thing he needed most right now?
Not Ruyi, not the Gourd, not Black Shadow, and not the Touch of the Devil. Why this mask? Huh?