Self-Regeneration (3)
"Are you really okay? You look exhausted. Those dark circles are all the way down to your chin! You weren't picking up your phone—don't tell me you pulled another all-nighter relying on [Self-Regeneration] alone? You'll collapse like last time!"
"I'm fine, I told you."
It was a pleasant, sunny morning that put everyone in a good mood. As Eunha arranged freshly baked pretzels on the display shelf, she diligently pretended not to notice the sharp glare from Eunbangul, who was plastered to her side.
Eunha waved her hands insistently, insisting she was perfectly fine, but even a stranger could see how gaunt her face was—it was startling. She kept yawning and rubbing her eyes; anyone could tell. Whenever she caught Eunbangul's scrutinizing gaze, she'd flash her usual sleepy smile and play innocent, which only made her look more suspicious.
Thank goodness for the cap and mask hiding her face. Otherwise, Eunbangul would've dragged her straight to the emergency room.
"No way, why'd they get even bigger?"
"Huh?"
"Your boobs. Is the [Self-Regeneration] skill making fat pile up in weird places? Who pulled on your titties?"
"The human body isn't rubber."
Eunha leaned against the display shelf, fighting off a dizzy spell that made the world spin before her eyes.
...She hadn't gotten a wink of sleep last night, after all. Dismantled by the [Red Woman], writhing in agony, spending the entire early morning deep-cleaning... Just when she thought she could finally catch a nap after finishing the cleanup, some creepy thing climbed up to the balcony and stared silently down at her sprawled on the sofa.
Afraid of what might happen if their eyes met, she pretended to be asleep. Her thighs cramped up from the tension—it was torture. Luckily, her 7 a.m. alarm went off, and the thing quietly climbed back down the balcony railing.
What the hell was that thing...?
Unlike the [Red Woman], there was no specific countermeasure for the balcony 'thing' in the [Black Book]. It didn't seem like the type to directly harm her.
But just staring like that is scary in its own way...
Thanks to that, she was sleep-deprived and felt like death. Her head throbbed, her stomach churned. Turning her head too suddenly made her feel like she'd topple over from vertigo. The shop was just the two of them, so she'd forced herself to come in, but maybe she should've taken the day off?
Munch munch... Lost in thought, Eunha absentmindedly took a bite of one of the pretzels she'd been arranging.
...It was bland. Super bland. Was a pretzel supposed to taste like this? And the mixed coffee she'd chugged earlier to wake up? Bland too. She'd dumped three heaping spoonfuls of salt into it because it was so flavorless, and got an earful from Eunbangul.
...Yeah. To escape the [Red Woman] last night, she'd chugged an entire bottle of soy sauce. Now Eunha was officially the saltiest human alive.
"Hmmm... Fine, let's say you're okay. But why are you bundled up like this? Caught a cold?"
At that moment, Eunbangul—still stuck to her side—tugged lightly at the 'black scarf' coiled around Eunha's neck.
Startled, Eunha grabbed the girl's hand without thinking. Like flipping a switch, the girl's rabbit ears popped up from under her baker's hat.
Eunha and Eunbangul, hands clasped unexpectedly. Eunbangul flung her hat far away, her cheeks flushing pink as her rabbit ears perked up, slyly interlocking their pinkies.
Eunha broke into a cold sweat under the girl's heated gaze and readjusted her scarf. Not just the pitch-black scarf covering her neck, but long sleeves that reached her knuckles and gloves too... Was she really bundled up that much? But she had no choice. The wounds from the [Red Woman] last night hadn't fully healed.
Her torn limbs and organs regenerated like some horror movie liquid monster, but her skin healed much slower than expected. Did recovery speed vary by wound severity? Scars and damaged taste buds—things not critical to survival—seemed to regenerate weakly under [Self-Regeneration].
Anyway, her body was covered in scars right now, which was why she was working like this.
"Ahaha... It's nothing. I must've slept in a chilly spot."
"...Lame lie, as usual. But the scarf suits you. Can I take a pic?"
Click!
Eunbangul puffed her cheeks like a hamster, grumbling, but pulled a digital camera from her apron pocket and snapped Eunha's photo anyway.
"Lame lie? You saying I'm that bad at lying?"
"Say kimchi~."
Click!
Caught off-guard, Eunha fiddled with her mask but struck a pose at Eunbangul's cue. They made heart shapes with their hands for a two-shot, and as Eunbangul beamed at the photo, Eunha managed a wry smile beside her.
She didn't mind showing scars to others—they'd just be shocked. But to Eunbangul... She didn't want the girl to see these gruesome marks.
Because the girl was a 'civilian'—not even registered with the Hunter Association. No skills, just powerless.
"You have a phone—why use a digital camera?"
"Better quality~. And stop sneaking salt like it's a snack! It's not even salty!"
"The air's bland."
"Quit bullshitting and put down the salt shaker!"
"Aaack!! Don't squeeze my titties!"
Exposed to mana from the [Rift] but failed to awaken a skill, ending up with rabbit ears from 'mana pollution'—a cute but pitiful girl. If a bug showed up in the cafe, she'd cling to Eunha and refuse to let go. On thundery nights, she'd beg to sleep over because she was scared alone. A tender-hearted rabbit.
When Eunha nicked herself cooking, Eunbangul freaked out like she'd faint. Did she really need to show her the scars from the [Red Woman]?
They'd fade in a day or two thanks to [Self-Regeneration].
"Sigh... Be honest. Where does it hurt?"
"My titties. Some crazy rabbit ripped 'em."
"You pulled because it hurts—that's what you get. I'm talking about your condition. If you're not okay, let's go to the hospital. Saying you're fine just worries me more—you know that, right?"
"...Just a cold."
"Where'd you sell your [Self-Regeneration] skill to catch a cold?"
Eunbangul instantly saw through the lame lie, frowning as she reached for Eunha's 'black scarf'. Her delicate fingers poked at the knot, and Eunha flinched back in visible panic.
Eunbangul's eyes widened for a split second at the reaction, then she giggled helplessly.
"...Hmph, fine. You won't tell me. You're just sparing me the worry."
"...Sorry."
"If you're sorry, treat me later. Family restaurant? There's a new one nearby."
The rabbit girl picked up her fallen baker's hat with a wistful look and headed back to the kitchen. Watching her small, lonely back made Eunha's chest ache. She bit her lip, frustrated with herself.
The [Black Book], her gender flipping overnight... Nothing she could easily confess.
Eunha pressed her throbbing temples, enduring the sharp headache.
"You two still get along great."
"...Our Bangul's cute, right?"
"Isn't that why I became a regular...? Ah, of course I like you too, Eunha. If I had to choose, date Eunbangul and marry you."
"Banharin's got a weird sense of humor."
The regular sipping her coffee silently spoke up in her cold voice. A beauty who evoked a mannequin carved from ice. Her bizarre compliment drew an absurd smile from Eunha despite herself.
How cute is our Bangul to lure even weirdos like her here?
Eunha shoved a bitten pretzel into the regular's mouth—a silent 'thanks but shut up'—then approached Eunbangul in the kitchen.
The girl was humming as she brewed coffee, but quieter and weaker than usual, tugging at Eunha's heart.
"...You really don't know? About the lost item yesterday."
"That again? I told you this morning and on the phone yesterday—I haven't seen any lost item."
Eunha gazed at the girl's back with a complicated expression.
This was it. This was why she couldn't tell Eunbangul about 'yesterday'... or show her the scars.
Because the girl didn't remember the [Black Book].
She remembered chatting at the cafe and driving Eunha home to Saetbyeol Apartment, but not putting the [Black Book] from the table into the lost-and-found.
4. Cognition is the connection of existence.
— Have you heard the saying 'knowledge is power'?
— Every act of mutual cognition and understanding will draw 'them' closer to you.
Cognition as connection of existence. Meaning, telling Eunbangul about yesterday could summon the terrifying [Red Woman] to her too.
Without even a 'guidebook'.
Conversely, the clueless Eunbangul wouldn't attract 'them' directly.
In that sense, it was truly fortunate. That the [Black Book] came to her, that the [Red Woman] targeted her instead of Eunbangul... She meant it sincerely.
"Haa..."
Eunha thought of the [Black Book] left at home and smiled bitterly.
How did things end up like this? All she'd wanted was a normal life.
For now, it seemed she'd have to keep it as her burden alone.
Eunha sighed deeply, adjusting the scarf around her neck.