Chapter 447: The Last Fortress.
Chapter 447: The Last Fortress.
“Being here like this, just the two of us…. It reminds me of the old days….”
Yoojung murmured quietly, as if to herself.
I watched her in silence. Her eyes were flushed red from the firelight. A flame seemed to have caught within them, her pupils flickering restlessly.
Then, Yoojung offered a faint smile.
“Oppa…. Remember? That time I got bit on the thigh by a Poison Jackal.”
“……”
“It wasn't even fully healed, but I stubbornly kept walking, hiding the pain. But somehow, you were the only one who noticed. During your watch, you suddenly told me to take off my pants…. I was so surprised back then, and so embarrassed. Hehe.”
“…Right.”
A placid reply. Even to my own ears, my voice sounded heavy and subdued. Yoojung must have sensed it too, because the smile she had managed to summon vanished in an instant.
A wave of regret washed over me, and I instinctively turned my gaze to the campfire.
That's not what I meant to say. I could have said it better.
Why do I keep saying things I don't mean?
Her head, which had been resting on her knees, slowly lifted. Facing forward, Yoojung tried to smile again. But it was a weak, forced smile, not one that came from the heart. She was clearly trying to keep the conversation going.
“Heh. Ah… I feel so awkward these days. I’ve always used dual daggers, but now that I’m suddenly trying to use just one, I keep making mistakes. I guess I’m just not used to it yet.”
“I suppose so. In that case, don't try to force yourself to fight. Just hang back with Hangyul. You could get hurt otherwise.”
“…O-Okay. Still, it’s a little sad. I really treasured Skurepf.”
“I'll get you something better next time. For now, just use Moon Spirit.”
…Her smile vanished again. Yoojung stared at me with a blank expression for a moment before lowering her gaze, her expression sinking completely. Her face was filled with disappointment, looking utterly dejected.
I was baffled. From my perspective, I had said it with the utmost comfort and encouragement. If she fought while feeling awkward, she was more likely to get hurt, so I told her to stay back. And I really did plan on getting her a better weapon.
“…I hate you, Oppa.”
But Yoojung choked out the words, burying her face in her tightly hugged knees. Seeing her like that, I had the feeling I'd said the wrong thing—no, that I'd missed the point entirely.
A moment later, a sobbing voice escaped from her lowered head.
“That… hic… You gave it to me yourself…. It was something truly meaningful to me….”
“……”
“Right. You don’t even remember, do you…? You dummy… idiot… mutt… sea cucumber… sea anemone… sea squirt….”
“……”
What a strange list of insults.
A dry laugh almost escaped me, but I didn't let it show.
I quietly took her words. Yoojung continued to mutter for a while longer until she eventually tired herself out and fell silent.
I waited a little longer, and when I was sure she was finished, I picked up another branch. I poked at the fire and spoke calmly.
“Well. Feel better now that you've had your fill of cursing me out?”
“I wasn't cursing. You big dummy, Oppa.”
“Fair enough.”
“Hmph….”
Then again, what she’d just said hardly qualified as insults. Thinking of Yoojung’s usual way with words, I couldn't help but nod.
One silver lining in all this was that her voice was softer than before.
Yoojung shyly lifted her head and looked at me. I patted the spot next to me.
“Come here.”
Yoojung immediately lowered her head again. She hugged her knees even tighter, a clear sign of her absolute refusal. I gave a faint smile.
“Alright.”
The moment I stood up, Yoojung flinched. I saw her head lift slightly before she buried it again.
I slowly walked over and sat down next to her. Then, I gently put an arm around her small shoulders and calmly pulled her toward me.
“No…. Don't….”
Yoojung squirmed, trying to resist. It was a faint struggle, but I immediately stopped pulling. Come to think of it, Yoojung was a woman. I had just thought of her as a little sister and acted without thinking, but I could see how my actions might have made her uncomfortable.
Just as I was about to pull my hand away, Yoojung suddenly melted into me like flowing water, burying her face in my chest. After a bit of fidgeting, she cautiously lifted her head, her lips pouting with dissatisfaction.
“Why are you suddenly doing this…? I said no….”
“No, it’s just that you…”
Following my instincts, I barely managed to hold back the rest of my sentence. The surprise hadn't fully faded, but I brought my hand back to rest on the crown of her head. I began to slowly stroke her fine hair. As if trying to make up for all the affection she’d been missing, Yoojung started rubbing her face against me.
“Mmm…. So?”
“Hm?”
“What you were about to say…. You said, ‘it’s just that you…?’ Mmmhmm….”
“…That I’m worried. That I’m worried about you.”
It was a pretty good ad-lib, if I did say so myself.
It seemed she’d had her fill of rubbing against me. After nuzzling me with enough force to knock me over, a sound of deep satisfaction came from her chest.
“Mhm…. Really? Are you really that worried?”
“…Why do you like it?”
“Just because. It feels good to have you worry about me.”
“What kind of logic is that?”
Her words were so cheeky it was almost annoying, and I tightened my grip on her hair. “Grrr,” Yoojung lifted her head with a start. I immediately soothed her, and she once again nestled her head against my chest. For a brief moment, I wondered if she had actually turned into a cat. I smiled wryly.
“Honestly…. You and Ahn Hyun, you’re the same. Do you both enjoy it that much when I worry?”
“Huh? Me and Ahn Hyun are the same?”
“That’s right, you brat.”
“Hey…. I don’t think that’s right.”
Yoojung pouted at my firm tone.
Suddenly, I thought of Seraph.
‘That makes it worse. User Kim Soohyun, do you wish to see me worry so much?’
Right. In a way, I have no right to say such things.
I smiled quietly and said.
“What do you mean, not right? You’re just a little different. One of them is agreeable otherwise but is hopelessly stubborn. The other listens well but is a ticking time bomb.”
“W-What did I do…?”
“Are you really asking because you don't know? Go on, show me your Player Status. I’m curious to see what it says.”
“N-No way. That’s my privacy.”
Yoojung staunchly refused. But she clearly had a guilty conscience, as her expression immediately turned sullen.
I watched her for a moment. Then, I decided to act on a thought I’d been holding onto.
I should apologize.
Having made up my mind, I slowly opened my arms and pulled Yoojung into a hug.
“O-Oppa?”
Her flustered voice tickled my throat. But before she could say more, I spoke.
“I’m sorry.”
In that instant, I felt her breath catch.
“I’m sorry for breaking Skurepf, and I’m sorry for doing it in front of everyone.”
“N-No, it’s okay, Oppa! D-Don’t apologize! Please? I don’t like it when you apologize… and, and it was my fault, too…!”
Yoojung’s words tumbled out in a rush, but I shook my head to tell her it was alright. I patted her back for a moment before continuing in a calm voice.
“Yoojung. But I want you to know this. I really am worried about you.”
“Ah, ahh….”
I slowly released her from my embrace. Then, I leaned in to meet her gaze. Her face, flushed bright red, looked completely flustered as she lowered her eyelids, avoiding my eyes.
I smiled warmly. Seeing this side of the girl who was always such a tomboy, I felt a different kind of charm.
I began to speak slowly.
“Yoojung. Think about it carefully. The Hall Plain isn’t a world we’ll live in forever. We’ll return to Earth someday. Until then, this is just a place we’re passing through. Right?”
“Y-Yeah….”
“So, let’s imagine we’ve returned to Earth. Do you think, in your current state, you could adapt to a normal, modern life like you used to?”
“A normal life…? Adapt…?”
As I brought up the important topic, Yoojung finally lifted her gaze and cautiously met my eyes. At a distance where our noses could touch, I gave a slow nod.
In truth, what I’d just said didn't only apply to Yoojung. It applied to me, too. But it was already too late for me. I had come too far down this path to turn back.
Even so, I had decided to return knowing full well what it would entail. And…
It's not too late for Yoojung.
Yoojung was still in her third year. Compared to me, she still had a good chance of going back.
Had some of my sincerity gotten through? Yoojung hesitated for a while, her lips parting and closing, before she finally spoke cautiously.
“Oppa….”
“Yes.”
“Can we… really go back to Earth?”
“Of course.”
Her voice was laced with a hint of anxiety, but I nodded without hesitation.
Yoojung’s eyes widened.
“…Really?”
“Yes. We can really go back. So don’t you worry about that one bit. Just trust me. But in preparation for that time, you’ll have to start being more careful yourself, right?”
I answered her repeated question with conviction. This wasn't baseless confidence. I was a User who had actually seen the end of the Hall Plain.
Of course, Yoojung didn't know this, but I could see her expression brighten.
“Okay…. No, yes!”
“Heh. You’re always quick with your answers.”
“No, it’s true! I totally understood what you said.”
“You really mean it?”
I narrowed my eyes at her, and she gave me a pretty wink.
“Yep. I’ll be super careful from now on. Hehe.”
“Hahaha.”
Yoojung and I burst into laughter at the same time. It was the first time in a while I’d laughed so freely.
“Hehe…. Heh…. …Mhm.”
“Haha…. Ha…. …Hmph.”
But a moment later, an awkward silence suddenly fell between us. It was because our faces were so close that our noses were nearly touching. I had met her eyes to have a heart-to-heart, but now that the conversation was over, I realized just how awkward the situation was.
For a moment, silence flowed between us.
“Well. Then…”
“Oppa.”
Just as our breathing began to even out, a small whisper escaped Yoojung’s lips.
“I… I can really just trust you, right? Like now, and from now on, forever….”
“…Yes. You can trust me.”
“Okay…. Then…”
“……?”
And then, Yoojung quietly closed her eyes. At the same time, she puckered her lips slightly. My eyes widened in spite of myself. Unlike my brother, I was quick on the uptake, so I knew exactly what her actions meant.
My throat suddenly felt dry, and I had to swallow hard. At the same time, the faces of several women flashed through my mind.
Jung Hayeon, Ko Yeonju, Lim Hanna, Nam Daeun….
Should I do this or not? I'd feel bad if I did. But wouldn't she be hurt if I didn't?
Just as my mind was about to descend into chaos…
“Kya! Kyaha…. Kyahaha!”
Yoojung abruptly pulled her face back and started laughing so hard she could barely breathe. She shook her head back and forth, shouting, “I don’t know, I don’t know!” I just stared at her, feeling as if I’d been hit with a hammer.
Finally, Yoojung cupped her cheeks with both hands, gasping for air.
“Oh, wow. This is in-sane. This is so embarrassing, isn’t it?”
“H-Huh?”
“Oh, come on~. You know how it is in movies and novels. When the mood is right, the heroine closes her eyes, and the hero kisses her. I wanted to try it, but this is so embarrassing. I seriously thought I was going to die of shame. Kyahahaha!”
“…Haha.”
A sudden feeling of anticlimax washed over me, and I could only let out a hollow laugh.
Now you dare tease your Oppa?
But watching Yoojung laugh while waving her hands, that thought soon faded.
Come to think of it… she's twenty-five now, isn't she?
At twenty-five, she was no longer a child. In fact, for a woman, it was an age of full bloom.
I quietly placed a hand on my chest. And the beating of my heart coming through my hand was definitely thumping…
…or not.
I smiled faintly as I looked at Yoojung. She was still cackling away, finding something immensely amusing. Seeing her like that made me feel warm inside. She had certainly matured as a woman, but… maybe because of all the time we’d spent together, she still just seemed like my immature little sister.
And so, with the intention of paying her back for her little prank, I calmly extended my left arm.
My left hand stroked through her hair before gently cupping the back of her head.
Then, I leaned forward slightly.
“Heehee…. Huh?”
Yoojung’s eyes fluttered open, and she looked up at me. But I said nothing.
Instead, this time I reached out with my right arm and gently placed my hand over her eyes. Yoojung’s laughter stopped abruptly. It seemed she finally sensed something was off.
“Oppa…? What are you doing all of a sudden?”
“Shh. Quiet.”
As I whispered in a low voice, I saw her throat move as she swallowed. I could feel her eyelids tickling my palm as she blinked restlessly, but I paid it no mind and slowly brought my face closer.
Finally, I moved my fingers to brush her bangs aside, revealing her thin, long eyebrows and her smooth, fair forehead.
In the quiet night.
In the silent forest.
And in the heart of a mountain range where countless stars poured down.
“From now on…”
“Uh…. Uh…?”
I gently pressed my lips to Yoojung's exposed forehead.
I could feel the texture of her smooth skin. After savoring the sensation for a moment, I slowly pulled away to see Yoojung’s face, completely frozen except for her covered eyes.
“…Let’s do our best.”
I finished what I was saying with a small smile.
It didn't take long for her to thaw. Yoojung’s tightly sealed lips slowly began to part.
And a moment later… from those wide-open lips.
“H-Huh…?”
A single, shrill sound escaped, dazed and confused.