Chapter 17: A Wedding Song for Two
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 17: A Wedding Song for Two
One was a black knight, clad in a black helmet and armor.
The other was a girl with red pigtails, wearing a rather revealing outfit.
And the girl's face looked very much like her own.
Doremi Fasol.
Black Ahyu.
They were her guildmates.
“The campfire’s about to go out.”
As she stared at them blankly, Domi walked over and casually pulled some wood from his item window, tossing it into the fire.
He then took out a wooden chair and plopped down. Ahyu sat on the opposite side.
Without a word, as if they were out glamping, they both took out marshmallows, stuck them on branches, and began toasting them over the fire.
Watching them, Yua fidgeted with the hands on her lap before finally speaking.
“Are you both my illusions?”
Hearing Kkotbi’s question, Domi and Ahyu glanced at each other.
Then they turned back to her with expressions that said, What kind of nonsense are you talking about?
“Kkotbi, you’re the one who called us.”
“That’s right. You said you had something you wanted to talk about.”
As their voices reached her through her hazy mind, Kkotbi blinked her drowsy eyes.
Something I wanted to talk about.
Did I?
She wasn’t sure.
“What are friends for? You can tell us anything! I’ll listen with an open heart!”
Just then, Ahyu puffed out her chest and exclaimed.
“I won’t be as flippant as her, but I’ll listen seriously.”
And Domi added his own words.
Yua stared at them blankly for a moment before lowering her gaze back to the campfire.
Facing the flickering flames, her lips parted as if she could no longer hold back the words.
“...It’s a bit of a long story.”
Why was this happening?
Was it because she felt so dazed?
Or had she reached her limit with the self-hypnosis and just needed to confide in someone?
Because this was a game, a situation detached from reality, Yua began to speak of her past for the first time in a long while.
“I was a bard.”
And so began the story of the girl who was both a bard and a great witch.
Domi listened to her story in silence.
He was so dependable that it made it much easier to open up.
Ahyu would often get angry or sad along with her.
The emotions Ahyu so readily displayed seemed to speak for the pent-up knot of feelings that Yua had kept bottled inside.
A character who looked exactly like her real self.
Whenever she saw Ahyu interacting so brightly with everyone, she couldn't help but wonder if she might have been like that, too, had she not been swept away in a dimensional shift.
Perhaps that was why.
Why she’d thought she was in love.
To think I’d only realize it after the self-hypnosis wore off.
Normal people fall in love at least once.
And she had longed for such a normal life.
That must have been it.
Why she had developed feelings for Ahyu, who happened to be her fan and the same age as her.
She had forced herself to create those feelings, even though she didn't have the emotional capacity to truly love someone.
In the end, I was still running away, even after returning to Earth.
A small, bitter sigh escaped her lips.
It was hard.
It hurt.
I was so tired.
Now that she had told someone, the pain felt twice as sharp.
And through it all, the two of them sat by her side.
The warmth of them wrapping their arms around her back without a word was so comforting.
It felt like they would catch even the broken pieces of her heart as they fell.
“Welcome back.”
Through her own voice, she heard Domi speak.
He quietly stroked Kkotbi’s head.
Ahyu hugged her from the side.
“It’s time to rest now.”
Running away.
Enduring.
Both are exhausting things for a person to do.
For those who returned, tired and weary.
Domi, Kang Ha-chan…
He wanted to create a world where returnees would be glad they came back.
And that included Kkotbi, who was right in front of him.
Because he never wanted to see another returnee wear the same sad expression his sister had.
Kang Ha-chan could say it to Kkotbi.
He was just an ordinary office worker who could do little more than listen.
But sometimes, just having someone listen was help enough.
Just one step.
If he could help someone by taking that single step, Kang Ha-chan would do it.
Because that was the kind of person he was.
Hearing Domi’s words, Yua let out a self-deprecating laugh.
She didn’t think he could ever fully understand the pain and suffering she had endured.
Nor did she expect him to be able to make her forget those nightmares.
That was something she had to bear and overcome on her own.
But the sincerity she felt from his words…
Sometimes, it could soothe a person’s heart more than hundreds of policies designed for returnees.
Sometimes, that small bit of sincerity was enough.
Just as the hero Rion and his girlfriend Bianca had been the warmth that allowed her to survive the hell that was Elysium…
Just knowing that there was warmth for her to live by on Earth was enough for her.
Tears she hadn't shed in a long time began to flow, and she had no strength to stop them.
The tears that dripped down her face soon became a flooding river, pouring out uncontrollably.
How many years had it been?
Since she had cried her eyes out like this.
Kkotbi wept like a small child.
Perhaps it was because the warmth she felt from the two beside her was so similar to the warmth of the two who had tried to protect her until the very end.
Rion, you wanted me to forget you both.
But I just can’t.
To me, who lived like a lost child in a world I knew nothing about…
You two were so, so precious.
I just can’t forget you.
I don’t want to forget you.
From now on, I’ll live with you both in my heart.
Even if it hurts, even if it’s hard, that’s how I want to live.
Because there are too many beautiful memories to forget.
So, I love you, and thank you.
When I go to see you both someday…
I promise I’ll sing you a wedding song.
The tears that had spread from her heart flowed away.
Hoping her feelings would reach the two of them, she wiped away her final tear with her hand.
“...I talked for a really long time, didn’t I?”
Even though it was a game, Yua realized a great deal of time had passed while she was talking.
And she thought that, just like that time, a lot had also passed since her days in Elysium.
“It’s okay for me to change a little, right?”
“Be lazy. Be lazy. You work so you can rest. Hardworking, diligent people die young.”
Hearing Domi’s words, Yua let out a small laugh.
It was a tiny laugh, but…
It wasn’t the artificial smile she usually wore.
“Ahyu.”
She then called to her friend beside her.
“I liked you. It was mixed up with a lot of misunderstandings, but still.”
Despite the sudden confession, Ahyu just chuckled.
“And next time, meet me as Ahyu, not as a younger sister.”
But those next words made Ahyu freeze.
As her pupils trembled violently, Yua saw it and laughed once more.
She had already known, subconsciously, that Ahyu was a woman.
Maybe that was why it had been easier to harbor the mistaken feeling of love.
Knowing they would never get together, it was less burdensome for her to act like an ordinary girl.
“Well then, let’s get up. All of us.”
It was time for everyone to return to reality.
*
9
Afterward, we returned from the game.
As for what happened with Kkotbi…
First, she put herself under self-hypnosis again.
It was, after all, unrealistic to expect her to return to daily life without it after just a few conversations.
But at the very least, Kkotbi decided to start the treatment process.
She said she would see a doctor accompanied by a mental-type ability user and practice releasing her self-hypnosis.
Her usual diligence and sincerity shone through even in this, making me wonder if that was just Kkotbi’s true personality.
Morning came, and I left the World Returnee Association to head home.
Seeing the brightly rising sun, a wave of fatigue from staying up all night washed over me.
Thankfully, tomorrow was the weekend, so I could get some proper rest.
“You worked hard, Mr. Ha-chan.”
“Not at all. It was nothing.”
Ms. Baek Seol-hyang, who had followed me out, handed me a cup of coffee.
I took a sip of the warm coffee, feeling some of the fatigue melt away.
“Don’t worry about Ms. Yua. As long as she has the will, the World Returnee Association will support her completely.”
As she said this, Ms. Baek Seol-hyang smiled a little bitterly.
“Though creating that will is the truly difficult part. A returnee can never truly comfort another returnee.”
Her words, that a returnee couldn’t comfort another, felt strangely sorrowful.
Was it because they each had their own circumstances, and knowing that made it hard to intervene?
Funnily enough, maybe it was because I was a complete outsider that I could speak so easily.
“Mr. Ha-chan, have you ever thought about working for the World Returnee Association?”
Just then, Ms. Baek Seol-hyang made an unexpected offer.
Work for the World Returnee Association.
It was a tempting thought.
But then I suddenly remembered Ji-eun and had to shake my head.
“Um, there’s a friend I still need to look after. I’m definitely interested, but would it be okay to postpone it for a little while?”
Hearing my words, Ms. Baek Seol-hyang blinked for a moment, then began to laugh.
As I found my eyes drawn to her silver hair swaying as she laughed, she patted my shoulder.
“There’s no need to rush. Take your time and think about it.”
With those words, Ms. Baek Seol-hyang said she had work to do and went back inside.
The diligence of a true office lady.
“Domi-oppa.”
Just then, Ahyu, who had come out a little later, called to me.
I turned my head at the sound of her voice. She glared daggers at Ms. Baek Seol-hyang as she passed, then smiled at me and slyly linked her arm with mine.
“For the record, oppa, you’ve always been a place for me to come back to.”
“And not just the best person to carry in a raid?”
“There’s that, too.”
Ahyu, who had been smiling playfully, unlinked her arm and placed her hands on her hips.
“But more than that, an acquaintance of mine is my favorite idol. Isn’t that the most amazing thing?”
Saying her luck was almost too good, Ahyu seemed incredibly happy about it.
I had a feeling the two of them would become much closer from now on.
In the game, Ahyu had told her several times that if she ever felt down, she should make plans with her and hang out.
She, too, had genuinely wanted to care for and comfort Kkotbi.
Remembering that, I walked up to Ahyu and ruffled her hair.
“Ugh! What, why are you doing that!”
“Good job. I’m glad you were there.”
I couldn’t have helped Kkotbi on my own.
As I was thinking what a reliable friend she was, Ahyu pulled her hood over her messy hair and huffed.
“Help me out in the future, too.”
I had reaffirmed my desire to create a place where returnees could come back to.
And with Ahyu’s help, the process would surely be much smoother.
“I mean, I’ll help, but…”
Ahyu trailed off, then, as if something occurred to her, she pressed her chin thoughtfully and fell into thought.
“But if this keeps up, the number will just keep growing. What should I do? Hmmm.”
“What will?”
As I looked at her, wondering what would keep growing, she turned away as if it were nothing.
“It’s fine. I’ll just have to keep a close watch from the side!”
What was she talking about?
While I was making a confused face, Ahyu waved at me and said.
“So, Domi-oppa, log into the game later!”
“We were just playing.”
“That was different! You haven’t been playing with me much lately because of your new job. Play with me this weekend.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Now that’s my gaming buddy.
“I’m heading out.”
“Okay!”
Leaving Ahyu’s bright smile behind me, I left.
*
10
“He’s gone.”
“Yeah. So, what is that thing?”
After Ha-chan left, Baek Seol-hyang walked out from behind Ahyu.
In her hands was the laptop Ahyu had picked up from the abandoned building.
“It’s related to dimensional shifts.”
“...What kind of crazy bastards are trying to pull the same shit as the Tower of Revelation?”
“Girasung, of course.”
Hearing that, Ahyu let out a long sigh.
Her gaze drifted toward the massive tower wavering at the edge of the sky, and she clenched her fists tightly.
“Girasung… you plan on destroying them, don’t you.”
“Well, it’s not like I haven’t thought about it.”
“I’ll help you.”
“My, for the Heavenly Demon to offer me her help. What’s the occasion?”
Ahyu scowled, clearly not pleased, but she glanced at the spot where Ha-chan had disappeared and replied as if she had no choice.
“Because those bastards probably saw me with Domi-oppa.”
“…”
At those words, Baek Seol-hyang also fell silent.
A hint of killing intent began to swirl in her blue eyes.
Noticing it, Ahyu paused, then looked back at her and asked cautiously.
“...Iron-Blood, what’s your relationship with Domi-oppa?”
“What kind of relationship? The one between a company president and her employee.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Do you take me for a fool?”
Hearing Ahyu’s words, Baek Seol-hyang simply shrugged.
“I have no intention of telling you.”
“...I really hate you.”
“How fortunate. I feel the same way.”
As Baek Seol-hyang turned and went inside first, Ahyu stomped her foot on the ground once, then spun around and walked away.
They shared the same goal, but the two remained bitter rivals.