The End of Vacation #3
The End of Vacation #3
A variable.
I quickly filed the information away in my head. What could this mean? A variable that even a being on the level of the Void Princess couldn't predict. That's why she wants to collect them?
"A variable, you said?"
"You understand, yet you still ask?"
"No, I just can't figure out what kind of variable it is. Could you please tell me what exactly it is?"
"It is a most perilous variable. The details are classified, so leave it at that."
As if bored, the Princess waved her hand dismissively. It seemed like her way of saying no more questions on this matter.
"Oh, come on. Can't you make an exception?"
"How persistent."
"Why would it be classified anyway..."
"What do you suppose the reason would be?"
—A flicker.
A sharp glint flashed in the Princess's eyes.
"I asked what you suppose the reason would be."
"..."
That question got me thinking.
My guess was that these Fragments were closely tied to the coming apocalypse. But the Princess called it a dangerous variable. That aside, VP was wary of it and intended to hoard them all for herself.
A terrifying conclusion.
Does the Void Princess want...
To control this variable and bring about Earth's destruction?
A chill shot down my spine at the thought.
"Is it being hidden because it's related to your objectives, Princess?"
"Well, I suppose you could say that, couldn't you?"
The Princess rested her chin on her hand and spoke as if bored, looking elsewhere. I couldn't tell if she was serious or not. The woman's attitude was far too frivolous and whimsical.
"Understood."
"Then be on your way now."
"Wait, hold on! Geez, Princess! Just one last thing!"
"Haa. Speak, then."
"Princess! What about me—"
"Concerning you."
—Shhh.
In an instant, her words cut me off and burrowed straight into my ears.
"Should you not be the one to find out yourself?"
"..."
"How dare you demand I reveal your own matters to you?"
I felt a peculiar pressure.
Honestly, it was so terrifying I thought I might pass out. She was clearly annoyed with me right now. Taking the brunt of this woman's irritation would leave me in pieces.
The fact that I could withstand it was because I'd grown a little used to it. Honestly, the more I hung around Instructor Lee So-ra, the more I realized just how ridiculously powerful she is. Her presence is absolutely staggering.
I don't know who would win if VP and the Instructor fought, but thinking of myself as the Instructor's disciple gave me the courage to push on.
"I mean, you seemed to know a bit about me... wasn't there something? Like when you first saw me, and all that. Please. If you know anything about me, just a little—"
"I have no reason to grant that request, do I? Ah, ah. Enough of this. Any further contact is becoming a guarded matter. And somehow distasteful."
"What?"
What was that?
Guarded and distasteful?
"I have answered several questions already, so take your leave."
"Oh, please, VP! Just a moment!"
"You wretch."
—Bang!
"Gahk!"
My arms and legs were instantly bound!
"Do not speak pointless drivel before me. This is your final warning."
"Y-yes...!"
At the words "final warning," I nodded frantically. Her patience seemed at its absolute limit, and if I kept mouthing off in this state, I really would die.
"Whatever your objective may be, it is none of my concern. I simply carry out my own affairs. And you should simply carry out yours, should you not?"
That...
"Were you in need of some crutch? A pat on the back to tell you you're doing well? That is far from the conduct of a knight. Such things are beneath you. Think, act, and take responsibility for yourself. Is that not your duty?"
With those final words.
—Fwoosh!
Still completely bound, I was hurled straight into the gate.
"Ah, shit...!"
Because I was thrown so abruptly, I landed hard on my ass.
My surroundings were just some empty alleyway.
A minor curiosity had been resolved, but an even bigger question remained. What exactly was the relationship between the Void Princess and me? I still couldn't be sure.
But.
At the very least, it seems certain she knows my secret.
"Did I regress, or did I gain Future Sight? Or maybe I crossed over from a parallel world. Seriously."
A secret that even I don't know.
She knows it.
* * *
The Void Princess was wary of me, but from the way she spoke, it didn't seem like she desperately wanted me dead either. Still, she was averse to contact and said we should each just do our own jobs.
"Kitty. What do you make of all this?"
In my own room, I spoke to Kitty, who was casually tearing into some chicken as if she owned the place.
"What exactly are your guys' goals?"
"Who knows? What could it be? Even Kitty can't really understand what my sister is thinking."
She really goes to town on that drumstick.
"The same goes for you, Geun-cheol. You'll need to be a little more polite around my sister. She's too dangerous."
"No... if you're too formal, she dislikes you even more."
From our conversation, I got the feeling she favored a confident stance over a groveling one.
Right, like a knight.
But then again, the way she calls herself "Princess" is something. She definitely seems to have a taste for medieval stuff. Calling herself a princess when she's a monsterkin? Give me a break.
She might look human, but that woman is a monsterkin.
A being from another world.
"Anyway, Kitty. Help me out here."
"Mmhm."
"Things are getting seriously weird in the world lately. And I... I'm very much on guard about it, you know? So I want to get a little buddy-buddy with your sister."
Kitty's support had become absolutely essential. I could totally bribe her into helping me out more, but Kitty also took after her sister in that she was a bit of a wild card.
"Can't you make it work?"
At that,
—Plop.
Kitty set down the chicken she was eating.
"Geun-cheol."
"Yeah."
"A human seeking help from us? What will you do? You'll end up a traitor. Hohoho."
It's betrayal with a purpose, a purpose.
"More importantly, Geun-cheol, what about your promise to my sister? You said you'd restore her things, didn't you? If you don't finish by today as promised, things won't be pretty."
Well, that's...
"I'll just get it done right now. Watch this."
"Hmm?"
I immediately sat down at the computer and accessed the item cash trading site. It seemed our VP had no idea what P2W meant, but with a site like this, restoring gear was a piece of cake.
"Tell her I'm logging into the account."
"Now's her working hours. It's fine to log in. But what's that site?"
"Just watch."
I recharged my mileage on the site and logged into the game. Then I went to the gold trading board to look for a suitable seller... Perfect.
This is it.
"The market rate's a bit steep."
Maybe I'll just casually buy about 10 million gold.
The moment I submitted the purchase request.
—Ding.
A trade request came in.
[10,000,000 Gold]
The moment I accepted, the seller, without a word, placed the 10 million gold in the window and smashed the trade button. Kitty was absolutely floored.
"T-t-ten million gold...? Geun-cheol? What on earth is this?"
"There's tricks to these things."
—Click.
As soon as the transaction went through, the 10 million gold entered my inventory. Simultaneously, I brought up the cash trading site and confirmed the deal.
The mileage was deducted. This was the essence of real money trading.
"How? How did you do it, Geun-cheol? Why did he just give you ten million gold?"
"Hehehe, oh, jeez. Our Kitty still has a lot to learn."
Kitty practically latched onto my shoulder, radiating curiosity.
It's always fascinating when you don't understand how something works.
"Anyway, what I need is the unique-grade Imperial Senior Knight's Sword and Gauntlets. Both at +9 enhancement, right?"
"Y-yeah, I guess so."
"Watch the marketplace."
I immediately found the goods on the auction house, bought enhancement stones, and spammed the enhancement button. After making them both +9, I still had a whopping 7 million gold left over.
"My goodness! It's all restored!"
Kitty's jaw dropped open.
"Kitty. This is the extent of my power. You get it now?"
"No way...!"
"So you'll help me, right?"
"What does Kitty have to do?"
Wait, she's cooperating just like that?
"Hehehe, just put in a good word for me with your sister."
—Pat, pat.
I patted the dazed Kitty on the head and asked her to bridge the gap for me.
"And, well, stuff like dungeons, Fragments, whatever. Just help me get my hands on them a bit. Got it?"
"Mmhm... okay. I'll try my best. So, Geun-cheol, give Kitty ten million gold too."
"I'll see based on your performance."
"All right, Geun-cheol. Kitty will work super hard."
Only then did Kitty, finally acting like a proper little sister, hug me and rub her face against me.
How great is it when she actually listens like this?
Still, the Void Sisters gaming though... Maybe I should use this as a point of access next time?
* * *
"What?!"
A dark space.
"Wh-what is the meaning of this...!"
The Void Princess's voice echoed out.
"Is this even remotely possible? What sorcery did you conjure to restore everything in a mere few hours!"
"Sis. He even left 7 million gold to spare."
"It seems he knows a thing or two about courtesy!"
Just as Kitty said, aside from the lost equipment, an additional 7 million gold had appeared.
"More!"
The Void Princess commanded.
"Have him bring more offerings!"
Tribute was to be brought.
* * *
"Geun-cheol. Break's almost over, apparently."
"Is this for real?"
The break is ending already? What have I even done?
"Si-hoo. Please, I'm begging you, don't say crazy stuff. How long has it been since break started, and we're already going back to school? You really spout some ridiculous nonsense sometimes."
"Please face reality...!"
I don't want to face it.
"Still, we got a fair bit done, didn't we?"
"I guess we did."
"Anyway, Geun-cheol. You properly stacked up some skills over the break, right?"
Skills, huh.
"Isn't that obvious? I stacked them up plenty."
"Then let's go out."
"You want to go out?"
Si-hoo flashed me the most refreshing smile as she spoke.
"I need to put your strength to the test myself today, Geun-cheol."
"Hoh, you little bastard, Lee Si-hoo. You've been dodging me this whole time, and now you want to finally throw down?"
"Forgive me for that. I had my reasons. I want to see your skills too. Let's go out and spar a bit."
Well, fine by me.
Sparring with Si-hoo would be good too, I guess.
"..."
But today, there's something... more important to do.
The reason I identified Si-hoo as the protagonist, the intense memories that keep flashing back. And the matter of Si-hoo's secret.
This is a perfect opportunity.
Let's try to find out about it today.
"And also... since we're out anyway, it might be nice to enjoy the last day of break. Geun-cheol, okay? Right?"
"Sounds good! Then let's eat first!"
