Void Princess's Gift #1
Void Princess's Gift #1
Memories rush in.
What I see in those memories is a face I know all too well.
It was none other than Mun Min.
Huh?
Red light burst from Mun Min's eyes as he spewed black mana. Soon, black chitin began sprouting from his skin. Watching that, I... honestly thought it looked cool.
The memories continued.
I was fighting the monsterized Mun Min. But wait, fuck, why the hell was I having memories of Mun Min? This shit didn't matter one bit. Mun Min, you bastard, get lost!
"Cut!"
I slice away the useless memories and, in the raging storm of thoughts, try to recall anything that might help.
In those memories of Korea, at some point, disasters caused by Fragments start overflowing, and massive numbers of dungeons start popping up all over Earth. The frequency of gate appearances skyrockets too. There are even incidents where another world itself transfers onto part of Earth.
Villains and cultists run rampant, and monsterkin wage war against nations.
I'm not sure what year it is, but... I'm definitely wearing a school uniform, conscripted by national order and fighting.
The past I experienced.
It's the near future.
"I see."
Stacking up.
The disasters are beginning. What still comes to mind amid all that is Si-hoo's back. As I think of that, another memory surfaces. The research lab. A memory about the research lab...
* * *
Bwoo-bwoo.
Bwoo-bwoo-bwoo.
Bwoooooo.
What's with this trumpet sound?
Bwoo-bwoo.
I opened my eyes and saw a blurry figure. I was back on Earth. So I rubbed my eyes and looked straight ahead.
Bwoo-bwoo-bwoo.
Kitty was holding a fancy golden trumpet with both hands, blowing it right at me.
"Kitty?"
Bwoo-bwoo.
"Don't answer with a trumpet."
"Geun-cheol. You're back?"
Kitty hid the trumpet behind her back and greeted me with her signature smile. Of course, the trumpet was so big compared to tiny Kitty that it barely stayed hidden. Anyway, after greeting me, Kitty blew the trumpet again.
Bwoo-bwoo-bwoo.
"Hey, hey. Stop blowing that thing, it's driving me crazy."
"But I want to congratulate you, Geun-cheol."
"Oh, it was for congratulations? Thanks, but where did you get that?"
"I got it somewhere. Bwoo-bwoo."
After blowing a mouth trumpet, Kitty makes a small gate, puts the trumpet inside, then skips over and sticks to my side.
Thump.
I rest a hand on Kitty's head and look at the sky.
"It's dawn."
"You worked hard. You came back faster than I thought."
"Yeah, it was doable. So simple I didn't even need you, Kitty."
"What are you talking about? Kitty is absolutely necessary."
You're like oxygen.
"Anyway. I perfectly finished the quest you gave me... Now do I just go see VP?"
"Mm-hmm, there's still a little time. VP is sleeping right now."
What?
"VP sleeps too?"
"Yeah. She sleeps with one leg sticking out and the blanket pulled up to her neck."
What's with that oddly specific description?
"Everything is just amazing. That a monsterkin sleeps and covers herself with a blanket."
"She plays games too, right?"
"True."
"When it's hot, she apparently sleeps with the blanket only over her stomach."
A Void Princess with a blanket just over her stomach... I can't even imagine it.
"Anyway, so we have some time? Then make a gate so I can go home and rest. Where are we?"
"Hmm."
Kitty tilted her head and looked up at me at the mention of going back.
"Geun-cheol. Aren't you hungry?"
"Hungry?"
Grrrowl.
Come to think of it, I am hungry. I did consume some high-calorie stuff earlier, but my stomach doesn't fill up with just that.
"I'm hungry. I'd better eat something."
"Yeah. Let's go eat."
"Whoa, so the dog that spends three years in a school learns to recite poetry after all. This time, are you buying me a meal, Kitty?"
This is unexpected.
Kitty being the one to bring up eating first. I feel a weird sense of accomplishment, and a proud feeling wells up inside me.
"No. Here."
But then Kitty thrusts her smartphone screen at me as if to tell me to look.
"What's this?"
When I look, it's a review article for some sushi omakase.
Posted on a blog, no less.
"Geun-cheol. Buy me omakase."
"What? Sushi omakase?"
"Yeah."
Of course it would be that.
"What omakase, you little rascal. Let's just go to the workers' diner."
"Huh?"
So we went.
To the workers' diner.
No need for a gate. I turned on the map, came down the mountain, walked straight, and it was right there.
"Noooo. Geun-cheol. I want omakase, not the workers' diner."
Kitty saw the workers' diner's characteristic savory sign and shop, clung to my clothes, and started singing 'omakase, omakase'.
"Yeah. Let's go to the workers' omakase."
"Nooo."
Of course, I ignored her, grabbed Kitty's hand, and dragged her into the workers' diner.
"I hate this place."
"Hehehe. You naughty little Kitty. Hey. Did you think I'd actually take you there? Eat your workers' meal."
"Bwoo-bwoo!"
She blows her mouth trumpet as if to say I'm wrong, but we've already come inside the workers' diner. I immediately buy meal tickets from the lady—one adult, one child—and grab a tray.
"Here. This is the workers' omakase. Pick and eat whatever you want, Kitty."
"Huh?"
At that point, Kitty, who had been complaining...
"Geun-cheol. There's so much food here."
suddenly shows interest.
Her senses of smell and sight have already been captured by the workers' diner.
"A lot, right? You can take as much as you want, as much as you feel like eating."
"..."
At that, Kitty's face went expressionless as she picked up a plate. Then she stuck close to my side and watched the people around her.
She's observing how they load up their food.
"Geun-cheol. Let's go stand over there."
"Yeah, sure."
She was throwing a tantrum about omakase, but the buffet style immediately grabbed her interest. Following Kitty who grabbed my wrist, I joined the line and started taking food.
I'm a hero, so I could easily eat five thousand calories in one meal, but honestly, doing that at a shop that runs on a per-person fee for regular folks would be a nuisance. So I modestly took just some stir-fried pork, pork cutlet, rice, and kimchi.
But tiny little Kitty next to me was happily loading up whatever she wanted.
After we filled our trays, we went to a table and sat down.
"Eat."
"Yeah."
Kitty picked up her chopsticks and grabbed a piece of pork cutlet.
Nyaam.
She ate.
"Pork cutlet is yummy!"
Only then did Kitty's face brighten and she smiled brightly.
This little rascal.
She's cute, though.
"I want to blow the trumpet!"
"You sound like someone chugging a soju bottle. Kitty. Don't blow the trumpet, just eat."
"Okay!"
I replenished my nutrients while eating with Kitty. Well, after we finish and rest a bit, I'll just present that treasure to VP.
But Kitty is eating really well.
"Kitty. Didn't you say you hated the workers' diner?"
"Now I like it."
"Hehehe, look at you. You said you hated it, but you're eating well."
"But I also wanted to try omakase."
"But why the sudden interest in omakase?"
"The power of the internet."
Kitty held up her smartphone, smiling, and pointed to it. Yeah. All of modern people's knowledge came from there.
"Let's go next time, Geun-cheol."
"You'll have to do something cute, Kitty."
"I'll blow the trumpet every day."
"When the hell did you pick up that hobby?"
Well, seeing her close her eyes and blow with all her might is pretty cute.
"This won't do. Kitty. You know omakase is a fish dish, right?"
"Yeah. I know. It's rice with raw fish on top."
"So let's try some fish today."
I get up from my seat, scoop a suitable amount of Gosureo into a bowl and hold it out to Kitty.
"Our Kitty, let's eat Gosureo."
"Gosureo?"
"It's a fish dish."
"I'll eat it."
Without hesitation, Kitty took a piece of Gosureo and started eating.
"Ugh, ugh..."
But her reaction isn't good.
"Too many bones..."
Kitty's face fell as she struggled to pick out the bones.
"Let's just pick them all out and eat."
"Geun-cheol. Kitty hates this. Too many bones."
"While picking out the bones, think about it—imagine the omakase masters deboning the fish."
"I have no idea what you mean."
"Let's eat more Gosureo."
"No!"
And like that, I giggled with Kitty while eating.
* * *
After finishing the meal, moved to a suitable spot and opened a gate. It's been a while since I went to VP's place.
"Well, Geun-cheol. Let's go in now."
"Yeah."
"Should I blow the trumpet?"
"Go ahead."
Bwoo-bwoo.
"Nice."
Listening to Kitty's trumpet, I stepped through the gate.
Swoosh.
This space is familiar now. A vast space of endless darkness. On the floor is a dark red carpet, and straight ahead are tall stairs and a throne.
VP, who I imagined sleeping with one leg sticking out and blanket up to her neck, is actually sitting cross-legged on that throne, looking down at me.
"Hellooo."
I greeted her.
Without excessive formality.
"You've greeted me. Did you bring the items?"
"Well, at least accept my greeting first..."
"Consider it accepted with that."
Her manner of speaking is always so aggressive.
"Anyway, yes. I brought everything. Take a look."
Swiish.
I took out the treasure from my backpack and laid it out. There were only two to begin with. I also set down the magic stones I'd collected while at it.
And finally, even the Fragment I obtained.
"Hooh."
VP shows interest.
"By the way, where exactly was that place?"
"Isn't it another dimension? Why ask when you already know?"
"No, I just asked..."
"You mumble on and on."
Whooosh.
VP used telekinesis to float the things I had brought over to herself, then examined them.
"You mumble on and on."
I can't read her expression.
But VP seems more interested in the treasure than the magic stones or Fragment, as she examines it more intently.
"What is that?"
"Something useful. Ah. You stay right there. I'll come to you."
"Huh?"
In an instant.
Shnk.
VP was already right behind me...!
She got behind me so fast!
"Take off your top."
"What?! What did you say?! Why do I have to take off my top?!"
"Are you talking back...?"
"Ah, y-yes!"
If you say take it off, I'll take it off!
As soon as I take off my top, VP suddenly pushed me from behind and made me lean forward.
"Khug! Why are you pulling such a cruel trick after stripping me?!"
"Truly... you talk too lightly. Unbefitting of a knight. Stay still."
Grip.
I feel pressure all over my body.
What the hell is happening?
I turned my head to look at Kitty.
Bwoo-bwoo.
Bwoooooo.
Kitty was blowing the trumpet!
"Good heavens!"
That mischievous little thing!
"Shut your mouth."
"Yes."
Right at that moment.
Swiish.
VP touched my back...!
"M-molestation! Are you trying to molest me? Mmph!"
Not content with the molestation, she even muffles my mouth with magical power!
"Once again, all you have to do is your part. Of course, since you're involved, I'll give you a little help... Haah. You truly confound me, you."
What does that mean.
Then.
Whoooh.
From the spot on my back where VP's hand touched, I began to feel an unprecedented power. It felt as if something was flowing out from inside VP and entering my body. Thinking I was fucked, I tried to run, but as if reading my mind, VP calmly said.
"It's nothing harmful or negative, so just accept it. It's only natural to give a reward when you've done a quest, isn't it?"
Void Princess said that as she continued her work.
A quest, she said.
I'm scared...!
Bwoooooo.
Still, hearing Kitty blow her trumpet calms me down a bit.
"I'm opening your Blood Meridian now, so feel it."
"Blood Meridian...?"
The power spreading from my back reached the tips of my fingers and toes.
It's a different energy from mana, but... yes.
I feel an unprecedented vitality circulating throughout my body.