Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Everyday Life and Change
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No sooner had I let out a sigh than Je-hyeon oppa came over to me. He saw me fidgeting and grabbed my cheeks, pulling them.
“Ow…!”
I had to endure the pain just like that.
“You little brat. Do you know what time it is? Why are you out here?”
“Becauth I wanted to.”
“You can’t go out late at night, got it?”
“Nooo.”
“Ha…”
Je-hyeon oppa sighed and released the grip on my cheeks. I rubbed the pulled skin with my hand, grimacing.
“A girl shouldn’t be out this late. Understand?”
“Yes…”
I answered in a slightly subdued voice. Je-hyeon oppa chuckled.
“So, little one. Got enough fresh air?”
“Yes.”
I nodded and gave a small smile. And inwardly, I felt relieved. Luckily, my usual luck didn’t show on my face.
“Then head inside and sleep. Early to bed makes you grow tall.”
“Yessir~.”
I waved at him as I headed into the hotel. Je-hyeon oppa watched my back the whole time. I scurried toward the hotel stairs.
Tiptoeing, I quietly opened the door and slipped inside. Fortunately, Mom and Dad were fast asleep. …Score.
As I was drifting off, I suddenly remembered something I’d forgotten. …Ah. I should’ve made Je-hyeon oppa promise to keep quiet…
‘Ah… Whatever…’
He wasn’t the type to tattle anyway. With that thought, I closed my eyes peacefully.
My prediction held true. The next morning, Je-hyeon oppa didn’t breathe a word to my parents. After breakfast, I sighed in relief and tucked the ring around my neck into the sub-space of my student ID in my duffel bag. I couldn’t take a plain ring necklace like this anywhere near water.
This time, we headed to the beach. The ocean waves were crashing wildly. Watching them roll in, I briefly recalled the scene from my dream. Truth be told, I preferred the sea over a pool. I smiled at the surging waves.
After slathering on sunscreen, I floated on a tube, riding the waves, then donned goggles and dove under to enjoy the purified ocean vista. Of course, I dove deeper only with the oppas. They even rented diving gear here. Mom and Dad watched us from near the sand, occasionally joining us in the water to ride waves and play. All in all, a fun day.
Our goal was to conquer one area per day. Day one: pool and slides. Day two: beach. We didn’t stick strictly to one spot, though. Sometimes we’d play in the pool and detour to a nearby attraction.
Day three… attractions. Except roller coasters like the Blue Dragon, even the kid versions. I couldn’t ride them. Too scary.
Minhee looked disappointed.
“Why can’t you ride the coaster? It’s fun.”
“You know why I hate heights? Afraid I’ll fall. Same with coasters. Feels weirdly resistant, and I hate that.”
Inha tilted her head curiously.
“Really?”
“Hmm… Not sure exactly. Just scary.”
“I see.”
Inha nodded. I turned to Minhee.
“Anyway, it’s true I hate that coaster drag.”
“Drag? Like a subordinate who does what you say?”
“No, different kind of drag.”
“What’s that?”
“Hmm, how to put it. Feels unnatural, heavy?”
“Huh.”
“Kids our age talking like this…”
What… just silly chatter.
That third day, the incident happened. We were going back and forth between attractions and the pool. By then, our parents had fully handed us over to the oppas. We wove through the crowds and spotted a ride.
“Hey, even a coaster like that one’s okay?”
“Yeah. It doesn’t flip. Like a big slide. I like those.”
“Rapids ride…? Wanna do that?”
“Yes!”
Giggling and raising my voice excitedly, I suddenly noticed the usual lively voice missing. I looked around. My eyes widened.
I didn’t know when she’d slipped away. But when I realized, she was gone. Gasp…! I swallowed hard. Inha turned to me puzzled.
“Eunha? What’s wrong?”
“Sh-she’s… gone…”
“What?”
“O-oppa! Minhee’s missing!”
“…What?!”
Yeah, Minhee had vanished from our side. Only after hearing me did the oppas and Inha notice, their faces shocked as they scanned around. It was real. No matter the crowd, if she was nearby, my eyes could spot her instantly. But no. Nowhere around was Minhee’s mana color visible.
“Gasp… Did she get lost?”
“Damn. When did she slip away?”
“D-don’t know.”
…Wait, hold on. Calm down, me. I gripped my forehead and looked around. Even if lost, Minhee wasn’t dumb. She was a genius. She’d memorized the paths we’d walked perfectly. So the issue was ‘how to contact her without missing each other.’ And also, ‘hope nothing bad happens to her alone.’ In this huge crowded place… I grew more anxious with each thought.
“F-first, go to Auntie Seona?”
“…Her?”
“Yeah. We got magic items from her. She cast tracking spells, right? She can find her quick.”
“Right!”
Anxious Cheonho oppa suddenly pointed at me enlightened. I jumped at the reaction. Inha looked enlightened too. Even stern Je-hyeon oppa relaxed a bit.
“…You’re sharper than us. Good. Hold hands. Teleporting.”
“Y-yeah.”
“Got it.”
At Je-hyeon oppa’s word, Inha and I clasped hands, then grabbed him with our free ones. He and Cheonho oppa linked, and darkness enveloped us. When it cleared, our parents were in front.
“Oh my, why teleport all of a sudden…”
We rushed to them the moment we saw.
“Auntie Seona!”
“Ms. Kim Seona!”
“Mom!”
“Wh-what’s this? Wait, where’s Minhee…?”
“Minhee’s gone. Can you track the item we gave her?”
We shouted urgently. Our puzzled parents’ faces turned shocked in unison.
“Oh my god, how?!”
“Just blinked and…”
“You should’ve been careful! In a place like this… Okay, wait.”
Auntie Seona closed her eyes, concentrating. We watched tensely. Je-hyeon oppa stared at her, fists trembling with self-blame. I clasped my hands, waiting for her word. Soon, she pointed a finger roughly in a direction.
“25 degrees from here, about 100m. Lucky, not far.”
“Thank you.”
Je-hyeon oppa bowed and bolted that way, vanishing from sight. Auntie Seona looked flustered.
“Jeez… So impatient. Understandable, but distance alone’s tricky to pinpoint… You kids come with me.”
“Y-yes!”
“Mirae, you and Jeongmin stay. We’ll be right back.”
Auntie Seona grabbed our hands. Before the three parents could speak, she teleported. We moved instantly. Breezy mana scattered before us.
Soon, Je-hyeon oppa, who’d rushed off scanning from above, joined us. Cheonho oppa scolded him for being too hasty.
“Felt her nearby. But too many people… Split up and search.”
“Yes!”
We spread out desperately. Crowds are good and bad for kid safety. We paired: Cheonho oppa and Inha, me and Je-hyeon oppa, Auntie Seona solo. Three teams. Feeling dizzy, I still checked mana colors one by one as I moved.
So I spotted Minhee first. She was with a middle-aged man. Casually checking his mana, I jolted. Whoa… I couldn’t fully grasp stronger people’s mana, but this felt enormous.
“Oppa. Found Minhee!”
“Yeah? Where?”
“There!”
I grabbed Je-hyeon oppa’s sleeve and pointed. He spotted her, grabbed my hand, and ran. As we were about to call, a sharp voice rang.
“Hey, mister! You said you saw my oppa? Where exactly!”
“There, there.”
“Where’s ‘there’! Keep going that way and it’s the woods, I know! Let go! I can find them myself!”
“Hey, listen to adults.”
“If you don’t let go, I’ll scream! Kyaa…”
Whoa. I covered my mouth. Never thought I’d see a real lolicon right in front of me. The man covered Minhee’s mouth, whispering something. I couldn’t hear, but glancing at shuddering Je-hyeon oppa beside me, it wasn’t good.
Oh boy, trouble. But no urge to stop it… I slyly let go of his hand. He dashed over, grabbing the man’s wrist.
“Stop.”
“What?! Some kid pops up and—”
“She’s my sister. Let go of her hand!”
“Minhee. Come here.”
“Oppa!! Eunha!!”
The man resisted angrily, but Je-hyeon oppa held firm. I ran after, and while he glared, I pried the man’s grip off Minhee’s wrist. Confused Minhee brightened seeing us.
I grimaced at her reddened wrist. Backing up warily, I prepped spells just in case. Bracelet as item cover, should work! Glaring furiously at the lolicon creep, Minhee babbled happily.
“No, see! Noticed you guys gone! But this mister said he’d take me… But we kept going and no sign, so I said take me to the aunties instead? But he wouldn’t let go… Felt weird, right? You said scream and say no in these cases. But then he said… if I shut up, he’d show me something good… What ‘good’…”
Argh, damn it.
Suppressing the curse, I shielded Minhee and backed further. I called Auntie Seona with flame magic.
“Auntie. Can you hear me?”
“Huh? Ah! Eunha! Found Minhee?”
“Yes. But… awkward situation.”
I glanced at Je-hyeon oppa mid-struggle, still mindful of us—he’d heard everything. From Minhee’s words ending, he glared murderously, mana flaring. The creep responded in kind. I continued mentally.
“Je-hyeon oppa’s about to cause a scene? Come here please.”
“What?!”
As my flame ended, it exploded. Their spells clashed instantly.
“You punk who hasn’t lived 20 years yet, where’s this rebellion from!!”
“Not all adults are the same…”
“Wack!”
Mana collided, fierce winds blasting. Commotion would draw the others. The area grew chaotic.
“What the—!”
“Magic fight in civilian zone?!”
“Crazy? Someone stop them!!”
Familiar faces landed before us: Auntie Seona, Cheonho oppa, Inha.
“What? Why’s it like this?”
Cheonho oppa asked grimly. Only Minhee and I could answer, but she looked clueless. So I did.
“That mister was trying to sexually harass Minhee…”
Unsure how far he’d go, I softened it. Even that made Auntie Seona and Cheonho oppa scowl. Cheonho oppa geared to join.
“…We saw, so it became this.”
“Insane.”
“I’ll beat that bastard dead.”
“Complicated. Stay out.”
Auntie Seona gripped her head frowning but firmly told Cheonho oppa. I felt the temperature plummet. Looking up, Auntie Seona was terrifyingly furious, despite her words.
That fight, Je-hyeon oppa had the edge. Strong as the guy felt, not B-rank Je-hyeon oppa level. But Auntie Seona stepped toward them. Sparkling icy winds swirled her raised hand. She slammed it between them.
Crack!
The area was nearly empty—most fled, a few strong ones spectating. No hesitation.
The result stunned. That light downward strike split water along the line, freezing it mid-gush in white frost. Her spell’s wake hit both, negligible for Je-hyeon oppa, but the man paled visibly, body frosting over.
Breathing out showed frosty breath. Midsummer chill… Minhee gaped in awe.
“Wow, Auntie Seona’s amazing…”
“My mom after all… But Eunha.”
“Hm?”
Turning from marveling at her mana, I looked at Inha. She asked.
“What’s ‘sexual harassment’?”
“Uh…?”
“Yeah! What is it? Did I get ‘sexually harassed’? Why’s everyone mad?”
“W-well, um…”
I groped for words, then clutched my head. Arghhh… Am I crazy! What kind of school doesn’t teach 2nd graders sex ed! In this harsh world!!! Isn’t sex ed urgent for cute kids?!
I pondered seriously. Straight explanation might turn verbal assault. Sex ed first for these innocents? Okay?
Decision: Gift them sex ed comics.
“…Too complex for me to explain. I’ll show you a book later. Understand from that.”
“…? Okay.”
“Eck? Hate books.”
“Manga.”
“Hmm, then fine.”
We looked back at Auntie Seona. She wrapped her fist in her palm, ready to continue the fight. She sneered coldly.
“Heard you did something vile to our kid? There. Stay frosted. We’ll freeze you solid and hand to cops.”
“Y-you!! Kim Seona!!”
“That’s why messing with an angelic kid gets you caught. Je-hyeon? Can’t show kids ugly stuff, take them to him.”
“…Understood.”
“Even as adult, student causing scene is trouble.”
“Thank you.”
Je-hyeon oppa bowed to her and approached. Moments later, we teleported. Mom, Dad, and uncle welcomed us.
“Ah…! Good, found Minhee! Minhee, stick close to oppa and friends.”
“Hehe… Sorry.”
“Where’s Seona?”
Mom’s question left me awkwardly silent. Fighting? Yeah, apt? More one-sided punishment? I picked careful words.
“Uh, um, magic-bombing.”
“Wh-what? Why?? Suddenly…”
“Mister who lured Minhee…”
“What?!”
Mom shrieked in shock, then knelt eye-level with Minhee.
“Minhee. You okay? Nothing weird? He didn’t touch anywhere??”
“Hey, lure, luring… Hard to say. Anyway, what’s that mean?”
“Kids don’t need to know! Not yet!! Ugh, no wonder Seona’s mad! Don’t worry. She’ll avenge you!”
And… as Mom said, Auntie Seona thoroughly avenged on the creep before returning. Back relieved, she detailed it to us. I plugged ears midway, bowing head. I couldn’t stomach cruelty, see or hear.
Glancing at clueless friends, I sighed relief. You’ll get it when older…
Anyway, I learned: Never take eyes off kids. Thankfully, rest of trip incident-free.
Last day, we returned home refreshed.
…Or so. After trip, hearing from Hansu, Hyunho, Siha:
[So, what’s sexual harassment? Hard word for bullying? Adults acting childish.]
[Or kidnapping?! That’s awful!]
[Yeah, really.]
Ah, figures. I bowed head. They’re 2nd graders too. Just 9. What was I expecting.
[But sounds like Je-hyeon hyung and Cheonho hyung adore you? Got closer too.]
“Huh?”
I widened eyes. Inha echoed surprised, “Really?”
Hansu nodded.
[Yeah. Je-hyeon hyung babies Minhee but dislikes other little girls. You know that age? Noisy, cry if not their way. He hates that.]
Hmph, acting grown. I half-doubted Hansu. You’re a kid too, dude.
[But he’s nice to you.]
[Yeah. Cheonho hyung’s nice to all anyway.]
[Right.]
“Guess so…”
Inha pondered.
“Yeah… He barely talks to me, but pets you, smiles…”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Kinda annoys me. Discrimination, but not mean to me, so okay? But steals our time together.”
“Oh…”
Kid logic? Inha’s world still revolved around me. Not bad. Mine around her too. Manga fan, I idealized friendship over love. Not wrong. Love’s already… in motion.
“Ah, late. Bedtime.”
“Yeah.”
[Yeah. See ya.]
“Bye.”
[Message later!]
“Sure.”
We ended video call, lights out, bed. Soon, even breathing from beside.
I took long to sleep usually, but post-dream access, I controlled it.
Yet I stared at ceiling awake. Hand to chest, lifted ring hidden inside collar on necklace chain. Familiar face surfaced.
Yeah. Now, friends and family are my all. I remember when you were my all in love. Family mattered, but you most. Precisely, my feelings for you.
Yet now, fuller happiness than that thirsty love. When we meet again, you won’t be my all. You aren’t anymore.
I’ve changed.
Screamed, rejected, shook off—still you were all. But reincarnated, met perfect friend. Loving family too.
I don’t believe eternity. Too realist, unchanging hearts? Manga, novels say no. Nothing eternal. Stronger, gone, changed—never forever.
Don’t think current friends eternal. No eternal friend ever. Close ones find new in 1-2 years. True friendship? Dunno.
Yet I believed eternity once. With that guy’s love.
But another eternal wish: friends with these kids forever. And someday, you…
I kissed the ring.
‘…Blood pact. We claim each other.’
Real. Even reincarnated, I love you unforgetting.
So please, I’ll wait.
No clue why, but from past life to now, I know we’ll meet again. And memories fade on rebirth—natural to me. Truly no reason. ‘Memory gap.’ But even forgetting that faith, heart believes naturally.
So I’ll wait to meet you this life, again, forever.
I firmly believe I’ll eternally ‘love’ you.