Chapter 3: The Beginning (3)
Chapter 3: The Beginning (3)
The next morning.
Yujin-noona woke up even earlier than usual.
Out of consideration for me, she seemed to be trying to get ready without waking me up...
But I’m a fairly light sleeper. I woke up the moment I heard the rustling sounds coming from outside my room.
"Ugh..."
I pushed off the bed with my arms to lift my upper body.
"Phew..."
I immediately prepared to head out to see her.
Fortunately, I had become somewhat proficient at transferring myself to the wheelchair I kept right next to my bed.
After I was injured, I spent a year in the hospital, living mostly bedridden. Back when my muscles had wasted away and my body was at its weakest, such a move would have been a pipe dream. But not anymore.
Thud!
"Whew..."
I was only moving a few inches, yet I had to catch my breath.
My back was a bit damp with sweat, but given the state of my body, this was... well, it was progress. It was a small comfort to know I could do this much on my own without calling for Noona.
Click.
When I opened the door and rolled out, Noona had already packed her things into a suitcase. She seemed to be in the middle of preparing side dishes for me, since I’d be alone for the next week.
She was wearing a grey tank top and black dolphin shorts, her ponytail swaying slightly as she moved—a sight I was used to seeing.
Noticing I had woken up and come out, Noona turned to look at me.
Wearing a white apron, she looked as beautiful as ever. However, there was a hint of apology in her eyes. She probably thought the noise she made while cooking in the kitchen had woken me up.
"Shin, was I too loud? You're up so early..."
Just as I thought.
"No, I just happened to wake up early today."
I quickly told her it was fine, but her expression didn't change much. Even after my reassurance, she still seemed to feel guilty.
Hmm... maybe I should have just stayed in bed and pretended to sleep.
Come to think of it, even if I offered to help now that I was out here, she would obviously refuse...
Sigh. I wasn't thinking clearly.
"Noona, is there anything simple I can do? I want to help, even if it's just a little."
"It's okay, Shin. I'm almost done. Why don't you just sit and wait?"
As expected, she shut down my offer to help instantly. Just like always... it was the same this time.
Noona immediately came over, pushed my wheelchair to the dining table, and sat me down, making sure I didn't lift a finger.
In this situation, the only thing I could do was keep her company and talk to her. Noona seemed perfectly satisfied and happy with just that.
The only silver lining was that what she said earlier was true. Perhaps because she had prepared some things before going to bed last night, the cooking was finished faster than I expected.
This morning’s breakfast was a full Korean spread, packed with the side dishes she had made in bulk regardless of my input.
"How is it?"
"It's delicious, Noona."
Every time I tried a new dish, Noona would watch for my reaction and ask... and I told her the truth.
Yujin-noona’s cooking skills were beyond reproach. She was probably at a professional chef's level. At least, she was to me. There hadn't been a single dish she’d made so far that wasn't delicious.
A smile never left her face, seemingly pleased by my praise, and our warm breakfast continued.
Once we finished eating, I helped her with the dishes. It was one of the few tasks she actually allowed me to help with.
I told her that I could at least bring the empty plates to her, insisting that she let me do this much. Even then, she looked reluctant to agree. I had to tell her that it was hard for me to just sit back and receive everything without doing anything, and that I needed to perform these small actions for my rehabilitation.
The problem was that she remained adamant about blocking me from doing anything else. She refused to let me cook, fearing I might get hurt, so I had no choice. I could see her heart was full of worry for me.
There was nothing for a pathetic, foolish guy like me to do but build up my arm strength and get healthier so I could handle these tasks easily.
After finishing everything from breakfast to the cleanup, Noona quickly got ready for work.
Though she was going on a business trip, she was dressed in her usual black women's suit, looking every bit the perfect career woman.
Watching her back as she leaned over to adjust her heels...
Ahem.
I had no choice but to look away.
The black suit was already form-fitting, accentuating her figure, and the way she was bent over with her backside toward me...
I might be a cripple, but I’m still a man. I couldn't help the stray thoughts.
Fortunately, Noona finished putting on her shoes and stood up, turning back toward me. I calmed my racing heart while watching her long ponytail sway.
I always saw her off when she went to work, but today felt significantly different because she was heading out of town. Since she would be gone for a week, she had checked every little detail, worrying about me being left alone.
She repeated things she had already said yesterday, but it couldn't be helped. Given my condition, her worries weren't exactly unfounded.
"Noona, have a safe trip."
"Okay. You be careful, too."
She gave me a tight hug as we said our goodbyes, seemingly finding it hard to leave.
In the end, she finally left the house five minutes later. And that was only because I practically forced her out, telling her it made me feel uncomfortable if she stayed any longer. If I hadn't, she probably would have re-checked everything she’d been confirming since last night.
Hmm...
Being left alone in the house felt strange.
In the middle of the sudden silence, the sounds of other people heading off to work drifted in from outside. I heard car horns and the voices of children calling out to each other as they ran.
Whether I was stuck alone in this house or not, the world kept turning.
Ugh...
Let's look for some work.
★ ★ ★
Another meaningless day wasted...
Just like yesterday, every resume I sent out on a whim had been rejected. Even if my situation garnered sympathy, no one was willing to hire someone like me.
Huh?
I looked away for a moment, and when I turned back to the screen, I saw a notification pop up in the bottom right corner saying a new email had arrived.
What is it...
Everything I sent today... no, everything I’ve ever sent has been rejected...
Did someone change their mind?
I moved the mouse to check the message.
The sender was... Tiamat?
The subject line read... [Let those who desire something answer my call.]
What is this? A game ad?
It didn't look like an official company ID... It felt more like a gaming handle.
Is this a phishing scam or a virus?
Hmm...
I thought about just deleting it without looking, but... I couldn't bring myself to do it. In my situation, I had to grasp at any straw.
Well, if something goes wrong with the computer, I can just format it. Let's take a look.
The moment I opened the email, I lost consciousness.
"Ugh..."
A groan escaped my lips.
I felt a slight headache, so my face was probably contorted. I pressed my left hand to my forehead and looked around.
It was a sight I had never seen in my entire life. I was inside a temple that looked like something out of a movie or a game.
I couldn't tell where the light was coming from, but the interior was incredibly bright without a single shadow. The walls and floor were made of a pristine white marble that felt naturally holy, and they were so clean I could see my own reflection.
"Are you awake?"
A voice came from behind me.
But it was a voice that didn't quite fit the setting. It was the voice of a young girl.
I turned around and was immediately met with the sight of a cute girl who looked barely ten years old. She had silver hair styled in what you might call ringlet curls, or perhaps a short bob that curled at the ends, reaching just past her shoulders, which added to her cuteness.
Her outfit was peculiar—she was draped in a white cloth that brought to mind images of Ancient Greece or Rome, and she was barefoot.
What is this? A hidden camera prank?
No, that couldn't be it...
It was hard to keep up with the rapidly changing situation. My brain short-circuited for a moment, and I couldn't say a word.
"Why are you just sitting there?"
The little lady's repeated question snapped me back to reality.
Despite her cute appearance, she spoke in a formal, archaic tone, like something out of a historical drama. I felt an extraordinary aura emanating from this child.
How should I put it... it felt like she wasn't someone I could treat lightly. Normally, someone like her should have looked harmless and easy to approach, but I didn't get that feeling at all. For reasons I couldn't explain, I felt a subtle sense of intimidation.
"Hmm... regardless, I thank you. Humans are truly frustrating. To think you are the only one who answered my call..."
"Call?"
"Could it be that email...?"
"Indeed. I used a method you lot frequently use to easily connect with humans, yet you were the only one to respond."
To be honest, I also thought it was just spam or a prank and almost deleted it, only clicking it on a whim...
If you send it like that, of course everyone is going to think it's a joke or spam.
"Do not just sit there on the floor. Take a seat."
When I blinked, a table and chair made of high-quality wood appeared before me.
Uh... but I can't walk...
Wait.
What?!
I had been so distracted by everything else that I only just realized it: I could feel my lower body.
It was a sensation I hadn't felt in nearly two years.
I naturally pushed myself up and stood. It was a feeling I couldn't put into words. I was the useless cripple who couldn't even steady his own body. To have my lower body return to normal so unexpectedly was nothing short of a miracle.
"Why are you so surprised by something so trivial? Sit, quickly."
Seeing my shocked reaction, the girl, who was already seated, tapped the table with her tiny hand to get my attention.
"Ah... yes."
Unless I was an idiot, I could guess that the child before me was the one who had healed my body.
We already lived in a world where supernatural abilities existed. There were portals where monsters crawled out, so a miracle like this was well within the realm of imagination.
She had healed my body, and she possessed an extraordinary aura. It was easy to surmise that she was no ordinary child.
I immediately adopted a respectful posture.