When Dawn Breaks (1)
'I didn't plan on this...'
I'd just wanted a lemonade at the nearby café.
But when I snapped out of it, there was a slice of cheesecake sitting right in front of me.
It's really not my fault.
That thing in the display case totally came onto me first.
Tears welling in my eyes, I picked up the fork.
Nom nom nom.
But hey, you can't just not eat something you've already ordered.
Gulp. Downed the lemonade too.
Switching from iced tea to lemonade the moment I saw the cheesecake? Total divine intervention. They pair perfectly.
"Miss, was lunch not enough for you?"
Keter gazed at me with a worried look.
Did I eat it too enthusiastically?
"Nah, it was plenty."
Keter had made my favorite tteokbokki for lunch today.
Mala tteokbokki—a flavor I'd never tried before—and it hit my taste buds just right. I ate my fill.
"This is just dessert."
Not because I'm hungry or anything.
I just saw the cheesecake and it looked too good to pass up.
There's that saying about having a separate stomach for dessert, right? That's all it is.
"I'm relieved to hear that."
Keter let out a small sigh.
He'd been genuinely concerned.
"If your meals ever fall short, please tell me anytime. I'll prepare more without hesitation."
"No need. It's already more than enough."
Honestly, I sometimes can't even finish it all as it is.
If he made more, I'd just end up throwing some away. And wasting Keter's cooking? That'd be a crime.
With those thoughts, I slowly scooped another bite of cake into my mouth.
As I savored bite after bite, the café started filling up.
"Did you hear about Dawn disbanding at dawn?"
"Of course. I applied to join last month and got rejected—total blessing in disguise."
"Right? Over twenty casualties just from this subjugation."
"Whoa... If I'd gone under Yuseolhwa, I'd be dead."
The conversation from the nearby table drifted over.
The news of Dawn Guild's disbandment was apparently the hot topic among Awakeners too.
Honestly, I didn't get it. The disbandment wasn't the important part.
No matter how much they called Dawn a has-been guild, it was still a powerhouse in its own right. And they'd gotten wrecked by a brand-new Grade 4 doll.
Why wasn't anyone focusing on that?
"Keter."
"Yes, Miss."
"New dolls are popping up, and appearances are way more frequent lately, right?"
Things in Erosion Zones are unpredictable by nature.
But changes piling up like this one after another? You can't help but get suspicious.
"Could it be connected to your mother?"
The sudden Grade 1 doll.
The impersonator incident.
And now all these new doll types cropping up.
"Indeed. Though I have no idea why she's stirring again now."
"Yeah."
She didn't even show during the Great Subjugation.
Why start moving just when peace finally arrived?
I finished the lemonade and glanced at Keter.
He looked a little forlorn.
A mother was still a mother, no matter what.
"Crowd's picking up. Time to head out."
Did I kill the mood bringing it up?
I stood before the atmosphere could sink further.
"Understood. Shall we head to the nearby park?"
"Yeah. Gotta walk off what I just ate."
"Are you perhaps dieting?"
Keter tilted his head at me.
"...Not that seriously. Just feels like I've put on a little weight lately."
I scratched my cheek as I said it.
"Contractors of elder mascots do not change in build. No need to worry."
"Right? Must've been my imagination."
Come to think of it, my belly's always been kinda soft.
Overreacting, huh.
"If anything, I'm concerned you're too slender, Miss. You could stand to gain a bit more."
That put my mind at ease.
Now I can snack guilt-free.
Two thumbs up.
Chatting idly with Keter as we strolled the park, the sun was already dipping low.
My pocket buzzed. Kim Doa.
"Hello?"
"What're you up to right now?"
"Me? Strolling in the park."
"Not busy, then?"
"Why would I be? You guys aren't giving me any requests."
You'd chew me out if I barged into an Erosion Zone on my own.
But then you don't actually assign subjugation requests. Kinda contradictory.
"Can't be helped. Dolls are spawning like crazy lately, so we're letting other Awakeners rack up experience this time."
"Ugh, booooring."
"Subjugations aren't for fun. Plus, we're holding you in reserve for emergencies."
Fair enough, I guess.
With Gwangwon and the other top guilds swamped like this...
If a Grade 1 doll summon point popped up out of nowhere, it'd be chaos.
Not many can solo a Grade 1 like I can.
"So, what's up?"
"Uh... Can you watch Yuseolhwa for a bit?"
Yuseolhwa?
Ex-Dawn Guild master, right?
"Why her?"
"We rescued her last time, but she's in rough shape—needs constant watching. But I'm swamped with rotting dolls right now."
Desperation seeped into Kim Doa's voice.
She's always busy with something.
"Got it. Just sit and watch her?"
"Keep her from bolting. Block her hard if she tries diving into an Erosion Zone. She still hasn't taken down that Grade 4, so she might sneak out if you're not careful."
"What? You still haven't caught that thing?"
I figured the Management Bureau nabbed it during the rescue.
"Too many shadows this time. We're regrouping for the subjugation."
"Hmm... Okay?"
"Same goes for you. Don't you dare head there."
"Pfft, after the scolding last time? As if."
A sigh came through the speaker.
"Fine. I trust you. Sending the hospital info."
"Yep."
Beep beep.
Call ended.
Kim Doa worries too much.
Like leaving a cat to guard a fish market.
She still hasn't realized you shouldn't entrust me with that in the first place.
"Keter, let's head home."
"Was that call from Miss Doa?"
"Yeah. Wants me to watch Yuseolhwa for a bit."
Keter paused, caught off guard by the unexpected name.
"Understood. I'll prepare the car when we return."
Fruit juice for a hospital gift? Yeah, that works.
Been a while—can't remember exactly.
Grabbed some fruit juice on the way back. Pondered hospital gifts, but went with Keter's recommendation—a healthy assortment box packed with flavors.
Rode in the car Keter drove straight to the hospital.
Awakener-exclusive hospital, apparently. The vibe was worlds apart from a regular one. Hadn't been to one lately, so I didn't even know places like this existed.
Checked the room number Kim Doa sent and opened the door.
In the room sat a woman with white hair and shadowed red eyes.
Her gaze out the window looked pitiful.
Former Dawn Guild master, Yuseolhwa.
"Lots of visitors seeking me out today."
Yuseolhwa turned, giving me a wry smile.
"Long time no see, Residual Shadow. What brings a hero of the old era here?"
"Don't call me that."
No wonder Seoyeon flips out when called Absolute Sword.
This is more embarrassing than I thought.
Residual Shadow? What even is that.
"Fine. What should I call you, then?"
"Just normally. We're not One Day fans or anything."
"Got it."
Yuseolhwa smiled faintly.
She's one of the earliest Awakeners, top-tier in ability, growth, and Erosion resistance.
Dawn could even rival Gwangwon thanks to her.
Which is why she's one of the few who knows about the Great Subjugation's hero.
"Management Bureau asked me to check on you."
I sat in the chair beside her.
"Why? I figured they had no reason to give me special treatment anymore."
"Not special treatment. You're a flight risk."
Her wounds look healed, too.
Awakeners recover fast, huh.
Leave her unsupervised for a second, and she'd bolt straight to an Erosion Zone.
Bureau knows it, so they assigned Doa or me to babysit.
She got wrecked hard even with shadows absent. Solo now? Predictable disaster.
"A has-been who lost guildmates to a mere Grade 4 doll? What threat am I?"
Yuseolhwa's hand clenched lightly on the blanket.
She called herself a has-been, but those eyes weren't defeated.
She's itching to charge into an Erosion Zone right now.
"So, what went down in the Erosion Zone?"
"I was incompetent and got pitifully rescued."
I stood and approached Yuseolhwa slowly.
"Don't lie."
"What do you mean?"
She looked at me calmly.
"Look, I'm not here just to babysit. You're going back to the Erosion Zone anyway, right?"
Not like I'm obeying Doa either—planning to hit one myself.
Two birds: check Yuseolhwa's state, team up if she's good. She'd have intel on the new Grade 4.
"……"
Yuseolhwa said nothing.
No denial, no excuses.
"Same as ever—you're out of your mind."
She chuckled softly after the silence.
"Hear that a lot."
You need a few screws loose to be a magical girl. That's why I'm here now.
"Alright, spill. What happened that day in the Erosion Zone?"