Remembering the Sole Wish
Crisis-yang!! Boom! Kaboom!! …My vision's all blurry. My ears are ringing. The ground's cold. What is this? Where am I?
My vision finally settles, and the first thing I see is… a massive… gray… wolf. And fighting that wolf is Yumina-unnie.
This place is way bigger than where Yumina-unnie and I were resting earlier… a cave? I said it's big, but that wolf's so huge it doesn't even feel that enormous.
What the heck? What's going on here?
…Ah. A gate right under my feet. Right, I had no intention of entering, but I got pulled in by force. So this is inside the gate? It was called the Wolf Den earlier, yeah.
Auuuuuuuu—!!!!
"Eek!"
The wolf howls, and my body shivers without me meaning it to. I don't know why. Sure, it's scary, but not freeze-up scary.
"Mijeong child! Are you coming to?"
"I-I'm awake now-yang!!"
A voice calls from far away. I answer on reflex… Huh? Can I really yell that loud?
Whoosh! The wolf fighting Yumina-unnie turns to look at me.
Ah, my hands and feet are shaking without my control. It's different from those bad thoughts that sometimes creep in. My mind's fine; it's just my body locking up.
…Because I'm in Little Lamb (EX) form right now?
Scary. Those eyes staring at me like prey. That massive maw that could swallow me whole.
Danger. If that wolf comes for me now, I'll…
Whiiiine— A weird noise from behind the wolf. It's so loud that the big wolf staring at me turns around.
…Thanks to that, I can see Yumina-unnie beyond it.
"Dare to look away? Pay the price."
Yumina-unnie covers one eye with her hand. Blue mana gathers in her uncovered eye, visible to the naked eye—
Laser Eye (A)
Kabooooom—!!!
Aaaaa—!!!!!
"Meeeh~~!!"
The massive wolf takes the beam head-on and howls in agony. Even from my distance, the blast's aftermath sends me tumbling a bit.
Actually, good. My fear-frozen body loosened up a little.
But.
Grrrrr…
Smoke clears, and the wolf looks mostly unchanged. Just some smoke rising from its shoulder where the beam hit. It was effective, sure… but not enough with one shot.
Still, the wolf that was eyeing me now focuses back on unnie.
…No, not "thanks to that"! Unnie's in danger!!
Auuuuuuuu—!!!! Boom!!
Wolf and Yumina-unnie clash again. Unnie dodges nimbly every time the wolf swings its forelegs. The wolf limps slightly on the lasered leg. Unnie's eyes flash, slowing the wolf momentarily, and she fires a few more lasers, weaker than before but still.
Thud—!!
"Kuh!"
Dangerous. The enemy's still too strong. Even grazes accumulate damage on petite Yumina-unnie, but her attacks barely faze the wolf.
Of course. I overheard it when we left the Goblin Den.
—My job? Sniper.
—Whoa! Sounds super strong-yang!!
—Indeed, at full power, I could deal major damage even to an S-rank hunter.
—Awesome-yang!
—But to inflict that much damage, I need a set time completely defenseless. Against a peer, they'd kill—er, take me down in that instant.
Yumina-unnie's a sniper. That wolf's at least her level, maybe stronger. In a 1v1 standoff like this, time favors the wolf. Unnie's getting riskier by the second.
…But what can I do?
"Mijeong child! Catch!"
Unnie, mid-fight, tosses something from her pocket toward me. A small, square thing falls my way.
Artifact: Emergency Escape Device
Would you like to use it?
What is this?
"Use it!"
"…Yumina-unnie!?"
No reply. She's focused on the fight. The wolf ignores my voice this time. It knows reacting to me means unnie hits it hard.
The small item in my hand: Emergency Escape Device. Obvious effect from the name. Forces exit from the gate. No visible exits or passages anywhere in this cave.
…Does unnie have a second one? Probably not. She'd have shown it to reassure me.
If I use this, what about unnie? Can she solo the wolf?
Maybe she has a big move but held back fearing it'd hit me too.
…No, she'd have signaled somehow. Or I escape and fetch help… Who? Gate manager? That guy's awakened, right? Hunter Administration grandpa? No number.
…No good. No one to call. And this isn't a normal gate. Can I even re-enter after leaving?
"…Impossible-yang."
I can't do anything. Useless here or out there. Just like back then.
Would you like to release the effect of Little Lamb (EX)?
A status window pops up suddenly.
…Huh? What? It said no exceptions, but here it is?
Then right now—
=## Release Little Lamb (EX)'s ■ from #*$@■?
—Before I even think "yes," the text glitches. Colors too… Status windows are sky blue, but black-red's mixing in.
…What the hell? The window flickers between sky blue and black-red. Yumina-unnie and the wolf keep fighting. I'm the only one doing nothing.
"Ah… Aah…."
I don't get it. Sudden gate pull-in. Enemy even Ryu Migun couldn't handle. Unheard-of status changes.
Why? We were chatting happily with Yumina-unnie moments ago. I finally had someone on my side, thought I could be a bit happy.
Why… suddenly, just me again….
##= ■■(past)'s %@ suppress *&■& release#?
Staring blankly ahead, the garbled window seems to speak to me.
…Remember what?
Then the black-red window says:
Remember the wish.
…My consciousness fades.
.
..
…
Most people are born with four limbs. Me too.
Most have beating hearts from birth. Me too.
Most cry at birth. I… didn't.
…
..
.
A small house somewhere, living with Mom and Dad. Dad was an amazing hunter, Mom a stunning beauty. I was an ugly mute.
But they said I was a good kid. That warmed my heart.
Dad left daily for work. Mom taught me letters. No outings, no visitors. But with them beside me, those were my life's happiest days.
…
..
.
My once-a-year birthday. I got a gift. My treasure: [Hellfire Demon Dragon].
Then the house burned.
But I was a voiceless child. I hugged collapsed Mom and closed my eyes.
Opened them in a hospital. "Auntie" I'd just met said Mom died. Dad, absent from the house, died same day.
…I was alone.
…
..
.
Some unknown hospital where I lay. One day, auntie put me in a car and drove off.
First car ride ever… not a good memory. She cursed Mom and me nonstop.
Didn't know why. Wanted to beg her to stop, but no voice.
A tiny studio in my name. No furniture. Lonely.
Got a phone. "Contact uselessly and you're dead." Scary.
Got a card. "I'll deposit a bit monthly, use it." 300,000 won a month. I was 8.
…
..
.
Alone. I… was a kid who couldn't do anything solo.
Went outside. Sought help. Got stoned. Called a monster.
…Wanted to say I was just a kid. Went home. Never wanted to leave again.
No voice, phone useless. Knew letters, but no one to text.
…Still didn't want to die. Good kids don't suicide.
Searched internet. Learned to order food. Used maps. Knew my location. Good, not dumb.
…
..
.
5 years pass. 13 now. One morning, eyes open to a status window. Job: black magician.
Black magicians summon guardians.
Hunter Administration clerk eyed me nasty. First contact with "auntie" in 5 years. More curses at Mom and me.
Became hunter. E-rank. No more money. Fine. Didn't want hers.
Went to Goblin Den. First combat. Killed one, puked. Nearly died. No help.
Fine. Always been alone anyway.
…
..
.
Another 3 years. 16 now. Killed goblins daily, saved money. Minimal food. Rest one day a year: my birthday, parents' death day.
…That day hurt most. Hoarded cash viciously. Bought summoning materials.
6 days ago. Wished to the demon. My life's final wish. Gain a voice, became little lamb.
…Huh? Why a voice? Why was my wish just a voice….
"……I remember now-yang."
Because that alone made my life pure misery.
My face was ugly. Fine. Faces differ. Build was good, so people hated but didn't approach roughly. Looks didn't bring only misfortune.
Awakened successfully. No combat skills, no level-ups, E-rank. Fine. Awakened at all is win. Let me hunt goblins for living. Job/skills don't matter.
Fisted goblins barehanded, got Partner. Tough. Won internet event, got black robe. Lucky.
Auntie terrifying monster. But sent promised money always. Lost everything, alone. But my treasure stayed.
See? Not all bad in my life. So.
I believed my wretched, miserable life stemmed from one innate lack.
A voice.
…
..
.
And I still believe it. All misfortune started with no voice, piled up to ruin my life.
So just need a voice. Then I'd live happily like others.
I remember. That I have one now. To convey thoughts, vent feelings—like everyone.
I wished. My final wish.
—Stolen happiness, I reclaim myself.
—Dreams, I achieve myself.
Give me a voice.
Wish granted. Now keep the vow.
I dismiss the vision-blurring status window. Don't need bonus powers I can't control.
Black magician Ryu Migun or lamb Mijeong? Irrelevant.
Because that wish's heart never changed.
I'll help Yumina-unnie. Not as Ryu or Mijeong. As me.
I look ahead. Unnie and wolf still fighting. Wolf dominating. Unnie riskier as time passes.
Unnie's sniper. If someone buys time…
…Then her full-power shot wins it.
My role's set.
"Look this way-yang!!!"
I yell full force. Voice works now.
No reaction. Fine. Till it does.
"Look!!! This way-yang!!!"
Louder. Throat stings. Fine. I cut fingers before.
"Look!!! This!!! Way-yang!!!"
Head spins. Yelling hurts head. Fine, continue. Nothing vs. last 8 years.
…
..
.
"Look… this… way-yang!"
Whoosh! Voice not enough, hurl nearby rock. Still no reaction.
Throat hoarse. Head splitting. No more rocks.
Mean. This super-cute lamb's calling you forever, really ignore?
…But I'll forgive. Just look once. Please?
You damn wolf.
Steady breath. Head hurts, eyes close. Throat still sore. Fine. Mouth opens.
I'll help Yumina-unnie. Not 'cause lamb. She helped lonely kid me. First ally after parents died.
So.
Please. Just once!!!
"Look this way-yang—!!!"
…
..
.
[■■■■■■]
[■■ target ■■ skill ■■ activate■■]
Taunt (A)
…Whoa, my life's first level-up? Job/conditions still hidden. Total glitchy mess. Whatever, not now.
Finally.
Grrrrr……
It looks at me.
That malicious glare terrifies. Maw opens to end me in one bite.
But body doesn't freeze this time. Realizing: I've endured malice like this for 8 years. Now it just makes me laugh?
…So I laugh.
"Meee~ Finally looking this way-yang?"
Auuuuuuuu—!!!!
The beast charges me.