Episode 74. Return to Nothingness 1
Episode 74. Return to Nothingness 1
There are various opinions about the origin of Gates, but most consider the massive lightning strike that occurred in the northern capital area on April 4, 1999, as the starting point.
This lightning struck a temple near the German embassy around 9:01 AM. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but the temple was completely destroyed by the subsequent fire. Considering that this lightning strike was of an unprecedented scale compared to all existing meteorological records on Earth, this can be considered remarkably minor damage. Witnesses near the strike area commonly testified that "a blinding flash lasted for a long time, and we somehow felt as if the nape of our necks were being lifted."
And about 6 minutes after this incident, portals to other worlds—Gates—began appearing simultaneously worldwide.
Currently, the area within 300 meters of where the lightning struck is designated as a restricted zone inaccessible to the general public, and active research continues to this day.
- From 『The Pure Love Couple of Hunter Academy』
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"Hahk......"
I let out a sharp breath as soon as I opened my eyes.
A strange smell drifted into my nostrils.
'I must have been dreaming.'
Discontinuous images swirled through my mind before eventually disappearing without a trace.
Giving up, I slowly moved my head to look around.
'This is...'
The infirmary?
"Did you sleep well?"
"Huh?"
Thump.
As I felt pressure on my wrist, a cheerful voice reached my ears.
"...Eunbyeol?"
Eunbyeol nodded her head once.
"What? Why am I lying here?"
"Don't you remember?"
Eunbyeol smiled brightly and informed me that I had fainted during sparring.
'Ah, right. Fuck.'
Today is my second day of my period.
Surprisingly, the cramps and body aches were slightly less severe than the first day, so I thought I could handle sparring and didn't skip, but apparently I ended up losing consciousness.
'...I was stubborn for no reason.'
Actually, since Seyeon was the one who told me not to push myself and just rest... I stubbornly participated out of defiance.
"......"
Eunbyeol watched me with a beaming smile as I sighed as if the ground would collapse and wiped my face with my palm.
I asked in a voice that was completely hoarse.
"What time is it now?"
"A little before five."
"Shit. Then......"
That's quite a while after the closing assembly ended.
And Eunbyeol had been by my side until this late hour.
'This is insane.'
Keeping someone who even has a boyfriend detained like this.
Lately, I feel like I've been causing too much trouble to everyone except Seyeon.
Bothering people with personal matters is what I hate most... I don't know how it came to this.
I lifted my hand, which felt heavier than usual, and placed it over Eunbyeol's.
At that, Eunbyeol's round eyes widened slightly.
"I'm sorry. Honestly, I'm not much, am I?"
"Uh, huh?"
"I'm super weak, always fainting, skipping sparring, and bad at studying......"
"No, wh-why are you saying this suddenly?"
"I'm really sorry."
"......"
Eunbyeol seemed somewhat flustered, her lips moving uncertainly with a lost expression.
After fumbling like that for a moment, she eventually took my hand and spoke in a slightly trembling voice.
"Yubin-ah, why are you saying such strange things all of a sudden?"
"I-I'm right... aren't I?"
"No! I don't think that way at all, why are you making a fuss by yourself."
Eunbyeol slapped the back of my hand.
"......"
"......"
An awkward silence lingered for a moment.
"...Hoo."
Letting out a shallow sigh, Eunbyeol opened her mouth.
"You've been having a hard time lately, haven't you?"
'......!'
Startled internally, I responded.
"Huh, how did you know?"
"It would be strange if I didn't know? Your expression has been really bad recently."
"Ah, ah......"
I tightly closed my eyes.
Was it that obvious?
Well, given how grueling it's been... it would be strange if emotions didn't show on the surface.
Eunbyeol chuckled softly as she watched me blinking with obvious embarrassment.
"So I won't blame you for anything. I don't know what's going on, but......"
"...Sorry. It's too personal."
"No. You don't need to apologize."
Eunbyeol lifted her head slightly and stretched. Her soft neckline stood out through her slightly parted black bob cut.
"Anyway, in the end, everything will be fine. Really."
Eunbyeol said this with a very bright smile.
It was comfort without a single basis, but that unconditional reassurance was exactly what I needed most right now.
"Thank you."
Eunbyeol nodded in response to my gratitude.
Afterward, Eunbyeol slowly helped me up from the bed and escorted me to the school gate.
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[April 17, Friday]
[17:31]
'Ah... I'm so fucking embarrassed.'
That thought suddenly occurred to me on my way home.
I made Eunbyeol uncomfortable by apologizing after suddenly having an emotional outburst for no fucking reason.
'...I think I even shed some tears at that time.'
Is that why she was so flustered? Eunbyeol.
This is all because of my period.
But my feeling sorry was genuine. Because right now I'm just a nuisance.
Plus, because of that crazy bitch In Seyeon, the situation has gone completely insane.
"Haa."
Still, it was fortunate that she didn't call me during my period. On the first day of my period, she made a shocked expression as soon as she saw me at school and just told me to rest at home. For five days.
'She probably doesn't want to get blood on her hands, right? Definitely?'
I don't think she was being considerate of me.
No, I don't even want to assume that in the first place.
Anyway, it's really fortunate for me.
Two days ago, she said something about how things would become completely new and told me to look forward to it, and fortunately my period arrived just in time.
Until now, I've only resented my uterus, but for the first time, it did something I liked.
I climbed the villa's stairs and opened the front door.
Then I immediately took off my clothes.
...Obviously not to do something lewd. I took them off to wash right away because my body was sticky with sweat.
My uniform, soaked with sweat from the flu-like symptoms, reeked heavily of my body odor.
I put all the laundry, including my uniform and underwear, into the washing machine and set it to quick mode.
After entering the bathroom, I looked in the mirror. As expected, I looked extremely haggard.
'Wow... look at my legs trembling.'
With each step, my body lacked energy, making my joints want to buckle.
If I'm not careful, I might fall and go to the afterlife, so I decided to shower as quickly as possible.
Shwaaa-
First, I turned the showerhead to a gentle stream and held it against my stomach. I looked it up last time—apparently, applying warm water to the abdomen like this helps relieve menstrual cramps.
After staying like that for a few minutes, I felt like my body was floating and my mind was drifting. The transparent tap water flowing over my solar plexus, across my navel, and trickling down between my legs felt strangely unfamiliar.
'...This isn't arousal, is it? No way.'
I checked down there just in case. There was only water flowing from the showerhead.
'Still, it's good that I'm not that sensitive.'
If I were to feel it even once now... I think I'd witness a truly horrifying scene. Seyeon must have given me this break because she dislikes that too.
"Aww... really, that fucking bitch."
I cursed Seyeon once since I thought of her, then slowly began showering.
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Perhaps because I showered for so long, the laundry was already done by the time I came out of the bathroom.
I brought the drying rack to the living room and hung all the laundry. Normally I'd go to the rooftop, but someone always uses it at this time, so I had no choice but to......
Next, I took some bottled water from the fridge and drank a few sips. My hair, stretched down my back, rustled and tickled my lower back.
"Hoo......"
Wearing only panties, I silently gazed at the lingering afternoon light coming through the window and thought.
'It's so peaceful.'
Probably because my worries have temporarily disappeared. Even though it'll start again in four days, for me who's been tormented to the point of having a fit at just seeing the number 7, five days of rest was truly precious.
I should rest a lot now.
Therefore, straight to sleep.
I headed to the closet to put on my pajamas.
Rustle rustle-
"Huh, what the."
The drawer where I keep my pajamas feels completely empty.
Could there be none? Not even one?
I did all the laundry at once earlier.
I reached deeper inside and rummaged through the back.
Tap.
Then one piece of clothing caught on my hand.
It was buried in the corner, barely grabable.
'There was one. Thank goodness.'
I didn't want to sleep naked because it would feel like losing to her.
But the texture feels somewhat unfamiliar for some reason......
Why is it so soft?
Anyway, I grabbed the clothing and pulled it out straight away.
Swish-
"Huh......"
I froze completely upon seeing the clothing in my hand.
This was the black slip made of soft silk that Seyeon had given me before.
Did I receive it during a massage...?
'Of all things, this comes out.'
I was thoroughly enjoying the feeling of being freed from her, so why again......
My good mood rapidly turned unpleasant.
I should have stubbornly refused to accept this back then.
But at the time, I didn't know In Seyeon was such a crazy bitch, so it couldn't be helped.
"I should just throw it away."
I'd rather sleep in just panties than wear this lewd pajamas that she gave me.
I crumpled the slip in one hand and strode quickly to the trash can.
Thump thump-
Then I carefully smoothed out the slip and cautiously stuck my head inside it.
"Heh......"
The uniquely smooth and soft texture of silk clung perfectly to my entire body, making me feel incredibly erotic.
Plus, there's a slit at the hem too... it seems to have become very sexy. Hehe......
"Mmm, I can just sleep like this... huh?"
Suddenly, I felt the top of my head turn cold.
I stood frozen with my mouth agape.
"Wh-what the, fuck...!"
When I came to my senses, I was wearing the slip I was about to throw in the trash.
"No, what is this......"
I bit my lip and trembled.
When did I get this suggestion implanted?
I definitely don't remember.
No, since it's a suggestion, it's natural that I wouldn't remember.
Anyway, let's start by taking it off.
I immediately grabbed the hem with both hands and tried to lift it up.
I definitely tried to lift it.
"Heh...! Ugh, hheuueuk...!"
'Why, why is this happening?'
My hands wouldn't go upward at all. Something like the strange repulsion felt when putting same poles of magnets together kept pushing my arms away, preventing me from taking off the slip.
"Hheuueuk! Eek, kkheuueuk......"
I wrestled with the clothing as if performing some play for about ten minutes.
"Haa, haa, hheu, hoo......"
Eventually, I couldn't take off the slip, having used up all my strength. I only managed to soak the back of my neck with sweat for nothing.
"Haa, shii, it, this is, this is unbelievable......"
Is there even such a thing as hypnosis like this?
The moment I thought that, I realized this feeling was very familiar.
Meaning, there's one more time when my body escapes my control besides hypnosis.
A chilling shudder ran down my spine.
"No!"
Without realizing it, I shouted loudly and shook my head side to side.
This is hypnosis.
Hypnosis that In Seyeon placed on me.
It must be hypnosis.
Cold sweat clammily formed on my hands still gripping the hem.
"......"
With tears welling up in my eyes, I returned to my room.
I didn't think any more about the reason I couldn't take it off.
"Ugh, hh......"
Lying in bed, the erotic sensation of the silk seemed to envelop my body even more, making me uncomfortable.
"I don't want to wear something like this......"
Though I muttered like I was babbling, as soon as I lay down, overwhelming sleepiness washed over me like a tide. My pupils immediately softened and became dazed.
'...Let's just sleep. I can't take it off anyway.'
And anyway, it's not like In Seyeon will see me, so... mm......
"Ssu, ssu......"
My rough breathing gradually quieted, and I soon fell asleep.