Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Park Dahye's Three Wishes
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A body grown languid from a long gaming session.
A belly stuffed full with chicken.
Cool breezes whispered in from beyond the veranda door.
It was the perfect night to cap off the first day of a holiday.
Things had been a blast with that foreign object named Park Dahye crashing the party, and there were still three more days of vacation ahead.
Maybe this moment would go down as the happiest memory of my life.
Man, I really am such a kid sometimes.
Getting all hyped up over one friend dropping by and scribbling in my imaginary diary before crashing out.
No wonder I hit it off with someone nine years younger.
"Egu-gu~."
On a night like this.
Park Dahye, who'd been talking about making a wish, said nothing as she crawled up onto the sofa and flopped right onto my lap.
"What're you doing? Want me to grab a pillow?"
"No. I like this."
"So what's the wish that's got you all quiet?"
"I told you. Knee pillow."
"I'll just give you a real pillow. Your neck's gonna hurt."
"Seonghyeon, losers just gotta go 'Okay~'."
That damn cheekiness.
Just because she grinded a bit longer in the game, did that make it okay to act so smug?
This wasn't some reversed world where studying got you hate and gaming got praise.
But the brat who'd commandeered my lap without permission seemed pretty pleased with the setup, looking up at me with a cheeky grin.
I heard somewhere that cats would be extinct if they weren't just a tad cuter.
You're not all that different, so keep that in mind.
"I don't mind, but is this really enough for your wish?"
"Yup, yup. I love it. Still got two more to go."
"You set the rules. Don't blame me now?"
"Why do you keep asking...? Am I heavy?"
"Nah, not at all."
"Then stay still and don't move. I'm someone who earned the right to enjoy this wish."
"Fine, you're the best."
"Heehee."
It was 9 p.m.
There were a precious three hours left in this invaluable holiday night.
I figured she'd fire up for more gaming after the chicken, eyes blazing.
But Park Dahye was savoring the moment even more leisurely than I was.
Even after a fun day gaming with me, the mighty Kim Pokttal showed zero concern over skipping two days of her grind.
'Is this knee pillow that valuable to Park Dahye?'
Wishes naturally carry desire.
But with her, who knows.
She's not some knee pillow fetishist.
Or... me? Does she want me?
Maybe the knee pillow isn't the point—it's whose knee it is?
Pfft. Nah.
I entertained a dirty thought for a sec.
No way.
No way affection sprouts after just two days.
Especially not the intimate kind that demands skinship.
But even if—just a million-to-one—it was true, knee pillow as a wish? Kinda lame.
She could've picked something else.
Like... hmm... let's imagine.
On the flip side,
If I fell for Park Dahye,
What wish would I ask of her?
Hmm...
Hmm...
Hmm...
"Seonghyeon, what're you thinking so hard about?"
"Don't bug me for a bit."
"Tch, fine..."
Hmm...
But I got nothing.
After spending the day together, I realized I didn't want anything from Park Dahye.
Whenever I wanted her reactions, she delivered.
When I wanted to brag about my PC room, she acted like she'd gotten the world's best gift.
Acted?
Nah, she was genuinely thrilled.
Park Dahye doesn't lie.
She anticipated my every desire and served it up perfectly, so of course I had none left.
So,
What to do with this unwanted wish coupon?
Then, a humming came from below.
Eyes closed, melody humming, toes wiggling.
Lucky me.
The tune Dahye was humming was the BGM from Lucid Town, one of the villages in Billion Saga.
A town where a princess exiled from the kingdom loses everything and falls into an eternal dream.
By the story's end, she's built a little cabin by the lake, smiling happily with her dead prince and the children they might've had.
In that eternally looping dream.
What was Dahye imagining right now?
Her smiling lips suggested something pretty happy.
Time was already eleven.
'Whoa... staring at her face made time fly. Already eleven.'
Soon she'd have to head back to that rundown goshiwon.
Tomorrow morning, she'd wake in that mess, boot up her PC in a frenzy, and click away to earn next month's rent.
I wonder if she's thinking about that—her smile looks purely blissful.
Just picturing tomorrow would give me a stomachache.
Whatever she was imagining, I couldn't peek inside,
but I hoped it was happy.
At least in her imagination, she'd be surrounded by loved ones in a bright place, basking in affection.
I hoped today would etch into her memory as life's happiest day, like it would for me.
"Eung..."
Her long hair spilled over her face, so she shook her head to clear it.
Know you're on my thigh?
Shake too hard and it hurts.
I brushed Dahye's hair back with my hand.
Only then did her eyes close again.
The humming resumed.
A smile curved her lips,
and her toes wiggled once more.
Hmm, fixed proper.
I kept brushing her hair to keep that smile going.
Then,
I got it.
If I ever fell for Park Dahye,
I'd probably use that unwanted wish coupon on this: her head on my lap, brushing her hair so she could dream sweetly.
But nah, no coupon needed for that.
I'm already doing it.
No wonder it's unwanted stock.
Still... it's just imagination. In reality, I don't love her.
And Park Dahye wouldn't wish this because she likes me.
No matter how hard I imagine alone, I can't understand her.
Operation failed.
Time to drop the fantasy and face reality.
And as I said before, reality's true role is shoulder-tackling your happiest moments.
Like this.
"Dahye, what now? Want me to walk you home?"
"Yeah... gotta go soon... sleepy..."
"No sleeping. You'll catch a cold waking up chilly. Head back before that."
"Ten more minutes."
"Then what? Another ten?"
"Nuh-uh~."
"Up you go. Ten minutes passed."
"Ugh... didn't peg you for a Kwon Seonghyeon who nags."
"Told ya. I'm no fairy prince from your dreams. Keep whining and I'll breathe fire on you."
"Then this'll do it."
Park Dahye's hands shot up with a papak!, drawing a cross.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Holy Shield! Now I'm invincible!
Kekeke, what a dummy. Kim Pokttal alright.
Wish reality was a game.
Like our Billion Saga adventures, always hyped and questing.
But impossible things? Don't even dream 'em.
"Enough playing. Get up."
"Not playing. I'm really under Holy Shield right now. Wanna push and see?"
Oh? Think I won't?
I poked her cheek hard with a finger, and Dahye let out a weird "Eugigigik!" while holding firm.
"See? Invincible."
"For real?"
"Push all you want. I'm truly invincible. Know why?"
"More nonsense incoming."
"My second wish is to crash here tonight. Invincibility acknowledged? Yeah, acknowledged."
With that, she squeezed her eyes shut again.
Yeah.
Acknowledged.
Never thought of that.
Looking at her now, Park Dahye really is invincible.
Even reality couldn't shoulder-tackle through that Holy Shield without dislocating its own shoulder.
I'd braced myself, but she slipped out so easily.
Kim Pokttal indeed.
Her experience runs deep.
Weaklings like me game every night to escape reality, but not her.
She's a ricebug.
If she wants to stay in the game world, she'll linger forever.
Jealous.
"Park Dahye, up."
"Whoa. A promise is a promise!"
"So, I'll grab pajamas. Go shower."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I lay down to sleep.
1 a.m.
How many more hours till I nod off?
Park Dahye got the small room with a futon spread out; come morning, she'll bolt awake and dive into gaming.
The problem's me. No clue when I'll sleep or wake.
This damn insomnia. When will it get better?
Tomorrow's a holiday, though, so no pressure. Close eyes, count sheep.
One sheep.
Two sheep.
Three brat-sheep.
One weird brat pops up.
Don't interrupt. Scram.
Bam!
Suddenly the door flies open, and something whoosh flies in from there.
It was "that" brat.
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