Chapter: 204
[My parents passed away fighting against a Demonic Beast.]
Yoon Si-woo’s voice flowed through the TV.
[When I say this, people often think that I became a Hero to take revenge on the Demonic Beast that killed my parents. But that’s not why I became a Hero. I became a Hero to protect.]
I sat quietly on the sofa, listening intently to his voice.
[To protect something precious, I became a Hero.]
Yoon Si-woo was speaking about why he decided to become a Hero.
[It’s not that my parents aren’t precious. But to me, the present is much more precious than my parents who passed away long ago. I became a Hero to protect that, so I never lose it again.]
He values the present more than his parents who are no longer here. I knew without asking for whom he was saying those words.
[I’m standing here right now to protect you.]
I locked eyes with Yoon Si-woo on the screen. His eyes were filled with kindness and concern.
I felt joy alongside a sense of burden. You do so much for me, but I don’t know what I can do for you.
Then, as if he sensed my thoughts, he said,
[So, even if things get tough, please don’t despair and smile. I wanted to say that.]
You smiled as if that was enough.
…
Was that all he wanted to say? The interview soon ended. The screen that had been reflecting Yoon Si-woo’s face switched to something else, so I picked up the remote and turned off the TV.
With the TV off, the living room fell silent.
I buried myself in the sofa and closed my eyes, replaying Yoon Si-woo’s words in my mind.
For Yoon Si-woo too, the existence of his parents must be far from light.
Yet, I could feel how much he valued his current connections through his words about the present being more precious than his parents.
And surely, I must be included in that.
Thinking like this, I felt sentimental.
Just a moment ago, I was filled with anxiety and guilt, but now there was a warmth spreading in my chest, calming my heart.
“…Hah.”
Was it because of that?
After calming down, I sighed, able to reflect on my behavior.
Is this what it feels like to be bipolar?
Even over things I could have brushed off easily before, my emotions have been all over the place, so something else must be gnawing away at me.
I thought I had decent control over my emotions, but honestly, every time something like this happens, I feel anxious and scared.
What if I lose myself like this?
But still, what keeps me from breaking down is…
The precious existences that support me right now.
Yeah. Like Yoon Si-woo.
Thinking that, a small smile crept onto my face.
I’m someone weak to kindness.
Even now, it seems this one thing hasn’t changed.
When I was young, I had such thoughts.
What if I treated everyone in this world kindly? Wouldn’t they all treat me well in return?
But the world isn’t like that, and I got hurt quite a bit.
That’s why I seemed to have given my heart more to those who returned my kindness.
Friends who told those kids who teased me for being fatherless to stop.
My junior who approached me when I was struggling after losing my mother.
I subconsciously gave a piece of my heart to them, just wanting to be able to do even a little more for them.
That’s why I’m grateful to Yoon Si-woo.
He keeps treating me with kindness.
Lost in thought about Yoon Si-woo, I suddenly took out my mobile phone.
I thought he might still be worried about me after the scene I showed earlier.
So I texted, “Are you free right now?”
Soon enough, I got a reply, “Yeah, I’m free.”
After glancing at the reply for a moment, I called Yoon Si-woo.
“…Hello?”
“Yeah, Scarlet.”
I wanted to convey at least a fraction of this gratitude I’m feeling, so I made the call.
“Um, that…”
But as soon as I heard his voice, I couldn’t think of what to say.
Thank you? I watched TV? What do I say?
After a jumble of thoughts, I finally blurted out,
“A bouquet…”
[A bouquet?]
That’s right.
The first thing that popped into my mind was the bouquet I hadn’t been able to give him earlier.
“Ah… well, you see, I had gone to deliver the bouquet after the appointment ceremony ended, you know? It was made by Director Maria and the kids; they asked me to hand it over…”
Talking about the bouquet made me feel that it was such a shame.
If I had given that bouquet to Yoon Si-woo, he would have definitely been happy.
“…I’m sorry. I should have delivered it.”
As I muttered that out of regret, I could suddenly hear Yoon Si-woo chuckle.
[That’s fine. I received it well.]
His words seemed to tell me not to worry, and I was taken aback.
“…Huh? I thought it must’ve been ruined since I dropped it earlier…”
[After you left, Captain Martina used restoration magic to fix it before sending it. She said it was an important item. So it’s currently displayed in the vase in her office.]
“Oh, I see…”
Hearing that it had been delivered well gave me a wave of relief.
It felt like a burden was lifted from my chest.
I thought I should at least express my gratitude to Captain Martina later. Just then, Yoon Si-woo asked,
[So, is that all you wanted to say?]
“Uh? No, wait…!”
I hastily replied to his remark.
I didn’t call to just talk about the bouquet.
After pondering what to say, one sentence drifted through my mind.
“Hey, Yoon Si-woo…”
That seemed like a good way to express my feelings, so I whispered it into the phone.
“I’ll do my best.”
Hoping that this feeling reaches him, even just a little.
“Together, let’s do our best.”
[……]
After saying that, the other end of the phone went quiet for a moment.
I wondered if the call got disconnected and checked my phone, but it was still connected.
“…Yoon Si-woo?”
When I called his name, the call suddenly dropped.
Just as I was taken aback, I received a message from Yoon Si-woo.
Looking at it, I saw a picture was attached to his message.
I was puzzled, wondering what it was, and opened the photo,
In the picture, Yoon Si-woo was smiling joyfully in front of the vase with the bouquet in it.
Seeing that made me inadvertently feel happy, and I smiled slightly.
Looking at the photo, I thought.
Because you told me that the present is more precious than the past.
I feel like I can cherish this world a little more now.
I think I can muster the strength to protect this precious world.
Even if, at the end of it all,
Something were to happen to me.
*
“Hah…”
The girl who had been lying with her eyes closed got up, giving out a strangely heated sound, and the hooded woman next to her mumbled to her.
“What’s up? Are you in heat or something?”
“…No way! Do you think I’m one of those toys lying around here?!”
At the woman’s words, the girl kicked away the gorgeous-looking toy she had been trembling with excitement under her.
Seeing the toy damaged by her kick, she clicked her tongue, then mumbled as she recalled the beautiful boy she had just been watching.
“I just get thrilled at the thought of expanding my collection. Aah, I want to play with it so badly! That kid would put up quite a fight, right? Just imagining him desperately struggling but eventually kneeling before me in bliss… Hah…”
“You are in heat!”
“I’m not!”
The girl shouted angrily, pointing a finger at the woman.
“In the first place, I’m only holding back because of you! I’m already ready to clear that annoying Barrier! But you keep saying no! Aah, if only I could break through and invade and turn everything into my collection! What’s so precious that you’re holding back for? We didn’t even achieve anything with that beast plan last time!”
“What do you mean there’s no progress?”
The girl’s furious words made the woman smile faintly and murmur.
“The original purpose was achieved. I sent that fool away expecting he would manage to do just that from the start.”
“…Purpose? Was your goal really just to kill a few humans?”
“Of course not.”
The girl looked puzzled by her reaction, and the woman shook her head.
“That was merely a means of reconnaissance. I have good instincts, and I figured that fool had slightly torn the Barrier, granting me the opportunity to scout its position.”
“Are you talking about… that thing?”
“Most likely what you’re thinking.”
“Ugh…”
At the woman’s words, the girl shook her head in disbelief, not wanting to think about it.
It had been several centuries, but just thinking about what had been ruined because of it made her nauseous.
But then a moment later, the girl appeared to have recalled something and asked.
“Wait, does that mean you’re finally thinking of doing it?”
“Correct. I originally intended to take it slowly, but you’ve been making so much noise, and I have also been feeling in the mood. Well, after this matter is settled, you can do as you please with the rest.”
“Really?! Then once it’s all over, I’m attacking for sure! Wow! I’ve been waiting for the day to use that!”
Like a child, the girl jumped up and down with excitement, laughing out loud.
“Haha! Do humans know? That under their feet lies a bomb that has been buried for centuries!”
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