The successful casting of the unique magic happened at lunchtime that day.
In the morning, he had reviewed his progress up to now and finalized the harmonization.
The unique magic he attempted in the practice room was successfully executed.
After that, the magic collapsed.
Amid the scattering remnants of magical power, Lee Ha-yul couldn’t possibly feel joyful.
The next day, he would be leaving the tower.
The thought pierced his heart like a skewer.
‘……’
Time flowing is a perfectly normal thing.
Especially when a person is focused on something, time feels like it speeds up even more.
Since entering the Tower of Knowledge, Lee Ha-yul, who seldom relaxed his focus, felt this even more.
He dedicated half of his day to studying with intense concentration.
The other half was spent self-studying with focus, or dozing off in Ariel’s arms or engaging in other activities.
Thus, the perceived passage of time could only feel faster.
The upcoming farewell felt far too abrupt.
“Let’s go to bed early tonight.”
Lee Ha-yul’s feelings were clearly visible on his face.
After the success of the unique magic.
He realized the imminent farewell that approached him suddenly due to the momentary relaxation of tension.
A sense of gloom followed him like dark clouds.
Especially, the wings he wore showed dramatic changes.
That artifact, deeply connected to Lee Ha-yul, was affected by his state.
The bright, clear blue turned dull and gray as if shrouded by rain clouds.
What had been floating lightly in the sky, regrettably, now sagged and dragged on the floor.
“Come on… please, come here.”
Ariel, who was contemplating whether to give him time alone to sort out his emotions, eventually embraced him due to his increasingly cloudy demeanor.
Thus, that day ended with them going to bed early.
The first floor of the tower was enveloped in darkness at an early hour.
Only a soft glow, like moonlight, illuminated the floor.
As usual, Ariel leaned back in a chair and gently brushed Lee Ha-yul’s head, nestled quietly in her arms.
“…Are you still not feeling sleepy?”
A little while later, Ariel quietly whispered into Lee Ha-yul’s ear.
Her senses were already filled with his warmth, his presence.
Normally, he would have been off to dreamland after a brief bout of spoiling, but he seemed to be wide awake now.
[Yeah…]
After a brief rustle, Lee Ha-yul answered.
A tickling sensation rose from her embrace.
In no time, he lifted his head, resting his chin on her chest.
Ariel placed her hand on his cheek.
She softly cupped his chubby cheek in her palm and gently rubbed it.
Lee Ha-yul didn’t resist that delightful touch.
“Are you unable to sleep? If there’s something uncomfortable, I can fix that.”
[It’s not uncomfortable…]
“Then why can’t you sleep?”
Ariel’s tone was calm, yet her gaze bore a gentle, almost affectionate quality, as if inviting him to be spoiled.
Lee Ha-yul nervously chewed his lips.
It was simply a straightforward thought of not wanting to fall asleep.
But feeling embarrassed to express such a childish thought, he buried his face further into Ariel’s chest.
“……”
Soon, a hand resting atop his head began soothingly running through his hair as if to comfort him.
Words didn’t need to follow; the touch conveyed a silent understanding of his thoughts.
Thus, Lee Ha-yul buried his face deeper into her embrace.
With every meeting, there’s a farewell.
He knew this truth, but in reality, Lee Ha-yul was not used to farewells or meetings.
– Mmm…
Lee Ha-yul sealed his lips.
He let out a muffled sound that couldn’t form words.
He reached out and wrapped his arms around Ariel’s thin waist.
Though his arms were short, Ariel’s waist was so slim that he could embrace her.
Burying his face in her ample bosom brought a tender warmth and comforting touch enveloping his body.
Rubbing against her softness released a sense of warmth that calmed both body and mind.
“……”
Feeling his own scent mingling in the air surrounding her chest.
The cute gestures of snuggling close and asking for affection, as well as the sweet aroma emanating from him, all felt familiar now.
Once that familiarity faded, he’d surely feel lonely.
Suddenly, Ariel turned her gaze and scanned the surroundings.
Nothing had changed.
An empty space, a single table beside them, and…
A recently placed chair.
It hadn’t been there for the longest time, only recently added.
It was brought in for Lee Ha-yul, but come tomorrow, it would need to be removed.
Thinking of him made Ariel feel a sudden ache in her heart.
– Snap!
Ariel snapped her fingers.
A peculiar sound enveloped the area, causing ripples to travel across the chair she sat on.
An ordinary chair, influenced by magic, transformed into a rocking chair.
[?]
“It’s all right.”
Startled by the sudden change, Lee Ha-yul popped his head out from her embrace.
Ariel smiled gently, patting his back to reassure him, and nudged him with her legs.
Creeeak… He tipped backward.
Caught off guard, Lee Ha-yul tightened his grip around Ariel’s waist even more.
Creeeak… He leaned forward.
Only then did Lee Ha-yul relax the tightness of his embrace.
Back and forth, rocking in alternating motions.
The sensation of the rocking chair he was experiencing for the first time… was rather unfamiliar.
“How does it feel? Is there anything uncomfortable?”
[Uh… No.]
“That’s a relief.”
Lee Ha-yul responded awkwardly, chewing his lips as he rocked back and forth.
Ariel found him quite cute in that moment.
Having leaped over tall buildings before, slicing through the air…
He now felt utterly unfamiliar with the calm rocking of this chair.
Observing him quietly, Ariel began to speak.
“Grasia… The Master of the Tower of Harmony has a way of getting herself into trouble. She would poke around where she shouldn’t, causing trouble when she could just leave things alone. It’s quite astonishing that she survived in an industry where being loose-tongued can lead to death until our meeting.”
The stories flowing from Ariel weren’t particularly significant tales of the past.
Light subjects that wouldn’t trigger any restrictions.
However, for Lee Ha-yul, who didn’t want to sleep if it meant he could stay just a bit longer with Ariel, such conversations were rather welcome.
And as if to ignite his curiosity, he perked up his ears to listen.
With that, various sounds filled the air.
The crackling of firewood, the soft whisper of the wind, the distant clinking of a golem moving around…
– Thud thud…
But yet, the beating of Ariel’s heart echoed the loudest.
Burying his face against her chest and pressing his ear to her side, the sound of her heartbeat resonated right beside him.
That heartbeat felt almost like a lullaby.
“May I ask just one thing?”
How long had he been lost in that warmth and whisper?
In the blissful haze gradually clouding his consciousness, a cautious question emerged.
“How did you come to care for me?”
[Huh…?]
Lee Ha-yul peeked out from her embrace, confusion evident on his face as he processed the unexpected question.
In the midst of drowsiness, he wondered why she had suddenly brought that up, and Ariel continued speaking shyly.
“Don’t you find us pitiable for daring to care?”
In truth, Ariel had felt both anticipation and fear leading up to meeting Lee Ha-yul for the first time.
While Lee Ha-yul remained unaware of the full circumstances, he likely suspected who had brought him here.
At the moment he arrived at the Tower of Knowledge, she thought it wouldn’t be unusual if he attempted to kill her.
He could even react with hostility, resentment brewing within.
After all, the Tower Masters brought him into this world.
They had their reasons, and had prepared extensively for him.
Even if she argued that they were merely trying to help, from Lee Ha-yul’s perspective, they had thrown him into a strange world.
Eventually, the powers granted to him by the Tower Masters worked far better than she had imagined, nearly causing him to die immediately upon arrival.
No matter how many excuses one might present, there was no justification when faced with hostility.
[You’re not pitiable.]
[Actually, I’m thankful to the Tower Masters.]
He couldn’t find it in himself to feel that gratitude… that hopeful thought was nowhere in sight.
“…How so…?”
[When I heard the story, it seemed my original world was going to be invaded anyway.]
“…But that’s only a guess. Ultimately, we forced you to enter this world to fight.”
[If that’s the case, then it’s better to fight in a nicer environment, right?]
Ariel’s expression turned complex at that simple remark.
In conclusion, it wasn’t an incorrect statement, but one can’t always think of things positively.
[I don’t want to hate you, Ariel.]
Of course, if one were to look, they could find many reasons to dislike her, but in the end, Lee Ha-yul thought it was all just nitpicking.
On the contrary, he could find numerous reasons to appreciate her.
The Masters of Space and Observation transferred powers to him and bore the burden of responsibility within the Tower.
Even though that was a double-edged sword that nearly led him to death upon his arrival, it was still something they could never have anticipated.
The Masters of Harmony and Knowledge provided the status window.
Once upon a time, he should have been aware of the status window, as even if he was cursed to lose his sight, he should have recognized that it existed.
Similarly, the power of Observation should have allowed for awareness of the status window, but the bizarrely well-suited curse completely obstructed that recognition.
Despite not functioning normally, the mysterious force that nudged him to avoid death in critical moments was also the status window.
The Master of Growth built the Shio-ram, creating a safe and rapid growth location.
Any troubles he faced outside were ultimately his own choices.
When he reflected, he found more reasons for gratitude than grievances.
And…
[Thanks to you bringing me here,]
[I was able to meet people I like.]
In his previous world.
He had passed by countless people without forming any meaningful connections.
Every day, walking the streets meant merely brushing by strangers.
How many fleeting conversations could one have that might end abruptly?
But he had never experienced a farewell with someone he truly connected with.
There were fleeting encounters, like with his online friend Agafanthus.
Back in his room, they had found each other online, and although they had shared kindness and reliance, he had always prepared for that connection to fall apart.
Isn’t that how online friendships work?
He thought it wouldn’t be odd for them to suddenly drift apart one day.
Having truly connected and physically embraced someone had never happened for him.
At that time, Lee Ha-yul was terrified of the world outside, terrified of the people he might meet.
Some would approach with smiles.
Yet among them were those harboring malicious intent, while others only had good intentions.
Whichever way you slice it, Lee Ha-yul was constantly running away in fear.
How could bonds form when he turned his back in terror? He had always been alone.
If he hadn’t been summoned to another world,
If he had no reason to forcibly engage with others and form relationships,
Had he never met anyone, he might have lived his entire life in solitude.
He might have never known the warm touch of human skin, the cozy sensation of an embrace, the fragrant aroma of a person, or the sound of a heartbeat; he could have died alone in desolation.
[Thanks to you, I’m happy.]
[And I’ve been able to gather strength so I can keep being happy.]
[Thank you so much.]
He wanted to find reasons to be thankful rather than resentful.
It felt better to cherish rather than condemn.
The necklace of confession conveyed those feelings remarkably well.
“……”
Ariel no longer asked questions.
Instead, she quietly sealed her lips and softly stroked Lee Ha-yul’s head.
That final night passed in such a warm atmosphere.
*
“…When will Ha-yul come?”
Late at night.
In the dimly lit kitchen, Hong Yeon-hwa murmured as she rummaged through the fridge, pulling out the food Lee Ha-yul had prepared for her.
Lately, she felt rather lonely.
She missed Lee Ha-yul, who fit snugly in her arms, lovingly cute and fragrant…
*
[The Master of Harmony says not to plot against him. She shouts.]
…
[The Master of Harmony is sniffling.]
[The Master of Growth hangs her head in resignation.]
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