“Hey babe, where do you think I’m going…? Am I, am I abandoning you…?”
‘Am I leaving? Abandoning this kid? Me?’
It was unreal.
Unless Atra lost her mind, that was a one in a thousand, ten thousand chance. And right now, Atra wasn’t losing her mind.
If someone suggested such nonsense, Atra would have immediately made them into a pancake.
What she said to Lee Ha-yul was just to teach him more.
She was just asking for his opinion.
How on earth did he misunderstand that to the point of having a meltdown and clinging to Atra?
‘Stepped on a landmine…’
For reasons unknown, she had triggered his trauma button like a pro.
Realizing this, Atra quickly scooped Lee Ha-yul into her arms and took him back to her lodgings. It was an instinctive action based on the feeling that calming him wouldn’t be easy.
Indeed, even now, Lee Ha-yul hadn’t fully calmed down and was still trembling in fear.
– Huhng…
Atra felt the cold sweat trickle down as she looked down at him.
Pure, white hair without a hint of impurity and a petite frame that fit snugly against her.
The warmth radiating from their bodies and the sweet scent filling her nostrils…
It was Lee Ha-yul, diving into her embrace like a lighthouse to a shipwrecked sailor.
It was no surprise.
Lee Ha-yul absolutely loved hugging people, always coming to Atra after training.
Even when he wasn’t done training, he’d skulk around her vicinity, trying to gauge her mood.
When Atra sensed that vibe and gently opened her arms, Lee Ha-yul would light up like the sun and dive into her hug.
[I’m sorry…]
But that was not at all how it was now.
He wasn’t smiling.
His face was buried in her and hidden from view.
But the gloomy aura and the sobs emanating from his chest…
The tremors of fear told Atra that Lee Ha-yul was definitely not smiling.
[I did something wrong…]
His arms tightened around her waist. He clung desperately, pressing his body against hers, burying his face like he was hiding from the world.
He looked like a puppy abandoned on a rainy street. His hair looked faded, droopy, and defeated.
The pitiful atmosphere tugged at Atra’s heartstrings, making her face darken.
‘Why has it changed like this…’
With a frown, Atra examined the winged garment wrapped around her.
Gone was the sky-blue hue; it was now overshadowed by gloomy clouds.
It enveloped them both tightly, as if meant to keep them bound. A gentle tug revealed that it wouldn’t budge an inch.
There was a determination there as if to say, “I won’t let you go.”
It felt like Lee Ha-yul believed Atra would utterly abandon him.
That mindset was very troubling for Atra.
[I’m sorry, Master!! I’m sorry! It’s all my fault…!]
“No, no, no! It’s not that I want to let go… No, I’m sorry…”
“Wha-! Cough! Gag, choke…!”
“AAAH! Stop! Don’t! Just don’t say anything…!”
When he yanked on the wings, Lee Ha-yul freaked out, gasping for breath like he was about to vomit.
Atra was merely puzzled by how things got to this point, but it seemed Lee Ha-yul interpreted it as her trying to escape him.
The necklace let out a loud noise in protest. Atra was alarmed and pulled Lee Ha-yul tighter into her embrace.
.
.
.
After some time, fully immersed in her hug, Lee Ha-yul’s condition gradually improved.
[I’m sorry…]
He wasn’t completely recovered.
The sounds were softer now, but his voice still echoed with desperation and fear.
“Where would your master go? I will always… be by your side.”
Leaning against the bed, Atra offered her chest for him to rest on.
She pushed out her chest a little more, allowing Lee Ha-yul to nestle in comfortably, while her hands continued to stroke him.
She would gently comb through his silky hair, resolving any tangles, softly running down to his back and neck, syncing her rhythm with the beats of their hearts.
All the tenderness from Atra’s touch seemed to calm Lee Ha-yul’s previously frenzied emotions.
[Don’t abandon me…]
‘Oh no.’
But the chronic fear showed no signs of fading.
No matter how much she tried to soothe him, he kept repeating that he was in the wrong, like a parrot begging her not to abandon him.
“What do you mean you did something wrong? You didn’t do anything wrong. The one at fault is me. I’m sorry for bringing this misunderstanding…”
[That’s not true! It’s not Master’s fault!]
[It’s all my fault…!]
Lee Ha-yul shook his head vigorously.
He desperately denied Atra’s apology and insisted it was his fault.
Was it Atra’s fault? No, it couldn’t be. If the master made a mistake… then what would that mean for Lee Ha-yul?
He couldn’t just go around changing other people’s perceptions.
What if Atra, his master, suddenly didn’t like him anymore, just on a whim? What could Lee Ha-yul do then?
So, it had to be his own fault.
If he messed up, he could change.
He could change himself and make amends.
But if it was something external, something he couldn’t control… what could he do then?
“Hmm…”
Atra couldn’t grasp all the intricate psychology.
But she suspected their trust had cracked.
In short, Lee Ha-yul no longer trusted Atra. The idea that she wouldn’t abandon him had vanished, leading to this situation.
So, rebuilding that trust was essential…
How could she do that? How could she instill faith in him?
‘…Trust?’
As Atra pondered this, a spark of an idea flickered in her mind.
A memory of Gop-hwa, jumping around while talking about her little escapades, came back to her.
Similar to a knight boasting about their martial prowess, the tale of how she kissed her student came to mind.
She remembered that because she had been suppressing her anger then.
It was said that the moment Hong Yeon-hwa kissed Lee Ha-yul, his eyes opened, and his voice broke free.
‘…’
She let her thoughts spin for a moment.
Lee Ha-yul’s condition, presumed to be a curse. Its side effects. The connection caused by Hong Yeon-hwa, proving the phenomenon. Master and disciple, age, and Lee Ha-yul’s reactions…
…Honestly, Atra felt a bit offended.
What? Abandon him? Does he really think she’s that kind of person?
After all Atra had showered him with kindness and love, how could he feel such ridiculous anxiety?
The more she thought about it, the stronger a sense of indignation gripped her.
Atra took action.
“It’s absurd to even say I’d abandon you. Who would dare abandon who…?”
She carefully held Lee Ha-yul’s head and slowly drew him out of her embrace.
“There, there… Good boy…”
As she pulled back, she noticed Lee Ha-yul trembled even more as if igniting a spark of anxiety. She gently cradled him, wiping away his messy face.
His bangs stuck to him, wet with sweat and irregular breaths.
His eyes, once vacant, glowed red with tears, like chick droppings, as they continued to drip.
Even in such a disheveled state, Atra was reminded of his stunning beauty.
It seemed like a combination of vulnerability and pity ignited a fire of despair in Atra’s heart.
That propelled her resolve.
Atra’s hands moved.
One hand cradled the back of Lee Ha-yul’s head, tilting it up, while the other gently cupped his cheek.
With that, she leaned down, lowering her face toward him.
[Huh? Ugh? Ah? Ah?]
Lee Ha-yul’s body jerked.
His panic-stricken mind caught a glimmer of awareness amid the chaos.
Shadows fell across his face. The master’s face neared his own as the distance shrank.
Lee Ha-yul wriggled.
[No, don’t…]
He knew… A kiss was something to be shared with someone you’d marry…
But his voice trailed off.
His flailing ceased.
The fear that refusing would make Atra hate him flexed in his chest.
Atra—his master. The one who cherished him and protected him.
He didn’t want to be abandoned by such a person.
He didn’t want to be hated either.
He should refuse… but he simply couldn’t bring himself to do it.
In the end, his only form of resistance was to tightly shut his eyes like an idiot, escaping reality.
– Smack…
“……!”
Their faces overlapped.
Their noses touched, breaths mingling chaotically.
Their soft, supple lips brushed against each other.
– Thump!
In that moment, Lee Ha-yul’s heart pounded loudly.
It wasn’t the typical heartbeat. It felt different, like ripples spreading throughout his body, reminiscent of the sensation he experienced once before.
And Atra, with her eyes open, witnessed it all.
Light poured into his dark, gray eyes as they focused, landing somewhere, clear and defined.
Lee Ha-yul’s previously blurry eyes now reflected Atra’s form with stunning clarity.
He really was waking up.
The feeling that rushed through Atra was fraught with dangerous exhilaration.
– Smack…
After a prolonged kiss, she finally pulled back.
“Uh, Huh? Ah…?”
Lee Ha-yul’s mouth hung open, dumbfounded.
Though their tongues hadn’t mingled, some fluid—was it saliva or sweat?—linked their lips in a thin bridge.
That sinful scene—came into view.
The liquid dripped, distilling down to their lips, slowly seeping into him.
“Huh, uh…!”
Lee Ha-yul shook in surprise. The liquid that flowed over his teeth and tongue… was way too sweet!
His body quivered as if struck by electricity. At the same time, the gloomy, clouded wings seemed to unfold as they reclaimed their lost azure hue.
“How is it? Are you still anxious?”
As she gazed down at the bright red, stuttering Lee Ha-yul, Atra asked.
No response came back. Atra squinted her eyes. She was still miffed about the earlier misunderstandings.
“How curious, still anxious, huh? Don’t worry. I’ll keep expressing it until your anxieties vanish.”
“Uh, uh…? No—muah, muah… smack…”
Lee Ha-yul opened his mouth to protest but was promptly silenced.
Instead, Atra pressed her cheerful, fragrant lips against him repeatedly, as if promising to keep going until he was satisfied.
Her arms wrapped tighter around him, pulling him close while keeping his head firmly in place, insisting that he received her kisses.
Smack, smack…
Under such forceful affection, Lee Ha-yul found a strange sense of security.
The master didn’t hate him. She had no intention of abandoning him. She was protecting him.
Instead, she was pouring out her affection… her love.
That melted away his earlier anxieties. In its place, a profound happiness nested in his heart.
*
[PLAYER ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM: Affection Points]
Lee Ha-yul → Atra Clyde
●●●●●●●●○○(87/100)
‘Master’ ‘Expectations’ ‘Stability’ ‘Yearning for Affection’
▼ Dramatic Change ▼
Lee Ha-yul → Atra Clyde
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡(87▷90/100)
‘Affection’ ‘Master’ ‘Expectations’ ‘Stability’ ‘Yearning for Affection’ ‘Anxieties’
…
[PLAYER ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM: Exploration Points]
[Sub-quest “Atra Clyde” completed]
[A significant amount of points accumulated]
…
[Condition for the “Curse of Silence” to be lifted partially satisfied]
[“Curse of Silence” weakens conditionally (Atra Clyde)]
…
[Condition for the “Curse of Solitude” to be lifted partially satisfied]
[“Curse of Solitude” weakens conditionally (Atra Clyde)]
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