In a vast forest where the end was nowhere in sight.
Somewhere deep within that forest stood a strangely out-of-place house.
It wasn’t magnificent or flashy but gave off a cozy vibe.
And inside that house, a woman with pink hair was sweating profusely, fidgeting restlessly.
“Ha… I promised I’d be back within a month, right? So let’s just wait a little longer, okay?”
“…..It’s really too long.”
As the blue-haired girl growled, the woman with pink hair, Sephir, fought back tears that threatened to spill.
When will Hera come back..!! At this rate, I’m going to die!
Each day was a continuous trial.
All because of this small, cute girl in front of her.
How did it end up like this?
It was said that dragons, living for thousands of years, had an immeasurable amount of patience.
Infinite? Yeah, right.
After Hera had left, claiming she would be back soon, Mari’s temper flared up more and more each passing day, and the only person able to handle that fury was none other than herself.
But did she even have the power to quell a dragon’s wrath?
She had simply been trying to read Mari’s mood all this time, and now that was starting to overwhelm her.
At this rate, it seemed her sanity wouldn’t last much longer.
While Sephir was pondering how to survive today, Mari suddenly jumped up from the couch.
Startled by Mari’s sudden movement, Sephir looked at her with wide eyes and stammered.
“Wh..what’s wrong?”
“Mom’s back.”
“Wha..what..?”
The previously fierce atmosphere vanished, and with a face full of excitement, Mari smiled brightly.
“The barrier opened! Mom is here..!”
“Re..really?”
A natural smile spread across my face too.
This was deep within the forest.
A place where no one could leave traces even if they stumbled upon it by chance.
To be able to enter such a place was, as Mari said, only possible for Hera.
She must have felt sorry for me and came back quickly!!
A wave of overwhelming relief and joy surged within me.
So does that mean I don’t have to struggle anymore?
I don’t have to live like a mouse anymore?
With excitement bubbling, I took Mari’s hand and got up to go welcome Hera.
When I opened the door, surely Hera would come running towards us with a lovely smile.
Honestly, I felt a bit resentful towards her for leaving me alone with Mari, but now, with her returning so soon, I didn’t care at all.
I’ll let it slide just this once, Hera!
With my heart racing wildly, I approached the door filled with hopeful anticipation.
As I opened it—
A beautiful figure stood before me—
“Did you do well?”
In front of me stood a beautiful…
Beautiful… woman, indeed, but—
It wasn’t Hera.
“…..Eh?”
A sound like air escaping from Sephir’s mouth escaped her lips.
At the same time, a voice filled with malice echoed from behind the beautiful figure.
“Why are you here?”
The voice belonged to Mari.
With sharp, slashed eyes, she stared intently at the woman.
And the target of her question was—
A sun-like blonde, radiating intense energy.
Athena Caladbolg.
“I came to ask you something.”
With a casual flip of her hair, she glanced at Mari and said with a sly smile.
“Where’s your mother?”
“You….”
At that moment, two powerful wills collided fiercely.
Sephir instinctively realized—
That her fate likely ended here.
—
“Unnie.”
“Yeah?”
She turned to look at me at my words.
I was lying on the couch, swinging my legs restlessly as I asked her.
“Do you have any dreams?”
“A dream?”
“Yeah. I’m just curious.”
She paused to think for a moment before smiling and sitting beside me, placing my legs on her lap.
“I don’t think I had any dreams. Maybe just meeting a good person, getting married, and living happily?”
“That’s simple.”
“Is it? I think it’s quite hard.”
As she said this kindly, I unknowingly turned to lean my head against her lap, spoiling for affection.
She gently stroked my head, accepting me.
“Then unnie, you can’t fulfill your dream.”
“Why not?”
She looked puzzled, tilting her head. I confidently replied with a big smile.
“You promised to stay with me for life. I won’t let you go to anyone else.”
Her eyes widened in surprise at my words.
After a moment of looking at me in shock, her cheeks slightly flushed, she bent down and gave me a short kiss on the forehead.
“Hehe… You’re right. I should live with Hera forever.”
I also giggled at her words.
—
Time flew by swiftly, and the weekend approached.
Some were busy catching up on schoolwork in the dormitory.
Some were focused on training even on their day off.
Some were enjoying their holiday to the fullest.
During such times, I felt an anxiety I had never experienced before.
Before my eyes stood a single house.
A quaint, elegant house that seemed just right for a person to live comfortably.
I stood frozen in front of it, unable to take a step, just staring at the door.
My heart raced.
Unable to handle the tension, I instinctively bit my hand.
Just then, as if to tell me not to, Lily gently grabbed my hand and pulled it away.
“Lily…”
“Why are you so nervous, unnie?”
She smiled sweetly as she spoke.
How could I not be nervous?
I was about to meet her after so many years.
“What if… what if she doesn’t want to see me? What if she hates me… what then..?”
“Unnie.”
As I paced restlessly, Lily tightly held my hand and looked at me seriously.
“That’s impossible. She’s going to miss you more than anyone else.”
“…..Really?”
“Yeah. Really.”
Lily’s words eased my tension a bit.
But still, I hesitated, staring at the door from a distance.
Negative thoughts kept swirling in my head, tormenting me.
Now you want to come back? Isn’t that too brazen?
There’s no way she’d want to see someone like you, fool.
Have you forgotten how pathetic you are?
“No.”
I shook my head vigorously, trying to shake off those thoughts.
It’s all in my mind.
The cruel illusions produced by parts of me that hadn’t fully escaped my wretched past.
Didn’t Lily say it herself?
Just as I longed for her, she too missed me. She longed for me.
And even if for some reason she didn’t, it didn’t matter.
Whether it be good or bad, I had vowed not to turn away from her again.
So there was absolutely no reason to hesitate.
But still, my feet refused to leave the ground.
In the end, feeling frustrated, Lily pushed me forward, and only then could I start walking.
Finally, in front of the house door.
I took a deep breath and raised my trembling hand to knock.
Not long after, a voice came from inside.
Yee~ coming out.
Just hearing it made my eyes water. It was a voice I had missed so much and longed to hear, making my heart race even faster.
As I tried to steady my breaking heart, footsteps sounded from inside, and the door swung open.
After three years, I could finally see her again.
Those shining green eyes. A silver bob that matched Lily’s.
And her undeniable, vast presence.
Even after three years, she was still… no, even more beautiful.
“What’s the matter—”
Her words faltered as she looked at me.
Her eyes widened in shock, trembling as if an earthquake had struck.
I too could only stare at her, unable to utter a word.
Between us, there was a long moment of silence, and eventually, it was she who broke it.
With tears shimmering in her left eye, she smiled that beautiful smile I had seen countless times before and spoke to me.
“Welcome back, Hera.”
Before I even realized it, a single tear rolled down my cheek.
Thank goodness.
Really, thank goodness.
Just as Lily said, she hadn’t forgotten me.
The negative thoughts in my head vanished like dust.
“Un….nie..”
What should I say to her?
That I had missed her so much?
That I was so lonely without her?
That I was grateful she hadn’t forgotten me?
I didn’t know.
There were too many things I wanted to say.
If I expressed them all, one day wouldn’t be enough.
But for now, I thought it would be best to say this first.
I wiped away my falling tears and smiled brightly at her.
“I’m back.”
With that, I ran forward, diving into the warm, wide embrace of the sister I had missed for three years.
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