“Take your time. I’m not going to… take it away from you.”
Ivan muttered in a voice that sounded like he was half giving up.
He was sitting next to Beluna, skillfully wiping the dirt from her cheeks and the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief.
“Mm-hmm.”
Beluna nodded innocently, shoveling the food I’d brought into her mouth.
I thought she would be a ravenous eater, jumping onto the table and tearing off all the wrappers.
But she only nibbled gracefully, like the aristocrats in old movies.
“Good, very good.”
She murmured excitedly as she gobbled up a dried squid.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been treated like this. What a tribute!”
Belluna was a High Wind Elemental who had lived for a very long time.
She had even been called a Wind God long ago.
I didn’t know much about spirits, but I remembered the description of Belluna as saying, “Being revered and worshipped as a god gave her powers that were far different from those of other spirits.”
So I thought giving her a tribute would be a big deal for her. Thankfully, I was right.
“Hmmm, hmmm. Okay, I like it, really, mmmmm.”
She hummed joyfully as she opened a carton filled with chocolate-covered biscuits.
Then she looked at me and sheepishly pulled something out of her bosom.
It was a seal with a tiger from before.
“I’m so happy, thanks to you. Have a stamp.”
“Thank you.”
I quickly held out my hand and received my second stamp.
That made eight for Ivan and two for me.
That made ten.
“Belluna-ssi, you said that when ten are gathered, you will grant one wish?”
“Yes, I did, but did you collect all ten already?”
“No… but Ivan and I have ten together.”
At that, Beluna tilted her head in thought.
“Hmm… I don’t think that’s ever happened, but okay… you two combined count as ten, but I’ll only grant one wish. Whose wish shall I grant?”
I took a step forward, and she looked back and forth between me and Ivan.
Then, staring into my eyes, she asked.
“What do you want me to do? Kill the leader of a nation? Or do you want me to bring you a treasure buried in the sea? Or do you want me to….”
“Minerva.”
Hearing the name, Beluna stopped talking.
“In a few days, there will be a great battle to vanquish Minerva, and I need you to help me then.”
She smirked.
Then, she looked at me ravenously as if she had found the next thing she wanted to eat.
“Well, that’s one hell of a shot. I can’t believe I got beaten up by a kid who won’t live a hundred years. Yesterday’s me would have laughed at you.”
“…….”
“I never expected someone to rip off a spirit. If you were born a sprite, you’d be a great sprite…… I could make you a sprite now if you wanted.”
Her finger slowly moved toward my forehead.
Ivan hurriedly stepped in between us.
“Mother.”
“…I was just joking, son. There’s no need to look at me like that.”
[You realize she was seriously trying to kill you, right?]
I gave a slight nod.
Beluna was still smiling like an innocent child.
“Mmm, it’s annoying to do it… but I can’t help it. That is your wish, after all.”
She muttered and nodded.
“Very well, I will fulfill your wish and support you when you attack Minerva. In exchange, you must be there as well, and if I think I’m going to die, I’ll flee without a second thought. Do you have a problem with that?”
Belluna supported her head with her hands and sighed tiredly.
“If you wish for better conditions, collect ten more stamps and ask the same thing. Just know that I’ll be stricter next time.”
“No, you’re presence alone is plenty.”
I bowed to her.
“Thank you for your help, Belluna-ssi. If I prepare more tribute, would you answer my call?”
“…Hmm. They say you’re a fool if you fall for a trick twice, and I’m no fool.”
“I don’t have any intentions. I don’t mind if I don’t get a stamp. It’s just to show my respect.”
“Well, in that case, go ahead….”
She nodded and shook her head, her anger quickly dissipating.
She stood up from her chair and waved at me.
“Bye, bye. Pay me another tribute like you just promised. And don’t worry about the wish. Promises mean more to me than anything else.”
She walked away with a skip.
But she turned back as if she had forgotten something.
“Next time, I’d appreciate it if you get the chips in spicy chili flavor rather than barbecue!”
With that, she literally became the wind and blew away.
Watching her go, Ivan muttered in a low voice.
“I’ve never seen anyone as crazy as you.”
“Thank you.”
“And I don’t mean crazy in the admiring sense, you lunatic.”
Ivan let out a small sigh after.
“Well, I’m glad it worked out for you anyway. More than that… this is the second time I’ve seen my mother react like that, so what the hell is Minerva?”
“Ah.”
Come to think of it, I had yet to explain it to Ivan.
“…I’ll explain it later, not now. I was going to tell the whole group anyway.”
“…It sounds really important.”
I nodded.
Ivan stared at me for a moment, then said.
“Okay, then. We’re all leaving for Yu-Na’s house soon… do you want to tell us there?”
“Glad you understand.”
“It’s nothing….”
He chuckled and patted my shoulder.
“I’ll go ahead. I think I’ve got everything, but I want to go over it one more time to make sure I haven’t left anything.”
“Okay, I’ll meet you where we agreed. Are you going to be on time?”
“Have you ever seen me late for anything?”
With that, Ivan started walking toward his dorm.
As for me, I had already left all my luggage in the waiting room where we were supposed to meet, so I didn’t have to do much.
As I walked, Svengali spoke up.
[You’ve done enough.]
He was right.
The Ten Strongest.
Nam Hyun-Hwa and her companions.
Belluna.
I couldn’t think of any more powerful forces or people.
The presence of Lydia and Red Case flashed through my mind, but I quickly shook my head.
No matter how I thought about it, they would do more harm than good.
The Red Case, led by Lydia, was overwhelmingly weak.
Not to mention, Lydia and Esmeralda weren’t even combatants themselves.
On top of that, they were known to be a criminal organization that could be killed on the spot and not held legally accountable. It was clear that being linked to them would get me and Ye-Eun into trouble.
Furthermore, they had work to do later, so using their energy now was inefficient.
Plus, the Aegis system is still intact to this day.
This was a big deal.
When I asked Myung-Joon Lee in passing, he assured me that he would check on it regularly, so I shouldn’t worry.
“First, I need to take a break, regroup, refine my game plan… and most importantly, explain it to the rest.”
[If that’s your choice, I won’t stop you.]
“It sounds like you’re cursing me.”
[It would never. Your mental stability is directly tied to my survival, so I hope things go well.]
After some time, I found myself in front of the waiting room. I opened the door and stepped inside.
In front of my things, or more specifically, my fish tank, was Soo-Young.
I couldn’t help but narrow my eyes at the sight.
“Soo-Young, you can’t be….”
“Oh, no, I didn’t do anything!”
She jumped up in surprise, and when she realized who it was, her eyes widened and shook.
Svengali sighed. I knew there was a spell on the fish.
[…She didn’t do anything, though whether he was on the verge of doing so or just didn’t have the will to is a fact only she would know.]
With that, I slowly moved to Soo-Young’s side.
It was just her and me in the vast waiting room.
She smiled nicely and looked at the fish in the traveling tank.
“You took good care of him, didn’t you?”
“Huh?”
“Look, it has a very plump belly.”
I nodded, agreeing with her.
“He’s been eating a lot of kibbles.”
“Oh, you shouldn’t feed him that. Fish eat what they’re fed, so get something better. You must be careful, especially since he’s such a big eater.”
“I guess that’s true…He also tried to eat my flesh and almost bit my finger off.”
“…What?”
Soo-Young immediately glared at the fish with sharp eyes.
She glared at the fish for a while before speaking up.
“Ji-Hyuk, it looks like it’s gained enough weight to be edible….”
“Soo-Young….”
“Just kidding, just kidding.”
She giggled.
We stood there for a while, just the two of us staring at the fish swimming in the tank.
I felt a tap on my hand.
Soo-Young carefully placed her hand on the back of mine, intertwining her fingers between mine.
“You said you’re facing Minerva this time?”
“I did.”
“…She’s dangerous, isn’t she?”
“She is.”
I nodded.
Soo-Young was wise and diligent, so she’d probably researched Minerva before asking me this.
I muttered.
“It’s dangerous enough that I’d prefer to leave you out of it if I could.”
“Then I’ll make sure to bring you with me.”
Her words caught me off guard, and I asked.
“And what would you do if you couldn’t?”
Just when I prepared myself for her usual response.
“I’d cry.”
“…What?”
“I’ll cry a lot.”
She muttered quietly.
“I won’t eat for a week or so, and I’m going just to sit and sob on the spot until I can’t even move. I’m going to keep crying even if you find me. I will keep weeping even if you get down on your knees and beg for forgiveness. I will continue doing it even if I become a mummy because all the water has been drained out of my body through my eyes.”
“…….”
I imagined that for a moment, then shook my head.
“That’s scary. More scary than saying you’re coming to kill me.”
“Right?”
Soo-Young looked at me, giggling like a child.
“So don’t do that?”
“Of course, because I don’t want to be killed by you and Hyun-Woo…and I don’t want to see you crying.”
“Hehe~.”
We smiled at each other.
And we both turned our heads back to look at the tank almost simultaneously as if we had made a promise.
We stared at it without speaking.
Once again, Soo-Young touched the back of my hand.
“Ji-Hyuk.”
“Yes.”
“Well, about you in your original world….”
She looked at me with a sidelong glance and opened her mouth.
“I know the original you was older than me… but at least the current you is the same age as me, right?”
“Umm… I guess so.”
That’s what it said on my bio when I first entered this world.
Soo-Young nodded.
“Ji-hyuk asked me what your birthday is?”
“March 22nd.”
“That’s five months earlier than me.”
That means Ji-Hyuk will be an adult five months before me.
She mumbled in a daze.
“Why are you asking…?!”
Suddenly, Soo-Young moved toward me.
I felt her hand on the back of my head, and then I felt something firmly touch my lips.
I could feel her breath on my nose and smell her sweet odor.
[Oh.]
With an exclamation of admiration, Svengali made a clapping sound.
“…So.”
Soo-Young moved away from me and had a sudden interest in the fish. I saw that her ears were red. She wiped her mouth and quietly said.
“Next time, we’ll both be adults.”
So please wait for me.
I placed my hand on the back of hers.
“I’m okay.”
“…….”
“It’s okay, really. I’m not just saying that. I know you’ll do your best like you’ve done time and time again. I know it’ll be hard, but I believe in you.”
Her hands were small soft, and warm, filled with an indescribable, irresistible strength.
I believe in you.
With her words, I could feel the worry and anxiety eating away at me melt away like snow.
Suddenly, I remembered what Nam Hyun-Hwa had said to me.
You deserve it.
I couldn’t help but wonder.
Do I deserve her trust and favor?
Is it okay?
[I’m so sorry to say this while you’re in a good mood….]
[Look behind you.]
At Svangali’s words, I turned my head and looked behind me.
Soo-Young followed suit and turned her head, but then she hiccuped and swallowed her breath.
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
Hyun-Woo, Yu-Na, and Ye-Seul were standing there.
Hyun-Woo had a familiar, satisfied look on his face.
Yu-Na’s face was so red that I wondered if someone would get burned if they touched her.
Ye-Seul was just smiling.
“…….”
Please save me.
Soo-Young muttered quietly.
Ye-Seul silently motioned for Hyun-Woo and Yu-Na to go outside.
She was still smiling.
