LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 202
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“I really enjoyed that…!”
Da-eun, who had been playing around for quite a while, dropped her body with a satisfied expression.
…My cheeks aren’t some kind of rice cake.
“What do you mean ‘I really enjoyed that’?”
“Eh… with how chewy and soft it is, you must be talking about rice cakes, right? Can’t be anything else!”
“…Sometimes I really wonder what’s going on in Da-eun’s head.”
No, not sometimes—more like quite often.
That’s probably also why I find myself unintentionally interrupting her in conversation so much.
There’s no way I can follow Da-eun’s train of thought with my way of thinking.
“It’s not even that soft.”
“…Huh? Ahaha! Are you checking right now? Seriously, every little thing you do is so cute!”
…
…I got caught up in Da-eun’s pace again.
This happens all the time.
With a deep sigh, I turned my head toward the window.
Cook.
“And it’s not soft? Look at how my finger just sinks in!”
“Cheer.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“Chireuge.”
“Kana, speak clearly! I’m fine, but others might find it weird. No wait, everyone thinks you’re cute, so they might just see it as adorable… Ow!”
While rambling nonsense, Da-eun suddenly let out a scream.
“Ah, I won’t! I won’t tease you anymore, so just let go…!”
As I received her surrender with a thud against the seat, I released the finger Da-eun had in my mouth.
Da-eun dramatically blew air onto her freed finger.
“What kind of chihuahua is this? Look at the bite marks on my finger. …But they’re so small, just like Kana!”
“Grrr…”
“Got it. I really won’t tease you anymore.”
She said that, but I know in a few minutes she’ll have forgotten and will start teasing again.
Humph.
I rolled my eyes in discontent.
Clash.
The cube that I had been holding fell and hit the inside of the car as my body shifted.
“Is it okay to hold it like that?”
Da-eun asked in a feigned concerned tone.
“Wasn’t that what caused the weird thing in Jeju? Is it going to do something if you hold it?”
“It’ll be fine. …Probably.”
“That’s already a reused line.”
“Reused line?”
“…Um. It’s nothing.”
Honestly, it does make me uneasy to hold it like this.
Especially remembering the eyes I saw when I smashed the cube, I wanted to throw it far away right at that moment.
Swipe.
The only flaw engraved on its smooth surface.
My finger traced along the long streak of darkness.
I hurled it with the mindset that I wouldn’t care even if it shattered into a million pieces, but it merely left a mark on my sword’s surface.
Of course, I didn’t give it my all, but still, it stung my pride that I could only inflict this much damage.
…Still, thinking of it as an object connected to that monster, it’s understandable.
“Huh? Kana, why are you shivering suddenly? Cold? Should I turn the heater on?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“…Are you okay?”
“Mm-hmm.”
…
But the reason I still held the cube even with my unease was the same.
If I took my eyes off it, I wouldn’t feel safe.
Whatever happens, I’d rather see it happen in front of me.
‘…Hmm. But….’
Thinking of Da-eun being next to me, maybe it would have been better to just put it in the trunk.
After a moment of hesitation, I quickly shook my head.
If it was the eyes I saw that day, there wouldn’t be much difference whether I put it in the trunk or held it while riding.
If I was going to worry about that, I shouldn’t have invited Da-eun along in the first place.
Thinking about it now is pointless.
I just have to hope nothing happens.
Cook.
“…Hey?”
…
Cook cook.
“Kana?”
“…Huh?”
Lost in my thoughts, I snapped back to reality as I felt fingers poking my cheek.
“You didn’t even respond when I called. What were you thinking so deeply about?”
“Just… But why did you call?”
“Why, you ask?”
Da-eun shrugged and undid her seatbelt.
“We arrived, and you were just sitting there silently, so I called you.”
“Ah.”
Only then did I realize that the car that had been driving on the road had come to a stop.
Looking up, I saw a building I recognized through the window.
A fairly tall building.
It’s the company known for creating ‘Silia Online,’ which has gained worldwide popularity…
But in reality, it’s the company called Demoninus, created by the managers of Earth and Edel to stop dimensional beings.
“I’ve been waiting.”
As soon as we got out of the car, a man greeted us, as if he had been waiting.
“Huh? Us?”
“Yes.”
“…Why?”
“…?”
Da-eun looked flustered.
And the man also showed a surprised expression at Da-eun’s question.
Silently staring at each other, they both turned to look at me simultaneously.
What a ridiculous exchange.
“Show us the way.”
“…Yes.”
“Wait! Didn’t my sister say not to follow a stranger like that?!”
“If you’re not a stranger, I can follow, right?”
Even if I’ve only seen him once, he’s not a stranger, right?
“And he’s not even a person.”
“…Huh? What do you mean he’s not a person?”
“So, Da-eun, hurry up and follow.”
“No, no, hold on! What do you mean by that?! …Kana? Are you not listening to me? Over heeeere~!”
I walked ahead, following the angel in front of me.
After all, Da-eun will follow me anyway.
No need to leisurely stand in the middle of the parking lot and chat away.
“Wait up!”
Just as expected, Da-eun hurriedly caught up to us soon after.
She hadn’t even run, yet she was panting, not sure if it was for real or just for show.
“That’s just mean. I was really curious and just asked…”
Cold Kana.
Giving a lackluster reply to Da-eun, who was pouting with her lips stuck out, I said:
“Talking to Da-eun is a never-ending story.”
What seemed like such a trivial conversation would somehow spin into a whirlpool created by Da-eun, sending me deep into the abyss.
I wanted to pass the cube off quickly, so I didn’t have time to engage in pointless chitchat with Da-eun.
Even though I said that.
Hehe.
“…?”
For some reason, Da-eun didn’t show any sign of being upset or disappointed, instead, her mouth curved into a smile.
“So that means talking with me is that enjoyable?”
“…How does that make sense?”
“Huh? You said it was so enjoyable that you didn’t notice how long you chatted, right? Just like a fresh play can lead to a dull log being neglected.”
“Not at all.”
I shook my head vigorously.
It’s quite the skill to misunderstand things in her own way.
Determined not to be swayed by Da-eun, I kept moving forward, and as a result, we reached the office where Edel was waiting for us.
Edel waved her hand gently.
“Welcome. It’s been a while.”
As I watched the angel bow her head to Edel before leaving the office, I replied:
“Not really. It hasn’t been that long.”
“…I was just saying that for greetings. You really take it seriously, don’t you? It’s not like you have no friends.”
…
“Pfft! …Cough, cough. I didn’t say anything, okay~?”
Shiver.
Whether she intended to hide it or not, Da-eun’s mouth was twitching uncontrollably.
“…Ack!”
Though she covered her mouth late, the laughter still seeped out as I gently kicked Da-eun’s calf.
“Anyway, here. Take this.”
I tossed the cube I had been holding to Edel.
Even though I threw it suddenly, Edel caught the cube I tossed without difficulty.
“Is this it? The one that separated the dimension.”
“I’m not sure, but.”
As the light vanished from the cube, the rain stopped and the boundary faded, so it must be, right?
Even though I had already talked about it and sent photos, Edel examined the cube with an intrigued look, as if she had never seen it before.
Well, I suppose it is technically her first time seeing it for real.
I asked Edel, who was examining the cube just like I did the first time.
“Do you see anything?”
“Hmm… It seems hard to tell just by looking at it.”
“Eh…”
“What’s with that ‘How can a God not know this?’ face?”
I flinched at her words.
How did she know?
She might not know what it is, but she reads my expressions pretty well.
“You’re just too easy to read. Anyway, as soon as I figure out what this is, I’ll let you know right away.”
Clatter.
Edel placed the cube on the desk as if she had finished what she needed to do.
Last time I visited, there were piles of documents everywhere.
Today, it looks quite neat.
Edel sank into a chair that looked incredibly fluffy.
“You said you had something to talk about?”
“Yes.”
There was a reason I bothered to come to Demoninus when I could have just sent the cube.
While I was worried that something might happen during transport, there was an even more important reason.
“That day, while breaking this, I saw something.”
“…Something?”
“…Yes.”
As I recalled the eyes, I again shivered.
Even though I knew in my head that I didn’t need to be scared right now.
My body reacted in tune with the instinct of life that resides within me.
Hug.
“…!”
“It’s okay.”
Then, a warm presence enveloped me from behind.
In an instant, I felt relieved by the familiar warmth and scent, but my mouth still blurted out curt words.
“…Da-eun doesn’t know anything. She was poking fun at me for getting wet.”
“Ahaha. Were you upset because I didn’t understand you? Sorry~”
Da-eun chuckled softly as she stroked my head.
“That’s right. As you said, I don’t know anything. But I can definitely hold you tight to make sure cute Kana isn’t scared?”
“…Hmph.”
…How childish.
I thought that, yet I could feel the shivers gradually settling down.
“It’s hard to look at.”
Edel frowned and said in a clearly displeased tone.
“Go make jealous comments at your own house and let’s just get to the point, alright?”
“Are you jealous? Sorry, but I won’t give Kana away since she’s my sister.”
“You keep holding onto her. That brat wouldn’t even ask for her.”
“…I don’t want to either.”
Being with Edel.
The thought alone is terrifying.
I shook my head vigorously, shaking off the horrible thoughts, and slowly opened my mouth to recall that day.
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