Side Story 23. At Least It Changed a Little (1/2)

“There is a way to change the future.”

Seol Jihu’s ears perked up.

Really? There was a way to change the future?

“It’s nothing difficult. You just have to set your mind on doing it.”

Seol Jihu’s eyes widened. If there was such an easy method, why did Black Seol Jihu and Future Seo Yuhui not say anything about it? Because they didn’t know? Or was it on purpose?

Multiple questions arose in his mind, but Seol Jihu first asked.

“What is it? Tell me.”

“It’s to erase this fate.”

Seo Yuhui said firmly.

“Completely erasing the fate related to you. If the fate disappears, the future has no choice but to change.”

For a while, Seol Jihu couldn’t understand what Seo Yuhui was saying. But when he saw her spiteful gaze, a memory from the past struck his mind like a lightning bolt.

[All humans are born with their own Star of Fate.]

[The movement of this star rea~lly doesn’t change easily. No matter how much it is disturbed, it continues to advance toward its predetermined fate.]

[That’s why we are killing them. Because that is much more certain than a half-baked attempt at a change.]

Seol Jihu finally understood everything.

The reason why Black Seol Jihu and Future Seo Yuhui did not say anything, and just what it was that Seo Yuhui was talking about. In other words, getting rid of Phi Sora was the surest method of changing the future.

Seol Jihu turned pale. He looked up at Seo Yuhui with a look of horror and disbelief.

“N-No….”

Seol Jihu stammered in a daze.

“Didn’t you say you would do anything?”

A cold reply came back.

Seol Jihu unwittingly turned around and looked back. He could see Phi Sora standing nervously in the corner. Her pupils were shaking, and her lips were sealed shut. It was apparent that she was anxious.

She should not have understood the exact meaning of what Seo Yuhui said, but she must have read the situation and understood the general idea.

When her eyes met Seo Yuhui’s, she instinctively protected her stomach and took a few steps back.

Seeing this, Seol Jihu made up his mind.

“No.”

Seol Jihu looked back at Seo Yuhui.

“I can’t do that. I’d rather be the one to die….”

A heavy silence filled the air like a huge boulder crushing down on everything in the atmosphere. After ten minutes, that seemed like ten hours…

“...Right.”

Seo Yuhui heaved out the breath she had been holding in.

“We can’t do that…. Dying or killing…. In the end….”

She unexpectedly retracted her previous statement.

Seol Jihu did a double-take. Right, there was no way that was what Seo Yuhui really wanted. She was a benevolent and merciful person by nature. There was no way she could do something like killing an innocent baby. She must have wanted him to know what she was feeling on the inside.

Realizing this, Seol Jihu didn’t know what to do. In the end, he could only lower his head back down.

“Huu….”

Tok, tok. Seo Yuhui sighed while tapping her arm with her finger. She then spoke.

“For now… leave.”

Seol Jihu raised his head.

“I don’t want to see your face right now. I don’t care if you go to that world or your parents’ place, so just leave this house.”

Simply put, she was saying she did not want him anywhere around her.

Seol Jihu’s pupils shook.

“Yuhui.”

“I need to talk to Miss Phi Sora privately. I also need some time to think.”

“Why not—”

“Leave.”

Seo Yuhui’s eyes flashed. Seol Jihu froze like a frog in front of a snake.

“Oh wait, this is your place. Alright, should I leave then?”

“No, uh….”

At that moment, Seol Jihu felt a slight nudge on his back. Phi Sora was standing behind him before he noticed.

Looking down at him with furrowed brows, she nodded her head faintly. Seol Jihu understood this gesture as Phi Sora saying she was okay and that he should listen to Seo Yuhui.

“...Okay….”

Seol Jihu slowly got up. He looked back at Seo Yuhui and Phi Sora before staggering toward the door.

After the door closed behind him, he did not leave and moved to the wall and strained his ear. He was worried Seo Yuhui would start bullying Phi Sora.

“Didn’t I tell you to leave?”

However, Seo Yuhui immediately noticed and yelled, and Seol Jihu ran off in a hurry.

‘This is serious….’

Phi Sora gasped inwardly.

Just who was Seo Yuhui? She babied Seol Jihu even when all the female members of Valhalla raised objections. Seeing someone who always spoiled Seol Jihu being like this, Phi Sora couldn’t help but be nervous.

Seo Yuhui slicked her hair back. Lifting her chin, she stared straight at the awkwardly standing Phi Sora.

At that moment, Phi Sora reflexively looked away. She didn’t have the confidence to meet her eyes.

At that instant, Phi Sora was afraid of Seo Yuhui. More so than when she was facing the Parasite Queen.

“I, I’m sorry.”

Unable to bear the tension, Phi Sora forced out a couple of words.

“I didn’t know this would happen…. Though, I’m sure it sounds like an excuse to you….”

Phi Sora lowered her head.

“I know I’m in no position to say this, but I understand how you feel. If I were you, I would have flipped out and thrown a fit about getting an abortion.”

“....”

“I’ll do whatever you say. If you want me to disappear forever, I will. Both from this country and that world.”

“....”

“So please, don’t make me lose my….”

Phi Sora couldn’t finish her sentence.

After a brief moment of silence…

“...Even if you say that.”

Seo Yuhui spoke up.

“I doubt Jihu will just stand by.”

“That’s something I can—”

“No, that’s not possible. The power of fate, known as Seol Jihu, isn’t something anyone can stop.”

Seo Yuhui’s cold voice rang out.

“I know it couldn’t be helped… And you’re right. The baby inside you is innocent.”

She continued in a suppressed voice.

“Fine, if that’s the mindset you have, I won’t tell you to disappear from our lives forever.”

Phi Sora widened her eyes in surprise. She couldn’t tell if she misheard her.

“Don’t misunderstand.”

Seo Yuhui’s tone changed.

“I have no intention of letting go of Jihu.”

Seo Yuhui glared at Phi Sora and brought the handbag she dropped in front of the door. Then, she took out a slender stick from inside.

“...Eh?”

Phi Sora jumped in a startle. It was because the stick in Seo Yuhui’s hand was a pregnancy test. Phi Sora also saw two straight lines drawn in the center.

“You too…?”

“It’s only obvious.”

Seo Yuhui replied calmly.

“We did it so many times and never used protection.”

“He…”

“He shouldn’t know. I haven’t told him yet.”

Seo Yuhui bit her lower lip.

“I was planning on surprising him this week while bringing up the topic of us living together….”

‘Dear god!’ Phi Sora pressed her forehead. It was just too much of a coincidence. Now, she began to understand this ridiculous fate a little more.

“The important thing isn’t this.”

Seo Yuhui slumped down on her seat.

“I’ll be straightforward.”

She uncrossed her arms and placed her hand on her chest.

“I will be the lawfully wedded wife.”

“?”

“I’m not joking.”

Seo Yuhui spoke in a clear voice as if she had thought about this already.

“On Earth, while everyone is watching, I will get married to Jihu. The one Jihu introduces to his parents, no, his entire family will be me. He will introduce me as his wife and my kids as his children.”

“Then….”

“As I said before, I won’t tell you to disappear from our lives. But if you don’t plan on leaving, you will have to give birth to your child and raise him or her here.”

“....”

“If you can’t promise me this, I’m going to have to ask Jihu to choose between us.”

Seo Yuhui’s voice was resolute as if this was one thing she would not relent.

Phi Sora groaned. What could she say though? Phi Sora was someone who could put herself in others’ shoes. And she knew she would never be able to say the same words if she were in Seo Yuhui’s position.

“...Okay….”

Phi Sora dropped her head.

“I’m grateful….”

“You promised. Later, if you say something else, then I really….”

“Yes…. I understand…”

Phi Sora slowly raised her head. Then, she smiled sadly.

“But still…. Thank you.”

She spoke in a feeble voice.

“I was actually worried I would have to raise my kid without a father…. I guess I won’t have to worry about that anymore….”

Seo Yuhui’s complexion softened slightly. She felt bad seeing the usually headstrong Phi Sora murmuring with her arms around her stomach.

Seo Yuhui was a kind person by nature.

“...I’m saying that’s what we should do for now.”

Seo Yuhui smiled bitterly.

“As you know, Miss Phi Sora, the situation between that world and Earth is different.”

“Of course, I know.”