Side Story 43. Denouement (1/2)
It was no secret that humans were forgetful beings.
It would be a tragedy if one could distinctly recall everything they had seen or experienced. In such cases, one is sure to drown in their past.
Sometimes, people have to forget in order to move forward.
Therefore, oblivion was a blessing, and it was also essential to humans.
Paradise was no exception.
Years had passed since the war ended, and everyone was living in harmony, abiding by the rules laid out in the Half Century Treaty.
Of course, it was still too early to say that Paradise had forgotten its past.
Those born after the war were exceptions, but many who had been exposed to the cruelty of the war, however short, still suffered from the trauma.
But one thing was for sure: they were getting better.
As time went by, the faces of those who struggled to survive the Parasites’ oppression and those who had lost their will to live, regained the color they had lost.
The couple walking down the street, each holding their child’s hand, could not seem happier.
Their faces were full of hope for the future.
It was clear to anyone who saw those faces that the Parasites were already fading from their memory.
But it wasn’t just the Parasites.
The hero who saved Paradise was also slowly disappearing from everyone’s memory.
His name would forever be recorded in history, but… it couldn’t be helped.
Such was the fate of all war heroes.
They are born in turbulent times and disappear when peace returns.
To be forgotten—Seol Jihu had no problem with it.
In fact, he was thoroughly content with the phenomenon. The fact that people were forgetting him meant that Paradise was peaceful.
It was around this time that Seol Jihu made a decision.
Like everyone else, the situation around him had changed since the end of the war.
He resigned from his post as Valhalla’s representative, opened the restaurant of his dreams, and found a girlfriend—or rather, girlfriends—who wanted to be with him forever.
It was time for Seol Jihu to prepare for a new future.
But before that, there was one more thing he had to do.
He was hesitant to carry it out, however.
‘Everything’s going well…. Do I have to tell them?’
He’d been pondering for days. He went to Seo Yuhui for advice and also consulted Phi Sora.
In the end, he decided that he should tell at least one person.
Fortunately, the opportunity came sooner than he had expected.
A few days later was his benefactor’s birthday.
—Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday to you~
Under the dark night sky, the birthday song merrily resounded in the candle-lit garden.
—Happy birthday, Dear Flone~ Happy birthday to you~
—Huuuuuuuuuu!
Flone inhaled and exhaled a deep breath.
All the candles went out at once.
—Woahhhh!
Clap clap!
Firecrackers went off all around her as cheers and applause filled the garden.
[Phew. That was tough! I’ve never been so nervous before blowing candles! Why are there so many of them?]
Flone let out a sigh of relief and clicked her tongue.
There were more than 500 candles on the enormous cake.
“Allow me to explain.”
Yui, Kazuki’s sister, stepped forward.
“In our world, it is traditional for the number of candles to match the age of the individual whose birthday it is. Flone, you’re over 500 years old, so—”
[Irayaaa!]
Flone stabbed her fist at Yui without giving her a chance to finish.
And Yui was flung through the air beyond the garden walls.
[How rude! You can’t talk about a lady’s age so openly! Let’s keep it civil, all right?]
Flone grunted softly and shook her hands like she was throwing off dust.
It was then.
“An opening!”
Hoshino Urara, who had been patiently waiting for a chance to strike, suddenly grabbed a fistful of cake and lunged toward Flone.
[Hrm?]
“Beware! The Cake Attack!”
Flone quickly opened her mouth.
It stretched wider than twice the size of the cake.
“Ueh!?”
Hoshino Urara screamed at the bizarre sight and the piece of cake that she threw passed through Flone’s mouth and fell to the ground.
Surprisingly, as soon as it touched the soil, it turned to ashes.
[Mm! This is yummy! I think Earth’s cakes are sweeter and softer than our own. Can I have some more?]
Flone turned around, chewing the bite in her mouth.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Please don’t kill me!”
When she saw Hoshino Urara lying flat on the ground, begging her to spare her life, Flone opened her eyes wide.
[What’s wrong?]
Wry chuckles escaped the bystanders.
They knew she was a good evil spirit, but she was still terrifying at times.
“Come on, that’s enough. We should probably get to the presents now.”
Flone’s eyes sparkled with delight at the word ‘presents’.
The attendees took turns handing Flone presents.
“Happy birthday, Flone. I was wondering what I should get you, then I thought, why not give her something to commemorate the day we pulled a con together?”
[Oh! A title deed! Can I move my tomb here?]
Starting with Kim Hannah….
“Happy birthday. My present is quite ordinary….”
[Wow! A giant, white, stuffed bunny that looks like Seol Jihu! Thanks! I’m going to sleep with him tonight!]
Seo Yuhui….
“Miss Flone. Happy birthday. Are you interested in cryptocurrency mining by any chance?”
[Mm? What’s this? A graphics card? It looks used….]
…Followed by Maria and the others.
“Yo! This is from me!”
[Die.]
Hugo gave Flone lingerie and was beaten just enough not to die.
“Hey, don’t discriminate! You were delighted when Seol gave you one!”
Hugo shouted desperately, but nobody listened.
Finally, it was Seol Jihu’s turn.
“Flone, happy birthday.”
Seol Jihu gave her his present with a shy smile.
“I couldn’t have come this far without you. I’ll always be grateful.”
[Come on, I could say the same to you. Anyway… what is this?]
Flone looked at Seol Jihu’s present with confused eyes.
If her eyes weren't playing tricks on her, it looked like a piece of flesh or tentacle.
“It’s a divinity.”
[?]
“A customer paid with that instead of money. I asked Gula-nim about it, and she said that it used to be a part of a Heaven-rank 8 god, so it contains divinity.”
[Wow! Seriously?]
“Yes. And you can use it however you want, Flone. I'm sure you can exchange it for an enormous amount of contribution points at the temple.”
This meant she could make a Divine Wish to become a human or even a god.
Flone’s face brightened in an instant.
It was the best present she could have ever received.
[Thank you! Seriously, thank you so much! I’ll make good use of it!]
Flone happily kissed Seol Jihu on the cheek.
With an awkward smile, Seol Jihu slowly pulled his head back because he noticed that Seo Yuhui and Phi Sora were getting uncomfortable.
The party began promptly.
Delicious food and fragrant wines were placed on the tables.
Everyone ate, drank, and chatted to their hearts’ content.
After a while, Kim Hannah stepped outside to escape the endless parade of drinking games.
She strolled around the garden, occasionally taking a sip of wine from the glass in her hand.
“…Hm?”
Suddenly, she felt a gaze fall on her.
When she turned around, she saw Seol Jihu standing awkwardly nearby.
“What? Do you need something? Are you in trouble again?”
Asked Kim Hannah, tilting her glass to him.
Seol Jihu smiled bitterly.
He hadn’t said anything yet, but Kim Hannah already seemed to know what he was thinking.
“I’m not in any trouble.”
Seol Jihu took the glass from Kim Hannah’s hand and poured more wine.
“How’s everything?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“I mean Valhalla.”
“…What’s going on? It’s rare for you to show interest.”
Kim Hannah’s eyes widened.
She asked again in a slightly lower voice.
“Could it be that you’re thinking of coming back?”
“No. It’s actually the exact opposite.”
Surprise and confusion crossed Kim Hannah’s face. She wondered if she’d heard him right.
“Oh, I’m not retiring.”
Seol Jihu quickly waved his hand.
“It’s just that… I think I’ll stay on Earth for a while.”
“Why?”
“Mm… how should I explain this? You know about my situation, right?”
Kim Hannah glanced to the side.
She chuckled as she realized Seo Yuhui and Phi Sora were glaring at her with intensity.
“One’s missing, huh?”
She nodded and remarked teasingly.
“I guess you’re the head of a family now. Or should I say, three families?”
“Don’t tease me.”
“Sorry, sorry. So you decided to focus on family? Is that why you’re going back?”
“Well, not necessarily….”
Seol Jihu continued after a brief pause.
“I think it’s time I told them.”
Kim Hannah’s face fell.
After a moment of silence, her eyes widened, and her jaw fell open.
“Wait, you can’t possibly be thinking about—”
“No, you’re probably thinking what I’m thinking.”
“Hold on. I thought there was no more Neutral Zone?”
“I already looked into it. They’re willing to reopen it via request. But of course, I’ll have to pay some contribution points for it.”
“Really?”
Kim Hannah tilted her head, playing with the glass in her hand.
“Still, that aside… I’m just not sure if you should tell them.”
“…”
“The choice is yours, of course, but…. Your circumstances are a bit special, and you know that.”
“Right.”
Seol Jihu smacked his lips.
“It’s like I tricked them again, in a way….”
“In the worst-case scenario, your family might think you betrayed them again.”
“Still.”