Chapter 376. Epilogue (1), My Story (2/2)

“So, here!”

Without giving me a chance to think, she reached out with her hand.

“Take this, you bastard!”

“…If you say so.”

“Huh?”

When I agreed, a shadow was suddenly cast over Chae Nayun’s face. But putting on a bright smile in the next instance, she playfully tapped my chest with her hand holding the necklace.

“Okay, take it.”

“I will, but not now. I’ll take it back after you come back from the campaign.”

“…What?”

“You heard me. I’m talking about the Tower of Miracle. If you want to succeed, or at least increase the chances of succeeding by even a little, you’ll need that necklace.”

Chae Nayun became dumbfounded, and I laughed.

In truth, the Tower of Miracle in my story was a McGuffin.

I did not write even a rough outline about the Tower of Miracle. I only thought, ‘What would happen if this was the reward?’ in my head.

So, it was extremely unlikely that the Tower’s reward was the same as what I thought of.

However.

If the Tower’s reward really was something similar to what ‘I thought’, and if Chae Nayun came to possess that ‘miracle’, would she be able to become happy again?

“…Got it? Give it back to me after you conquer the Tower of Miracle. Don’t refuse just for the sake of it.”

I pushed Chae Nayun’s fist back. She furrowed her brows, then reluctantly put the necklace back into her pocket.

“So fussy… Fine. It’s true that this necklace will help a lot….”

Grumbling brusquely, Chae Nayun turned around.

The sun had finished setting before I noticed, and Chae Nayun became dyed by the darkness of the navy world.

Tap, tap.

Having failed to achieve her initial objective, Chae Nayun spoke with her back facing me.

“I’m going. See you again.”

I replied as I placed her leaving figure in my memories.

“…Yeah, have a happy life.”

I didn’t say ‘see you again’ on purpose.

**

—How was Disneyland? Fun?

—Un! Super fun~!

A rowdy noise woke me up while I was having a catnap on the balcony.

—I saw a flying pumpkin carriage!

Massaging my stiff neck, I looked at the living room through the window. I saw Evandel in a fairy uniform and a fairy headband.

—But the haunted house was too scary….

Her cute appearance made me grin, and I was late to notice the person sitting next to me. I turned my head and faced Yi Byul, who was leaning on the balcony’s rail and staring at me.

“Oh, you were watching me? You could have woken me up.”

I spoke as I rubbed my heavy eyelids.

“…Sorry.”

But Yi Byul suddenly apologized. Her expression was dark too.

I was confused, but then I realized the reason my eyelids felt so heavy.

I was crying.

I quickly wiped off the tears and spoke.

“Oh, this? It’s nothing. I must have had a bad dream.”

“….”

“Really. You don’t have to be sorry about anything.”

Yi Byul grabbed my hand tightly. Her cold hand was shaking.

I felt like I knew what she was thinking about.

After all… she was the only one who knew the truth about me.

Yi Byul spoke, “…You can leave whenever you want. I understand.”

“No, I’m not going anywhere.”

I refused flatly and looked into her eyes. She was tearing up from guilt.

This was the reason I couldn’t say ‘I can’t go.’ For us, there was a big difference between not going and being unable to go.

“I’m staying here. Because you said you won’t forget me and because you came to find me first.”

“I—”

Just as Yi Byul was about to say something, the balcony door suddenly shot open, and Evandel came running in.

“Hajin~ Hajin~ I’m back~!”

After proudly boasting to Rachel, it seemed I was next. I exchanged glances with Yi Byul before coming out to the living room.

There were many people gathered there. Rachel and Yoo Yeonha, Droon and Yi Yuri, and even eight of Evandel’s friends.

“Hello~”

Yoo Yeonha waved her hand.

“Yo.”

I waved my hand half-heartedly.

Although Yoo Yeonha was currently the most influential person on the planet, she wasn’t a particularly rare guest here. Even if she was busy, she came at least once a week.

“Wait, Evandel?”

“Un~?”

“Go play with your friends on the 2nd floor. The adults have something to talk about.”

“Okay! Can we all play games?!”

“Only for two hours.”

“Yay~!”

Evandel and here friends rushed up to the 2nd floor. I breathed out a sigh, then sat down on the long table in the living room. A plate of thick steak was steaming in front of me.

Yoo Yeonha asked as soon as Yi Byul and I sat down.

“Nayun came and left immediately?”

“….”

I nodded silently.

“Nayun-nim came?”

Rachel, who was sitting next to Yoo Yeonha, opened her eyes wide.

“You should ask him. He should know better than me.”

Yoo Yeonha pointed at me.

“Yes, Chae Nayun came and left. She talked about the Tower campaign that’s coming up and didn’t say much else.”

“Ah, right, the Tower of Miracle campaign is coming up…. Nayun-nim must be really busy then.”

Rachel seemed a bit regretful.

For the record, Aileen was elected as the new chairman of the Hero Association, and Chae Nayun became the youngest Master-rank Hero. As many high-rank Heroes were promoted to Master-rank simultaneously, the honorable title went to Chae Nayun who was four days younger than Kim Suho.

The reason Rachel started addressing her so respectfully was because of her position as the ‘youngest Master-rank Hero’. Rachel, who was still a high-rank grade-1 Hero (world rank 79), was rather serious about formalities.

“There you go again with Nayun-nim…. Just address her casually.”

Yoo Yeonha shook her head before quickly turning her head to face me.

“Here, take this.”

She suddenly took out a piece of paper.

“What’s this?”

“You rested a lot already. It’s time to start working.”

Yoo Yeonha smiled mischievously. This smile of hers always made me anxious. Just what the heck did she do this time?

I swallowed hard and checked the contents of the paper.

[Press Conference Request Form]

“…What? A press conference?”

“Yep. The patent for the baldness cure you created passed. There’s a reason you’re called the ‘Miracle Pharmacist’ right now. Everyone is talking about you, and you’re practically the savior of all men between the ages of 20 and 90.”

“But what’s the press conference for?”

“Well, who knows? Maybe your existence might revive in this world with this press conference.”

A chuckle immediately escaped my mouth. For a mere baldness cure?

However, Yoo Yeonha raised her eyebrows sharply.

“No, I’m being serious. The baldness cure is a huge deal. It’s something that even magic has failed to solve. If you hold a press conference, tens of thousands of people will swarm to it. Do you know how many people in the world are suffering from complete or partial baldness? In the West, over half—”

“Ah, geez, stop. A mere baldness cure won’t—”

“Mere?”

“…Oh right. Didn’t you say you got partial balding from stress?”

“What? No, I didn’t! When did I say that!?”

“Then take this back.”

I gave the document back to Yoo Yeonha. She pouted and put the request form away.

At that moment, Yi Byul asked.

“Anyways, you didn’t come with Cheok Jungyeong?”

It seemed Yi Byul was wistful for some familiar faces.

“Mm, no. They will become wanted targets again.”

“…Wanted targets?”

Yi Byul furrowed her brows.

“Yes.”

Yoo Yeonha looked out the window and stared at the distant sky, then murmured.

“Right about now… they should be in the underground prison, preparing to win Yoo Jinwoong over.”

“…What?”

“Huh?”

My eyes widened. I wasn’t the only one. Yi Byul and Rachel also made similar faces.

Yoo Yeonha waved her hand as though it wasn’t a big deal.

“It’s fine. This matter will be taken care of with utmost secrecy. We finished discussing it with the Association Chairman. Yoo Jinwoong received 15 years behind bars, but Chae Joochul got away scot-free. Maybe feeling bad about that, she agreed as soon as we made the offer.”

Yoo Yeonha shrugged before continuing.

“In truth, Jin Seyeon was the one who made the offer first. She’s completely become a member of the Chameleon Troupe now. Something about protecting justice from the shadows…. Well, she’ll become a thief and a destroyer along with the rest of them, but she’ll be doing it to the ‘evil’ ones. Anyways, I’m happy. I don’t want my father rotting away behind bars for 15 years.”

Sk, sk. Yoo Yeonha sliced her steak with her knife and fork.

“I’m sure he’ll agree. Traveling the world was his second dream.”

Yi Byul and I stared at Yoo Yeonha. She placed a small chunk of the steak into her mouth.

Nom, nom.

After gracefully chewing and swallowing the piece, she wiped her mouth with a napkin and put the knife and fork down.

“Now, then.”

Yoo Yeonha interlocked her fingers and rested her chin on them. Then, she made an evil, mischievous smile.

“That’s what’s going on with me. Rachel is probably going to say something about her guild or whatever, so….”

Yoo Yeonha looked back and forth between me and Yi Byul.

“Why don’t I hear you two’s story?”

The room turned silent for a moment. Rachel and even Droon and Yi Yuri looked curious.

I grabbed Yi Byul’s hand. She seemed to be nervous as it was cold and stiff.

“Well….”

I thought about the people I abandoned. My friends and family, who were my all before I came to this world.

Although I might not be able to see them ever again, I didn’t regret my decision.

I miss them every day and felt saddened when I thought about my parents losing me forever, but I wouldn’t have made this decision if I wasn’t sure.

“…Our story.”

I thought about Chae Nayun who wasn’t here. I thought about Kim Suho and Shin Jonghak who could not remember me. I thought about the things I could do in this world.

Then, I looked at the person who was very, very precious to me.

“We’ll have to write it from now. Until it becomes a happy ending.”

I spoke as I always did and smiled. Yi Byul smiled back. Everyone in the room smiled.

That was enough.

Although I became a completely different person in a completely different world.

Although I lost everything from the previous world.

The current me… no, we, could confidently say that we are happy.

Since we can forever be with people who are precious to us….