Chapter 34 (2/2)

”Will you help us out?” (Seol)

”I might be able to, but….” (Agnes)

Agnes c.o.c.ked an eyebrow and swept her penetrating gaze over the two women.

”Have you fully explained my training methods to them yet?” (Agnes)

”Of course.” (Seol)

”In that case, I understand. Since it's your personal request, I shall do my utmost best. However, if they decide to give up halfway, I shall not stop them.” (Agnes)

Agnes's role within the Neutral Zone was a trainer, an instructor. If someone wanted to train under her, she wasn't going to refuse outright. It's just that, no one wanted to in the first place….

Seol paid for the usage of the gym and gathered his hands while watching the two girls follow in after Agnes. He was praying for their happiness in afterlife.

Well, Agnes was known as the Sicilia's demonic instructor, after all.

The merciless training regime commenced.

On the first day, both Yi Surl-Ah and Yi Sung-Jin broke down and cried.

The maid named Agnes whipped them and pushed them hard like a devil.

Even Yun Seo-Rah had to shed a small tear.

However, although she cried a little because of the toughness of the training, the biggest reason had to do with the sheer joy of it all.

It was tough, but she also enjoyed it. It was as if she was finally doing something meaningful - as if, things were finally, finally clicking into gear.

As she had already experienced nearly falling into pits of h.e.l.l, she was indescribably happy from the joy a fulfilling day provided her with. It was as if she was living in a dream everyday.

And so, such dream-like days began changing her little by little, day after day.

[The personality trait, 'Cool-headed' has been created.]

She regained her lost personality, and….

[The personality trait, 'Despairing' has been removed.]

….Not only that, her desire to give up disappeared. Also….

[The personality trait, 'Indifferent' has been removed.]

….Also, she developed an interest in someone.

Late at night, while everyone else was asleep.

After returning from another day's arduous training, Yun Seo-Rah lay on the bed but her eyes remained wide open and blinking nonstop.

Although her body was fatigued, sleep wasn't forthcoming.

Like a habit, she sneaked a glance at a certain someone. And she stared at the youth lying on the floor to sleep silently and continuously.

He was the guy who never forgot to give her the Competence in the mornings and the afternoons.

He was the guy who brought along a few items and said that they would help with strengthening her body's natural recovery rate.

He was the guy who never forgot to encourage her, saying that they would go and do the missions together as soon as she finished the training.

Although it was hard to understand why he sometimes slyly suggested that she should utter the words 'teddy bear' to Agnes, but regardless, he was….

'Someone I'm grateful to.' (Yun Seo-Rah)

Thanks to his generosity, she could rest in his quarters where even a short period of break would wash away all the fatigue.

On top of that, she didn't have worry about starving ever again, getting to fill her tummy with delicious food, instead.

From a certain point on, she began accepting his gestures of goodwill. The uncomfortable awkwardness gradually disappeared, and at the same time, the sense of grat.i.tude grew larger and larger.

However….

'Why is he helping us?' (Yun Seo-Rah)

That was the last unanswered question burning a hole in her head.

Was it because he pitied them? Or sympathised with them?

Or, could it be….

'Because he's interested in me….?' (Yun Seo-Rah)

It was then, an unknown type of bashfulness a.s.saulted her in full. No matter how hard she reasoned, it didn't make sense. She began chewing on her lower lip. Shaking her head while inwardly crying out, 'I don't know anymore!' was just an added bonus.

'….Seol-nim.' (Yun Seo-Rah)

Again, she began staring at the youth. Staring at one thing continuously might've been boring for some, but she never once took her eyes off him.

Eventually, she did close her eyes as the dawn approached, but her consciousness still refused the embrace of sleep.

….No, that wasn't strictly correct.

In reality, she was afraid of falling asleep.

She was afraid of waking back up on the fifth floor.

She was afraid of waking up and finding those three foreigners.

Whenever that happened, she desperately tried to recall a certain moment from that day.

”….Are you alright?”

She recalled the hand of Seol outstretched towards her.

She recalled that short memory deeply imprinted in her brain.

If she concentrated on that moment, before noticing it, she'd fall into a deep slumber. Usually, that had been the case.

'….This is a big problem.' (Yun Seo-Rah)

But, for some reason, she couldn't fall asleep tonight, no matter what. She tossed and turned on the bed for a little while longer, before eventually deciding to get up.

Ever so carefully, she took each step so others wouldn't wake up. Soon, she stood before the deeply snoozing Seol and gazed at him. A strange glint flashed by her eyes as she slowly directed her gaze lower down from his face.

'His hand.' (Yun Seo-Rah)

As soon as Yun Seo-Rah discovered his right hand, she lowered herself as if she was in trance. She then got down to the floor on all fours. She crawled like that to her new destination.

Just before she collided with his hand, she stopped. She closed her eyes and cautiously placed her nose against his palm.

Sniff.

A small noise leaked out as she took a sniff, and sure enough, she detected his scent. The scent coming from his hand.

Sniff, sniff.

Now that she got going, she ended up sniffing for the second and the third time.

She realised that she shouldn't be doing this. Yet, like an addict, she couldn't stop.

For Yun Seo-Rah, who could fall asleep only by recalling the events of that day for the past few nights, this was one temptation she could not win against.

'It's nice. Nice….' (Yun Seo-Rah)

Seeing that the youth showed no signs of waking up, her actions became even bolder.

She placed her head on his palm and slowly moved it this way and that, then she even rubbed her cheek against his skin. His palm was large enough to hide her smallish face.

'It's…. warm….' (Yun Seo-Rah)

Sensing the comfort and security his large hand gave her, Yun Seo-Rah's eyes eventually grew heavy. Not too long after, a soft but regular breathing pattern emerged from her nose.

That night….

Seol had a dream.

'….A dream?' (Seol)

Is this one of those lucid dreams, I wonder? mused Seol inwardly as he surveyed his new surroundings.

The scenery of his dream was quite breathtaking. He saw a beautiful small hill covered in a refres.h.i.+ng green hue and several different animals playing on it.

There was a bear, sitting on top of the hill and enjoying the gentle breeze; a squirrel darting through the branches of a tree; a deer drinking water from a stream….

While he spectated this scene, Seol's eyes landed on a particular animal that attracted his attention the most.

'Oh?'

It was a pig. Not only that, a small and very pink piglet, its body so plump and adorably cute.

'It's really small…. Is it a newly born?' (Seol)

Seol found the way it slept while leaning against the gra.s.s incredibly cute, so he cautiously approached it. He wanted to take a closer look.

*SFX for a piglet's steady breaths*

Seeing it breathing out so softly like that, his entire body quivered in emotions.

In the end, he couldn't control himself any longer and gently poked the pinkish and squidgy body of the piglet with his index finger.

The piglet's eyes shot open abruptly, and it hurriedly got back up to stare at Seol.

Kyu?

'TOO CUTE!' (Seol)

Seol screamed inwardly. When he slowly sat down on the ground, the piglet began retreating while carrying a scared, tearful expression.

'Nonono, come here, here. I'm not gonna hurt you.' (Seol)

Seol presented his right hand, causing the animal to lightly flinch and stop retreating away from him. Then, the piglet stared at his open palm.

'Come here…' (Seol)

The piglet hesitated, before trotting closer to his position.

'There, there.' (Seol)

Seeing the animal lightly brush his palm with the flat of its nose, a grin automatically formed on his lips. When he carefully brushed its back, the piglet's small tail began wagging, too.

'Should just I keep it?' (Seol)

Just as Seol was sincerely considering this, he noticed that something had changed.

'Gold colour?' (Seol)

The piglet's pinkish hue of before had been replaced by a blinding gold colour, instead.

Kyu!

The piglet, while emitting the brilliant golden light from its body, raised one of its front paws at him - as if it was asking him to hug the creature.

'Oh, oh, oh!!' (Seol)

Seol, of course, hurriedly picked it up and hugged it. Yet it remained docile. He couldn't hide his joy.

Well, there was that old saying, wasn't there - that, among all types of dreams, ones with pigs were the best out there? And even more so, since the little piggy was gold, this dream must've been a really good one.

'It's mine.' (Seol)

Seol smiled in satisfaction and tightly embraced the piglet squirming and digging in deeper into his arms.

'I'll never let go.' (Seol)

< 34.=”” the=”” golden=”” commandment=””> Fin.