I was driving the car.
“Hey, stop stealing it all.”
“So what? Can’t we share a little?”
“But I bought it!”
“Pfft! Don’t be so stingy. Older Brother, don’t marry this kid! If you marry a narrow-minded woman, you’ll suffer for life!”
“What did you say…? You little…”
Noah and the Demon King were bickering in the back seat.
The Demon King pretended to turn his head away but quickly grabbed another snack.
Judging by the effect, it seems he even used magic.
To use magic just to eat some snacks…
I envy his overflowing energy.
“Hey, Demon King. Are you hungry? Do you want to eat this?”
“Oh! Thank you, Red Eyes!”
“It’s Yoo Yul.”
“Thank you! Older Brother, instead of that bad-tempered kid, how about this one? There are no bad people who share food with others!”
The passenger seat occupant, Seo Jin-a, interjected.
“Hey, Demon King. You shouldn’t steal from others.”
“…Tch, I understand.”
What made him obey so easily?
Seo Jin-a smiled faintly.
“I taught him some manners.”
“Ah, did you?”
Looking at them through the rearview mirror, they were now playing around.
The Demon King lay on Tae-hwa’s lap eating snacks handed by Yoo Yul, while Noah shook his head watching them.
It was a noisy journey.
Actually, if we wanted, we could have arrived instantly without all this.
Since none of those present were ordinary people.
We might even arrive faster than the car.
But wouldn’t that lack sentiment?
This time spent inside the car is also part of the journey.
Thanks to this, my wallet is now completely empty.
‘The rental fee for a big car is quite painful…’
Eh.
Let’s not think about it.
“Hey, can someone play some music?”
“Music?”
“Yeah. Anything good.”
If I pick a song to my taste, something awkward is bound to happen.
Harsh metal doesn’t fit a peaceful journey.
Recalling the Demon King shaking his head to the music was quite funny, but it doesn’t suit the moment now.
Upon hearing my request, Tae-hwa tapped his phone.
“Uncle, have you heard this?”
Before I could answer, the prelude started playing.
The guitar sounds of “Ting Ting” were impressive. With only the guitar starting the music, it gives a wandering poet-like feeling, doesn’t it?
“Hey, Itae-hwa!”
For some reason, Noah started to panic.
The reason became clear when the prelude ended.
[Where the stars twinkle, we’re going there. Like your eyes, under the sky~]
“Isn’t that Noah’s voice?”
“Yes. I secretly recorded Noah singing alone the other day.”
“Hey! Itae-hwa, you really!”
“So what? You’ll sing in front of people eventually anyway!”
“This song…it’s…kinda embarrassing!”
Saying that while glancing at me.
I don’t get it. Is there a reason to look at me here? Is he embarrassed?
I tilted my head in confusion as Tae-hwa reprimanded me.
“Uncle lacks perception.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Let me replay it so you can listen carefully.”
“Hey! Give me the phone!”
“Hold him, Demon King!”
“As you wish!”
The Demon King clung to Noah and the song replayed.
[Like your eyes, under the sky~]
Your eyes like…
Under the sky…?
What color is the sky usually?
Since we often paint the sky blue…
Could it be referring to blue eyes?
Blue eyes.
Noah and the Demon King, purple.
Tae-hwa, yellow.
Yoo Yul, red.
Jin-a, green.
Then the remaining blue…
“…Ah.”
My lips curved upward.
“So that’s why you were embarrassed?”
“No, it’s not that…”
“Hmm. My eyes aren’t blue.”
“That’s not what I meant!”
Noah turned red and shook off the Demon King before lunging for Tae-hwa’s phone.
Tae-hwa laughed mischievously and bent down.
[Like your hair, under the night sky~]
“For goodness’ sake. Isn’t there only one person here with black hair and wall eyes? Miss Noah.”
“Aaaah!! Seriously!! Why are you doing this, Itae-hwa…!”
“Why? Well…because it’s fun.”
“Mr…! Uncle, unlock the door! I’ll push him out!”
“Whaaaat!? If you go to jail, you won’t be able to marry Uncle!”
“Aaaaah!!!”
Tae-hwa held out for quite a while with the Demon King’s help.
They even sang along.
“Like your eyes, under the sky~”
“Like your hair, under the night sky~”
“Aaaah!! Stop!!”
Of course, Noah writhed around.
“Is that really Noah’s song?”
“…Yeah, well…it’s not a great song…”
“It’s fine, isn’t it? I’d believe it if someone said a professional made it. I knew Noah had a good voice, but listening like this makes it definitely good.”
“Ah, thank…you…”
“If you often sang, that would be nice.”
“…”
“How pleasant it is to listen to.”
Praising him honestly calmed Noah down.
How long has it been since I’ve felt this sense of superiority?
Yes, I’ve been too swayed until now.
Sometimes, days like this where I take the initiative should exist so I can breathe easier.
When Noah decides to come in, it feels like my breath is blocked-
“If…you wish.”
“Huh?”
“For you alone…I can sing as much as you want…heehee…”
“…”
“For you alone…yes, as much as you want…heeheehee…forever…from now on…continuously…”
Noah mumbled with a shadow over her face.
Letting everyone in this cramped car hear those words.
Everyone lost their words and alternately stared at me and Noah.
It felt like my breath was completely blocked.
“…Tae-hwa.”
“Yes?”
“Do you want to listen to some death metal?”
+++++
At the foot of a large cliff in the mountains, we unloaded our luggage.
“Noah, give me the tent.”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll take care of the tent.”
Though we had quite a bit of luggage, there was no major concern.
Poof!
With the starlight, the magical girls appeared.
All wearing thick coats.
Now that I think about it, they could have transformed.
I should try summoning my tentacles-
“I don’t want to…it’s cold…”
“…”
“Don’t summon your tentacles unless you’re going to transform…”
Hmm, doesn’t seem possible.
There’s nothing else to do but leave the heavy lifting to them.
They’re all strong, so it should be fine.
Carrying the luggage, we walked for a bit.
In the small valley of Gangwon-do’s mountains, there was no one around, and the only sound was the crisp crunch of snow underfoot.
How long did we walk?
“Alright, we’ve arrived.”
We reached the entrance to the dungeon…but everyone’s reactions were strange.
It wasn’t surprising.
There was nothing around but the massive cliff.
“Are we here?”
“Yeah, we’re here.”
“Eh…?”
Confused, Noah kept rubbing her eyes.
“Uncle, where’s the entrance?”
“It’s right there.”
“Even if you point, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Well, it’s natural you wouldn’t know.”
I understand.
I myself didn’t know how to enter and struggled for quite a while.
After thoroughly researching the guide despite my gamer pride, I found the method.
“Follow me.”
The magical girls tilted their heads in confusion but slowly followed.
“Hm? Oh wow!!”
“What’s got you excited?”
“I can feel an immense magical power beyond that! What is it! That thing!”
The Demon King dashed forward but apparently didn’t know how to penetrate it either.
Well, who would think such a crazy method exists?
“Let’s see…Yoo Yul, do you want to go first?”
“Me? How?”
“Stand in front of that wall.”
“Okay…”
“Move as I tell you.”
“Okay.”
Yoo Yul stood against the wall, leaning her back and lowering her arms.
“Follow my instructions exactly.”
“Okay.”
“Up up down down left right left right B A.”
“…”
“To clarify: Up up down down left right left right Right hand slap the wall once, Left hand slap the wall once.”
Seo Jin-a froze in place.
Apparently, a demonstration is needed.
I leaned against the wall and moved precisely, slapping the wall once with my right hand before stopping before using my left.
“That’s the method! I understand. Let me try first!”
The Demon King stuck to the wall and rubbed his back.
Finally, he slapped the wall with his left hand.
“Wooow!”
The Demon King was absorbed into the wall as if being pulled in and disappeared.
Yoo Yul covered her mouth with her hand.
Hesitating for a moment, she mimicked the movements and was sucked into the wall, disappearing somewhere.
“Alright, you guys go next. I’ll go last.”
“Uncle.”
“Hm? What is it, Tae-hwa?”
“Does it just mean rubbing against the cliff?”
“Yeah. Just rub against the cliff like I showed you.”
Tae-hwa swallowed hard and adopted a serious expression.
Is he nervous?
In a solemn voice, Tae-hwa muttered quietly.
“So ‘before transforming, rubbing against Noah’s chest’ means…”
“That’s right.”
Huh?
“That’s not what I meant!”
“…Heh. So you thought it was a cliff until now.”
“…No, it’s just…I’m sorry…”
Phew…taking control? Not a chance…
I hurriedly escaped to the other side of the wall.
Because I didn’t want to die.
For some reason, I have a feeling I’ll keep being led around by Noah from now on.
“…Let’s set up the tent quickly.”
And then I realized something important.
“Noah.”
“Yes?”
“Why aren’t there any single-person tents? I planned to sleep three, two, one…this way we have to sleep four, two…”
“…Heehee.”
You bare-chested guy?
—
