Noah quickened his pace.
An ominous feeling had been lingering since a while ago.
“Hey, Noah, let’s slow down a bit…!”
Though Stella said this from behind, her voice was faint. An unpleasant sensation had been troubling him since earlier.
“…Uncle, I hope he’s alright…”
He was worried.
It wasn’t as if they were tied by some fateful thread, but whenever something happened to him, there was always this unsettling feeling somewhere.
If, by any chance, this strange sensation turned out to be real. If the feeling that made his heart race and cold sweat trickle down was true…
“What on earth is happening to Uncle…”
Wishing this sensation would turn out wrong, Noah walked briskly.
Though he was tired from dealing with the demon, that wasn’t the priority.
“You twisted your ankle, didn’t you?”
“It’s trivial. This much.”
“Don’t overdo it. I’ll fly ahead quickly and check.”
“No, I want to see it with my own eyes.”
“Such stubbornness…”
Despite Stella’s attempts to dissuade her, she wouldn’t budge. Though it was true that fighting the demon left her exhausted, fear outweighed that fatigue.
After walking for quite a while,
At the end of the long corridor was a large square.
It looked like a scene you’d find upon entering a cave.
Apparently, they were the first to arrive; there was no one there.
After looking around for quite some time,
“Noah, over there!”
“…!”
“…Ah, you guys came?”
A bloodied and battered figure appeared before them.
+++++
The sound of steady footsteps echoed.
Turning my head at the sound, two magical girls came into view: one with pink hair, the other with blue.
Of course, those girls were Iris and Stella.
I smiled at the two of them.
“You came.”
I thought it was a smile that seemed natural and reassuring.
“Uncle!”
Guess not.
Seeing Noah running towards me with a distressed expression…
“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere!?”
“Yeah, I’m fine-”
“Don’t lie! It’s written all over your face!”
“But, I’m really fine-”
“Not again! You told me not to pretend to be fine in front of you, so why are you doing it now?”
“But, it’s-”
Just as I was about to make an excuse,
Something surged up from within me. That was strange. I had already taken all the basic emergency measures.
Apparently, the shock was worse than expected.
“I, I’m really fine-”
Even to myself, it sounded unconvincing.
“Uuuweeeeeek…!!!”
My blatant lie was exposed.
“Cough…Huff…Huff…”
Noah’s expression darkened at the sight of the bl**d pooling on the ground. The crimson color was alarming.
I took a blow to the abdomen from the Demon King’s desperate punch, and it seems my insides were quite damaged.
I didn’t want to show this side to them.
Lifting my head, I saw Noah’s face—it had gone beyond distress to sheer anguish.
Noah’s lips trembled. His gaze darted around, pupils dilated.
The kid was scared.
‘I need to calm him down.’
Because of me, the child is trembling.
I have to console him…
“…Oof…!”
The pain felt like my innards were being wrung out, and my brow furrowed sharply.
This isn’t how it should be.
Because of me, a child is trembling.
“The Demon King is fine.”
“…”
“…I’ve given him medicine. From here on out, it depends on the Demon King’s will.”
Whether the essence will purify or not rests on the Demon King’s resolve.
All we can do now is hope. Please, may the Demon King overcome this.
But Noah shook his head, indicating that wasn’t what he was concerned about. Soon, his gaze turned toward me.
“Now that’s not the important thing! Why are you like this, Uncle?”
“…I got hit. The Demon King put up quite a fight.”
“Huh…huh…”
“Prepared his favorite strawberry flavor, but looks like he didn’t want to take the medicine. Haha.”
Cough!
Another bout of coughing brought up bl**d, causing Noah to panic.
“Quick, to the hospital! Let’s go to the hospital! Right!?”
“No. We must keep moving forward.”
“Give me the key. I’ll find a way!”
“…There are things I must help with too.”
“With that body, what exactly do you think you’re helping with!?”
“Battle.”
Noah gritted his teeth.
“Fine! Fine, just please go get treated!”
“…Noah…”
“Yes? Hurry!”
I stared at Noah’s face and shook my head. There was no way. Could I abandon everything and sacrifice this child just to run away?
“No, I’ll fight until the end. Even if I collapse, it doesn’t matter.”
“Exactly.”
“…Huh?”
“Why are you doing this? Just admit when you’re in pain and try to escape.”
Noah panted heavily.
Tears began to stream down his cheeks.
“…Tell me, why are you doing this?”
“…”
+++++
It stemmed from a pure question I had while living in this world.
Thinking back, it was indeed the case.
‘Why was I so attached to that game?’
I wasn’t particularly fond of games.
Not the type to obsess over a single game for hours or days.
Rather, I was the opposite.
A person who preferred to work during the time others spent gaming.
Yet, I became engrossed in a game—not just any game, but a gacha game.
Even now, it’s hard to fully understand.
However, the doubt was resolved after meeting Noah.
The reason I played that game so much.
The reason I clung so desperately to ‘Naohwa’, who was, at best, a character in a game.
“Why? Is there something on my face?”
He resembled me.
More precisely, my pre-corrupted self.
When I was young…
“…When I was young, I was like you.”
“Me?”
I nodded.
When I was young, my parents told me,
We’ll come back to pick you up after a few nights here.
Of course, that place was an orphanage, and the parents who promised to return never did.
Back then, I foolishly believed they would come back someday.
‘Looking back now…’
Noah’s lonely figure overlapped with mine—growing up without parents.
Because of that deep empathy, every time the in-game Noah suffered, I felt anguish and hoped for his happiness.
He is me.
Even in the game, I wanted him to be happy.
Both him and me.
Really, such foolish talk.
“…What was Uncle like when he was young?”
“When I was young?”
After pondering for a moment, I answered.
“Hmm…the reason I excel at being a villain?”
“…”
“That’s it. I did a lot of bad things, and I followed orders blindly, wanting even a small amount of love. I was stupid, pathetic, and pitiable.”
“…”
“So, I… I want Noah to be happy instead of turning out like me.”
Even though I’m utterly rotten, it’s not just about putting on airs.
“I’ll make sure of it.”
Noah bowed his head deeply.
He must have understood. Noah is smart and kind, so there’s no risk of him becoming like me.
Noah’s brows furrowed.
Suddenly, I could hear his sharp teeth grinding.
Finally, I could see Noah’s face.
He was brimming with anger.
“Then what about Uncle?”
“Me?”
“Who will make Uncle happy? What does Uncle need to be happy?”
“My happiness… someone like me shouldn’t even consider it. Rather, Noah, you-”
“Not someone like you!”
“…”
“I also want Uncle to be happy! Self-sacrifice? For someone like me? Stop saying such foolish things! That’s not cool at all!”
“…”
“Just admit when you’re in pain! When you’re struggling, say so! How long will you keep treating me like a child!? I’m not a kid anymore! I can take care of myself!”
“But, you’re still a high school student and technically a kid-”
“Answer me!”
“…Ah, it hurts…”
Noah glared at me fiercely.
Then he tore off my shirt.
“Look at all these bruises…”
“I did the basic first aid, though.”
Noah called out Stella and QQQ, who had been hiding. They closed their eyes, chanted spells with starlight, and applied it to my stomach.
It’s a mysterious sensation. What should I call it?
Ah, like applying a bandage? Exactly that feeling.
“This isn’t as good as Jin, but it’ll have to do.”
“Hmm, thank you. This should allow me to fight more.”
Noah looked perplexed.
“Go already!”
“…Even if I wanted to, I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“The entrance disappeared right after we came out. Seems like they’re determined to settle this.”
“d*mn that rabbit!”
“Well, looks like they’re ready to make a decisive move.”
With some rest, I finally had a chance to observe my surroundings.
Iris and Stella.
They looked pretty worn out but didn’t seem to have major injuries.
Indeed, it feels like a final showdown against the rabbit.
‘I…’
Though I sustained significant injuries, I should be able to continue.
The problem is…
“Is Yul okay…?”
Blackheart, who went alone to face the Demon King.
Given how powerful the Demon King is and the memory of our previous defeat, I was worried.
“…By the way, Uncle, how about Yul?”
“I don’t know either. Haven’t heard anything yet…”
Thud thud.
“…They say if you mention a tiger, it will appear.”
Footsteps approached from Blackheart’s passage.
Only, the issue was…
“Hmph…”
“…Yul?”
“This body’s sensitivity is quite impressive. I like it.”
The fact that the person started speaking in incomprehensible ways.
Somewhere between several times more savage and dangerous than usual.
And…
“Uncle, everyone.”
“…Yul!?”
“Hehe…It’s come to this…”
A small spirit in the form of a girl sat on Blackheart’s shoulder, scratching the back of her head.
What on earth has happened here?
