Chapter 15: Unexpected Embrace
“Suddenly asking for a hug?”
At first, I thought it was just a joke, or maybe some childish whining.
But right now, Eunha was seriously embodying the ‘Hug Me’ pose of a flying squirrel with all her might.
But of all times…
“Why are you closing your eyes?”
“……”
With her face flushed like a couple waiting for their first kiss, it was hard for me not to be flustered.
Eunha, hit by my comment, slightly opened her sleepy eyes and puffed her cheeks like a deflating balloon as she retorted,
“It’s a rule to close your eyes when receiving a gift.”
When did that become a thing?
That definitely wasn’t the usual response I’d expect from Eunha.
“Am I embarrassed?”
“Not at all…”
Hmm, right.
She had amazed everyone by winning the game and even advertised my name, so how could I refuse a little service?
At her age, she had a bit of that new adult dignity, yet sometimes, I found myself missing her childish, one-sided praise.
I took a step closer, arms wide open, and pulled Eunha into a hug.
Her head fit perfectly between my… well, you know, the two bumps.
“Hehe.”
“Please stop with that uncle-like laugh.”
“But… it feels too good. Ughuhuh.”
In my arms, Eunha kept shaking her head and rubbing against me playfully.
With each tilt of her head, her soft chest pressed against me in waves, enjoying the sensation subtly.
I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed for some reason…
Wait, is this the Demon King? What if she’s cosplaying and hiding some devious intentions?
Just to be sure, I checked around Eunha’s face, surrounded by my divine energy, but found no issues.
“Sis, more than that, I have something I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
Clearing her throat, Eunha spoke with an unusually melodious tone.
“What did you think about the heir’s skills from the original’s perspective?”
“Pfft. You’ve never shown that off in front of other fans, right? That would be a real shock.”
“Eh, hurry up.”
As Eunha urged me, I patted her back.
The answer was, after all, predetermined.
“It was the best. I’m really proud of you.”
“Hehehe. I did it. Lotus carry~.”
Is she that happy? Perhaps she finds more meaning in successfully mimicking my play than in the team’s victory itself.
But oh well, having a close friend think this way makes me really happy too.
“Eunha, you’ve never said something like that before, right? Be careful. If you say that in an interview later, your fanbase might drop!”
“Come on, my fanbase is super loyal. I’m number one in our team’s merchandise sales.”
Wait? Not Wooden?
Did Eunha sense my question instinctively? She burrowed her head deeper.
“Yeah, skill-wise, he’s better, but it’s not like I’m completely failing. I’m not thrilled about being in second place in this industry, but I’m the only girl, so my popularity is off the charts!”
“Got it. When you retire as a professional gamer, will you join my company?”
“Company? Did you start one?”
Whoa, whoa, take it easy, sis.
“Not yet. I was thinking of gathering heroes later and if everyone is okay with it, maybe set up a hero-centered company or an influencer agency.”
“Could I go too?”
“Yeah, since everyone is struggling to return to Earth, I thought about establishing it as a sort of welfare concept. I originally only told Dayoung and Ahjin, but as the crew grows, I’m sharing.”
“Of course. Hehe, sounds fun!”
“Will the team be okay for now?”
Eunha is a professional gamer and also does broadcasting under the STK Team.
Most professional gamers enjoy their solo streams.
Especially legendary players are often kept around even after retirement, so I wonder if she’ll be okay.
“Yeah, I can include a clause for renewal later. But more importantly, an influencer agency made up of heroes… Ah, I’m excited.”
Even though it’s a plan that’s not yet solidified, she received it positively.
After all, it won’t be something executed overnight, and if she really wants to gather heroes, securing the number of people is crucial.
If it takes time, it might be something that can only happen a few years later. Besides, everyone is busy with other jobs, so I planned to take it slow.
But Eunha, who seemed excited about that future, hugged me tighter like a child who can’t contain their joy upon figuring out what birthday present they’d receive.
Well, in the end, I had no choice but to let her be affectionate, so I just kept patting her back.
As we shared each other’s warmth and scent for over a minute, I felt her head coming deeper into my embrace.
Looking down, her head sank even deeper into my arms, her breath mingling with mine as it filtered through my chest.
“Sis.”
“Yeah?”
“I can still see that.”
“……”
“From a distance, you’re looking at me. And I can feel you slowly coming closer. It still scares me. I’m afraid my life as a professional gamer will crumble. I worry that my family, teammates, and fans will be swept away. But… I was able to hold on because you were here.”
With a slight quiver in her voice, she confessed, her eyes glistening.
No matter how much I tried to suppress it, it was temporary relief, and it had to have some impact.
Even so, she was still holding on under heavy pressure.
Before being a hero, Eunha definitely possesses a radiant brilliance inside her.
“Sis, I did well, didn’t I?”
Her voice mumbled lightly in the flesh, yet it clearly reached my ears.
“Yeah, you did well. Really well.”
“……Yeah. Thank you.”
We released our embrace and let our bodies drift apart.
As if she didn’t want to show her face, or perhaps lacked the courage to face me, she turned softly away.
“Um… Can I ask for one thing?”
“Yeah, what is it?”
“Well, like, if… just if…”
Since we couldn’t face each other, the next words that came out were shocking.
“If I ever reached an irreversible state, I want you to kill me.”
“…What are you talking about?”
“Ah, did I jump the gun too fast? I just thought of it so…”
Without meeting my gaze, she turned her head to look into the distance.
The gentle light flickering in her eyes seemed to express a strong will to never forget this scene in her memory.
“You said this is temporary. That eventually, a resolution must come. Lately, I’ve been feeling like that day might come sooner than I think.”
It would definitely be difficult.
I nodded to myself, accepting the thought.
“I believe that you can save me. But, just in case. If there’s no hope, I want you to quickly give up and kill me. I really don’t want to bring harm to you, or to others, or to my family.”
She spoke as if she were speaking to herself rather than conversing with me.
“And… if I must die… at least, at least…”
Her lips hesitated for a moment before she continued.
“I want to die in your arms at the last moment…”
A chilling feeling ran down my spine, even more than what she’d said before.
“They say before a person dies, all their memories flash before their eyes. But if there is an ending to that memory story… then the last thing I see right before my death might just be you.”
Perhaps because she bowed her head, Eunha’s posture leaned just a little as if she were descending.
As if confessing her heart, she was speaking into the void.
“In the end, the memory that lasts the longest is the ending. If the last thing I see before closing my eyes is your face… then maybe I could cherish it the most after I die.”
After gazing into the distance for a moment, Eunha turned to face me directly, as if responding to my gaze.
“So… I want to fill my last memories with you. Is that okay?”
Like reading a story from a fairy tale book, her calm smile and voice brushed past me.
She was no longer just a professional gamer who burned with passion for the team’s victory.
She was no longer just Eunha who wanted to enjoy gaming with me.
With eyes that could capture everything, she spoke in a bittersweet yet serene manner.
‘Ah…’
A helpless sigh of regret escaped me inwardly.
Maybe I was slightly holding resentment towards Eunha right now.
Why is she saying this? I would have preferred to casually celebrate the victory and plan another gaming session just like we always did…
As though a whirlwind of various thoughts swept through me, I could only face the undeniable truth that I couldn’t save this girl right away.
Living amidst ordinary days, right in front of my eyes, the child I spoke with was suffering more than I ever realized.
In response to Eunha’s request, I didn’t say anything, just held her tight.
I wanted her to not worry, to assure her that such things wouldn’t happen.
To convey that sentiment, I wrapped my arms around her even tighter than before, digging in deeper.
This was a moment that was brief yet long… Eunha’s first and last fan meeting.
