I am back – Chapter 138

“I ate well!”

After finishing the meal, Ga-young bowed to us and greeted us.

The gaze of my companions, excluding my older sister, also turned toward me. There was a slight blush on the faces of the four people.

Since coming to this world, my companions had been living off my money. It was only natural; I didn’t bring a chunk of gold with me when I arrived here.

While chatting the last time, I heard that they hadn’t actually thought they could fully transition to this side. Even though the Goddess promised to arrange something, they didn’t believe it would be easy and thought it would take time to persuade me.

Yet, right after seeing the Goddess that day, I ended up coming to this world. Naturally, most of my belongings remained in the Kingdom.

They said they had a decent amount of gold coins, enough to carry around on an everyday basis. They were all people of considerable status even in Irrelaysia, and naturally, they had significant personal wealth, especially given the bounty they received after the war. So my companions, strictly speaking, were not completely broke. Since they had ‘gold’ coins, it seemed likely they could exchange them for a fair amount of money.

However, gold is quite a valuable metal in this world, so there could be various issues during the exchange process. Plus, the four of them were living here under Korean identities, but if even one person doubted their disguise, it would cause trouble.

I didn’t want the conversation to twist like that.

In the end, my suggestion was simply to use my money, and since my companions didn’t want to trouble me, they agreed, and we are just using my money now.

Honestly, I didn’t really perceive it as ‘my’ money.

It was an enormous fortune provided by the Goddess, and frankly, I was a bit astonished every time I used it. It didn’t feel like it was decreasing…… Though it wasn’t exactly a vast amount, I also had money coming in steadily from my part-time jobs. When considering the total amount of money earned from working and the money we were spending, it would technically be negative, but with the interest on the money in my account, it became a surplus again.

For someone who lived in a semi-basement house before dying, it still felt like an unbelievable amount.

On top of that, Pia and Dana had been researching ways to send items from that world to this side recently.

The reason being, “to transfer the reward I will receive from the Kingdom,” perhaps.

……Even though I already had more than enough wealth, I found myself questioning whether it was really necessary.

Moreover, if we went by that logic, I had also gained a lot from that world. My companions would tell me it was only natural since I was the hero.

“No, it’s proper for adults like us to live this way.”

At my words, Ga-young looked at us with sparkling eyes.

Well, just because we are adults doesn’t mean we can casually buy meals for others.

In terms of age, I was still a financially inexperienced newcomer to society. If I said it was the money I earned from part-time jobs, it would probably barely cover my rent and food.

Since I was in a receiving position, it was something I didn’t really need to think about.

“Then… should we head out? Ga-young, you have to go to school tomorrow too.”

It wasn’t that late. Even as teenagers, they could still stay out later.

However, it wouldn’t look too good if that teenager was surrounded by adults for too long.

“Ah, yes, thank you for today!”

At my words, Ga-young bowed deeply to us.

“No, we were the ones who received help.”

Ga-young’s words made my older sister smile and reply.

“And you said you would continue to help us in the future. So we should be the ones saying thank you. Really, thank you.”

Even while my sister spoke those words with a smile, Ga-young’s face grew redder and redder, to the point where she looked like she could blush no more by the time my sister finished her sentence.

“Ah, no!”

Though she said that, when I brought up going out to have fun, she immediately said that it might be difficult because of her volunteer activities. Participating in volunteer activities together isn’t that easy to do.

Usually, if that were the case, they would mostly just say to meet next time. Especially Ga-young, who didn’t even hesitate and responded immediately.

If I said anything more, I felt like Ga-young might actually faint, so I said nothing.

It seemed like my companions felt the same. However, they couldn’t hide the smiles on their faces.

“Th-then, goodbye!”

Worried about what awkward comments she might hear if she stayed any longer, Ga-young said that.

“Okay, be careful on your way back.”

My sister said that.

I waved my hand.

Ga-young bowed to us several times, then quickly turned and ran away.

“……She’s really cute.”

Pia let out a sigh as though she was envious. I thought Pia also played the role of cuteness in our party, but… Ah, maybe it was precisely because of that that Pia wanted to befriend Ga-young.

I understood that Ga-young was cute, but that didn’t mean she completely dropped her guard with people. In the end, the only ones who got to call her ‘older sister’ were my sister… and me.

Still, even so, the ones able to use that kind of title towards someone they just met must be really bold. Especially towards those who seem like foreigners that speak Korean incredibly well.

“Well, we’ll be able to meet again soon anyway. Since we said we’d continue volunteering, we’ll run into her several times. It won’t be too late to get closer then.”

At Kalia’s words, Pia’s previously pouted brow relaxed.

“Right?”

And then she smiled brightly.

Continuing into the future.

My companions came here to help me, but they never said how long they would help.

I didn’t know how long my ‘escape’ would last, nor did I truly know if I could be cured.

Were they companions who would someday return?

Thinking like that made me feel a bit lonely already.

Because moments gathered boisterously in that big house and having meals together would feel truly nostalgic.

“Si-hyun?”

“Yeah?”

When someone called my name, I turned my head to see Arna.

No, not just Arna, but the others too, Kalia, Pia, Dana, and even my sister.

Everyone who was by my side was looking at me.

They were all here.

Perhaps except for my sister, the others might all have to return to their respective homes. They had families over there, and they also had established connections and followers to take care of.

“Are you having any worries?”

Arna tilted her head and asked.

Arna was the same. Since she was an elf, she was still having a hard time adapting to the air in this large city and was wearing a mask.

For me, this world felt like home, so I was at ease, but it wasn’t the same for these people.

But everyone was here for me.

To help me… regain the everyday life I had lost.

“No.”

I shook my head and smiled.

Yeah. It was just everyday life. I had my companions, and I had people I liked.

I still hadn’t fully regained everything. Many of my acquaintances didn’t know who I really was, and especially my only family, my mom, still didn’t know that I had returned.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t fully reclaim the place I originally occupied. Because strictly speaking, I had become a different person.

But…… what exactly is a place?

I haven’t built anything grand, nor have I had wide-ranging human connections, so what does my place mean?

Even the village I lived in had vanished.

Thinking back, maybe I never really had a designated place in Irrelaysia. No, not just Irrelaysia, but perhaps the same was true for this world as well.

It’s not like a place was predetermined from birth. It’s about living, creating bonds with people along the way, and having those ties intertwine to form what we call our place.

“Just a thought crossed my mind. I’m fine now.”

As I spoke, everyone tilted their heads slightly.

They wore somewhat anxious expressions. Until recently, my condition hadn’t been great.

“Really?”

When my sister asked with concern, I burst into laughter.

I must look strange, right? Just laughing without any reason.

But it was fine.

I thought it was okay. Because everyone was here.

After all, a person’s place keeps changing. Even if you want to stay in one spot, you get pushed this way and that, or you leave voluntarily, while continuing to shift your position.

If I thought I lost my place, I could just create one. Even if my companions left, it would only mean the position has shifted; it doesn’t mean we stop being companions or friends. Whether we can meet again or not, and even if we find that magic, we still don’t know how often we will be able to use it. No one knows that yet. It’s unnecessary to worry about things we don’t know yet.

So, I’ll just enjoy the everyday life in front of me to the fullest.

Right after returning, I couldn’t even think of such things.

My companions are returning, and since I have regained some mental composure, I can start thinking about these things.

“Yeah. Really.”

I wrapped up my smile and said.

“Shall we head back now?”

Because I was able to receive such a daily life, I could be myself.

I received so much from both worlds.

It wouldn’t be right to wish for more than that.