episode_0024

Indeed, should she be called the last empress of the empire?

Even with significantly weakened power compared to the past, she was not an easy opponent.

If it were judged solely by combat power, she was at best just below the level of a quasi-emperor, so she should have been easily defeated, but…

“Wow, this is really unbelievable.”

Just like Elena, who slumped down and adjusted her gauntlet, Astoria’s magical manipulation and techniques were beyond comprehension.

Even if her strength was lacking, the techniques she wielded were all beyond the realm of human capabilities.

Click, click. Elena, who was fiddling with her slightly flavored gauntlet, looked at me and made a bewildered expression.

“Oh, um? Unni, are you okay?”

“…I’m not okay.”

The side effects of raising the gear are hitting me all at once.

Just standing like this right now is my limit.

Steam was rising from my overheated body.

“How far did you raise the gear?”

“To level 6… Stop it. I’m struggling.”

“To level 6~?”

However, Elena’s expression seemed more like that of an irritated little kid wanting to tease rather than worry about me.

“Level 6… then, can I see ‘that’ after a long time?”

“You’re annoying.”

“Aww, unni. Don’t be like that. I’ll only look.”

“If you take a picture, I’ll kill you.”

“Not even one picture?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll stop now.”

“…Please.”

“Yes~.”

With that, my consciousness abruptly cut off, and I lost my balance and collapsed.

As the tension released, fatigue rushed over me all at once.

The last thing I felt before losing all sensation in my body was Elena’s embrace, gently enveloping my falling body.

* * *

“Oh, hey! Hyungnim! I’m here!”

Park Jinsu, who returned safely without major injuries, was once again sticking close to Park Cheol.

“If you’re hurt, just stay put… Let’s go meet them.”

“Yep!”

Although Park Cheol inwardly breathed a sigh of relief upon knowing that both his younger siblings had returned unharmed, there was something more important at the moment.

People who had entered the gate were coming out.

However, as Park Cheol approached the gate, he felt something was amiss.

“…Only one person?”

Weren’t there clearly two soldiers who followed behind? Perhaps something had happened, endangering their lives…

But such concerns were quickly dismissed when he got closer. It wasn’t just one person who emerged; one of them was carrying the other.

Yet it was too early to feel relieved. Perhaps one of them was seriously injured or even dead…

Sensing Park Cheol’s worried gaze, Elena, the blonde woman carrying Hayerin, chuckled.

“I’m perfectly fine.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. I’m just a little tired, so I fell asleep.”

“You’re not badly hurt anywhere, are you?”

“No. But why are you so worried?”

“….”

Even though he didn’t know who she was, he managed to suppress the thought, “Why should I worry about you?”

“…Are you sure you’re not hurt?”

“Can’t you see? I’m completely unharmed.”

“…Ah, okay.”

Is this woman insane? With superhuman patience, Park Cheol once again held back his impulse to blurt out.

Anyway, both of them are safe, which is a relief. However, there is one thing that’s a bit strange…

“Why is that covered up?”

A military jacket in navy blue was draped over the person lying down.

Not only that, but the arms wrapped around Elena’s neck and the bare feet and legs exposed by the removed shoes also seemed significantly diminished compared to before they entered the gate.

“Oh, this? Well, it’s a young lady’s warm consideration, shall we say?”

“Consideration?”

“She really hates showing herself sleeping. So, I covered her with the jacket. I’m really kind, right?”

“…Are you really unharmed?”

“Oh, I’m fine. Anyway, I’m a little tired, so I’ll be off now.”

Elena, who had been nonchalantly chattering, swiftly turned and walked towards the helicopter. Park Cheol, bewildered, watched her for a moment, then rushed over and grabbed her.

“W-wait a minute.”

“Huh? I’m sorry, but I have someone I like. I don’t think I can give you my number.”

Is she truly insane?

“…By the way, if that person wakes up, could you please let me know? Even if it’s through Dasul, it’s fine.”

At those words, Elana’s expression suddenly changed, and she glared at Bakcheol with a fierce demeanor.

“Are you trying to hit on my sister right now?”

“That’s not it. I just wanted to express my gratitude.”

“Hmm… Well, alright. That shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“Thank you.”

“But it might take a while. Once my sister falls into a deep sleep, she tends to sleep for quite some time.”

“How long does she usually sleep for?”

Elana seemed to ponder for a moment, then smiled brightly as she replied, “Hmm… about a week, give or take?”

“Pardon?”

“Anyway, I’ll be going now. Don’t try to hold me back, okay? Clingy guys are not popular.”

“Yes. Have a safe trip.”

“Okay~.”

Finally relieved, Bakcheol let out a sigh and slowly turned towards the shelter. He was worried about his younger sister who was tending to her injuries.

As he walked away, he overheard Elana asking the soldier who was waiting for her, “Take me home.” He then continued on his way at a leisurely pace.

* * *

“Phew!”

Arriving at her residence, the grand mansion of the Paerin family, Elana breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, she could rest!

“Bed~ Bed! Be-bed-bed~.”

Carrying Hayelin on her back, she joyfully dashed to her room. Since her room was on the third floor, it didn’t take long to get there.

After surveying her room, which looked no different from when she left, Elana nodded in confirmation. It wasn’t that she was expecting an assassination attempt; it was just a simple habit. After rolling around on the battlefield, it became a natural reflex.

Incidents where human-shaped monsters disguised themselves as fallen comrades were all too common in that place.

“Phew-.”

She laid Hayelin on her bed. Throughout the journey here, even when they were on the helicopter, she held her close, but she didn’t feel heavy at all.

It was partly because she wasn’t someone who would tire out from carrying just one person, and also because Hayelin was much lighter than usual due to the “side effects.”

“Heheh~.”

Elena hummed a tune as she removed the military jacket that had been covering Hayelin’s head. Finally, her figure was revealed.

Cute cat ears perched atop her black hair, captivatingly graceful appearance, flawless and smooth skin, and a tail swaying as if in a dream – all of these were no different from usual for Hayelin.

Except for one thing.

The clothes she was wearing no longer fit her. The once well-fitted Rocati now hung on her like a child wearing their father’s clothes, and the hot pants, designed to reveal the thighs, now looked almost like shorts.

Even the choker and shoes on her left thigh no longer fit and had been lost long ago.

Yes.

“Aww… so cute!”

Hayelin was currently in a diminished state. No, it would be more accurate to say she had become younger.

Her slender and delicate arms and legs looked much shorter and frailer than usual. They felt like they might break with a slight touch.

Apart from the fact that she had animal ears and a tail, she just looked like an ordinary teenage girl.

Her age… at most around 14?

If she had shifted down further, she would have looked even younger than this.

In reality, when she had shifted down to the maximum gear of 10, she had appeared as a little kid of about 8 years old.

Well, besides getting younger, there were some minor side effects.

Nothing major to worry about. If it’s the side effect of level 6, it’ll probably just cause a mild fever for a few days and make her seek more food and water, right?

“I wonder if it’ll take about a week to return to my original form.”

Elena cheerfully shrugged and took out her phone, turning on the camera.

“Don’t worry, sis. I’ll only look at it myself…”

As long as others don’t see it, right?

Hayelin detested showing her younger self to others, so she probably wouldn’t leave Elena’s room for a while.

Of course, Elena already knew that, which is why she brought her to her own room.

“Now I can have you all to myself for a week.”

After retiring, we hadn’t seen each other for a while, so this should be fine.

Elena chuckled softly and snapped a few pictures of the sleeping Hwayerin.

The one she liked the most was the one where Hwayerin’s mouth was slightly open, drooling.

* * *

“Water.”

“Oh, unnie. Are you awake?”

“Get me some water. I’m thirsty.”

“Here you go~.”

Elena, who had already brought water and was waiting, handed her the cup swiftly. She didn’t want to admit it, but that girl had good sense.

“Unnie, do you need anything else?”

“…But didn’t I tell you not to call me ‘unnie’?”

“I don’t remember that.”

“Elena.”

“Hmm? Why?”

“Bring me my phone.”

“……”

As Elena stared at her, she quickly averted her gaze elsewhere.

“Well… actually, I accidentally burned my phone during a fight…”

“Bring it.”

“Really? I only took one picture. I won’t show it to anyone!”

“Bring it.”

“Aww.”

She snatched Elena’s phone and unlocked it with fingerprint recognition. It was possible because at some point, Elena had said, “There’s no secret from you, unnie,” and registered my fingerprint on her phone.

Seeming to regret that incident, Elena grumbled something like “ugh…” but I paid no attention and deleted my picture from her gallery.

“My little Yerin…”

“What?”

“It’s nothing.”

“…Where’s the bathroom?”

“Over there.”

Ignoring Elena’s nonsense, I got up, feeling still heavy. Even though I couldn’t wash right away due to sweating in my sleep, I wanted to at least freshen up.

“Elena, she really is rich.”

I felt it as soon as I woke up. The house looked like something out of a romance fantasy novel.

A room resembling a princess’s chamber, complete with an attached bathroom.

Turning on the faucet at the sink, the cold water touched my skin as I held my hand under it. My body had shrunk considerably, so I had to tiptoe even to reach the tap.

“Ugh….”

Shivering from the cold, I splashed water on my face, but due to tiptoeing, the water splattered all over me, and only then did I see myself belatedly in the mirror.

“Ugh.”

It’s really annoying.