episode_0084

One researcher observed patients who had lost an arm or a leg and found that it took an average of 21 days for a person to adjust to, or accept, the loss of a body part.

Wings were not originally an organ I had, but it is true that I have used them usefully. It is quite possible that I will attempt to glide from a high place and end up face-first on the ground.

As I was rationalizing myself like that, I received a rebuke with a nuance of absurdity.

-Brother, that’s an excuse.

“No, seriously… I completely forgot until the middle.”

Hyunho, who had his face buried in the ground, responded to the sound coming from his body and shook off the dust on his body.

As I wiped my face, a sticky purple liquid came out on my hand. It was blood flowing from the wound. Only when I became aware of the wound did it start to sting.

“Ugh… It got scratched.”

As I ran my fingers over the slightly scraped skin on my face from the fall, the blood that had seeped out turned into jelly, forming a thin film like bubble gum over the wound.

Although the wound would not heal, it could be expected to have an effect similar to that of a Band-Aid.

It was Bartholin’s ability. Well, now that she’s replacing my heart, it could be called my ability. I thanked her.

“Thank you.”

Now, the two of them are one body. In a way, she was just treating her own body, but I wanted to express my gratitude. I was truly grateful, and I didn’t want to think about the possibility that our relationship would go wrong since we live in the same body.

-Hehehe… It’s nothing serious.

Although he said it was nothing special, I could feel Bartholin getting excited. He used to find it scary, but now he seemed more cute.

If I had been next to you, I would have patted your head, but that was a bit disappointing. Even though we were one body, it was different from being next to you. Because I couldn’t pat myself.

Now that Bartholin was fully seated where his heart had been, he could only act outwardly through me, or through the wound through which his blood flowed.

To be honest, it must have taken a lot of determination to give up the opportunity to move on your own. Now that I can only adjust to what I move, I honestly want to make it as convenient as possible.

-Surprisingly, it’s not that bad. My brother’s chest is tight, so it’s quite stable.

“Hmm…is that a compliment?”

– Of course! And it’s not like I don’t have any parts that I can move autonomously. See?

As soon as Bartholin finished speaking, my heart suddenly started beating faster.

The Bartholin, which was not a heart but something sluggish, pumped blood like an unrestricted pump. There was no throbbing sound, but you could feel the fluid inside your body flowing rapidly.

The blood that was pushed out like that circulated throughout the body and began to gather in the exact center of the body – the groin.

Knock, knock-

“Ah, no… Wait a minute-”

-How about it! Now I can move my brother’s dick as I please!

“Now you can control the sleep,” Bartholin shouted playfully, but Hyunho’s face was extremely pale.

“No, no- you’re not saying this is why…”

It was certainly not natural to have an erection without any stimulation. An ominous aura spread throughout my body.

But Bartholin’s pranks didn’t end there.

-Look at this. You can grow it twice as big as before?

Blink, blink – the sagging sponge began to twitch and then began to expand rapidly.

I couldn’t see it properly, but I could tell what was happening. My skin was stretching and it felt sore. No, it was painful now.

I urgently sent a stop signal because I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to use the important parts again if things continued this way.

“Keuheup- Stop, stop! I know, so stop now! You’re not going to use it anyway!”

-Hmm… Is that so?

At her single word, the pillar that had been standing stiffly became limp again and returned to its original state. As if it were proof that blood had gathered in an instant, his groin area felt hot.

-You need to check it like this sometimes so that it works properly.

“Oh, thank you…?”

Hyunho wanted to say something to her seemingly kind words, but he decided to stop because he felt like he wouldn’t get his money’s worth.

Seeing her subtly pressuring me, I became convinced that my response was correct.

-Brother. If I can do it as I please, that means I can do the opposite too. Do you understand what I mean?

“That’s a little scary…”

-Next time we meet, you’ll all have to ask my permission, right? Especially that red-haired woman.

When I saw Bartholin grumbling, “Just wait and see when we meet next time,” I felt grateful. Her words and attitude were a bit lacking, but it was her own kind of consideration.

I can’t say I could tell that we were one body, but I just felt that way. Why, there’s also the saying that it makes your heart feel warm.

I was worried that he might become obsessed with me and ostracize his other colleagues, but… it didn’t seem like that would happen.

Of course, from now on I would have to ask Bartholin for permission to sleep in bed. That was a bit of a shame, but also a relief. To be honest, it was a bit burdensome.

***

A yokai is a spirit that has undergone training and taken on a human form.

Just as humans train their bodies through training—knights train their bodies and wizards study magic—yokai hone their magical powers through training.

But if there is a difference between humans and monsters, it is in that branch.

For humans, higher realms mean being a little stronger and more durable, and more efficient for the group.

For humans with short life spans, training is carried out by following the path taken by previous pioneers and then continuing on their path.

In the process, those who are engaged in other research or training, who have difficulty receiving support, will gradually disappear. If a genius who can start and finish on his own does not appear, it will eventually end in a lonely end.

However, monsters whose lifespans are much longer than those of humans are not greatly affected by efficiency or the performance of others.

As a result, they often have abilities that are considered ‘useless’ to humans. Every single long-lived yokai is a pioneer and a great master.

“So when we meet, you should be polite first. Since we are the ones asking for favors.”

-Is that why you’re heading to where the monsters live now? To find the law of relativity?

I kindly answered Bartholin’s continued questions. I could have taken up various knowledge from the library of the castle, but she could not.

“Yeah. I didn’t think I could win if I went head-on. And…”

And wait, it reminded me of old times.

Before I fell here, God clearly introduced this world as a game, so I was tricked and summoned there.

It definitely felt like a game. Things like the fact that you would come back to life even if you died, time didn’t pass in the town, and you could recover immediately if you got hurt.

I gained strength from the life forms around me, and even complex techniques were inherited without me having to understand them, even though I had never handled a sword before.

Despite all that, I couldn’t help but think of reality as a game.

When I got hurt, it hurt, and the people who talked to me were real. Even the slimes I saw outside felt alive and moving.

It was almost like I was dropped into another world, not a game.

So at one point I thought I was being tricked, but when I thought about it, it was strange. There was no reason to trick someone into summoning me when I was calling for help.

So, there was a bit of a logical leap, but I had one thought: let’s approach it like a game.

‘I think I thought about it a little late.’

Now, let alone coming back to life, all I can do is just cover up the wounds and close them. At this point, it feels a little strange to think about it like a game.

There is no such thing as an easy way to become strong.

There is no longer a sword that is unbreakable and has infinite durability.

Even if you fight, you must not suffer irreparable wounds.

You may think that there are all sorts of penalties, but this is normal. Now you are on the same terms as everyone else here.

Thinking about it that way, a hollow smile appeared on my lips. I thought it was a little funny that I was trying something new only after losing all the advantages I had.

So what I’m going to say from now on is partly to explain to Bartholin, but it’s more like a promise to myself.

“The rule is that if you want to see the original ending, you have to try everything.”

-The real ending?

“Yeah, sometimes you have to go without saving-”

Where Hyunho stopped walking, he was in front of a staircase that went up the mountain. On both sides of the staircase were two large red pillars. At the end of the pillars, there was a rope with a yellow amulet attached to it, and its shape looked like a door.

“In places like that, the true ending usually comes out after the second playthrough.”

As I stepped through the door, I thought I heard a bell ringing. It must have been a device to let us know that we had entered.

The trees were yellow and sometimes red, and as they went up the stairs, pink cherry blossoms were in full bloom. It seemed as if spring and fall coexisted in one place.

“Originally, I wouldn’t have come here…”

If Baekto and Geumto hadn’t told me to come back when work was done, I wouldn’t have been able to enter.

No save, no recovery, 1st attempt failure.

So the entry conditions are met only after seeing the bad ending. If this is a game, there must be something I need.

Hyunho climbed the stairs with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety.