episode_0070

I was having a nightmare.

Today was the dream I had when I came out of the growth room and took my first pain tolerance test. Next to the glass tube restraints, there were other restraints of the same design lined up, and inside them, the screams of the same types continued without stopping.

Design Dolls, artificial life forms just like me, except for a few randomly inserted variables.

The final version, the learning-specific type, abandoned the dream of artificially creating awakened beings, and instead maximized learning ability. It was created so that human limitations could not be surpassed, but instead could be reached very easily.

The purpose of production is soldiers. A bullet to eliminate the powerful awakened ones called the rulers who have undergone the second mutation.

This pain tolerance test was the first step toward that.

Simply put, the point was that anyone who couldn’t endure this level of physical pain would be useless in the future, so they should just die.

The pain varied in duration, intensity, and type. I don’t know if it was because the variables given to me were factors that made me strong in pain, or if I was lucky enough to learn how to endure it quickly, but I was able to have the leisure to observe others while the pain was gone.

It’s not funny… but it was interesting that not many people died when the pain was at its peak. Regardless of the intensity of the pain, the longer the gap between the next pain, the higher the chance of death.

The moment the thought that it might be over, that they might be freed from this absurd suffering, was shattered, they died.

It wasn’t pain that killed them.

Expectations and hopes are what killed them.

So I thought, I won’t expect anything. I won’t have any hope.

Because I was young.

Because when you have no expectations or hopes, you don’t know that there is no reason to live.

It’s different now.

Because I have a senior named Saya… .

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I woke up from my sleep groaning, more ashamed of my own thoughts than of the pain I had experienced again in my dream.

Then Yuna was right next to me.

He spoke to me in a voice that was difficult to read, looking at me with surprise.

“… Give me the ring.”

… Mr. Gangdo? Lady Yuna?

First, I checked the bed side.

Senior Saya is sleeping soundly. Her leg regeneration was completed a long time ago, so there is nothing unusual about her appearance. Except that she has been sleeping since the daytime.

The psychological shock that comes when you realize that your body has been lost is huge, even if you were prepared for it and it was restored.

Perhaps the brain, shocked by the shock, is demanding sleep. I want to believe so.

After checking the most urgent thing, I looked back at Yuna.

“How long have you been here?”

“A little while before you started crying while calling my name.”

“Huh?”

I looked at Yuna in surprise.

He didn’t look like he was joking.

I put my hand to my eye to check, and it was true. My eyes were hot and moist, so it seemed like fresh tears were flowing.

“That’s strange… . Isn’t it an existential contradiction that Senior Saya appears in a nightmare?”

“… .”

“Why did you come here anyway? Did something happen? Did the chairman cry and run away from Yuren?”

When I asked her about the uncomfortable details, Yuna answered in a voice that was hard to read.

“Saya said. You have nightmares often, so she asked me to check on you while you sleep whenever I can’t.”

“… I don’t think I’ve had much fun lately… .”

I used to have it often, but since coming to this world, I have hardly had it. No, more like, just a little bit. Senior Saya, you wouldn’t have asked me to do something like that?

“… Does Senior Saya see me as a child?”

If I think about it, it seems like I’ve never shown myself as cool to Saya-senpai. Contrary to her own words, if Saya-senpai is full of maternal love, she might be looking at me like a tantrum-making younger sibling or a child…

Say noona… Say no mamang… Hehe.

Yuna’s cold voice woke me up from my daydreaming.

“You probably have nightmares so often that you don’t realize it, but you’re asking for help.”

I recalled the memory in my head. When I think about it… there are some parts that come to mind.

Sometimes I would wake up for no reason. And every time that happened, Saya would wake up first and hold my hand. She would say that she suddenly wanted to hold my hand and apologize for waking me up.

Of course, at times like that, we would hug each other tightly or hold each other tightly and fall asleep again.

Could it be that every time I had a nightmare, Senior Saya woke up because of it and was worried about me?

Even if you look at it like a child, I can’t deny it… .

I felt a little embarrassed and decided to change the subject.

“By the way… a ring? Why all of a sudden?”

“Give me.”

“You’re so firm, you know… . I get why you want it, but you can’t give it to me even if you want to… .”

I think you’re going to do it for me and Senior Saya, either way. I appreciate your feelings. I really appreciate it, but I explained that I can’t take this ring off.

Then… .

“What if I cut my finger?”

“If you say it with that expression, it won’t sound like a joke, right?”

“Have you tried it?”

Yuna didn’t laugh.

It’s 1200% pure and sincere.

“I haven’t tried it, but… Are you really going to cut it…?”

When I asked her while shivering, Yuna was silent for a moment, then sighed. And then she said.

“No. Forget it.”

Then he went to one side of the living room, crossed his arms and said.

“Yes.”

“… Are you going to look at me like that while I sleep?”

He didn’t answer, but it seemed like he had no intention of doing so. There must be something very serious going on…

“This might be a bit long, so let’s go out and talk.”

I went out to the kitchen and made chamomile tea. I took a sip and looked at Yuna. Yuna, who seemed reluctant, also picked up her cup and took a sip.

Her expression softened so much that it was obvious at a glance. There is a limit to how much warm tea can soothe the mind. It seemed like evidence that Yuna was not in good condition.

“What happened?”

When asked like that, Yuna looked at the glass and asked.

“A little… complicated in my head.”

“In that case, running is the best… but that would be meaningless to you.”

The opponent was a rider.

“Why are you so complicated in your head? If it’s because you’re lonely, I’d gladly take off my clothes and go out.”

“… That’s not the case. Even Suin notices, so do you think I wouldn’t?”

“Why do you know everything… . You have no talent except for deceiving people… .”

“If you were sane, I wouldn’t have left you alone.”

I sighed.

I think I found a little clue.

“Are you worried about Senior Saya a lot?”

“… You’re the one who’s worried. Sayaka… Don’t worry.”

The words that followed were not audible, but I read his lips. ‘If you’re jealous, then I don’t know.’

“I’m worried, but Senior Saya isn’t worried?”

“When Saya wakes up, she’ll be the same as before. She won’t regret what she did or anything, and if the same thing happens again, she’ll do the same thing.”

It was indeed insight worthy of the vice president of Saya’s senior fan club.

Imagination is what multiplies pain. Senior Saya, who is afraid of pain and has a rich imagination, would probably be terrified if the same thing happened to her… and would take my wounds without hesitation.

“But you… will never repeat the same thing as today. No matter what, today will always be a burden to your heart.”

“… Isn’t that obvious?”

“Yeah. That’s why I’m worried.”

It’s natural to regret mistakes.

It’s natural to worry about people who regret it.

“That… I’ll reflect on it and be careful not to let it happen again, but I’ll try not to get too frustrated because of it. Thank you for your concern.”

It’s natural to feel grateful to someone who cares about you. It should be natural, but for some reason, Yuna’s expression was dark.

A long sigh escaped.

“… I’m starting to get jealous.”

“Who? Why?”

“Suin Lee.”

“Huh?”

I thought maybe Nana Sayaka’s name was the proxy, but I was confused because it was a completely different name.

Yuna said, looking up slightly towards the second floor.

“Because he seems to have accepted it for sure. He likes you, but he won’t be too greedy. He seems to think that the relationship between you and Saya is solid, so he won’t want to get involved. Even if it’s not like that in reality.”

“… I don’t know your specific feelings, but I know that you care a lot about Suin.”

“He’s a cute junior who’s different from everyone else. He always calls me senior.”

“If I call you that too, will you find me cute?”

The cold gaze returned.

“Are you cute?”

“Oh, no.”

I became polite without realizing it.

Anyway, the story about Suin that Yuna told was persuasive. We are all equal as slaves of Senior Saya, but she insisted on calling me master. Of course, it was mostly because she said she would take responsibility.

… In some ways, it may be because the assistant has been too successful, and in other ways, it may be because he is branding himself as a person who cannot be equal to others.

Well, I can’t help it. I’ll have to harass them a little more in the future so that they can raise the signal of rebellion and shout out that all people are equal under their senior, Sayaya.

“… Why are you laughing so badly?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. By the way, being jealous of someone like that… .”

Yuna nodded.

“… When I watch from the side, I realize it painfully. The relationship between you two is really solid. I know you really like me, but… .”

I tried to say something, but Yuna spoke a little faster.

“Even if I disappear, you and Saya can comfort each other, but I won’t be able to comfort you without Saya. You just have to accept it, but you can’t. So you become jealous of Suin, who seems to have accepted it.”

Something I would never normally say.

I didn’t realize you were even thinking like that.

“That’s too much. Don’t talk as if someone is going to disappear. No one can stand that, right?”

“I know. You said you were really upset when you saw me fighting with the chairman.”

“… Senior Saya is secretly saying a lot of things.”

“Because I think that’s the only way I can help you. While you’re doing your job, I try to listen to people and tell them what you can’t say.”

Even though he has the curse of [incompetence], my senior is always hard-working. I love him more and more.

And that feeling, obviously, is the same for Yuna too.

Yuna’s eyes were soft as she told the story of Senior Saya. The thorns that were always sharp had completely disappeared.

It makes me think.

To me, Senior Saya is absolute. I can’t deny that fact. Without Senior Saya, I don’t think I would be able to find value in anything in this world.

But when I see Yuna making that kind of expression while thinking of Senior Saya, my heart races. Could a Yuna like that be worthless?

Of course not. That can’t be.

Because… .

“You know, I think you’re a little mistaken.”

“What?”

“You are senior Saya’s friend, the person she likes, and the person who likes her. To me, you are a rival who looks at senior Saya so affectionately, a comrade, the vice president of the fan club, and the person I like.”

I can’t cut Yuna off from either Saya-senpai or me. If that happens, Saya-senpai and I won’t be together anymore.

“That’s why… you are a part of Saya-senpai, and also a part of me. When I love Saya-senpai, it means I love you who is included in Saya-senpai, and when Saya-senpai loves me, it also means I love you who is included in me.”

Yuna looked at me with a blank expression.

You may not be able to organize your thoughts for a moment because you heard something unexpected.

I can’t. I decided to simplify the problem.

“Or… Do you like me without Saya-senpai or me without Saya-senpai?”

Yuna shook her head in confusion. A surprisingly honest voice answered.

“That’s not… true… I like you and Saya together. When I see you together, I feel happy too. But… I think maybe I’m not needed there… .”

Maybe that’s why I asked for the ring.

Should I call it ‘realism’ or ‘evidence’? I can understand the desire for such things.

Just in case, I checked [The Promise that Binds the Soul], and there were two additional gauges added below the original gauge. Both of them were even half-filled.

The color is different from the gauge that was there from the beginning.

No way… .

I decided to pretend I didn’t see it for now. Anyway, it doesn’t seem like the ring will pop out right away, so I can’t solve the problem at hand.

I checked Yuna’s appearance again. Her sharp eyes, colorful piercings, and very ‘strong’ appearance, but now she looks uneasy for some reason.

ah….

“The ring… It seems like it will take some time to prepare, so could you wait? Instead… .”

Yuna opened her eyes wide.

Just being able to see that sight would have been enough to make the suggestion worthwhile.

10 minutes later.

I was in Yuna’s room.

Compared to the apartment where Yuna used to live, it was a bit smaller, but considering the living space, it wasn’t too lacking. Along with the colorfully displayed racing wear, the piercing stand, which was well-maintained like a jewelry store, was still there.

Yuna took out two disposable piercings from the bottom drawer of the stand. It was the first time she learned that there were different types of piercings… .

“Are you sure you’re okay? It’s a shame to hurt this skin.”

Yuna asked, touching the side of my ear.

I smiled bitterly.

“You don’t have to worry. But I’m the one who’s worried. Will I be able to do it properly?”

“I will try to release [resistance] as much as possible.”

They sat facing each other.

Then they reached out and took hold of the piercer and brought it to each other’s ears.

I put the piercing on Yuna’s right ear, which has relatively more space. Yuna put the piercing on my left ear, in the same location.

The two of them counted together one, two, three, and then Piercer…!

A tingling sensation occurred.

But the piercing I put on Yuna’s ear didn’t go in properly. Ugh, it seemed like my finger strength wasn’t enough to overcome Yuna’s [resistance].

Yuna smiled slightly and placed her hand over mine.

and.

With a slightly seductive moan, Piercer did his job. After putting on the piercing he had prepared, he took some healing medicine. The wound healed cleanly, so there was no need for any troublesome aftercare.

A crooked moon-shaped piercing hung on both Yuna and I’s ears.

“I think the ring… is unnecessary.”

“Huh?”

Yuna snickered.

“Somehow I feel like this is enough… And above all, how many rings do you plan on wearing?”

“… .”

Yuna, who had been smiling while watching me remain silent over an unexpected matter, made a strange expression.

“… Something feels weird. Up until now, I’ve only gotten piercings when I was feeling suffocated or did something stupid. ”

“Isn’t it stupid enough to doubt how much Na-na and Sa-ya-senpai like you? Thanks to you, I found out? When you say ‘If you went somewhere else’, you mean ‘Why aren’t you including me?’ ”

Yuna glared at me with a furious expression.

And then he suddenly grabbed the ear that had just been pierced. I was prepared to fight back, but the reaction was stronger than I expected, so I flinched without realizing it.

“Huh? Hey, Yuna?”

“… If you knew, don’t say such things.”

She whispered in my ear like that, placed her lips lightly over the moon-shaped piercing, and then let go.

Now, I was pushed out of the room by Yuna, who told me not to have nightmares because she would be sleeping well.

It was clear that his expression had become more relaxed than before, but it still felt awkward somewhere. Basically, you’re not the brightest character…

I guessed the reason, but

The solution has to be done by Yuna herself.

All I can do is… .

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4 hours later.

Senior Saya woke up.

30 minutes later.

I pulled out Su-in, who was lying on the bed with the blanket over her head and who was not willing to come out. The black and red characters for Jeong (正) were colorfully painted on her face.

It seems that the magic disappeared in the middle, so it was replaced with lipstick. How sincere.

1 hour later.

While eating a slightly later breakfast than usual, I found myself in a hurry. The means at hand were extremely limited.

Can’t do it.

Even if it means taking some risks, we must quickly deal with the lion.

He declared, looking at the gathered people.

“From now on, we will begin the ‘Yuna Awakening Operation without Yuna’ with the goal of killing the lion’s name!”

“… Huh?”

Yuna made a loud noise.