Ch.74Hometown Remains Unchanged, But I Change

# 74. The Hometown Remains Unchanged, But I Change

A night when everyone’s thoughts deepen.

Some fall asleep with regret.

Some fall asleep blaming themselves.

Some fall asleep in frustration.

Some fall asleep while observing.

And someone else fell asleep clutching their head, only to wake up shortly after. The physical therapist was nowhere to be seen, having returned to her room.

“Nyanyaang?”

[Not sleeping?]

“I would if I could fall asleep. Anyway…”

I lifted Danya, who was barely distinguishable from the darkness.

“Danya.”

“Nyaat?”

[Why so suddenly?]

Then I launched a surprise attack, pressing my mouth against Danya’s belly and blowing a raspberry!

“Unyanyaaat! Nyaaaat-!”

[W-what is this! Let me gooo!]

Brrrr-

“Nyanyaaat!”

[It tickles!]

Brrrrr-

“Nyaaa…”

[Ungh…]

Danya went limp. My revenge was successful!

As I snickered quietly, Danya regained her senses and protested by meowing and pressing her front paws firmly against my chest. I actually enjoyed it. Is she really an old cat? Why is she so adorable?

‘Danya is the best.’

Even though we’d met less than a day ago, holding her made me feel immersed in a soft happiness without a care in the world.

I gently stroked her back to convey my apology, and she leaned her head against me again, purring.

“Nyaa, nyaaaat…”

[You seem to have a lot on your mind.]

“It’s about my teammates.”

“Nyaat nyanyanyaat!”

[It’s female trouble!]

“That’s not quite the right expression.”

Danya, seemingly interested, half-raised her body.

“Nyaanyaaat nyanyanyaat!”

[Tell me about it! Your worries are my worries!]

“Alright… maybe I’ll borrow a cat’s paw for advice.”

I explained to her what had happened while she was unconscious. She listened with great interest, but by the end, she flopped down indifferently as if all the excitement had drained out of her.

“Hey, you were listening so well. Why the change?”

“Nyanyaat.”

[I thought it was something else.]

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nyanyaat. Nyanyanyaat-“

[Just do what that silver-haired woman said.]

Ah.

This cat was Ayor.

And an aged Ayor at that.

I let out a hollow laugh.

“Where I’m from, monogamy was the norm. The same applied to dating.”

“Nyanyaat?”

[But this isn’t where you’re from, is it?]

“Just because Danya lived here for over 200 years after building Ayord, does that mean your hometown changed?”

“Nyanyaat. Nyanya.”

[The hometown doesn’t change, but I do.]

The hometown doesn’t change, but I do.

She had pierced through my psyche once again.

Me in reality.

Me in the game.

And me in the tower.

I hadn’t changed, but as the situation, place, and background changed, I had transformed.

She was pointing out that despite the enormous difference between 200 years and a few weeks, the fundamental issue was the same. Danya probably didn’t know my circumstances when she said it, though.

“Nyanyaat, nyanyaa…”

[I don’t know much about your teammates yet, but I’ve seen countless issues between males and females. From what I’ve seen, both sides are happiest when the male claims only as many females as he can handle.]

“I don’t think I can properly handle even one.”

“Nyaat? Nyanyanyanyaat!”

[You? No way. You’re a male with the heart of a beast that contains me! Four females? You could handle twice that!]

I silently ruffled Danya’s head vigorously. She shook her head before kneading my chest.

‘They’re all so beautiful and kind. How is this even possible?’

I forced myself to close my eyes for tomorrow’s sake.

And then I had exhausting nightmares all week long.

**

The next morning, or rather, late morning. Though I’d slept restlessly, I felt much better than yesterday as I knocked on room 303.

– Come in.

The physical therapist’s languid voice came through. When I opened the door, I found my team members sitting on beds and chairs, all looking at me.

What’s going on?

I momentarily wondered, but then said:

“Did everyone sleep well?”

As soon as I greeted them, my question was answered.

“Captain! Are you, are you okay?”

“Oppa… did you sleep well? You’re alright, right?”

“…You look fine.”

They were still being extremely cautious around me.

After reassuring them that I was truly fine, I formally introduced Danya.

“Even so, she kidnapped you without warning and caused this mess. We need to have a serious talk.”

“That’s what she says, Danya.”

“Nyaa~”

[Sorry~]

“To my ears, it just sounds like a cat meowing, but you can understand her, Sunghyun?”

“Huh? I thought everyone could understand her?”

All team members shook their heads. Seeing this, Danya rubbed her face against my chest.

“Nyaanyaa~”

[Of course you can understand me because my soul is contained in your heart~]

“Ah.”

“What did she say?”

“She said I can understand her because her soul is contained in my heart.”

At my words, the team members’ expressions turned hostile toward Danya, probably recalling the ritual procedure. Danya puffed up her body and hissed.

Perhaps because their first impression was just of a pretty cat, my teammates showed no admiration, curiosity, or pressure regarding Danya.

From what I’m seeing now, their hostility seems to stem mainly from her kidnapping me and causing me pain.

“Both sides, stop it. I’m sorry for making the decision on my own, but the situation left no choice. It’s something I alone should bear, and I think it’s worth it. So please don’t hate Danya so much. I’m confident she’ll return more than the pain I experienced.”

“Nyaaat!”

[That’s what I’m saying!]

“Ugh, she’s cute but annoying.”

Still, Danya’s cuteness seemed irresistible, as the team members’ expressions and atmosphere softened slightly. This was my moment.

“About yesterday. I’ve been thinking a lot.”

The atmosphere tensed again. But it couldn’t be helped. Both the physical therapist and Danya had said so. We needed to address this.

“I think we talked about this before, was it in Albrant? Anyway, before that, there’s something I need to clarify. Eun Subin.”

“What?”

“Yesterday, was that a business mindset?”

At my question, Yebeob Nojeong’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“Acting. Yes, it was acting. But I’m not an actress. You know? You seem to think I’m some emotionless machine, but I’m human too. I’m not some cheap woman who gives her lips to just anyone. Even if it started as acting to defuse the situation.”

“Right. I understand.”

“Really? You understand? That’s it?”

“I asked because I needed to know if it was two or three. I needed to be clear.”

Yebeob Nojeong bit her lip. Was she displeased with my words, or with the situation? Sorry, but I wasn’t finished. I turned my gaze to the physical therapist.

“Not you, right, noona?”

“Who knows what might happen with people?”

The physical therapist shrugged.

“But if I had to say yes or no, I’d say no. Not now.”

“…Okay.”

Seeing the rather anxious expressions of my team members, I was reminded of a novel I’d dismissed immediately upon seeing its ridiculous title: “Regarding How I, a Normal Office Worker, Went to Another World and Built a Harem.”

I didn’t avoid their gazes as I shared the result of my deliberation.

“First of all, I still have no intention of favoring just one person.”

“Ah…”

“I wanted you all to postpone those feelings until we reached the top of the tower. I thought you understood me well then, but human emotions aren’t easily controlled, right?”

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…”

“I’m sorry. Really sorry. I’ll never do it again. Never again. Okay? Really. I’ll reflect every day, meditate, not get excited, I promise. Please.”

Before I could even finish speaking, Keutjugyeora and Saeaekseu rushed forward, kneeling before me and pleading. Yebeob Nojeong had been glaring at me fiercely from the start.

“I think there’s some misunderstanding. Did you think I was going to do something to you? No. Absolutely not.”

“Eh…? Then?”

“I don’t dislike you all. No, rather, you’re too good for me. Even someone who’s lived decisively all their life would develop severe choice paralysis in my position. Each one of you is so beautiful, kind, capable, and charming. So I’ve been agonizing over this. If hair fell out every time I worried about it, I’d have gone bald long ago.”

“I don’t think even healing can cure baldness~”

I ignored the physical therapist’s joke.

“Making this decision now creates problems with Muldabal or Dwitmun who might join later, and there’s also Soyu noona right here. But today… I dare to make a trashy proposal.”

“Nyaa…!”

[You’ve decided!]

If the best option is impossible, go for the second best.

If the worst must be avoided, choose the lesser evil.

If I can’t devote my affection to just one person, and I can’t build walls with everyone to be an impartial team leader, but delaying further might cause major fractures in the team?

If I could give as much equal affection as possible to as many people as possible… wouldn’t that be closest to the best solution?

No matter how I dress it up, it’s essentially no different from openly declaring, “If I’m going to date someone, I’ll date everyone at once.”

In truth, even now after much deliberation, I’m not sure if this is right.

“If you all agree… I’d like to accept all your feelings at once.”

I said it.

I squeezed my eyes shut.