Chapter 18: May you reach you

Phew, I barely made it back home.It felt like I had circled all of Seoul because Shadow Movement suddenly stopped obeying me.”I was really scared I might end up in another country.”It was a little late, but I still made it just in time.Today had been particularly long.”Because I even went into a Calamity-grade Underworld and finished a story.”It was a relief that I had managed to resolve it, but no matter how much I thought about it, one thing bothered me.That was the Beginner Package.‘It’s good, but… there are quite a few moments when my words and actions aren’t my own.’In the case of Shadow Movement, I didn’t know the principle behind its activation, but since it was useful, I had just overlooked it until now, but then a moment ago, it suddenly didn’t work properly.Today, I even resolved a ghost story with words and actions that came out automatically.It felt like something was controlling my body as it pleased. I could only watch myself.‘It’s not a pleasant feeling. Even if the outcome was good… ’Damn notification window. It should at least properly explain how to use it!There hadn’t been any major problems until now, but there was no guarantee that situations like today wouldn’t continue to happen.From now on, the best thing I could do was to try my best not to get involved with ghost stories in this form… but in reality, I couldn’t even do that.[Please finish the story of the Calamity-grade ghost story.][Stories Resolved: 0]‘If I don’t finish the stories, the world will be destroyed.’But now, that wasn’t the only reason.The experience I had today. The words Laura said with a bright smile when I saved her from the ghost story kept lingering in my memory.”Thank you for… remembering me. My God…!”Every time I recalled it, a corner of my heart ached.‘I’m not a savior, and certainly not a god. I’m just an ordinary man who happened to read a novel.’But by finishing the ghost stories, I was able to alleviate their suffering, even if just a little.I didn’t know what impact reading novels consistently for two years had on this reality, but if I had even a slight responsibility.”From now on, I won’t turn away from the stories I encounter.”This was probably the best choice I could make.‘Of course, I won’t go looking for them on purpose. And it’s definitely not because I’m scared!’More importantly, the trace of destruction I found today was more significant.[Story Fragment: The Princess of Seleneum.]‘This must be a story about Luna… huh?’Feeling something tugging at my sleeve, I looked down to see a small girl standing quietly, munching on a salt bread.Her golden eyes sparkled as if she had been waiting.”…Sihyun. Welcome back.””Yeah. I’m back, Luna.”Wait, wait a minute.Is this right?‘It feels so natural for Luna to be at home now?’This girl was clearly a Calamity-grade ghost story, but lately, the atmosphere had somehow become like that of an ordinary family.It wasn’t unreasonable to think that way, as she had been quietly well-behaved recently.”Luna. You’re eating well, aren’t you?”The girl held the bread tightly with her small hands and slowly chewed it.”Yeah.”After replying briefly and taking another bite, Luna suddenly began to stare intently at me.”…Sihyun.””Hm?””You smell like a fox.””What?””…And.”Luna sniffed her small nose once, then tilted her head and added a remark.”You also smell like another woman.””Huh???”I couldn’t help but be flustered by the sudden tone, as if she were interrogating a cheating husband.‘A fox smell? When did I get that smell on me?’And what was this other woman smell—”Ah.”Only then did I realize.‘I carried Gaeun on my back earlier when she collapsed.’Did Luna sense it that way because Gaeun used the Fox Shrine’s power?And perhaps the ‘other woman smell’… was it because of Laura, who cried in my arms earlier?”Luna. So, this is—””… “Just as I was about to explain, Luna stretched out her small hands and suddenly hugged me tightly.—Squeeze.”Oh? Luna…?”I was dumbfounded by her sudden action.The feeling of a small, soft body hugging me tightly.Luna hugged me tightly for a long time without saying a word.‘What is this situation now?’During the awkward silence, I stood blankly, not knowing what to say.A moment later.”…There.”The girl let go of my hand, seemingly satisfied.”Are you done, Luna?””Yeah. I’ve erased it all now.”It was an incomprehensible action, but the girl merely looked at me with an utterly innocent face.‘Was Luna trying to mark me as hers in her own way?’****The soft moonlight seeped through the window, casting gentle shadows.Sihyun carried Luna and laid her down on the bed.The small, delicate girl’s body nestled into the duvet.But today, Luna showed no signs of falling asleep at all. Normally, she would have burrowed into my arms and fallen asleep quickly.”Luna. You don’t seem very sleepy today, do you?”At his words, Luna slowly shook her head, as if to say no.”…Sihyun.”The girl gently held his sleeve with her small hand.It was a somewhat anxious touch, as if she would disappear if he didn’t hold her tightly.”What’s wrong, Luna?””…Just a little longer.””Hm?””I… want to stay awake just a little longer…”Normally, he would have told her to go to sleep quickly, but today felt different.‘This is the first time Luna has ever expressed wanting something on her own.’The girl was always quiet.She would eat when given food, sleep when put to bed, and occasionally show actions that hinted at wanting a hug, but it was very rare for her to directly state what she wanted.But now, seeing her say she wanted to stay awake a little longer, Sihyun could tell.This was a sign that Luna was slowly, little by little, learning emotions.Suddenly, the memories he had seen when the fragment of light touched his hand came to mind.[Story Fragment: The Princess of Seleneum.]‘Now that Luna is showing her emotions, it might be the right time.’”Luna. Shall I tell you a fairy tale then?””…A story?”The girl’s expression was as if she had heard an unfamiliar word.”Yeah. Do you want to hear it if I tell it?”Luna tilted her head slightly, then nodded.Sihyun lightly cleared his throat and recalled the scenery he had seen from the memory fragment earlier.”Once upon a time, there was a very beautiful country. Its name was Seleneum.””Sele…neum?”Luna repeated it softly.It seemed like she felt both unfamiliarity and familiarity, but it wasn’t a reaction as if something had clicked.”Yeah. It was a place where the moonlight fell most beautifully.”Sihyun quietly continued the story, envisioning the appearance of Seleneum he had seen in the memory fragment.”Seleneum was a country floating in the sky. It was in a slightly different place from the ground, so at night, it sparkled as if looking down at stars from the heavens.”The girl quietly listened to the story he was telling.”The castle walls shimmered, imbued with the moon’s light, and there were floating gardens throughout. Structures that seemed to flow with the wind, and crystals that gathered light to illuminate the dark night brightly. And the people of Seleneum lived under the blessing of moonlight.”When she heard the word ‘moonlight,’ Luna’s golden eyes sparkled slightly.”…The blessing of moonlight?””Yeah. It’s a blessing that allows them to never lose their way in the dark and always possess a soft, warm light. That’s why the people there could live peaceful and warm lives.””Warm lives…””And Seleneum held a grand festival every year, a day when everyone in the country spent time happily.””…A festival?””Yeah. It was the princess’s birthday festival.”Sihyun carefully observed Luna’s reaction.”You see, there was a very beautiful princess in Seleneum. Everyone loved the princess, and the festival celebrating her birthday was the biggest event in the country. The entire city was filled with lights, and songs and dances never ceased.””Princess…””What do you think, Luna, doesn’t it sound like a good country?””… “The girl seemed to show no reaction, but Sihyun immediately noticed.That her golden eyes, ever so slightly, were trembling.After a moment of thought, Luna nodded.”…It seems good.””Right?”Sihyun chuckled softly and gently stroked Luna’s head.‘Could she have remembered something?’But looking at Luna’s expression, a strange uncertainty floated in her eyes.‘As expected, the memories aren’t immediately coming back.’It seemed he would have to tell more stories for Luna to regain her lost memories.‘But there’s no need to rush. It’ll be fine if we take our time.’Then, Luna stared intently at him and asked a question.”Sihyun… what kind of person… was the princess?””The princess, she was—”Although the princess’s appearance wasn’t directly shown in the memory fragment, there were characteristics that Laura and her friends had described.”The princess has long, flowing silver hair, and her eyes shine with a golden light!””They say she sparkles even more under the moonlight, don’t they? She must be truly beautiful…””The princess must surely be very beautiful!””The princess had silver hair. It was a beautiful color that shimmered softly, like moonlight. And… her eyes sparkled with a golden light.””…Golden light…?””She must be a truly beautiful princess, Luna, don’t you think?”The girl quietly looked up at Sihyun.Sihyun couldn’t help but hold his breath for a moment, looking into the girl’s eyes that gazed at him.Golden eyes sparkling even under the dark sky.Beautiful silver hair, as if the moonlight itself had been transferred.‘…No matter how I think about it, this is Luna.’He chuckled without realizing it.”As I was telling the story, it occurred to me that our Luna might be a princess too, you know?””A princess…?””Yeah. Because Luna is pretty.”Upon hearing those words, the girl flinched slightly, then slowly shrank back.A feeling of her heart gently thumping.The girl couldn’t understand what this emotion was.A tingling sensation in her chest, and a feeling of her face warming slightly.”… “Luna instinctively covered her face with her hands.Sihyun didn’t miss her momentary reaction.‘Is Luna… feeling shy right now?’She had always been a child with no expression.Luna, who had simply remained still like a beautiful doll.‘She’s feeling emotions… even if Luna herself isn’t aware of it.’The girl was slowly, little by little, feeling and learning emotions.For some reason, Sihyun felt a pang in his nose at the sight of Luna like that.‘Ahem. Am I getting old? Getting emotional over something like this.’He pretended it was nothing, but.In fact, he wanted to shout right now, ‘Oh, everyone! Look at our Luna. She can express emotions now!’‘First, calm down. Luna is what’s important right now.’Then he raised his hand and tried to cover his face slightly, just like Luna.The girl tilted her head, looking at Sihyun.”Sihyun… what are you doing…?””Haha, this? I tried imitating Luna.””…Why?””Hmm… because I want to know Luna’s feelings.””Can you… know feelings by imitating them…?””Of course. Though only if you have a deep interest in the other person.”With a faint smile, Sihyun met the girl’s eyes.”I want to know Luna better, so I tried to imitate you.”The silver-haired girl had a puzzled look in her eyes.A man who wanted to know her, a Calamity-grade ghost story.No one had ever treated the girl so gently. Who was this man who approached her so easily?Luna couldn’t give an answer and simply snuggled closer into his embrace.‘I don’t know… but I don’t think I dislike it…’Sihyun’s warm embrace, holding her gently.”Alright, Luna, it’s about time you went to sleep, isn’t it? We have a lot more to do tomorrow.”Luna, her face slightly flushed, pulled the duvet closer.”…Yeah.”Sihyun got up to turn off the light, then playfully added a remark.”Good night, Princess Luna.””…Good night, Sihyun.”The girl’s voice was quiet, but it carried a hint of pleasantness.‘Luna is learning emotions…’This was a very small change, but a very significant one.Until now, Luna had been a ghost story existing without memories and emotions.But now, she was slowly beginning to recall.The emotions she had lost. The story she had forgotten.Waiting for Luna to fall asleep, Sihyun became lost in thought.‘Seleneum. And the princess with golden eyes. This can’t be a coincidence.’She had only lost her memories; Luna was clearly… at the center of this story.The dark sky. Beyond the window, the moon still shone brightly.‘Luna. I don’t know all the reasons why you became a calamity right now, but…’I’ll definitely save you. I promise.‘I’ll return you to your former self.’Thus, a long day ended, and a quiet night arrived.The girl, holding destruction within her heart, fell asleep with a more peaceful expression than usual.”Sele…neum…”Repeating the name of the seemingly happy country from the story Sihyun had told her.