Chapter 5 – Tidying Up

Two days after the chatroom meetup.

Namman Cat, Kim Hye-eun, sat on the sofa in the guild house living room, frowning at her character—or more precisely, at the ‘two couples’ flirting in the guild house living room.

[Yellow Storm: What do you think, Oppa? Cute? Pretty? It’s the bunny girl outfit you like.]

As Hong Yu-hee’s character, Cordelia, struck a cute pose in a pink bunny girl costume, Kang Jin-ho’s character, Yuder, nodded.

[Outboxer009: It’s pretty. And cute.]

[Yellow Storm: Right, right? But Oppa, you know what?]

[Outboxer009: What?]

At Kang Jin-ho’s question, the Cordelia character seemed to squirm before leaning in as if to whisper.

[Yellow Storm: I ordered a real-life version, and it’s on its way to my house right now.]

At the low whisper—which was still visible to everyone in the public chat—the Yuder character jumped up and down in place as if expressing his joy, and the Cordelia character giggled.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.”

The voice was real, not from the in-game chat.

Watching the two of them with her arms crossed, Kim Hye-eun’s frown deepened.

Seriously, if they were going to have a conversation like that, they should have used whispers or just called each other. Why were they doing it in the public chat?

Of course, what they were doing was cute.

In fact, the Kim Hye-eun of a little while ago would have watched them with an indulgent smile, thinking how adorable they were.

But not now. The reason for that lay with two other people located elsewhere in the guild house.

[AAA: Hey, hey, you know why rabbits are so good at martial arts?]

[Cowabunga: Dunno.]

[AAA: Because they have black belts in carrot-e.]

[Cowabunga: LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO]

Cowabunga’s Leon character roared with laughter at AAA’s cringey dad joke, which made one’s eyes glaze over.

[AAA: Funny, right? Okay, what do you call a fake noodle?]

[Cowabunga: I don’t know?]

[AAA: An impasta.]

[Cowabunga: LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO That’s hilarious.]

As he once again burst into laughter, Kim Hye-eun narrowed her eyes.

“He’s changed.”

He had.

To react like that to AAA’s dad jokes.

To laugh and enjoy them like that.

No matter how she looked at it, it was fake.

No, was it an effort to get on his good side?

“Suspicious.”

AAA and Cowabunga had ridden in the same car after the meetup.

The car had headed to Cowabunga’s officetel.

And Cowabunga’s attitude had changed drastically.

No, actually, it wasn’t just Cowabunga whose attitude had changed.

[AAA: Hey, you were really good, by the way.]

[Cowabunga: I’m pretty good at it.]

What was that about? What was he good at?

And why were two male characters squirming and acting shy?

Though, in reality, they were a man and a woman.

“Did a sprinkler go off or something?”

The two of them arrive at the officetel’s underground parking lot.

The drunk Cowabunga insists he come in for a glass of water since he’s already here. AAA hesitates, but then the sprinklers in the underground parking lot go off… A completely soaked AAA has no choice but to head up to Cowabunga’s place…

“The rest is obvious.”

Lightly biting her nails, Kim Hye-eun put her deductive skills into full gear and glanced at her own character, sitting alone between the two couples who were rubbing their love in everyone’s faces.

“Should I recruit more guild members…?”

And maybe hold another meetup.

But it was at that very moment.

Ding-dong—

At the sound of the doorbell, Kim Hye-eun tilted her head and stood up.

She hadn’t ordered any packages or deliveries. Who could it be at this hour?

Tilting her head in confusion, she turned on the intercom, only to blink in further surprise.

“Natasha?”

It was the cool older sister who was a close friend to Kang Jin-ho and a VTuber partner to Hong Yu-hee.

Since they had greeted each other several times coming and going, Kim Hye-eun opened the front door with a face that was half-pleased and half-puzzled.

“Hey. Can I come in?”

“Huh? Ah, yes. Please, come in.”

At the sight of Natasha holding plastic bags full of alcohol and snacks, Kim Hye-eun adjusted her cardigan and nodded.

“I was originally going to drink with Jino and Yu-hee, but—well… you know?”

“Uh… I know.”

They were the two currently flirting up a storm in the guild house. They’d probably log out soon, muttering something about a ‘nighttime union.’

“Want to drink with me?”

When Natasha asked, holding up the plastic bag containing beer and vodka, Kim Hye-eun let out a small laugh and nodded.

“I’d love to.”

She had been craving a drink anyway.

As Kim Hye-eun accepted, Natasha smiled brightly, then shrugged her shoulders as if she had just remembered something.

“Come to think of it… if I’m Maia, does that make you Dahlia?”

“Pardon?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Shaking her head slightly with a smile, Natasha took a step forward. Kim Hye-eun tilted her head once more before following her.

*

Five days after the meetup.

Kim Eun-jung, who was on her way home after buying groceries for dinner, stopped in her tracks.

A familiar face had peeked out to greet her.

“Mom.”

Hong Yu-hee.

At the appearance of her kind and cute daughter, Kim Eun-jung tilted her head slightly.

It was her daughter, just like always, but she felt strangely different.

“Yu-hee?”

When she asked reflexively, Hong Yu-hee scurried over to stand beside her and took one of the grocery bags.

“Don’t you have that VTuber broadcast today?”

“Yeah, but I just wanted to see you, so I came out for a bit during my break.”

At the sincerity in Hong Yu-hee’s voice, Kim Eun-jung tilted her head again.

What’s gotten into her?

Before, she would have been acting cute to ask for allowance—but ever since she started that VTuber thing, wasn’t she the one giving her allowance?

“Mom.”

“Yes?”

“It’s nothing.”

Hong Yu-hee giggled foolishly, then suddenly wrapped her arms tightly around Kim Eun-jung’s waist and said, “Mom, I love you.”

“What’s with you? That’s cringey.”

“I said I love you.”

“Alright, I love you too, I love you. I love my daughter.”

As Kim Eun-jung spoke with a laugh, Hong Yu-hee beamed a wide, happy smile.

What followed was some light small talk.

The same ordinary conversation as always.

“See you later, Mom.”

“Okay, see you later.”

Kim Eun-jung got off the elevator, and Hong Yu-hee watched her mother’s back, taking a deep breath.

A moment later, the one who stepped out of the elevator was not Hong Yu-hee, but Cordelia.

Polymorph Self.

Transformation magic.

Yuder, who was standing in front of Cordelia as she exited the elevator, lightly pinched her cheek and asked, “Are you okay now?”

“Yeah, I’m okay.”

Because I talked with Mom after so long.

Because I got to call her Mom.

Because Mom hugged me back.

At Cordelia’s words, Yuder smiled brightly again and said, “Shall we go back then?”

“Let’s go back.”

To Pleiades.

To our home.

*

There were five people standing on the rooftop of the PC Bang.

Yuder and Cordelia.

Kang Jin-ho and Hong Yu-hee.

And Natasha.

“So, you really want to receive it?”

“Yes, yes, I want to.”

The baptism to prove she had been reborn as a member of the Cordelia Church.

When Hong Yu-hee nodded eagerly at Cordelia’s question, Yuder smiled brightly and said, “I, as the Pope, could do it… but it would be best if the goddess herself did it, right?”

Hong Yu-hee immediately nodded at Yuder’s words, and Cordelia pursed her lips as if embarrassed.

Giving a baptism to herself.

But that wasn’t the only reason she was embarrassed.

In truth, Cordelia had only ever performed the baptism ritual for one person.

“There are only two people in the world who have been directly baptized by Cordelia.”

“Really?”

“Yes, me and you, Yu-hee. Just the two of us.”

At Yuder’s words, Hong Yu-hee’s cheeks flushed, and she smiled with the happiest face in the world. Yuder smiled back.

He wouldn’t have allowed it for anyone else, but Hong Yu-hee was Cordelia.

It was okay to share the title of ‘person baptized by Cordelia’ with her.

“Cordelia, are you ready?”

“Mhm, I’m ready.”

After Cordelia swallowed hard and nodded, Yuder turned to Hong Yu-hee and said, “It’s not difficult. Just stand straight and look at Cordelia with a reverent heart.”

“Yes, sir.”

Hong Yu-hee, who answered a bit stiffly as if nervous, clasped her hands as if in prayer and stood facing Cordelia.

Th-this is overwhelming.

To have herself staring at her with such sparkling eyes.

But it was something she had to do.

Steeling her resolve, Cordelia summoned her angel wings and halo, releasing her sacred power.

Sanctuary Expansion.

From this moment, this rooftop would be the sanctuary of Cordelia, the Goddess of the Sun.

In the face of the holiness emanating from Cordelia, Kang Jin-ho and Natasha unconsciously straightened their postures. Cordelia approached Hong Yu-hee, who was trembling slightly with a mix of nervousness and joy.

“As the Goddess of Sun, Love, and Beauty, I bestow my blessing upon my believer.”

Cordelia’s hand touched Hong Yu-hee’s forehead.

A sigil of holy light settled on her brow, and the golden blessing of the sun unfurled beautifully, enveloping Hong Yu-hee.

“May the blessing of the sun always be with you.”

It was a goddess’s declaration.

Hong Yu-hee’s name was added to the celestial lineage of Solari, and in that instant, a new celestial power—angel wings—unfurled from her.

This was not a simple baptism as a believer, but the appointment of an angel.

In the first place, because she was Cordelia, Hong Yu-hee’s aptitude as an angel was not just excellent, but transcendent.

A halo of light appeared above Hong Yu-hee’s head, and a single but beautiful pair of wings of light spread out.

“Whoa…”

At Natasha’s unconscious gasp of admiration, Cordelia gave a benevolent smile, then gently caressed the cheek of the entranced Hong Yu-hee and said, “It’s done. You are now an angel who has received my blessing, Yu-hee.”

As if still caught in the afterglow, Hong Yu-hee let out a thrilled breath and nodded.

Cordelia turned her gaze from Hong Yu-hee to Kang Jin-ho and Natasha and asked, “Would you two like to receive it as well?”

She was already at it, after all.

Moreover, if they received her blessing, both of them would become much healthier.

‘And I’ll have peace of mind in case of an accident.’

At Cordelia’s question, Natasha seemed to ponder for a moment before smiling brightly and saying, “Sure, I was originally an atheist, but from now on, I’ll be a believer in the Cordelia Church.”

“If it’s with Yu-hee.”

Both of them accepted.

At that, Yuder, who had been silent until now, stepped forward and said, “Then I will take care of you two—”

“Nah, it’s fine. I should do it.”

[Is it okay to be jealous of your own self?]

[Hmph.]

At the message magic that followed her voice, Yuder let out a dry cough, and Cordelia teased him for being a jealous baby, letting a smile slip.

A short while later, after the baptism rituals for Kang Jin-ho and Natasha were complete, Cordelia let her shoulders slump as if in relief and said, “Well then, I’ll be heading back now.”

I’ve met everyone, and I’ve said goodbye to Mom and Dad.

Hiding the rest of her thoughts, Cordelia retracted her halo and wings of light. Hong Yu-hee asked, sounding a bit clingy, “You’ll come back again later, right?”

“Mhm, I’ll come visit you and everyone again.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

“Okay, I will.”

Cordelia patted Hong Yu-hee’s head, then looked toward Natasha and said, “Natasha, thank you for everything.”

“Of course.”

Kang Jin-ho’s Maia.

Yuder’s older sister, mother, and friend.

Yuder also looked at Natasha.

Then, as if he had made up his mind, he gave her a light hug and said, “Take care, Natasha.”

“You too, Jino.”

Natasha whispered very softly and hugged Yuder back.

Hong Yu-hee and Kang Jin-ho sent them somewhat puzzled glances, but it wasn’t something that needed an explanation.

“Okay, okay, see you all later then!”

After a final farewell, Cordelia stood before a large spatial gate. Yuder, after a final nod to Natasha, stood with Cordelia.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

As they always had, Yuder and Cordelia stepped into the spatial gate together.

And—

“Huh?”

The place they arrived at through the gate.

A land that unfolded with a blood-red sky and a parched earth.

The coordinates were not wrong.

But the place Yuder and Cordelia had arrived at was not Pleiades.

Hell.

The land of demons.

“Cordelia! Get ready!”

Yuder roared fiercely, unleashing all the energy in his body. Cordelia, who had reflexively released her angelic power, could see it.

Hundreds of demons were swarming toward them.

---

Translated By: Meher (RaidenTL)

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