Why Are You Inserting Your Tongue? -2

“Let’s smooch.”

“…Haah.”

It was a miserable feeling. Although he had prepared himself knowing that this was the only method to break the curse, hearing such words from a minor made him feel strange.

“Noah, even so, saying things like that is a bit…”

“But it’s true, isn’t it? A pervert mister who wants to be kissed by a high school girl.”

“Your words have gotten a bit harsh?”

“I don’t know. Figure it out yourself.”

Iris said this while crossing her arms. She seemed thoroughly upset.

However, Shin Hyun genuinely seemed clueless.

Or rather, to be precise, he had too many things to feel guilty about.

From deceiving her to acting as a villain, hypnotizing her, making her cry. And then shamelessly asking for help.

‘There’s nothing but reasons for her to be angry.’

Shin Hyun broke out in a cold sweat.

“Uh… umm…”

What should I do?

‘She seems quite angry.’

His mind began to race. How could he make Noah feel better? He thought maybe he should bow his head, but that probably wouldn’t be very effective.

After all, he had committed too many wrongs to be forgiven easily.

After staring blankly for a long time, words of rebuke came from Iris’s mouth.

“What were you doing that you’re only coming back now?”

“…What?”

But something was strange.

Iris, with her arms crossed, was looking at him with one leg forward.

How should I put it?

The vibe felt like…

‘It feels like a wife nagging her husband who came home late?’

Iris formed a sharp gaze.

“Is the outside world so good? Do you hate coming home that much?”

“No, that’s. Noah—”

“Always leaving me alone at home! How long did I have to wait!”

“Th-that… I-I’m sorry…”

“So you do know you’re sorry? Fine! If you like the outside so much, just go live there!”

As he was lost in the parade of familiar lines, now he heard sobbing sounds.

“I… because of you… I haven’t been able to sleep properly…”

Iris was rubbing her eyes with her hands.

He couldn’t tell whether this was acting or real.

If it was acting, it showed remarkable skill and talent, and if it was real…

“…Noah.”

“Hic… hic… why… you fool…”

“I’m sorry. I’m trash.”

He should bow his head, right?

“…Oppa.”

“I’m sorry. I think I put too much pressure on you. I know I did wrong, I know it’s hard to forgive. But… when this is all over, I’ll let you hit me as much as you need to feel better.”

“…Something other than hitting.”

“Then, is there something else you want?”

“…Think about it.”

Iris lowered her tear-stained hands and clenched her fists. A voice as red as her tear-stained eyes emerged.

“When all this is over… promise me you’ll seriously consider dating me.”

“…”

“If you promise just this… I’ll forgive you.”

He swallowed hard. It was quite similar to the promise he’d made before. Wait until I become an adult, was it?

This time she had taken a step further.

Noah. This greedy child wasn’t satisfied with that.

Now she directly asks whether he will date her or not, bluntly questioning him.

It was truly a difficult preference to understand. Clinging to an old man like him.

“…”

“…”

After a long silence, the one who spoke first was Iris.

“Ta-dah~ Hidden came—”

“…Alright.”

It was Shin Hyun who cut her off.

“I’ll think about it.”

“…R-really?”

“Of course, as I said before, it would be after you become an adult.”

All of this is for later. After becoming an adult—this easy excuse is only possible if they survive. If they die in the process, promises for the future become meaningless.

‘Noah probably knows that too.’

Shin Hyun raised his head to look at Iris. She was continuously wiping her eyes. Is she still crying?

“Ah… really…”

“Noah. Are you okay? If it doesn’t make you uncomfortable, can I get a little closer?”

“You know, mister? You’re really strange… really strange… but a kind person.”

“Why do you say that all of a sudden?”

“That’s why you fall for traps like this. Look at you now, I set a small trap, and you fell for it right away.”

Trap?

Fell for it?

At that moment, a cheerful “Ding!” sound was heard.

“…Hidden camera success.”

“Hidden… camera?”

What is this, a prank?

Entering Shin Hyun’s dazed field of vision were women in flashy outfits. All of them were familiar faces.

Stella, Natalia, Black Heart.

Especially, Stella was holding Noah’s cellphone in her hand.

“Recording complete.”

“…What?”

“Noah, here it is. It came out really well.”

“Thanks. I’ll use it well.”

Wait a minute.

Don’t tell me this is.

“…I’ve been tricked!?”

Noah wiped her tears and stuck out her tongue.

“It’s punishment. After what you did to me, I get to have my revenge too!”

“That’s…”

He had nothing to say.

“Hmph. I was originally going to stop, but since you went that far, I just continued.”

“…Haah…”

“I’ll be expecting it.”

Shin Hyun shook his head.

“You know that’s a problem that can only be resolved if we survive, right?”

“Of course. Don’t worry. I won’t die until I receive a confession from you.”

“…I’m the one who has to do it?”

“Ah, I can do it if you prefer.”

“…Do as you wish.”

“Hehe.”

He wished he could chat more, but that was difficult.

There was still much to do. And there were new facts he had learned.

Shin Hyun transformed into Kraken and extended his tentacles widely. His magical power had grown stronger after absorbing the mid-boss. Thanks to that, more and numerous tentacles emerged and writhed.

“Not going easy? Well, you probably can’t.”

“Yes, let’s start quickly. I’m hungry.”

“Good. If you succeed… I’ll treat you to a meat feast.”

“Really? I’ll have to do my best then.”

As their conversation ended, a wind blew simultaneously.

Though they had clashed many times before, the atmosphere was different this time.

With a premonition that this would probably be the most intense battle yet.

“Here I come!”

“Come! Show me the results of your growth!”

They rushed at each other.

+++++

“Haa… haa… is it over, mister?”

“No… not yet.”

Kraken saw starlight shining from within the flesh pieces of tentacles.

Starlight boasting its presence in the black sky.

They each sparkled with different lights.

“We’ll hold off these tentacle monsters!”

“Hurry!”

“I’m counting on you! Iris!”

And the brightest first-magnitude star among them slowly approached. As the starlight touched the black things, they crumbled, and she began to become the light of the world.

Breaking, melting.

Like a light that devours shadows, the starlight began to dissolve the darkness.

‘She’s strong.’

She seems to have become incredibly strong over the past month. Of course, she has the help of companions, but even that bond is her strength.

Perhaps a light that might have gone out, or never shone at all, brightens before Kraken’s eyes.

So brilliantly that the moonlight bows its head in embarrassment.

“Looks like I’ve raised quite the formidable one.”

He was satisfied.

Iris being strong is entirely understandable.

But the fact that he was the one who made it possible made Shin Hyun smile.

“Hmm!”

He created a flower of tentacles on the ground. Shadow tentacles split into a thousand branches, forming a black flower.

Nevertheless.

“Star!”

“…Oh no.”

It melts and gives way.

Because such a strong light consumes even shadows.

When the black flower Shin Hyun created touched Iris’s starlight, it crumbled steadily. As if finding peace in that light.

“You don’t seem to have much leeway, mister.”

“Unfortunately. My biggest weakness is that magic consumption is high.”

“That’s because you keep firing such big ones!”

“True. Then, how about this?”

Shin Hyun rotated magical energy throughout his body to create another self. A technique to create a clone from chunks of tentacle flesh.

He continued without stopping, despite the intense feeling of emptiness.

The original owner of this technique was the worst of sinners.

A being close to the worst, too evil for her starlight to save.

“My magic is almost gone now. If you catch the main body, it’s completely over.”

“How do I find it here!”

Iris was right.

Dozens of Krakens stood around her.

They each raised their hands high, ready to strike down with tentacles.

“…”

Iris quietly closes her eyes.

Starlight began to sparkle all over her body. The Krakens hesitated as if feeling an instinctive aversion.

‘No matter how identical they look, a fake is a fake.’

Those are merely imitations. Just counterfeits approaching garbage level, only mimicking that man’s outer appearance.

So there was no reason she wouldn’t recognize him.

Noah, who had seen his inner self and relied on it.

Noah, who had ultimately had her heart stolen by it.

There was no reason she wouldn’t recognize the only real one filled with inner substance.

Among the hesitating Krakens, one particularly gave off a noticeable gaze. That one was sending a gaze that felt somehow warm toward her.

“That’s him.”

Noah threw herself toward that Kraken.

The two people rolled across the floor with a clatter.

“Drain.”

A powerful technique obtained by drinking the root juice of the evil Ent. His magical power slowly flowed into her, and the flesh clones began to melt away.

And finally, Kraken disappeared, and the face of the man she had missed so much appeared.

“Mister.”

“I lose, I lose. Haven’t you all become too strong?”

“You’re the one who made us this way, mister.”

“…Yes. And I’m glad. You’ve all become stronger. Good job, Noah.”

Her mind was put at ease seeing his smiling face.

But it’s not over yet.

Iris put the round essence from her pocket into her mouth.

And then.

“Bon appétit~”

“Wait. Eat? Noah, what do you mean? I’m supposed to eat that— Mmph…!”

Slowly, she began to savor it.