Chapter 76: Who is it?

Hehehe, clearly there was the cutest, prettiest princess in the world next to me until yesterday… so why is there no one here now?

–Chirp!

Warm sunlight streamed through the wide terrace window.

As I opened my eyes to the chirping of birds, I wanted to deny the reality that I was alone in this spacious pool villa.

‘Wow~ A man waking up alone in this huge accommodation… I’m hit with a massive reality check, aren’t I?’

Is there a groom in the world who spent his honeymoon night alone?

Yes, this must all be a dream.

A damn shitty dream!

If I close my eyes for a moment and open them again, that amazing silver-haired beautiful girl will wake me up, right?

I closed my eyes for a moment, flopped back down, and began counting to ten in my head.

‘10, 9, 8…….’

As I counted, I recalled the sweet kiss with the pink-lipped girl from a few hours ago.

– “Mwah…! Hehet… Sihyun, I love you!!!”

“Heeheehee, I love you too~ Luna!”

A goofy laugh escaped me unconsciously.

Just a brief thought of a happy moment with Luna brought a smile to my face.

‘I guess I really fell hard for Luna. Well, I did save her with my life, so it makes sense, right?’

To think I even married such a beautiful girl. I feel proud of myself again, don’t I?

Although we’re separated now, whether I reunite with Luna quickly or slowly depends on my efforts.

‘Alright! From now on, my top priority isn’t the story of destruction or anything else, it’s decided: I’m going to meet Luna again!’

It might sound irresponsible, but it’s not really.

That’s because resolving the ghost stories is essential to meeting Luna again.

[Beat down the ghost stories related to destruction to get story fragments → Resolve the destruction-level ghost stories → Gain new abilities → Reunite with Luna and be all lovey-dovey! (☆Important☆) → Happy Ending!]

What a clean and easy-to-understand goal! A very simple quest that even an elementary school student could grasp immediately.

‘Indeed, the goal one pursues must be clear and obvious. Ah, now that I think about it, I feel like I forgot something—’

[Ding!]

[Sihyun-nim’s one and only precious☆existence, Notification Window-chan is here~!]

[ (◞˃ᆺ˂)◞♡ ]

“Ugh! F*ck, you startled me!!”

The moment I opened my eyes and saw the sparkling, huge message window right in front of my nose, I was so startled that I swore without realizing it.

[Hi, hiccup…! S-Sihyun-nim swore at me again, s-saying f-f*ck…!]

“Ah, wait! I’m sorry! Don’t cry!”

[Sniff…! If you tell me you love me too, I won’t cry….]

“Huh?”

[When Sihyun-nim hugged and kissed Luna… and said ‘I love you,’ I was so envious….]

Notification Window lowered her head slightly, revealing her hurt feelings.

‘Ah, I was too thoughtless.’

–Swoosh.

I gently took Notification Window with my right hand and patted her.

“I’m sorry. For not paying attention to you. I knew you were considerate throughout the trip, not disturbing Luna and me, but I called you too late, didn’t I?”

[Oh… Y-You knew?]

“When Luna kissed my neck, you cried as if the world was ending, so how could it have been any different this time? You would’ve appeared more than a hundred times, but when you didn’t, I noticed.”

[When Sihyun-nim did k-k-kisses with Luna…! It was really hard because I was so envious and jealous… but I tried my best to hold back…! Because I understand that feeling of loving Sihyun-nim too….]

“Hahaha! Yes, thank you. But I’m a little curious, you know.”

[Eh? About what??]

“Why you like and love me so much.”

I brought the hand that was stroking Notification Window to my chin and tilted my head.

“Is it because I’m the only reader who’s consistently read the novel you wrote for two years?”

[That is……….]

“Or is there some reason you can’t tell me?”

[…….]

She didn’t answer my question, simply maintaining silence.

And I knew that silence was the answer to my curiosity.

‘It must be that damn restriction again…’

Notification Window never lies to me. And she doesn’t deliberately hide information either.

She’s a young girl with a fragile mind and unpredictable behavior, but this much I can definitely trust.

–Tap-tap.

I gently poked the slightly dejected Notification Window with my finger.

[Sihyun-nim……?]

“Thinking about it again, I don’t think I need to know why you love me, you know?”

[Wh-Whyyyy……?]

“What’s the point in knowing now? It’s mutual anyway. I love you too.”

[……!!♡]

“Why are you so surprised? You asked me to say I love you, but now that you hear it, are you shy? Hahaha!”

[Haaauuuugh… Even though I begged to hear it, now that I have, I’m shy… Hehe.]

Notification Window expressed her shyness by emitting a lot of pink smoke.

‘That’s amazing every time I see it.’

Certainly, compared to the beginning, Notification Window has, how should I put it, gained many functions, or perhaps, become richer in expression.

In the beginning, her tone was somewhat formal, and I couldn’t even touch the UI window.

Now, not only can I touch her, but she can also express emotions with emoticons and colors.

‘Later, she might even become a hologram or materialize, right? Hahaha.’

If such a day truly comes, I hope she’s the ideal beautiful girl I’ve always dreamed of.

Then I’d truly love her forever.

– “Sihyun… if you’re nice to other women when I’m not around… I’ll be angry…? Khit.”

A chill.

“Ugh, I suddenly feel like Luna is watching… Haha, it must be my imagination, right…?”

[Oh, that’s right! Speaking of Luna, I just remembered, Sihyun-nim perfectly resolved not only Greed’s story but also Luna’s story, so there’s an additional reward!]

“Additional reward? Ah, so that’s why you suddenly popped up!”

[Hehe, that’s right! I’ll show you right away!]

Notification Window blinked for a moment, then began displaying letters in the air.

[Ding!]

[Story of the Princess of Seleneum: Completion Rate Exceeded 100%.]

[Due to performance exceeding future expectations, the ‘Laws of the World’ have incurred an obligation to provide additional rewards to user ‘Sihyun’.]

[Additional Reward: Beginner Package ON/OFF Function (Limited Time)]

The moment I saw the details of the additional reward, I immediately understood how good this ability was.

“Notification Window, this ON/OFF function… don’t tell me?”

[Hehe, Sihyun-nim! From now on, your appearance won’t forcibly change just because it’s night! You can transform when you want—]

“Finallyyyyyyyyyyy—!!”

[Huuuh?]

–Thud!

I briefly knelt on the floor and roared.

How… how difficult those days were.

The times I was misunderstood as the ghost story Phantom, tossed around here and there!

The countless unfair accusations I suffered from Tsuki and Eclipse, Luna and Greed, who mistook me for Lucian!

All of that happened because my appearance forcibly changed every night.

But with just this ability, I can avoid such misunderstandings now.

“It’s a shame it’s not a new ability to meet Luna… but this alone is cause for gratitude!”

[Hehe, you might get that again soon if you keep resolving ghost stories, so let’s do our best together, Sihyun-nim!]

“Hahaha, yes, yes. I’ll be counting on you from now on.”

[Kih-hit. Yes!♡]

[ ദ്ദി(˶>ࠏ<˶) ]

Although the word ‘Limited Time’ bothered me a little,

I brushed it off, not thinking much of it, in my joy at having regained a daily life where I wouldn’t transform at night for the time being.

****

A month and a half had passed since Luna left and I gained the Beginner Package ON/OFF function.

It felt like only yesterday I had that terrifying first encounter with Luna, her silver hair and golden eyes shining, but now I’d already finished her story and sent her back.

“It really makes me realize how fast time flies.”

At first, being alone at home was quite awkward, but now I’ve gotten used to it.

“After all, I’ve lived alone for a longer period.”

There was no small shadow waiting to greet me every time I came home. Nor golden eyes quietly watching me from across the dining table.

– “Sihyun… hug me tight….”

Sometimes, when I couldn’t sleep, I missed the days I fell asleep inhaling Luna’s sweet scent.

Each time, I soothed myself by touching the ring Luna and I exchanged or by stroking the tooth marks on my neck.

“But wait, Luna’s bite marks haven’t disappeared after over a month? Did she really put some kind of magic on them?”

– “It’s my unique magic, one that can only be cast on the person I love… once in a lifetime. Khit.”

Luna’s figure, smiling with blood around her mouth.

The wound, bitten hard because she wanted to leave a mark just like the princess from the moon left an elixir of immortality, wouldn’t disappear no matter what I did.

Just like a curse named a ‘token.’

‘It didn’t even disappear when I activated the Beginner Package, so that says it all.’

“It’s a bit awkward because people tease me about it being a hickey every time they see it… but it’s not a big problem, I guess.”

Gaeun, who’s on overseas assignment, might misunderstand if she sees my neck when she returns, but I’ll think about that when the time comes.

“That’s not what’s important right now.”

Luna has returned, and I’ve finished understanding my new ability, so now it’s time to seriously make a plan.

There are still stories left to resolve. I’ve only just finished one destruction.

I must complete the narratives of the remaining destruction-level ghost stories.

[Ding!]

[Please finish the stories of the destruction-level ghost stories.]

[Resolved stories: 1]

“Only then can the world return to normal, and I can meet our one and only princess again.”

However, I keenly realized that a sudden start, like with Luna, carries risks.

‘The Bosingak incident still makes me dizzy to think about.’

It was lucky that things went well; otherwise, I would have crossed the River Jordan as soon as we met.

Because I don’t know what kind of destruction-level story will appear next, this time I absolutely must prepare thoroughly before starting—

“Sihyun! This is tasteless! Give me something else!!”

“…….”

What the f*ck, is this a dream?

An familiar voice reached my ears as I was setting the mood and making plans.

I slowly turned my head and looked towards the kitchen.

There was.

A girl with fiery red hair and shimmering purple eyes that seemed to enchant onlookers sat at the dining table with a sulky expression.

“Not eggs or anything like that, give me meat! Meat!!”

“…….”

“And for dessert, pudding is good! I really like soft and sweet things!”

“No. You’ve already eaten seven puddings today. I’ll give you some tomorrow.”

“……!!!”

As soon as the girl heard she couldn’t have pudding, she teared up slightly and bit her lip tightly.

“Hmph…! S-Sihyun is tr-treating me badly…! H-How could you do this…? You pr-promised to take care of me forever…?”

“…….”

The girl, who had seemed so assertive just moments ago, was now quietly sobbing, puffing out her cheeks.

I rubbed my throbbing forehead and sighed.

I distinctly remember vowing to prepare thoroughly this time.

I even ran simulations to properly respond whenever and wherever a ghost story appeared!

Was it said that life never goes according to one’s plans?

I came to my senses and found myself the guardian of a peculiar beautiful girl.

“Haa, how did it come to this?”