episode_0006

… … … … …

“Hey… … .”

The Human Defense Association and the Pan-Dimensional Coexistence Alliance. It’s probably a story that’s far removed from mine, but it was quite an interesting story.

As I was concentrating on the news with my mouth open for a while, my older sister spoke to me.

“Autumn, by the way… … I heard there’s a game called Restart World that’s really famous, it’s fun.

Are you interested too?”

“Huh?!

Uh, um… … I’m interested. I want to try it a little bit… … .”

“Okay, I got it. I’ll remember that too, sister.”

When I answered honestly, my sister smiled and nodded. But that only lasted for a moment, as she suddenly took on a very serious expression.

“Autumn.

… … Actually, I think my sister will have to leave the house for about a week starting tomorrow.”

“Huh? A week?”

“Yeah. I was mobilized for a sweep operation for the purpose of a preventive war beyond the dimensional gate. I’ll be staying beyond the dimensional gate, so I won’t be able to contact you during that time.”

“That, that kind of… … .”

Suddenly, I felt uneasy at Seoyeon’s words. Carrying out a sweeping operation from beyond the dimensional gate, no matter how I thought about it, it was dangerous.

I wanted to stop my sister somehow, but it was impossible. Even if I worried about her, it would only make her feel complicated. It wouldn’t be able to stop her.

“… … Okay, sis. Still… … Take care.”

At that moment, my older sister reached out and grabbed my hand.

“… … I feel like going to fall, I know that too. I don’t want to go either.

But as adults, there are times when you have to do things you don’t want to do.

Anyway, I’m sorry.”

“No. I’m more sorry.”

My sister’s warm touch warmed my heart and relieved my anxiety.

Perhaps she noticed the change in my expression. My older sister smiled back and patted my head.

“Be kind too.

My sister prepared a week’s worth of side dishes for me. Eat well, don’t be out late, and brush your teeth… ”

My sister’s worried and concerned entreaties continued. It was similar to her usual appearance, but today, it felt a little more affectionate.

Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve been away from Seoyeon for a week since I started living with her. Maybe this opportunity will be good practice for when I become independent from her.

We finished our meal in a friendly atmosphere. But my sister didn’t seem to want to leave me any longer…

Even when I was washing the dishes after eating, and even when I was sitting on the sofa watching TV, my sister wouldn’t let me go.

It wasn’t some kind of metaphor. Seriously, she spent the evening holding me in her arms.

It was a little burdensome to be in close contact with an attractive woman like Seoyeon for more than half a day, but it was probably the first time she would be away from me for more than a week, so I decided to endure it for a little while.

While I was watching TV, snuggled up to her, my older sister suddenly spoke to me.

“Autumn. When the sweep operation is over… …I’ll give you a present.”

“A gift? What kind of gift is it?”

“Secret. But I think you’ll really like it.”

We spent time chatting away in front of the TV, and as time went by, it was time to go to bed. I looked back at her sitting behind me, hugging me.

“Sister? I’m going to sleep.”

I tried to wriggle out of her embrace, but her arms wouldn’t let go.

“Shall we sleep together today, Ga-eul?”

“… … Huh?!”

For a moment, I looked into my sister’s eyes, feeling very embarrassed. I thought she was joking, but her expression was serious.

And I couldn’t turn away from those eyes of my beloved older sister.

“Is that so?

Hehehe, I’m embarrassed―”

I went into the bedroom and lay down on the bed, holding her hand. I could feel her body temperature through my hand.

When I thought that starting tomorrow, I wouldn’t be able to feel this warmth for a week, my heart ached strangely.

… … … … …

Seo Yu-ryeong was an awakened person.

However, even though she was an Awakened One, she was not very strong.

It would be easy to subdue a soldier with a cold weapon with bare hands, but among the Awakened, even those who could do that well would barely be able to escape the lower ranks.

Her true value was not in her physical strength, but in her special abilities. There were not many people in this world who could detect her while she was hiding.

Even the most advanced scientific and technological devices, such as CCTV cameras and heat sensors, failed to detect her. Before the Seo Yu-ryeong showed up, she was practically invisible.

‘Ha. I used my power in broad daylight again.’

Seo Yu-ryeong sighed, mocking herself.

She walked slowly down the street. Many people passed right by her, but no one saw her or noticed her.

But Seo Yu-ryeong’s heart was beating very fast. Her lingering social phobia raised its head again.

‘Calm down. Seo Yu-ryeong, calm down. No one can see you… … .’

She had been telling herself over and over again. Thanks to her abilities, she was able to work as a spy for the Awakened Society, but as time went by, her social phobia only got worse.

Now, it was not easy to even go to the supermarket to buy groceries without using her skills. Despite this, she did not use online shopping.

If you ask why Seo Yu-ryeong insisted on going to the mart, the reason lies with an employee at the mart.

Seo Yu-ryeong clearly remembered the day she first saw him.

Soft and glossy black bob cut, slightly wavy hair that accentuates her white face, and a face that boasts a soft cuteness that makes you think it came straight out of a cartoon.

What particularly captivated Seo Yu-ryeong was the employee’s blue eyes. The long eyelashes also made Seo Yu-ryeong’s heart beat faster every time she blinked.

Her nose is sharp, small, and cute, and her lips are red and plump. Her slender neckline, which is revealed every time she bends down to organize her products, is breathtaking, and her slender shoulders and arms that can be seen under her shirt are also attractive.

The name tag of that employee, who was absolutely perfect in every way, had the two letters ‘Autumn’ written on it.

Seo Yu-ryeong swallowed as she looked at him again today, right next to her, not even a meter away.

‘You work hard… … .’

The scent, the sound of breathing, and even the blinking of the eyes of an employee named Autumn.

Seo Yu-ryeong captured even the slightest movement with her eyes and stored it in her mind. Everything about him seemed special to her.

At that time, the negative part in Seo Yu-ryeong’s head began to criticize herself.

‘This is stalking, Seo Yu-ryeong. Your social phobia has now developed into voyeurism.’

Of course, Seo Yu-ryeong immediately denied it. This is… … Yes. It’s just an observation. It’s just seeing the person you like right next to you.

For example, it is similar to a fan of an actor watching all the works that the actor appears in. Seo Yu-ryeong’s own actions are not a problem at all.

Of course, Seo Yu-ryeong had a vague sense that her ‘observation’ was something more than simple curiosity. However, she didn’t know what to do with this feeling.

In the end, she just kept looking at this employee named Ga-eul every single day, and this behavior continued for over ten days.

… … … … …

After continued observation, Seo Yu-ryeong realized a very uncomfortable truth: her subject, Ga-eul, was being bullied at work.

At first I thought it was a simple misunderstanding, but as time passed and observations were repeated, the signs became clearer.

Every time other employees pass by Ga-eul, a small snicker is heard, and if Ga-eul tries to talk to another employee, she is ignored.

Even in front of Mr. Ga-eul, there were many instances where he openly gossiped about her.

“You didn’t get a job with your real face, did you?”

“That’s right. He’s a small man and can’t even exert strength.”

Every time she heard such harsh words, Seo Yu-ryeong found herself gritting her teeth. Anger boiled inside her, and she clenched her fists over and over again.

‘How can you torment my autumn seed?’

At that moment, Seo Yu-ryeong realized that she had thought of Ga-eul as ‘my Ga-eul.’

‘Ugh… … My autumn seed, you say… … ?’

In an instant, a feeling of extreme shame washed over Seo Yu-ryeong, and she covered her face with both hands.

‘My Autumn Seed’. Every time I chewed on that word over and over, my heart was filled with a strange sense of happiness. Even though it was a cool mart because of the air conditioning, I felt a warm heat coming from my body.

However, Seo Yu-ryeong’s emotion quickly faded away because she saw the sad expression on her face.

‘Ah, ah, ah… … .’

The guilt that came belatedly was so great that it instantly overshadowed any feelings of emotion.

While Seo Yu-ryeong was enjoying herself alone and brooding over her own thoughts, her sister-in-law was suffering from bullying.

‘I need your help.

… … But, how?’

Seo Yu-ryeong desperately racked her brain with emotions, guilt, and regret, but no clear idea came to mind.

The first thing that came to mind was private sanctions using force.

But that wasn’t a realistic method. It might be satisfying to beat up the hateful employees, but it was too dangerous to directly touch ordinary people.

Above all, Seo Yu-ryeong’s increasingly severe social phobia was holding her back. She didn’t even have the confidence to threaten, “Don’t bother my Autumn seed.”

In the end, Seo Yu-ryeong could do nothing else today, except watch. A sense of helplessness as great as guilt weighed on her.

To forget that feeling of helplessness, Seo Yu-ryeong decided to expand the scope of her ‘observation’ just a little bit more.