episode_0062

“You seem too drunk.”

Dakota tried to maintain a calm demeanor as he carefully observed Lager’s intentions.

Knowing that Lager was not the type to come just for jokes, Dakota also treated him seriously.

Lager, losing his composure, intermittently stumbled over his words as he confided.

“It may be hard to believe, Dakota. I was originally a woman. But when I came to this world, I became a man. Or more accurately, I possessed Lager Godin’s body.”

“What do you mean by originally? Does possession mean that your original body exists separately?”

“Exactly. I lived as a woman for 24 years. The reason I tied my hair well, the reason I tried not to get close to you, is because I am a woman, and also…”

“So, Godin.”

Dakota interrupted Lager’s rambling.

“What are you trying to say in the end?”

And like plunging into the vital point of a demon, Dakota urged Lager to get to the point.

During the prime time of dinner, coming back early from an outing and drunkenly spilling out such words, what was the reason for it.

Facing Dakota’s stern gaze, Lager seemed as if he would crumble, and for a while, he fell silent without saying anything. Countless complaints filtered through his chest, chin, and lips, unable to form into words and dispersed into the air.

Then, the words that finally came out as if caught on something were,

“Don’t like me. Please.”

It was a plea.

“I am not the Lager Godin you think of. I am not even a man, and I cannot have the kind of feelings you are trying to have towards me biologically. No matter how hard you try, even if you make me undergo nursing for a year instead of a month, I will never reciprocate your feelings. So, that’s why…”

Lager’s words, pouring out non-stop, suddenly halted as if caught on something.

Finally, his lips lost their voice again and just awkwardly twitched.

Dakota, who was looking at Lager as if he might burst into tears at any moment, slowly approached him.

And with his one and only hand, he gently touched Lager’s cheek.

Whispered.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Lager looked at Dakota with a puzzled expression. She was smiling faintly.

“It doesn’t matter. Even if you are not the Godin I knew, or even if you are not a man.”

“What, how did you…”

“Well.”

Dakota closed his mouth once there, casually put his right hand in his pocket, and confessed nonchalantly.

“You don’t believe me.”

“Oh…?”

“You seem quite drunk. To convince me of what you said, you need to prove that there really is another world and that Godin was a woman. Is there a way?”

At this point, it was a logical response to a nonsensical argument. Lager had no retort to Dakota’s words.

Because there was nothing wrong with what he said.

“Even if I don’t like it, it’s a bit disappointing that you’re resorting to such irrational means.”

By this point, it was almost fortunate that he had come drunk. If he had brought up this story sober, he would have been treated like a lunatic.

“Anyway, sit down and have some juice. Your mind will clear up.”

Dakota, seemingly not taking it seriously, opened the fridge and took out orange juice. With only one arm, and being left-handed, he had to place the juice on the bedside table and bring a paper cup separately.

Unable to resist Dakota’s awkward movements with his uncomfortable body, Lager quietly sat in front of her bed.

“Did you drink with Chloe?”

Dakota poured juice into a paper cup and sat on the bed. Lager briefly held the glass and just stared at the yellow juice inside.

Just a few hours ago, they were drinking ale and having a good time, but now Lager was sitting in front of Dakota, receiving juice.

‘Whether it’s now or before, being indecisive without a plan is the same.’

Feeling uncomfortable with the faint reflection in the juice, Lager angrily gulped down the juice in one go.

As the cold drink went down his throat, only the tangy scent of orange juice remained in his nose. Lager frowned and Dakota chuckled.

“It seems like you and Chloe didn’t have a good conversation.”

“……”

“Is it wrong to feel relieved when two people are at odds?”

Lager felt a strange sense of self-reproach at Dakota’s blunt question.

I won’t hear anyone say I’m cowardly.

I created the character, I made it based on myself, but you seem to be better than me.

Looking at Lager’s face full of depth, Dakota asked cautiously, “Is the alcohol all gone?”

“…A little.”

“Then shall we go for a walk?”

After drinking cold water and suggesting to get some fresh air, Lager wondered how he ended up in such a natural and friendly way to relieve a hangover without even drinking.

“It’s chilly outside.”

“Then would you like me to put on a cardigan for you?”

“The long black one over there?”

“Yes.”

Lager nodded silently and got up. He then took out a long cardigan from the coat rack next to the bedside table.

Dakota also got up from the bed, turned his back to Lager, and raised his arms slightly as if asking to be dressed.

Is this right?

As Ael said, spending time with Dakota is my fate.

Without finding an answer, Lager left the hospital room with Dakota.

“It smells like cigarettes.”

Dakota said as he leaned slightly against Lager. But Lager moved slightly away at the sight, creating some distance between them.

“Ah.” Dakota seemed momentarily flustered and swallowed, but then smiled and walked back to the elevator.

With an awkward distance of about an elbow’s length, the two of them awkwardly went for a walk.

*

‘Are you going to the hospital as if you own the place?’

Watching Lager swiftly change his stance, I couldn’t move for a while.

Well, if you’ve told someone you don’t like them twice and still can’t sort out your feelings, that’s serious. If Lager can block one of the female traps by getting along well with Dakota, that’s enough for me.

I wasn’t hungry yet, so I didn’t think about food. I quickly headed to the dormitory to take off this uncomfortable dress and take a warm shower before lying down in bed.

As soon as I arrived at the dormitory, I threw the dress on the floor and took off my underwear. The old underwear was too uncomfortable, so I bought a sports bra without hooks, but that was uncomfortable too.

After showering and changing into a soft pajama, I lay on the bed and played with the new tablet I bought. I deliberately bought the same model as before to reduce the adaptation time. The shock at that time also broke the pencil, so I bought a new one along with the tablet.

It’s better to stick with what you’re used to.

It was definitely the same product I used before, so I didn’t need to adapt to the interface, apps, or even the pressure sensitivity when drawing. To commemorate the purchase of the new tablet, I briefly considered what to draw for my first piece.

“Hmm. Hmm….”

I decided to try drawing Lager.

I’ve been curious for a while. I could draw firearms, grenades, holsters, clothing, etc., and materialize them, but what about people? I wanted to experiment to see if I could summon a person as well.

The reason I chose to draw Lager instead of myself is that I don’t usually look in the mirror, so Lager’s face is more vividly etched in my mind than my own.

Since there was nothing else to do, I diligently worked on the drawing, completing it through quite a bit of effort.

Short blue hair in a short two-block hairstyle, sharp features as well as a distinct jawline. Broad shoulders and long arms and legs.

Listing the features, there wasn’t anything special, but as I thought about and adjusted various details, quite some time passed. The tablet screen was filled with Lager’s image.

For the first time since coming here, I drew a person.

Can people be summoned too?

If Lager were to become two people.

What kind of reaction would that Lager have towards me?

After pondering various scenarios and pressing on the drawing, I sent the pencil outside the tablet as usual.

And nothing happened.

“Huh?”

Only the trace of the pen remained on the screen. Nothing out of the ordinary occurred.

Maybe people can’t be summoned, so I tried drawing a simple sock. But the sock was the same.

“…This can’t be happening.”

Thinking that maybe the pressure sensitivity was different from before, I tried drawing with various pressures, but it was futile. The tablet only showed the trace of the pen.

Socks, guns, pajamas, Lager’s image.

Nothing came out.

“This is impossible….”

The hand holding the tablet trembled in disbelief at the surreal reality.

The tablet was crucial. It wasn’t just a disposable item used for temporary protection. It was a misconception to think that I could manifest my abilities anytime as long as I had the tablet.

Once the familiar things disappeared.

I became a mere existence with nothing.