episode_0066
by fnovelpia[I made it]
Hyarul, tilting his head, projected a hologram. His tone implied a question about what was wrong with what he had written.
What could possibly be the problem? Or rather, what part exactly is shocking that I am not aware of?
Hong Yeonhwa blinked absentmindedly and lowered her head.
A long scarf was visible. The smooth texture was clearly felt in her grip.
It was a red scarf. She lifted it up to her neck, examining it closely.
“This is…”
There are various shades of red in the world. They may look similar, but they are clearly different shades of red.
The color of the scarf was similar to the color of her hair that caught her eye.
It was not just red, but the impression that it was similar when put together.
She thought it might be just a coincidence, but upon closer inspection, the colors were indeed quite similar.
As Hong Yeonhwa stared blankly at the scarf, she shifted her gaze.
The moment she saw Hyarul’s smile as he sat on the bed, it felt as if the world had brightened up.
It was as bright as treating the morning sunlight coming through the window with disdain.
“So cute.”
How could a smile be so bright? What was making him so happy that he was smiling so cheerfully?
Hong Yeonhwa tried to calm her racing heart and asked, “Thank you… Did Hayul make this himself?”
[Yes]
“When did you make it?”
[I made it yesterday]
“Yesterday…? You mean the day of the afterparty?”
[Yes]
Hong Yeonhwa pondered.
When Hyarul asked if he could come for a visit, it was a time when the afterparty was in full swing. In other words, it was a question asked in the old night that had passed.
Then when did he prepare the gift for the visit?
Before she knew she couldn’t attend the afterparty?
Before she even got permission for the visit?
Or after getting permission, from the late night after the afterparty ended?
Hong Yeonhwa glanced at Hyarul’s face. A face full of cheerfulness. Cute…
“No, not that part.”
The shadow under his eyes particularly caught her attention. Upon closer inspection, she felt a sense of fatigue more than before in his entire face.
She looked down at his hands. Arms that were injured from various training. Hands that had recovered countless times from being torn apart in a short period.
And she noticed the faint scars that appeared and healed not long ago.
As someone who had fought countless battles, Hong Yeonhwa could tell.
It was not a wound from wielding a sword or a spear.
It was not a wound from repeated punches. Rather, it looked more like a wound from a small needle or scissors.
“…”
The scarf in her hands felt unusually heavy.
Seeing Hyarul’s happy smile made it even more so. He was showing such a happy smile as if he had the whole world, after giving her the scarf that he had personally knitted.
He seemed so happy, as if he had the whole world, thanking her for the gift.
Suddenly, her heart ached. It was a different heartbeat than usual. The body, which had lost its strength and was slumped, could not bear such a heartbeat.
It was guilt.
The ability Hong Yeonhwa possessed, Geophwa, was truly a damn crazy ability.
One of the advantages of Geophwa is undoubtedly its output.
Although there is also the versatility of the ability to cover various expansions such as Gae, Jin, and Seong, the main advantage of Geophwa has always been its output.
The problem is that the output is so outstanding that it can harm the owner, which is truly a damn crazy ability.
And that’s not the end of it.
The cursed ability that Guphwa possesses sometimes brings trials to its owner, albeit in a discreet manner.
One might wonder what kind of trials could be associated with such a trivial ability, but it is a process that every Guphwa owner must go through as they grow.
The types of trials vary, but the first trial that everyone faces is the same.
It triggers the owner’s guilt.
It shows memories from the past.
Mistakes made, harm caused to others, tragedies resulting from one’s own mistakes, and so on.
From trivial matters to significant ones.
It also shows illusions and torments the user in an unparalleled manner.
Hong Yeonhwa was no exception.
Various memories flashed by. From her early childhood when she could barely walk to the present.
Yeonhwa was impulsive and rough, but her nature was inherently good.
She had thrown punches many times, but there were always reasons behind those situations. In simple terms, they were scoundrels who deserved to be punched.
Breaking facilities on occasion? It was a simple act that could be covered by personal funds.
Other memories that triggered guilt were around the vicinity of the marketplace, witnessing tragedies while walking around with the elders of her family.
This was nothing compared to the accident Yeonhwa caused.
Her inherent mental strength and patience were exceptional, so she could easily overcome such trivial trials within a few days.
– Ah, aaaaaah─!
Just a month ago, it would have been like that.
The face of Yi Hayul smiling happily as she received a gift, and the face of Yi Hayul screaming as she was engulfed in pain, overlapped.
Yeonhwa’s complexion turned pale in the flickering flames.
– Ugh, aaah…!
A face distorted in pain. A right arm burning. Trying to put out the fire by rolling on the ground, but the flames only burned more fiercely in defiance.
She was an unfamiliar memory. Then it must be an illusion.
…An illusion?
Reality beyond the overlap of illusion.
“…! …?!”
Hayul was perplexed as she waved her hands. She seemed unsure of what to do after sensing Yeonhwa’s expression.
Her right arm wrapped in bandages was waved. It seemed like the scar inside was visible.
After seeing that scar in the infirmary, Hayul was convinced that she was a victim of Guphwa.
Such a scar could only be left by Guphwa. After hearing that the orphanage he was affiliated with burned down, he felt guilty.
She was an overt victim of the family she led. He didn’t know if his physical disability was influenced by Guphwa.
Recently, a new possibility came to mind.
Hayul used Guphwa.
Whether it was a control issue or another problem, it manifested only in her right arm, but it was undoubtedly Guphwa.
The possibility that she was a descendant of Hayul’s family came to mind.
That didn’t become a reason not to feel guilty.
Guphwa is an ability passed down through blood relations.
Therefore, even if they are distant relatives, those who inherit the blood of the ancestor are recorded in the main family.
However, they cannot be traced if they do not belong to an official family.
The hallucination changed. Similarly, as Yeonhwa, it was a sight she had never encountered before.
Inside a building that could not even be called a slum.
In her childhood, Hayul was constantly being beaten by inhuman scum.
Treating a child longing for affection as an emotional trash can, parents spewing curses that should never be said to their children.
Disgusting. She wanted to smash that head right away and tear those hands apart while they were still attached.
Growing impulses. Emotions that could serve as kindling for Guphwa overflowed.
Just as she was about to start enduring things that were too difficult to bear, someone grabbed her shoulder and gently shook her.
Feeling the soft touch of the plush bed beneath her, Hong Yeonhwa was enveloped in a sweet fragrance.
But as she woke up, the fantasy faded away, and reality came rushing back.
“…! …!? …!!”
In the midst of her hallucination, the dying Yi Hayul, who was starving and fading away, crawled up onto the bed and gently shook herself.
Her throat felt constricted, making it difficult to breathe as if there was a lump of iron on her chest.
With trembling eyes, Hong Yeonhwa looked at Yi Hayul.
She couldn’t tell if the recent scene was just a hallucination or a real event. Her instincts whispered that it was closer to reality.
But she couldn’t think beyond that.
Normally, Hong Yeonhwa would have regained her composure.
However.
The amplification of emotions due to fear, the amplification of emotions due to side effects, the regeneration of hallucinations, and the intuition whispering that it was reality.
All of these narrowed her vision and clouded her judgment.
Guilt weighed her down. She couldn’t breathe properly.
– Fwoosh!
The inner fear rose. The flames that had been crouching down surged through her body. The flames, burning fiercely, spread in all directions, about to engulf the mountain of guilt.
“…!”
The restless Yi Hayul embraced Hong Yeonhwa tightly.
As the warmth enveloped her, Hong Yeonhwa’s trembling body stiffened. The spreading fear also came to a halt.
The fleeting illusion vanished in an instant. It felt like waking up from a dream.
Then a gentle hand was placed on her head, hesitantly stroking it as if feeling awkward.
As the warmth and emotions in the touch seeped into her body through her head, it felt like her body was melting.
“Ah…”
A sigh escaped her lips. The faint guilt faded away, and the overwhelming emotions that had been building up washed away.
Her wavering focus returned. Her clouded mind gradually cleared up.
Regaining her senses, she found herself holding Yi Hayul tightly, both of them breathing heavily.
Her body trembled at the breath she felt against her chest. Gently releasing her grip, Yi Hayul, who had been buried in her arms, cautiously lifted his head.
[Are you okay? Should I call Ariel Nim?]
The hologram appeared urgently. The concern was palpable.
“Um…”
So much had happened in a short span of time. Hong Yeonhwa calmly recalled the recent situation.
In short, she had almost been screwed.
She had almost been consumed by fear.
She was on the verge of being devoured by the illusions shown by fear, losing control to fear.
The outcome that followed? It was almost predictable.
Realizing this, she felt a chilling sensation run through her fingertips. She could have easily burned to death.
Swallowing her saliva, Hong Yeonhwa held Yi Hayul in her arms again to calm her mind.
As he settled into her embrace, his body, which had been cooling down, warmed up again.
“Phew…”
After holding him in her arms for a while, the dizzying aftereffects gradually subsided.
Hong Yeonhwa glanced down at her chest. Yi Hayul, who had stopped struggling and surrendered himself to her embrace, was there.
She pondered for a moment as she stroked his head.
“……”
The fear subsided once again. The flames that had been raging in all directions calmed down.
But the underlying cause remained unresolved.
The sense of trial persisted, and the guilt that almost triggered a rampage moments ago still lingered.
If left alone like this, it’s just a matter of time before the bomb explodes.
I must somehow resolve the guilt I feel from earlier.
As she made that resolution, fear washed over her. She was afraid of seeing his disappointed expression after hearing her story.
But she couldn’t just leave it alone. She had a gut feeling that this was a crucial moment.
She knew that hiding this problem from him out of fear would not lead to a good outcome.
“Hey, Hayul. I have something to tell you.”
And so, she revealed the truth.
The truth that her family was responsible for one of the two hypotheses.
She comforted Hayul, holding him close, as she revealed the truth.
“?”
Hayul tilted his head in confusion.
* * *
“…So that’s what happened.”
What is she talking about?
As Hong Yeonhwa’s long story unfolded, he found himself involuntarily nodding along.
After she finished her story, she looked at him with a tense expression, and he couldn’t understand.
He couldn’t understand the previous situation either.
She seemed happy receiving the scarf as a gift, but then suddenly seemed lost in thought, her face turning pale, and when he asked what was wrong, she seemed to choke up and almost collapse.
For a moment, he thought she had lost her mind. Seeing her lying there like a patient, he was afraid she had gone crazy.
Before calling for Erial who was outside, he rushed to her side to embrace her and, for some reason, her condition returned to normal.
He was relieved that his comforting and caressing seemed to have an effect.
As he was about to call for Erial in relief, she suddenly hugged him tightly and told him a long, serious story.
‘What is she talking about?’
It was a story that left him puzzled.
What? The scar on my arm is a mark from a demon’s attack? Or could I be a member of the demon clan?
From his perspective as someone who remembered the previous world, it was an unbelievable story, but from the perspective of Hayul in this world, it was a story he didn’t fully understand.
What is all this about?
She handed me a scarf, and now I don’t know what’s going on.
Still, there was something from the story she just told that he could understand.
For some reason, he couldn’t understand the guilt-ridden look on her face.
It seemed that she thought this scar was a wound from a demon attack, and that she had been abandoned by the clan and had a difficult life.
His head was spinning. He was also feeling dizzy.
He pushed aside those issues for now. First and foremost, he needed to calm down Hong Yeonhwa, who was so tense she looked like she might die.
‘Hmm…’
The reason why Hong Yeonhwa was so tense and overwhelmed with guilt right now…
It was all too complicated.
He tapped his smartwatch.
[Even though I don’t fully understand, can I ask a few questions?]
“Sure. Ask me anything.”
Hong Yeonhwa replied, swallowing her saliva.
He nodded and projected the hologram once again.
[Is the scar on my arm from a demon attack?]
“…Yes, it’s definitely from a demon. I’m sure of it.”
[Did Hong Yeonhwa hurt me?]
“…No.”
[Did Hong Yeonhwa intend to harm me maliciously?]
“No…! Absolutely not…!”
[Then it’s okay.]
“…Huh?”
End of the Q&A.
As the questions stopped, Hong Yeonhwa’s tense expression softened. A rare expression crossed her face, and she let out a small chuckle.
“…No, it’s not that simple. This is…”
Hong Yeonhwa hesitated, trying to continue speaking.
Feeling annoyed, he took matters into his own hands and hugged Hong Yeonhwa tightly. Her body stiffened.
‘…Phew.’
Being sober and holding someone close feels almost like a first, and it’s truly embarrassing.
But it seems like this is the only way to stop Hong Yeonhwa’s words right now.
Suppressing my embarrassment, I buried my face in her chest.
As the warm sensation enveloped my body, a fuzzy feeling arose.
“Uh…”
Hong Yeonhwa, who I could sense spatially, seemed puzzled as if she couldn’t understand.
Even as she pulled me into a hug with a vacant expression, she mumbled in confusion, not comprehending.
Her complexion didn’t look good, still filled with guilt.
‘Hmm…’
After pulling away from the comforting embrace, I tapped on my smartwatch.
[There’s nothing wrong with Hong Yeonhwa, so it’s okay]
Telling me to hold her arm? Hong Yeonhwa herself wasn’t involved in that incident.
Is it a family matter? I didn’t want to dwell on it too deeply.
[If you still feel sorry, can you do me a favor?]
“Sure. Just tell me what you need.”
Staring blankly at the hologram, Hong Yeonhwa finally nodded stiffly in response to my last plea.
[Please don’t get hurt]
“…What?”
She looked dumbfounded again at my request.
This plea is sincere.
Feeling heavy-hearted at the thought of Hong Yeonhwa being hurt all along, my heart ached.
When her face turned pale just now, and her breath caught in her throat, my mind went blank.
Feeling the guilt-ridden expression on her face, my heart ached even more.
I firmly shook my head.
[I won’t entertain any objections. As the victim, I’m asking you, the perpetrator, to fulfill my request.]
Refusing to listen to any more objections, I buried my face in her chest.
Thankfully, she seemed to understand now, and Hong Yeonhwa gently stroked my head with a complex expression. In one of her hands, she held a red scarf.
Alright. I held onto her loosening face.
I wanted to run away in embarrassment, but I couldn’t escape because I needed the excuse of feeling emotionally stable when she hugged me.
‘…Hong Yeonhwa did nothing wrong…’
Enjoying the silent touch, I recalled the answer I had just given.
Did Hong Yeonhwa hurt me? Did she torment me with malice?
‘It doesn’t matter.’
It was an unimportant question and answer.
Even if Hong Yeonhwa had hurt me in the past, even if she were the one who scarred my hand,
even if she had tormented and persecuted me with malice,
if the emotions she was showing me right now were genuine, then it was okay.
I could forgive her completely. No, the past didn’t matter that much.
What mattered was whether she was showing affection to me at this moment.
Nothing else was really important.
To me, the touch at this moment was a precious sensation I had longed for since childhood.
I could forgive any past mistakes if it meant feeling this cherished touch.
Especially if it was a mistake only affecting me, not others.
Thinking this, I delved deeper into her embrace.
Perhaps due to the scarf preventing me from sleeping properly, my consciousness gradually faded.
‘I’m so tired…’
Between expecting a response from the scarf, calming Hong Yeonhwa’s sudden outburst, and listening to the sudden revelation of her birth secret, my mind was too exhausted.
I didn’t resist it, and my consciousness faded away.
* * *
[Player Adjustment System: Measurement]
▶Stats
…
▶Unique Abilities
…
▶Mental State
“Affection Deficiency”: Desperately thirsty for affection. The severity is extreme.
…
[Player Adjustment System: Affection]
Lee Hayul → Hong Yeonhwa
●●●●●●●●○○(83▷84/100)
“?” “Guilt” “Apology” “Gratitude” “Worry”
[You have not met the condition to lift the “Curse of Silence”]
[The requirements for “Curse of Silence” were not met]
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