episode_0112

As it was a gathering in preparation for the end of the year, the original plan was to watch TV together and do a countdown to the New Year.

Due to this, despite the chaos last night, none of the three people went back to their accommodations.

Instead.

“This year, no more sex.”

Lina declared, drawing a line in the sand.

To the dismay of Yujoo and Dakota, they both reluctantly agreed.

“We were caught having sex in a public place, so I think we should pay for our dinner as punishment for public indecency.”

“That’s a fair point.”

These crazy girls. Why are they calling this a public place? This is our house.

“All three of us are in a lonely position, and on top of that, we spent a lonely end of the year together, so I think we should all pay for the drinks as punishment for being annoying.”

“It’s a well-deserved point.”

These people are really…

“Hey, stop teasing!”

In the end, despite Lager’s growling, Lina raised her spirits even more by teasing him playfully.

“Wow! The man who respects his juniors is so cool!”

“The feeling of respecting your juniors is really refreshing!”

“Where are our juniors…”

“Ugh, seriously!”

While Lager was still trying to figure out what was going on, Dakota, not wanting the mood to drop, continued to playfully tease Lager and Yujoo.

“These kids are asking for it!”

And finally, Lager exploded, not eating his ramen and instead storming out of the room.

Less than a minute later, after hearing complaints from the downstairs residents about the noise, the commotion calmed down.

“Please be careful.”

“Sorry…”

Lina and Yujoo exchanged glances as they watched Lager bow his head repeatedly.

These troublemakers, they’re really out of control.

As they continued to banter back and forth, time passed, and it was evening.

*

To celebrate the last night of the year and the first night of the new year that would soon arrive, they decided to have champagne for today’s drinks.

Of course, the snacks were cake.

I thought it would be heavy, but I didn’t know that cake and champagne would go so well together.

“If this wasn’t a home, I would shake the champagne and pop it, you both are lucky.”

“Too bad!”

“Champagne is like a soft drink, it’s great, right?”

Dakota, the alcohol trash, was already giggling after a few glasses of champagne.

This guy is really something.

Taking a deep breath, they took him out to the terrace a few times to get some fresh air.

But celebrating the New Year with a hangover is not ideal.

“It’s almost New Year now.”

After pouring a second glass of champagne, Lager asked a sudden question as he poured for Lina and Yujoo.

“By any chance, do you all have New Year’s wishes?”

Deciding to ask Dakota later, who was giggling, Lager realized that the word “wish” had a different meaning for all of them, given their unique circumstances.

Lina, being a deity, would probably not make wishes but receive them.

Yujoo and I, having suddenly become characters and fallen into a strange world.

As for Lager…

“Lager, do you have any New Year’s goals or wishes?”

After pondering for a moment, Lager awkwardly scratched the back of his head and smiled.

“I haven’t thought about it.”

“What if you welcome a new 365 days without any goals? Think about it quickly.”

Becoming the natural talk show host, I was about to ask Lina first… but she surprised me by answering right away.

“I have a wish!”

“Really?”

“Why, can’t I have a wish?”

Are you just playing around with a high concept, or have you really forgotten that you’re a god?

“Who are you going to make a wish to?”

So I asked in a way to snap her out of it, but surprisingly, Lina responded quite seriously.

“Well, if you want to be specific, it’s more of a goal than a wish.”

“Hmm. What is it?”

Listening to this, I became quite curious.

With a faint smile, Lina revealed her New Year’s goal, rather than a wish.

“Next year around this time, the five of us will gather safely again.”

The goal she mentioned was more profound than I expected.

But before I could be surprised,

“Oh, count me in too! How fascinating.”

Yuju also chimed in.

With a puzzled mind, I took a sip of champagne and asked Yuju.

“Why did you make such a wish?”

Yuju hesitated for a moment, furrowing her brows, then smiled brightly after organizing her thoughts in her mind.

“In this world, we never know when we’ll die.”

Her words slightly dampened the mood.

Ah, that’s right.

To put it bluntly, there might be a call to action signal while counting down the New Year.

It was a world where it wouldn’t be strange if our last moments were seeing each other.

The monsters are getting stronger.

Even humanoid monsters invade much more frequently than before.

When I think about it, there are too many moments where our lives are at stake.

Will we really be able to meet safely again around this time next year?

“…We have to make it happen.”

I made a determined statement and downed the champagne. When I handed the glass to Lager, she filled it with champagne with a subtle expression.

What is she thinking?

Is it a pessimistic view like not knowing when she’ll die, like the others?

Or is it self-blame for creating a world like this that makes the future uncertain?

It doesn’t matter.

Because I’ll make everything meaningless.

“We will definitely meet like this again next year.”

We will gather to drink together next year as well.

Lager and I will be slightly open the door and playfully tease each other in the room.

Lina and Yuju will use the incident the next day as material to attack with much sharper wit for a year, and Dakota will remain clueless for another year, not understanding what conversation is unfolding.

It’s ridiculous.

But I will make sure no one is left out in the ridiculous scenery of next year.

“I will protect everyone without missing a single person.”

It was sincere.

I was confident.

I am strong enough now. I can defeat any humanoid monster that comes my way.

…If only I could fill up to 10,000 points by the end of next year.

At that moment when I was starting to feel a little melancholic with that thought,

“My wish is different.”

Lager pointed to the TV and said that.

The TV was showing the New Year’s countdown.

“Wow!”

“There’s not much time left. Get up quickly, Kale!”

Lina shouted excitedly and counted down, while Yuju shook Dakota to make sure she welcomed the New Year with a clear mind.

10.

9.

8.

However, my attention was elsewhere amidst the noise.

“What is your wish?”

Lager’s expression seemed uneasy, as if there was something more important than welcoming the New Year.

Her smile had a hint of bitterness.

7.

6.

5.

4.

“My wish is…”

3.

2.

1.

“Happy New Year!”

“Wow!”

“Chub, huh? Happy?!”

Fireworks exploded on the TV.

In various houses, the atmosphere was filled with loud noises celebrating the New Year.

Amidst the festive mood, the three of us took advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention to us.

Lager hugged me tightly.

He whispered, “My wish is for you to live, even if it’s just you.”

What did that mean?

Without giving me a chance to respond, Lager quickly put down his glass and cheered. As if determined not to leave any room for doubt, he danced joyfully, seemingly not caring about the noise between floors.

I never found out the true meaning behind Lager’s words.

I asked him once more before going to bed, but he didn’t answer.

And so, with a sense of foreboding, we welcomed the New Year.