episode_0148

47. The peace that came after the tower disappeared (3)

A familiar back view appears as you hold his hand and ride on Cerberus’s back to arrive at the front of the settlement.

” Araya! ”

” Huh? Sister…? Whoa! What the heck is this dog…! ”

She turned around to look at me when I suddenly called her name. She was startled by the large dog that suddenly appeared and fell backwards as she looked at us.

I got off Cerberus’s back and approached her, offering her my hand.

” Sorry, are you surprised? ”

” Yes? Oh, a little. More importantly, Unnie… You’ve changed a lot? You’ve grown taller, your hair has gotten longer, and… ”

I could feel his gaze slowly moving down my face and stopping in one place.

” I guess Hyunseok oppa loves you a lot? ”

” Ugh… You say that too…? ”

” Hehe, more than that, this puppy is my sister’s… ”

” Yeah, I guess you could say my summoner… ”

” Can I touch it? ”

” Yes, of course. ”

After my permission was granted, Ara slowly approached Cerberus and stroked his head, and then she began to cling closer to Celebos’ body.

” What is this… It’s too soft… ”

” Are you feeling well? ”

” Yes! ”

” So, when you return to Mokdong later, take Cerberus with you. ”

” Yes? Why? ”

Ara, surprised by my sudden request to take Cerberus with her, shook her head as if she didn’t understand.

” Well, let’s talk about that first… Let’s go in. By the way, you didn’t come with the old man, did you come alone? ”

” Ah, that’s it. ”

” Ara noona~! ”

A familiar voice suddenly comes from behind.

Pedro, whom I had met at Seonyudo, was there.

” Pedro…? ”

Hyunseok also saw him suddenly appear and approached him, and Pedro also found him.

” Hyunseok hyung? Wow~ It’s been a while! How have you been? And… uh…? Are you Charlotte noona’s… family member? ”

” Hi, Pedro. Long time no see? ”

” Yes…? Have you met me before? ”

When Ara approached Pedro, who thought of her as family after seeing her grown-up self, and whispered to him,

” Huh…? Really?! That’s ridiculous… Of course it is… My sister Charlotte was a little girl who was about the same height as me… ”

” Hey. Who the hell are you kid! ”

” Wow… You’ve really changed a lot. I was surprised to hear that you were dating Hyunseok hyung, but this is even more surprising. ”

” What, you… know? ”

“Yes, Hyunseok hyung told me. ”

When I turned my head to look at Hyunseok at those words, there he was, coughing in vain and avoiding my gaze.

‘Ah~ Now that I think about it, you said you were jealous of Pedro, right?’

A playful spirit came over me as I recalled the story of how I had been jealous of a guy much younger than me.

I slowly approached him

” Did you brag to a kid much younger than you that I was yours? ”

As I whispered that, he covered his face with both hands and sat down with a red face.

‘Isn’t it true that you’re secretly cute?’

When Ara and Pedro saw him suddenly collapse, they asked what was wrong, but he waved his hand and said it was nothing, then came over to me.

” Why? What do you have to say? ”

He came closer to me slowly and whispered.

” Tonight… I won’t let you off easy because it’s your first time… Be prepared…! ”

With those words, as a sentence for me tonight, I… stop…

” Hehe… Yes…♡ I’ll be waiting for you… ”

We forgot that there was a group of people watching us from behind…

After that, I returned to the two of them in Hyunseok’s arms, and strangely enough, the two of them were holding hands.

When I asked about it while catching my breath, the two of them covered their mouths in embarrassment and spoke in small voices.

” We also… started dating… ”

” Yeah, it’s been exactly a month now. ”

Surprised by those words, Hyunseok and I looked at each other and congratulated them both.

While we were talking about this and that, we heard news that a memorial service was starting, so we headed there.

*****

A memorial service with many people participating.

Among them, Ji-seong Oppa started talking.

The story begins with a story about Choi Si-woo, who suddenly left his post and took over the body of his friend Choi Young-wol, the leader of the reconnaissance team.

The sight of my brother bowing his head and shedding tears as he apologized to the people on the reconnaissance team who had to leave because of him.

People either cried or just watched quietly at the sight.

In fact, there were instances where the bereaved families and acquaintances of the dead reconnaissance team demanded the truth.

Whether they are really dead or whether we are lying.

At first, I couldn’t refute it, so I just asked her to believe me, but someone who was close to my sister found photos of the body and recordings about Choi Si-woo collected through my sister’s device.

We just showed it to them…

Only then did they become convinced and burst into tears.

When I think about it… I guess I was stupid too. I shouldn’t have just burned their bodies and cremated them there…

But at that time… I thought that was the best way to honor them.

” Charlotte…? ”

” Oh, sorry. Did it hurt? ”

I clench my fist at my own foolishness, forgetting that I was holding his hand. It seems that I was squeezing his hand so hard.

” No, at the time, we all thought it was the best. Don’t blame yourself too much. ”

” Yeah. Thanks. ”

Now, he is by my side, comforting me like this, as if he knows what I’m thinking without me having to say anything.

As I leaned against him, feeling the warmth from his hand that I was holding, after my brother finished his speech, we stood up and left.

Because it was getting a little awkward to be there any longer.

*****

After leaving the memorial hall, we headed to the place where the conquest of Namsan Tower was to begin a few days later.

Since this was a space that had been prepared since last week, there were already quite a few people gathered and some people had even set up shops.

When I asked them why they opened so early while they were working, they said this.

‘Since the world became like this, there hasn’t been much to celebrate. That’s why everyone is preparing for this festival, right?’

‘ Right, so if people who have some cooking experience get together and prepare in advance and open a store, we can start off more energetically, right? ‘

There were even cases where so many people came early to open shops or promote products made in their own settlements.

In particular, the people from Nodeul Island were always busy selling the liquor they made there, which was quite popular.

” Okay, then should we sit here too? ”

After my words, the group sat down and each person brought out the food they wanted.

” Okay, let’s celebrate in advance and have a toast! ”

“”” Cheers~! “”◦”

It was still a time when the sun had not yet set completely, but how about it? Just enjoying it like this was quite romantic.

We ate food, drank alcohol, and talked a lot with each other.

” So… that dog… no, Cerberus, you said? Why are you leaving that kid with me? ”

” Oh, that’s it…? ”

Ara asked me if I remembered what I had said earlier, and I told her why.

” You don’t know where Mr. Doosik is right now, right? And there’s no one stronger than you in Mokdong. ”

” That’s… right. ”

” That’s why I’m telling you to take Cerberus. I don’t know when they’ll move, but they’re pretty strong. ”

” Sister Charlotte. If it’s the guys… then… ”

When Pedro hears the word ‘guys’ while eating pizza, he reacts

” Yeah, I told you guys, too, right? About the Obelisk, the religious group that worships the tower. They’re about to… move.

Ara, you especially, will know very well. The power they use… ”

” That weird… pill, you mean? Han Jin-oh, like that guy… ”

” Ah! The person who turned into that devil? ”

As Pedro agreed with Ara’s words, I nodded and continued.

” You’ve probably heard what happened in Garam, but those guys don’t care about the means to achieve their goals. So at least for safety… ”

” You want me to take Cerberus and protect the people? ”

” Yeah. Of course, if they move, I’ll quickly go to where you are and help you, but just in case. ”

” Okay. I’ll tell Dad in advance. ”

” Thank you. And one more thing… Ara, I have something to tell you. ”

” Story…? What is it? ”

At my suddenly serious expression, Ara gulped and held the chopsticks in her hand tightly.

I took a deep breath and opened my mouth, hoping she wouldn’t be too shocked.

” That… Mr. Dosik’s daughter, Ling? That girl… seems to be alive. ”

” What…? ”

At those words, the chopsticks that Ara had been holding tightly fell to the floor, making a refreshing metallic sound.

” Hey, wait a minute! Sister… What are you talking about…! Yeong-i…! ”

” I found out a while ago. It seems like that kid had already awakened his powers a long time ago. Oh Hyuk-jin noticed that and planned it.

Perhaps, Mr. Doosik was captured by that person. With the key to wake up Yeong-i. ”

When I finished speaking, Ara lowered her head as if she couldn’t believe it, and Pedro held her hand and tried to comfort her.

After some time, Ara asked me.

” I know that Yeong-i is alive and that the old man was taken away. So what do they want…? Why on earth… with… that kid…! ”

” That’s… I guess it’s quicker to see than to hear. ”

With a snap of the fingers, we found ourselves in a place filled with people and surrounded by a pure white space.

” Sister…? “/ ” Sister… What is this…?! ”

Ara and Pedro looked at me, speechless at the sudden change in scenery, and I opened my eyes and showed them my power…

Wings spread from my back, creating a blinding halo as brilliant sparks floated around us.

[ I’m… no longer human. Um… let’s say I became a god? ]

” God…? ”

Ara looked at me with her eyes wide open and her mouth shut, and Pedro, with difficulty, opened his mouth to ask me.

[ Yeah. And… there was someone who didn’t want me to become a god. Thanatos, the goddess of death. She’s the mastermind behind all this. ]

So I told them the story of Thanatos and the gods.

Why did she, who regarded the goddess Gaia as her mother, try to destroy the world, and why did she borrow her power to attack Oh Hyuk-jin, who had a similar goal?

After finishing the story, I flicked my hand back and returned to the space I was in, and the two just looked at me in silence.

As time passed, it was not Pedro but Ara who opened her mouth, and there was anger in her voice.

” Haa, these guys are really crazy. How can they… even though they know the sadness of losing someone precious…! ”

Everyone’s attention was focused on Ara’s action of hitting the table with a ‘thud! ‘, and only after Hyunseok and Pedro said that it was nothing, did they stop looking at us.

” Sister. Are you asking me to take care of Cerberus? ”

” Yeah, if you don’t like it, it’s okay to refuse. ”

” No. Instead… Sister, please grant me one favor. ”

After finishing the story and eating, Ara left with Pedro, saying she had something to think about.

All that’s left is me and him, slowly sipping our drinks.

” Was it right to… tell the story? ”

Putting down the glass I had been drinking, I said to Ara a little while ago, ‘Ho-ryeong,’ the daughter of Mr. Do-sik.

Let me tell you whether talking about that kid was the right choice.

” I… Charlotte. I think your choice was the right one. It wasn’t something to hide anyway, and Ara would have asked you to do it, right? ”

” That’s… yeah. Phew… I’m tired… ”

As soon as I felt tired, I suddenly started feeling drunk.

After my close friend left and I told him the story I had been keeping in my heart, I felt an emptiness.

How can I fill this emptiness?

As I looked at him with that thought in mind, I saw him drinking and watching people passing by.

The moving throat with every swallow of alcohol. The large, long hand holding the glass. And the solid muscles visible through the open shirt.

When I saw him, I decided what to fill this emptiness with.

” You know… ”

” Huh? ”

” We… want to have one more drink? Just the two of us… ”

In response to my words, he bought drinks and snacks without saying a word and grabbed my arm.

As I was led by his thick arms, my heart began to beat rapidly, as if I was nervous about what was to come… with him.

He doesn’t know, but… while I was being dragged by him, my underwear… was slowly getting wet.

Now, finally… I can eat what I want. From that place in my lower stomach… it sent me a signal saying, ‘Kook.’

*****

Tonight.

I’m completely his woman.

Putting an end to my past as a man and opening a new page as his lover.