episode_0287

“Huh?”

Sagak-.

Eunha turned her head at the sound of footsteps coming from somewhere.

‘I just saw… something black.’

On the roof of a gray-white abandoned building, a ‘mouse’ can be seen sitting in an awkward position.

She was touching her left calf with a displeased expression, but then she noticed Eunha’s gaze and started wagging her tail.

It’s like waking up from a nightmare.

Did I encounter a monster while everyone else was looking away?

Eunha, who had been rummaging through the gray-white ruins, shook off her dirty palms and walked under the roof.

His long tail swoops down and wraps itself around her waist in greeting.

Slurp.

“Oops…”

The ‘mouse’s’ tail wrapped around his waist pulls the galaxy up onto the roof.

That tail is surprisingly strong.

If you cut it off, it will wiggle like a lizard’s tail.

Po-ok.

A ‘mouse’ who caught a galaxy like a fish in a stream and sat it on his thigh.

The tip of the tail wrapped around the waist flutters, tickling the galaxy.

“Mr. Mouse?”

“Can I stay like this for a little while?”

I saw something.

Eunha, who was suddenly in the arms of the ‘mouse’, looked at her quietly.

It seemed as if I could hear the pounding of my heart against the soft surface of the ‘mouse’s’ chest.

A situation where you suddenly sit on someone else’s thigh.

It’s not bad. As long as it doesn’t hurt, everything is fine.

“I just turned my head and looked like I was looking for someone. What’s going on? Is Team Leader Banharin acting crazy again?”

“Just a little bit. But wasn’t there someone next to you? A girl in a black dress.”

The shoulders of the ‘mouse’, which flinched at the galaxy’s question, say yes.

Until just now, [Bug Princess] was next to ‘Mouse’.

Since ‘Fly’ is here too, it’s kind of natural.

If you turn your head absentmindedly, the scenery of the dead, gray-white ‘kingdom’ spreads out like a gray-white canvas.

[Goryongsan Crack Field] seen from the roof is cold white.

[Bug Princess] climbed up to the roof and what did she see?

“I saw you and Team Leader Banharin. Do you know each other?”

“Our pumpkin bee protector.”

“I see… Since I’m back home, tell them I’m going back home first.”

“Home?”

‘Mouse’ relayed to Eunha what he had heard.

Eunha turns her head at the word home and looks at the abandoned castle in the distance.

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

‘The Bug’ came to live in the princess’ magnificent castle.

One day, one week, one month, one year…

The music resonating from the princess’ castle never stopped for a single day, and as the seasons changed several times, the ‘two’ melodies came together in harmony to blend into the lives of the people.

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

Recall the story.

The story of the black bug.

Playing music with a mischievous princess in a beautiful castle,

The story of how the people of the kingdom came one by one to learn how to play, and the dull kingdom was filled with colorful music.

But in the end, the last princess of the kingdom died,

The ‘black bug’ played music in the guise of a princess.

At the end of the recurring winter, all the people lay down on the ground…

It was a story about a lying bug.

“… … .”

Eunha touched the corners of her swollen lips.

One day, beautiful melodies flowed out harmoniously,

Now I look at the ruins, covered with gray-white weeds.

If I go there, will I be able to meet [Bug Princess]?

What are you thinking about now?

Are you waiting for yourself?

I don’t know.

You’ll know when you go there.

“Ms. Galaxy. Let’s stop rubbing the ‘mouse’ with milk and go.”

Banharin, who came up to the roof, looks up at Eunha, who is being held by the ‘mouse’, with a displeased look.

Galaxy, who came to her senses with a start, turns her gaze and meets the eyes of the ‘mouse’ whose face is flushed red.

“… Could you please speak a little less crudely?”

“Malangkaw, you don’t know that your own body is dirty and think that you’ll be okay if you just purify other people’s words. I recommend that you come down from the roof and stop making things difficult for our ‘mouse’ team members.”

Is that so, it’s difficult?

To tell the truth, it was the ‘mouse’ who was so surprised by the [Bug Princess] that he caught the galaxy with his tail, but he didn’t bother making excuses.

Eunha put her hand on the ‘mouse’s’ chest to make sure she was calm enough.

… … Is it because of the mood that the ‘mouse’s’ heart is beating faster and faster?

Hot and spicy!

Nearby, a squash bee, ‘Fly’, clung to Kim Sa-rang’s face like an alien monster from a science fiction movie and groped her head.

Kim Sa-rang, who was attacked by pumpkin bees, stands with her arms crossed like a statue.

What the heck is that?

“Why is it being eaten there?”

“They say that cats with higher ranks lick those with lower ranks.”

“I see.”

“On the other hand, it is said that rabbits with lower ranks lick those with higher ranks.”

“… … So?”

“Cats and rabbits seem to get along surprisingly well when kept together.”

I don’t know what you’re talking about.

I guess it basically means that our ‘Fly’ is amazing.

Eunha, looking down at the pumpkin bee’s plump butt swaying gently, burst into laughter.

… … .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was a bit of a commotion.

It’s time to get moving again.

Slurp.

Galaxy came down from the roof with the help of the ‘mouse’ who couldn’t stand the pounding heart.

Has the fear of meeting the monster subsided now?

Galaxy gently stroked the tail of the ‘mouse’ that was hanging down from the roof, and she held hands with ‘Fly’ who ran towards her and walked between the collapsed buildings.

‘Something… It’s nothing special considering we entered the [Crack Field]. I don’t see any monsters, and there aren’t any battles to speak of.’

Perhaps because of the monsters, I haven’t seen a single trace of a monster since arriving at the ‘Ruins’.

A gray and lifeless world.

Eunha looked around the dry [Goryongsan Crack Field].

“Because the purpose is hunting, not fighting.”

“Mr. Banharin.”

“Safely collecting magic stones is what a hunter must do in [Rift Field]… It is no wonder that Eunha, who dreams of becoming a hunter, is disappointed.”

hunt.

The task is to hunt a moderate amount of monsters, collect a moderate amount of magic stones, and return safely.

Eunha, who was chewing on the word ‘hunter’, touches the corners of her lips.

I felt the same thing at [Cheorwon Crack Field] and [Mirinae Crack Field] that I went to last time.

Something… is not what I expected.

It might be a little different if it were [Changcheon Swordsman] who ‘battled’ monsters on the northern border.

‘Um… I don’t know. Thinking about it makes my head hurt, so for now, let’s focus on [Bug Princess] who went to the castle.’

I thought positively.

Whatever it is, as long as it’s safe, it’s good.

Now all that’s left is to go to the ‘abandoned castle’ that can be seen in the distance.

There is also a pumpkin bee ‘Fly’ next to me, so I will comfortably storm into the castle, lift up [Bug Princess]’s skirt, and go home.

Hot and sour.

“Yeah, ‘Fly’. Should we go see Mom?”

Warm?

“Not me, the other mother… No, if I say that, it’ll sound weird.”

The dead kingdom is gray and white.

Eunha passed the deserted ruins and headed towards the castle.

“You’re ahead again. I don’t know where the monsters are hiding, but I’m relying on my resilience to push my body in first… Music?”

ㅡㅡㅡ♪

ㅡㅡㅡㅡ♬ ㅡㅡㅡ♩ ㅡ♪

And then,

As Banharin started walking, following Eunha who was smiling like a mischievous child.

The sound of a violin was heard from somewhere.

… … .

… … .

ㅡㅡㅡ♪

ㅡㅡㅡㅡ♬ ㅡㅡㅡ♩ ㅡ♪

Once upon a time,

A story that has already come to an end,

​

Little memories.

… … .

This is a world where music flows.

A tiny kingdom where a black ‘bug’ and a mischievous princess who loves to play live.

​

​

“… … That’s too bad.”

​

​

As every story has an end,

The kingdom of ‘you’ also sang its last.

​

​

“Just a little more… I wanted to be with you.”

​

​

Where did it go wrong?

I don’t know.

​

Because it’s a story that’s already over.

Because only forgetting remains.

​

​

Just then, the last princess died,

He just smiled like a mischievous child.

ㅡㅡㅡ♪

ㅡㅡㅡㅡ♬ ㅡㅡㅡ♩ ㅡ♪

『… … Yeah. That’s right.』

Sagak-.

The sound of insect footsteps.

A fleeting memory returned to reality.

The ‘black bug’ that had separated from the galaxy returned to the castle.

The ruins that remain alone are grayish white.

‘That thing’, which was comparing its own memories with the ‘abandoned castle’ in front of its eyes, twisted the corners of its mouth with a lonely smile.

Similar but different.

This is not ‘our’ kingdom.

Like a miniature that someone had deliberately put together,

It’s just a shabby set created by pent-up regret.

『… … .』

The ‘black bug’ looked out the window.

Hundreds of meters above, a giant ‘crack’ is visible, scattering blue mana.

A grudge that reaches the sky.

The ‘crack’ in my heart has been attached to the sky.

The ‘crack’ in the sky colored a handful of the world with memories.

『But… in the end, it’s fake, so I just end up regretting it.』

And yet, even though the resentment reached the heavens,

Even the resentment that could create a ‘crack’ in the world could not turn back the past.

『… … .』

But, the bug thought.

But still.

Even though this is a false world created by one’s own resentment,

『If it’s here… will ‘my’ performance reach ‘you’?』

Send a handful of wishes high into the sky.

Sagak-.

The ‘black bug’ moved his hand.

A lace parasol that covers both eyes.

Fold it neatly and drape it over your shoulder like a violin.

Parallel…

The insects that make up the mass are moving.

Braid the strings with carefully pulled spider webs,

It was a tiny violin that was just right for the girl.

This is the violin I once played with ‘you’.

“I hope it reaches you.”

What comes to mind is the mischievous smile of the mischievous princess.

And, the galaxy’s languid smile.

Whose smile is it that I want to reach now?

‘The Black Bug’ thought either way was fine.

Sagak-.

Please, my musician,

Your kingdom is disappearing,

​

I hope that it will touch someone’s fingertips and continue on forever.

ㅡㅡㅡ♪

ㅡㅡㅡㅡ♬ ㅡㅡㅡ♩ ㅡ♪

​

​

The performance continues.

​

As time passed, winter came,

Even if everyone lies down and is buried in the cold snowflakes.

ㅡㅡㅡ♪

ㅡㅡㅡㅡ♬ ㅡㅡㅡ♩ ㅡ♪

like that,

In the quiet [Crack Field], the music of ‘Black Bug’ begins to be heard.

… … .

… … .

ㅡㅡㅡ♪

ㅡㅡㅡㅡ♬ ㅡㅡㅡ♩ ㅡ♪

It was a lonely performance.

A violin played by a beggar in the cold winter.

A sound heard somewhere resonates not in the eardrums but in the heart.

Sabak…

Eunha stopped walking and listened at the sound she heard.

ㅡㅡㅡㅡ♬ ㅡㅡㅡ♩ ㅡ♪

The sound of the violin was coming from the ‘abandoned castle’ located in the distance.

‘… … [Bug Princess]?’

Pararararak…!

Immediately afterwards, the sound of numerous flapping wings is heard.

Large ‘bug monsters’ rose up from all over the shabby ruins.

Pararararak…

It was a bug with only a shell.

It resembles the shell discarded by a cicada after it has molted.

A monster with an empty body.

Those with their sharp forelegs raised block the path to the castle like ants guided by pheromones.

“[Shell bug]. Its body is made of only shell, and its joints are weak and tough like leather armor. ”

“It’s arthritis.”

“It is important to remove the limbs to incapacitate it, as it will continue to move unless the magic stone is removed. Have you ever built a Lego?”

“When you say that, the monsters start to look insignificant.”

Parallax….

The backs of the ‘shell worms’ are spread out vertically.

There was nothing inside.

ㅡㅡㅡ♪

ㅡㅡㅡㅡ♬ ㅡㅡㅡ♩ ㅡ♪

Parallel…

The flapping of wings, which are nothing but shells, harmonizes with the sound of the violin.

“Tsk… Eunha. There are a lot of them. For now, let’s get out of here…”

“They’re going back without me.』

“Galaxy?”

I quietly look around the dead, gray-white ‘kingdom’.

Eunha was watching the [shell worms] blocking the road.

She looked down at the pumpkin bee holding her hand, drawing her usual languid smile.

Hot and spicy!

A girl with pursed lips.

‘Fly’ looked up at the galaxy, pointing with his finger at the abandoned castle where [Bug Princess] was.

That was enough.

For a reason worth risking one’s life for, this is enough.

It’s okay, I’m not dead.

“I decided to go see my baby and mom. I’ll go alone, so don’t worry and wait.”

“That’s what you’re talking about…”

Banharin looked back at the galaxy.

Her eyes were not visible, hidden by her sunset-colored hair.

He just laughs like a kid at the sound of the violin and takes out a flute from the carrier on his back.

A flute made from the bones of ‘something’ is held in Eunha’s hand.

“And… I have to go tell them that I definitely got there.”

It’s a galaxy, but it doesn’t seem like a galaxy.

A strange eerieness.

The worries were short.

Banharin, who had her arms covered in goosebumps, touched the ‘inverted cross hairpin’ on her bangs.

“… … Galaxy. Do you know that? ”

“What is it?”

“Me and ‘Mouse’ will die before Eunha.”

Phagec!

A bright yellow lightning bolt leaping up.

[Observation] She uses the skill and walks forward with her eyes turning golden.

Sreung-.

[Bark bugs] blocking the road.

She opened her mouth with a blank expression as she swung her long cleaver lightly to catch the sensation.

“I’ll just open the road. You figure out the rest.”

“…thank you.”

“What will you do, Kim Sa-rang?”

“Hmm. I say that my sword desires blood.”

Kim Sa-rang, whose hands had been itching since a while ago at the appearance of the group of monsters, also couldn’t hide her smirk and pulled out her beloved sword.

The ‘inverted cross keychain’ attached to the handle of the longsword swings happily.

“[Bark bugs] don’t bleed.”

“… … Once you draw your sword, you can cut anything.”

『… … .』

How did it come to this?

I was planning to go alone… but it wasn’t such a bad feeling.

Eunha hugged ‘Fly’ and used ‘Body Strengthening’.

Immediate goal.

An abandoned castle where [the bug princess] resides.

Following the flowing sound of the violin,

I’m going to let you know that your music has reached me.

The way you do things is similar to the [Red Woman] who asked me to date you… Is that a job offer?

Eunha thought positively.

Do you think we can let go of our grudge and let him become a Buddha? Leaving our little pumpkin bee alone?

No. I’ll hold onto your skirt and live with you for the rest of my life.

“‘Fly’. When you meet [Bug Princess] later, beat her up.”

Hot and spicy!

‘Fly’ nodded to Eunha’s words,

He purses his lips tightly and clenches his fist.

“Team Leader, launch pad. Ready.”

“Okay.”

Tick!!

The sound of a quickly ticking second hand.

Immediately after, the ‘Mouse’s’ [Speed Control] skill is activated,

Banharin’s body, accelerated to its limit, hit the ground.

Kwaaang!

The limbs of the insect-like creature, which was nothing but a shell, flew into the sky.

Eunha ran down the open road, running as fast as she could towards the old castle where the sound of a violin could be heard.

… … .

… … .

ㅡㅡㅡ♪ ㅡㅡㅡㅡ♩

~~♬ ㅡㅡ♪

A beautiful strand of melody.

A lonely sound flowing in a ruined world.

Immediately afterwards,

A single, clumsy melody blends in gently.

ㅡㅡㅡ♪

ㅡㅡㅡㅡ♬ ㅡㅡㅡ♩ ㅡ♪

In the end,

Enough to forget the face of ‘you’, my only friend,

After a long time,

Our song reached you.