episode_0318

“The former owner of Saetbyeol Apartment is a sponsor…? Is that true?”

“I see.”

‘Mouse’ was listening to Kim Yu-hee’s story in the cafe lounge.

She glared at the Dark Dragons huddled together on the sofa across from her.

The previous owner of the apartment building where Eunha lives was one of the orphanage sponsors… It’s information that seems important, but also strangely bothersome.

“So, who was the previous building owner, and where is he and what is he doing now?”

“I don’t know.”

“Huh?”

“Disappeared from the world around May of this year.”

The person disappeared.

At some point, the traces suddenly stopped as if cut off with scissors.

There were too many strange aspects to justify dismissing it as a missing person incident.

“Someone disappeared. But no one cared. There was no missing person report.”

“… … .”

“Just, with one person missing, everyone was ‘normal’.”

Even as he spoke, Kim Yu-hee, the leader of the Dark Dragons, could not understand.

But what can I do? I found out that the ‘building owner’ was a sponsor by looking through the documents stolen from the [Blue Dragon Guild].

A person with enough money to build an apartment in Euncheon-gu, which is famous for its expensive land prices because of [Euncheon Academy].

Even though such a person disappeared, not a single fuss was made.

“… … Did you get attacked by a monster?”

“I think so. It seems like he went to the goal while trying to monitor the galaxy.”

The residents of ‘Saetbyeol Apartment’ are said to have moved out as a group in May.

In the end, Eunha was the only person living in Saetbyeol Apartment on paper.

If there is a problem there,

Something like how Eunha ended up moving into the apartment of the ‘orphanage sponsor’.

“I recommended ‘Satbyeol Apartment’ to Eunha.”

At that moment, behind the sofa where Kim Yu-hee was sitting,

Banharin’s expressionless face suddenly popped up and spoke.

“Tick!?”

Kim Yu-hee, who had just heard something whispered in her ear, jumped up from the sofa in surprise.

He digs his right ear hole with his finger and clings to the ‘mouse’ sitting on the sofa across from him with a face like he’s seen a ghost.

I didn’t even know it existed.

When did you come into the break room?

Boom!

The other members of the Dark Dragons seemed equally surprised. They gathered in a circle as if they were surrounding a ‘mouse’ and stretched out their necks like a pack of frightened meerkats, guarding Banharin.

“… … What is it?”

‘Mouse’, surrounded by five cat ladies, speaks with difficulty.

“I heard that outsiders have taken over the employee break room.”

“Aren’t you an outsider?”

“Anyway, it was 3 years ago.”

Banharin, who lightly ignored the nagging of the ‘mouse’, ‘observed’ the people of Amryongdae with an expressionless face.

Sagagakㅡ.

Covering her left eye is a plain black eye patch.

The surface of the eye patch swarms as if tiny insects are crawling in the eye sockets.

A moment.

Banharin, who had been ‘observing’ them, opened her mouth with relief.

“There was an order. Under the pretext of securing a stable living space for the ‘protected person’, Eunha was to be moved to ‘Saetbyeol Apartment’. ”

An order was given to [Rare Hunter Protection-Killing].

At that time, Eunha, who was an F-class hunter, was living with the rabbit girl Eunbangul.

Because of his repeated failures to get promoted, he was burdened by Eun Bangul’s endless kindness and was looking for a place to live alone.

However, the number of houses that Eunha, who was a ‘promotion test subject’ and a cafe employee, could afford was limited.

What emerged from there was the ‘Saetbyeol Apartment’ prepared by the association.

Did you say that you got the building owner’s cooperation and cut Eunha’s monthly rent by 90%?

Moreover, since it was located in Euncheon-gu, which was [Detective] Do Jong-ha’s territory, there was no need to worry about security.

In the end, Banharin recommended ‘Saebyeol Apartment’ to Eunha.

Eun-ha suspected fraud because of the unusually low monthly rent, but she trusted Banharin, who introduced her to the house, and ended up moving into the apartment.

“So, 3 years ago, there was an order to move Eunha to ‘Saebyeol Apartment’?… Why didn’t I know?”

“Because I didn’t say anything.”

“Team Leader, are you crazy?”

‘Mouse’, surrounded by warm people from Amryongdae, cursed Banharin.

Then, the Dark Dragon members curse Kim Yu-hee, saying that their leader is the same.

Is it because we share the same frustration?

The ‘Mouse’ and the women of Amryongdae exchange fists in silence.

It’s a mess.

“Hoo… So what’s the conclusion? Is it that the apartment building owner was eaten by a monster?”

After some chaos like that,

The Dark Dragon members who were surprised by Banharin’s appearance and hugged the ‘mouse’ returned to their original positions.

‘Mouse’ threw Kim Yu-hee, who was still on his lap, onto the sofa opposite him.

Hold on!

Kim Yu-hee thrown on the sofa.

She landed lightly like a cat and straightened her disheveled hair.

“Ugh…! Ahem. The owner of that building lived in room 404 of the ‘Saetbyeol Apartment’. If he had been killed by a monster, he probably wouldn’t have had time to clean up the house… There’s a high chance that there are confidential documents.”

“… … What are you planning to do?”

“It’s hairy.”

A secret operation unit of a large guild.

Kim Yu-hee, the leader of the Dark Dragons, revealed her ambitions with sparkling eyes.

“… … .”

“… … .”

Go steal.

At Saetbyeol Apartment.

Don’t you want to live?

“Our captain is sorry. It’s just a joke, so don’t pay attention to it.”

Thump thump!

Soon, the Dark Dragon members next to her surrounded Kim Yu-hee.

Thump thump!

There was a brief grumbling sound,

Soon after, the members of the Dark Dragon Corps, who had taken care of Kim Yu-hee, bowed their heads and left the break room.

“… … Team Leader Banharin.”

“I’m listening.”

“When the people of Amryongdae were grumbling about Kim Yu-hee just now, why did you hit them too?”

“I couldn’t stand it.”

The sound of receding footsteps brushes my eardrums.

As the noise of people politely greeting each other and leaving the cafe died down.

The ‘mouse’ left in the break room twitched its thin tail.

Banharin, who was ‘observing’ her, habitually wipes her face.

“… Mouse. Let’s keep the matter of Room 404 a secret from Eunha. Even if we tell her, she’ll knock on the door of Room 404, saying that it’s something only she can do. ”

“Do you think that would be good?”

In times like these, the heart is right.

Is it because our hearts towards the galaxy are similar?

As if she had finished saying everything she wanted to say, Banharin straightened the uniform of the ‘mouse’ cafe and left the break room.

… … .

The ‘mouse’ left alone.

She couldn’t tell.

This time, the only people who visited the ‘Hanbit Orphanage’ were myself, Do Jong-ha, and the people from Amryongdae.

The fact that Banharin was naturally drawn into the story just now.

A liar who resembles a black insect.

What does she know and how much does she remember?

I don’t know.

I just hope that the person I hold in my heart is happy.

“Huh…”

The ‘mouse’ stretched out and got up from the sofa.

The warmth of the afternoon comes in through the lounge window.

The sunlight tickled my hand, and it was a time when laziness and the desire to rest for a little while raised their heads.

Flutter. Flutter.

The ‘mouse’ stroked the ‘inverted cross ring’ attached to its long tail.

‘Haa… I think I know why Eunha likes cafes.’

I thought the cafe was safe from monsters.

Thanks to this, the ‘mouse’ was also able to breathe comfortably, free from the fear of the monster.

Snap.

I looked around the break room, brushing my round, flat mouse ears.

A space where I am alone.

A sofa facing each other and a desk that Eunbangul uses when working.

Next to the only entrance, a wall is occupied by a bulletin board filled with all sorts of photographs.

‘Is that doll here too? Did Eunha leave it there?’

And, there is a ‘clay doll’ on the desk.

If it’s ordinary, it’s an ordinary scenery.

The ‘mouse’ who was patting the chubby clay doll looked at the board.

The room is filled with photos that Eunbangul has taken over the past few years.

‘The picture is… But, why are only cafes considered safe zones? Aren’t there any guides for cafes?’

‘Mouse’ examined each photo attached to the board.

The most common photo is of Eun Bang-ul and Eun Ha-na together, followed by photos of the three of them, with Ban Harin also included, filling up the board.

Other photos include pictures of pure white clouds, puddles of water, and loaded pistols…

I also see things that I don’t know why they were put on the board.

“… … Huh?”

And then, after a while.

The ‘mouse’, who was loitering around in front of the board, stopped moving after discovering a picture.

The board is covered with photos.

Among them… there is only one.

There was a picture of himself.

“… … .”

‘Mouse’ took the picture off the board.

“… … .”

I saw the picture.

A photo taken from the board.

… a photo of himself looking at the board from behind.

Thump. Thump.

The ‘mouse’ looked down at his own body.

The cafe uniform that I had no choice but to change into at Banharin’s suggestion to try working at a cafe at least once.

These are the first clothes I wore today.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

I saw the picture.

There is a picture of himself from behind wearing a cafe uniform.

“… … Why is this being recorded?”

Why. Why?

How about that?

I couldn’t understand.

Wasn’t the cafe safe?

Palang-.

At that moment, one of the photos stuck to the board fell to the floor.

The ‘mouse’, hugging its pounding heart, looked down at the fallen photo.

A photo of a bunny girl smiling brightly and puffing out her cheeks.

Why did it fall now?

‘Mouse’ reached out and picked up the picture of Eunbangul.

In one hand is a picture of a silver bell.

In the other hand, a photo of himself looking back at himself, taken from the board.

“… … .”

What does the photo on the floor mean?

In the overly quiet break room, ‘Mouse’ looked over the picture of Eunbangul.

Pure white back.

[dead]

Behind the girl’s photo there was writing written in blood.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

The sound of my heart beating uncontrollably. I want to stop it with the [Speed Control] skill.

The ‘mouse’ swallowed its saliva… and this time, turned its own photo over.

[person to die]

Handwriting written in blood.

Handwriting that imitates human beings by non-human beings.

Biting one’s lips.

I put the flipped photo back to its original state.

Checking the ‘silver bell photo’ that fell from the board,

The back of one’s own body,

It was taken at a closer point than before.

“… … .”

Right now, behind you.

What is there?

Is it a monster or something in between?

You must be wearing an ‘inverted cross ring’, why?

What should I do?

Thump. Thump.

A moment of thought.

A lot of thoughts ran through my head in a short period of time.

Crunch.

Soon, a ‘small sound of footsteps’ came from behind,

A creepy grudge comes one step closer,

“… Tsk!”

Tick!

The ‘mouse’ that used the [Speed Manipulation] skill turned its body as if trying to resist somehow.

… … .

… … .

Behind her back,

There was nothing.

“… … ?”

Pass the buck.

The ‘clay doll’ that was on the desk shattered into pieces and fell under the desk.

The ‘mouse’, exhaling pure white breath, shook its shoulders as if it had woken up from a dream.

I took a deep breath of the lukewarm autumn air into my lungs.

“What the heck… Is this cafe safe?”

The ‘mouse’ with a sad face looks down at the photo he is holding in his hand.

A photo of Eunha working at the checkout counter, smiling languidly in her hand.

A strange nightmare.

It was a dreamlike time.

… … .

… … .

Rattling!

And then, right after,

The ‘mouse’, who no longer wants to be alone in the break room, comes outside where there are people.

“Ugh…!”

Kkudangtang!

She frowned as she noticed the galaxy scurrying past her.

She covered her mouth as if she was going to vomit at any moment, fell forward into the bathroom, and locked the door.

“Unnie Galaxy?”

A ‘mouse’ looking at a tightly closed toilet.

Behind her, Eun Bang-ul, worried about Eun Ha, walks along, stumbling.

… the ‘small steps’ of the girl approaching from behind,

Somehow it doesn’t feel unfamiliar.

Choaak!

The sound of thick liquid dripping into the toilet, heard inside the bathroom.

The sound of blood pouring out as one’s insides are vomited out.

“… … .”

Click…

Like that, 3 minutes.

The locked bathroom door opened,

Eunha wipes her lips with the back of her hand and comes out of the bathroom with her usual gait.

“Whew… Sorry. I suddenly feel sick.”

“Sister Eunha. Are you okay? Do you want to go home and rest?”

“Why should I go home? A cafe is more comfortable.”

How long will the cafe remain the galaxy’s treasure trove?

I don’t know yet.

Thump. Thump.

The ‘mouse’ with its long tail wagging,

With a face that looked like it was about to cry at any moment, he hugged Eunha, who was smiling as usual.

Still a peaceful daily life.

An afternoon where a time capsule that shouldn’t have been taken out was dug up.

Please, may the peace be with you now,

I hope it lasts a little longer.

Letting go of vain hopes.

… … .

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

“Phew…… I almost got in big trouble earlier.”

“I wish I could suffer the misfortune of others instead.”

Time goes by.

8pm.

After finishing at the cafe, I returned to my apartment.

“The saint really likes that. Didn’t you say the same thing last time?”

“Just think about it. Every time I see you. Every time I look in the mirror.”

I opened the veranda window.

Galaxy, lying listlessly on the sofa, chats with the monster living downstairs who sticks his head out over the veranda railing.

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

3. When going to bed, keep the balcony windows closed, but do not lock them.

– Anyone would feel bad if a door that was always open was locked one day.

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

A monster that comes into other people’s bedrooms every night.

‘That thing’ climbed up the veranda railing using only its arm strength and crawled into the living room, moving only its upper body.

Eunha lies on the sofa, calming her rumbling stomach.

This afternoon, while working at the cafe as usual,

A sudden pain struck me, so I quickly covered my mouth and ran to the bathroom.

What was the pain of having my whole body torn apart?

I was afraid that if I didn’t hurry I would end up spewing out strange things in front of the cafe customers, so I quickly locked the bathroom door and went inside the stall.

Eunha, who thought of the blood and pieces of intestines that she had vomited to the point of making her throat hurt.

She swallowed the bloody taste in her mouth, thinking that she would have to skip dinner tonight.

I thought positively.

I hope that others will be happy as much as I am in pain.

‘I thought I was having a normal day today, but it’s not going well.’

My tired body sinks into the sofa.

What comes to mind is the words of Captain Kim Yu-hee of the Dark Dragon Corps, who said that he had been investigating the ‘sponsor’.

I don’t know why that bothers me.

“… … [Forgetful Saintess], have you ever taken my memories?”

“Something.”

“Memories older than 3 years ago. There aren’t many that come to mind properly.”

“I didn’t do it.”

‘That thing’ with only the upper body remaining approached Eunha.

Climbing up the sofa, ‘that thing’ mounted on Eunha’s body looked down at her.

Galaxy, who was crushed by [The Saintess of Oblivion], looked up at the ceiling helplessly.

“It wasn’t me… Then, I guess someone erased my memory.”

『… … .』

There is no answer.

Eunha closed her eyes.

Thump thump… thump thump…

There is a thumping sound of footsteps coming from the ceiling.

Is there any noise between floors at this time?

『… … If you could regain your forgotten memories… would you?』

That thought lasted for a moment,

[The Saintess of Oblivion], who had been quietly looking down at the galaxy, spoke to the galaxy while caressing its twilight-colored hair.

That’s a strange question.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Eunha decides to express her thoughts in words.

“I wish I could get it back, right? After all, it’s a memory.”

“Even when I think about it, all I can think of are painful memories.”

“… … Rather, it’s better. Because other things will remain as happy memories. Everything is relative. ”

『… … .』

“At least, when I’m with [Forgetful Saintess]… I’m always happy. I’ve never been in trouble because of you.”

That’s all there is to it.

Galaxy, who blurted out whatever came to mind, looks at ‘that’ with a grin.

The face of ‘that thing’ was indescribable.

Even though I’m looking at it, I can’t describe its facial features.

Like sand slipping through my fingers, I felt like the memories of the [Forgetful Saintess] were slipping out of my mind.

『… … .』

…but.

The only one, the only one.

If there’s anything I remember…

A person with a beautiful smiling face.

Is that the only one?

“…good.”

Boom!

At that moment, the [Forgetful Saintess] who had been riding on top of the galaxy raised her body.

‘That thing’ with only the upper body comes down from the sofa.

“What do you like?”

“Yes, lend me your lower body.”

“Yes?”

“In our memories, I hope you alone are happy.”

There was no other word.

[The Saintess of Oblivion] carried Eunha in her arms and headed to the bedroom.

Click-.

The door closes.

… … .

… … .

The passing time remained as a memory.

After finishing the night patrol, a few days of peaceful daily life without any major incidents.

It will become another memory, adding sparkle to the gaze that looks back without thinking.

– Hello. Eunha Doryeo. Is it time to receive the Jeonseogu?

“Cough… Oh, yes. Ms. Kim Sa-rang. Drink some water.”

11pm.

Eunha, who came to her senses to the sound of the phone ringing, drinks water in the kitchen.

The voice of the only daughter of [Changcheon Sword Master], the swordsman Kim Sa-rang, confidently comes out from the other end of the phone.

– Hmm. I learned that hydration is important. That’s why I drink 4 cups of cola a day.

“You’re not in your right mind.”

– If you’re going to drink it, wouldn’t it be better for your body if you drink it deliciously?

“I don’t know, but if you have to go to the dentist later, let me know… Do you have any wisdom teeth that haven’t been pulled out?”

– Eunha Doryeo. I know it’s presumptuous of you to say this, but are you in your right mind?

Kim Sa-rang’s phone call late at night sounded like the cry of a dove in broad daylight.

It’s bright and clear, but it looks stupid.

The conversation with Kim Sa-rang, who seemed to have temporarily stored her brain somewhere else, matched very well with Eun-ha’s half-asleep mental state.

Eunha, who was rubbing her sore waist, returns to the bedroom.

“Anyway… why are you calling? If you’re talking about a novel like [The Reincarnation of the Sword] or something like that, I’ll go find it and tear it all up.”

– Well… if you say so, I’ll tell you only the other half.

Kim Sa-rang, who had neatly returned the opened novel to the bookshelf, continued speaking in a refreshing voice.

– Eunha Doryeo. Aren’t you planning on taking the C-class Hunter promotion exam next month?

“That’s right. I also went to [Goryongsan Crack Field] to meet the test conditions.”

– The thing is, I also plan to take the test on the same day.

Hunter promotion test.

Something I forgot for a moment while being tormented by monsters.

It’ll be October soon…

Time really doesn’t pass that fast.

– So, um… Your Majesty, I have something to say… Well…

Soon, a voice full of hesitation and hesitation tickled Eunha’s eardrums,

Kim Sa-rang, with her eyes tightly shut, struggled to recall the reason she had called Eunha.

– So… I, the throne… I command the scabbard of the throne…

“It’s okay, just tell me. No matter what I hear, I won’t get mad.”

– … … … Written test… Please teach me how to study…

[Changcheon Sword Master]’s only daughter with a stone head.

Eun-ha ended up touching her forehead at Kim Sa-rang’s sincere request.