episode_0443

“Jeff. It’s dangerous to run!”

I heard Rain’s voice behind me, and ran to the hospital room with my arms full of snacks.

It was because of the news that Shine had woken up.

Immediately after the incident, everyone returned to headquarters and was receiving treatment for their injuries.

Lily and Cissy were also brought to us because the Black Palace itself disappeared, leaving them with nowhere to stay.

The two girls who value Shine joined the resistance, saying they would be happy to be with Shine in any form.

The moment I ran hard down the long hallway and jumped into the hospital room, my eyes met with Shine’s, sitting up in bed.

“Sister!!!”

I put down the snacks I was holding in my arms and ran to Shine.

As I jumped up, moving my short legs hard, Shine opened her arms and hugged me.

Immediately after returning from there, I couldn’t express in words how worried I was about Shine not waking up.

“Shine!!!”

Rain, who followed late, also ran towards me and clung to Shine.

Shine smiled slightly and patted Rain’s head.

“Is everyone okay?”

I opened my mouth blankly at Shine’s words.

Because I couldn’t believe that she cared about anyone but me.

Of course, it is said that her personality has improved compared to before, but at her core, Shine has not changed.

What on earth happened to her?

I nodded quickly.

Most of the team members who went to Area 1 were able to return safely.

This was possible because we dealt with most of the nobles on our side.

While I was being playful in Shine’s arms, I heard short footsteps coming from beyond the open hospital room door.

“Shine!”

The girls who rushed in shouting, “Shine!” were Lily and Cici.

After that, Amy appeared.

Amy, who came with her white hair fluttering, smiled slightly and waved.

“Mom! My sister woke up!”

After Amy arrived, a short conversation ensued.

To avoid confusing Shine, who had been lying down, a brief explanation of what had happened after she fell was given.

I watched Shine’s expression and sat down on her lap.

Shine naturally reached out and hugged me.

Shine listened to the whole story calmly.

He nodded and had calm eyes, so he didn’t look that confused.

Amy opened her mouth as if she had something to say.

Perhaps it was clear about Shine’s origins.

CC said that Shine would have regained most of her memories.

But Shine didn’t mention that part.

Even when CC tried to speak, he gave her a look to keep her mouth shut, so it seemed like it wasn’t something she really wanted to talk about.

So Shine’s origins were not mentioned.

Rain and Lily sat side by side in the corner and began eating cookies.

The sight of two girls munching snacks into their mouths brings a smile to my face.

“Shine.”

“Huh?”

“Can you use the ability?”

Shine frowned at Amy’s question.

I too was focused on that story.

The reason I have such a small body is all thanks to Shine’s ability.

Well, to be exact, it would be the black beast’s ability.

But now, the black beast’s body has completely torn apart and disappeared.

Shine was silent for a long time.

How much time has passed like that?

A negative answer came out of Shine’s mouth.

“No.”

“Jeong, is it really useless?”

“Yeah.”

In answer to my question, Shine patted my head.

I opened my mouth in a daze at her answer.

If I can no longer use my abilities, doesn’t that mean I can’t go back either?

Looking at the small stature of Rain, Cissy, and Lily, I was confident that I would eventually grow taller than them, so I didn’t say anything, but if things continued this way, I was sure that I would end up being compared to those three in height.

This, this was unbearable.

“Really? Is it really useless?”

I was hung up on Shine.

But Shine nodded as if she was driving a wedge into me.

The strength drains from my body at the serious gaze that tells the truth, not lies.

As I was slumped over, sighing, Amy reached out and picked me up.

“Why are you so tired?”

“Oh, if my sister can’t use her powers, then I’ll be in this state forever…”

I whined, waving my short limbs.

There’s no denying that being small has its advantages, but I still wanted to be tall like Amy or Shine.

With a body that lacks both running speed and physical strength, the only things I could do were cute dances and cute children’s clothes.

When I looked at Amy with a blank expression, she was smiling brightly as if something was so good.

It seemed to me that Amy preferred me to remain small rather than growing up.

“What do you like so much?”

Amy didn’t answer.

Instead, he just hugged me tightly.

I, who was struggling to breathe, let out a sigh.

Still, it wasn’t like there was no hope.

Since I only got smaller, I had plenty of opportunities to grow again.

Unlike Lilina, who is already 50, Rain, who is almost 30, and the 700-year-old little Sissy, I can grow.

I let out a deep sigh and jumped out of Amy’s arms.

You should eat the snacks you brought.

With that thought in mind, he approached Rain and Lily with the cookies.

The two girls were devouring most of the cookies I had brought for Shine to eat.

I snatched the potato chips that Shine liked from among them and gave them to her.

Shine picked up the cookie and ate it with a small smile.

I sat on the bed and thought.

Shine’s inability to use her abilities meant that her connection with the black beast was completely severed.

It was unclear whether the Black Beast had been completely destroyed, but the fact that its connection with Shine had been severed meant that the Black Beast could no longer touch Shine.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

***

About a month has passed since returning from District 1.

The Resistance has been reorganizing its team through internal reorganization.

The number of teams has been reduced and several people have merged.

Our team also has new members added.

Early morning.

Start your day according to your body’s habit of waking up early.

As I get out of bed and run to the bathroom to brush my teeth, Shine, who woke up late, comes over and hugs me.

“Sister, I’m uncomfortable.”

“Okay. I’ll stay like this a little longer.”

Despite my complaints, Shine smiled slightly and kept sniffing the nape of my neck.

I grimaced and spat out the foam in my mouth.

Bae-

A bright red tongue sticks out slightly, releasing white foam.

After rinsing your mouth, you’re done brushing your teeth!

As you jump down from the platform, Shine starts brushing her teeth belatedly.

I run over and start eating the breakfast Amy prepared for me.

Up until this point, it was an ordinary morning, no different from any other morning.

But after the meal, I swallowed dry saliva and stared at the door.

Now, now, the three musketeers will be coming soon.

That means three girls of similar height to me will come and chatter noisily.

As soon as that thought ended, a rumbling vibration was felt from far down the hallway.

I was already starting to feel nervous as I could feel the commotion from the tip of my toes.

There was a sound of footsteps approaching the door.

Just then, a small knock is heard.

Knock knock-

[Jeff~ Shine~]

I turned the doorknob with trembling hands.

Beyond the wide open door, there were Rain, Lily, and Cici together.

Lily and Cici, who officially joined the resistance, are assigned to our team Harmonize.

A team that now has more people with short stature than tall people.

Although other team members used to joke around and say that they were in kindergarten, they were now doing better than any other team.

“Let’s go to school!”

I sighed at Rain’s smiling voice.

I’m almost 20 years old, and I’m going back to elementary school.

Of course, my appearance was suited to these types of infiltration missions, but I couldn’t help feeling a sense of inferiority.

I think this is what Rain felt like back then.

Rain was now smiling brightly as if nothing had happened and shaking his bag.

CC and Lily were also wearing pretty school uniforms and carrying bags on their backs.

“Jeff, I forgot my bag.”

“Oops…”

Shine, who arrived late, put a large dinosaur bag on my back.

The long tail hangs down and sways gently.

When I shook my butt, it really moved like my tail, it was a really cool guy.

“Rain. I’m not going to school, I’m going on a mission.”

“Huh? Weren’t you going to school today?”

Lily is surprised by my words and asks back.

I sighed at those words and wiped my face.

Lily and Cici were excited about this mission, having never been to school before, but I wasn’t.

Because it was so hard to hang out and talk with young children.

I walked weakly and joined the three musketeers.

Still, I was lucky that I was the tallest.

“Shine! You are so cool today!”

Lily and Cissy were excited at the sight of Shine.

Her appearance, wearing a white gown and glasses, reminded me of a researcher.

Of course, it wasn’t like she was doing research.

Shine turned out to be a good teacher on this mission.

Shine was all set to put on her name tag and pack her bag.

Amy stopped doing the dishes and came out and waved at us.

“Can you have a nice day today?”

“Yes…”

“Don’t fight with your friends.”

“They’re not friends.”

“Here we go again. You all look like Jeff.”

“Not at all. They’re all younger than me.”

I sighed at Amy’s words and replied.

Anyway, I start my mission today too.

When the five of us walk side by side and arrive at the warp location, we go through the warp and head towards the school, just like when I go to real school.

What was different from before was that this time I had to commute by bus with other people.

“See you at school later.”

Shine waved at me before crossing the warp.

To avoid suspicion, Shine and I part ways in opposite directions.

“Yeah.”

After saying hello to Shine and crossing the warp, a large house welcomes the four of us.

Of course, it was a fake house to avoid suspicion, not a real one.

It was always kept clean in anticipation of other people coming, but it didn’t smell like people lived there.

Today I go out on a mission again.

Even if that means going back to elementary school.

It’s about doing your best.