LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 77
I wasn’t unaware of Hanarin’s feelings towards me.
No, in fact, I was well aware of them.
Hanarin’s gaze and behavior began to change at some point.
I wasn’t so foolish as to not notice the meaning behind it.
Yet, I still pretended not to notice.
There were various reasons for that, but the biggest one was that I thought Hanarin wanted it that way.
Spending time together every day, alleviating each other’s loneliness.
I believed that was the reason for our relationship and its limitation.
Because it seemed like Hanarin didn’t want anything beyond that.
‘…Was it an excuse?’
I had thought about it many times.
If Hanarin wanted a relationship beyond that, what should I do?
I still haven’t come to a conclusion on that.
I thought there was no need to rush into a decision, making various excuses to postpone it.
But now, I couldn’t delay it any longer.
“I value you. I mean it.”
Hanarin continued speaking with her eyes closed.
“This is the first time I’ve felt like this in my life. I’m happy just to see you every day, and the time we spend together passes like a dream. It feels like you alone are enough for this world. As long as I have you, I feel like I can live. So…”
Hanarin took a deep breath, but soon her face didn’t show a smile.
“…I’m scared. Every time I imagine you disappearing, I feel like it could become reality. It’s so painful. I’m scared. …Really.”
Hanarin opened her eyes. Tears were welling in her eyes.
As Kim Il-shin raised his hand to her face, Hanarin turned back and placed her hand on a ball of light.
As she connected the remaining one, various colors spread out like paint and blended abstractly.
“So I decided to make this. For you, and for me.”
The result of the mix was a small gemstone in hues that held the essence of a violet sunset.
The gemstone, shaped like a star, slowly sank and fell into the recess below.
“All done.”
Hanarin placed the gem in her palm and took out a silver bracelet from her pocket.
Clink.
The gemstone fit perfectly into the recess of the silver bracelet.
“Now, give me your hand.”
Hanarin tugged on Kim Il-shin’s left arm and slipped the bracelet onto his wrist.
The size was just right.
Hanarin tightly grasped Kim Il-shin’s hand and then mischievously said.
“Nice, isn’t it?”
“…Yeah.”
“Since I’m giving it to you, don’t ever take it off. You’ll wear it for life. You can’t take it off even when you wash or sleep. Got it?”
“…Got it.”
After letting go of his hand, Hanarin stepped back.
Then, exhaling a sigh of relief, she asked.
“I said everything, but you’re not going to tell me anything?”
“….”
Seeing Kim Il-shin hesitating, Hanarin stepped back even further.
With an awkward smile, she mumbled.
“…Haha, did I ask for too much? Sorry. If you don’t want to tell me…”
Seeing Hanarin’s expression, Kim Il-shin realized this was the last opportunity.
And he had no intention of missing that chance.
In fact, the answer had been determined before he came here.
He was also afraid of losing Hanarin.
The distant feeling he had when he heard from Hwang Deok-soo that Hanarin was in danger still lingered vividly.
“No.”
“Huh?”
“I was thinking about where to start, but I guess starting from the beginning is best.”
Kim Il-shin took a step forward and began to speak.
“For me, this world was a game called [COSMO].”
“…Game?”
“Yeah. A game I loved so much that even after dozens of endings, I couldn’t let it go. On that day, a large-scale patch was made, and I wanted to develop a new character. The moment I created the character, I found myself in this world.”
Hanarin’s blank expression gradually hardened.
The words coming out of Kim Il-shin were too shocking.
Kim Il-shin, who somewhat predicted Hanarin’s reaction, continued with a bitter smile.
He calmly recounted what had happened since he entered this world.
The story soon reached the point when the restraints were lifted.
“I was troubled. What should I do? But in fact, my role was already determined. To prepare for the apocalypse.”
“…Apocalypse.”
“What can I do? I must prepare and prevent it as someone who knows.”
Only then did Hanarin understand Kim Il-shin’s principle of action.
For him, sacrifice and hardship were not choices but duties.
“You, you…”
As Hanarin spoke with a quavering voice, she slowly approached.
She wanted to offer comforting words, but the words didn’t come out well.
So, Hanarin hugged Kim Il-shin instead of speaking.
Feeling the moisture against his chest, Kim Il-shin smiled.
As they embraced, he gently patted Hanarin’s head.
“Why are you crying?”
“Sniff… I’m not crying.”
The two stood there for a moment.
“……Then.”
Hanarin lifted her head from his chest and asked.
“For you, is this world just a game…? Then… what about me? What am I to you?”
The look on Hanarin’s face when she asked this, with her voice choked up, seemed desperately earnest.
“That can’t be true. This is my world too.”
“……”
“You are a precious person to me.”
Hearing the answer, Hanarin buried her face back into Kim Il-shin’s chest.
After sniffing a few times, she muttered softly.
“I’m glad…”
Once again, the two fell silent. This time, Hanarin broke the stillness.
“Then, then…”
It seemed she was trying to say something, and her body tensed.
The hands wrapped around her waist tightened.
“So…?”
“Yes.”
“So…!”
When Hanarin finally lifted her head with determination…
“Oh no! Hanarin!”
Hwang Deok-soo, covered in tears and snot, appeared at the entrance, followed by researchers and paramedics.
“Hanarin, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
Without regard for appearances, Hwang Deok-soo rushed over, inspecting Hanarin from every angle.
After confirming that Hanarin was fine, he let out a sigh of relief.
“Thank goodness. I’m really glad…”
Hwang Deok-soo, who seemed to relax, was about to sit down when Hanarin grabbed him and lifted him up.
“I’m sorry for making you worry.”
Hanarin’s expression as she responded looked quite complex.
“Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?”
“I’m fine. The doctor said there’s nothing wrong with my body. I should go home and rest.”
The situation ended with the workshop being organized and Hanarin being declared free of any issues.
Luckily, aside from a few broken devices inside the workshop, there was no other damage, and Hanarin decided to compensate for those.
Accidents happening during the production process were common in Jangsangul, so as long as appropriate responsibility was taken, it was not a matter of much concern.
“Alright. Go get some rest, and when you wake up, let me know.”
“Got it.”
After finishing the conversation with Hanarin, Hwang Deok-soo then approached Kim Il-shin.
“Thank you so much. If it weren’t for you, it could have been a huge problem.”
“Not at all. If the mayor hadn’t contacted me, I wouldn’t have been able to come.”
“I’m glad you could at least do that… You should go home and rest since you’ve worked hard. Are you going with Hanarin?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Make sure to take care on your way.”
“I will.”
After exchanging their last goodbyes, Kim Il-shin and Hanarin returned to the Academy.
Before long, the sky was densely covered in darkness. Even the moon was hidden behind clouds.
“We’ve arrived.”
“…Yeah.”
Throughout the journey, aside from a few small exchanges, they hadn’t spoken at all.
It was due to the awkward atmosphere that had formed between the two at some point.
“Rest well.”
“…Yeah.”
“I’m leaving. See you tomorrow.”
“……”
Kim Il-shin turned away like that, but no matter how long it took, his legs wouldn’t move.
It was because of the small hand that held onto his sleeve.
Kim Il-shin stood there like a statue and asked.
“…Why?”
The response came after dozens of seconds had passed.
“…Aren’t you tired?”
“I am tired.”
“Yeah, right. So, isn’t it… a bit tough to go from here to the dorm… ? It’s far and…”
“…Maybe it could be.”
Even though there was a shuttle three minutes away, that didn’t matter.
“So…”
Hanarin tugged Kim Il-shin’s sleeve.
Turning around, Kim Il-shin faced Hanarin’s face, flushed from the heat.
“Um, should we take a break…?”
Kim Il-shin couldn’t answer right away. His brain wasn’t functioning properly.
His mind was as hot as lava.
As he looked into Hanarin’s eyes, he couldn’t have any other thoughts.
Nod.
Before he could think, his body moved first.
Seeing that, Hanarin’s pupils dilated, and she lowered her head deeply.
“Haah…”
Taking a deep breath, Hanarin opened the door.
“Sh-should we go in?”
“…Yeah.”
The door they had entered and exited multiple times now had a different significance.
The familiar shop’s interior was filled with an unfamiliar scent.
“Th-there aren’t many places to rest here. I should have cleaned up a bit beforehand…”
“Shall we clean together later?”
“…Let’s do that.”
Since it was a space used as a shop, there wasn’t really a suitable place for the two to sit together.
“It must be tiring for you, what should we do…”
“…What should we do.”
Since entering the house until now, Hanarin had been too embarrassed to lift her head.
This was the same when she tried to continue speaking.
“U-um… do you want to go to my room?”
Hearing that, Kim Il-shin again couldn’t respond.
Nod.
But the meaning had definitely been conveyed.
Eventually, the two, holding each other’s hands tightly, climbed the stairs.