Chapter 17 – What Is She Doing? (1)

'If that's the case, what would you have done if that thing really existed? Do you think you can imagine it? If yes, then behave as if it exists.'

Imagine that, then act…

I walked while thinking about the receptionist’s words.

I always thought it would be nice to have a girlfriend, but I never imagined what it would feel like. I just thought it would be good to meet someone nice.

However, there was some truth in what the receptionist said; I had to be a little more careful about my lies to get some free time without getting caught.

As advised, I began to imagine 'my girlfriend'.

What would her nature be like?

And what about her appearance?

Appearance... Can I imagine a more beautiful girlfriend than Lily Noona, Vienna, and Luss?

I tilted my head.

… It will probably be difficult.

In the first place, it was hard to find someone prettier than them.

I had heard a lot of people asking if I chose party members based on their appearance.

Anyway, if I imagined my girlfriend’s appearance… I should imagine her as a little more modest than them.

Her hair color would be… Pink?

'Hmm, pink is good.'

'Yes! Pink hair, pink eyes. Let’s go with it!'

And her personality…

I remembered a dream I had a few days ago while riding in a carriage with Vienna.

It was a dream of having a girlfriend who understood me, comforted me, and I felt good just for her being by my side.

Okay. I could only imagine that kind of person.

Yeah, one can’t compromise the personality. I should consider her the nicest person in the world.

It was still crude, but the frame was set.

Now I had the confidence to be able to answer a little even if the party members suddenly asked about her.

Well… How much would they want to ask, anyway?

Returning to the inn, I called the innkeeper.

“Madame!”

The first floor of the inn was a restaurant, and the second and third floors were accommodations.

My room was on the second floor. I decided to eat something before resting.

The inn owner, who was an old-age common lady who could be seen in most neighborhoods, came over at my call.

“Ah, Mister. Long time no see... Aren't you too busy nowadays? It’s hard to see even your face.”

“I’ve been a bit busy. But now that I have some free time, I will see you often. Anyway, I’m going to eat a meal here. What’s good today?”

Her eyes widened.

“No, you want to eat? Hey… What’s going on with you today?”

“Why is that?”

“No. I’m just surprised that someone who always eats outside or in the room says he’ll eat here!”

She said with an exaggerated laugh. Then, she continued:

“This time I’ll make you a hearty meal! What about roasted pork hind legs today?”

I felt excited by the unique friendly atmosphere.

“Ah, then give me that! Just one beer!”

I was increasingly looking forward to it.

All these obvious things were unfamiliar.

.

.

.

How long had it been since I could eat alone without being bothered by others?

Soon, I finished the side dishes patiently.

I finally had a satisfying meal in a while.

****

With a pleasant, subtle intoxication, I moved with my full stomach and entered the room.

- Tick

When the magic light was turned on, the inside of the messy room was revealed.

So far, I was tired and hadn’t looked closely. But it was messier than I thought.

Clothes hanging here and there, discarded trash, and if one looked closely, one could see insects roaming around and spider webs attached to the ceiling.

'I’ll have to clean this up tomorrow.'

I decided, because there were no plans for tomorrow to hold me back.

I found the sound of these words unnaturally pleasant.

'Because there are no plans for tomorrow.'

Yeah, they were indeed pleasant for some reason.

I smiled and threw myself on the bed.

Even in this messy room, I felt peace; the blanket felt softer and cozier.

So… No schedule means… I didn’t have to get up early, right?

Laughter kept coming.

I couldn’t believe it.

It was a long-awaited break.

Please...

I hoped someone wouldn’t disturb this happy feeling.

I clapped my hands to turn off the magic light and fell into a slow and deep sleep.

****

"Uwaaahh~~"

How much did I sleep?

I didn’t know, but it seemed I slept for a long time.

I stretched and got up.

The magnetism of the bed was gone.

As expected, my bed was not enchanted with magnetic properties.

It seemed it was my body that was attracted to the bed.

But now, my body felt wonderful.

The heaviness that weighed down my body was gone. It felt like taking medicine.

Yeah, my body was originally this healthy.

The sun was high.

It was awkward. I always woke up before sunrise and watched it rise.

Opening my eyes to the glaring sunlight as much as I could, I thought: So far it has been a perfect day.

If the only thing that bothered me was that I felt too... hungry?

But it didn’t matter. Because I was free.

If I was hungry, I just had to eat something.

When I went down to eat, I saw the inn lady.

“Madam, please cook me some food!”

She looked at me and smiled warmly.

“Ah, Mister! That’s right. I definitely see you often now.”

“I told you? I can afford some time now.”

I looked at a free seat and sat there.

Some people were already eating at nearby tables.

The inn lady approached with water.

“By the way, where did you go yesterday? I guess you got busy again because I didn’t see you yesterday.”

Huh?

I looked at her curiously.

“Yesterday? Didn't we talk yesterday?”

“Eh? What are you talking about?”

I patiently explained to her:

“I told you that I had some free time yesterday so you would see me often from now on.”

“It was the day before yesterday, Mister!”

Oh??

Now that I think about it, I must have slept for two full days.

“Ah… Was that the day before yesterday? I must have slept for two days straight, I… So I didn’t know.”

The inn lady heard me and burst into laughter.

“Hehe~ Ah, I got it! Have you been sleeping that long? I thought you went out at dawn again because you were busy. Gosh. Then you will be hungry. I’ll come prepared with plenty of food, so wait for me!”

“Haha, yes, thank you.”

After saying that, the inn lady ran to the kitchen.

She was a person who could be understood through common sense, unlike my party mem...

Nah, let's forget about them.

It was still a perfect day. Nothing happened to make me feel bad. So I didn't want to unnecessarily spoil my mood.

But, it was already lunchtime...

“Oh right, what should I cook?”

From the kitchen, the inn owner stuck her head out and asked.

“Anything. Whatever you cook is delicious.”

After giving a brief answer, I began to plan my schedule for the day.

How long had it been since I planned my schedule with my own hands?

First, I needed to clean my room like I thought yesterday, no, the day before yesterday. It was too messy. Now that I had some time to spare, I wanted to finish it. I also wanted to live in a room where people could live... not pigs.

Next…

I’ll have to go see Hyung.

I smiled at the thought of Hyung.

I had gotten his help again. It was safe to think that hyung gave me all the time I had right now.

Shall I buy him a present?

I involuntarily smiled at the thought of buying something for Hyung.

Ahhh, it was really a perfect day.

****

Luss had been sprawled in bed for days, still, only tears continued to drip from her beautiful obsidian eyes.

She didn’t eat, and she couldn’t sleep.

All she could do was cry.

First, she cried loudly, but when her throat was hoarse, she whimpered and cried, and when she couldn’t even do that, only tears flowed quietly from her eyes.

She had to admit it now; it was real.

Luss’ world didn’t change even when she smashed her head into the wall to wake her up or when she splashed cold water on her body. This wasn't a dream.

Starchis really had a lover, and... it wasn’t her.

She usually got used to all kinds of pain and they dulled after some time, but not this pain. It was unbearably painful even now.

“… Uh… Uhhh…”

By the time the pain subsided a bit, her heart broke again when she imagined what Starchis would be doing with his girlfriend.

Luss was watching as her cherished dreams were being ripped out of her grasp.

Everything she wanted to do with Starchis, Starchis would be doing all that with his girlfriend.

All of Starchis’ first experiences did not belong to her.

“… No!!… No way…!!”

Luss slammed her bed.

Whenever she heard of a heartbreaking love story, she always thought of herself and Starchis as substitutes.

Even when they signed the Starchis Treaty, they were afraid that someone would take him, but in the end, she believed that magically, she and Starchis would be connected, like fate.

But it was all an illusion.

The reality was not a love story she had told herself.

It was only now that she realized that there was a big difference between dreams and reality;

He told her with his own mouth that his fate was connected with someone else's.

“.. Uh… Whoa… Whoa…”

She tried to hold on to the pain through deep breathing.

She grabbed her chest, wanting to escape this pain somehow. She struggled.

‘Okay. Let’s think of things that always make me feel good.’

She closed her eyes and imagined Starchis.

Thinking about him always brought a smile to her face.

-‘Luss, you and I match well.’

-‘Luss, are you worried?’

-‘Why are you worried, Luss? You’re my only best friend.’

It backfired.

Memories that always gave her happiness now hurt her.

And, the pain intensified.

“Aaaaa… It hurts…!!”

No matter what, the pain did not go away.

“… Don’t leave me… Uhhhhh..”

She curled up.

It felt like her heart was freezing.

And then, she realized that there was only one part of her body where she felt the warmth.

…?

She looked at the place where she felt warmth with her swollen eyes.

It was a friendship ring worn on the index finger of her left hand... The link with him that was made only a few days ago.

It was the next step in the plan she made.

A ring made of cheap metal, not even silver. But it was more precious than anything else.

“Uh… Uh…”

She clenched her fist and brought the ring to her lips.

Warmth was transmitted, and she calmed down a bit.

It felt like being connected to Starchis again.

Then, in an instant, as if something had exploded in her chest, there was a pop, and anger engulfed her whole body.

“AA AA AA!!!!”

Luss had mixed emotions.

She tore her hair.

"So what-"

She clumsily removed the ring from her index finger...

“-It’s not me!!”

Then she got up and tried to throw the ring at the wall, but stopped.

-Tup Tup

Tears began to fall again.

“Huhhhhh”

This time, melancholy enveloped her.

She couldn’t even throw away the ring.

She felt like everything was over. She was confused and broken. 

“…”

She lay down on the bed again... Holding the ring like that for a while... Then, she began to cry and scream... It went on for a long time.

“Ha ha…”

Then, to Luss, who was pushed to her limit, a thought hit her.

‘Chis hasn’t given her a ring yet, right?’

Just imagining the couple brought tears to her eyes, but she had to face reality.

She had to stop crying and find something to do.

‘The ring is still there…?’

It still felt like a painkiller that only she and Starchis wore a matching ring.

The voice of the salesman echoed in her head.

– ‘It depends on how you give it meaning.’

Starchis also agreed to that.

‘Yes… The meaning I give is what matters.’

She slowly opened her fist and looked at the ring in her palm.

It could be called a cheap ring with a simple design or a precious friendship ring; a link between her and Starchis.

Carefully holding the ring with her right index finger and thumb, she slowly brought it to her left.

The ring slowly went towards her finger...

it was not the index finger of her left as before… It was the ring finger.

“Haha…”

She felt a new emotion that was difficult to describe for her, who had tasted only despair for several days.

It was not a big deal, but it was like a lifeline to her as this feeble emotion was nailed to the bottom of her heart.

The index finger was for friendship... And the ring finger was for a lover.

‘I’m sure Starchis is wearing the ring right now, too, right?’

When the ring touched her ring finger, she felt a shady pleasure.

“Haah!!”

The warmth of Starchis, which she took for granted earlier, was amplified and felt again.

It was such a precious feeling.

With the cool breeze, it felt like she was finally free.

The ring went on and on, inside the finger…

– Bang bang bang!!!

She was interrupted by the hurried knocks on the door.

Luss, startled, removed her ring from the ring finger and put it back on the index finger. Her beating heart calmed down a little as she was feeling like a criminal earlier.

'Who is looking for me like this?'

‘No way… Starchis? Did you come to tell me it was a lie?’

With a flash of hope, she darted to the door.

“Wait!!”

Then, rubbing her eyes, tidying up her black bangs, loosening her throat, and clearing her voice... She prepared herself, but she couldn’t help it. She didn't want to show an unsightly appearance to him.

Luss soon opened the door to her room.

“Starch…”

In front of the door stood two women, not Starchis.

Lily and Vienna stood with as swollen eyes as hers.

Lily’s face was a mess. 

She spoke while crying:

“Luss, let's talk.”

Support Author

Join Discord