Chapter 100
When Yeoreum returned to the guild, she and her companions sorted through the documents they had brought back from the dungeon.
The terminology was messy and complicated, but Yeoreum decided to do what she could.
"···It looks like Gyeoul was subjected to human experimentation."
"Yeah···"
There wasn't much they could learn from the documents.
They discovered that Gyeoul had been experimented on with something related to 'mana' and, after the experiment failed, she was discarded and buried underground.
Learning just these two things was enough to crush Yeoreum's spirit.
'Gyeoul doesn't even know why she was buried underground.'
At that time, Gyeoul knew nothing.
Being unable to hide her emotions well because of her ears and tail, it was true that she didn't remember.
'Was the shock so great that she developed amnesia?'
How hellish must her life have been?
So hellish that she needed to erase her memories.
Yeoreum couldn't even begin to imagine the pain Gyeoul must have gone through.
The only thing she knew was that Gyeoul's life hadn't been smooth even after escaping.
To think that escaping one hell led her straight into another.
Was it right for a child, who knew nothing of the world, to go through such things?
Yeoreum closed her eyes to that terrible reality.
"···Yeoreum, we need to look at this."
Jung Yu-na approached with a file in hand.
Yeoreum sighed and opened her eyes.
There wasn't much she could understand amidst the complex information.
"What's this about···?"
"A few years ago, a dungeon of grudges opened in the same place."
"Really···?"
"Yeah."
Two dungeons of grudges opening in the same place.
What could this mean?
No matter how much she racked her brain, Yeoreum couldn't find the answer.
"···Yu-na, sorry, but can we take a break?"
"Yeah. Let's rest well."
"···Thanks for understanding."
I need to see Gyeoul.
The child who brings peace to all who watch over her.
Yeoreum thought she might end up hurting Gyeoul.
Because to solve the case, she would have to ask Gyeoul some questions.
<+>
To have to imitate Sophia in front of her.
It was a situation where one wrong move could lead to scolding from Sophia.
It was best to imitate only the good aspects of Sophia.
Like her kind-hearted nature.
Having made up my mind, I approached Levinas with a cane in hand, determined to show only kindness.
"Oh my, Levinas is so pretty."
"What?! Levinas is pretty?!"
"Yes, yes, Levinas is truly pretty."
I reached out and gently stroked Levinas's head.
She leaned her head forward, asking for more petting.
"Levinas is the kindest in the world. She listens well to adults and is the best among children."
"Oh···"
Levinas blushed and twisted her body.
It was the first time I saw Levinas feeling embarrassed.
If I had known she would enjoy it this much, I would have complimented her more often.
I decided to be someone who gives more compliments from now on.
"···Gyeoul, is that how you see me?"
Ahem.
Sophia, who had cleared her throat, spoke to me.
I got the feeling she was checking my reaction for some reason.
"Yes. Sophia, you're so kind, and I really like that."
"···Really?"
"Yes. I can't even imagine life without Sophia now."
"Hm, hmm···"
Sophia's face turned red.
She turned her head away, so our eyes couldn't meet.
Yoo Sang-ah, who was supporting Sophia, chuckled at this scene.
"It looks like Gyeoul really likes Sophia."
"Hmm···"
Glance.
Sophia looked at Yoo Sang-ah, then stretched her hand out to me.
She clearly wanted her cane back.
I quickly handed the cane to Sophia.
"···Let's go home now."
"Yes···"
Sophia began to move home, using the cane.
I just watched her leaving figure, unable to do anything else.
'Did I say something wrong?'
I thought Sophia would like it, just like Levinas did.
I was too stunned to move from my spot.
Then, Yoo Sang-ah approached me.
"It seems Sophia is very shy."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. She probably left because she felt embarrassed about how much she liked it."
Aha.
So that was a reaction of liking.
Realizing the truth, my tail started wagging.
"I'll go to Sophia then."
"Okay, see you next time."
"Yes."
After waving goodbye to Yoo Sang-ah, Levinas and I ran after Sophia.
Was it a reward for the long, painful times, or just a truly happy day-to-day life?
<+>
When I got home, I watched a spy movie on TV with Levinas, which was a bit scary for kids, so we watched it in a special way.
We sat down on the floor, stretching our legs out.
Levinas sat in front of me in the same position, close enough that I could wrap my arms around her stomach.
"Do I need to cover your eyes during scary scenes?"
"Yes."
I pushed my beast-kin's dynamic vision to the limit.
My sensitized body recognized scenes on the TV on a frame-by-frame basis.
The moment the movie's protagonist drew his sword to strike an enemy, I lifted my hand to cover Levinas's eyes.
Swoosh-!
Levinas covered her ears in shock at the sound of human flesh being cut.
Like me, she had ears on top of her head, so she pressed and covered them with her hands.
After the protagonist had cut down all the people, he wiped the blood off his sword.
I lowered my hand that was covering her eyes once the brutal scene was over.
"How was it, King?"
"The protagonist won."
"Wow···"
Even without watching directly, we knew the outcome.
This was how Levinas and I watched scary movies together.
"King! When I grow up, I want to be a spy!"
"A spy?"
"Yeah. Levinas wants to go swish swish swish too!"
Spy movie protagonists do look cool.
They were enough to be idolized by kids.
"King! Just wait a moment!"
"Okay."
Levinas went into the bathroom and came back with a bowl full of water.
Her delicate forearms trembled.
Water spilled as she walked by.
"Oops!"
I quickly grabbed a towel and followed her, wiping up the spilled water.
Bent over, I could see Levinas's legs trembling.
"Woah, woah···"
Thump-!
Levinas placed the bowl full of water on the table.
Together, we looked down at the rippling water.
"Why did you bring water?"
"I want to train being tortured!"
"···What?"
Was she talking about waterboarding?
Indeed, there was a scene in the movie where the protagonist was waterboarded.
"King! Dunk my face in the water!"
"How long···?"
"I don't know!"
She didn't know.
Honestly, I didn't know either.
As beast-kin, we could probably hold our breath longer than humans, but I didn't know the limit.
I had never tried to hold my breath to the limit.
"···It's dangerous, so should I try it first?"
"Yes! King is amazing!"
"It's just a game."
It should be okay since it's just a game.
With that thought, I leaned closer to the bowl.
That's when several people entered the house through the front door.
"Gyeoul, sister is here."
"Welcome."
It sounded like about five people were coming in.
My tail wagged gently and welcomed the people entering the living room.
Yeoreum, Jung Yu-na, Choi Jinhyuk, Encia, and Argo were there too.
"What were you doing, Gyeoul?"
"We were about to play a torture game."
"Torture... You what?"
Everyone froze in their spots.
The only one who showed admiration was Argo.
"That's our leader...!"
"Argo, be quiet."
"Got it!"
Thump
Argo covered his mouth with his hand.
Encia sighed deeply at Argo's reaction.
"Gyeoul, what is this torture game?"
"It's just play."
"Is that so."
Doubt shadowed Encia's expression, her eyes conveying confusion.
"Gyeoul, are you sure it's okay...?"
"What is?"
"That, about Gyeoul..."
Gulp
Yeoreum swallowed her saliva.
For some reason, Jung Yu-na and Choi Jinhyuk also looked tense.
"···Gyeoul, sorry to bring this up, but do you remember anything from your past?"
"My past?"
"Yeah. Like why Gyeoul ended up buried underground..."
Were they worried about what happened in the dungeon?
Regrettably, I had no memories from before that.
I came into this world at the moment I was buried underground.
It was best to pretend to have amnesia here.
"Yes, I actually don't remember the past."
"Oh... Is that so...?"
"I'm sorry."
"No, no! There's nothing for Gyeoul to be sorry about."
Yeoreum hurriedly waved her hand.
Her forced laugh looked somewhat awkward.
"Was there something?"
"It's nothing, just, um... Gyeoul, just in case."
"Yes."
"If Gyeoul were to recall her past memories and they weren't pleasant, how would you feel?"
I couldn't help but pause at Yeoreum's question.
It was as if she knew about the original body owner's past.
"Honestly..."
"Honestly?"
"If I have my family and friends now, it doesn't matter how terrible the past was."
"Oh..."
Yeoreum's eyes widened in shock.
She looked as if she had received a shock.
What was all that about?
I was left blinking in confusion.
<+>
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