Chapter 40 …
Yeonrahwa still had a face that hadn’t fully processed the situation.
“What…? I had a weird, unsettling dream… When did I even fall asleep?”
“Are you okay? You were attacked by a monster.”
“What? Suddenly… what are you talking about…?”
“There was a monster that attached itself to people and turned nightmares into reality.”
At my words, Yeonrahwa furrowed her brows. She asked with a pale face:
“So… that was real? …It wasn’t a dream?”
“Ah, it’s fine now! I’ve dealt with it!”
I smiled reassuringly, but Yeonrahwa stared at me and said:
“By the way… did you always talk to me like that?”
“Hah… I didn’t realize. I’m sorry.”
“…Hmph. I’m not asking you to apologize. Rather…”
Yeonrahwa replied with a haughty tone and ran her hand over her cheek. Then, with an expression of discomfort and irritation, she said:
“Why does my cheek feel so tingly?”
She frowned sharply.
She really looked cold and fierce.
“Uh? Hmm. Maybe it’s because you were attacked by the monster? Right?”
‘I don’t really know,’ I thought, rolling my eyes as I desperately pretended ignorance.
I truly felt sorry…!
I could hear Grandpa clearing his throat and my older brother hiccupping. Duri sighed quietly by my ear.
…My head keeps spinning. Ahem.
The spinning, warmth, and dizziness…
It wasn’t just because I felt awkward or embarrassed.
Hmm…
‘I clearly remember being carried by Na-euri and leaving the building.’
Then why am I opening my eyes to my bed inside the Southern Castle’s residence?
Blinking repeatedly.
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Hanbi’s face, swollen like a steamed bun.
“Waaaahhh!”
“…Hanbi?”
Why are you crying?
“Miss…! You’ve woken up?! Waaaahhh!”
“Hmm? Uh-huh. But why are you crying?”
At my words, Hanbi glared at me as if blaming me (though her puffy eyes didn’t look scary at all) and started talking in a rapid-fire manner:
“Is that what you call talking? You didn’t listen to me at all and ran out like that…! Do you know how worried and scared I was?!”
“I-I’m sorry…”
“No, no. I shouldn’t blame you, Miss. I’m just a foolish idiot for losing you in such a dangerous situation! Sea cucumber! Sea anemone! I don’t even deserve to watch over you! Waaahhh, oink. Sniff.”
Eventually, there was even a sound like a pig snorting.
“C-Calm down… I’m sorry I didn’t listen. You must have been worried, right?”
Seeing her cry so bitterly naturally made me feel guilty.
She must’ve been really worried. I ran off without saying anything.
“But nothing happened, so it’s fine…”
“Nothing happened?! Miss, you were unconscious for a whole day! You even had a fever! Waaahhh!”
Ah… was that so?
‘But I feel completely fine now.’
It must’ve been because I had exerted myself so much.
Looking around, I realized Hanbi wasn’t the only one in the room.
There was also Grandma and Grandpa, worriedly watching me, and my older brother…
“Yeong-ah.”
Na-euri.
‘Hah…’
There he was again, looking terrifyingly calm and serious.
I slowly pulled the neatly folded blanket over me.
“Na-euri.”
“Yes.”
“…Were you really worried about me?”
“Huh.”
Peeking out slightly from under the blanket and calling Na-euri, I heard a sigh of disbelief.
“You little thing, you call that talking?”
His expression seemed exasperated, but the hand that gently smoothed my forehead was soft.
“Your fever’s gone now.”
“I’m completely fine now…”
“Oh, really now.”
It’s true! I tried to sit up to prove I was fine.
Sigh.
But his hand pressing my forehead gently thwarted my attempt, so I just lay back comfortably.
I rolled my eyes and silently sought help from the others.
Hanbi, swollen-eyed.
Grandpa, smiling warmly at me.
My older brother, peeking curiously at me.
Hmm. No one seems inclined to help.
Moreover, Grandma, holding a damp cloth and meeting my eyes, said…
“…Absolute rest.”
She whispered calmly and solemnly, like a doctor issuing an uncompromising order.
‘I really am fine now!’
[You’d better be…]
I heard Duri’s resigned voice.
Only after quite a long time was I officially acknowledged as stable…
Currently, the Southern region had begun investigating the cause of the sudden monster appearance while handling the aftermath of the recent incident.
Meanwhile, the <Youth Swordsmanship Tournament>, which had been halted due to the monster attack, was ultimately canceled.
Most participants, as well as people who had come to the South for the martial arts competition, had left.
Fortunately, rapid containment and evacuation prevented civilian casualties, and injuries were minimal…
Yet, the fear of witnessing such a disaster firsthand hadn’t fully subsided.
“Now that you’re awake, we’ll be heading back soon too.”
“Yes.”
The Seol family also planned to return north, naturally. But…
‘Something’s still bothering me.’
For now, pressing matters had been postponed, but with the urgent situation over, I had things to consider.
That evening, once alone (though it wasn’t easy with everyone being so overprotective!), I went outside to get some fresh air and organize my thoughts.
Sitting on the steps facing the garden visible right outside my room, I spoke to Duri:
“Duri, Duri.”
[Yes.]
While watching the trees sway in the garden and organizing my thoughts, I peeked…
‘I really can’t pretend I didn’t see it…’
Peek, peek.
‘I really can’t ignore something like that…’
Peek, peek.
I tried to ignore it, but I simply couldn’t.
“Who’s there?!”
I shouted at the person hiding behind a tree. Then,
“Hahaha! Caught me! Our little lady has a sharp eye!”
A hearty laugh rang out.
You were just blatantly spying on me…
The tall shadow behind the tree walked toward me.
A man with a slender build and hair tousled recklessly. He looked slightly older than Na-euri.
The man naturally approached me, kneeled, and met my gaze.
“Now that it’s come to this, I’d like to have a proper conversation. How are you feeling, little lady?”
“I’m fine. But… who are you?”
His speech was elegant, yet slightly exaggerated.
A man whose free-spirited manner matched his unique appearance.
“Oh, I forgot to introduce myself! Hahaha! What a rookie mistake!”
He laughed heartily and introduced himself.
“You can call me ‘Dan Gaju’! To give a bit more detail, I’m widely recognized as a genius.”
“Ohh.”
Quite self-praising.
‘So this is Dan Gaju.’
A genius inventor. And just as eccentric as he was in the South.
“Hello, I’m Nanyeong.”
“Hahaha! What a beautiful name!”
I introduced myself and immediately got to the point.
“But why were you hiding there, spying on me?”
At my question, Dan Gaju leaned forward as if about to reveal some great secret, almost as if performing a one-man show.
“Well…”
“Yes?”
“I wanted to meet the little hero who saved the children this time!”
“Hero?”
“From what I’ve heard while investigating the children present at the scene, one child mentioned being rescued from a strange space! That’s our little hero.”
Dan Gaju whispered even more quietly:
“But the guardian of our little hero is extremely protective. They hide them so carefully that I couldn’t see them otherwise. That’s why I came secretly!”
Then he performed a grandiose bow.
I tilted my head, asking:
“Why did you want to see me?”
“Oh, well…”
Dan Gaju smiled at my question.
“Of course, I came to repay our little hero.”
“Repay?”
“For bravely saving the children from the monster! If it weren’t for our little lady, something truly tragic might have happened in the South.”
Dan Gaju said confidently:
“So, anything you need, just say it! I’ll emphasize again—I am a self-proclaimed genius. There’s nothing I can’t make, so you can trust me!”
I couldn’t help but nod.
A bit narcissistic, yes, but he really was a genius inventor.
Among his inventions, many had future importance and practical use.
But for now, the thing that came to my mind wasn’t an object.
Instead…
‘This could be just the perfect solution!’
“Hmm… of course!”
I told Dan Gaju what I wanted.
It felt as if the problem I’d been pondering until now was suddenly unraveling effortlessly!
