TYHL SS 42 END 🍷💫

~Side Story 42~

I tilted my head.

“…Was it? Or not?”

“What kind of answer is that. Who gave it to you?”

“I don’t know.”

I shrugged.

“Just… somehow, I feel like I ate it back then. There was a time I fell asleep while trying to name something….”

It felt so distant it was almost unreal.

Maybe because it was too long ago. Or maybe because my sense of self wasn’t clear back then.

But strangely, I felt very comfortable.

I was always anxious and restless.

But that day, I think I slept sweetly.

Anyway, it wasn’t a bad memory.

“Did a squirrel bring it to you?”

I chuckled and hugged the squirrel doll nearby.

It was a doll Kal had given me once.

But when Khalid saw it, he made a strange face.

“No… not like that. Two of them.”

“…What?”

“…That beastly bastard!”

Fwoooosh—

Khalid’s face looked like it was about to burst into flames.

What is wrong with him, seriously?

“Oh, right. Come to think of it, I got a letter from Titi.”

I barely managed to change the subject.

“Sortier Camelan?”

“Yeah. Titi got proposed to by Jerdine!”

I thought of my academy friends.

Those two kept breaking up and getting back together, and in the end, it seemed they decided to stay together forever.

“Apparently, Jerdine made a huge, fancy proposal. I’m so curious, so we’re meeting next week.”

“……”

Khalid stared at me blankly.

“Proposal….”

He blinked like someone who had just remembered a massive homework assignment.

“You know Jerdine’s business hit it big, right? His proposal must’ve been super flashy. Aren’t you curious? Wanna come too?”

“Does… a proposal bother you?”

“Of course it does?”

Why is he asking something like that?

Titi and Jerdine were two of my very few real friends in my narrow social circle.

And watching other people spend ridiculous amounts of money was fun in its own way. Of course I was curious.

Khalid looked at me with a determined gaze.

“I understand.”

“Huh?”

“Well… if I mess things up like those squirrel-like things @#$@%, you’ll probably cry all day, so I should start with the proposal properly.”

“What? Make me cry? Why?!”

“Ruby, I’ll do my best.”

He’s latched onto something weird again.

When he gets like this, nothing gets through anyway.

So I just opened my arms toward him.

“So you won’t hug me now because you’re afraid I’ll cry?”

“……”

“When will you hug me then?”

His Adam’s apple moved noticeably.

“Now.”

Kal pulled me into his solid arms and kissed me softly.

The careful kiss quickly grew hot.

More dangerous than ever. Like something set as a limit was about to overflow.

Why is he this excited?

What did he even do while he was out?

I patted his broad shoulder to calm him, but that only seemed to stimulate him more.

Hot, rough kisses followed everywhere.

That alone was more than enough to make me dizzy with bliss.

Of course… I didn’t know yet that there was something even rougher, fiercer, and better than this.

Our love story was only beginning now.

Ever since I learned about the time-warp device,

there was something I kept thinking about.

Rosetta and Leviathan, now fully back to being a loving couple, went on a short trip together without telling the kids.

Soon, they would be busy preparing for Rubian and Khalid’s engagement. If they were going to travel, now was the time.

“Hmm, we’re not really in a position to scold Ruby.”

“Why? I’m her dad, so it’s fine.”

“Hehe. We told the family that secret trips were a no-no….”

Rosetta laughed playfully.

“But you can’t resist this, right?”

“Of course. It’s a lifelong dream.”

Leviathan chuckled and reached out his hand.

Ahead of them, Idelaine nodded.

Shhh— Light rippled.

Ch. 0

Rubian, Age 8 — The Season of Family

It was around the time when the red sunset painted the sky.

Step. Step.
Crunch. Crunch.

Steady footsteps echoed.

Time remaining until time warp ends:
□□□□◨

“About thirty minutes, by this world’s time.”

“What a shame.”

“These thirty minutes will be the most precious in the world.”

Leviathan murmured.

Holding hands, the two quietly walked through the forest path.

Everything around them was silent.

In the distance, black smoke rose. A familiar smell touched their noses.

The familiar smell of death.

“Ah.”

They stopped.

Rosetta let go of Leviathan’s hand and hurried forward.

“Hello, my baby.”

The child was leaning against a tree, sleeping as if dead.

There were traces of a roughly set barrier spell nearby. Of course, since they weren’t dark creatures, it didn’t affect them.

They stayed beside the child as carefully as possible.

Rosetta gently adjusted the child’s body and let her rest on her lap.

They waited for the tightly furrowed brow to relax, and then Leviathan quietly sat down beside them.

“So this is how our Ruby looked.”

Tick, tick. Time passed.

There was only one past they wished to return to. Only one lingering regret left in their hearts.

“At least for now… Mom and Dad will protect you.”

Leviathan whispered softly as he stroked the child’s hair.

“May no nightmare ever trouble you.”

If they could become the all-powerful rulers of time and space—

They would give their past child perfect protection and rest.

A peaceful moment that no one could interrupt.

“Sleep well, our daughter.”

To their beloved Rubian.
To their beloved jewel.

“Kyaaang!”

Snap! My eyes flew open.

“I slept so well!”

When was the last time I had slept this deeply?

“But it’s already night.”

Thankfully, the barrier spell I set before sleeping was still working. I was safe.

“Huh?”

As I got up to leave, I noticed a large basket beside me.

“What is this… wow!”

Inside were tons of delicious food.

My stomach had just started growling again.

Better to eat this than those bitter raspberry berries.

“But who brought this?”

Crunch, crunch. As I ate the honey-coated walnuts, I tilted my head.

Just then—

Scuttle scuttle!

I saw a giant squirrel running away.

“Was it you?”

What a clever squirrel.

More importantly… it’s delicious!

And somehow…

My heart felt warm, my mood soft and fluffy.

My eyes were clearer than ever! My mind sharp! I felt like I could do anything!

I even felt like I could come up with an amazing name!

That sweet echo left in my head… it was like—

“Ah! I should go check that mountain soon.”

Rubian thought as she ran through the forest.

Strangely, it felt like she would find something very good there.

Something inside her pushed through the hardened ground and sprouted. The whole world began to feel clear.

Not long after, Rubian really did find something good.

She fatefully saved a boy trapped in a cave.

And then—

“Aaaah!”

“What’s wrong? You don’t like the roasted seeds? …Did I burn them too much?”

“This place is….”

This place is…!

‘This was a world inside a novel!’

No way!

Rubian screamed while grabbing her cheeks, then suddenly—

Snap! She lifted her head.

“I—I…!”

I have to go meet him!

Leviathan Zebert!

No matter what!

<The youngest is hiding a lot of things>

Side Story — Complete