Whining (1)

Moon Bora clutched her necklace tightly, her grip trembling as if commanding it to shatter.

The necklace, now so hot it felt like it could burn her hand, radiated a distinct, scalding heat.

If Moon Bora had stayed trapped in her own spiral of self-loathing…

Her emotional scars and inferiority complex would have deepened beyond repair.

The festering emotions would have spread infinitely…
Amplifying into self-hatred.

No matter how much [The Little Mermaid’s Voice] increased her abilities at a cost, her mind would have been destroyed.

Ultimately, she would have floundered in an inescapable swamp.

But thankfully, there was no need to worry.

It was a given—almost obvious.

Because there was someone who would never, not even in death, abandon her like that.

Someone who always thought of his characters, comrades, his party members—someone who cared for them so deeply he would throw himself into danger without hesitation.

Even if he didn’t fully understand the circumstances…
He would never leave Moon Bora to face it alone.

Just like now.

Tap.

“…Whimper?“

Moon Bora flinched as a firm yet gentle hand grasped hers.

Firm, yet gentle…

And warmer than anything else, an unwavering gaze that locked onto hers.

“Are you okay?”

Yu Seha.

When did he get so close, looking at her with worried eyes?

He rubbed her head like handling a puppy.

“……”

Normally, Moon Bora would have rejected, saying, “Don’t treat me like a kid!” but not now.

The inferiority she felt moments ago vanished, standing quietly like a puppy praised by its owner.

“…Whimper.“

Is that why?

Moon Bora suddenly felt it hard to control her emotions.

A feeling as intense as her inferiority complex.

The most fundamental emotion.

It was simply the sadness of not being able to help.
And the guilt towards the struggling Yu Seha.

Drip, drip.

“What’s wrong, Moon Bora? Are you crying?”
“……”
“Hey, are you crying?”
“…Sniff.“
“Ah, sorry… you’re crying.”
“…Sob.“

In the end, Moon Bora couldn’t hold back.
She shed tears like beads.

Of course, it was only for a moment.
True to her strong will, she quickly regained her composure and wiped her tears with her sleeve.
Yu Seha, who was watching, smirked.

“You can cry more.”
“…Sh-shut up! Fool, idiot! Sea anemone!”
“These days, even elementary kids don’t use those words.”
“I don’t care!”

She muttered “so annoying…” while wiping her tears.

Yu Seha watched her silently for a moment before layering his hand over hers.

“Uh, Seha?”
“Sorry.”
“…What?”

Then he bowed his head in apology.

In front of me, Moon Bora looked with a bewildered gaze.

Though not severely injured, her clothes were tattered here and there.

Her body unknowingly bruised.
Lastly, the red mark lingering around her eyes.

Each one transformed into a sharp knife, stabbing at my conscience.

‘Hmm…’

I feel pretty guilty about this.

It’s just that everything got smoothed over because the outcome was good…

In fact, all this happened because of my stubbornness.

‘…We should have practically fled.’

The [Sea Dragon] was clearly a foe beyond our level.

Originally, it wasn’t an opponent we could win against even if we pushed ourselves.

We just got lucky with Meowi’s provocation and the [Ultimate Skill] working well.
The [Dragon Gimmick] triggered, making Ju Na-young’s Breath attack overwhelmingly powerful.

‘Even if I was confident in the Breath attack succeeding…’

The task of delivering the final blow would have absolutely failed if not for the <Status Immunity> effect of [Monstrous Dominion Step].

Everything connected like a stroke of fortune, leading to a single outcome.

Although someone might dress it up as destiny or inevitability, the sure thing was that it was a fight caused by my stubbornness.

“……” (Silently strokes the crown of her head.)
“Uh, uhng… S-stop stroking me. I’m not a child…”
“…Then should I stop?”
“…! J-just one more minute!”
“…Ah, okay.”

It wasn’t as though we couldn’t have escaped earlier.

I had already confirmed that the <Pendant> given by the Chairman was operational.

We could instantly teleport back to the original location.

Of course, I had an excuse.

Knowing the future, I couldn’t afford to miss this opportunity, as it might fall into the hands of <Tartarus> Clan Master Tang Seo-ran, so I had to make a desperate resolve.

Even this, if thought about coldly, could have been stopped at the <Academy> level.

‘…I couldn’t think straight because I was so heated.’

In conclusion, it was probably just a reckless challenge blinded by rewards.

The outcome was just fortunate.
The process deserved criticism.

“I’m sorry.”

Another apology.

I stroked Moon Bora’s delicate hand.

Her face reddened, and she flinched.

“W-w-wah!”
“I’ve only made you do unreasonable things.”

Moon Bora must have had a really hard time.
As a <Mage>, it would have been difficult to face a dragon.
Yet this kind mage blamed herself again.

“N-no… It’s just that… I couldn’t be of help.”
“Ahem.”

She was spouting nonsense.

“How can our team’s capable mage say she’s not helpful? From the start, getting here safely was largely thanks to our Bora Bora’s help.”
“……”
“Thank you… and please take care of me in the future.”

Yu Seha’s bright smile.

The genuine laughter pierced into Moon Bora’s smile.

Moon Bora involuntarily sighed, “Ah…”

Thump, thump, thump.

It was beating.
Her heart…
It was beating as if it were on fire.

Her heart, which had long been frozen by the shame of her family, the tragedy of her past, and the memories of her sister who had abandoned her…
Even with her closest friends, she had always kept a certain distance.

But now…
It was pounding wildly.

“……”

Moon Bora trembled at this undefinable resonance.

Ecstasy, pleasure, lingering heat.

The indescribable feeling soon turned into happiness.

In her heart, she wanted to forever…
Receive his gaze.

“Bora Bora!”
“Oh, yes?”

And that feeling disappeared as if it were a lie, due to Yu Seha’s shout.

He was pointing excitedly at the distant corpse of the <Sea Dragon> like a child.

“Look over there!”

Rumble!

A massive vibration.

Simultaneously, the water barrier maintained by the <Sea Dragon>’s magic collapsed.

What was revealed was undoubtedly the <Treasure Room> piled high with gold, silver, and equipment.

“Meow, Seha! It’s a treasure room, a treasure room!”
“Ah, Senior Hana. L-let’s go together!”

“Let’s go too!”
“Ah, yes!”

Moon Bora, watching Yu Seha run while holding hands, felt her heart pounding again.

She closed her eyes for a moment.
Then she made a vow.
After this journey ends and they return…

She would definitely go back.

To <Lady Snow Ice> Cheon Mira…

Even if she had to cling to her legs and beg.

‘I will definitely receive her teachings and become stronger.’

―Sister, I can do it too! So, please don’t leave me behind!
―You’re no help.

Those words, spoken by her ten-year-old sister, echoed in her mind. Her sister had abandoned her.

She had left, stepping over the cold, lifeless bodies of their father and mother.

‘This time will be different.’

Yes, this time it will be different.

By all means…
No matter what it takes…

‘I will protect…’

Yu Seha.

Huh?

“…Oh, wait a moment. Seha.”
“Hmm?”
“I just remembered. Aren’t we going to rescue Senior Hyeja?”
“……”

AAAHH!!!

A few days later.

“…Whew.”

On a soft bed.

I collapsed onto it, dragging my exhausted body.

The gentle touch felt like a mother’s embrace, making me smile involuntarily.

‘Ah, of course, I don’t have a mother, so I don’t know exactly if it’s like this…’

But I thought it might be roughly like this.

Staggering, I placed the back of my hand on my forehead.

It had been a truly arduous journey.

In fact, in terms of time, not even three days had passed… but it felt like months.

‘Catching the boss was one thing…’

But sorting out the aftermath and dividing the rewards had been an ordeal.

Shocked by Moon Bora’s words, I ran madly toward the entrance.

The [Boss Room] entrance of the [Sea Dragon] was attached to the ceiling due to the [Spatial Shift] trap.

But when it died, the structure of the [Trial] collapsed and turned into a normal straight door.

‘You idiot moron!’

How could I have been so lost in the thrill of victory that I forgot my comrade, who had risked her life alongside me?

My father would’ve beaten me senseless if he had known.

I threw open the door.

A loud screech greeted me.

“Kwaaaak!”
“…?! Hyeja noona?”

Im Hyeja, hit by the open door, rolled forward.

“Aigoo… You caught me, kid.”
“A-are you okay?”

Seeing her chewing on jerky…

It seemed she had already defeated the approaching monsters and was waiting.

I thought she was truly skilled, and I was relieved she was safe.

And here…
There was one more guest I hadn’t anticipated at all.

“……”

Holding a chocolate bar in her mouth, a long-haired beauty with wide eyes like a rabbit.

“…Professor Peng Jin-ah?”
“Munch, munch… ahem!”

Peng Jin-ah didn’t explain why she was here, but I could guess.

‘She came in because she was worried.’

Only then did I understand why it was said there were seven at the entrance.

Anyway, after that, everything proceeded smoothly.

First, we gathered all the rewards from the [Treasure Room] and returned.

The corpse of the <Sea Dragon> was handed over to the Academy, where professional <Butchers> would disassemble it.

―Alright, let’s begin the work. Please be cautious with the scales and bones in that order.

Incidentally, the leader and coordinator of the butchers was Professor Choi Chae-gul.

Although it was at the request of the Chairman…

Ultimately, he agreed to take the role upon hearing that our Meowi was involved in the battle there.

‘…Seeing it this way, he really is a good person.’

Then, I spoke with Chairman Yu Neung-hae as a representative.

I detailed explanations and reports on the circumstances.
Upon hearing that the boss was the remnants of the ‘Fallen Dragon’ <Sea Dragon>…
Yu Neung-hae and Peng Jin-ah’s expressions turned to shock.

“Chairman!!! That’s why I told you to send me!!!”
“Cough, cough! P-Peng Jin-ah, you’re suffocating me! To think you secretly went, even donning the [Hermes’s Cloak]! Cough!”

The next thing I saw was the <White Ring> forming on my wrist.

To be exact, I transferred the ownership of the <Trial> to Yu Neung-hae.

I naturally thought they would close it…
But the response I received was completely different.

“Yu Seha? Use this as a hunting ground for you and your party members. We’ll purchase the <Trial> on behalf of the <Academy>.”

“…What?”