Sweet Dreams (2)

Yu Seha, Ju Na-young, Moon Bora.

At the moment when the three were drowning in sweet illusions, struggling in false happiness.

“Meow, Meow, Meow.”

A cute and small black fur ball.
Ma Hana.
She moved forward.
Forward, forward, forward.

The speed was not fast.
But silently, like a mountain, she moved forward, forward.

Every time Ma Hana moved forward, countless false illusions trembled.
Various scenes tempting Ma Hana one by one.

Some showed her future self living boastfully as an S-rank hunter.

Some showed her with a plump and mature body shooting an ad for the “Hunter of the Day!” magazine.

Some showed her sitting on a pile of money with her generous older sister after a booming business.

Some even showed her as the clan master of one of the four great clans, dressed in a suit and receiving everyone’s respect.

Each was a dream that the immature Ma Hana had dreamed of in her childhood.

But Ma Hana did not care.

Because now, she had a dream more precious than such material things.

Then the desire lurking in the darkness changed direction.
Little by little, it showed the figure of Yu Seha.

“Meoww!”
“Mu, Muaang…”

Various versions of Yu Seha called Ma Hana.
They beckoned her to come.
They gestured as if to stroke her head or pinch her cheek.

Ma Hana hesitated at Yu Seha’s warm temptation.
She shook her head.
Her intuition, instinct, and senses shouted.

“You are fakes. The real Seha is… a million times cooler!”

At those words, the fake Yu Sehas scattered like smoke and disappeared.

The hallucinations continued in even more diverse ways.
Not only Yu Seha, but also Moon Bora and Ju Na-young began to appear.

Ma Hana did not waver.
A firm iron will was engraved in her heart.
Her steps moved forward without hesitation.

Before she knew it, Ma Hana reached the final trial that even Yu Seha had knelt before.

At the moment she stepped inside.

She paused.

Ma Hana stopped her steps.
She couldn’t help it.

She opened her mouth blankly.
She stammered toward the two people in front of her.

“…Ah, Dad?”
“Meowi!”

A tall man with a sturdy build and a bear-like impression.
Ma Hana’s father, Ma Tae-han.

Next to him stood a woman.
Ma Hana met her gaze with trembling eyes.

“……”

A black-haired woman quietly clasping her hands without a word.
Uniquely, she had two long cat-like tails.

Definitely a face she had never seen before.
She had never even heard her voice.

But Ma Hana instinctively knew.
The blood flowing in her body surged.

Beyond faint memories like heat haze, the warmth and the nutty smell of milk that had soaked her body resurfaced the moment she saw her.

Could it be, that person is…

“Uh…”

Mom?

“……”

For a long time,
Just like a stone statue.
Ma Hana stood without saying a word.

A blank gaze.
The face of her father she was seeing again after a long time.
And the unmistakable face of her mother.

The two waved their hands.
She couldn’t hear exactly what they said, but…
The nuance and gestures…

It was definitely an invitation to come this way.
She faintly heard words like “Let me hug you at least once.”
Ma Hana forced herself to suppress the urge to run to them immediately.

“……”

Ma Hana gave a bitter smile.
She exhaled softly.
She closed her eyes for a moment.

Drip.
A single tear fell.
With her eyes closed, Ma Hana shook her head.

‘…No.’

She knew well.
Yes, she knew better than anyone.

They are fakes.
They were nothing but hallucinations created to embody her longing.

Therefore, they were not her father,
And even less her mother.

Ma Hana raised her head and opened her eyes.
Her heart, which had been shaking like an earthquake moments ago, calmed down.

Recently, the training method taught by Professor Cha Yeo-joo, who was both her mentor and cherished like a younger sibling.
The 0th technique of <Kalas Shield Technique>.
It had no special name, but it embodied an unwavering spirit in her heart.

Tap.

Like a drop of water falling into a calm lake.
Ma Hana’s heart quietly settled.
Only then could she clearly recognize the two people.

Ma Hana walked forward.
The distance closed in a single breath.
As expected, it was a space made of illusions.

The two opened their arms wide.
Even as they approached right in front of her…
Ma Hana just smiled sadly.

She shed tears once more and spoke softly.

“I’m sorry.”

The beginning was an apology.

“I also want to be with you two, but…”

There are friends who need my help now.
They are waiting.
So I have to go back.

After speaking, Ma Hana twisted her body briefly.
She twirled her hair and made the face of a girl in love.

“And, um, someone I care about needs me. Mua, ah, no… I’ll just be honest.”

Ma Hana fiddled with her ears with both hands and confessed with a flushed face.

“I, I have someone I love.”
“…!?”

At those words, her father Ma Tae-han, who was surely just a manifested illusion.
He opened his mouth wide.

He stammered some reply.
But it was not audible.
But she could tell what he was saying by his lip movements.

The feeling was like, “Who on earth is it!?”

Ma Hana smiled softly.
No matter how fake or illusory,
A father is still a father.

Ma Hana wagged her tail shyly.
She fidgeted her fingers and answered.

“He is the benefactor who saved me. His name is Yu Seha. He is a very precious person.”

Ma Hana talked about the memories she had with Yu Seha so far.
One by one, carefully.
As if writing a diary.
And at the end, she placed her hand over her recently slightly swollen chest.

“I want to be by his side.”

I want to be with him until the end.
I want to build a bond with him.

“So later, in the more distant future… I will come to see you both.”

Until then… will you watch over me?

Ma Hana’s sincere words.
No matter how much they are beings created by trials, parents are parents.
At their daughter’s honest words, the two silently stepped aside.

Ma Hana bowed her head in gratitude.
However, what she said now was not only for the two of them.

A presence that was always by her side.
A presence Ma Hana was unaware of because she didn’t realize it.

And recently, after training with Cha Yeo-joo…
She finally realized the presence.
Ma Hana looked back.

“…..”
“……”

A white ghost-like woman was looking at her.
A woman with two tails and deep black hair.
Though blurry, she looked exactly like Ma Hana, like a twin.
Ma Hana blushed slightly as she looked at her.
Since it was the first time she spoke after sensing the presence, she opened her mouth with a bit of childishness.

“…Mom.”
“……”

At those words, the woman nodded slightly.
Ma Hana also nodded.

Many questions arose.
Why is mom…
Here beside me in this form?

It would be a lie not to be curious.
But she decided not to care now.
When the time comes later…
She will find out herself.

Ma Hana turned her body.
She slowly moved forward.
She heard the sound of something shattering.

Thus, Ma Hana was able to awaken from her own illusion.

In front of Ma Hana, a long black corridor stretched.
The same darkness, but a different feeling from before.
It was definitely the path leading to her comrades.

Sure enough.
After walking a little, she heard a voice shouting “Ugh!”
It was undoubtedly Yu Seha’s voice.

“Se, Seha!”

Ma Hana ran.
What kind of desire had captured someone like Seha?

Her heart filled with worry.
Soon, she was a bit stunned by the revealed scene.

“Uh, ugh, ugh!”
“Muaa~”
“Maa?”
“Muaa~”

Yu Seha was visible right in the center.
And around him, 20 Ma Hanas were moving around cutely.
Yu Seha was smiling happily.

“Kuh, sniff… it’s, it’s all fake…”

Surprisingly, Yu Seha knew all of this was fake.
But no matter how fake, Peng Jin-ah is Peng Jin-ah.
He couldn’t resist their “Meow, Meow” temptations.

‘Meow…’

Ma Hana scratched her cheek.
She was a bit embarrassed.
To be swayed by an illusion reflecting herself.

In other words, Ma Hana was the strongest temptation for him.
That fact was embarrassing yet strangely joyful.

‘Muaa. But I can’t let it go on forever like this.’

Ma Hana cleared her throat.
The clones who heard the sound all looked.
Naturally, Yu Seha also looked.

“Me-meowwi?!”
“Hello, Se-ha.”

Ma Hana walked slowly.
She looked at the clones staring at her with yellowish pupils.

She clasped her hands.
And bowed her head.

“I’m sorry everyone. Seha has many things he must do.”

Won’t you let him go now?

Normally, that would be nonsense.
No matter how ridiculous the illusion,
These are all beings created by the power of <The Tower>, infinitely close to reality.

However, precisely because of that, Ma Hana’s words were even more effective.
The clones looked at each other.
Soon, without anyone leading, they let go of Yu Seha.

Ma Hana supported Yu Seha.
One of the clones pointed somewhere with a finger.

“Meow, if you go that way, Na-young and Bora are there.”
“Meow, they both got fooled like fools, so save them?”

Ma Hana gave a “Muaa” smile at the clone’s words.

“Thank you. Everyone.”

A little later.

Ma Hana walked out carrying Yu Seha on her back.

No, she was not alone.

In her hands were the dazed Ju Na-young and Moon Bora.

Ma Hana looked ahead.

Senior Choi Mari looked on, unable to hide her surprised expression.
No, she saw a rabbit.

After a moment, the rabbit smiled gently at Ma Hana.

“…Not bad? You are purer and more beautiful than I thought.”
“Meow?”
“I didn’t say it outright, but this test now also settles what is commonly called karma.”
“…Karma?”
“Well, simply put, it’s a difficulty adjustment function.”

For the virtuous, good illusions.
For the wicked, evil illusions.

Therefore, for inherently twisted beings,
Or those who have committed unspeakable killings, it becomes the harshest test.

“But you took the test with the gentlest atmosphere among all challengers I’ve seen so far.”

Both the content and the characters were all different.

“I think I understand the life you’ve lived. Excellent, Ma Hana. This test is your victory.”
“Meow, even if you praise me suddenly like that, nothing comes out…”

The rabbit smiled gently at Ma Hana’s shy smile.

Then, as if saying “that’s that and this is this…”
She snapped her fingers without hesitation.

The space changed again.
A line marked “Starting Line.”
A straight path stretched ahead.

At this sight, Yu Seha finally came to his senses and touched his forehead, saying:

“…A running race?”
“That’s right!”

The rabbit stepped out confidently.

By now, she wore a headband with a ★ drawn on her forehead.

“The third test and the final trial! It is to fairly catch me!”

The rabbit explained that it was fine to overpower her or just take the headband she was wearing.
Then she smiled mischievously.

“…But just running is boring.”

At the moment she snapped her fingers.

With a bang, the entire group was dressed in turtle costumes.

“Yo, Yong-ah?! Wh-what is this? It’s ugly!”
“…The aesthetic sense is the worst. That rabbit. And this shell. Isn’t it somehow heavy?”

The rabbit did not miss Moon Bora’s muttering.

“It’s not an illusion. The shell is not just an ordinary decoration. The heavier the shell, the greater the desires and wishes you carry.”

After the explanation, the rabbit clapped her hands.

“Now, now, then let’s start… huh?”

The rabbit blinked, unable to continue speaking.
Ju Na-young and Moon Bora also turned around accordingly and flinched.

“Me-meow…”
“M-meowi, are you okay?!”

Yu Seha and Ma Hana.
Both were also dressed in turtle costumes.
They were struggling, crushed under turtle shells as big as houses.

“…Uh, hmm?”

The rabbit, seeing this, looked flustered as if she hadn’t expected it.