"What's wrong, Yerim? Is something bothering you?"
I asked while Peace clung to me with all its might. Yoohyun and Moon Hyuna also turned to Yerim, looking surprised.
"I think it's much safer to stay near the sea. So, wouldn't it be better to just wait here? If an SSS-grade monster appears, we can always bring it back to Drosia."
"That may be true, Yerim. But after we install all the discs, we don't know what might happen. It makes me uneasy to leave you alone. Plus, if necessary, Noah can teleport back to Drosia quickly."
If we had used teleportation in addition to our slow journey due to luring monsters, we would have arrived in Drosia within two days from Lanchea. From there to Medsang would take only a day.
"If you're worried about getting weaker─"
"No, it's not that."
Yerim said, furrowing her brow slightly.
"It's about the spirits."
"The spirits?"
"Yes. Um, it's just that they might not follow."
She glanced briefly at the spirits still circling around us.
"If the spirits leave in droves, Drosia will be in danger too, but they won't be safe either. Leaving the water won't weaken me much, just losing the advantage of being near it. But for them, it's a real weakening. Yet, if I were to engage in a fight with monsters, they would definitely intervene, I'm sure."
It was said that there were constraints on spirits without a contractor. Unless they followed a contractor, there was no reason for them to leave the water, so it was originally an unnecessary constraint. But now it was different.
"They usually listen to me well, but they don't always follow blindly. Even if I tell them not to come, many of them will still follow, for sure."
Yerim came close to me and lowered her voice.
"It's not really true, but... they really like me a lot. They all like me the best. If you were in danger, or if Hyun was still captured, then I couldn't just stay still. But for now, would it be okay if I stayed here?"
I looked around. The spirits were sending curious glances towards us. Their expressions were hard to read due to their various forms, but it was clear that they were all friendly.
I didn't want to leave Yerim alone. In the worst-case scenario, if something like an entrance appeared right after installing the disc, or if there was some kind of time limit, then I couldn't leave Yerim outside. Of course, I had no intention of leaving her behind, but it was also something to avoid leaving everyone behind.
So, somehow convincing her to come along was the right thing to do.
'...These are the ones who like me the most.'
That bothered me. It had been on my mind for a while. Yerim was still young and at an age where she needed parents who prioritized her. Not everyone had good parents, but usually, the child would be the first priority at home.
But I had to put my brother first. And Yerim probably knew that too. She didn't show any complaints; rather, she was a generous child who even comforted Yoohyun yesterday. But still, she must have known. She wouldn't know nothing, she wouldn't express any complaints, but she must have known. Even boasted about being so popular when she went to take the final exam.
She was mainly focused on home schooling now, only going to school when there were special activities or exams. But from the second semester, she was gradually increasing her commuting days, and if there were no problems, she could just go to a regular school normally. Both the school and the parents welcomed the idea as long as there was good camaraderie. It was probably aimed at bringing in an S-class hunter and ensuring the safety of the students, but still.
Given this and that, she was probably at least five times better in terms of sociability than Yoohyun. Or Even compared to other people.
Honestly, there were hardly any flaws. Rather, everything was excellent. Her final exam grades were a bit low, but it was understandable since she was busy awakening. The midterm exam went well. Considering she didn't have time to study, her grades were good. Shouldn't she get additional points for that? I couldn't study because I was protecting the country.
Anyway, Yerim seemed to be doing extremely well in every aspect, but she seemed so free of any shadows that it made me worry even more.
"Are you in trouble?"
"Huh? Uh? No, no."
"If it can't be helped, then it can't be helped."
I quickly raised my head at Yerim's straightforward attitude. Well, there's nothing I can do about it.
"First... let me explain. Yerim, you can't stay here anymore."
I can't live here?
"I didn't say you can't. Maybe it's enough to say that you're someone from another world. And that we'll find a way for you to go together with the spirit through a contract."
Yerim's eyes widened at my words.
"Can I then take it with me?"
"I can't guarantee it. But we don't have to give up from the beginning."
If she can make a contract with the spirit, it would be helpful in many ways. But before that, I hoped that Yerim had someone who cherished her the most. Not everyone can find someone who considers them as their first priority. Many people live well even without it.
But still, it would be better if she had it. Having a definite ally, the more the better.
"Then I'll tell everyone to gather!"
Yerim smiled widely with a delighted expression.
- Woof.
"Yeah, yeah. It's okay. I'm holding you, so you don't have to worry."
The peace in my arms rubbed its nose against my shoulder and acted mischievous. It seemed anxious, as it had to cross a narrow bridge over the water that was filled with water and even had legs submerged in the water.
"peace has wings, Hyung."
Han Yoohyun said it was just being dramatic.
"It hasn't had wings for long. It's probably not used to it yet."
"But it flies well."
- Woof, woof.
"It must have been tiring to fly all the way here."
- ?
"Since the wings disappeared, it seems like it's a skill. It must have been even more exhausting. This world is difficult to replenish mana."
But it flew all the way to this far place. It must have worked hard. Monsters can't replenish mana from mana holes alone, so how do they replenish mana? ...By eating other monsters?
"We're here!"
Yerim flew towards the center of the underground of the Drosia Defense Bereau where the lake was filled with water. Her voice echoed through the cave walls.
"Are you all here?"
- Almost!
- I'm here too!
The gathered spirits answered in unison. The white whale had also shrunk enough to sit on Yerim's palm and was swimming next to her. A sea serpent with only its head sticking out of the water was also visible. After crossing the bridge, we landed on a small rock island in the center. Yerim came down next to me.
"Thank you for gathering. And, um, thank you for liking me."
Yerim turned to me and said.
"But I can't make a contract with all of you."
"Why?"
- I can be of great help!
"Guys, I'm not from this world."
The spirits looked puzzled, swirling around and blinking like eyes.
"I just temporarily entered Delta's body. I'm not really Delta. I'm Park Yerim, an Awakener from another world."
A short silence followed, and a shark with long frilly fins spoke up.
- I could sense that you were different from Delta.
- Even if you're from another world, it's okay.
- Me too.
Butterflies and small birds chirped in agreement. Even without Yerim's influence, it seemed like meeting the oldest spirit would be a good idea.
"Have you appeared in any dreams?"
"Yes. Shortly after coming here. It was round and sparkling, and it was glad to meet me and asked me to take care of the spirits. The voice sounded really old."
"Then let's wait."
Yerim explained to the spirits that if there was no way, she would have to leave, so they shouldn't follow her. The spirits were disappointed but accepted the parting.
- Can we come to Yerim's world later if there's a way?
"Of course! You can come anytime."
Yerim said brightly and turned away, secretly sending me a gaze mixed with regret. We couldn't know if there would be a later for them.
"I hope we can find a way."
Yerim said, hoping that she wouldn't have to part again.
After the meeting the oldest spirit tomorrow, we decided to leave Drosia. Yerim was busy preparing for it. She had to lie to the Drosia guards and say that she would come back soon once the problem was solved. It wouldn't take long, she assured them.
- Woof.
Peace jumped out of my arms and grew in size. It grew to the size of a small castle and spread its wings wide.
- Roar, roar.
"Our Peace is amazing!"
Peace nudged me with its back and looked at Noah, who was leaning against the railing. It made a creaking sound. Upon seeing that, Yoohyun spoke up.
"Peace can fly on its own now, so it doesn't need to ride the dragon."
"How do you know that?"
"I just do."
"I heard the same thing, Hyung!"
...Is that true? Judging by Peace's gestures, it seemed plausible. Noah didn't say anything, but his expression darkened noticeably. He was already worried about Mu's whereabouts, and now these guys.
"Don't worry, Noah. Peace may be able to fly on its own, but we still don't know if it can go outside. Besides, you have your own invisibility and support skills, so it's completely different."
"I'm not completely unsure either. It's just..."
Noah turned his head to look at the spirits swimming in the lake.
"Well, it's not impossible. Yoonjin and Kang Soyoung both have someone special in their lives. And this time, I became envious of Park Yerim,... Sorry, I keep saying pathetic things."
"It's not pathetic. How many people in the world haven't felt envious of someone? And Noah, you're Noah, no one else."
"Thank you for saying that."
He smiled faintly and then disappeared before my eyes. When we first met here, he was so confident... It must be because of the power of the auxiliary system users. Meeting them again made the original world feel more real and tangible.
In the end, we have to go back, and this place is very different from the outside. The fact that Noah's shoulders are already burdened with this knowledge may be weighing him down.
"Noah, you're not weak at all."
"No, I am weak."
"Well, you're definitely weaker than me."
"It's not about strength, it's about giving up too easily. If Hyung had Noah's abilities, he would never say he's weak. He would have posed a threat to many S-class beings."
"Why are you exaggerating so much?"
Of course, if I were Noah, I would have acted very differently. But that's because the environments we grew up in were different. I am different from the Noah who didn't regress, and Noah, who didn't have Riette as his older sister, would undoubtedly be different too. Even if I had received my parents' protection until I became an adult, I would have changed. If Noah had grown up in a peaceful and stable family, he would have changed too.
"Noah's attitude is not his fault. It's not wrong to stay the same, even if he becomes more confident and stronger. Some things just can't be achieved no matter how hard you try. People don't change that easily but Noah is a good person."
So I told my brother not to push him too hard. Hey, even I, who said that I'm different from Noah, lived a pathetic life for many years. I tried my best. But it still ended up like this.
Crash!
A hole appeared in one of the walls of the Drosia Defense Bereau. With a laugh, Moon Hyuna popped out and stood on the water, stepping on a turtle-shaped spirit. Through the dust and dirt beyond the hole, Sigma's figure also appeared. What are they doing?
"We're just casually sticking around, so don't worry, Director Han! I took a break for two days in a row, and my body was itching. I told Yerim too."
Lambda skillfully climbed up the railing, saying that he had to move his body to get used to the skill. He looked at Moon Hyuna and Sigma with narrowed eyes. My younger brother is something else.
"Don't cause any damage to the surroundings."
"It's on the water, so it should be fine."
Yoohyun flew into the air. He landed on the water, stepping on the willow leaves, and it looked like he was about to touch the surface. Moon Hyuna smiled broadly at his appearance.
"Just practice your skills, just practice!"
"Why do I have to get involved?"
"Don't pretend you don't like it, just go."
Well, it seemed like he didn't really dislike it. When we all went into the dungeon together, I had a match with Moon Hyuna. It feels like a long time ago. I looked up at the empty sky, holding the shrunken Peace in my arms.
"Please send a signal if you're safe. Did you lose all your fur? And more importantly, how do you knit with just one arm?"
It's strange that I brought fur here in the first place. It wasn't just me who came in with my whole body. Splash! The water on the lake rose high. As steam rose, electric currents spread and the surface of the water became rough. I could hear Yerim's voice from afar, saying she wanted to join in too.
"I bet you'd want to join too, huh? You're still alive, right? There's no way you're not watching this."
[^^]
A quest came. I'm not sure if you can call that a quest. There was no content, and I could receive the reward immediately. The reward wasn't anything special either.
"Tea, snacks, and... wing bones?"
- Meow!
"Seems like he want us to enjoy it while watching."
I gave the bones to Peace and took a bite of the snacks. They seemed busy doing something, but at least they seemed unharmed.
- We're here!
- We've arrived!
The contact from the spirits came early the next morning. Since the oldest spirit couldn't enter Drosia, we went out to sea. There was a large hole drilled as if inviting us into the vast expanse of the icy sea. The slightly chilling blue seawater beyond the hole felt eerie. Was it the influence of something lurking beneath, beyond the fear threshold?
- The caregiver asked us to bring him along.
- It's this person!
"No."
Yoohyun replied coldly to the spirits.
"I knew something was up. It's too risky underwater."
"Yerim is here."
- We won't harm him.
- We wouldn't harm someone Yerim likes.
"Yeah. And do you think I can't protect one uncle underwater? Don't worry and just light a fire. Hyuna unni seems cold."
"It's a bit chilly."
Despite Yerim's words, Yoo-hyun reluctantly stepped back with an uncomfortable expression.
"Be careful, hyung."
Nodding his head, he entered the sea with Yerim. Deep down in the dimly lit depths, a large, silent white object loomed. It was a gigantic pearl oyster, so massive that it was hard to gauge its size.
---