Chapter 141

“Ayu, everyone thinks at least once that they should have tried harder when they recall past events. And among the things people have done in their lives, there aren’t many well-done things.”

In a world where you can only survive by killing someone.

I am not a Returner, so I have never lived in such a world.

But even I ended up killing Gwak Sa-yeon with my own hands.

Could Ayu, born as the youngest daughter of Cheonma, have survived without killing someone?

Cheonma Cheon Hong-ryun, as Ayu said, was already exhausted and had reached her limit.

Asking her if she could have done better is too much, isn’t it?

“But the best thing I’ve done in my life is playing games with you.”

Saying that, I gently stroked Ayu’s reddened cheek.

“And even now, I feel lucky to be with you like this. It’s because of the life you’ve lived that I met you and Ayu.”

Ayu looked up at me quietly after hearing my words.

“So don’t think your choices are meaningless. It’s because of those choices that I met you.”

Tears began to well up in Ayu’s eyes.

Seeing her, who cries easily, I wiped her tears with my hand, and Ayu held my hand tightly.

“That’s why I like Domi Oppa the most in the world. I like it the most when Domi Oppa speaks warmly to me.”

“If you like it, I can do it every day.”

“I also like the part where you tease me.”

Ayu stood up and gently held my cheek.

“I wonder who you take after to be so pretty and considerate.”

“Maybe our mom. Dad was a bit peculiar.”

“I guess I inherited that peculiar part from my father. I should thank them both.”

She smiled brightly and then leaned in to kiss me.

Thinking we’ve been kissing a lot today, Ayu didn’t pull away.

As I was momentarily stunned, Ayu slightly opened her mouth and carefully touched her tongue to mine.

For a moment, my body stiffened, and I met Ayu’s very close eyes.

The breath and warmth flowing from her blushing face, along with the soft scent of a woman, enchanted me.

Then, as if that was her limit, Ayu slowly pulled her face away and looked at me with relaxed eyes.

Ayu and I stared at each other in silence.

Somehow, the air around us felt heated.

“Domi Oppa…”

Ayu, exhaling hot breath, gently placed her hand on my chest.

As I was about to speak, I met Baeksan, who had peeked his face out from between the walls.

Startled, I froze, and Baeksan let out a long sigh, then gestured to the side with his chin.

Following his direction, I turned my head and saw Juk-sim, who had poked her head out from under the blanket, as if she had just come out of a game.

Juk-sim, with her face bright red, was clutching the blanket and looking at us.

Realizing this was Juk-sim’s house, my face turned red instantly, and Ayu, noticing something, looked back at Juk-sim.

After a moment of silence between Juk-sim and us, Juk-sim tapped on my mobile phone.

[She asks if we should leave the room.]

As I was about to speak, a sound exploded from Ayu’s side.

Ayu, now seemingly feverish, collapsed and curled up like an armadillo next to me, hiding her face with her hands.

“Ugh, hua, ueeeng.”

Realizing what she had been about to do, Ayu had become an armadillo.

Seeing Ayu, who didn’t move and only made deflated sounds, I spoke to Juk-sim.

“…Juk-sim, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

[It’s okay.]

Juk-sim slightly touched her lips and looked at me again.

[But can I ask one thing?]

“Ah, yes.”

[Does kissing feel that good?]

The following words made me pause again.

Faced with such a direct question, I couldn’t immediately respond and ended up covering my face with my hands, becoming an armadillo like Ayu.

Our lives were at zero.

Nae-ki, come quickly.

“Hum hum~”

A girl with brown braided hair hummed as she walked.

Twenty-six this year.

Soon to be twenty-seven, she seemed unusually happy.

“I wore pretty clothes, and I should look good to a handsome younger man.”

Isn’t it time to live in reality now?

Just a few months ago, I had to live in a game world, but now, as an extra, Lee Eun-ha was a bit excited.

Even in a hurry, I dressed up nicely and came out.

As she walked, her reflection appeared in a semi-transparent shop window.

A bitter smile naturally formed on her face.

The bangs covering half her face and the left eye that always had to be closed.

Touching her left eye, Nae-ki slowly removed her hand.

In the past, her hair was beautifully swept back, and both eyes were fully visible.

But now, she could no longer do that.

A brief memory of her return flashed through her mind.

The many connections she made in a world where virtual reality became reality.

There were many good memories and some bitter ones, but it wasn’t all bad.

“Still, the school uniform was nice.”

It felt like shooting a school youth drama, which was fun.

Honestly, it was frustrating to see everyone but herself in a relationship.

Perhaps that’s why, after returning to reality, her always closed eye brought back memories of that time.

She knew that opening this eye would only give her a headache.

‘But I’ve accepted it, so why am I complaining now?’

Feeling bitter now would only drain her energy.

Suddenly, a sense of reality hit her.

“Eun-ha, pull yourself together.”

Today, she decided to help Ha-chan dramatically meet a handsome younger man, and at that moment, she felt something.

Startled!

Something suddenly caught her attention.

Eun-ha was also a Returner.

Having lived in a troublesome game world, she couldn’t just ignore this feeling.

“This smells like an event.”

Eun-ha frowned and walked on.

She had to go to Ha-chan, but ignoring this feeling wouldn’t do any good.

Walking between buildings, Eun-ha soon entered a back alley.

No matter how developed the streets were, the alleys between buildings had a strangely eerie atmosphere.

As she slowly approached the alley, Eun-ha smelled blood.

Leaning against the wall, she peeked into a particularly narrow part of the alley, where a man was sitting against the wall.

His hair was the color of plum blossoms.

Seeing his delicate face, Eun-ha slightly raised an eyebrow.

‘Wow, he’s pretty handsome. Totally my type.’

His appearance, which could evoke a protective instinct, was a pleasure to look at.

Thinking that being handsome is good, Eun-ha nodded, but then noticed blood dripping from his arm onto the ground.

‘Crazy. With that face, he must have a story.’

Dressed lightly in a cardigan, he held a sword in his hand.

‘But he feels like a Returner.’

Hunters rarely have unusual hair colors unless they have special abilities.

On the other hand, Returners often have changed appearances due to various circumstances, so unusual hair colors are common.

Thinking so, Eun-ha approached him cautiously.

“Who are you?”

At that moment, his gaze turned towards her.

Meeting his eyes, Eun-ha awkwardly smiled and stepped out of the alley.

“Ah, hello! I wasn’t trying to peek, but you seem hurt, so I thought of calling 119.”

“119? 119… Ah, you mean a doctor.”

A doctor.

Is he from a martial arts world?

Being a Returner herself, Eun-ha had studied recent Returners and quickly realized he was one.

‘Wait a minute.’

But at that moment, Eun-ha tilted her head.

As a Returner, he wouldn’t have mistaken 119 for a doctor.

Returners are originally from Earth.

‘This person.’

He’s not a Returner.

Then.

‘A Dimensional Invader.’

Quickly grasping the situation, Eun-ha’s eye sharpened slightly.

As her hand under her clothes began to move.

“I’m sorry. I seem to have scared you unintentionally, miss.”

He staggered to his feet.

Seeing his struggling figure, Eun-ha’s heart wavered.

‘Damn, his face is a cheat.’

Blaming herself for being weak to handsome faces, Eun-ha raised her hand.

“I’m sorry. Please don’t move. I’m somewhat involved in dimensional issues. I’ll call someone, so could you wait?”

Even if he’s a Dimensional Invader, he’s still a person.

If communication is possible, Eun-ha wanted to resolve this amicably.

So, when she said that, he blinked at her.

Then, as he met Eun-ha’s eyes, his eyes slowly widened.

“…By any chance, are you Miss Nae-ki?”

Nae-ki?

Hearing that, Eun-ha’s head tilted slightly.

I am an Extra, shortened to Nae-ki.

Why did his mouth suddenly mention the nickname she often used?

“How do you know that name…”

At that moment, the man suddenly rushed towards her.

In an instant, his plum-colored hair and face were right in front of her, and Eun-ha almost screamed.

‘Turn on the lights before coming in.’

Then, reflexively moving her hands, she felt a warm touch.

He had tightly grasped both her hands.

“Eek!”

His long eyelashes were right in front of her.

The faint plum blossom scent made Eun-ha’s head spin.

Because of that, her heart skipped a beat for a moment.

Realizing she was almost seduced, Eun-ha snapped out of it.

“Miss Nae-ki, I have a sincere request for you.”

“A request?”

“Would you please join me in my cause?”

Hearing that, Eun-ha’s face gradually turned red.

Join in the cause.

Join in the cause…

A confession?

‘Crazy, Lee Eun-ha, you idiot. What are you being charmed by? Snap out of it!’

It seemed that after being with men for so long, her brain automatically judged everything as romance.

Eun-ha quickly regained her composure and pulled herself together.