Glug, glug.
The sound of something being drunk without pause was light and cheerful.
And there was the sight of a girl enjoying her meal with satisfaction.
Shin Hyun slowly nodded his head as he watched Noah carefully picking out thorns from his own dish.
“Sure does look like you’re enjoying it.”
Noah ate in a way that made even the onlooker feel full and left the cook thoroughly satisfied.
So how must the person who’s doing both be feeling?
Indeed, it had been well made.
With pride, Shin Hyun smiled and noticed a single grain of rice on the table before him.
That small speck, gleaming white, was proudly showing its presence by sticking to the side of Noah’s lips.
Shin Hyun gave a small smile.
“Is it so delicious that you’re getting it all over your mouth?”
Swoosh.
Stretching his arm forward, he gently wiped the corner of her mouth.
Then he popped the bit of rice into his mouth.
“You’re not a kid anymore, you know.”
Of course.
He had no intention behind the action.
“…Mm…”
But Noah let out a soft hum.
She then closed her eyes and pouted her lips, slightly blushing.
“…Noah?”
What now?
In the middle of eating?
“Woof…”
Apparently, she was waiting for a kiss.
Shin Hyun thought about it for a moment before realizing immediately.
He understood.
He had eaten the bit of rice from Noah’s lips.
‘She probably thinks it was an indirect kiss…’
It was clearly a mistake.
His nature of not being able to stand seeing food wasted had led to this situation.
“…Sigh.”
Shaking his head, Shin Hyun lightly flicked Noah’s forehead.
“Ow!”
“What are you doing? Do you want some strange uncle to take advantage of you while you’re at it?”
“But I was just letting you do it.”
“Hmm… Why has this kid become like this?”
“Hurry up. Kiss me with your lips already.”
Utterly catastrophic word choice.
Kiss with lips? Where did such an idea come from!
“Ba… Just eat your rice, you brat.”
Not having found any words to respond, Shin Hyun quickly turned his head away to avoid eye contact.
“Tch. Cheesy.”
“What is?”
“You were the one who started it.”
There was nothing to say in response.
“It was just…a mistake.”
What kind of conversation was this?
It sounded like something people who spent a night together would say.
In reality, nothing happened; it was just in the middle of eating rice.
“Tch.”
Noah stuck out her lips.
Completely different from earlier, it seemed she was now sulking.
Just in time, the others who had gone camping also returned.
The Demon King, freshly changed into fluffy clothes, entered first, followed by the Magical Girls.
Noah didn’t miss this chance.
“Haaa…”
Pretending ostentatiously, she rubbed her belly with a contented expression.
“Uncle’s warmth filled me up…”
“Wait, stop right there.”
Shin Hyun could no longer bear the disdainful looks.
+++++
“Mmm… mmmmm…”
She whispers…
Ah… That divine being is whispering to me through the stars-
“Snap out of it!”
“Ouch!”
Iris squeezed her eyes shut and spoke in a muffled voice.
“That hurts!”
A dark tentacle of the Kraken had just slapped her back.
“If you keep zoning out and causing trouble, it really becomes exhausting for us.”
“Aww… Can you please use words instead?”
While saying this and rolling her eyes, Iris knew his words were true.
Blackheart, Stella.
Their turns had ended, and Natalia was currently absorbing the dragon’s magic power.
Due to a momentary error, Natalia had become a servant of the dragon and went berserk, leading to an immense struggle to subdue her.
After two attempts, they barely succeeded, leaving everyone drenched in sweat.
“Huff…”
Focus.
Focus and finish this quickly for the plan to succeed.
‘Hurry up and end it.’
Iris repeated this in her mind several times, concentrating despite the impure intentions mixed within.
Even the ancient dragon’s soul, which was gently piercing her, cowered and bowed its head.
‘I’ll just go now.’
‘Nope. Keep going.’
‘I’ve already been stripped of everything-‘
‘There’s still more left.’
‘That’s my soul though…’
‘Yeah, hand it over.’
‘Demon…!’
Whether demon or not, it made no difference.
Noah mercilessly concluded the chapter for the pitiful ancient dragon whose soul had entered her magic power.
Certainly, the ancient dragon cursed profusely, unwilling to attain enlightenment, but Noah paid no attention, focused as she was on her goal.
“Huff…”
Noah closed her eyes, preparing to absorb the ancient dragon’s magic power, but she sensed something odd.
“Eh, is this all?”
She wasn’t satisfied.
If she followed the recommended method, overwhelming strength should have surged forth.
“Why doesn’t it feel like anything has changed?”
Shin Hyun nodded.
“It won’t. You’ve already reached your limit in strength.”
“Hmm.”
“You might grow stronger, but it won’t show much difference.”
This was hard to understand.
Then why had they come all this way?
Responding to Noah’s questioning gaze, Shin Hyun nodded.
“Final rest.”
“Final rest?”
“Yeah. This will likely be the last time we get to rest. The winter break might mark the climax of our story.”
Shin Hyun felt it. The ending of the story was slowly approaching.
However, this wasn’t the place to talk about such things. Most importantly, Noah needed stability at the moment.
“For now, absolute rest is necessary. Things could get complicated if you lose control.”
Noah’s lips curled into a sly grin.
She had been waiting for those words.
“Did you say rest is important?”
“Huh?”
“Certainly, those were Uncle’s exact words. Rest is important, right?”
“That’s right.”
Noah smiled faintly.
“Then Uncle should help me with it, right?”
“…What are you trying to do now?”
“Something that promotes mental peace, obviously.”
Noah quickly moved closer, wrapping her arm around Shin Hyun’s.
“Let’s go star-gazing together!”
+++++
Grip.
Shin Hyun looked down to his right where Noah clung to him.
Griiiip.
He saw Noah pressing herself against him, trying to push her chest forward.
Was she aware of how she looked right now?
“Huff.”
Taking a short breath, he slightly curled the corners of his lips upward.
The weary figure of a man appeared.
“Are you pushing yourself too hard?”
Perhaps.
Considering the past two weeks, it was possible.
Preparing meals, playing with the Demon King, attending magical rituals—
Even if he received help, organizing and taking responsibility for everything fell to him. It was a tiring schedule.
“Here, lie down.”
“…”
Noah beat the large sleeping bag enthusiastically.
Barely large enough for two people, it seemed prepared intentionally. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t even consider entering, but what could be done?
“I’m going to lie down a bit…”
Before fatigue, one becomes powerless.
The two lay side by side, silently gazing at the night sky.
The world surrounded by darkness twinkled only with starlight and moonlight.
“Beautiful.”
“…Yeah.”
“Oh, Uncle, you lack sensibility.”
“Huh?”
“At a moment like this, you should have said I’m more beautiful than the stars.”
The sinking gaze of Shin Hyun slowly, but surely, conveyed his emotions to Noah.
It was a somewhat bewildered look.
“No atmosphere.”
“Sorry.”
“We came here to enjoy ourselves, so Uncle should try to enjoy it too.”
Chuckling softly, Noah murmured again while looking at the stars.
“How much time do we have left?”
“…Hmm, actually… Is it about a month?”
Maybe less.
“Could be less than a month.”
“Short, isn’t it?”
“The final rest and tranquility before the battle begins.”
Within a month, perhaps.
By that time, everything would be decided.
This long journey would finally reach its conclusion.
Thinking this, Noah turned around to face Shin Hyun.
“Uncle.”
“Hmm?”
“After everything ends, what do you want to do?”
After everything concludes…
“…I don’t know.”
Shin Hyun had never thought about it.
He tried a few times, but never arrived at a clear answer.
A wanderer.
Perhaps that word best described him. All he had was a national ID card. No academic qualifications, no experience.
Until now, he had run forward solely with the determination to save Noah, but life goes on even after everything ends.
To him, this world had already become as real as reality itself.
“I can’t keep working at convenience stores forever, can I?”
“…True.”
Noah looked at Shin Hyun’s face.
“Ah, this won’t work. Looks like I’ll have to take care of you for life.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll hire you as a butler. Lifetime contract, salary plus room and board. How does that sound?”
Shin Hyun chuckled.
Now that he thought about it, how would this kid live her life?
Judging by her interest in music, maybe she’d become a singer or songwriter.
Whatever she chooses, I hope she lives happily.
“Later.”
“Please give it positive consideration.”
“Later.”
“Tch. Everything later.”
Because no one knows what will happen in the final battle.
‘Survival is key.’
In every ending Shin Hyun had seen, Noah hadn’t survived a single one.
Even when reaching the boss, she always met her end.
But this time, it would be different.
If necessary…
‘At least I’ll save Noah.’
He was even ready to sacrifice himself.
To him, Noah was that precious.
That’s why he pushed her away even more.
He bought time with the word “later.”
If their relationship became too intimate and one of them eventually died, it would leave a wound that could never heal.
“Hey… Ah! Uncle, look! A shooting star!”
“Oh.”
“Making a wish! Wish!”
With a clap, Noah clasped her hands and concentrated deeply, furrowing her brow as if making an intense wish.
Watching her, Shin Hyun quietly closed his eyes and made a wish too.
Please…
‘May everyone reach a safe conclusion.’
For this story to end with a happy ending.
…
And then, the storm that disrupted the tranquil everyday life occurred a week later.
