“So you came from an era where the three languages were still distinctly their own? But you’re understanding my words fine though?”
“Because you’re speaking only Japanese… right?”
“No?”
Is she not?
I rubbed my forehead and tried to focus.
“Say that again?”
“Say what?”
The ‘say what’ EunHa just said wasn’t Japanese. Yet I understood it.
“What do you mean you don’t understand what we’re saying?”
“Then when I’m talking, am I talking in proper Japanese or, is it a mixture?”
“Huh? Uh… I think when I first met you, you spoke only the Japanese slang. Just now you used some odd choice of words, but at least I get what you’re talking about.”
I don’t understand what she means by ‘slang’, Japanese isn’t a slang. Could it be a difference in the language system?
“Is it possible to speak without using any of what you refer to as the… Japanese slang? If that’s even possible.”
EunHa turned to MinGyeo-ssi.
“MinGyeo-ssi, don’t misunderstand. He knows the me of the other world, not the me of this world.”
“I’m not misunderstanding anything.”
“I actually don’t approve of him calling my first name.”
“Then you should let him know.”
That wasn’t Japanese… and I can’t tell if it was Chinese or Korean or both.
Was this due to the effect of the system? Am I interpreting Korean and Chinese without realising it?
“So, did you understand what I just said?”
“Yes.”
“…I shouldn’t have said what I did then.”
“Then if not, should I call you Ms. Hwang?”
“You’re older than me. Just don’t call me by my first name. The full name is fine.”
“Hwang EunHa it is then.”
“…”
Oddly enough, while this conversation was happening, we were also having dinner together.
As a side note, the dishes were an assortment of high end fish delicacies. At first I thought maybe the EunHa of this world had a thing with seafood.
But the more I thought about it, the more it didn’t make sense. She was someone who would choose Korean barbecue over sashimi any time of the day. We even argue over this sometimes.
From past recollections of EunHa’s behaviour, to current observations of the fantasy world. The puzzle pieces started assembling themselves, bringing to life something I thought unimaginable.
…I may never eat another chicken drumstick ever again.
Ah, isn’t this my fault then? I’m the software engineer for
…Screw me.
“Hwang EunHa, if you don’t mind me asking something strange.”
“…What is it?”
“Is there any reason why you’re bringing me to Hoshizora? I don’t mean I’m ungrateful, I just… want to know why you’re going so far for a stranger like me.”
I have no idea why she’s treating me so well. I sure thought she hated me.
Was it because there was some kind of plot armour going on? Or could there be some unknown reason I’m not aware of? Realistically, EunHa should’ve left me stranded at HuaShan Outpost… not that I would prefer.
“Well…”
Her words trembled as her gaze averted mine.
“…I’m bringing you to the Saint to figure that out myself.”
“What?”
She’s bringing me to the Saint?
“It’s up to you to believe what I’m about to say, but she told me of a prophecy.”
She hesitated.
“…That I would meet you.”
The Saint knew that EunHa would meet me?
“It seems the Saint knows something about you, so… the best individual to ask would be the person herself. That’s the reason I’m bringing you along.”
“…If you don’t mind me asking. Who exactly is the Saint?”
There was such a character in the main story of
She was the person who would spur ‘you’ the ‘player’ to fight these demons. It draws parallels with what was happening now but, there was no rational explanation to how the Saint would know about EunHa and I unless…
“Tell me her name. I’ll see if I recognise it.”
“Wu XiaoLe.”
Wu XiaoLe…? What? I don’t know such a person.
The Saint’s name in
She is a support-healer class you can slot in the armament category of the team. A character in the story who becomes one of your first [UNIT]s in the game.
I had plans for her to be included in the still-in-development tutorial section… it seems this world picked up upon my incomplete intention, even going to the point of deciding a name for her.
Meeting her was how the story is supposed to begin. Though, it gives me the chills just thinking the world may be forced in a certain direction in order to accommodate me.
Knocking my forehead with a sigh, I thought maybe I shouldn’t jump to conclusion so soon. Until I have a firm basis to back my theory, I can’t confirm anything yet.
I ignored EunHa’s puzzled expression and continued eating my meal. For now, please forgive me for keeping this a secret from you, EunHa.
⊳╙⊠’╨
“Thank you.”
“You’re most welcome.”
MinGyeo-ssi watched me off. Though I thought it was quite unnecessary of her as my cabin was right beside theirs.
I was just about to enter when I realised I hadn’t actually asked about EunHa’s condition.
“MinGyeo-san, how is EunHa doing currently?”
“…Milady EunHa?”
Because EunHa looked completely fine earlier but… as usual, I couldn’t tell if she was okay or suppressing it inside.
“I couldn’t do anything to help her friend who died.”
“Rather her, how about you? How are you doing?”
MinGyeo-ssi’s ruby-red eyes fixed upon me. I felt choked by her gaze.
“…Still figuring things out, I guess.”
“Then she’ll be relieved to hear that.”
“…?”
“Monitoring her mental state is also a part of my responsibility. It’s natural for her to experience these things as she develops as an adult, so don’t worry too much about it and take care of yourself first.”
Natural to experience this kind of thing as an adult?
What a broken world.
“I see. Then please watch over her, thank you.”
I said before breaking off our conversation.
⊳╙⊠’╨
I wasn’t sure if it was because of the cold air, or the unsettling feeling that I had missed something but—I couldn’t really sleep that night.
I tossed and turned on the seat-turned-bed.
“…”
I got up and tousled my hair. I looked out the window.
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Lights like speckles of the galaxy clumped in clusters.
Bioluminescent marine wildlife were visible in the dark, drifting amongst the dark blue clouds. Jellyfish and phytoplankton, among many other species which I didn’t know the name of.
There was a gentle glistening near the sill. I focused my attention on the lone phytoplankton stuck to the window, watching its tiny green body pulsate like a firefly, separated from its home, I thought of how we were so alike…
“…So that’s what it is.”
The joy of experiencing a fantasy world, compared to actually confronting one.
The empty feeling in your chest because of the lack of direction.
The fear and confusion rising from the unknown.
Gratitude for being alive, the opportunity to witness all this.
And the yearning for my old life.
“Seriously—what the hell.”
How did I get here?
Why isn’t this a dream?
What did I do to deserve this?
When can I return?
Is there a purpose to return?
“…What the fucking hell.”
It was only a week ago when I proposed to her.
On that day I promised her happiness. A vow I swore to uphold.
Yet…
I raised my trembling hands before me. The light from the moon scintillated off the silver ring.
The proof of our promise.
If I’m here, where is the me from Earth?
If I’m here, what would happen to EunHa there?
“EunHa…”
I couldn’t hold my tears.
I pressed the ring against my forehead.
“Sorry.”
I couldn’t keep the promise.
“I’m so, so sorry…”
Just, what is this situation…
“…I don’t know anymore.”
I didn’t die in some freak accident. Nor was I in some dire situation where I hated my life.
I was so excited…
I was so excited to finish this game and share it with the world.
…Finally say goodbye to sleepless nights.
…Show off our indie project to our class.
…And graduate from college.
…Then confront her father.
…And become a family.
“God, why…?”
What was the point of this?
Throwing me here and having me complete some stupid heroic mission? Removing me from my perfectly fine life?
Why God? Why…?
║⪡▰╖⪄⌺⪄╨▩⪡_.
My cries didn’t stop the morning from coming.
At the break of daylight, I went up to the deck.
This was a world which did not follow the laws of astrology. We were not situated on a round planet yet the sun could rise and the moon could fall—celestial objects that were unreachable because they existed in a different plane of existence.
The abyss below was infinitely deep; the skies above were boundlessly high.
Plant a flag on any island and traverse in any horizontal direction and you’ll return to the flag.
A world-building concept EunHa thought would be cool to implement into the game—this world
That was the kind of ingenious idea she had.
“…I wish you were here to see this.”
The wind was strong, but withstandable if you widen your base. I leaned forward against the rail, and caught a whiff of a sweet scent.
“…And by that, who are you referring to?”
Blonde hair swept up by the wind, clear cerulean blue eyes that resembled today’s sky. Hwang EunHa was leaning on the abode pillar a few steps away from me. I didn’t know when she arrived.
I replied.
“You’d be creeped out if you knew.”
“Creeped out? Why would I?”
“Because that person is the other you, damn it.”
“…Huh?”
Her expression which went from confusion in contemplation… to complete shock was cute.
“M-Me?”
“Just leave me alone if you think that’s weird. After all, you are you, and you’re not her.”
“…”
Surprisingly, she didn’t leave even after I told her that. It was odd. She even closed the distance and took the space beside me.
“What was the me in your world like?”
She asked, looking in the direction of the rising sun. I followed her gaze and said,
“An adult.”
“What? That’s… it?”
“The kind of girl who is excellent at everything she does. Genial, kind, warm, gentle, considerate…you’re exactly like her if she was a few years younger.”
She looked just like her during her teen years.
“So you’re saying…”
“…But also the kind of person who’s good at hiding her pain, the things she dislikes, lacks personal boundaries, overworks herself. Someone who hides her fears behind a smile.”
I saw her lips open, just to close right back.
“I don’t know if the same applies to you, but… you honestly can’t be too careful with your emotions. Otherwise, you’ll start hurting yourself unnecessarily.”
She looked at me as if she couldn’t believe it.
“…What? You’re saying it’s wrong to do that?”
Her expression contorted.
“As a soldier, do you seriously think a person can survive without having to put up with pain? Do you think nobody in this world wears a mask? Oh right, you came from that amazingly peaceful world, didn’t you? Too bad the rules here work differently. If you want to survive, you have to adapt!”
Words dripping with disdain, and naive contempt. It was something I wouldn’t have expected from someone so timid as EunHa.
“Get your facts straight. This isn’t the same world you grew up in. War means sacrifice. Unless you plan to work in some miracle job that doesn’t involve suffering, by all means, say what you want. I doubt such a thing exists.”
“At least you can get mad about something. The other you can’t even express herself properly.”
“You…!”
I was making a justifiably correct claim based on my knowledge.
Was it because she looked like a middle-schooler? Or had I already gotten used to her antics? Her criticism was baseless, and I wasn’t even offended. I feel like I’m advising a child.
Her eyes clouded by anger, face red as a tomato.
Her words came out in gasps.
“She… died…”
Tears began running down her face.
“She died because… because I tried to save you.”
Who… oh, right. I see… that girl…
“How could you be so insensitive…?”
She hurriedly squinted her teary eyes and pressed her face against her arm.
Matsushita-san, at times like this, you have two choices.
I tried to reach out to her.
One is to blame yourself.
“…You monster!”
Or to accept that no one is at fault.
I had no idea what kind of person Wang Ayumi was. I don’t know anyone with a name like that back in my world.
Even if EunHa would hate me forever because of it, there wasn’t anything I could do to fix what had already happened. I couldn’t turn back time.
She ran away. I failed to reach her.
“…I’m the reason why she died huh?”
My hands dropped back to the side.
There was a mission that tasked me with just that: Save Wang Ayumi. That fact that it was even a mission meant that saving her could’ve been possible. But where did I mess up? What did I do wrong? What did I miss?
With our lives on the line, what else could I have done differently?
Those words, I know she was only trying to vent but…
It hurt.
Gripping with my flow of thoughts, MinGyeo-ssi approached me, nodding slightly to greet me an unconventional good morning.
“You’re quite the sadist I see.”
Wow.
“Did… you really have to say that?”
“She didn’t mean what she said. I hope you can pardon her.”
“Shouldn’t you go talk to her?”
“She told me to leave her alone.”
“…?”
I wasn’t sure why MinGyeo-ssi, who should be prioritising her mental state, was coming to see me.
“If anything, I should thank you for poking her. She’ll be alright. Don’t worry.”
I wasn’t really all that close to EunHa’s secretary back on Earth, but I could tell she was a good person.
“Understand that you too have your limits. It’s beautiful to hold the desire to save everyone, however, one should know that even a God can’t promise such an ideal.”
That’s quite the callous statement from her.
“Yeah, that’s true… what you said. Frankly, I’m just relieved she can properly express herself.”
Though, I thought there was some truth to her words. She smiled slightly, looking amused.
“I take it that you know her personality to an extent.”
“…Yeah? Maybe I do.”
“Matsushita-san, as her attendant and caregiver, may I ask you to look out for her?”
“…What?”
“The Saint has told me about you, and I believe your words are the truth. You know a part of her that I don’t. The EunHa you knew may not be the EunHa here, however, I trust that you know best how to take care of her. Will you help me?”
“…Help you?”
Again, the Saint. How much does she know about us? Why me? What did I do to deserve so much of their trust?
“I should be the one asking you for permission to help her.”
I really didn’t understand why,
“Then it’s mutual.”
Though maybe there was still some hope.
She smiled wryly.
The sincerity and support I was receiving from people that shouldn’t even know me… it whispered a gentle reminder that everything was going to be alright.
⊳╙⊠’╨
With that, an implicit agreement was formed between me and EunHa’s secretary.
And so, a few hours after that first encounter…
“Ugh…”
MinGyeo-ssi managed to drag EunHa out of her room.
I wasn’t sure for what reason, but she reluctantly sat EunHa down in the opposite seat. Now we were gathered together in the lounge area.
“What do you wish to order?”
MinGyeo-ssi asked.
“Anything that’s not bitter.”
“Anything that’s not bitter? Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
EunHa nodded approvingly.
Odd. Perhaps she was still young, she hadn’t developed a taste for coffee? The EunHa I knew slept on that drink every day.
I noticed a scheme-ish smirk slightly decorating MinGyeo-ssi’s lips.
“Understood. As for Matshushita-san? What would you like?”
“I’ll just have water.”
“Coffee latte it is.”
“…Huh?”
Stubbornly deciding the drinks on our behalf, she made her way over to the barista. I preferred plain black coffee but… I suppose a little milk wouldn’t hurt.
Actually, if cows don’t exist in this world, what kind of milk are they even using here? A plant-based creamer?
“…How do people even drink that sort of thing?”
EunHa muttered, half expecting me to respond, half not.
“You’ll get it when you’re older.”
“So I drank that stuff in your world?”
“Yeah. A lot more than I did.”
“…How much more?”
“Maybe twice as much.”
Maybe it was good that she didn’t drink coffee. I remember the struggles I went through incentivizing her to drink less of that substance.
Her expression showed that she didn’t believe a word I said.
Our seat was situated right beside a large glass window, so our conversations fell short when her eyes set on the horizon outside.
It was a beautiful horizon.
“EunHa, I’m sorry.”
Awkward as it was, I knew I had to say something after what had happened earlier in the morning.
“About your friend. You’re right, things could’ve been different. I messed up.”
“That’s enough. People die in war, it’s an unavoidable consequence of things.”
Her eyebrows twitched at my words. She shut me up with what looked like a pout.
“To begin with, it’s my fault for…”
“EunHa, it was never your fault.”
“…”
Self blame. This insidious habit of hers was something I could never find a solution to.
“…Alright.”
Looking away, she muttered in a barely audible voice.
MinGyeo-ssi arrived with the drinks.
EunHa looked at her secretary with a somewhat confused gaze.
“What… is this?”
“It’s lemon water.”
“What happened to tea?”
“To a degree, tea is bitter.”
“MinGyeo-ssi how dare you!”
“Haha—”
I watched the two enter a catfight. Was it strange how unhinged this EunHa was compared to the original I knew? I never thought she had a relationship like this with her secretary.
Also, it was quite the gap moe on MinGyeo-ssi’s part. I didn’t know she had this side to her personality.
“Enough, enough, I repent, I repent. What do you want now, milady?”
“Tea! Iced tea! And don’t get it wrong!”
“Understood.”
The skirmish ended with that. After passing me my coffee, MinGyeo-ssi got up again to order the ‘correct’ drink this time around.
EunHa hissed at me.
“Ugh, don’t look at me like that.”
“What? Am I showing a weird expression here?”
“I swear something’s gotten into her. She’s not always like that.”
As much as she’d like to act all adult-like, there was no running away from her childish side.
“Yeah. Yeah.”
I followed her gaze.
“Forget what you saw…”
EunHa said sulkily.
A more recognizable jumbled mess of three languages. The nuances to our conversations started to become intuitively more decipherable in my ears.
For a moment the lounge dimmed because of the brief passing of a shadow. A large whale floated by the side of the ship.
And when it passed, the skies revealed tens of hundreds of airships in flight. The sparkling skyscrapers and army fleet docks bustling with activity. Clouds danced around the floating city archipelago spanning an entire view.
I almost dropped my coffee in awe. It surpassed anything, and everything I could’ve ever conceived for the world of
I looked at EunHa who was giggling.
“…What?”
“I suppose the word bumpkin would suit a person like you.”
She said cheekily.
I shook my head and rubbed my forehead.
“Yeah, I suppose so.”
“Welcome to Hoshizora. The capital city of the Third Stratum.”
Giant spire tower structures made from some kind of special alloy steel. A military base with tens of hundreds of airships currently docked. A colourful city and grand green parks with lakes that dazzled to the sunlight—all this on a giant floating island in the middle of nowhere.
“It sure is amazing alright…”
“Amazing? Wow, you’re so ignorant. Fine, whatever, I have a prophecy to fulfil anyways…”
“Prophecy…?”
“Yeah, a prophecy.”
She looked me in the eye, a twinge of frustration reflecting in her blue irises.
“Let’s come to a consensus in this way.”
Captivated by her eyes, I was reminded of the vow I made that day I proposed to her.
“If you are as important as Saint XiaoLe says you are, you will help me achieve my goal.”
To my love, Hwang EunHa.
Whatever world we may be in, I had already promised.
“We’ll save the people from those monsters together.”
Promised that, I will hold your hand.
To love you,
Protect you,
And cherish you,
“So you better prove yourself useful.”
Until death do us apart.