Chương 119: S.05 Time to Fly 08(04)

Scene 07. Si-yeon was massaging the thigh of So-hui, who'd flopped face-down onto the bed as if collapsing, while reading a text message cast across her phone. Letting out a sigh as if in relief, Si-yeon kneaded hard at the back of the prone So-hui's thigh, giving her a massage. At Si-yeon's small sigh, the prone So-hui spoke as if mumbling past the pillow. So-hui: Went well, did it? Si-yeon: Yeah. Seems that way for now. So-hui: Truth is, it was a narrow byway even among byways.

But I just couldn't shake the unease. The things that happened when I missed a byway before were a bit too serious. Si-yeon: Thank you. So-hui: For what. It's all because Seong-hyeon's a good kid. Si-yeon: Ah-ni, but, how much did we even walk for my calves to be this knotted up. So-hui: No idea. Jeong-in really doesn't tire out at all. Si-yeon: Still, thanks to that I've definitely got Jeong-in's name down.

Those, uh — Chae-rim sis and Hee-jin sis who stay under Ji-young sis's roof, or whatever; Gyeong-seo and Yeon-su, obviously; and, uh, what was the name of that buck-toothed tall sis again? So-hui: Ah, Eun-jae sis. Si-yeon: So that sis was originally a Goblin, then? So-hui: Yeah — a Goblin who came up without being summoned, was playing with Soo-a, got caught by Du-eok-si-ni, and was driven out. Si-yeon: And that's why she goes around with that person called Soo-a? sis? So-hui: More or less.

They say Mom grabbed hold of Du-eok-si-ni and begged for forgiveness, and that's how she barely got to keep staying in the world of the living. Otherwise she'd have been snuffed out, apparently. Si-yeon: Sounds like there's some separate, complicated set of rules over there too. So-hui nodded while lying prone. So-hui: There are, that's true, but I don't know them in detail either. Ahh~. So-hui sprang her prone body up and plopped down onto the bed. So-hui: Yah. Make me some ramyeon. Si-yeon: Ramyeon?

So-hui: I'm starving from walking around so much. Si-yeon: It's almost dinnertime. Hold out a bit and just eat then? So-hui threw a glance at the clock on the wall and flopped herself back down again. So-hui: Guess I'd better. Ah, Headquarters is seriously huge. I about died walking the whole thing. You okay? Your legs don't hurt? Si-yeon: Me, eh. Si-yeon flopped down too and settled beside So-hui. Laying her head on So-hui's firm, slender arm, Si-yeon fiddled with So-hui's long hair, rustling it about.

As if used to it, So-hui made no move to stop her and spoke to Si-yeon while looking at the ceiling. So-hui: It wasn't a bed sized for sleeping alone — seems Mom knew all along. Even with the two of us lying here there's plenty left over. It was a size with plenty to spare even with So-hui and Si-yeon lying on it. Si-yeon lifted her head, checked the size of the bed they lay on, then set her head back on So-hui's arm. Si-yeon: You know everything too.

At Si-yeon's compliment, So-hui pursed her lips, turned her gaze from the ceiling, and studied Si-yeon, who lay on her arm, intently. So-hui: And that's what scares me. Si-yeon: Knowing everything isn't always a good thing, sure. So-hui: And it's scarier when something I clearly knew springs back out, changed into a reality I don't know. Si-yeon: Yeon-hui sis is coming soon anyway, you said. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

So-hui: Honestly, I was scared of becoming an adult. Scared I'd be the only one who grew up. But that wasn't it. I was the only child here. The sisters get locked in the Chronostump for my sake, even brace themselves to be kidnapped, while I just trembled behind them, scared of nothing more than growing up. Si-yeon: And now? So-hui: It's true I'm still scared now. It's heavy. But watching Mom, watching Ji-young sis, Yeon-hui sis — no, watching everyone here, I realized.

Ah, I'm not the only one carrying something heavy. If anything, I was the child. At So-hui's flat reflection, Si-yeon nodded without a word. So-hui: So today, after meeting so many people, it hit me all over again. Si-yeon silently fiddled with So-hui's hair and waited a moment for So-hui to go on. With a small breath out, So-hui carried on in a flat voice.

So-hui: From now on, if I don't truly do well, all these people who listen to my voice and trust their sis, who mean to follow Mom's final wishes — they'll all suffer. Si-yeon nodded. Releasing the hand that had been ruffling through So-hui's hair, she turned her body and lay flat on her back. Si-yeon: Me, well, there's nothing much to it. Si-yeon sprang her body up as if stretching and sat herself up on the bed. Si-yeon: I'm just gonna help.

I don't know a damn SSibal thing about the rest, but no matter what, somehow, I'll help. So you just go at it like hell. Because I'll be helping. At Si-yeon's listless yet deep resolve, the reclining So-hui gave a coy smile and stretched both arms out to the seated Si-yeon, as if asking to be pulled up. Si-yeon took So-hui's hands and hauled her up with all her strength. Scene 08_01. I-seon, rolling around where she lay, couldn't hide her boredom and abruptly jolted her restless body upright.

Jeong-in—who was staying in I-seon's room learning the game controls from Soo-a, Eun-jae, and Yeon-su—looked back at I-seon, who'd risen behind them, with startled eyes. Yeon-su glanced at I-seon stretching listlessly behind them, then turned back to the game screen. Jeong-in: Ah, you scared me. I-seon: When's Gyeong-seo coming back~!! Is she brewing the booze herself or what!? Yeon-su: Ah, come on. For real. Oldest of all of us and you've got damn no patience.

I-seon: Ah-ni, she said she's buying something big, didn't she. Aren't you all curious? Soo-a: What's she even buying? Did you hear, sis? Eun-jae: Me, the only secular-world thing I can barely use is the smartphone or whatever it's called, so …. They all carried on with the serene evening as if it were nothing. As Jeong-in, who'd rustled the game pad back into her hands and resumed playing alongside Yeon-su, let out a small cry as if it wasn't going her way, the phone in I-seon's pocket rang noisily.

It wasn't the call from Gyeong-seo she'd been waiting for. In a listless voice, she answered the caller. I-seon: Ah, what. At this hour of the evening. Guard Corps Officer_01: This is the one on duty at the South Gate. Um, for a moment. I think you'd better come out — I-seon: There's no guest due on the weekend, so send them back. Or call Chae-rim. Ah, right, she went fishing. Tch. Guard Corps Officer_01: No, um. It's, it's not me who's doing this.

From beyond the phone, a familiar voice carried as if hollering its head off from a distance. Gyeong-seo: Open the gate!! The truck's gonna roll back!!! I-seon: Hey, hey!! Open the gate for her!! Right now!! I-seon flung open the door of the quarters with a glad heart and bolted outside. At I-seon's dash, the rest who'd been holding the game pads, and Eun-jae too, hurried toward the outside. Scene 08_02. The people who'd come outside couldn't bring themselves to speak.

A large home-appliance delivery service was making its way in. The evening sunlight lit the open south gate. It was a truck so tall and huge it barely cleared the great gate of the South Gate. Following the gestures of Gyeong-seo and the Guard Corps staff on duty, the truck driver carefully eased through the south gate. Soo-a: Ah. Uh. Um. It's. Right now. Jeong-in: Someone's not moving in, are they? I-seon: Ah. I didn't picture it being this big.

Eun-jae: This, this — Hee-jin's definitely not going to let this slide. Gyeong-seo: You gotta splurge this much!! Eh??! to say you really drink at home.!! The door of the stopped truck opened. The rear door didn't even open. The large side panel opened, and six home bars—apparently the goods Gyeong-seo had purchased—came down carefully, loaded on the truck's powered lift. Eight grown adults strained and grunted as they moved the appliances set on the lift.

I-seon, who found it pitiful that the four people couldn't bear the weight even with it set on a rolling base, rolled up her sleeves and helped the delivery workers. At the wheels rolling more easily than expected, everyone stood watching, momentarily dazed. Soo-a: I'll cast a vote too — for "Hee-jin sis chews Gyeong-seo sis out tomorrow." Eun-jae: That one'd be unanimous without even needing a vote. Jeong-in: But I like it. With that size you could actually store just about any liquor or drinks.

All of Headquarters' booze could fit in there. Soo-a: Right …. It is big, all right. Gyeong-seo: Of course!! Getting talked into the sale was worth it!! I was so darn proud!! Soo-a: Ah. So you got fleeced like a sucker. Gyeong-seo: Ah!! So exciting.!! Time to load the booze in!!! Scene 08_03. The famished So-hui and Si-yeon were walking toward the cafeteria set on the south side. As the two, hands clasped, trudged along under the dusky light, they met something large beyond the South Gate like a mirage.

So-hui and Si-yeon furrowed their brows and tilted their heads to peek. Trying to make out the something revealed in the distance, So-hui and Si-yeon spotted the appliance being carried in the hands of grown men grunting as they hauled it on a litter. At I-seon's direction, 정무관(Jeong-mu-gwan_Martial Hall) Officers came running out too and helped move the appliance being delivered. Si-yeon: That — isn't that a home bar? So-hui: Mun Gyeong-seo. It's Mun Gyeong-seo. It's Mun Gyeong-seo. She's done for. Mun Gyeong-seo.

Si-yeon: One, two …. What the?? Why'd she buy six of them? Ji-young: Wow. Mun Gyeong-seo, what the hell did you pull with my card …. At the dazed voice of Ji-young, who'd abruptly cut in between the two, So-hui and Si-yeon jumped in surprise and looked at Ji-young, who stood between them with blank eyes. So-hui: It was your card, sis?? Ji-young hurriedly rummaged through her pocket and pulled out her phone. The amount charged to the card wasn't as much as she'd thought.

Scratching her head with a puzzled look, Ji-young pursed her lips. Ji-young: Only the booze got charged to my card, though …? Gyeong-seo, who'd been helping move the appliance, spotted Ji-young, So-hui, and Si-yeon and came rushing over with a bright, innocent look. Running up, Gyeong-seo bowed at the waist to Ji-young. Gyeong-seo: The Oldest, it's gotta be at least this much to be the perfect booze cellar, no? I got talked into it and splurged! Ji-young made a headache of a face.

Raising her brows and scratching her forehead hard, she asked Gyeong-seo offhandedly. Ji-young: You, uh, the money …. Gyeong-seo: Ah! That. I've been so busy I never had the chance to spend, so the money piled up on its own, steady as you please. On top of that they were clearing out old models with a buy-one-get-one deal, so the real price was for three! Mwahaha. Ji-young: The, the booze — did you buy it? Gyeong-seo: Of course I did! Yes! Loaded it up with Western liquor! Ji-young: R-right.

Going by the price, figured as much …. Gyeong-seo: Let's go! It's dinnertime, perfect timing. Gyeong-seo abruptly snatched up Ji-young's arm and, passing by So-hui and Si-yeon—who'd even felt an inexplicable chill—strode boldly toward the cafeteria. Scene 08_04. It was the entrance of some dimly lit opera house. Hee-jin, in line with Yu-seok holding the tickets she'd booked in advance, shivered at a chill she felt just before going in. It was a suspicious presence.

The way the cold shudder had come on was no ordinary thing. Hee-jin swept the surroundings quickly with an ominous look, but since the crisis had come from somewhere off the mark, she found nothing. Yu-seok, seeing Hee-jin's uneasy face, checked the direction she'd looked and then the other directions as well, before putting on a dubious expression. Yu-seok: What's wrong? Hee-jin: Something — there's something, but I can't tell what the something is. Something. There's some uneasy something. For certain.

Yu-seok looked around again. Since not a single presence could be felt, Yu-seok looked at Hee-jin again and asked. Yu-seok: Here?? Hee-jin: Ah, it's nothing all that important, but someone, for sure. Someone's gone and done something they weren't even told to do. I'm spot-on. It's a hunch I've kept up for thirty-four years.