Time passed again.
In the year they turned 13, entering the 6th grade of elementary school, Eun-ah became an elementary student.
From this year onward, she was eligible to participate in the evaluation matches held by the Shin-Gum Do family’s direct descendants.
And.
“You should be grateful to learn from me, who has mastered six elements.”
Hong Ye-na became the Witch of Six Colors.
Having proven her mastery of light-element magic at the Hunter Association, she became exceedingly arrogant.
“Did you use me as research material all this time, and now say that?”
“…Well, aren’t you learning for free? But how can you lack respect for your mentor even at your age?”
“It’s Ha-neul who became your disciple, not me. I’m the one paying for tutoring. Though I am receiving it for free.”
“That brat’s really… If you didn’t have talent in swordsmanship, you’d probably have a knack for pissing people off with your words.”
Meanwhile, I had learned magic under her and achieved some results.
Of course, nothing compared to Yeon Ha-neul.
“Master, is this okay?”
“You’ve only been given the basics, and the explanation isn’t even over… and you’re already trying to mimic it?”
Hong Ye-na was left speechless by Yeon Ha-neul’s progress.
After learning to handle mana, Yeon Ha-neul showed rapid growth.
In just one year, she achieved noticeable results in dark-element magic.
And in two years, she began mastering other elemental magics.
“That kid is truly… amazing.”
Indeed, Yeon Ha-neul, who becomes the Catastrophe Witch in the game, was formidable.
Joking around with her would no longer be easy.
I didn’t want to get hit by her magic, even in jest.
At 14, Yeon Ha-neul and I became middle schoolers.
Thanks to Dad’s influence, we entered the same middle school, even the same class.
The triplets—Gold, Silver, Bronze—were also placed in the same middle school.
So, I naturally made use of them.
“Lunch today doesn’t look great. Should we buy something from the cafeteria?”
“Hmm… What’s the menu today? Oh, there’s not much meat. It’s not just Eun-ah who’s picky—Mom should know you are too.”
“So we’re not going?”
“Yeah, let’s go. But the cafeteria will be crowded… and it’s hot…”
“That’s why we have those guys, right?”
“Huh?”
“I’ll call them. See if they don’t answer.”
“…You’re ruthless with them.”
“Hey, Gold.”
[What’s up? I’m Ugeun-dong here. What’s going on?]
“Let’s have lunch together.”
[Huh? Why you? Sure, then we’ll come to your class…]
“I’m saying, bring us some food.”
[You’re not that kind of person, are you?]
“Ha-neul, what do you want to eat? Something they don’t have at the cafeteria?”
[Hey! If that’s the case, order delivery! Delivery!]
“Hmm… I really liked the castella I had last time. How about that and some strawberry milk?”
“Gold, you hear that?”
[At home, I’m the beloved eldest son, but why am I treated like this…]
“I’ll send the menu via chat. Hanging up.”
Even though they never took my requests at face value,
with their sponsorship at stake, the triplets couldn’t refuse me.
In the end, they bought us food from the cafeteria.
“Hey! Let’s eat!”
“Why’d you come so fast?”
“We had PE before lunch. I snuck out midway.”
“While Silver slipped out to the cafeteria, Bronze and I acted like Silver. The teacher couldn’t tell the difference.”
“Yeah, thanks. Ha-neul, here.”
“Thanks, Kwon-woo.”
“Ugh… We’re the ones who bought it, why are you thanking him….”
“Gold, are you complaining to Ha-neul?”
“What if someone bought it? Just eat it! Right, Bronze!?”
“Yeah, Bronze!”
“Well, yeah! Ha-neul, eat up! Want anything else? I’ll get it right away.”
“Ha-neul, if those guys say anything when I’m not around, tell me. I’ll teach them a lesson.”
“Ah… No need for that. Thanks, really.”
By the way, as a middle schooler, Yeon Ha-neul’s aura changed noticeably.
Her hair grew longer, and as her baby fat faded, she began showing signs of maturing.
From practicing at the sword dojo and learning swordsmanship, her physique became lean and defined.
And from studying magic and etiquette under Hong Ye-na, every movement exuded elegance.
Even those who disliked her or ignored her in elementary school couldn’t help but notice her.
She just… became prettier.
A year later, at 15, in the 2nd year of middle school.
Do Si-eun, now 17, was entering Academy City.
“When you go to Academy City, I guess we won’t see each other for a while.”
“Yeah. I had fun sparring with you. And our sword matches.”
At the family gathering in the New Year.
I congratulated Do Si-eun, who was now of age to enter the Advanced Academy.
We likely wouldn’t meet for a while.
Life in Academy City would be too busy.
This made me feel a pang of regret.
She seemed to feel the same.
That’s why she brought it up.
“Kwon-woo.”
“Yeah, sis.”
“I’ll wait for you in Academy City.”
As we were about to part, she suddenly reached out her hand.
I took her hand, understanding her feelings.
“Sure, I’ll wait. I’ll follow in two years. I’ll apply to the same Academy you’re attending.”
“To Gangnam Academy? If that happens, we’ll see each other often. I’ll wait.”
Two years remained until I entered Academy City.
In other words, two years until the game’s story began.
Two years—long, yet somehow short.
I declared my ambition to Do Si-eun and, from that day, threw myself into training.
Then, one day.
“Why are you training so hard?”
Yeon Ha-neul, swinging her sword with added weights, asked me.
The only answer I could give her was:
“To get stronger.”
“But you’re already strong. After Si-eun left for Academy City, you’re the strongest among our relatives who haven’t entered the Advanced Academy, right? Isn’t that enough?”
“Still not enough. I want to be stronger, stronger, stronger.”
With my current skills, I could handle the incidents in Academy City.
Growing through those incidents wouldn’t be bad either.
But my life isn’t a game.
If I die, there’s no save point to rewind to, no restart from the beginning.
One death, and it’s over.
That’s why I couldn’t be satisfied with this.
I wanted to be stronger, stronger, stronger.
Even if training this way was slow and had limits.
Even if it seemed meaningless, stacking such training would eventually mean something to me.
I believed that without a doubt.
“So, how strong do you want to be?”
“Well… strong enough to stop the world from ending?”
“Are you in middle school syndrome?”
“…Isn’t that too harsh?”
“Then who’s joking around?”
“Hmm…”
I was serious, not joking.
But Yeon Ha-neul, unaware of this world’s future, took my words as middle school syndrome.
I had no choice but to set a realistic goal she could understand.
‘Who’s the strongest person I know?’
One person came to mind.
After thinking it through, I spoke.
“I want to be stronger than Grandpa.”
“Our grandpa? The head of Shin-Gum Do, called the ‘Number One’?”
“Yeah. I want to be strong enough to defeat Grandpa.”
“To be stronger than an otherworldly being—your goal is really huge.”
“Aim high, they say. There’s no rule I can’t achieve it.”
“True, I guess.”
Number One, Number One, Number One…
Yeon Ha-neul repeated Grandpa’s title several times.
Then she smiled broadly and said,
“Then I’ll cheer you on. So you can become stronger than Lord Number One.”
“What? You should train too.”
“But I’m a magician, right?”
“Magicians don’t need stamina?”
“My mentor says I’m fine as is.”
“No way, I can’t be the only one working hard.”
“Whoa… You’re really…”
Trying to weasel out again.
I can’t save the world alone.
I need Strong Star, his companions, various supporting roles, and Yeon Ha-neul.
No way I’m letting her off.
In the end, that day too, Yeon Ha-neul had to train with me.
Time passed, and passed…
“I’ll be entering the Academy next year.”
At 16, I reached the final stretch of middle school.
Hong Ye-na mastered dark-element magic and became known as the Witch of Seven Colors.
And.
“…Goodbye.”
Mongsil died.
Mongsil, born as a hunting rabbit in the Shin-Gum Do clan, was quite old.
Considering a rabbit’s lifespan and her steadily declining health, Mongsil’s death was inevitable.
I was fully aware and prepared to accept it.
But it was just an illusion.
“It was fun while it lasted…”
One morning, Mongsil lay still, as if fast asleep.
No matter how I called her, she didn’t respond. Her rigid body, eyes closed, felt foreign.
The realization that Mongsil was gone hit me, and I felt a void.
Yes, a sense of loss.
I experienced the pain of having my heart torn by a mere creature—a rabbit.
“Mongsil must have gone to a good place because you took good care of her.”
“Oppa, don’t cry…”
“Let’s bury her somewhere she can run freely, in a nice place.”
Five years since regaining my memories,
I cried for the first time.
Like Do Kwon-woo before I remembered my past, I sobbed like a baby.
After letting it all out, my heart calmed, but the emptiness where Mongsil had been remained.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine now.”
“…”
Yeon Ha-neul worried about me.
I forced a bright smile to reassure her.
But we’ve known each other for five years—she could see right through me.
She fidgeted, trying to gauge my mood.
Then, to cheer me up, she spoke.
“Want to touch my ears?”
“…”
Flap flap.
Yeon Ha-neul playfully folded and unfolded her ears with her hands.
I watched her quietly.
“Where are you going, wild rabbit, rabbit—”
“…”
Uncharacteristically, Yeon Ha-neul sang a nursery rhyme while twitching her ears with her hands.
Her actions were absurd, funny, and cute.
A sudden urge to touch her ears welled up.
I wanted to touch them. So much. But…
“No, thanks. I’ll just keep your offer in mind.”
“Ah…”
“Touching your ears would make me think of Mongsil.”
“I guess… then I can’t help it.”
I politely declined to preserve the memory of Mongsil.
Yeon Ha-neul looked disheartened.
Then, she dropped a bombshell.
“I was even going to let you touch my tail…”
“…!”
That was it—I succumbed to temptation.
I blurted out,
“Can I touch your tail?”
“Huh?”
“You just said you’d let me touch your tail.”
“Well… I did, because you seemed down. But Mongsil…”
“I want to try touching it.”
“…You have no self-control.”
“It’s okay, Mongsil would understand.”
“Ah… so….”
Yeon Ha-neul’s eyes narrowed.
But I ignored her reaction and waited for her answer.
After a moment.
“Ugh, you’re such a… Fine, touch it. It’s not like it’ll wear out. Maybe touching my tail will cheer you up?”
“Then, here goes.”
Reluctantly, Yeon Ha-neul smirked and gave her consent.
Soon, she turned her back to me, presenting her tail-covered bottom.
“Whoa…”
“Is this something to gasp at?”
“Isn’t it?”
“…I don’t get you. What’s so great about this?”
Her skirt accentuated a plump, adorable rabbit tail.
I slowly reached for the white tuft.
“You should know, tails are more sensitive than ears. Don’t just touch it—got it? If you hurt me… I’ll never let you touch it again.”
Does that mean she’ll let me touch it again?
I decided not to ask—better not risk her changing her mind.
“When have I ever hurt you?”
“Sometimes when you touch my ears…”
Ignoring her grumbling,
my hand inched closer to the fluffy tail.
‘Finally, I get to touch it.’
According to the psychology book I read before,
rabbits let those they’re fond of touch their ears,
and only those they fully trust can touch their tails.
So, it’s safe to say Yeon Ha-neul trusts me completely.
‘This feels new.’
My five years haven’t been in vain.
Overwhelmed, I reached into the uncharted territory.
A soft sensation met my fingertips.
“…”
At that moment, Yeon Ha-neul shivered and straightened up.
I gently cupped her tail and softly stroked it.
“Ahn…”
“Wow, it’s really soft. Much softer than your ears.”
“Hey, wait…! Kwon-woo, hold on…”
“What? Does it hurt?”
“No, it’s not painful…”
“Then I’ll keep touching it.”
Yeon Ha-neul fell silent, mid-protest.
From behind, I couldn’t see her face as she bowed her head.
But since she didn’t tell me to stop, I kept going.
“Oh, as I thought.”
“Why, what?”
“I’ve been curious. Rabbit tails look round, but they’re actually coiled.”
“…”
“So I wondered if yours was the same, and sure enough, it’s coiled like Mongsil’s. If I pull it, it stretches like this…”
“Kyaa! What are you….”
“See, it stretches out.”
“Don’t… don’t stretch it… It’s… embarrassing…”
“When stretched, your tail’s quite long. And really thin.”
“Stop touching….”
“Feels like touching cotton.”
Yeon Ha-neul’s voice grew faint.
I watched her tremble and stroked her tail gently, careful not to hurt her.
“I… I’ve had enough…”
“Thanks, Ha-neul.”
“…Ugh?”
“Thanks to you, my gloomy mood is gone.”
“…You say that, and I can’t get mad.”
“Can I touch it more?”
“You’re really… Next time, I’ll let you touch it. Let’s stop here.”
A bit disappointing, but what can I do?
At least she promised to let me touch it again.
I released her tail.
Only then did Yeon Ha-neul collapse onto the desk, exhausted.
“Because of you… what is this….”
“Sorry, did it hurt a lot?”
“…No comment! I’m not telling you anything.”
“Will you let me touch it next time?”
“…We’ll see.”
Time kept flowing.
By the winter of our 16th year,
we’d passed the Gangnam Academy entrance exam.
It was just the written test, but still.
From that point on, time flew by in the blink of an eye…
“This day has come.”
The year changed, and I turned 17.
Leave a Reply