Stepping out of the temple, a cool breeze brushed against my cheeks.
When I’d been waiting in line, the sun had still been high overhead, but now it was slowly dipping westward, moving gently like a soft wave.
The once-clear sky was now streaked with the fresh hues of sunset, as if painted with a splash of red.
Fluffy clouds floated lazily over the Red Sea, their calm presence somehow soothing to the soul.
I found myself staring blankly, my facial muscles relaxing without me even realizing it.
Despite my efforts to hold it back, the corners of my mouth twitched into a smile.
Maybe it was the relief of finally letting go of some long-held feelings tucked away deep inside.
Yeah, I should’ve done this from the start.
It was such a simple thing.
What was I so worried about?
Really.
I feel genuinely relieved.
“Brother?”
After standing still for a while, trying to calm my excitement, I suddenly heard someone calling me.
Turning around, I saw AhnSol walking toward me.
“Did it just finish?”
“Yes. Is something good happening?”
“Do I look like it?”
“Yes!”
AhnSol’s cheerful shout was followed by an adorably bright smile.
It was like a pure white lily bud blossoming—fresh and innocent.
“Do you have something good going on too?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Then why are you smiling?”
“Just because. If you’re happy, I’m happy too.”
Her innocent, clear smile made me smile back.
She really is something else.
“Shall we grab something to eat before heading back?”
It was a good time for it, and I was feeling a little uplifted, so the words slipped out naturally.
Her bright eyes widened in surprise.
“Really?”
Was it that unexpected?
“Is there somewhere you want to go?”
“Yes! There is!”
The place AhnSol wanted to visit was none other than ‘Gentle Breeze,’ a high-end tavern.
Originally famous in Barbara, it had quickly opened a branch in Atlanta after the discovery of the New Continent.
But AhnSol insisted on going to the original Barbara location.
Thanks to the warp gate, it wasn’t much of a hassle.
Though it was on the Old Continent, the tavern was thriving, probably because of its reputation.
We barely found a seat on this floor, and after ordering, AhnSol’s eyes sparkled as she asked,
“Brother, do you remember this place?”
“Hm? Yeah, I’ve been here once before. Brings back memories.”
“Me too! Me too!”
“Really?”
I handed a tip to the hesitant waitress and replied.
It was early in this trip, right after crossing from Mule to Barbara.
“I see…”
AhnSol had been giggling quietly for a while now.
She said it wasn’t anything, but I couldn’t help but think something good must be going on.
No one would be this happy otherwise.
Then, suddenly, AhnSol, who had been excitedly looking around, grew quiet.
She fiddled nervously with the table, unsure what to do.
Her pale neck, bowed slightly, flushed a bright red—like a cooked lobster.
“Why?”
I looked around, sensing something was off.
Most of the men on this floor were staring at AhnSol.
Some of their gazes were so intense they crossed the line into something ugly—pure lust.
Still, the attention was undeniable.
“You’re popular, huh?”
“Ah, broooother! Don’t tease me!”
AhnSol pouted, clearly embarrassed.
“I’m not teasing.”
“Maybe it’s because of your clothes? They’re not common around here…”
Not wrong.
AhnSol was wearing casual clothes from Earth.
Not exactly fitting for a user.
But if you asked whether they suited her as a woman, absolutely yes.
Personally, I think her greatest charm is her flawless skin.
Like freshly fallen snow, untouched and pure, her complexion was pale and radiant.
Her current outfit only highlighted that clean, innocent beauty.
It was a perfect example of the saying “clothes make the person.”
Her cute white headband matched her style, and the pale pink blouse, slightly sheer at the shoulders, enhanced her purity.
The A-line white skirt that fell to her hips was both girlish and feminine.
And the flesh-colored stockings hugging her calves beneath the skirt…
Oh…
“O-oh, brother~.”
Her pleading voice snapped me back to reality.
AhnSol was pressing down on the hem of her skirt with both hands, her face flushed with embarrassment.
I’d been caught staring at her stockings.
“Your food’s here~.”
Just as things were about to get awkward, the waitress arrived with a large stew bowl piled high with vegetables and seafood.
But why only one bowl?
“Excuse me, is the other serving not ready yet?”
“Huh? Didn’t you order two portions of the same dish?”
“Yes, but there’s only one bowl…”
“Oh! I asked them to serve both portions in one bowl! You two looked like a couple!”
Wait, what?
How can you just decide that on your own?
No wonder the portion looked huge.
But the waitress’s smile said, “I did a good job, right?” so I couldn’t get mad.
Might as well eat it.
“Thank you.”
“Enjoy your meal~.”
The waitress left, but there was another problem.
Only one spoon.
Judging by the heart-shaped decoration on the handle, I could guess its purpose.
Really, some people.
“Start eating. I’ll go downstairs and get another spoon.”
I forced a spoon into AhnSol’s hand and went down to ask for extras.
But the answer I got was unbelievable.
Apparently, the kitchen had mistaken all the leftover utensils for trash and incinerated them.
Even my hope of grabbing some chopsticks was dashed.
They kept apologizing profusely, so I couldn’t say much.
Grumbling, I went back upstairs.
AhnSol was still waiting, untouched food in front of her.
“What do we do? They say there are no utensils left.”
“Really?”
“Yeah… You want to eat half first? I can eat later.”
“But the food will get cold… Let’s just eat together, okay?”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course.”
With a bright smile, AhnSol scooped a big spoonful of stew and carefully offered it toward me.
“Brother, ah~.”
“Wait!”
Just as I was about to accept it, a man sitting at a table by the stairs suddenly stood up and shouted.
He’d been watching AhnSol the whole time, and his expression was full of displeasure and resentment.
“If you need a spoon, you can use mine.”
I appreciated the offer, but he was already eating.
“I’ll wash it right now. Very thoroughly.”
He said that and hurried down the stairs, but within seconds, there was a loud crash.
Then came a baffling scream: “No way! The spoon brokeeeee!”
It all happened in an instant.
…It was strange that the spoon broke just from falling.
“What a weird guy…”
AhnSol said sympathetically and gently pushed the spoon into my mouth.
With a smile like a baby bird, she parted her lips.
“Brother~. Me too, ah~.”
She was so cute and lovable I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Splash!
“Ah… this feels good.”
Soaking in the hot bath, the heat of the water spread through my body in an instant.
My stiff neck loosened, and my bones seemed to melt away, making me sigh involuntarily.
Using the public bath alone at night, with no one else around, was the best feeling.
There was a bathroom in the dorm, but it was smaller and just didn’t have the same atmosphere.
It had already been a good day, and ending it like this wasn’t so bad.
I scooped up a handful of hot water and splashed it on my face.
Feeling the water trickle down, I tilted my head back and rested against the bath’s edge.
As I recalled the day’s events one by one, a smile crept onto my face.
“That girl…”
Come to think of it, I’d been strangely entangled with AhnSol today.
From running into her in the bathroom at dawn, to leaving the office, then the temple, and finally at the tavern…
“…Huh.”
The moment I realized how often I’d crossed paths with her, a sudden chill ran down my spine.
Because there had been days like this before.
“Could it be…”
A day that came once a year.
If that was the case, I couldn’t afford to let my guard down.
…Nah, it’s probably not.
At least not today.
Yeah.
We just happened to meet and eat together.
If today had been that day, it wouldn’t have ended this easily.
Besides, it was late at night.
In a few hours, the day would be over.
I stopped thinking and took a deep breath of the warm air around me.
Maybe because my body was relaxed, the flow of the heated water felt more comforting than my bed back at the dorm.
Hmm.
I shouldn’t fall asleep like this…
But my vision was slowly blurring against my will.
The rising steam danced like a hypnotic veil, stirring my desire to sleep.
In the end, unable to resist the tidal wave of drowsiness, I closed my eyes.
And gradually surrendered myself to the darkness creeping into my mind.
A burning sensation in my throat forced my eyes open.
How much time had passed?
I didn’t know.
No, it didn’t matter.
The thirst was unbearable—far worse than anything I’d ever experienced.
It felt like a red-hot iron rod had been shoved down my throat.
Had I fallen asleep in scalding water and completely exhausted myself?
No matter what, all I wanted right now was to forget everything else and quench this thirst as quickly as possible.
“Damn… Jang…”
But my body wouldn’t obey me.
There was no strength left in my limbs.
The thirst only grew more intense, and my mind drifted in and out of consciousness—it was pure agony.
Come to think of it, the air was thick with steam, but this didn’t feel like a bathhouse…
Was I dreaming?
“Ah.”
Through the wavering mist, something caught my eye.
If I wasn’t mistaken, it was a flower.
A flower.
A small, delicate white lily.
Before I knew it, I was summoning every ounce of strength to move toward it.
I didn’t know why there was a flower right in front of me.
But maybe its petals held some moisture?
Even just a little would be enough.
If it could ease this maddening thirst…
After a moment, I crawled closer and grabbed the flower.
Then, without hesitation, I buried my face in its petals and desperately began to suck.
To my surprise, the petals were warm.
A small amount of liquid oozed out.
It was slightly viscous, but incredibly sweet—like a life-giving nectar—and I drank it frantically.
“Mm… sip… mm… sip sip…”
Not enough.
This was far too little.
The thirst showed no sign of easing, and after tasting that sweetness once, I couldn’t stop.
I needed another flower.
Just then, I spotted another bloom beneath the lily.
It looked like a chrysanthemum, much smaller than the first.
Its many petals were tightly curled, almost wrinkled, but my lips were already pressed firmly against the white petals.
Summoning every last bit of strength, I sucked so hard it made a sharp smack sound.
“Pbiaaa!”
The flower twitched.
Of the two petals that shot upward, the lily trembled and sprayed a strong jet of liquid.
The transparent stream arced through the air and splattered onto my face.
“……”
I closed my eyes a couple of times, then opened them—and suddenly, my blurred vision snapped into focus.
The thirst vanished as if it had never been.
“Hah… hah…”
Gasping, I looked up in a daze.
And there, unmistakably, I saw her.
Her short hair was damp and disheveled.
Her small body twitched with spasms.
Her eyes, brimming with tears, shone with a watery gleam.
Her lips, struggling to breathe, kept exhaling steam.
The figure barely drawing breath was none other than—
“Wh-what…”
Ansol.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
As I mentioned in my previous note, I’ll need to adjust my schedule a bit.
My semester starts on March 2nd, and this year I’ll be living on my own.
But since I got permission quite late, I’m heading out today to sign the lease.
I’ve already been warned multiple times that it’s late in the season and there might not be any rooms left, and my mom insists on coming along to see the place herself.
So, I’m going today—on her day off from work… OTL
She says not to worry, that there should be rooms available, but I won’t know until I go.
So, I’m really sorry, but I’ll have to take a break from posting for a while.
If all goes well and I sign the contract today, since March 1st is a holiday, I should be able to move in right away.
Barring any major issues with internet setup or anything else, I’m aiming to resume updates on Thursday, March 3rd.
If anything changes, I’ll be sure to post an update.
I sincerely apologize for the unavoidable hiatus and ask for your understanding.
Once I’m back, I’ll finish the Ansol omnibus and then move on to the Kim Soo-hyun omnibus (parallel world) arc.
Thank you all. (__)
P.S. To finish all the side stories you want… wow. Honestly, I just want to wrap up the extras and start a new series! A new story based on modern magicians and the apocalypse chronicles! Please have mercy on me. ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
P.S. 2 Regarding the visual novel: I’ve discovered an issue where it doesn’t run properly on devices using Marshmallow OS (version 6.0)—like Nexus 5, Nexus 6, LG G4 upgraded to Marshmallow, etc.
I’m currently investigating the problem, so if you’re using one of these devices, please hold off on purchasing.
I’ve heard there might be a fix coming soon, but I can’t say for sure yet. Sorry I can’t be more helpful.