The air brushing against my nose was cold. Morning had come, it seemed.
As I woke, a faint dizziness prickled my forehead. I closed my eyes again and slowly gathered my thoughts.
After using a miracle on the Source last night, we dragged our exhausted bodies toward the Forest of Smoke. Our plan had been to return to the city as quickly as possible, but everyone was so drained from the battle that we couldn’t march far. Instead, we set up camp and barely ate before diving straight into our sleeping bags.
Despite my overwhelming urge to stay curled up, I forced myself out of the sleeping bag.
The forest was still shrouded in smoke. Since everything was over, I wasn’t worried, but the smoke’s effects were clearly still active. Thanks to Hwajeong’s influence, I had no reason to fret, so getting up early to watch the changes unfold felt like a kind of entertainment.
“Hmm?”
I crawled out of the sleeping bag and opened my eyes to see my comrades sound asleep. I felt a bit dazed. I could understand falling asleep while on guard, but to actually crawl into a sleeping bag and sleep? Were they crazy?
Just as I was about to think that, my gaze landed on a slender little girl sitting alone in the center of the camp. She looked barely older than an elementary schooler, maybe a middle schooler, and occasionally turned her head as if keeping watch. I stared at her for a long moment.
I knew who she was—the witch who had been granted new life by Ansol’s miracle last night. Or rather, a fragment of the Source.
In the end, I had allowed the miracle to be used, and the Source was given a new life. Normally, I would have taken my time to observe and decide, but with only about thirty minutes of life left, quick decisions were necessary.
Of course, it wasn’t a decision I made alone. After gathering the team and explaining the situation, the consensus leaned toward “It wouldn’t be bad to save her.” Jegal Haesol led the persuasion, saying, “Isn’t this an opportunity to learn many kinds of magic we don’t know?” The mages, who made up the bulk of the expedition, agreed.
One strange thing was that after the miracle was used, the witch’s mature body suddenly became younger. According to the Source, “During the process of spiritualizing the remaining flow of the Source, the body was reconstructed into an optimal form matching the minuscule amount left.” I didn’t fully understand what that meant. Even the Source hadn’t expected the miracle to actually work.
Anyway, as long as her abilities as a mage remained intact, it wasn’t a big deal. Just a little disappointing. Regardless of friend or foe, the mature witch’s body had been quite impressive. But now that she’d changed like this… well, as long as she still looked good, I could live with it.
“…”
The Source, who had been glancing around, suddenly turned her head and met my gaze. She must have sensed I was looking.
I spoke immediately.
“What about the others?”
“I persuaded them to return to their sleeping bags.”
Her answer was a bit unexpected. Her voice was still mechanical and cold, though slightly more youthful. And strangely, it suited her perfectly.
“Why?”
“All the guards complained of fatigue. For efficiency, I concluded it would be best if I stood watch alone.”
“And you?”
“Of course, since I have settled into a human body, I cannot escape the influence of its biological systems. However, after experiencing the indescribable phenomenon last night, my body is now in optimal condition…”
I raised my hand to stop her before the explanation got too long, and she immediately fell silent.
“I understand what you mean, but there’s no need for that going forward. Humans are meant to help each other. Alone, we can’t do anything… Ah, you’d do well to remember that.”
“…Accept.”
Seeing the Source nod slightly, I felt some of my anxiety ease. I’d rushed the decision yesterday and had worried if it was the right choice, but she hadn’t been ambushed or left standing guard alone while we slept.
“I have one more question.”
Just as I was about to get up, the Source looked at me with intense curiosity. At the same time, I thought of the morning smoke.
“What is it? You want to know why I saved you?”
“Negative.”
She denied it simply.
“Then what?”
“Why did your body change like that?”
At first, I didn’t understand. But as I reached into my chest to pull out a cigarette, I suddenly froze.
Why… why couldn’t I see my hand outside my sleeve? Why was more than a third of my sleeve hanging loose?
I forced my sleeve up and saw my arm, now thin and delicate like a child’s.
“W-what…?”
Wait a minute. Why does my voice sound like this? Like a kid’s…
“Gasp.”
A sudden thought flashed through my mind like a ray of light.
I looked down—and sure enough, my body had become much younger than the Source’s. The smoke’s effect had reversed my physical age.
“Ahhh!”
I let out a startled scream, then immediately called out.
“Hwajeong, Hwajeong! What’s going on here?!”
I tried to reach Hwajeong, but there was no answer. There was no way a god would forget something like this. She must be asleep or deliberately enjoying the situation.
“Hey, what’s gotten into you? Are you upset with me? Hwajeong!”
I called out desperately several times, but Hwajeong remained silent. Meanwhile, one by one, my comrades began crawling out of their sleeping bags, awakened by my scream.
“Hmm… What’s going on? Su…”
Jeong Ha-yeon rubbed her eyes and stopped mid-sentence when she saw me.
Im Hanna, dragging her heavy chest forward, gasped and covered her mouth in surprise.
“…”
Han So-young was already awake but stared at me with wide, shocked eyes, lips slightly parted.
“Ugh? Uuuugh?”
Se-yul seemed to be caught in some kind of status ailment silence again.
After a moment,
“Ah…”
The women who had woken up let out strange, dazed moans and slowly began approaching me, as if under a spell.
A huge storm swept through the camp that morning, but somehow we managed to start marching.
…Well, not exactly “somehow.” It wasn’t peaceful at all.
After breakfast, I tried to act as normal as possible and ordered the camp broken down. But the women of the expedition kept gathering in small groups, whispering among themselves (even Han So-young joined in). Suddenly, Han So-young came up and unexpectedly hugged me.
I struggled, asking what she was doing, but with her squeals, those intense, mysterious eyes, and her whisper, “You did the same thing to me, didn’t you?” I couldn’t help but go limp.
In the end, I quietly started marching, cradled in Han So-young’s arms.
Of course, being held by Han So-young was an infinite honor. Her gentle strokes on the top of my head were maddeningly soft, and the faint scent of her skin was intoxicating. But regardless of good or bad, the situation was incredibly awkward.
Even now, I was desperately trying not to touch what I considered sacred territory—Han So-young’s chest—but every time I tried to pull away, she pulled me back. It was a real dilemma. I even thought about just closing my eyes and crossing the line, but somehow it felt like committing a sin.
“What the hell is going on…”
Pant… pant…
“Hwajeong? Hwajeong!”
“It’s thrilling!”
“What’s going on? Are you upset with me or something?”
“It’s always new.”
“Damn it, what are you saying? Get a grip!”
“Being young is the best.”
Even Hwajeong, who had just awakened, was like this. Maybe this damn smoke had given the entire expedition a collective shotacon complex. Either way, I had no way to fix this.
The only small relief was that not all attention was on me. Since the miracle was used last night, the Source had been drawing some of the team’s focus.
“Heh, but don’t you think our Source needs a name?”
“A name?”
“Yeah. It feels weird to keep calling her ‘Source’ or ‘Yana.’”
“Hmm. That’s true…”
Heo Jun-young rubbed his chin in agreement, and Ansol quickly walked over to the Source, leaning in.
“So, after some thought, how about the name ‘LoveLove’? What do you think, Source?”
Ansol smiled brightly, her face innocent and cheerful.
But in that instant, I clearly saw the Source’s expression twist into one of deep displeasure. Probably an instinctive rejection.
“Huh? What do you think? Isn’t it nice?”
“…Sorry.”
Ansol continued cheerfully, but Heo Jun-young sighed and placed a hand on the Source’s small shoulder, apologizing. I understood why.
“Here’s a tip. Some humans can be ignored, but others—like this priest—can’t. So when that happens, just spit in their face.”
“Ew? What are you talking about? Don’t teach me weird stuff!”
“Accept.”
“W-wait, accept? No, I’m serious!”
Hmm. It’s kind of refreshing to watch from the rear instead of leading the way. And naturally, the lead is held by our archer, Im Hanna… Huh? Why did she suddenly stop? Why is she walking this way?
“Im Hanna?”
“Istantel Low Road. It’s time.”
For a moment, I was puzzled, then Im Hanna suddenly spoke up with a strange tone. She looked at me expectantly, her eyes shining with anticipation.
“Now it’s my turn.”
Hearing that, I started to piece things together. Earlier, when they were whispering among themselves, they were probably deciding who would carry me next. Damn it, I really didn’t want to be passed around like this.
But I gave up quickly and tried to think positively. Honestly, my neck was starting to ache from leaning forward too much. If it was Im Hanna, I could relax and let myself be supported—and besides, the cushion she provided was pretty great.
“…”
Han So-young didn’t say a word. She just held me cautiously, her eyes wary.
“That’s not fair. Monopolizing isn’t right. We already agreed on the order, remember?”
But Im Hanna was firm and snatched me away without hesitation.
“Ah.”
So-young instinctively reached out, clearly disappointed. She looked at me with a wistful gaze, like a mother whose child was being taken away against her will. For a moment, I thought about making a face that said, “Are you really abandoning me?” but I figured it would just turn into chaos, so I held back.
On the other hand, Im Hanna wore a satisfied smile, hugging me tightly and rubbing her cheek against mine.
“Suhyun~ From here on, let’s go together, okay? Hehe.”
I wanted to protest, “Who made you my ‘noona’?” but the soft, squishy warmth pressed against my skin silenced me. Hmm. Maybe now I can finally relax.
Just as I let out a long breath and settled my body, I suddenly felt something warm and damp on the back of my neck. Why was it so wet?
“Wait, wait a second.”
“What’s wrong, our Suhyun~?”
“No… it’s damp. Why is it so wet?”
“Huh? Wet?”
I glanced down—and sure enough. Everything else was fine, but around her chest, it was soaked. Especially the most prominent part, drenched in a milky-white liquid. It was even slightly translucent.
“W-what’s going on?”
Im Hanna finally noticed something was off too. She gently lifted her shirt with her index finger and looked down. Then, her gentle eyes widened as big as lanterns.
“Oh my god!”
She let out a sharp scream and collapsed dramatically. Once she settled, I saw her clutching her chest, disbelief written all over her face.
“N-no way… I haven’t even given birth yet… or gotten pregnant… or even married…”
She trembled slightly, clearly shaken. Why was she acting like this all of a sudden? Then I caught a faint scent—sweet and nutty, like warm milk.
That was when it happened.
As the smell filled the air,
I swallowed hard.
Without even realizing it, my mouth watered.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Sorry for the delay. Yesterday afternoon, I was suddenly overwhelmed by fatigue and had to crash. Truly sorry about that. (__)
This episode wraps up the current arc, and I expect we’ll return to the city by the next chapter. Once there, I’ll give Kim Suhyun some rest while also tying up loose ends involving Lee Yujeong, the ancient magical city of Magia, and some smaller side stories about demons and such.
To all the new readers: don’t feel left out at all! Comments are always welcome, and I read every single one. I want to stay close with you all like friends until Memorize is complete—and even beyond, in my next works. Whether you want to be a dependable “older brother,” a lively same-age male friend, or a mischievous younger brother, I’m happy to have you. So please, don’t hesitate to reach out and connect with me. :D
P.S. Just a heads-up: the witch’s physical age is already hundreds of years old. Just so you know. Heh heh.