ReLife Player - Chapter 115
[Children’s prom and-]
Five years of seonnyeol (New Year) are coming to an end.
Eunha reflected on the year as he watched the people chatting happily under the chandeliers.
Some days were joyous, others were somber.
Some things had gone right, some things had gone wrong.
I know why.
But I wanted to turn my head away from reality.
So I downed the non-alcoholic champagne in one gulp.
«…That tastes like shit.»
I’d rather drink sparkling water. Eunha, who had regretted drinking it last year, frowned and handed the empty glass to a passing employee.
He glanced around. The people from the Sirius Group and its affiliated companies were bustling around again this year to network with others.
They seemed carefree on the surface, but in reality, they were the ones carrying heavy burdens.
Including my father.
From the moment he walked into the ballroom, his glass was in his hand, but he was too busy chatting to drink the champagne.
«Some unfamiliar faces here. They have no sense of restraint, do they? Why are they acting like that?»
This was Eunha’s third year attending a Sirius Group company holiday party.
It was inevitable that the faces of the kids at the party would be familiar.
In addition, he had met the children of the affiliate’s executives during his summer vacation.
He could tell who had attended the party before and who had attended again this year.
He could tell by their behavior.
The first-timers were overly observant, and the ones who had been to the party before were hanging out with kids they knew.
Like Euna.
«Euna, you’ve gotten prettier since you graduated from elementary school!»
«Oh, come on. But you have really pretty lips. What color are they?»
«Euna, how about this one, isn’t this color pretty too?»
Since entering middle school, Euna, who had transformed unrecognizably, was surrounded by girls in glamorous dresses.
Even the girls who were dressed to the nines for the affiliate’s year-end party couldn’t stand out from the crowd as she wore a dress that emphasized her slender waist and beauty, which had begun to define as she entered puberty.
«…Pretty.»
«Who’s that?»
«Don’t you know Euna?»
«No Euna, how old is she?»
«Fourteen.»
«If she’s fourteen, she’s two years younger than me. There’s a kid like that here.»
Out of the public eye, Eunha leaned against a pillar and glared at the boys talking in front of him.
Apparently, the boy who had fallen for her was attending the party for the first time this year.
Perhaps their parents had been appointed to important positions this year.
In addition to the boy Eunha had his eye on, there were other children in the ballroom who were trying to talk to her.
The middle and high school-aged kids, who hadn’t paid much attention to her as an elementary school student, had a different look in their eyes.
«Do you want to talk to her?»
«They say the brave get the beautiful.»
«What affiliation are you with? If you’re Sirius Insurance, you can still talk to them, right?»
«Shit, man. A man is confidence, confidence. You look like you’ve never been with a guy before, but you just have to be confident and push it.»
«Yeah, confidence. Keep an eye on her. I’m getting her number.»
The kids who had been watching for an opening made their move almost simultaneously.
As they walked by, glasses in hand, they made eye contact.
A glance was all it took.
They realized that the girl they had in mind was the same as them, and they hurried on.
Of course, they didn’t reach her.
As they fought amongst themselves, Eunha, approaching from the edge of their vision, snatched her up.
«Noona.»
«Huh? Eunha. What’s wrong?»
«Are you going to keep playing with them and not me?»
«…I’m sorry! I bored you so much, didn’t I?»
Euna was still Euna, even though she had grown up quite a bit.
She smiled at the children and hugged Eunha tightly, not caring what anyone else thought. She rubbed her cheeks, forgetting she was wearing makeup.
Get away from her, you things.
I don’t want these squids crawling all over my sister.
Eunha snuggled into her faintly perfumed body and scowled at the boys over her shoulder.
The boys who had been chasing the chicken now found themselves in a situation where they were staring at the roof, scratching their heads.
Eunha gave them a blank stare.
Just then, the music started.
«Lady, may I have this dance?»
«Oh.»
«Would you like to dance with me?»
«…Okay.»
The holiday party wasn’t just a place for people to connect.
At Sirius Group, the holiday party was about celebrating the year’s hard work.
The informal holiday party was interrupted by danceable songs.
When the music started, people would ask the person of their choice to dance, or couples who were in a good relationship would hold hands and walk to the center of the ballroom.
This is what the boys were trying to do.
How dare they.
Eunha extended his hand to the boys as if to say, «What do you want?»
«Pretty noona, would you like to dance with me?»
Eunha smiled sweetly.
There was no way Euna wouldn’t fall for it.
Swallowing a small gasp, her eyes lit up and she took his hand.
«Yes, please.»
Eunha led Euna to the center of the ballroom.
Several people were dancing to a sweet melody.
Among them was Han Seo-yeon, who was dancing with Han Do-young.
«Eunha, Euna, hello. You’ve come to dance too, haven’t you?»
«Hello, Seo-yeon. Hello to you too.»
«Yeah, it’s been a while.»
Eunha nodded his head in greeting as the two walked away in a boxy formation.
He reached his hand between Euna’s armpits. With one hand, he held her waist, and with the other, he shook her hand, then moved his right foot.
«By the way, Eunha, can you dance?»
«This is a piece of cake.»
I wonder how well I danced before I returned.
I was quite skilled at social dancing.
I even taught at the Player Academy and often found myself at parties and gatherings without realizing it.
There were so many occasions where I had to dance that I even taught Baekryeon how to dance during the time when I was known as the «Little Princess’s Dancing Instructor.»
Since I was taller than her, I had to bend my upper body and dance, but I knew the steps.
‘….Ahjussi, should we take a break and go in?’
‘One, two…, oh, yeah. Again.’
‘…Ahjussi, we should go in at two. One, two! Three, four, one, two, ah…’
‘…Again.’
How my back ached from being Baekryeon’s dance partner every night.
That girl had turned into a woman sometime ago.
‘Oppa, why don’t you dance with me later?’
‘You’re a good dancer, why should I?’
‘I haven’t been able to dance with you lately.’
‘…Okay. Haa, looks like I’m hurting my back again.’
‘I’m a little taller than I was then~’
‘At least this much.’
Eunha pointed to his chest with his hand, and Baekryeon, who was almost as tall as him, puffed up her cheeks.
The child who was forced to become a fairy due to the circumstances of the world was forced to grow up too early.
Even though she had taken on a demeanor and appearance that didn’t match her age, there was still a childlike quality to her.
Especially when she was with him.
‘…Hey, what are you doing?’
‘Why? Don’t you know that’s how a waltz is supposed to go?’
‘Since when did the waltz become a dance that involves the lower half of the body?’
‘You know, oppa. You used to say that dancing with me hurt your back.’
‘What. You’re going to say something weird again.’
‘No one’s in the office. Everyone went inside earlier.’
‘…….’
‘I’ll make your waist hurt. In return, you make my hips hurt.’
«…Where did I go wrong in raising her.»
«Huh? What?»
«Nothing.»
Eunha tried desperately to forget what had happened before the regression.
That night had been dangerous.
If Ryu Yeonhwa hadn’t arrived just in time, the newly adult girl might have crossed the line in the Blue House office.
«Oh, I’m sorry.»
«Right, Eunha. You were tone-deaf, and a terrible dancer.»
Euna had already made a face.
Eunha had already stepped on her foot several times.
«It’s just that I haven’t danced in a long time.»
«A long time?»
«…I learned it in elementary school a long time ago.»
«I didn’t learn it. I see. But Eunha, this is a little….»
«What? You’re learning it at the academy now, so you’re good at it.»
«…Yeah.»
Euna still smiled.
Even though her feet were hurting, it was cute to see her younger brother mumbling excuses.
«Ah, the music’s over.»
«Yeah. It was fun, noona.»
«I had fun too!»
«Now don’t dance with some weird kids.»
«Okay, okay! I only have to dance with you, Eunha, right?»
«…Euna, what about dad?»
«Yes, next dad~»
«No, don’t~»
Being near his father at the year-end party left him with no room to breathe.
Last year, Eunha had suffered from the special attention he received, having stuck with his father without realizing it.
He didn’t want to hear comments like «Your son is handsome» or «Your son seems smart» from people.
Euna seemed to agree.
The two ran away from their father, who only broke free while the music played.
Euna disappeared into the crowd of girls, and Eunha fled to the garden to escape the stuffy banquet hall.
«Ugh, Euna….»
Their father, who was only looking for a chance to dance with Euna, had to deal with the people coming back for more as soon as the music ended.
☆
«I wondered why I didn’t see you today.»
«What are you talking about?»
«Tell me honestly, why are you everywhere I go?»
Eunha stepped out into the garden to catch his breath and take in some cold air.
He found Han Seo-hyun sitting idly on a bench in front of a non-functional fountain.
He sat on the edge of the bench, away from her, and pointed a finger at her.
Han Seo-hyun frowned at the accusation.
«I was here first, not you.
And, what about that thing you say as soon as we meet?»
«I’m just curious that we meet every year at every party.»
«I told you to speak comfortably, but you’re ignoring me. Do you want to fight?»
This is Han Seo-hyun.
Eunha smiled sheepishly.
As he walked down the stairs to the garden, her back to the bench looked a little lonely.
No, I wouldn’t say she looked lonely, but rather, she looked lost.
As if she hadn’t found a reason to live.
The aura she gave off was not unfamiliar.
It was familiar.
It was similar to his own, when he’d wielded his sword at every opportunity before his regression.
She reminded him of the people at the Mistflower Party, who, like him, couldn’t find a reason to live, and chose to live to die a foolish death.
Of course, she didn’t seem that lost, but she did remind him of them.
He turned his head away from her, resting against the backrest.
«I’m tired.»
«How long have you been here? Probably longer than me?»
«How long have you been here?»
«Since before the party started.»
«Yeah, you must be tired.»
«Of course.»
Then Seohyun started talking about what happened at the party today without being asked.
How Han Do-young had asked her to dance when she didn’t want to be the center of attention, how Seoyeon had forced her to carry her around, and how she had to say hello to everyone.
«It was also tough to separate from those following me.»
«Yeah, those following you are nowhere to be seen now.»
«You just figured that out?»
Eunha looked around for the children he had met at a gathering Han Seo-yeon had organized during her summer vacation.
Even when he was in the party hall, he saw the kids following her, but now she was alone.
«But I helped with one thing.»
«What was that?»
Seohyun asked as she looked up at the moonlit night.
Eunha shrugged his shoulders.
«I didn’t follow you.»
«…Thank you very much.»
Seohyun frowned.
Eunha, who had been trying to tease her, sighed as she didn’t respond properly.
«How was the last meeting?»
«Can you not invite me next time?»
«That’s for you to convince my sister, not me, though she seems to like you.»
I know. Why does your sister like me?
Eunha was in and out of the meetings Seo-yeon organized.
Nevertheless, Seo-yeon asked him to come to the next meeting to see if he liked it, seemingly trying to get him into Seo-hyun’s clique.
Han Seo-yeon is taking over Sirius Group in the distant future.
It wasn’t a bad thing that she liked him.
But he didn’t want to get involved in their political games, and he didn’t want to go through the hassle of being part of a clique.
«Eunha, you said that last time, didn’t you?»
«What did I say?»
«Give up. It’s faster if you give up.»
«Huh.»
«I thought you were starting your social life early.»
«Shit.»
«Do you want to get in trouble?»
Eunha shook his head.
Sighing and shaking her head, Seohyun looked up at the night sky again.
The moon was still shining in the darkness, as if it could be found no matter where it was.
Its faint glow lit up the otherwise starless night.
«What is it?»
«The beautiful, Blue Danube.»
Music played.
Someone had left the balcony open, and the music was coming from above.
«Here.»
Seohyun held out her hand.
Eunha stared blankly at her hand.
«Are you clueless, or are you just an idiot?»
«…Yes, yes.»
Eunha got up from the bench.
He had already danced with Euna once, and he didn’t want to dance again.
But I couldn’t help it.
I can’t neglect the daughter of the president of my father’s company.
For a time, I was even in her clique.
The little queen’s orders were absolute.
«I must do as the queen wishes.»
«Do you realize how creepy that is?»
Upon hearing those words, No Eunha made a disgusted face. He made a face as if he had just eaten dirt, pursing his lips and grumbling.
Seohyun didn’t show any emotion whether he did that or not.
She simply brushed his hand away.
«You’re going to grab me without even a word of courtesy?»
«Who are you to extend your hand first?»
«Your manners are really lacking.»
«Yeah, they’re lacking. So what?»
«So what?»
«…So what?»
It’s frustrating, but such is life.
Sighing, Eunha straightened his posture and extended his hand to the woman sitting on the bench.
«Shall We Dance?»
«50 points.»
«Jeez, seriously…»
«Seriously, what?»
Of course, Eunha couldn’t just let it happen like this.
He wanted to see her flustered face.
So when she grabbed his hand, he pulled it with all his strength.
Naturally, she sitting on the bench lost her balance and leaned forward.
«50 points. We haven’t even started, and you’re already like this?»
Seohyun didn’t fall over.
It was because he pulled her towards his chest.
«Hmm.»
But Seohyun wasn’t just standing still either.
«Ah, ouch! What are you doing now?»
«What am I doing?»
He blinked, and she pinched his chest.
Her hands were so pungent.
In the end, even before they started dancing, they were both tired.
☆
─Six years after the Sun Calendar.
Fairy Im Gaeul greeted the new year with a cheerful voice.
[My beloved people.
Last year was also an eventful year. Monsters still threaten us, and the Cocoon can’t fully protect us.
Still, we’re all living, and we’re not giving up. We’re choosing to face it, not run from it, and we’re choosing to move forward, not backward.
Each step we take may only be a small one, but I firmly believe that one day it will lead to a giant step and a bright future.
I am proud of my people, and I want to hold their hands and move forward in the new year.
In 1999, we lost friends, we lost children, we lost families to a catastrophe that will never happen again in human history.
And we lost our land.
More than 30 years have passed, but the pain of loss has not faded.
In the new year, I want to overlay the sorrow of my beloved people with joy].
The wind blew.
Im Gaeul walked along the stone path, her heels echoing.
[We-].
Mana of white silver enveloped her.
Her beauty was illuminated by the white mana, and the jewelry she wore glowed in response to the mana.
She looked around at the eleven players with a gleam in her white-silver eyes.
Each of the black-cloaked players dropped to one knee.
[Even if this body turns to ashes]
Moon Joon, the Twelfth Pillar, swore.
[Even if I have to use all the words I have at my disposal].
Twelfth Seat Baek Seo-jin intoned.
[Even if it means not being able to open my eyes.]
Twelfth Seat Yoon Sung-jin muttered.
[For a better future.]
Twelfth Seat Shin Seoyoung replied.
[Even if it means burning all of our enemies to the ground.]
Twelfth Seat Shin Myeong-hwan bowed his head.
[To cultivate new shoots in the city…]
Twelfth Seat Bang Yeon-ji vowed.
[For a world where people get along with each other.]
Twelfth Seat Guyeounsu spread his wings.
[Until the last bullet.]
Twelfth Seat Son Ji Hee said.
[I will dedicate this body.]
Twelfth Seat Lee Do-jin vowed.
[Stronger than anyone else.]
Twelfth Seat Kang Hyun-chul ignited a flame.
[Without losing anyone.]
Twelfth Seat Park Hye-rim struck her scepter.
[─We ─.]
Im Gaeul, who had come down the path made by the Twelve, spoke in an unwavering voice.
[─We will reclaim Uijeongbu.]