Chapter 907. Sera (7)
- You said... you would share everything. That’s what you promised.
- ...
Jung Ha-Yan was in a dilemma. She was having an internal struggle about confessing the truth to Han Sora. Jung Ha-Yab was breathing heavily, but her face gradually became serious. She was probably thinking how she had turned out like this when she was completely useless back on Earth.
I didn't think that I was solely responsible for the values that made her who she was today, but...
‘It’s her family’s fault for abandoning the cute Ha-Yan. They’re heartless bastards, damn it.’
I had probably made her condition worse, but her mindset that she’d be abandoned if she wasn't competent was still deep inside of her.
According to what she told me, she had always been alone. She had trouble communicating, and she wasn’t particularly outstanding in other fields, so she probably felt like she was a burden to her family.
Her oldest sister started working at a young age, and her second oldest sister was smart. She hadn't said it herself, but she definitely didn’t have any friends when she was in school. I actually heard from her that she was made an outcast...
‘This part is different for Yul-Ha and me.’
Basically, Jung Ha-Yan found value in her existence upon arriving on the continent. She found something she was good at, and it was making people happy with her as well.
The grandpas and grandmas at the Magic Tower liked her a lot, and they all had their attention on her. She wasn’t the type who would care about other people, but magic was a gift and blessing that made Jung Ha-Yan who she was today.
In some ways, she was probably glad that she was transported here.
“Maybe I should’ve asked her for more details about her life on Earth,” I said.
It couldn't be helped. She didn’t seem like she wanted to talk about it, but it would be best to hear her story even if I had to pressure her a bit for it.
Jung Ha-Yan didn’t say anything and simply walked in front of the door Han Sora, where Han Sora was standing just a few inches away from her. As time ticked by, Jung Ha-Yan was starting to become exhausted. She grabbed the door, but she lost confidence and let it go.
- Heuk... Hiccup...
All I could hear in her room was her sobs.
- I will never leave you, Miss Jung Ha-Yan.
- ...
- You even said you wanted to stay together.
- Yeah...
- Please... open the door.
It was like they were filming a teen drama...
'You know, the one where the heartbroken protagonist always gets comforted. No, it’s like that show Animal Farm[1] where the process of heartbroken puppies opening up to humans is shown.'
Even though Han Sora could just walk into the tent, she still decided to ask Jung Ha-Yan to open the door. I was sure it was somewhat symbolic, but I could see that she wanted Jung Ha-Yan to open up to her.
It seemed that Han Sora’s sincerity was working because Jung Ha-Yan nodded quietly and opened the door of the tent that was too grand to be called a tent.
Jung Ha-Yan greeted Han Sora and stared quietly at her.
Han Sora seemed to have realized that this was Jung Ha-Yan's way of opening up.
A slight smile tugged at Han Sora's worried face.
- S-Sora... I...
- Yes, Miss Jung Ha-Yan.
‘You don’t need to say anything. Just hug.’
Hugging was the first thing they had to do. Han Sora started crying as well upon seeing Jung Ha-Yan's messy face. If I showed this to Han Sora in the past, who always ran away, she wouldn’t believe me.
- W-Why did you bite your nails again?
- Ah... well...
- Your pretty hair is a mess as well. You should stop pulling your hair. Didn't you say that you'll stop doing that?
- O-Okay.
- Why did you cry so much? Your eyes are swollen. Heuk... why are you so sad?
‘Damn. She’s doing so well.’
Han Sora knew what was going on, but she was acting really well.
'You're involved in this as well, so why are you feigning ignorance? You’re an accomplice, too.'
I felt bad because it felt like I was ruining the mood, but Han Sora was...
- Why are you acting like such a fool? Miss Jung Ha-Yan... you’re really...
I really liked the tension.
- Why are you always suffering alone...
- I-I’m sorry... Sora.
- You should apologize to yourself, not to me.
It was dramatic, but the situation wasn’t bad.
I thought it was pretty good because it was actually helping Jung Ha-Yan calm down. Earlier, she was hyperventilating, but her breathing had evened out, and she no longer seemed nervous. She was relaxed and could finally reflect on herself again.
- So... what happened?
The timing at which Han Sora asked the question wasn’t bad either. I thought she would talk to her while crying, but Han Sora was pretty calm.
- I-It’s nothing serious...
- I still want to hear it.
- M-M-My magic... suddenly disappeared...
With that, Jung Ha-Yan stared at Han Sora's face. She was clearly curious about her reaction.
- I-I think it’s just t-t-temporary...
Jung Ha-Yan was nervous, so she was saying that it was fine and that her magic would soon return. She was also hinting at Han Sora that she didn't want the latter to leave her alone.
- I-I’m just trying to find out why this is happening, and it's just temporary, so it should be fine, right?
- Why are you asking me?
- I-I-I don’t know...
- Are you okay, Miss Jung Ha-Yan?
- Y-Yeah... i-it’s only temporary. Y-You can stay as the Angel of Magic, so...
- That’s not important, Miss Jung Ha-Yan. I don’t care if you have magic or not. You’re the one important to me, not your magic. I’m sure the sub guild master also...
- D-D-Don’t tell him... He mustn't know.
- I’m sure he’ll tell you that it’s fine.
- D-Don’t tell him! Don’t...!
- You have a lot of strengths even without magic.
- ...
- You’re nice... pretty and cute. Magic isn’t what brought you to existence. I’m sure he likes you because of those many sides of you. Look at this. Don’t you think you look lovely as well?
Han Sora conversed with Jung Ha-Yan while fixing the latter's messy hair.
Jung Ha-Yan relied a lot on Han Sora, so she looked at the mirror quietly.
- Y-You’re prettier, Sora.
- Really? Which part?
- Your eyes. Your odd eyes.
You gave her those odd eyes, Ha-Yan.
- I-I...
- No, you’re really pretty, Miss Jung Ha-Yan. Also, your appearance doesn’t really matter. The sub guild master said that he liked you as a person. The two of you were together the moment you landed on the continent.
- You experienced many things together, grew together, promised to have a future together, and dedicated yourself to each other. You can be a little more confident about yourself, you know?
- S-Still... I-I don’t want to... Hiccup... I-I really don’t want to tell him. I... really... really don’t want to... please...
- Then how about we tell him later?
- ...
- ...
- L-Let’s do that...
Han Sora was really skilled at handling Jung Ha-Yan.
It seemed that she had long gotten used to handling Jung Ha-Yan, as she had been spending the majority of her time with her. Obviously, the time that she had spent with Sera was helpful as well.
Whenever Jung Ha-Yan was calm, Han Sora would tell the former what she wanted her to do, and if Jung Ha-Yan didn't want to do something, Han Sora would find a middle ground that they could settle for.
It sounded easy, but it wasn't easy at all.
We were talking about Jung Ha-Yan here, after all.
Their conversation was going so smoothly that Jung Ha-Yan looked a bit convinced.
- You said it's going to come back soon anyway. Let’s wait and see what happens. Also, you should think carefully about what you're going to do next. We don’t need to be hasty. Are you... feeling better?
- Y-Yeah. Thanks, Sora. T-Then what should I say to oppa?
- I’ll try talking to him. If we end up in a situation where you'd have to use spells, I can cast spells in your place... I don’t think we’ll be needing it anytime soon though.
- I... need to do that thing... The thing I do with oppa...
- You mean managing the continent? I’ll talk to him about that as well, Miss Jung Ha-Yan. So don’t worry too much about it, okay? You’re the God of Magic. You’ve been experiencing hardships lately and have been really tired these days.
- I think it’s because you’re really stressed. Even if I tell you to relax, I know you won’t relax, but I think it’s best if you rest and stop thinking about anything. No, you have to do that.
- Y-You’re right, Sora... I-I've been having a headache recently, and I've been feeling frustrated, too. I-It’s because of Sera... I-Is Sera doing okay?
- Yes, Sera is doing fine since I’ve been taking care of him. Just think about yourself, Miss Jung Ha-Yan. You have to... so that I can act like my normal self. I’ll help you.
- Are you sure... that’s okay?
- Yes, of course.
- Heuk... Hiccup... Really?
- Yes.
- You won’t leave me, right?
- Why would I? I’ll stay with you even after you get married.
- Really... are you really not going to leave me?
- Yes, I won’t.
Han Sora definitely had a trauma about that.
- I-It’ll come back soon.
- Yeah, it’ll come back soon, right?
- But y-you still might leave me.
- I told you that I won’t leave you. Geez, Miss Jung Ha-Yan...
- S-Since we made a promise, l-let’s make it official. L-Let’s sign a contract.
- What?
- A magic contract. If you leave me... you’ll go... boom!
‘Shit. Good thing I didn’t go in there first.’
'Thanks, Sora...'
- What? I-Is that really necessary...
- We’ll bind our promise using the magic contract. T-That’ll help me feel reassured. Since I can’t do it, y-you can do it for me, right?
- Ah...
- Y-You’ll do that for me, right? You can... right?
Han Sora nodded without realizing it.
At the same time...
“Sir.”
“Oh... Hye-Jin... what brings you here?” I asked.
'She’s a friend I haven’t seen in a while.'
“A strange monster appeared in the capital,” Jo Hye-Jin answered.
1. A South Korean television program that focuses on animals and their relationship with humans. ☜