Chapter 129 - Rest

# Stardust was on the rise.

I didn't need to look far—just checking my Stardust fan cafe was enough to see it. Membership had exploded in the past few days. It makes me happy to see more people discovering Stardust's charm.

Of course, as a consequence, I nearly died...

But I didn't actually die, so it all worked out, right?

"Cough."

"Da-in oppa, here's a handkerchief."

"Ah, Eun-wol. Thanks."

I wiped the blood from my mouth.

...Long-distance teleportation seems to put too much strain on my body. Well, considering I essentially sprinted dozens of kilometers without rest, it's surprising my body didn't break down completely. I'm fortunate to be alive.

...Though I didn't die, I came very close.

As soon as I arrived home, I created a sea of blood before collapsing. I heard later that the entire house was turned upside down. I barely survived thanks to Ha-yul rushing over to treat me—without her, they said I looked like I was about to breathe my last.

Especially Choi Se-hee and Eun-wol, who were seeing me like this for the first time, apparently fell into a panic. Han Seo-eun and Ha-yul had seen me bleeding profusely from a stab wound before, so they managed to keep their wits about them despite screaming, but I heard Eun-wol actually fainted...?

The result is Eun-wol sticking close to my bedside.

"Da-in oppa... are you really okay?"

"Yes. Don't worry, Eun-wol."

Eun-wol continued to look at me with concerned eyes.

I kept reassuring her that I was fine. The first thing I saw when I woke up was Eun-wol crying her eyes out, which made me feel terrible. She already depends on me almost as much as Seo-eun does, so she must have been terrified.

As I comforted the slightly trembling girl beside me with one hand, Seo-eun, who had been glaring at us with discomfort, suddenly started making accusations.

"Oppa, Baek Eunwol is just pretending to be weak so she can stay by your side. It's all an act, don't fall for it."

"...That's not true! Oppa, don't believe such lies. You know how worried I've been about you, right?"

"Of course I do."

"Ugh...! So that's how you want to play it?"

Seo-eun, who had been sitting next to me, started climbing onto the bed where I was half-lying, half-sitting.

"...Seo-eun, what are you doing?"

"What? I'm worried about oppa too. I want to stay close."

"...But you just said I was overreacting."

"That's different from this!"

"Heh. Your inability to be honest is cute."

"What? Are you making fun of me?"

"No. I'm complimenting you for being cute."

"Hmph. Then you're cute too."

"Thank you."

"...Something feels off."

Seo-eun and Eun-wol bickering as usual.

...As always, they were close friends.

The truth is, they can only growl at each other like this because they're close. Usually, they get along well, holding hands and running around together.

Anyway, this is how I've been living lately.

Confined to a bed that doubles as a fatigue recovery machine.

No matter how much I insist I'm fine, after seeing me coughing up blood, the members forced me to lie here and won't let me lift a finger.

...Really, I'm fine now except for occasionally coughing up blood. They're being too overprotective.

Anyway, to mediate between the two who were still growling about "Hacker Mango" and "Moonlight Mango" and other things I couldn't understand, I opened my mouth.

"...Seo-eun, Eun-wol. Calm down. Cough."

"Oppa! Are you really okay? Should I call Ha-yul unni again?"

"Cough. It's not that bad."

I can't wake up someone who's finally getting some rest after staying by my side day and night, sleeping lightly while taking care of me. My conscience won't allow it...

Seo-eun, who had stopped arguing to speak to me with concern, was gently patted by me. Only then did she close her eyes slightly and sigh with relief.

Sigh, I feel bad for worrying everyone.

I'm tired too. I just want to take off on a trip somewhere and rest. Somewhere like a resort.

"Let's go on a trip soon. Anywhere."

"What? In your condition?"

"...Seo-eun, I'm really fine now. Besides, we're going to a resort, so I can just lie down the whole time."

"...I guess so. Well, that should be okay! I'll talk to the unnies about it."

"...Trip..."

Eun-wol's eyes sparkled at the mention of a trip.

Yes, I need to show Eun-wol the ocean soon.

Anyway, we all lay there talking about various things.

The reason Seo-eun and Eun-wol came to this room in the first place was because they thought I'd be bored lying alone, so they chattered away on either side of me.

"So, oppa. It's almost finished. Starbuster Mark 2, beyond a buster—the so-called Starbreaker! This time will be definitely different from before. It won't be long until Stardust kneels before me! Hehe."

"...Seo-eun, what did Stardust ever do to you..."

"It's not what she did to me, but what she did to you. You always come home injured because of that woman, and I can't forgive that!"

....So it was because of me?

I gave an awkward smile as I watched Seo-eun beaming while talking about her plans to defeat Stardust.

...Come to think of it, Seo-eun didn't get along with Stardust in the original story either. Is following the original plot the natural order of this world? Yes, this is all because of the original story. It's not because of me.

After reciting the advantages of the Starbreaker—how it's stronger, more durable, and can be summoned remotely compared to the previous Starbuster—Seo-eun clenched her fist, stood up on the bed, and exclaimed.

"Right! This is no time to waste. Oppa! I'm going to make some more adjustments to the Starbreaker! Eun-wol, come with me!"

"...Huh? But I want to stay with Da-in oppa a little longer..."

"Nope, you two can't be alone without me. Come on!"

"Awww..."

And so Seo-eun grabbed Eun-wol's hand and dragged her out.

I felt sorry for Eun-wol as she pitifully reached out toward me until the last moment, but I couldn't stop them.

Eun-wol... take a break... I need to organize the Stardust fan cafe too...

After they both disappeared.

In the quiet room again, just as I was about to take out my laptop.

-Ring ding ding~

My phone started ringing.

It was Lee Seol-ah.

It's been a while.

I answered immediately.

"Hey, Seol-ah."

[Hiccup. Hello, Da-in. Are you feeling better?]

"Yeah. I'm slowly getting better."

[That's good to hear, hiccup.]

"...Hey, you seem worse off than me. Why are you hiccuping so much?"

[Ah, hiccup. I had some drinks and now I can't stop.]

"Drinks? What time do you think it is? It's the middle of the day."

[Sigh... I've had a lot of troubling things lately, hiccup. Drinking this helps me feel a bit better. Companies won't be acquired, the National Assembly is desperate to take down Yu-seong Corporation... Sigh, hiccup. It's getting worse by the day. It's heartbreaking.]

...I'm sorry, Seol-ah. I think that might be my fault.

I must have changed the original story too much. By now, she should have conquered half of Korea.

Ignoring my pricking conscience, I awkwardly offered words of encouragement.

"Haha... Hey, hang in there."

[Da-in. Hiccup. But you know what's even more heartbreaking?]

"...Uh, what?"

[The fact that I can't even visit my most precious colleague who collapsed. Haha, well, I understand if you can't tell me where you live. I get it if you don't trust me.]

"No, it's not like that."

I hurriedly opened my mouth, sensing something ominous, but it was already too late.

Lee Seol-ah continued speaking, her voice slightly tearful.

[...It's just. Still a bit bitter. That I can't even give my colleague enough trust, sob, I don't know why I stepped up like this when I don't even know where you live. I'm sorry, Da-in. ...I just, I just care about you so much, I rely on you, I just like you. Sob, but you're suffering and I can't help at all, sniff, can't even visit you. Sigh. Who can I blame but myself for not earning your trust? Sob, I'm sorry, Da-in...]

She was almost sobbing now. Wait, what's wrong with her?

"Hey, hey. What's wrong? Stop crying. Stop."

[Hahaha... I'm sorry, Da-in. Hiccup. The alcohol must have gone to my head and I'm just rambling. I'm sorry, please forget it. Haha, what's wrong with me? Sniff, I can't control my emotions...]

Sniffling but forcing a smile, that was Lee Seol-ah.

My heart softened toward her, and I finally had no choice but to say:

"...Come."

[What?]

"Come visit me. I'll give you the address."

[Sniff, really?]

"Yeah. So stop saying nonsense about me not trusting you..."

[Wow! Really? No taking it back? I can come right away?]

"...Yeah. Sure. I'll send you the address, so come over."

[Yes! Got it! See you then!!]

"Uh... yeah..."

And the call ended abruptly.

...What is this uneasy feeling?

No, it's not that I still don't trust Seol-ah and fear betrayal.

...It just feels like I've been played...

"Tsk. Come to think of it, I should have caught on from the moment she called me her most precious colleague..."

That was a lie.

Because in the original story, Lee Seol-ah clearly stated that Shin Ha-ru was her most precious colleague.

"....."

....It was a lie, right?

Actually, it would be more troubling if it wasn't a lie.

Anyway, with this uneasy feeling, I sent her the address and received a reply saying she would visit soon.

...Well, fine. There shouldn't be any problem if she comes. Honestly, I don't think Seol-ah would betray me at this point.

But wait.

Did I ever mention that I'm living with the Ego-stream members in a big house...?

***

The next day.

"Hello, Da-in."

"Uh... Seol-ah, hi. You came really quickly...?"

Lee Seol-ah was standing in my room.

With her sky-blue hair flowing down, she smiled at me.

"Yes. It's my first time visiting your home, so of course I had to come quickly."

After saying that, she smiled even more deeply and said:

"...But, on my way to your room, I noticed there are quite a lot of different women in the house? You're living together, I see?"

"...Haha. Somehow it turned out that way."

She continued smiling with her lips curled upward.

However, contrary to her expression, the room began to grow chilly.

I mean literally. I could feel the temperature dropping...

In that increasingly cold room.

Facing Lee Seol-ah, who was still smiling, I laughed awkwardly.

.....Um, Seol-ah. It's getting cold in here...?