Chapter 114
“A new quest…”
Lifting my head slightly, I looked at the notification window.
[Stage 4: ‘Devotion and Reward’ will begin in 24 hours.]
The blinking alert clearly displayed the words Stage 4.
“Stage 4 already…”
Honestly, it felt unreal.
Considering the original story ended at Stage 7, we were already more than halfway through.
It suddenly hit me how long I’d been here.
When I first possessed Wendy’s body, I thought I wouldn’t last long.
This was an apocalyptic world where survival was a faint hope,
And the body I had possessed was already marked with an expiration date.
So I hadn’t been too attached to this world…
But now, just the thought of dying made my heart drop.
Sure, some of that fear came from survival instinct, but the real reason was my comrades.
Because the time I spent with them had been happy.
Because the world we built together was precious.
So I hated this world… and yet couldn’t bring myself to truly despise it.
I liked it here.
Or more precisely, I liked living as Wendy Porcelain in this world.
A breeze lifted a lock of my red hair and brushed it softly against my left cheek.
“Even this hair feels familiar now.”
Lost in a quiet moment of reflection, I stood there blankly until a gentle tap landed on my shoulder.
“Miss Wendy.”
“Yeriel?”
Had I zoned out for too long?
I must’ve worried Yeriel with how dazed I looked.
His vibrant green eyes moved slowly, filled with concern.
“There’s still time before the new quest begins… Wouldn’t it be good to return to the base camp and rest a bit?”
His kind smile lingered on me.
“Rest…”
He was right.
We’d taken short breaks while clearing each stage, but none of them had been truly restful.
Too many things had happened.
The Forest of Spirits, the Black-and-White War, the Western Flower Field…
And of course, the battle with Agatha.
I gently ran my fingers across the clock-shaped mark on my left wrist.
It was Myeolmangi’s final gift—and now, a treasured memory I had to protect.
I wondered what kind of life Myeolmangi was living now in his reborn world.
Surely not as a plant again, right?
“Come on, no way.”
I shook my head lightly.
There was no rule that said it had to be a plant. Maybe this time…he was born as a person?
And after living out its three lives…
Would he really come looking for me?
…Would he even remember me?
But worrying about that wasn’t going to change anything.
There was only one thing I could do.
“Yeah.”
I nodded, smiling softly at Yeriel.
“Let’s go rest.”
To trust in the comrades who cared for and loved me.
And to repay that trust in kind—that was all I could do.
* * *
As soon as we arrived back at base camp, the kids and Darwin immediately headed into the forest to forage for food.
They said something about preparing the ultimate meal for Wendy this time.
Somehow, Yeriel ended up staying behind to watch the tent, alone at my side.
He quietly gazed at me.
I had fallen asleep the moment we returned, as if collapsing from exhaustion.
“Miss Wendy…”
He whispered, gently reaching his hand toward my face.
Her delicate and soft features—the small nose, the pink lips beneath—all perfectly matched.
Until now, he’d never had the leisure to study her face. They were always too focused on survival.
But now…
“She’s beautiful.”
Though the thought was his alone, Yeriel looked around in a panic, flustered like someone had heard.
But after confirming there wasn’t even a single ant nearby, he sighed in relief.
His gaze returned to Wendy, still sleeping soundly.
Soft red hair down to her waist. Pale skin that contrasted with it starkly.
And with that fragile body, she’d thrown herself into danger time and again.
“Please… take better care of yourself.”
Even though he knew she couldn’t hear him, Yeriel whispered.
Maybe because she couldn’t hear him… he was finally able to say it.
“You’re always getting hurt…”
Wendy’s long lashes trembled slightly at my voice—she was clearly having a nightmare.
What kind of dream was she seeing?
Was she smiling there with Xenon, too?
At that thought, Yeriel felt a dull tightness in his chest.
He already knew that Xenon and Wendy had feelings for each other.
Even Nia, the youngest among them, had picked up on it.
But today, the two had seemed not just awkward—but downright cold.
Xenon had disappeared hastily, and Wendy had stood there all alone, looking small and forlorn.
Despite knowing it was a sad situation, Yeriel couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of relief.
Slowly, he closed his eyes, recalling his first meeting with Wendy:
Her confident stance when she invited him to join her team.
Her reckless bravery when she threw herself forward to save a teammate.
The frailness of her shoulders as she grieved death, and the tears brimming in her large eyes.
Her bright smiles, flushed cheeks, and the lively voice that called his name.
…Did he like her?
Or was it just irrational affection born from long familiarity?
“I hate you, Miss Wendy.”
He hated that she made him feel this way.
Why did she keep turning him into such a petty man?
Why did she keep—again and again…
“…Haa.”
…make him feel like this?
Unaware, he had reached toward her cheek.
“Don’t go…”
Startled by Wendy’s sleep-talking, Yeriel pulled his hand away.
‘What was I just about to do?’
Touch her sleeping face?
Heart pounding, he gently removed her hand from where she’d been clutching his sleeve.
“…I’ll stay here.”
Her expression was peaceful.
She seemed to be in a deep sleep, not moving a single inch. Seeing this, Yeriel gave a sad smile.
He knew those words weren’t meant for him.
After all, Wendy would never give him such a sorrowful look.
Instead of saying “Don’t go,” she’d just offer a polite “Take care.”
They didn’t have a bond full of regrets.
There was no lingering longing in their relationship—just simple, ordinary camaraderie.
Even if that truth hurt him.
In this moment, he just wanted to believe—foolishly—that he was the one in her dream.
“I’ll stay… always.”
Like a fool.
* * *
After parting ways with Wendy, Xenon wandered the disordered forest path.
He walked fast, nearly gasping for air, until a stone at his foot made him stop.
“…Hah.”
With a low sigh, he brushed his sweat-soaked hair back and slumped onto the ground.
Below the hill, the forest clearing was filled with colorful tents—red, yellow, blue.
People moved back and forth between the canopies.
Wendy must be down there too.
Xenon chuckled at the thought.
He’d come all the way up here to forget about her, yet now he was thinking about her again.
So much for escaping.
Clenching and unclenching his fist, he bit his lip and recalled what had happened earlier.
Her red lips, close enough to kiss.
The soft breath that tickled his nose when she touched his head.
The racing heartbeat, her clear pink eyes staring up at him.
Had he let his guard down just a little more… he might have…
“Damn it…”
He roughly ran a hand through his hair and exhaled deeply.
To think he now found even her breath sweet—was he really going insane?
[Constellation, Black Star’s Master, says you should just confess already.]
[Constellation, Black Star’s Master, says that was a perfect kissing moment…]
“Shut up.”
Xenon frowned at the constellation’s blaring message.
Fortunately, the constellation seemed to take the hint.
[……]
It disappeared, silent.
Feeling the cool wind, Xenon lay back on the grass.
“Wendy Porcelain…”
He murmured her name, which now filled his thoughts, and closed his eyes.
The wind tickled his nose.
A faint floral scent brushed past him—it reminded him of someone’s scent.
He turned away from it… only to find red wildflowers blooming beside him.
Their petals fluttered softly, like someone’s hair.
Xenon stared at them quietly before shutting his eyes again.
It seemed… it would take some time for him to calm this heart.
—
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