Magical Hunter Girl Decorates the Dungeon! Episode 008
— — —
After the career experience program was cut short.
Many of the children went home with the guardians who had rushed to the center.
Iji boarded the chartered bus without any expectations. After all, her sister was busy with work.
But just before the bus engine started, her sister came running into the center’s parking lot.
"Iji! Are you okay?"
"Sister? Oh, you didn't have to come! Why did you come?"
"How could I not? *Huff*, hearing that, how could I— *huff*, not come!"
Her sister, wearing only a cardigan over her uniform, slumped into the front seat. She had run so hard that beads of sweat were pouring down her forehead.
"Sister, I'm fine! Nothing really happened!"
"You were dragged into a dungeon, and you call that nothing?"
Her sister crawled over to check Iji’s arms and legs. Meanwhile, the homeroom teacher approached and handed her a handkerchief.
"Ah, Teacher!"
"Thank you for coming all this way, Iji’s guardian. Let me explain the situation."
"Thank you... Iji, sit and rest. I’ll talk to the teacher— *huff*."
The ride back to school, which would usually be noisy, was quiet.
The remaining children, exhausted from the chaos, fell asleep one by one.
While Iji was closing her eyes, familiar voices drifted through the gap between the seats in front of her.
"Other students were also involved... Iji was so composed that it’s actually... We’ll keep a close watch at school..."
"Thank you for your concern... A place as terrifying as a dungeon..."
Sister. The dungeon wasn't as scary as you think.
It’s not safe, either, but maybe, just maybe, I could make a friend there.
I’m a Hunter now, you know?
...Sentences I shouldn't say.
Of course, even if her sister knew Iji was a Magical Girl, she wouldn't betray her.
The problem was elsewhere.
'My sister will worry.'
She’s already this anxious even though I came out of a very weak dungeon safely.
If I confessed that I plan to keep going into dungeons, she might faint.
What should I do?
Waiting 11 years to become an adult is too long.
'I’d have to wait my whole life, and then two more years on top of that.'
But it’s also true that for a fledgling Hunter who just awakened, dungeons are dangerous.
...Would it be okay if I got stronger?
'Getting skills... and... what I need is...'
Just as the word "comrade" flickered in her mind, Iji drifted off into dreamland.
— — —
* * *
"Sis... ter. Are we here already? I’ll get up..."
"I’m heavy, so don't move for now. Just keep your eyes closed a bit longer and wake up before dinner, okay?"
"...Okay."
Iji, who had gone limp while sleeping on the bus, drifted back to dreamland the moment Hyunji laid her on the bed.
Of course, Iji wasn't heavy at all.
If she had said, "It's okay, keep sleeping," Iji would have forced her eyes open.
She was a child who hated being a burden to her sister.
'You can be more selfish, you know.'
Hyunji came out to the living room and recalled what she had heard on the bus.
The homeroom teacher had said cautiously.
'Iji is so composed that it actually worries me. The other student who was dragged in with her cried the moment they saw their family.'
'I envy that student for having a healthy relationship with their family. Iji seems to be denying or suppressing her emotions...'
'...Guardian. You don't speak to Iji in that tone, do you?'
'No, I don't.'
Hyunji tries to be as soft as the things her sister likes—rabbits, strawberries, jelly—at least when she's in front of her.
'Ahem, we will keep watching her at school, but please let us know if Iji acts differently than usual.'
'Thank you for your concern. It’s impossible for there to be no impact after visiting an extraordinary space like a dungeon. I will keep a close eye on her for any signs of trauma.'
The homeroom teacher gave a subtle smile.
It was the look people often give when they realize a 28-year-old is raising a 9-year-old sister alone.
'It’s a relief that Iji has such a reliable sister. Have a safe trip home.'
'Thank you.'
It’s a relief if I look reliable.
I always wanted to maintain my composure when it came to my sister.
...Even after going through something terrible recently.
After confirming that Iji was asleep.
Hyunji went to the veranda and took out the card she had shoved deep into a drawer.
To Hyunji, who always makes my side shine
Thank you for the past year with you...
Even if I didn't want to read it, the last line, pressed down firmly, caught my eye every time.
I want to be with you for a long time
Hyunji picked up scissors and cut that sentence horizontally first. Next, the names "Shin Hyunji" and "Kim Dongha," and then the rest of the lovey-dovey nonsense into tiny pieces.
The letter quickly became a pile of paper scraps.
'I should have cut it sooner. Iji didn't see it yesterday, did she?'
Anxiety welled up.
Last year, Hyunji had kept the fact that she had a boyfriend a secret from Iji. She thought Iji might worry that she would be a hindrance to her sister's dating life.
It was a good thing she didn't tell her.
'If I had, how would I have explained my situation to Iji?'
That after a year of dating, he proposed and then retracted it all by himself.
One day, with their one-year anniversary just around the corner, her boyfriend "Gam Dongha" handed her that meaningful card and said:
'Dress up nicely. Please.'
The place mentioned on the card was an incredibly expensive restaurant.
The very place known as a proposal spot.
'Is he going to propose?'
It was more bewildering than joyful.
In their one year of dating, they had never once seriously discussed the future.
I went out feeling worried.
...But I would have preferred a proposal.
On the day of the appointment, in a private room at the restaurant.
Dongha, who had been acting particularly pathetic that day, bit his lower lip for show as soon as the meal was over and said:
'My mother opposes our marriage.'
What was this nonsense, jumping so far ahead all on his own?
Leaving Hyunji dazed, Dongha spoke theatrically, drunk on his own emotions.
He said he told his mother he had a woman he wanted to marry, she looked into my family background, said our family is a bit well-off, that I could never be a daughter-in-law, that he wanted to embrace everything about me, but his father had high blood pressure so he couldn't push it any further, and so on.
The finishing blow came to Hyunji, who was stunned by the nonsense.
Dongha handed her a gift bag with a jewelry brand name on it and said:
'Can you promise not to cross the line? Then we can be together a little longer.'
...I don't even know what state of mind I was in when I ran out of there.
I remember swinging the shopping bag right then and there.
When I pulled myself together at home, I only had an empty bag in my hand.
Well, thanks to that, it was easy to cut ties.
'A line? Keep the line? Who begged you to marry me, you narcissist prick!'
He probably never had any intention of marrying Hyunji in the first place.
'He enjoyed playing at a love forbidden by his parents and made me know my place.'
Does a second-grader really need to know about the existence of such trash?
I don't have the skill to explain it.
I just wanted to pretend it never happened.
'Ha. I should have checked the trash more carefully before throwing it out!'
While cleaning up his traces, I had forgotten that I’d shoved the card into the shopping bag and put it out on the veranda.
'I was worried all day that Iji might have read the card...'
But a much bigger worry had erupted.
She got caught up in a dungeon!
Even if it was the lowest-grade dungeon, a dungeon is still a dungeon. My heart breaks thinking about how scared that little girl must have been.
After throwing away the shredded card.
Hyunji headed to Iji’s bedroom door.
'I hope she doesn't have nightmares.'
Sleep patterns are a barometer of mental health.
During the long wait, Iji’s breathing remained deep and regular.
'Thank goodness.'
Hyunji leaned her face toward the crack in the door to get one last look—
'Huh?'
In the dark room. She spotted a strange shape.
Something that looked soft and glittered in a strawberry color had crossed Iji’s room.
To use a metaphor, maybe about two tubs' worth of slime?
'What was that just now?'
In the blink of an eye, it vanished without a trace. The only things glittering in the room were the metal decorations on the bed.
'Did I imagine it?'
Iji had long since grown tired of playing with slime.
Looking around, nothing had changed.
However, a sweet scent that brushed past her nose awakened a memory.
'Right. The tumbler! I need to wash it!'
Hyunji, holding Iji’s bag, was horrified to see the tumbler lid was open. Fortunately, the bottom of the bag was dry.
'I guess she drank all the strawberry cider.'
Iji didn't even toss or turn while she took the tumbler out. She even had a small smile on her lips, wondering what kind of good dream she was having.
Hyunji left the room, feeling slightly relieved.
And the soft, strange creature that smelled like strawberry cider also settled down under the bed, feeling relieved.
— — —
* * *
The next morning.
"Did you sleep well, Sister?"
Iji smiled brightly from across the dining table. Seeing her hair puffed up from being pressed against the pillow, it looked like she had a good night's sleep.
"I slept like a log. Why are you up so early?"
"Just because, I woke up!"
Is it my imagination, or is there a strange excitement in Iji’s voice?
Well, it’s better than being depressed.
Hyunji took out something that would make Iji even more excited.
"Iji. Take this. It’s a gift."
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