Morning light was breaking.
A faint glow crept in beyond the glass wall of the elevator.
“…It feels kind of unfamiliar.”
Jeong Noeul placed his hand on the glass and spoke softly.
“I guess I was in the world of the dead for too long. The view of Seoul from there and the view from here are so different… it’s jarring.”
<…Same here.>
The King of the Underworld floated beside him.<It felt like a very long dream.>
In some ways, she was right.
The spiritual energy drifting through Bichang Guild HQ had all been drawn to Yoo Gwangcheol. The power he’d wielded in life had naturally acted as a magnet.
Once Jeong Noeul helped him move on, the lingering souls tied to the building vanished along with him.
And so, we bid farewell to the world of the dead.
When we opened our eyes, we were back in the world of the living.
The very top floor of Bichang Guild HQ.
No more party room. No more boisterous voices.
We had woken in silence.
It all felt like a dream as we quietly boarded the elevator.
‘It still doesn’t feel real.’
Everything had happened over just one night.
I scratched the back of my neck.
Leaving Jeong Noeul and the King of the Underworld to their thoughts, I turned my gaze forward.
[♥ Premium Artifact Draw ♥]
A button sparkled before me.
‘Is this… a reward?’
As I wondered aloud in my head, the Star chuckled.
<Something like that. The world of the dead is technically my domain. So I commend you—you made it back alive.>
‘I mean, I didn’t even do that much.’
I shrugged, thinking it over.
“Eunyul-hyung. You were just thinking you didn’t do much, weren’t you?”
Jeong Noeul asked suddenly.
“…Wait, are you psychic now?”
“Nope. Your face gives everything away.”
Honestly, I expected that kind of thing from Han Iro, but Jeong Noeul? Since when had he grown so perceptive?
Maybe I needed to practice keeping a poker face.
“Just having you there was a huge help.”
Jeong Noeul smiled.
“You’re the only human who knows what I really am. Sure, you can’t give me magical powers like a Constellation, but that’s what makes it matter more. It puts me at ease.”
“Well, I think of you as a good little brother too. But in CYB, we’re rivals. Don’t forget that.”
“That line doesn’t suit you at all, hyung.”
He laughed softly.
“But don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten.”
I thought of Noeul as a good kid, and yeah, his situation tugged at my heartstrings. But I’d never forgotten—we were competitors. That truth remained unchanged.
And he knew that too.
If we faced each other on the final stage, we’d both have to give it our all.
‘So then…’
As for the draw button—it could wait until I was back in my room.
I didn’t want anyone seeing me suddenly pop out an Artifact.
‘Especially after revealing that my Constellation is the Star…’
Showing the power source I use to recharge would be a step too far.
Just as I was thinking that, the elevator reached the floor with Jeong Noeul’s room.
Ding!
The door opened with a chime, and we stepped out into the hallway.
‘Huh?’
I caught sight of someone at the far end.
‘At this hour?’
It had just passed 5 a.m….
Wait, did they notice us?
The figure was approaching.
“Everyone leaves me behind~!”
They stretched their arms out and began singing a children’s song.
“I’m all alone, I’m so blue~! Just a flower-patterned jellyfish floating in the sea~!”
That voice was familiar.
‘No way…’
A chill ran down my spine.
<That person… is radiating… incredible anger.>
The King of the Underworld said nervously.
“…Anger? Like, what does that smell like?”
I asked, confused, but she nodded seriously.
Sniff, sniff She inhaled again—
<And… another scent…>
Her face turned pale.
<…It’s Heejae’s scent.>
The moment I heard that, it felt like all strength drained from my body.
So I was right.
“God, just kill me now…”
I chuckled hollowly.
“M-me too. That hyung is seriously scary.”
Jeong Noeul whispered nervously.
“You mustn’t die, instrument. I’m a musician who refuses to let my instrument break.”
Min Heejae stood before us, smiling softly.
Which only made him more terrifying.
“And I’m not scary at all, Noeul-ssi. I’m a warm, cheerful person. Let me tell you a secret: I love cotton candy. Isn’t that such a cute and cheerful taste?”
If you’re warm and cheerful, then my closet slippers are radiant and sparkly…
“I had a dream.”
Min Heejae said.
“A really vivid one. Instrument and Noeul-ssi left me out and snuck off to adventure in the world of the dead. Oh, and they weren’t alone. A lot of people showed up. But one in particular…”
His gaze turned to the King of the Underworld.
Jeong Noeul still wore Abrilah’s Crown.
Which meant that just like me, Heejae could see her.
“…Seeing you made me think it was just a dream.”
Heejae said.
“But now that I see you again, I know it wasn’t.”
The King of the Underworld looked away.
“You’ve grown.”
Heejae said calmly.
“Didn’t expect to see you again.”
<…He saw everything we did over there.>
“Of course. You had a blast playing with my subconscious. Felt kind of exposed and it pissed me off.”
<Well, I was pissed too ‘cause you were scared of me!>
“Sorry. You know I’m terrified of ghosts. I almost died during the Halloween Festival.”
Then he turned to me, eyes sharp.
“…Sorry about that!”
I yelped and apologized.
<Heejae, I… I was going to move on without telling you.>
The King of the Underworld said quietly.
<I didn’t want to burden you. I mean, you never even wanted to be an idol in the first place.>
“That’s my decision to make. You haven’t changed at all—always meddling, just like when we were kids. I’m not your little brother. I take care of my own business. Don’t think I’m still that crying mess of a kid.”
<You were crying, though…?>
Heejae’s perfectly calm expression cracked ever so slightly.
“Stop bringing up my subconscious. I’m already dying of embarrassment. Anyway…”
He cleared his throat.
“Only until CYB’s national rounds are over. That’s the agreement. You keep the King of the Underworld name until then… and stay with me.”
So that was it.
She’d pass on the moment he officially became an idol.<That was my plan anyway. Sorry for the trouble.>
“Forget it. You’ve got plenty of other things to apologize for. Like when you made me slip on a banana peel. Or when you forced me to drink muddy coffee during pretend tea parties. And then there was that time—”
<Th-that’s…!>
“They’re all unforgettable memories to me.”
Heejae smiled.
“Heejae-hyung.”
Jeong Noeul spoke up.
“You probably saw everything in that dream. All the souls in this building have moved on. The night belongs to the dead… Once it’s fully morning, all that residual magic will be purified. After that, even with the Crown, I won’t be able to see her anymore.”
“…Got it.”
Heejae accepted it without hesitation.
“Will you be okay?”
I asked.
He nodded.
“Of course. I shouldn’t have been able to see her to begin with. Once is enough.”
He turned to the King of the Underworld.
“Don’t forget. You’re my dearest friend. Making your dream come true is my dream.”
<I know. You’re my most precious friend too. My dream’s still stuck in childhood… but yours has changed, hasn’t it?>
“Hehe. Yeah. I ended up chasing a ridiculous dream.”
<Heh! That’s fine. You’ve always been ridiculous.>
The two of them laughed.
And watching them, Jeong Noeul and I smiled too.
“Oh, instrument.”
Suddenly, Heejae looked at me.
“You comforted my subconscious, didn’t you? Patting my butt and everything? I remember everything. I won’t forget it.”
His icy expression made me wonder if winter had come early.
You might as well say you’re going to kill me…
[Surprise Event Triggered!]
[Mom or Dad! Kkomuli has a question for you.]
[Kkomuli asks: Life…]
[My master, will you tell me what life means?]
“…Give me a break…”
I groaned and flopped onto my bed.
The moment I returned to my room, Kkomuli triggered an event.
When I summoned it, I saw it had grown a bit.
It now swam with a larger body in its water-only tank.
“Life…”
I leaned in toward it.
“You’re asking a pretty philosophical question, you know?”
It opened and closed its mouth as if it understood.
“Hmmm…”
I crossed my arms.
“Well… life is probably…”
I didn’t really know.
“…Something that becomes most precious the moment it’s about to end.”
Maybe it was all the dead I’d just seen.
But that’s what came to mind.
Ba-dum!
[Surprise Event Resolved!]
[Mom or Dad! Kkomuli’s question has been answered.]
[Kkomuli says, “I’m going to sleep now. Bye-bye!”]
With that, the tank vanished in a little poof.
“…I’d like to sleep too, you know.”
I muttered as I collapsed onto the bed.
“Change your clothes before sleeping, you wretch!”
The Star, in his true form, tossed pajamas at me.
“Ah, yeah… Can’t I just sleep in this?”
“So lazy. Though sloth is a sin befitting Hell, so I don’t mind…”
He sighed.
“And before you sleep, draw the Artifact already. It’s been blinking at you all night.”
“Oh… right…”
I slowly sat up.
I’d gotten used to the draw button blinking in my vision.
“Artifact draw…”
The button still sparkled at the corner of my view.
“Well, I am curious, so…”
I pressed it.
Whrr?
Huh?
Whrrrrrrrrr!
Instead of a cute sparkle and an item appearing, the button started shaking violently.
The whole screen trembled.
“Oh dear.”
The Star scratched his temple.
“A dud.”
“What?! Explain. Now.”
I shouted.
“Don’t be afraid.”
He smiled innocently.
That was the first time I’d ever seen him smile like that.
“Every now and then, a dud makes things more exciting, don’t you think?”
It’s not exciting at all, you menace!!
Just as I opened my mouth to scream—
…Everything went black.
Little Pink Starfish 
Leave a comment