She wanted a relationship she could trust.
That was her only wish.
However, the environment surrounding her did not permit it. The relationships of trust she had barely formed were shallow and narrow, and they were abandoned for trivial reasons.
Relationships with people could always become worthless. She just hated that and desired a genuine relationship where there was no betrayal of each other.
Deep down, she might have been turning a blind eye to some reality.
She realized that she had put up walls against others at some point. She didn't readily reach out to relationships she felt she'd regret losing forever.
Because relationships between people were always ambiguous.
She distanced herself because she was scared of drifting apart.
She knew better than anyone how ridiculous that was. She knew very well that she should not just watch; she should move forward.
Still, she did not reach out.
No,
She faintly hoped that someone would approach her. Maybe she was ignoring her selfish self.
-Chirp, Chirp.
Now, missing the sound of the two birds she no longer heard, she wiped down the mirror with a resigned face.
How much time had passed? How many regrets had she harbored? She bowed her head to remember the face of the man from that day and closed her eyes to smile faintly.
The revenge she longed for against her stepfather ended in an unexpected way, and that lifelong goal disappeared like dust. Everything was resolved due to the plan of a man she disliked.
Lee Seonghan was dead.
It was said he was found with a huge hole in his head. There was no news of the mother and male siblings who participated in the organization.
In fact, that was fine.
What filled her head now was not the revenge she had waited for all her life.
-Knock, Knock, Knock.
The sound of knocking on her dormitory door.
"…Come in."
A choked voice spread heavily through her room as she opened her mouth.
Startled- The person who came in through the opened door was Lee Seyeong, dressed in a nice suit. Seyeong sat in the chair next to the desk after loosening the tie around her neck and asked with a gentle voice.
"Jin Dallae, are you okay?"
"Yes, I've gotten much better."
"If you forcibly draw out power, it's natural for your body to react like that. Be careful next time."
Jin Dallae hugged one of her arms with a bitter smile. It felt numb, as if paralyzed.
"But don't worry too much. It will return to normal in about a week."
"...Teacher."
"Hmm?"
"When will Shiheon come?"
The name fell from the hesitating lips of Jin Dallae.
Shiheon.
He was found in a basement below, trapped and full of wounds, but not dead.
Seyeong, hearing the unexpected name, bit her lower lip and sighed.
"Well..."
She crossed her arms and remembered him from a few days ago.
-Are you insane?
-Yes.
When Seyeong first heard Shiheon's plan, she thought he was indeed the biggest madman in history. In fact, while explaining his plan calmly, Shiheon did not deny that he was insane. He himself knew how preposterous the act he was trying to commit was.
-But what can I do? I have to do this to live.
She hadn't yet caught the meaning of the words he spat out at the end.
Anyway, she initially dissuaded him.
Going into the organization alone to reveal their location?
Regardless of the success, it was an outrageous act. Seyeong was not so malicious a woman to push her lifesaver to hell.
But Shiheon did succeed in his plan as if to show off.
Of course, that process was not without accidents.
He planned to teleport into the organization and, after sending only the coordinates, use a new teleport stone to return to the academy. However, a problem arose in the final step, and he couldn't return.
When Seyeong found out, she was so shocked she felt her heart sink.
"He's currently in a hospital supervised by the association. It'll take at least a week to return to the academy since he's seriously injured. His magic circuit is also damaged."
"I see."
However, that was all in the past now. Contrasting with Seyeong's relieved face, Jin Dallae bowed her head with a face full of guilt. Seeing her like this, Seyeong sighed.
"Did you and Shiheon have some issues?"
"..."
"What happened?"
"..."
Seeing Jin Dallae not responding, Seyeong scratched her head and pulled out a letter from her waistband.
"Read it."
"Pardon?"
"It's from Shiheon, so read it."
"...!"
Surprise flooded Jin Dallae's face. For the first time, emotion appeared in her previously lifeless eyes.
At that different reaction, Seyeong awkwardly scratched her neck.
"Sigh. Really, all my students are equally crazy."
Seyeong left, muttering incessantly. As soon as she left, Jin Dallae quickly tore open the letter.
-Creak, squeak.
She had many questions.
Why he helped her.
Why he fought with his stepfather with swords even after being severely wounded.
-Swish.
A sentence appeared between the unfolded papers.
Jin Dallae read the words.
She read, read again, went back and read again.
She had many questions, but those feelings disappeared.
The words written in crude handwriting were too similar to what she had been unwillingly hoping for.
-Can we be friends now?
"...Ha, haha."
In disbelief, she could only let out a hollow laugh.
It was the first arrival of spring to a tree that never had spring.
In a room where incense burned, a man with a stern face looked at the ceiling and then glanced at a child standing by the door, forcing a smile.
"Daddy!"
"Yes? Oh my, what has our princess been up to?"
A young child with bright pink hair came walking towards him in tiny steps and reached out her short arms to cling to the man's legs.
"I played house with Jjajjagi today!"
"Oh my, did you?"
The child, arms wide open, smiles brightly. The man, hiding his bitter feelings, picked up his daughter.
"What can our Dallae do to become this pretty?"
"Hehehe!"
The man pressed his cheek to the child's and kissed her repeatedly. Dallae scrunched her face at the rough touch of his beard.
"Daddy, it hurts!"
"Yeah? Just bear with it a little."
The man, holding Dallae tight, was unable to hide his sad expression. He hugged the child tighter so she wouldn't see his face. He just held her for a while without saying a word.
"Daddy?"
"Yes?"
"I want to get down. It's uncomfortable."
"…Sorry. Was it uncomfortable?"
Dallae slipped out of the man's weakened arms. Once on the ground, she started to smooth out the wrinkles on her pink dress and soon broke into a big smile.
"Hehe"
"What does Dallae like the most?"
"Me? I like daddy the most!"
At her instantaneous reply, the man's bitter smile deepened even more.
"No, not that. What do you like after daddy?"
"Jjajjagi!"
"A bird?"
"Yes, when I go outside, Jjajjagi always plays with me!"
"Is that so?"
Jjajjagi. Jjajjagi. Was she talking about a bird?
The man, repeating the word 'bird' several times in his mind, reached out and ruffled Dallae's hair.
"So, while daddy is away for a while, you can be friends with the bird?"
"Is daddy going somewhere again?"
"Yes? No, no. Just going out for work. I'll be back after five nights."
"Five nights? Then I have to sleep fast to see daddy! Hehe."
Dallae, who had been tilting her head, giggled a few more times, then fell asleep on the bed.
She was sleeping.
The man changed his clothes from the wardrobe and, holding a pillow, watched Dallae, who had fallen asleep. He faintly smiled and stroked Dallae's cheek. Reacting to his touch, she seemed content and smiled in her sleep.
He etched that image in his mind and distanced himself from Dallae. He then muttered, staring at his palm.
"…Please."
-Chirp? Chirp?
The spirit that flowed from the man's palm tilted its head. The spirit then lay beside Dallae, realized its role, and closed its eyes.
The man left the room with a stern face.
His steps in the corridor felt heavier today. The moon seen through the window seemed excessively cold. His steps continued until they stopped at the threshold of a room.
How did it come to this? No matter how much he pondered, nothing could be reversed.
He knew that, as things were, everyone connected to him would be harmed.
All that was left to him, who had lost everything, was his precious daughter, Dallae.
In the current situation, where no one could help him, he needed to sacrifice his life to protect what he cherished.
-Creak.
He opened the door and entered the room. He saw a rope hanging from the ceiling.
The man, leaving Dallae's side, prayed to the World Tree.
That someday, someone would appear to take his place for her.
-Flutter.
A bird, which had followed him from the room, was watching the scene.