"Wow, I've never seen such a huge core before," Yerim said as she looked at the enormous pearl, so large that even three adults stretching their arms around it couldn't fully embrace it. The milky-white, glowing pearl seemed small compared to the size of the clam that housed it.
"A core?" I asked.
"Yes. When spirits age, their accumulated power forms into gem-like objects like that. They're also called spirit stones. Even if a spirit loses its core, they don't die, but they do become weaker because they lose the power they've gathered over time."
Yerim made a circle with her arms to show me the largest one she'd seen until now.
"The white whale's core. They said the whale was over 500 years old."
Then just how old was this spirit? It must have lived for thousands of years.
"Welcome," a deep, weighty voice resonated. As we descended further, it felt like we were facing an endlessly tall, white wall rather than a clam. A hazy mist emanating from the spirit enveloped our feet.
"Hello," Yerim greeted politely, using honorifics, unlike when she interacted with other spirits. Since it was said to be the oldest, I felt slightly intimidated as well.
"Um, I told the other spirits that I'm just someone from another world. But actually, it's a bit more complicated. So..."
Yerim trailed off and looked at me, uncertain whether it was okay to say more or how to explain.
"This world was created using information from a world that had already perished in the past. It's not real; it was artificially generated. The original world has disappeared," I explained.
"Ah, so that's how it is," the spirit replied.
"...Pardon?"
"I realized it when the world shook for the third time."
They must be referring to when we installed the third disc. The mist surrounding us grew even thicker. The face of Yerim, standing right beside me and holding back the water for me, became slightly blurred.
"But there is a way. You know about spirit eggs, don't you?"
"Oh, yes. The eggs of various colors," Yerim answered.
"Those are created by spirits of a dying world pooling their strength. They turn themselves into items so they can go to a new world."
I suddenly remembered that little Ryn had said she knew many things from the moment she was born. Perhaps the knowledge of the spirits who created the egg had seeped into her.
"However, it takes a long time for the eggs to hatch. In places with strong attributes corresponding to the egg in that world, it takes at least several decades, sometimes over a hundred years. If they're cared for by spirits of the same attribute in a world where spirits already exist, it can be faster, but it still takes over a year."
"Over a year? But the fire spirit that came with us hatched as soon as it touched the power of another fire spirit."
"That's because it received help from a caregiver."
"Excuse me?"
"With the help of a caregiver, the hatching speed increases significantly. Our world also had caregivers, but you seem to possess a much stronger power."
...I had used my My Brat skill on Ryn's egg. Nothing had shown up, but perhaps it had an effect.
"Then if you make an egg as an item, we can take it with us, right? Uncle can help it hatch," Yerim said.
"Probably...?"
Even if it wasn't a quest reward or a points shop purchase, perhaps the Newcomer could arrange for us to take at least one egg.
"They might deduct points as compensation."
"I have tons of points!" Yerim exclaimed excitedly, then quickly composed herself and looked seriously at the giant clam.
"But will the spirits accept that?"
"Of course. It's like a part of themselves continuing on. Is there another water spirit in your world, Yerim?"
"Only the fire spirit, I think. Right?"
"Yeah, that's right. Ryn said she was the first."
"Then it might take a bit longer for it to hatch, but if the caregiver helps, it will awaken quickly. So that fire spirit is the first."
My vision grew hazy. Mist enveloped us. Now, not only could I not see Yerim's face, but even my own hand was barely visible. This is too dense. It didn't feel good. Suddenly, I thought of Choi Seokwon, that jellyfish's mist. Back then, Yerim had...
...Huh?
"I'm back!" The door swung open, and Yerim burst in. She fanned herself with her hand and headed straight to the refrigerator.
"Ah, it's hot. Uncle, you finished early today?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah."
Yerim gulped down a glass of water and plopped onto the sofa. On TV, a program about hunters was playing.
"I want to awaken soon! I want to become a hunter!"
"They don't accept minors at the Awakening Center. And why would you want to do something dangerous?"
Even if you awaken, it's better not to become a hunter. The world has changed a lot, but still, there are far more people living ordinary lives as before.
Yerim picked up the remote and changed the channel. They were announcing that a new S-class dungeon had been auctioned to Sesung, and the Sesung Guild Leader appeared briefly.
"Do you think the Sesung Guild Leader is good-looking in real life too? Not just on screen?"
"He's annoyingly handsome. He looks even better in person."
"Really? You've seen him before, Uncle?"
"Well..."
I was about to say I'd met him several times, but the words got stuck in my throat. Why would I have met the Sesung Guild Leader? But I felt like I had seen him before. Was it in a dream?
"Haeyeon Guild Leader is the most popular among the kids, but Sesung has a lot of fans too."
"To you guys, they're total adults. Haeyeon Guild Leader is much better."
Isn't he old enough to be your dad? I'm twice Yerim's age, but Sung Hyunjae is even older... No, wait, I'm twenty-five now. That's why people often mistake us for siblings with a large age gap instead of uncle and niece. I have only one sibling... Or none.
...None?
Something felt off. I definitely didn't have a sibling. Yerim felt like a younger sister, though. I've known her since she was little, played with her, took care of her, and we've lived together since she was left alone. People around me worried about how I, still young myself, could raise my niece, but to me, she was a precious child I wouldn't trade for anything.
It would be a lie to say it wasn't tough, but our Yerim was so well-behaved. My sibling was truly...
...Something's definitely wrong.
"Yerim, Uncle—"
...Not 'uncle'?
"I, um, I'll step out for a bit."
"Okay, see you later."
I left the house. It was an apartment. An apartment I'd never seen before. I didn't live here. Then where did I live? Where was I supposed to go now? Trying not to think about anything, I hailed a taxi and said whatever came to mind.
"Haeyeon Guild, please."
Haeyeon Guild. Before I knew it, I was standing there after getting out of the taxi. I saw the Haeyeon Guild Leader. Han Yoohyun.
"Yoohyun."
He's my younger brother. The moment I thought that, mist surrounded me. Mist. Spirits. Just as something was about to come to mind—
"It's dangerous, Uncle!"
Yerim grabbed me and pulled me back. A blade imbued with heat sliced past right in front of me.
"The fire spirit is dangerous! Its contractor is just as violent!"
"What?"
This was truly strange. Why was Yerim saying that Yoohyun was dangerous?
"Yerim, ugh!"
Someone grabbed me roughly by the scruff of my neck. I was thrown and rolled across the ground. Luckily, I'm a C-class... Wait? Hold on, I'm F-class... No, did I even awaken... Damn it!
"Stop messing with people's minds! Ow, wait, Han Yoohyun!"
Flames surged through the mist, tearing it apart. I rolled to narrowly evade the attack. The heat passing right beside me was intense but surprisingly not scorching. Yoohyun's flames shouldn't be this mild. And why is my brother attacking me?
"The real one is—?!"
A sword grazed my arm and struck the ground. Then a foot pressed down on my chest. It's a fake. I was sure of it, but seeing my brother looking down at me coldly was extremely unsettling.
"I'll save you, Uncle! That person is truly dangerous, so we have to eliminate him—"
"...Stop spouting nonsense in Yerim's form, spirit."
A white gun appeared at my fingertips as I extended my hand. I pulled the trigger. If it were the real Yoohyun, this attack wouldn't even scratch him. But the fake dispersed like mist. As I stood up, I threw a bomb randomly in any direction.
Pop! A small sound was heard. Since we're underwater, the explosion and firepower were bound to be minimal.
"Hey! Our Yerim doesn't treat Yoohyun like a dangerous person! She might say he's done something stupid, but that's it!"
And she'd maybe smack him on the back of the head to snap him out of it. She wouldn't try to eliminate him. Same with Yoohyun.
"What are you trying to achieve?"
Could it be one of those filial piety-obsessed lunatics from this world? Maybe they're connected to those who tried to invade the Forest of the Black Cow outside this dungeon. The mist is similar to that jellyfish guy's. I was too careless.
If installing the discs allows the Newcomer to intervene, it might mean those filial piety freaks can get in too. Although there's no news from the Newcomer yet.
"Yerim is better," the spirit said.
"...What?"
The spirit said something absurd.
"The fire spirit is truly dangerous. That's just their nature. Their essence is to greedily consume everything they desire. So you should like Yerim the most. That's better for the caregiver too. We'll protect you from the fire spirit and its contractor."
"What nonsense are you talking?"
I was so dumbfounded that I felt oddly calm. It didn't seem related to the filial piety group after all.
"Regardless of their nature, my brother would never harm me. There's no need for Yerim to protect me."
"He can't suppress himself forever. That's just how fire is. It consumes and burns, becoming an existence that no one can approach. You like Yerim too. I'm not saying to abandon the fire. But keeping Yerim closer is better for you."
The words "for Yerim's sake" pricked my ears and conscience. But even if they say that—
Thud! Just then, I heard a dull pounding sound. Then thud, thud! Heavy vibrations followed.
"Uncle!"
It was Yerim. The mist dispersed, revealing a long stretch of the sea frozen solid. A massive pillar tilted greatly and thud! It struck the clam's shell.
"Yerim!"
"That idiot did something strange, didn't he?"
"I didn't do anything strange!" the spirit protested indignantly.
"You're making Yerim anxious! Since you're not real family, she's worried she'll end up alone. She's wondering how far things are okay. If she weren't an awakener, if she became an ordinary person, would everything disappear..."
"Hey!"
Yerim shouted, her face turning bright red.
"Why are you saying all that embarrassing stuff!"
Thud! Another huge chunk of ice struck the clam.
"Yerim," I called.
"It was just sometimes, just occasionally!"
"I would never..."
"I know! I know, but..."
Yerim tapped her flushed cheeks lightly with her palms and spoke as if nothing was wrong.
"But I still think that way sometimes. Remember when I told you about the things I imagined or dreamed of? It's been months, but it still feels like a dream. I worry that it might suddenly break, and because I'm so happy now, I don't want to lose it. You know, stuff like that."
"Ah, this is so embarrassing," Yerim grumbled.
"I might have been a bit cautious. But back then, I ate way more humble pie. And I'm not just holding back like when we first met. I just want to get along with you and Han Yoohyun because I like you. ...You're going to ask why I feel cautious, aren't you?"
"No."
"...I don't want to lose it again."
"Me neither. I may not have been separated from you as long as with Yoohyun, but I don't want to go back to those times. Never."
"It's still amazing no matter how many times I hear it. How did Han Yoohyun do that?"
Yerim chuckled softly.
"It would've been nice if you were really my family."
"We're family now."
"A new family. Hey, you!"
An ice spear formed in Yerim's grasp. She poked its tip at the clam.
"It's true that I like Uncle a lot. I'm a bit jealous of Han Yoohyun. But my mom and dad loved me the most! I already have that without you faking it!"
"But... But if you have the caregiver to yourself, you won't have to feel uneasy!"
"I'd like to show Han Yoohyun what's in my head, seriously. Our Guild Leader was so anxious because of Uncle."
...Why are you suddenly stabbing me in the heart?
"Besides, I'm really fine. It's normal to feel a bit anxious sometimes. I was worried when report cards were announced. Afraid Han Yoohyun might look down on me. When he didn't say anything, I prodded him first, and he said I was growing quickly as a hunter. I have other worries too, but these days, even when I think of Mom and Dad, I don't cry much. Uncle, don't say anything!"
I quickly closed my mouth. But still...
"So don't try to help me on your own. If things get really tough, I'll talk to Uncle. Han Yoohyun will help too. Hyuna unnie will jump in as well. So-young unnie would, of course. I have lots of people in Haeyeon and Breaker who are close to me. There's Eunha unnie, Song Hye unnie, and Yoojin unnie who has the same name as you. Also..."
She listed not only people I knew but also names I'd never heard before.
"I have plenty of people who would help me if I'm struggling."
"...I wanted to help too," the spirit said.
"Sure, you can. Talk to me first. And I already came to ask for your help."
Yerim extended her hand toward the spirit.
"Help me take the spirits with me. I'll love them very much."
"...Yes, Yerim."
The massive body of the spirit trembled faintly. The clam shell dissolved and vanished, leaving only the pure white pearl, which gradually shrank smaller and smaller. The pearl, now small enough to fit in the palm of her hand, settled onto Yerim's outstretched palm.
"My pearl will form the foundation of the egg. Tell everyone that you will take the spirits' egg. Then they will gather their strength."
"Thank you, truly."
Yerim hesitated for a moment but didn't ask the spirit if it was okay. Instead, I asked.
"By any chance, when the world shook for the third time, could you tell me in detail how you realized this place wasn't real?"