Chapter 130 - From the Same Homeland (3)

5

“Go on, hurry! Cherish your relationships! Surely the star of a romance that made history at Sinseo Middle and High School shouldn't keep his lover waiting!”

I left the library, practically chased out by the Inquisitor. My mind was blank. I had no idea how to answer. While I stood there spluttering for a moment, the library door slammed shut.

“Uh...”

The school was quiet. The gray granite floor of the corridor was slick, gleaming red wherever the sunset touched it. No one was coming or going. All I could hear were students playing soccer on the distant field, shouting, “Pass! Pass!”

“What the hell is really going on...?”

I walked as if I were sleepwalking.

[“The student council president is probably waiting at the gate again today!”]

[“You mustn't make your girlfriend angry!”]

I'd never attended high school, but I had spent about two years in middle school. Schools themselves were fairly familiar to me.

'Let's head to the gate first.'

The corridor's pillars and walls were white, with pale-green paint on them. Not a pretty pale green, either—just a washed-out excuse for a color that hadn't quite become one. Even that tacky, artificial shade was familiar.

'Stairs. There should be stairs nearby. Oh, found them...?'

That was when it happened. As I entered the stairwell, I sensed someone there. I looked up toward the presence. On the stairs leading to the roof, a student stood right in front of the metal door.

“...?”

The student was small, staring silently at the door that wouldn't open. They seemed to be looking at the chain and padlock wound around its handle. Perhaps sensing my presence just as I had sensed theirs, they met my eyes. It was a face I'd never seen before.

“...”

The student dipped their head, then came down the stairs without a word and passed me. As they went by, I saw the collar of their uniform shirt. Old grime stained the white fabric. From that grime, I caught a familiar smell. The smell of poverty. Of course, it was only a fleeting glimpse. The student disappeared down the corridor.

[Behave properly♪]

[Live joyfully♪]

[Keep your heart happy♪]

In the space the student had left behind, colorful slogans hung along the stairs. Words that made no difference whether they were said or not—and were therefore worse than saying nothing. Rather than words, perhaps they were objects that had failed at their purpose.

An abomination.

The lettering was cute and the colors charming, as though desperately trying to conceal the fact that they were utterly useless objects. It took me a long time to collect myself.

“... Right. I should go too.”

I reached the school gate. A black limousine was parked in front of it.

“...”

Hold on.

Let me explain what I'd just seen. I had come down perfectly ordinary stairs, crossed an ordinary sandy playing field, and reached what ought to have been an ordinary school gate. And yet, for some reason, a black limousine was parked there—an ultra-luxurious limousine of the sort you only saw in movies.

“Hmm. You're a little late today.”

And the person closest to my heart stood beside it.

“R-Raviel...?”

“A lovely evening, Gongja.”

My love spoke calmly.

“Now that I see your face, the sunset is all the lovelier. I suspect it turns red to conceal the blush on your cheeks.”

There were still students on the grounds who hadn't gone home. Students playing on the basketball court, students taking a brief walk before evening self-study, students kicking a ball on the soccer field. Every one of them stopped what they were doing and looked our way.

“Look over there. That upperclassman...”

“Oh, the one dating the heiress...”

“I'm so fucking jealous...”

“Confessed to her at the festival, in front of everyone...”

Holy shit.

“What's the matter, Gongja? That vacant expression is part of your charm, but you're looking particularly dazed right now. Have you decided to explore a new kind of charm?”

“Raviel... you're an heiress?”

My head was spinning. What on earth was this insane trauma trying to show me? Was its purpose to gift me the sight of Raviel in a school uniform? Should I take a picture? Preserve it forever? Had anyone developed a way to bring pictures taken inside a trauma back to reality?

“What strange things you say... my boyfriend. I was born into a conglomerate family, and naturally, I remain a member of that family today.”

Holy shit.

Raviel had called me her boyfriend.

She called me her boyfriend!

What should I do? Record a video? Record the audio? Take pictures? Had modern science developed technology to transmit footage recorded inside a trauma to reality? What were the scientists doing? Wasn't this negligence? Dereliction of duty?

“R-Raviel. I'm sorry, but how old are you right now?”

“... I'm a second-year student at Sinseo High.”

“And me?”

“Butler. Book an appointment at a psychiatric clinic immediately. My boyfriend appears to be suffering from mild amnesia. And to answer your question, my boyfriend is, of course, a second-year student just like me.”

“Ahh, to be able to meet you while we're still in high school... To share my school days with you. What is this? Isn't this far too great a blessing? I'm the happiest guy in the world...”

“Butler, cancel the appointment. He's his usual self.”

We indulged in a little public display of affection at the school gate. It was a happy time. Shrieks erupted from the playing field, but I didn't care. Judging by what the Inquisitor had said, we were an officially recognized couple at school.

“Even if I'm reborn in another world, I'll love you, Raviel...”

“I love you from my previous life to my next. For me, love will always bear the name Kim Gongja, those three syllables. But first, we must live this life. Get in. I'll take you home.”

Home.

To me, home meant the orphanage. Was she taking me there? No, but this [world of trauma] was clearly different from the [real world outside]. I'd never attended high school. I'd never even heard of Sinseo High.

What would my home be like here?

“Something serious happened at your house yesterday.”

Raviel spoke as we got into the limousine. Its spacious interior was comfortable. Nevertheless, we deliberately sat side by side, pressed close together.

“What? Something serious?”

“Oh? So an incident of that magnitude doesn't count as serious? Well, you've always disliked talking about him. Of course, I dislike it too... Still, family is family. I've taken care of it, so tell your mother and father not to worry. No, I had better tell them myself.”

“...”

I had no idea what she was talking about. Apparently, something had happened, and Raviel had smoothed it over. But the words that shook me were [mother] and [father].

'My parents.'

As a child, I'd once called the orphanage director Dad. I'd also called one of the young women who volunteered there Mom. But those had all been instances of a child's ignorance and playfulness.

The parents Raviel meant... wouldn't be like that.

'In this world, I have a home and parents.'

There was something unfamiliar about that.

'Raviel did arrange a father for me for the day of our wedding, but...'

I'd been happy then. But it was closer to the happiness of receiving a gift from someone I loved, something that would disappear once I ate it.

Not that, but parents who had always existed, and would continue to exist.

'I can't even imagine how that would feel...'

The limousine stopped. Through the window, I saw a small, shabby detached house. An old house in an old neighborhood.

“Oh.”

And a burly-looking man was sweeping in front of it.

“You're back?”

The long-haired man grinned.

“Man, your girlfriend even gives you rides in a limousine. My son's got it made. It's all thanks to the looks he inherited from me. Always honor the father who made you so handsome!”

It was the Sword Emperor.

“...”

I felt decidedly faint.

“Have you been well, Father?”

“Oh, please don't bow, young lady. Someone as distinguished as you shouldn't bow to a fellow like me. More importantly, my boy hasn't done anything rude, has he? He's good-natured, but he's got a bit of a screw loose...”

“It's quite all right. I treasure every aspect of Gongja.”

“Ahh. How is everything you say so lovely? Hey! Hey, Kim Gongja, you little shit! Get down and bow to her right now. If you ever mistreat this young lady, I'll disown you that very day. Got it? I'll— Just know you're getting struck from the family register!”

Raviel and my attendant spirit chatted warmly.

That scene, that conversation, was actually happening right there.

I fainted.

“Hmm.”

Raviel caught me effortlessly.

“Gongja really is acting strangely today, Father. Earlier, he even asked me my age.”

“He's always been strange. Why, when he was five... Oh, would you like to stay for dinner? I made seasoned cockles today, and they're absolutely incredible.”

“Yes, I'd be delighted.”

“You're such a good person, young lady! Gongja, what are you doing? Still haven't knelt? Want me to bend your knees for you?”

We went inside.

“Welcome home, Gongja.”

Master was sitting on the sofa, reading a newspaper.

“Was school all right today, my son?”

“...”

I passed out.

“Oh? You've even brought your sweetheart home. Welcome, Miss Bansia.”

“Please call me Raviel, Mother. I'm more comfortable with my foreign name.”

“Is that so? Hmm, very well. The customs of youngsters these days are difficult to understand.”

Mother.

Mother.

Mo.

Th.

Er.

“Hey, honey, you've got it wrong. Where would Gongja get the nerve to invite her home? I invited her. Lured her in with seasoned cockles.”

“Ah, of course. You're right, darling. It would be unfair to expect that sort of thing from our son. The soybean paste soup has just finished cooking too, so together...”

Honey.

Darling.

Hon. Ey.

Dar. Ling.

Honeeeey?

Darliiiiing?

—Continuing our coverage of popular singer Yoo Suha.

An announcer's voice came from the television playing in the living room.

—The incident that shocked many citizens yesterday. This is the video identified as footage of singer Yoo Suha committing assault. However, this morning, we received a report that the video had been manipulated. Surprisingly, it was a confession from the very person who submitted the footage.

I stared blankly at the television. On the screen was a handsome man with long hair in a ponytail, displayed as though in an ID photo.

—The informant stated, “I reported it as a joke, and didn't know things would get so out of hand. I sincerely apologize to everyone who was shocked and distressed because of me...”

Pictures of Hungry Ghost and Golden Silk Blossom appeared too. In other words, three pictures—of the Flame Emperor, Hungry Ghost, and Golden Silk Blossom—were lined up side by side.

—Meanwhile, fellow group members Estelle and Sylvia have refrained from issuing official statements.

Footage of the singers dancing played. Hungry Ghost and the Flame Emperor danced, while Golden Silk Blossom sang.

—However, with the abrupt cancellation of the concert scheduled for ten days from now, disruptions to the group's activities are expected to be unavoidable for some time.

Holy shit.

Isn't this insane?

Are you insane?

I said, are you insane?!

“Hmm.”

Master nodded slightly and put down the newspaper. She looked at Raviel with serious eyes.

“We'll have much to discuss over dinner. Gongja, call your brother out of your room. Let's have the whole family eat together for the first time in a while. Would that be all right, Miss Raviel?”

“Of course.”

Brother? Not just a father and mother—I had an older brother too?

“My brother... where is he?”

“He's in your room.”

Master indicated the bedroom door with her eyes. An inexplicable fear seized me. My father was my attendant spirit. My mother was Master. Then who was going to appear as my biological older brother?

CREEEAK.

Carefully, slowly, I opened the door.

“Huh?”

A man lay on the bed, crunching potato chips. Reading a rented comic book with his other hand, he looked at my face and gave a careless wave with his chip-covered hand.

“Long time no see. Fuuuck, man. You saw the news too, right? Huh? Your big brother was fucked yesterday. Ha, seriously. They kept stalking me, so I got pissed and hit them once, and someone filmed it. Shit. My singing career almost went down the drain.”

It was the Flame Emperor.

“...”

I collapsed.

“Good thing the fucker tucked his tail and ran this morning. Ugh, Mom gave me so much shit... Huh? Hey? You okay? You're looking awfully pale. Kim Gongja? Hey, little brother. Have you lost it? Why the fuck are you suddenly staggering...”

“Die!”

I lunged at the bed.

“Die! Die! I said die, you lunatic!”

“H-Has this little shit gone crazy? Hey, calm down!”

“You just called Master Mom, and you expect me to calm down, you son of a bitch?! Die! Die and apologize to Master!”

“What kind of bullshit... Wait, gah, what the fuck? Y-You little shit, since when were you this strong... Hic, mmph, gack!”

I strangled Yoo Suha. In earnest. Fine, let us accept that my attendant spirit had appeared as my father. I couldn't possibly accept it, but fine, let us do so anyway. But this bastard was my biological older brother? This bastard, this psychopath, was my older brother?

“Diiie!”

“M-Mom!”

Yoo Suha screamed between choking gasps.

“Gongja's hitting me! Mom!”

I was going to lose my fucking mind.