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The steps of escorting were lively.

Weaved through the bustling crowd, somehow moving effortlessly without a hitch.

Were people just parting instinctively?

Or was it thanks to some crazy drift inertia?

It felt like Moses’s miracle, and in that whirlwind of people, Ah-jin’s eyes were spinning.

Even before being summoned to this world, things were quick and dizzying back in her ordinary life.

Perhaps it felt even more so with all these people passing by.

Se-hee led the way, taking a turn off the street into a place.

The two entered a building that looked very neat on the outside.

As they stepped into the corridor inside, a uniquely decorated shop caught their eye.

“Here we are.”

“And this is?”

It had a sign reading ‘Pork Trotter Café & Bar.’

Pork trotters? Not bad. My sister likes trotters?

“If it’s Se-hee unni, I’m sensing a wild yet elegant vibe.”

If Bak-bak was there, he would have shouted, “What the heck does wild and elegant even mean, you nerd?” but Ah-jin was establishing that impression of Se-hee.

When they opened the door and entered, a friendly-looking employee greeted them.

“Welcome. Just the two of you?”

“Yes, is there an empty pork foot room available right now?”

“There are still a few spots left. Would you like to head there?”

“Yes.”

Seeing Se-hee chatting so skillfully made Ah-jin tilt her head.

What’s up with that? Has she been here before?

Following the employee through the internal corridor, as Ah-jin caught a glimpse of an open room, her eyes widened.

She thought it would be a floor seating arrangement… but below the table was a spacious area, filled with steaming hot water that was bubbling away.

“You can wipe your feet with this before bathing. If you find it difficult to bathe in pants, we provide special pants, so please change in the changing room inside. Would you like assistance with your order now?”

“We’ll clean up and then order.”

“Then please rest easy.”

Wow, wow. What is this? What’s going on?

Watching Se-hee handle everything so smoothly felt like Ah-jin was wide-eyed in shock.

Was this what passengers whose fate is entirely in the hands of a bus driver looked like?

While Ah-jin was lost in thought, Se-hee closed the door behind her and went to the changing room, pulling out a pair of pants.

Ah, come to think of it, she was wearing pants.

“I’m in a skirt… will that be okay?”

So, should I just wipe my feet and jump in?

This was her first time in such a place, and with everything being so new, she moved cautiously.

“Hmm? You haven’t gone in yet?”

“N-no. It’s just… uh….”

Finally, Se-hee emerged from the changing room, smiling at a fidgeting Ah-jin.

She really thought she had to properly escort her little sister from start to finish; it was quite a handful indeed.

But still, it didn’t feel too bad.

Yeah, it felt like… caring for a younger sister from the same hometown.

“Take off your socks, use the tissues provided to wipe your feet, and soak them. Let’s order food later.”

“I just wipe and soak?”

“Of course~. What more do you want? It’s just a pork foot place.”

As she wiped her feet and dipped them in, a warm sensation began rising from her lower body.

‘Nice.’

Like a bathhouse or sauna, it was nice to have one’s entire body warmed up, but being mildly warmed like this wasn’t so bad either.

How she found this shop through some odd algorithm, even Se-hee couldn’t remember.

Probably… she might have stumbled upon it while surfing links from random camping videos.

The atmosphere and reviews were good, so she had been looking for an opportunity to visit…

Indeed, it was rather nice here.

“Ughhh.”

Ah, it seemed the warm heat was lulling her into relaxation.

Feeling the tight muscles of her calves and soles relaxing, she could feel her body losing tension.

Since spring hadn’t fully opened yet, perhaps it was the lingering cold of winter.

Given how chilly it had been, this pork foot bath was truly a timely remedy.

“What do you want to eat? They say the shabu-shabu here is good.”

“Huh?”

Wasn’t it a pork foot place?

With her eyes wide in confusion, Ah-jin was met with Se-hee’s gentle response.

“I saw it online too; it’s not really just a pork foot place but slightly arranged to mean pork foot soup. It’s actually a café restaurant that serves various things, and the shabu-shabu has good reviews.”

“I’m fine with anything. Tteokbokki is good too.”

As long as she’s eating with her sister, anywhere seemed alright. A server room would be fine too.

While waiting for their food after ordering, Se-hee looked at the slumped Ah-jin with a curious expression.

“You’re definitely different.”

“Huh? In what way?”

“The kid who usually stutters and doesn’t know what to do is suddenly fine just by being with me.”

“Well, that’s unavoidable. I need you to weaken the curse.”

Just how sparkly and lively am I?

If it weren’t for this stupid curse, if it weren’t for the oppression of the world, wouldn’t I be a super editor by now?

Ah-jin, who was generally in a pitiful state, spoke with a lonely smile.

“But it’s alright.”

“…….”

“I met you, unni.”

As Ah-jin innocently declared with a giggle, a feeling of unease crept in near her toes.

“Hick?”

“Where did you learn such a wicked seduction, our Ah-jin?”

“Hehe.”

The conversation came to a brief halt.

As the ordered food was being served and set up, they both stared blankly at the table, savoring the warmth of the pork foot soup below.

In the space now left to just the two of them, the bubbling noise filled the air more heavily.

Stealing a glance at the other, Ah-jin thought to herself.

From here on out… this could very well be a moment needing a lot of courage and determination.

This might be the hardest and most challenging moment for her right now.

But….

“Unni.”

If I just stay still, nothing will change.

I won’t be able to do anything. Burdened by anxiety that pushed her to a dead-end, Ah-jin mumbled.

“You know what you said before? That you wanted me beside that bimbo.”

“Oh, that one?”

“Back then, you asked me about moving into your house, can I say it now?”

She finally voiced it.

If it had been someone other than her sister, she might never have dreamed of having such a conversation.

But once it was out, she felt a refreshing sense of relief like never before.

‘So that’s why you wanted to meet.’

No wonder she had messaged her so suddenly.

Se-hee nodded.

“I want to live at your house, if it’s okay. You said there are many empty rooms downstairs. Is that… alright?”

“Okay. They’re all empty anyway, so it’s nothing if you come.”

That was said way too easily.

“No, you shouldn’t say it so easily. That house looks nice. I don’t have that much for a deposit, so I’m wondering about that.”

From what Ah-jin remembered, each room must be a huge space covering hundreds of square feet.

Since it was her sister’s plan, there must be a way to manage it somehow, so she tossed the question.

And the answer came simply.

“Just bring your body and your things. Don’t worry about the money.”

“Is that really okay?”

“Certainly. I was thinking of using it for that purpose anyway. Plus….”

She shyly scratched her cheek, a bitter smile appearing on her lips.

“You can leave whenever you want. You don’t have to worry about my feelings.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“After living in my house for about a year, the curse should dissolve by itself. By then, you’ll be free from it. Until that happens, no matter what, you won’t need to stay at my place against your will. But that doesn’t mean you have to leave. I want you guys to stay at my house as much as possible.”

Dae-young had a clear external entity to deal with, and after removing it, everything returned to normal.

In contrast, Ah-jin was in a state where the curse was lodged in her, needing time to balance and release it.

However, it didn’t really require an excessive procedure; all she had to do was immerse herself in the barrier set up in the house.

After all, Ah-jin’s main job was editing, so she spent a lot of time at home.

In about a year, she should become a normal person free from curses.

That fact itself was something she didn’t want to hide. It would be an act that truly tramples on her future, something she couldn’t impose or want to do.

“Just like you, unni.”

“Huh?”

“You’ve gotten ready to save me already.”

So in the end, it turned out that way.

As she picked up a piece of cooked meat, Ah-jin acted as if her current behavior was an awkward cover.

“I’ve honestly been thinking a lot since meeting you and that bimbo. So my conclusion is….”

“…….”

“I want to maintain a long relationship with you.”

“Really?”

Surprised by her rather calm reaction, Ah-jin moved her chopsticks awkwardly and hastily continued.

“So please don’t say I can leave anytime, as if it’s an inevitability. I truly feel this connection with you is precious. Because… I’ve only ever saved someone but never been saved by anyone. You’re the real hero who rescued someone like me.”

Perhaps because she spoke for a long time, she took a sip of water to moisten her slightly dry lips.

“That bimbo… No, Dae-young unni probably feels something similar to me.”

Se-hee, who quietly listened to Ah-jin’s story, straightened her expression and asked coldly.

“If you know how Dae-young feels, are you saying it knowing that feeling won’t be reciprocated?”

She recalled Dae-young’s spoken confession.

That day, Se-hee rejected her feelings.

Whether it was from a male or female perspective, she truly didn’t have such feelings; she just had a personal desire to gather heroes and live together.

This was the same for Ah-jin, and the heroes she would meet in the future.

On the other hand, if the other person were to act forcedly just because they liked her, then she might need to make a new serious consideration.

Staring at the cold expression and eyes she had never seen before, Ah-jin nodded.

And….

“…Yeah. I find this connection great. That’s enough for me.”

With a beaming smile, she conveyed her honest feelings.

There’s no need to be tied down like someone’s lover. That connection doesn’t have to take any specific form.

Just being in the same space, chatting and laughing together, isn’t that the way to happiness?

She wanted to dissolve the curse and continue the bond with heroes.

That was likely the true image Se-hee wished for, and she thought she wanted to contribute to that flow, even just a bit.

“Got it.”

It was a short response, but she felt she understood everything from the conversation they just had.

“When will you come over?”

“Uh, I’ll contact you as soon as my schedule is set.”

―Sarak

The soft sensation tickling her toes.

As Se-hee gently spoke while watching Ah-jin panic over her wriggling toes.

“Prepare a room in advance. I’m using the top floor, so it’s difficult, but even the floors below can fit six people. Hey, do you want to come check it out?”

“Uh, okay.”

“Great. You did well.”

“Hehe….”

As a gentle hand patted her head, her pink curls flowed down.

Though it was a bit messy from the spring breeze, the traces of a perm still hung.

Like how she confessed her heart during a tough moment of the curse, it was clear… that she must have put in a lot of effort to create this hair.

 

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