SIDE STORY 9

SIDE STORY 9

The To Earth side story actually has 15 parts, which is almost half of the side stories for this series.

Terms used in this series:

Namsan Tower – a communication and observation tower located on Namsan Mountain in central Seoul, South Korea. It’s a popular tourist destination in Seoul.

SIDE STORY – TO EARTH (2)

This was the second time that they had crossed another world.

Or not. If one considered the movement of souls, they had done it four times.

From Pleiades to Earth, and then from Earth to Pleaides.

And the time when they went to Hell and back.

But Cordelia felt a bit of motion sickness because she was still not used to it.

“Are you okay?”

“Uh, yes. Just a bit dizzy.”

One could hardly feel the process of moving between worlds.

The feeling was like coming out to the opposite side immediately after entering the gate.

Like one was going through a door and not a tunnel.

Anyway, Cordelia staggered and leaned against Jude who supported her with his arm holding her waist. She took a deep breath for a moment.

‘The air is bad.’

It was incomparable to the clean air of Pleiades.

After coughing several times and taking a few deep breaths, Cordelia eventually regained her composure.

She was still being supported by Jude.

“Are you all right now?”

“Yes, I’m all right now.”

She could actually resolve it right away with magic, but getting used to it was better since she could not cast magic for the entire period of their stay.

‘No, on second thought, I think I can do it.’

Still, she did not use it.

Cordelia shook and raised her head, looking around her while still being held in the arms of Jude.

An unfamiliar yet familiar sight.

The two were now standing on the roof of an unknown building.

It was different from Pleiades where the tallest building in the city was less than 10 floors.

The building they were now on had at least 50 floors.

Moreover, most of the surrounding buildings were like that.

So they saw the scenery.

“Wow, it’s Namsan Tower.”

Jude also felt surprised when he heard the words Cordelia suddenly said.

Since he had been too focused on the staggering Cordelia, the scenery felt new to him despite seeing it earlier.

“We’re really here.”

“Yeah.”

Jude abruptly carried Cordelia in his arms and walked towards the rooftop railing. Then Cordelia hugged the neck of Jude and said.

“You can’t throw me, okay?”

“Even if I throw you, you can just fly.”

The two spoke nonsense like usual before exclaiming in admiration.

Because from the 50th floor, they saw the scenery on the ground.

“Jude, can I say something strange?”

“You always do that.”

“Argh. You’re so mean.”

“Anyway, what do you want to say?”

“It’s warm.”

“You mean the city landscape?”

“Yes, it feels warm to see… cars coming and going on an eight-lane road and people walking while looking at their cellphones…”

A scenery where the word ‘bleak’ was more appropriate to describe it rather than ‘warm,’ but Jude agreed with her.

Because Jude also saw it like that.

‘Since it’s been a while.’

It was their first time in 19 years, and almost 3 years since they remembered their memories.

“What year is it now?”

“It wouldn’t be that long. I counted it when we were in Pleiades. Perhaps a year or two?”

“Only that?”

Because 19 years had passed since they reincarnated in Pleiades.

Cordelia asked with wide eyes, and Jude nodded again.

“To make it easier to understand, let’s compare it to planets… Mars and Earth sometimes get closer and farther away from each other, right?”

“Yes, they do.”

“In the same manner, the difference in the flow of time between worlds can also vary depending on whether the distance between two worlds gets closer and farther.”

When the souls of Jude and Cordelia went to Earth, it was at the time when Pleiades and the world the Earth belonged to were close.

“When we were born and grew up here, time passed similarly to Pleiades, but… after we got back, the distance between the two worlds widened again.”

“So that’s the reason why it’s like this now?”

“Yes. Actually, it’s not just a matter of distance as there are many other reasons and variables, but you get the rough idea.”

“Yes, I roughly get it.”

Cordelia left the complexities to Jude as always, and thought of something else instead.

“Then Jude.”

“Yes, Cordelia.”

“Is it the same in Heaven and Hell?”

“No. But it’s not as extreme as Pleiades and Earth.”

The failure of Auriel and Raguel to stop the death of Solari, and the failure of Auriel to heal her wounds caused by the death of Solari were related to the time difference between worlds.

“Anyway, let’s check the date now.”

He had estimated that it was 1 to 2 years, but did not know if more time had passed than that.

But it was at that moment.

“Hey, hey. If we’re going to check the date, I’ve got a good way!”

“A good way?”

Having been just thinking of going downstairs and grabbing anyone passing by to borrow their cellphone for a while, Jude tilted his head and Cordelia smiled again before nodding.

“Yes, it’s a really good idea. You’ll definitely like it too.”

What do you mean?

And 20 minutes later.

Jude agreed with the words of Cordelia.

It was a really good idea.

***

“I like internet cafes!”

An internet café.

A place lined with lots of computers where one could eat, drink, and play while playing games.

To get in here, Jude and Cordelia had to use a few more spells.

The Imperial Capital Academy uniforms which Cordelia claimed to have worn because it was pretty was too noticeable.

They were able to enter the internet café only after using illusion magic to cast the illusion of ordinary clothes, and cognitive impairment magic to blur the impression of the two. Five minutes before entering, the excited Cordelia was trying to suppress her pounding heart, but she was now openly liking it.

“Ah, this smell peculiar to an internet café. I miss it so much.”

“The smell of cup noodles, disinfectant, and air purifier?”

“Yes, and those sounds too.”

The clicking sound of a mouse and the tapping sound of a keyboard.

And the curses that you hear from time to time.

“You’re so f*cking bad at this!”

“Don’t just block the road!”

“It won’t die? F*ck?”

That was not the only thing. Glancing at the monitors in the back, there were people chatting while eagerly ‘talking’ about each other’s parents.

“After all, f*ck is an exclamation, right?”

Cordelia giggled and Jude eventually smiled with her.

In the end, it was nice if Cordelia smiled.

Cordelia smiled at the trivial things, but there was nothing wrong with that.

“Yes, f*ck is an exclamation and family insults are cutesy.”

“Hey, I don’t like family insults.”

T/N: Family insults are words that purposely insult someone else’s parents. In Korean society, cursing someone else’s parents is perceived at the worst insult one can give to another person. Think of it as similar to ‘Yo mama’ jokes. So the people eagerly ‘talking’ about each other’s parents earlier were actually insulting each other.

Cordelia giggled and looked at the monitors and keyboards again before her face turned a bit red.

“Hehe… It’s a loveseat.”

A loveseat.

A place where she sat down with Romantic Cat-unnie in the past.

But today was different.

Because she and Jude were a true couple today.

“Hehehe.”

“You like it that much?”

“Yes, I like it. I love it.”

I like internet cafes, I like loveseats, and I like Jude.

Cordelia giggled again and kissed the cheek of Jude who was sitting next to her, and Jude had a delighted smile.

Of course, some of the people who were playing games around them had frowns or let out swear words, but Jude simply ignored such things.

“Anyway, my princess, shall we check the date?”

“Yes, Daddy.”

The expressions on those sitting next to them grew even worse, but the two only saw each other.

‘Still, it’s better to block it a bit.’

Jude thought and drew a magic circle with his finger on the computer desk.

Magic spells to block gazes and sound. In addition, there was also a spell for cognitive impairment.

Now, whatever the two would do in this loveseat would not attract the attention of others.

“Hehe~ Let’s check the date~ Wow, it’s only been a year? Seriously?”

It was 2019 when they left, and it was 2021 now.

Although it was two years in terms of years, only 13 months had passed in terms of months.

“Hmm… maybe nothing much has changed?”

“Yes, yes. But there must be one thing that changed.”

Cordelia said as she quickly opened a browser window and tapped on the keyboard. She soon had a bright smile on her face.

“I knew it! I knew it will be here!”

The final expansion pack for Legend of Heroes 3.

“Oh… You can even use characters from the second episode?”

“Yes, yes! Look here. They added a happy ending route.”

Did the events in Pleiades have an effect here?

It was unlikely, but anyway, it was good to see.

“Jude, Jude.”

“Yes?”

When Jude turned around, Cordelia suddenly pursed her lips outwards and began to act cute as she hugged the arm of Jude.

“It’s been a really long time since we’ve been here, right? So… why don’t we play for a bit? Please? Just a bit. Okay?”

We can’t pass up an opportunity like this, right?

The determined Cordelia continued to act cute, and Jude completely fell for it like usual.

“Shall we then? Just a bit?”

“Yes, yes! Just a bit!”

After naturally opening Legend of Heroes 2, the two put their hands on the keyboard while looking at the login window.

And it was right after that.

“Wait!”

“Huh?”

Cordelia who had already finished typing her username like lightning was surprised and raised her head.

Then Jude spoke quickly again.

“I mean, we can’t use our usernames. It’s only been a year. We’re still here.”

“Ah.”

He was right.

It was highly likely that Kang Jin-ho and Hong Yoo Hee were connected to Legend of Heroes 2 somewhere.

Even if they were not, the two would be suspected of hacking at the sudden signs of login.

“Then what? Should we create new ones?”

“I guess so.”

“Hmm… Well, okay. I’m also concerned about the newly added happy ending route.”

So why don’t we create new accounts?

Actually, I think that would be more fun.

“Then Jude. Shall we make a bet?”

“What bet?”

“Who’ll get the max level first? It’s also good to bet on who’ll clear a scenario first.”

“Hoh? Is that fine with you?”

“It’s fine with me. Because I will win.”

“Hmm… Why do I feel that I hear that every night?”

Jude mischievously smiled and Cordelia immediately pinched the back of the hand of Jude, saying.

“So are we going to do it or not?”

“Let’s do it. My princess wants to make a bet, so I shall oblige.”

“Hmph, I’m going to seriously beat you.”

“Okay, okay. Anyway, what’s the prize for the bet?”

“You’ll grant me a wish?”

“You’re going to regret it again. Wait. Is your wish asking me to beg at you? As expected of my naughty princess.”

“What is this crazy b*stard saying? Where did that naughty thing come from? You’re seriously a pervert- Wait… What are you doing?”

“What am I doing? Creating an account? Haven’t the bet already started?”

“Argh. You always use tricks! Sign me up too!”

“Yes, yes, please wait.”

Because they could not sign up with the personal information of Kang Jin-ho and Hong Yoo Hee.

Jude created new accounts for himself and Cordelia with personal information he came up with.

“Ah, it’s starting. My heart is pounding.”

Why is this making my heart pound so much?

Jude looked at Cordelia and honestly admitted it too.

“Frankly, I feel the same.”

“Right?”

After all, the two were gamers.

“Then, shall we seriously begin?”

“Yes, let’s start. Let’s start right away.”

Jude and Cordelia very obviously chose Jude and Cordelia respectively as their characters, and began the game.

***

3 days later.

“Ah, eating cup noodles while playing games. This is why you come to internet cafes.”

Cordelia ate shrimp soup noodles as she watched the staff credits, while Jude spoke as he opened a can of cola for Cordelia.

“We’ve cleared episode 2 now.”

“Oh, we can now finish episode 3.”

The fact that they could link episode 3 with their episode 2 characters meant that they could play the scenarios in episode 3 too.

“Then Cordelia, why don’t we move to another place?”

“Huh? Why? Is there a problem with the computer?”

“No, it’s just that we’ve been sitting and playing games for three days. So let’s change the air?”

“Hmm… okay. Let’s move. Is there another internet café nearby?”

“No, not an internet café… but a better place.”

“A better place?”

“Yes, a very nice place.”

A smile spread across the face of Jude, and Cordelia tilted her head.

And 30 minutes later.

“Hey, you pervert.”

“I’m not a pervert, okay?”

“What do you mean? Where in the world is there a guy who goes to a m-mo-motel just to play games?”

A motel.

A place she had never been to when she was Hong Yoo Hee.

Because she had nothing to do with it anyway.

“T-This is a dirty place!”

“Hehe, why are you only thinking of that? Haven’t you seen it on the internet? Motels are places to play games these days. Look. Aren’t those in front of you the latest computers?”

In fact, that was not the only thing.

There were plenty of things one could do besides that. Seeing the microphone, it seemed that even karaoke was possible.

“Uuuugh.”

But still, a motel was a motel.

When Cordelia glanced at the transparent shower stall as though she was very worried, Jude immediately set up the computers and said.

“Anyway, let’s play episode 3 now. No one will see us here, so we don’t have to use magic.”

“Yes, yes. I like it. I like it.”

Unlike their main bodies that could use magic as natural as breathing, it was rather difficult to use magic 24 hours a day with the avatars they prepared for traveling between worlds.

So when they released the magic spells, she felt more comfortable.

“Come on, let’s start now. The bet is who’ll completely clear episode 3.”

“Hmph, I’m definitely going to win.”

“Okay, okay. If you insist.”

“Evil b*stard.”

Cordelia smiled and cursed before quickly beginning Legend of Heroes 3, and three days passed like that again.

***

“Ah…”

“Ah…”

Jude and Cordelia stared at the monitors with mixed emotions.

The ending of Legend of Heroes 3.

And the epilogue and ending credits.

The story did not progress as Jude and Cordelia had experienced in Pleiades.

Much more people died, and there were some they could not save, perhaps because it was their first round of playing.

But in the end, Pleiades regained its peace.

“It was a good story.”

“Yeah, it was fun.”

The teary-eyed Cordelia finally cried.

Because for Cordelia – no, for Hong Yoo Hee, the Legend of Heroes series was more than just a game.

A life partner she had invested more than a quarter of her life, or five years.

It was natural for her to cry after seeing the end of a long journey.

“But not yet. There’s also an Online Mode.”

“Huh?”

Not yet.

Only Overlord Asmodeus was defeated, and Archangel Auriel remained.

But still.

They felt satisfied.

Jude wiped the tears of Cordelia, and she leaned her head in his arms.

They stayed like that for a while, and kissed each other like always afterwards.

And the next morning.

“It was fun.”

“Yeah, it was a fun journey.”

“But Cordelia.”

“Yes, Jude.”

“What’s your wish?”

They were only a few seconds apart, but Cordelia was the one who won the bet.

“Hehe, I don’t know. Should I make Jude a woman? I’ll become a man.”

It was just a matter of making female and male avatars.

Her sudden words startled Jude, and Cordelia smiled again before saying.

“Don’t you think that Jude as a weak and beautiful girl is seriously cute?”

“E-Excuse me?”

“Hehehe.”

Cordelia mischievously laughed again and kissed Jude. She said as she stroked the cheek of Jude.

“If you don’t like it, shall we make another bet?”

“What bet?”

“Let me see… Who’ll be the first to unlock all the main quests in Online Mode?”

“Hoh? Did you know that I let you win this time?”

“Bullsh*t. You didn’t even sleep and just played the game.”

“Aren’t you the same?”

“Hmph, whose fault do you think this is?”

That was it.

The two glared and smiled fiercely at each other before sitting down in front of the computers again and beginning to play the game with a fiery momentum.

And a month later.

“Ah, this f*cked up game. There’s not much to do. There’s not enough content.”

“It’s like that for all f*cking games.”

The two had stayed in the motel for a month and only played the game, and at one point, Cordelia scratched her stomach and said.

“Shall we go back?”

“Shall we?”

They had played the entire Legend of Heroes 3.

The two habitually kissed each other and stood up.

And did some stretching.

“Haa, it was fun though.”

“Yes, it was rewarding.”

“When we get back, I should make the female Jude first. Hihi.”

Cordelia won the second bet too.

Although she used a bit of a cowardly move.

Cordelia giggled and prepared to open a gate, and Jude assisted Cordelia.

And another hour or so later.

“By the way, Cordelia.”

“Yes, Jude.”

“Aren’t we forgetting something?”

“Huh? What?”

We already cleared Legend of Heroes 2 and 3?

There are plans for an episode 4, but that will take a long time-

“AH!”

The true reason why they came to Earth from Pleiades.

“Hey, hey! Why did you forget it too?”

“No, I just pretended to have forgotten it. I was just waiting for you to realize it.”

“F*cking bullsh*t. It’s obvious that you just realized it now, okay?”

“…It’s all because I went into your body. I’ve become like you.”

“What f*cking excuse is that!”

After kicking the shin of Jude, Cordelia held her shin too as she was in pain like always.

Her avatar might be strong, but that applied to Jude too.

“Anyway, Cordelia. Let’s find them quickly.”

“Argh. I’m going to make it soft next time.”

“No way. Isn’t it better if it’s hard than soft?”

Jude spoke nonsense like usual before he pulled the hand of Cordelia and they sat in front of the computers.

He was not like a goldfish who forgot what he just said and got immersed into the game again.

“It’s there, it’s there!”

The names of two people were in the Hall of Fame of Legend of Heroes.

1st place: Outboxer009 – 36 months in a row!

2nd place: Yellow Storm – 35 months in a row!

“This makes me feel bad.”

“It’s just like us.”

Cordelia pouted and Jude pressed his lips to the cheek of Cordelia. He said as he hugged her waist.

“Now, shall we follow them?”

Kang Jin-ho and Hong Yoo Hee.

What happened to the two in this world and how they had lived.

The hands of Jude and Cordelia on the keyboards began to speed up again