Chapter 173

…Huff!“…Yuki, you’re doing well.”

“You’re not bad at all.”

Yuki and Da-eun were wholeheartedly immersed in their training.

To be honest, I hadn’t worried about whether Yuki would struggle to keep up.

Based on her actions, the likelihood of her losing interest and falling behind seemed incredibly low.

Even if she did, it wouldn’t have mattered much to me, so there was no need to fret.

While she was undeniably the most talented Earthling I’d encountered so far, she was still nothing more than an unrefined lump of steel, barely beginning to take the shape of a sword.

If it were a disciple I painstakingly taught during my rare free moments, I might have been reluctant to let them go—but that wasn’t the case here.

So I taught her with the attitude of “follow if you want, or don’t if you don’t feel like it.” But, surprisingly, she pursued it with more enthusiasm than I expected.

Not that I taught her carelessly, of course.

On the other hand, there was an unexpected effect I hadn’t anticipated.

“….”

“Hmm? Do you have something to say?”

“No.”

“What? Don’t be so bland.”

Da-eun stopped watching Yuki’s broadcast for a moment and began patting my head.

I closed my eyes slightly, feeling her hand tousling my hair, gentle yet playful.

The unexpected effect was that Da-eun became more motivated herself.

Though there was a significant difference in skill levels, having a training partner seemed to spark something within her. Her newfound passion was evident in her more vigorous approach to training.

And the results were correspondingly noticeable…

…No, not quite.

Unless she experienced some life-changing, pivotal moment, she wouldn’t achieve such dazzling growth.

The world isn’t that forgiving just because someone’s mindset shifts slightly.

Still, I’ll admit—watching someone work hard is admirable.

Unless it’s a mortal enemy, why would I begrudge someone striving to achieve their goals?

“…?”

Lost in thought, I noticed the hand patting my head had stopped.

Opening my eyes, I glanced up to see a pair of dark eyes, similar yet distinct from Yuki’s.

But those eyes weren’t focused on me. They seemed fixed on something else.

Just then, a sound echoed.

It was realistic enough, yet not entirely so, as it came through the speakers.

The screen displaying Yuki’s broadcast.

Without taking her eyes off the screen, Da-eun spoke.

“Yuki’s fighting style is always so brutal.”

“I guess.”

I stopped looking up at Da-eun and turned my gaze toward the screen.

Yuki, who had just severed a monster’s arm, swung her greatsword again. Moments later, crimson blood splattered as a massive head flew into the air.

“Isn’t it more reckless than brutal?”

“They’re not mutually exclusive. It’s like how Kana can be cute and cool at the same time!”

“Did you have to use that comparison?”

“It’s not a comparison—it’s a fact. You could grab anyone off the street, and ten out of ten, or even a hundred out of a hundred, would agree with me!” ????

“That’s just bothersome.”

Why would you stop random people to ask something like that?

“It just shows how cute Kana is. Not that I’d actually do it.”

Her slim, delicate fingers pinched my cheek lightly—not enough to hurt.

I stayed still, and just as I thought her hand would retreat in satisfaction, it started fiddling with my cheek again.

…Annoying.

“Chomp.”

Unable to move since I was in Da-eun’s embrace, I opened my mouth wide.

I tried to bite the bothersome hand teasing me.

“Hehe, missed me!”

Having noticed my intent early on, Da-eun withdrew her hand just in time, leaving me to bite at empty air.

When I pouted in frustration, she let out a light, playful laugh that seemed to shatter the moment like delicate glass.

“Pfft… Aren’t you being a bit too playful these days?”

“…Does this look like playfulness to you?”

“Gasp! Could it be that you’re so naturally cute that you don’t even need to try being playful?”

“Sigh…”

“Don’t just sigh! Answer me! Do you really think that?”

She thrust a microphone—where she got it from, I had no idea—into my face, demanding a response. All I could do was sigh again.

…Anyway.

A week passed, and then a few more days.

Yuki and Da-eun dedicated themselves enthusiastically to their training.

I hadn’t told them when to come or leave, yet every morning, they’d show up early and stay until evening, dragging their exhausted bodies home.

Sometimes, they were so tired that they’d take naps in the gym, claiming it was too much trouble to leave.

But people aren’t creatures that can survive on just dew.

Especially modern people—they need more than just food and water.

They need the foundation of societal value and a core that keeps society running…

To put it simply: money.

“Yuki, aren’t you streaming?”

“…Ah.”

When Da-eun casually brought it up, Yuki initially tried to ignore her.

“But it’s blowing up right now.”

Unable to ignore the follow-up comment, Yuki stopped swinging her sword and trudged back home.

Even a battle maniac like Yuki is still a modern person.

Bound by the sad reality of needing to earn money to survive, she returned to her job after a long break.

And the result was the stream Da-eun and I were watching together.

While observing Yuki hunt monsters in Silia Online, I made an offhand comment.

“She’s picked up a strange habit.”



“Huh?”

“Look at that.”

I pointed at Yuki on the screen.

Her greatsword swung just as it plunged into a monster’s chest.

“She’s swinging that greatsword like a longsword.”

It seemed that a few days of training with a longsword had left an impression on her, as she was instinctively fighting as if she were still holding one.

“Really? I can’t tell the difference… but if Kana says so, then it must be true.”

“Hmm…”

A brief glance.

“Well, it’s possible.”

“That ‘hmm…’ seemed to carry a lot of meaning. Care to share it with your dear big sister?”

“No.”

“At times like this, you’re supposed to deny it, not just say no!”

“No.”

“…Ugh, you little brat!”

While Da-eun and I were bickering, Yuki on the screen tilted her head.

It seemed like she had sensed something was off.

But, true to her style, she didn’t change her combat approach.

“Systems are cheating.”

“And what’s bothering our dear Kana this time?”

“Does it make any sense to swing like that without any body enhancement?”

Ignoring the finger poking at my cheek, I muttered in frustration.

“It’s completely unfair.”

Swinging a greatsword like a longsword—while it sounded simple, it wasn’t an easy feat.

There’s a reason why each sword is suited for specific techniques.

Length, size, weight.

How can someone stick to the same swordsmanship when every aspect is so different?

Yet Yuki compensated for all of that with her absurd physical abilities.

“That’s why it worries me sometimes.”

Or maybe it wasn’t worry but curiosity.

“What would happen if things took a turn for the worse and Dimensional Creatures invaded Earth?”

The fact that so many people play Silia Online essentially means a flood of superhumans with physical abilities like Yuki’s.

Even someone like me, who isn’t particularly well-versed in societal phenomena, could easily imagine that it wouldn’t end with just minor chaos.

Hearing my musings, Da-eun adopted a similarly serious expression.

“…Hmm.”

I realized I had unintentionally burdened her with a troubling thought and went to scratch my cheek—

“Oh.”

Only to remember I was still trapped in Da-eun’s embrace.

So instead of scratching my cheek, I tilted my head slightly.

Apparently, a few strands of my hair had slipped inside her clothing, making Da-eun flinch.

“Huh?! Oh!”

“Ah, sorry.”

“No, no, it’s fine. It’s actually… nice.”

Da-eun gathered my hair with care and ran her fingers through it like a comb.

She briefly chuckled, saying it was as smooth as ever, before returning to a more serious tone.

“I get what you’re worried about, Kana.”

She began speaking in a calmer voice.

“A game becoming reality, and awakened players fighting against monsters—it’s the kind of thing you’d only read about in novels.”

“Novels?”

“Yeah, there’s a whole genre for stories like that.”

Even as she spoke, Da-eun’s hands didn’t stop combing my hair.

“They often deal with themes like, ‘What happens when people are suddenly granted power?’”

She explained that in such stories, dissatisfied people might run wild with their newfound power, others might rebel against existing society, believing they were destined to rule the new world, and in some rare cases, people might adapt surprisingly peacefully.

After listening quietly, I asked,

“So, what’s your point?”

“Nothing, really.”

With a final sweeping motion, Da-eun finished brushing my hair and set the makeshift comb aside.

“It’s just… I think we’ve seen enough of those scenarios to handle it well. Like a form of indirect experience, you know? …Well, half of that is a joke.”

Da-eun smiled faintly.

“You’re strong, Kana. Whatever happens, I’m sure you’ll get through it. And honestly, even if players start running wild, they’re no match for you.”

“…Yeah.”

Maybe I was overthinking things.

Hearing Da-eun’s words cleared my head a little.

Come to think of it, I’ve never been the type to dwell on such things.

Maybe the thought of my new home being ruined had made me sharper than usual.

When I let go of the tension in my body, I felt myself relax completely.

“If there’s ever something you can’t handle, Kana… this big sister will help you!”

“I’ll pass on that.”

“Why not?!”

“….”

Because if it’s something I can’t handle, Da-eun stepping in would only put her in danger.

I left those words unspoken, burying them deep in my heart, and turned my gaze back to Yuki’s stream while ignoring Da-eun’s exaggerated pout.

Even after hunting for dozens of minutes, Yuki showed no signs of fatigue or boredom.

In fact, the slight curl at the corner of her lips suggested she was thoroughly enjoying herself.

“At least one person seems happy about all this.”



Though my words lacked context, Da-eun, sharp as always, caught my meaning and nodded.

“Yeah. I agree.”

—

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