I Became a Raid Boss-Chapter 242: Wayfarer (3)

“Magic trick... Hmm, I’ve heard that asking a magician about tricks is rude.”

It seemed that the host had concluded that I had performed some magic.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

A somewhat evasive acknowledgment...

No, it was essentially an act of ignoring the truth.

The people around just laughed, as if they understood, amused by it, and no one corrected his thoughts.

“Magic, huh... It's been a very long time since I've seen it in person.”

Well, perhaps that softened the mood a bit, right?

“The first time I saw magic was when I went on a business trip to LA. I saw someone setting up a street stall, so I went over to see what was happening, and there they were, playing around with a deck of cards. At first, I thought it was some street scam, so I was about to slip away, but the way they moved their hands was extraordinary, and I ended up watching, mesmerized...”

“....”

“....”

...Maybe it got a little too soft, but it only took a moment for the gentleman, who had seemed so serious, to turn into a chatterbox.

Words poured from the host’s mouth like an explosion.

Like a dam that had been holding back water, suddenly bursting open.

And of course, it was unrealistic to try to stop the flood of words with human strength.

“Haha... I see...”

Even Da-eun, usually so unshakable, was taken aback by the flood of «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» words and was caught off guard.

I had distanced myself a little earlier and was quietly watching the scene unfold. Seeing Da-eun, who usually threw out strange words to confuse me, getting flustered by her own words was rather amusing.

“...It’s because of Kana.”

After finishing his long tale, the host smiled contentedly and walked away, leaving Da-eun with a resentful glare at me.

However, if she was blaming me for her discomfort while I had just quietly backed off, I could understand that. But if she was blaming me for the miracle that opened the host’s mouth, that made no sense at all.

“Why is that my fault?”

“It’s because Kana showed off a nice little trick, so it’s Kana’s fault!”

“It was Da-eun who performed the trick first—”

She had used her physical enhancement to cheat first, after all.

But I stopped myself and frowned.

“...No, more importantly, Da-eun told me to do it.”

I knew full well that my appearance didn’t suit these kinds of tasks.

Things like splitting firewood, which require a lot of strength.

I’m short, small, have arms and legs with no muscle at all, and have a mild and gentle look on top of it all.

From head to toe, there was no hint of strength in my body. Who could possibly imagine that I could do something like that?

This wasn’t just my subjective opinion; it was an objective fact.

Everyone who had seen me said exactly the same thing I just thought.

And Da-eun was no exception.

Even though she knew my appearance wasn’t suited for heavy tasks, she encouraged me to split the wood and even stopped the host from trying to stop me. It was obvious what her intentions were.

She probably wanted to create that picture that would make America surprised and Japan jealous.

“I'm not some nationalistic creator or something! ...I did want to see you surprised, though.”

“See? I was just faithfully following Da-eun’s intentions.”

“You don’t listen most of the time.”

“That’s rude.”

I shook off Da-eun’s excuse, her so-called forced criticism, lightly.

“At times like this, it’s okay to let me win.”

“I don’t know what defeat is.”

“Liar...!”

Anyway.

We continued splitting the wood in place of the host, who had gone to handle some other business.

Since we were already well-known to each other, I used mana without hesitation, and the pile of logs quickly turned into firewood.

The crew, who had been watching, couldn’t help but marvel.

“Wow...!”

“Hehe.”

“Why does Da-eun look so proud?”

“Because if Kana gets praised, I feel good too!”

“What’s that supposed to mean...?”

We gathered the firewood and placed it in a dry spot, chatting while we waited for the host.

Before long, the host returned, surprised to see we had finished already. He invited us to his house for a meal.

The meal he prepared was... well...

“....”

I silently tore open a chocolate bar and put it in my mouth.

Munching.

As I tasted the sweetness in my mouth and chewed, I noticed a familiar presence approach me.

“You said you were full, but now you're eating that?”

“....”

I didn’t respond.

Da-eun’s words were clearly meant to tease me.

“You should stop being picky and eat a bit of everything. The vegetables are surprisingly tasty.”

“Hmph. I’m just letting you eat it.”

“Yeah, right, picky eater.”

“Do you not like vegetables, Kana?”

Da-eun casually waved off the PD’s question.

“Ugh, don’t even mention it. Do you know how shocked I was earlier?”

“Why?”

“There was no meat, but Kana ate so much rice. Kana doesn’t touch rice if there’s no meat.”

“Is that so? Is that true?”

“Lies.”

“Didn’t you see Kana’s face when the rice came out earlier?”

“Hmm... He didn’t seem to care...”

“You just don’t know Kana very well yet. I thought he’d lost a country or something.”

“I’ll have to check that when we edit later.”

...Well, it’s true I was a bit disappointed when I saw the meal.

I could have tolerated the lack of meat, but the abundance of greens was harder to accept.

But I can’t stand being labeled a “picky eater who won’t touch rice without meat.”

I didn’t touch the side dishes, but I ate my rice diligently...

See? I’m eating this chocolate bar too, and it’s not meat.

I can eat so many things that aren’t meat, like snacks, pizzas without meat, pasta...

How could they spread such rumors?

“...There are too many things I could argue about, I don’t even know where to start.”

“Hmph.”

Da-eun’s words were almost like admitting defeat.

“Not like that, so don’t get smug.”

With a grunt, Da-eun pressed my head down, probably frustrated by her loss, but that wasn’t enough to erase my feeling of victory.

Still, well...

...It would be nice if she stopped pressing now.

At this rate, I feel like my already small height might shrink even more.

Of course, that probably wouldn’t happen, but still, as I was being squeezed by Da-eun’s hand, I thought that.

The sun that had been shining on the earth had already vanished beneath the sea.

Only the stars remained, casting faint light over the deep night.

Under the dim starlight, Da-eun exhaled a deep breath, as if it were night itself.

“The air is nice...”

The fresh air, which couldn’t be felt in the city, filled her lungs deeply.

The program, which had returned after months, was somewhat the same but different from what Da-eun remembered.

The basic format was the same: leave for a new place, meet new people, experience their way of life, and hear their stories.

But there were some minor changes, like smoother proceedings and mini-games with prizes.

However, those were just “minor” changes.

What truly moved Da-eun’s heart was the fact that she was here with Kana.

“...I never thought it would turn out like this.”

Da-eun muttered softly, chuckling.

Life, they say, is unpredictable, like a bouncy ball.

But the events of the last few months had been truly unpredictable.

She met a somewhat annoying but lovable child and traveled together.

When she thought everything was over and was about to despair, an unexpected reunion happened.

And now, here she was, traveling together even on Earth.

“If I told the me from a year ago, would I believe it? Hmm... maybe I would.”

Da-eun scratched her head awkwardly.

If she had seen a similar story through subculture, she would have believed it.

But even though she had seen it a lot, it didn’t diminish the emotions Da-eun was feeling.

“Yeah. I’m really happy.”

On top of the island.

Da-eun sat on a bench someone had placed, looking at the starlight, and muttered once more.

“I wish Kana had come with me.”

She had suggested going to see the view together, but the reply she received was a cold refusal.

It wasn’t like she was actually tired, but seeing Kana throw the blanket over himself, pretending to be exhausted, made her annoyed.

Da-eun pouted.

Right now, neither Kana nor the crew was with her.

The realization of that brought a slight loneliness to Da-eun’s heart, but it disappeared under the calmness of the night sky.

‘Sometimes, being alone isn’t so bad.’

Still, she wished they could have seen this together.

Da-eun’s muttering wasn’t an expression of resentment toward Kana for not joining, but rather a regret that she couldn’t show him the beautiful scenery.

Click!

As she took a photo with her phone, Da-eun suddenly shuddered.

The wind from the sea brushed her body.

That’s when she realized how long it had been since she had left the house and began to prepare to head down the mountain.

She put her phone away, adjusted her coat, and checked her shoelaces.

When she straightened up—

“...Huh?”

On the path down.

In other words, on the path leading up, she saw a figure standing still.

The starlight wasn’t that bright, and it was partially hidden by trees, but there was no mistaking it—the figure was definitely someone Da-eun knew.

“...Kana?”

There was no one in the crew with such a small build, so Da-eun was certain the figure in the shadow was Kana.

As she was sure, a bright smile appeared on her face.

“What’s this~ You said you wouldn’t come because you were tired. Kana really is a tsundere, huh?”

Or maybe, after waiting so long, he came looking for her, worried she hadn’t returned.

Either way, Da-eun felt happy.

Da-eun smiled widely.

“Good timing! The view here is amazing! Come on, Kana, come see!”

But Kana remained hidden in the shadow, without a single movement.

There wasn’t even a sharp comment from him.

Da-eun tilted her head at Kana’s strange reaction.

But the question didn’t last long.

‘He must have really been tired.’

Da-eun recalled Kana from when he had just woken up.

He had stood in one place, skillfully keeping himself from falling asleep, dozing off.

“Guess there’s nothing to be done.”

Da-eun, with a small smile, approached Kana.

She regretted not being able to show him the view, but she felt grateful to Kana for coming all this way, dragging his tired body.

And—

Screech.

A pink crescent moon descended on Da-eun.

“...Huh?”

Da-eun let out a dumbfounded sound.

The hem of her clothes fluttered gently.

“...What are you?”

Kana, holding a sword, asked.

Just as the wind blew, the leaves rustled, and the starlight shone down on the earth.

“Kana... two?”

Under the faint starlight, the face of the figure was revealed, and it was unmistakably the face of a girl Da-eun knew.