How to get on the protagonist’s flower path

I looked back at Dumdum.

He was smiling gently. The setting sun cast a deep crimson light on his face.

As I gazed at the reddish hue on the side of his face, I suddenly recalled a conversation we had one day at the fortress. I remembered what he had said back then.

“When you start to understand, it keeps getting in your way,”

I recalled his impatient demeanor at the fortress.

“When it gets in your way, it weighs on your heart,”

And then I became aware of his weaknesses.

In the moment he tried to appear strong, I realized that he wasn’t just a strong person.

“It weighs on your heart, and then it gets better.”

So, I let out the words that weighed on my heart. I expressed the feelings I had just become aware of.

“When I like you, I realize that your genuine smile is the most beautiful,”

Yes. I didn’t just want him to accept my words and smile like a puppet.

The moment I chose to rely on you, paradoxically, I wanted you to rely on me too.

“So that you can smile.”

That’s why I wanted to draw out a genuine smile from that always calm face. I wasn’t really different from you.

“Is it something in the tower? Well, monsters and treasure?”

His eyes sparkled playfully. He looked like an innocent boy sharing secrets with a friend.

He answered in a shy voice.

“That might be true. But I think… there’s an adventure.”

Hearing him speak as if proudly showing off his most precious treasure gave me a strange shock.

Even after seeing him cry, I now realized that he looked like a boy of his age. He was never indifferent.

He gazed at the tower, wearing the face of a dreaming boy.

“…You know, what I’m about to say might be a selfish story.”

I suddenly thought of him in the novel. The one who would unconditionally cooperate if it meant getting rid of the gates.

His nature felt like an absolute setting that would never change. That’s why I called him Dumdum, as he always remained focused on his responsibilities without any change in expression.

“But I still want to tell you.”

Usually, he maintained a calmness that felt as if he were always being weighed down by something, but now he was different. He felt more like a living person than a mechanical device.

“Will you listen?”

I nodded absentmindedly, gazing at Dumdum, no, Park Si-woo, who sparkled with life.

“Thank you.”

Park Si-woo smiled.

It was a truly bright smile that I had never seen before, and I finally felt like I was witnessing him truly come alive.

***

When I was little, whenever I whined, my grandmother would tell me stories about climbing the tower.

Infinite waterfalls, mushrooms that change your body in various ways, flying manta rays, and whales adorned with jewels all over their bodies.

Countless challenges and the unknown are approaching. Beyond that, the joy and cheers of people.

And above all… the most trustworthy companions, to whom I can gladly entrust my back.

“Grandma told me some interesting stories.”

Yes. It was a fantastic adventure. An adventure worth longing for.

So, the naive me, who knew nothing, dreamed. One day, I wanted to form a party like Grandma and explore that tower.

…It’s embarrassing, but it was true.

“What’s so embarrassing about that? …The idea of leeching off others to make money is much more embarrassing.”

…Is that so?

After that, I learned that the tower had been sealed, that there was something called a gate, that Grandma was sad, and that she had passed away.

Grandma suffered from guilt until the end. People blamed her while looking for someone to protect them.

They needed a hero.

But now, what was needed was not a hero to climb the tower, but a hero to close the gates, and I decided to become that hero.

And I was chosen by the blue twilight.

It was an early awakening. Everyone was delighted.

The next day, when I stepped in front of the camera, an article was published. Everyone felt relieved.

So, I lived as a hero for eight years.

So… perhaps…

I had become too immersed in the fact that I was a hero.

A hero should rightly eliminate the gates.

A hero should rightly do it for everyone.

A hero should rightly lead the way.

A hero should rightly…

“Stop talking nonsense. Do you remember what I said before?”

…Thank you. This time, my thoughts have changed.

What am I? What was I being a hero for? What do I want as someone who is not a hero?

I thought about these things.

I want to save people who are dying because of the gates. That’s something I can do even if I’m not a hero. It’s not for Grandma, but for the dream I hold. I want to make that dream come true.

And…

No.

“You fool.”

…….

“There’s more than just that.”

……That is,

“Tell me. What are you hesitating about now?”

……Is that so?

……A dream,

***

“I want to achieve my childhood dream.”

His sapphire blue eyes twist as if about to cry.

“Isn’t that strange?”

“What’s strange about it?”

“……My dream. Even in this situation.”

I replied nonchalantly while looking at the tower in the distance.

“Really strange things happen in this world.”

Reincarnation, possession. Something like that?

“But wanting to achieve a childhood dream or wanting to adventure in a forbidden area seems strange?”

At my words, Park Si-woo burst into laughter.

“I also want to have companions.”

“Then are you going to go alone? You might die out there.”

“I want to see the top of the tower.”

“Wouldn’t you see the end if you climbed it for a lifetime?”

“……I want to climb the tower with you.”

At those words, I turned to look at Park Si-woo without thinking. He was smiling at me.

Then he extended his hand toward me.

“They say you should keep someone you can trust by your side in a party. Grandma kept Grandpa by her side.”

His hand carefully stopped in front of me.

“I want you by my side. It sounds silly, but would you join me?”

In that moment, I dreamt a silly dream.

I envisioned myself adventuring beside him in a new landscape.

Listening to his stories made me feel like I was dreaming too, and I thought that it wouldn’t be so bad to have this kind of dream.

I impulsively took his hand.

“Okay.”

I grinned.

This is truly, truly a pointless and foolish story.

“If all the gates disappear, I’ll be unemployed. Want to get a job ahead of time?”

And so, my heart raced. No reality surrounding me could intrude upon this dream, so my heart raced.

“Park Si-woo, will you accept me as the first member of your ‘party’?”

At my words, he smiled.

“Of course.”

The Ferris wheel had reached the top. The whole world looked like a miniature. So, this moment felt like an illusion that would soon be forgotten.

But I felt like I could never forget your smiling face or our clasped hands, so I smiled. I smiled brightly.

For a long time, we laughed foolishly.

Clunk.

As if to signal that the illusion was over, the Ferris wheel we were on began to descend.

The sun completely vanished beyond the mountains.

However, our playful future plans continued for a while. We whispered about the rules for the party we would establish together someday.

Thus, the last day of our field practice came to an end.

On the way back from the amusement park.

“Didn’t you two get a little closer?”

“Is that so?”

Min Jae-yoon, sensing something, spoke to Kang Na-hyun and Park Si-woo.

“Aren’t you two getting closer? You’re practically best friends now!”

“Really? Awesome!”

“Be, best friends……! I, I don’t mind! But if Jae-yoon wants it!”

“Aren’t we best friends……?”

“Ugh……! Th, th, that’s right! It is, so don’t look so gloomy!”

Sin Ba-ran and Min Jae-yoon quickly fell back into their own world. Leaving them be, Park Si-woo gazed outside with a calm smile.

The holy sword, which always felt heavy, now felt light.

In the distance, the tower could be seen. But Park Si-woo did not look at the tower. He looked at the amusement park.

More precisely, he looked at the Ferris wheel.

True to its name as a landmark, the enormous Ferris wheel could be seen drawing a perfect circle even from afar.

“Congrats on becoming best friends~.”

The sound of Kang Na-hyun clapping echoed in the car.

Park Si-woo absentmindedly drew circles on the window with his finger, following the Ferris wheel’s arc.

Kang Na-hyun thought he had revealed all his secrets to her, but Park Si-woo had one more secret he was keeping.

It was the secret of a feeling that had gradually seeped into his heart and had firmly borne fruit, a feeling he had come to realize late.

Park Si-woo vaguely understood how constrained and busy Kang Na-hyun’s life was.

Yet, he also knew that she had a foolish side that caused her to worry about others and end up suffering.

“But I feel a bit lonely……”

“Ah!”

“I’m, I’m sorry!”

“I was joking.”

Park Si-woo saw how Kang Na-hyun was concerned about Min Jae-yoon and Sin Ba-ran. And he was certain.

If he confessed his feelings, she would worry about him. To an unnecessary extent. To a degree that would be disruptive for her.

That was a way he could win, but it wasn’t the way he desired.

“Park Si-woo, what are you doing?”

So, he decided to keep his mouth shut for now. For now, he would be satisfied as a friend.

It’s okay. He was confident.

He still believed that Na Yu-han, who hadn’t realized her feelings yet, wasn’t his rival.

“Come here.”

I like you. I’ve developed deeper feelings for you. Please stay with me for a long time.

“Okay.”

Someday, I hope to convey these words to you.

Once again swallowing the words filled with longing that wanted to burst forth, Park Si-woo quietly suppressed the confession that no one would hear.

***

[System Update in Progress: 80%]
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[System Update in Progress: 90%]
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[System Update in Progress: 100%] [System Update Complete] [‘Fragments of the Story’ are now activated.] [Current collected story fragments: 3]

***

“I’m sorry.”

This was the one thing I heard from Shin Baran before Min Jae-yoon and I left the fortress.

Upon hearing that, Min Jae-yoon’s eyes widened in surprise before he quickly broke into a bright smile.

“It’s okay.”

To this, Shin Baran replied with a face full of guilt.

“Based on your performance in this battle, I can guarantee that you are safe humans. I’ve certified it in my name, so the surveillance will be lifted soon.”

“Thank you!”

In response to Min Jae-yoon’s words, Shin Baran shook his head.

“This is all I could do for you. If you need help at any time, just let me know.”

At that, I couldn’t help but grumble.

“If you give away too much like that, you might get in trouble.”

“It’s okay. It’s because it’s you.”

“……”

“Na-hyun, your face is red.”

Shut up. I know. I turned my head away while casually using the back of my hand to cool my cheek at Min Jae-yoon’s comment.

Shin Baran was smiling with an unnecessary kindness, which somehow made him even more annoying.

That guy, after talking to Shin Ba-ran, seems to be acting as if he’s reached some kind of enlightenment or something.

“……Anyway,