NOVEL NEXT “Dyukdi ma!”
“Don’t do that.”
Yona’s grinding teeth sounded ominous.
Alex seemed blissfully unaware of her creepy vibes, despite the ear-piercing crunching sounds coming from her.
Even while walking down the dim corridor, Alex was busy imitating Yona’s voice.
If it hadn’t been for Sister Aege’s healing just before Alex choked on his own breath, he would’ve been a goner. But here he was, back from the dead and still teasing Yona like there was no tomorrow.
“Dyukdi ma, dyukdi ma, Aleeeeeex!”
“I said stop it, you punk!”
– Thwack!
Finally, Yona delivered a fierce smack to the back of Alex’s head.
The sound of that hit was definitely different this time, hard enough to almost send Alex sprawling.
“Yona.”
With a glare that could kill, Yona jolted at the sudden voice from behind her.
Calm yet warm, it was a voice that she found terrifying.
“You shouldn’t hit your companion like that. You should be thankful we made it back without any issues.”
In the end, it was Sister Aege who saved Alex.
Being a priest must have its perks, and her experience showed.
Using divine magic that covered Alex from head to toe, she healed his deep wounds, allowing him to escape death’s clutches.
Thanks to that, Alex was now taking the opportunity to poke fun at Yona.
“But teacher, that bald head of his…”
“Language refinement.”
Yona couldn’t even look Aege in the eye.
And who could blame her? Aege’s hand was resting fearfully on her head.
Knowing it could tighten its grip again at any moment, Yona had no choice but to nod.
“Ah, I get it. I won’t do it.”
“Good girl, Yona. And Alex, you better behave too. Can you imagine how sad Yona would be if you died?”
“I-I wouldn’t be sad! There are plenty of replacements for him… Ow ow ow ow!”
Only after Yona was punished by Aege did she finally quiet down.
After the demon was vanquished and they emerged from the catacombs, it was just around dawn.
Though the sun hadn’t risen yet, it was on the way.
The dark magic that had been oozing from the catacombs had vanished like it never existed.
All that was left was to explore the third floor of the catacomb and snatch some loot.
But that wasn’t for now; that was a job for the adventurers to tackle later.
What mattered was that they were alive.
The knights, being all dignified, couldn’t act like that; however, the adventurers didn’t care about such things. As soon as they exited the catacombs and reached the campsite, they all flopped down like pancakes.
With their gear finally loosened, the adventurers let out long, relieved breaths, but there were barely a dozen of them left.
Out of thirty who entered the catacombs, only about three out of ten made it back alive.
“Still, I somehow made it back…”
Yona lay stretched out on the dirt floor of the campsite, letting out a sigh.
Honestly, she had no idea how she survived.
All she did was chase after Kaiyak and Alex, mindlessly pouring healing spells as if the demon just vanished.
‘Now that I think about it, is that Rude really a hero?’
They say he killed a demon, specifically a Dullahan.
Yona hadn’t seen it for herself, but everyone, including knights and priests, said so, so it must be true.
If he could pull off such a feat, he must indeed be a hero.
‘A hero, huh…’
She felt a fleeting thought that maybe they should have made her the hero, but she soon shook it off.
It was all in the past, and regretting it wouldn’t change anything.
Still, she was about to receive seven gold coins as a reward for this adventure.
She had earned enough to pay for her journey to the Mage Community, so she had crossed the biggest hurdle.
“I need to head to the community right after I get this reward…”
At Yona’s words, Alex, who was lying nearby, suddenly sat up straight.
“Hey, reward! Speaking of rewards, I just remembered!”
He started kicking Yona’s feet, urging her to get up quickly.
“Ugh, why—! Why are you bothering me when I’m lying down—!”
Even as Yona got up in irritation, Alex was grinning, raising his hands and wiggling them in a ridiculous, lewd pose.
‘…Ah.’
That sight sparked a thought in her mind.
“You said when I came back alive, and if I didn’t die, you’d let me touch your chest, right?”
“…Huh? Huh?!”
Yona, still sitting, scooted back slowly.
With her hands covering her chest, Yona’s retreating posture was oddly provocative.
She did say that—yes, she did.
But still…
No, it’s embarrassing.
It wasn’t that she meant it thinking Alex would die or anything, but back then, she definitely thought, ‘What’s the big deal about touching a guy’s chest?’
“What’s this? Are you saying you can’t do it now? You said you’d let me touch it like a man!”
Alex was just grinning like a fool.
He kept pretending to rub something with his hands while inching closer to Yona as he sat.
“…Hmm.”
Yona fell into thought for a moment.
Sure, she had made such a promise.
Promises must be kept, and now that the promise was made…
Oh, whatever.
I’m a man anyway.
“Fine, here.”
Yona thrust her chest out.
“Wait, really?”
It was Alex who was taken aback instead. Sure, they made a promise, but Yona exposing herself so easily left him flustered.
“Yeah, we made a promise. Promises must be kept. Go on, feel them as much as you want. When else will you get a chance like this?”
Alex’s breath became ragged. His gaze was glued to Yona’s breasts, unable to move.
That massive pile of flesh right in front of him. How wonderful it would be to have the chance to feel them, just once… he thought. How many sleepless nights had he spent because of those breasts?
Countless nights that had thrown Alex into turmoil were now unguardedly revealed before him.
“Hey, aren’t you going to touch them?”
But surprisingly, Alex sighed and lowered his hand.
“Save it for later.”
“…Save it?”
“When you feel like it, let me touch them again. Not that promise crap.”
“…That day isn’t coming, you know?”
It absolutely wouldn’t. He was going to return to being a man.
“Then what about that community thing? You said you’d get magic healing there and return as a man, right? You can let me feel them right before that.”
“Well, that’s true. But you’d have to go with me…”
Alex scratched the back of his head. A habit of his when embarrassed; Yona observed him closely, puzzled.
“…Okay, let’s go together. You’re just a healer; how can I let you go that far alone? You need someone to protect you.”
“Uh… yeah, let’s do that.”
Yona nodded without thinking.
Well—
What difference does it make? There would be plenty of famous mages at the community, so he’d definitely be able to return as a man there.
And before that treatment, she could let Alex feel her breasts without any hindrance.
That would work, right?—
Yona thought.
*
“Alright, everyone, gather up!”
Originally, the lead adventurer was Kaiyak, but somehow it had switched to Rude.
No matter what anyone said, Rude was the key contributor to their hunt, and the party members who returned with him—except Carlson, who had died—thought Rude really must have been a hero.
At Rude’s call to gather, the adventurers began to rise from where they sprawled, quickly equipping their gear.
The dawn light had faded, and a clear morning was beginning to shine.
Having rested enough, it was time to head back.
Brilliant sunlight streamed from the eastern foothills.
The bright sunlight illuminated the whole world, incinerating the darkness that lingered.
And then, a brilliant golden pillar of light descended from the heavens.
“Uh, uh…?”
The light pillar struck down near the gathering of priests.
The ones paling at the sight were the priests themselves.
First, Sister Aege collapsed to her knees.
Following her, Priest Vigrind also knelt.
The five priests immediately dropped to their knees, and soon, knights and adventurers followed suit, as if it were the latest trend.
Something extraordinary was happening.
Leading the priests, Sister Aege clutched her rosary and began reciting prayers.
The clear voices of the prayers echoed, and Yona, still on her knees, simply lifted her head to gaze at the sky.
– Children.
The woman, with her long golden hair elegantly tied up, was truly beautiful.
Behind her, a large golden harp emblem floated, radiating light that made it clear she was anything but ordinary.
“I stand before you, Divine One.”
Sister Aege bowed so low her head almost touched the ground as she greeted the woman.
Divine One.
A being whose name cannot be uttered, the Divine One.
Sometimes appearing, but never revealing her intentions, the Divine One.
And now, she had descended upon this place.
– You have truly accomplished something great.
“Nay, we are but children who have lived sinfully in this land, allowing wicked beings to thrive. We are deeply ashamed.”
The priests, along with the knights and adventurers, were flat on their faces on the ground.
It was an unspoken rule that one must not look directly at the face of the Divine One, and even beyond that, there was an instinctive feeling that made everyone lower their faces into the ground.
– A calamity is once again approaching this land. I wish to lend you my strength and shall appoint my representative right here with you.
At the Divine One’s words, Priest Vigrind flinched.
The meaning of that statement was—
The Saint would be born here.
The Divine One’s gaze swept over the crowd.
Her eyes flicked from Yona to Vigrind, and then to Aege.
– My beloved daughter, Vigrind.
“Yes, Divine One.”
– Rise.
Vigrind slowly lifted her body from the ground.
Internally, she was roaring with joy, but she couldn’t let that show.
– Children, listen well. I appoint Vigrind, my true daughter, as my representative. Unite your strength to quell the forthcoming calamity and seek your peace.
“I will serve with humility.”
“I will surely do so.”
Aege and Vigrind’s voices intertwined.
At last, after Saint Sonia, the moment had come for a new Saint to be born into this land.